Ruk didn’t understand, but he followed when Grey began moving.
They tracked the creature for nearly fifteen minutes before Predatory Instinct warned Grey that something was nearby. He immediately slowed and raised one hand, causing Ruk to stop behind him without needing an explanation.
A faint tearing sound came from somewhere ahead.
Grey moved carefully through the vegetation until he found a narrow opening between two large roots, then crouched and looked through.
A Redfang Stalker stood less than thirty meters away.
Seeing one properly during daylight made Grey understand where the creatures had gotten their name. It vaguely resembled a large wolf, although its front limbs were longer and more muscular, giving its body an uneven posture. Dark gray fur covered most of its frame, while the skin around its jaws was completely hairless and deep crimson.
Its teeth were stained the same color.
The creature currently had its head buried inside the corpse of some deer-like animal, tearing away chunks of flesh without noticing the two goblins watching from nearby.
Grey focused.
[Redfang Stalker]
[Level: 5]
[Threat Assessment: Moderate.]
Yesterday, seeing Level 5 would have made him considerably more cautious.
Today, Grey saw an opportunity.
He looked toward Ruk and pointed at the Redfang before making a cutting motion across his throat.
Ruk nodded immediately.
Grey stopped him before he could move forward and instead pointed toward the surrounding terrain.
Charging directly would defeat the entire purpose.
The Redfang was faster than either of them and probably possessed better senses, which meant their first attack needed to determine the fight before the creature understood what was happening.
Grey noticed a fallen tree several meters behind the Redfang and then examined the slope leading toward it. Thick vines hung between nearby branches, while loose stones covered part of the ground.
Enough.
He gestured for Ruk to circle around.
The Hobgoblin disappeared through the vegetation without making enough noise to attract the feeding creature’s attention, while Grey moved in the opposite direction until the Redfang stood between them.
Then Grey picked up a stone.
He threw it into the bushes.
The Redfang’s head snapped upward, blood dripping from its exposed jaws as its ears turned toward the sound. It remained still for several seconds before slowly leaving the carcass and approaching the vegetation.
Grey threw another stone farther away.
The creature followed.
Exactly where he wanted it.
Grey waited until the Redfang stepped onto the loose slope before emerging from behind the tree and striking the creature’s hind leg with his weapon.
The attack didn’t cause serious damage.
It wasn’t supposed to.
The Redfang spun around with a furious snarl and lunged toward Grey, who immediately retreated downhill instead of attempting to defend himself.
His Goblin Hunter body allowed him to move through the uneven terrain far more easily than he could have as a Lesser Goblin, and he deliberately remained close enough that the predator believed it could catch him.
"Come on."
The Redfang accelerated.
Grey waited until it reached the loose stones before abruptly changing direction.
The metal spear pierced deep beneath its shoulder.
The Redfang screamed and twisted toward the Hobgoblin, but Grey was already moving back in.
He struck the injured hind leg again, this time putting the additional strength from Enhanced Muscular Density behind the blow. Something cracked beneath the impact, causing the creature’s rear leg to buckle as it attempted to turn.
Ruk pulled his spear free and immediately stepped backward before the Redfang’s claws could reach him.
Grey watched the creature carefully rather than rushing forward.
Injured animals were often more dangerous.
The Redfang proved that almost immediately.
Instead of retreating, it launched itself toward Grey with enough speed to catch him by surprise. He managed to twist away from the jaws aimed at his throat, but one claw still caught his shoulder and tore through the hide covering his body.
Pain burned across his skin.
Grey stumbled backward while the Redfang landed several meters away.
His hand immediately moved toward the wound.
Blood.
Not deep.
But enough to remind him that a single mistake could still kill him.
The Redfang tried to charge again, although its damaged hind leg forced it into an uneven movement.
Grey’s expression hardened.
"Should’ve run."
He moved forward at the same moment Ruk attacked from the opposite side, forcing the creature to choose between them. Its head turned toward the Hobgoblin first, giving Grey enough time to close the distance and drive his weapon into the exposed crimson flesh beneath its jaw.
The Redfang thrashed violently.
Grey kept his grip and Ruk’s spear struck again until the creature finally collapsed.
Grey immediately stepped backward and watched it for several seconds, refusing to assume it was dead until the system confirmed the kill.
[Redfang Stalker has been defeated.]
[Experience acquired.]
[Evolution Energy acquired.]
Grey released a slow breath before looking toward Ruk.
The Hobgoblin stared at the corpse and then toward Grey with obvious satisfaction.
"One," Grey said while raising a finger. "Only nineteen or so left."
Ruk clearly didn’t understand the joke.
Grey crouched beside the Redfang as the corpse interface appeared.
[Corpse detected.]
[Possible actions:]
[Consume]
[Extract Trait]
[Discard]
[Available Traits:]
[Blood Tracking — Level 1]
[Silent Step — Level 1]
[Pack Awareness — Level 1]
Grey’s attention immediately settled on the options.
Blood Tracking sounded useful for hunting injured creatures, while Pack Awareness might help him coordinate with allies if he intended to stop fighting alone.
But Silent Step complemented Goblin Hunter almost perfectly.
He already possessed Night Vision and Predatory Instinct. Being able to move quietly would make ambushing stronger enemies significantly easier.
"Silent Step."
[Trait selected.]
A cold sensation spread through Grey’s legs and feet, followed by an unfamiliar awareness of how his weight rested against the ground. He suddenly noticed every tiny branch beneath his feet, every patch of loose soil, and even which parts of the forest floor would produce the most noise if stepped upon.
[Trait successfully integrated.]
[Silent Step — Level 1]
Grey took several experimental steps.
Almost nothing.
Even Ruk’s expression changed slightly when Grey crossed the leaves without producing the expected crunching sound.
"Oh, I’m going to enjoy this one."
Grey turned back toward the corpse and selected Consume.
The familiar dark energy spread across the Redfang’s body as the system began breaking down biological material.
[Consumption successful.]
[Evolution Energy acquired.]
[Current Evolution Energy: 18.]
Not enough for anything significant yet.
But it was progress.
Grey stood and looked toward the direction the Redfang’s tracks had originally come from.
"Let’s find another."
Ruk smiled.
They found the second Redfang less than an hour later.
This one wasn’t alone.
Grey and Ruk crouched on a rocky ledge overlooking a narrow stream where two Redfang Stalkers drank from the water below. One was Level 5 while the other was Level 6, and unlike the first creature, both remained alert enough that approaching unnoticed would have been difficult even with Grey’s newly acquired Silent Step.
Grey didn’t intend to approach them.
He spent several minutes studying the area instead.
The stream passed through a narrow channel surrounded by steep muddy banks. Several large rocks rested above one side, held in place mostly by packed soil and thick roots.
Grey looked at the rocks.
Then at the Redfangs.
Then toward Ruk.
The Hobgoblin followed his gaze and slowly began to smile.