Seven days had passed. Dante had spent this time training with Tyler and, occasionally, with Tu Sheng. Each day brought him closer to the Hunt of Death.
He felt both excitement and unease. During these days, Viviane had come to him several times, urging him to give up the hunt. But he had, of course, decided to continue.
At that moment, he was checking his preparations for battle. He was going to hunt a level-one beast of one star — the Golden-Fanged Lion. This creature was a massive lion that once bore a wound near its beast core, a scar that limited its strength to a single star.
It had a black mane and a deep scar across its eye — a true predator.
And Dante already knew how he would hunt it.
The hunt would begin today. As soon as the sun rose, Dante would leave the village for the hunt, and most likely, Tyler would follow him to prevent interference from other beasts.
Dante's plan relied on pseudo-spiritual weapons and the Flower of Malactus. The Flower of Malactus was a level-one, mid-grade herb with powerful restorative properties. For someone like Dante, still below level one, it could restore organs and bones to their original state.
That meant Dante had a second life — but it was something to be used only at the perfect moment.
His weapons were three pseudo-spiritual tools: a spear of iron and wood, a bow of black rock, and arrows made from heavy wood. None of them had yet reached the first level, but they were the best he could wield.
These were Dante's choices for the hunt. He also already had a map of the terrain, something he could use against the Golden-Fanged Lion.
The hunt was expected to last three days. Traps would be essential to tire the beast at first. In this hunt, only one side would reign — Dante or the Golden-Fanged Lion.
The hours passed quickly. When the first ray of sunlight tore through the night, Dante advanced toward the Forest of Death.
He moved swiftly through the trees, his body gliding like a serpent, leaving behind only the rustle of leaves and the soft creak of branches beneath his feet.
The lion's den wasn't difficult to find. It was located on a small hill, beneath a junction of four boulders that formed something like a cave.
Dante found it quickly. The lion wasn't there — as a solitary feline, it had likely grown used to hunting at night.
He approached cautiously, studying the surroundings. The hill offered no place to hide. When the lion was inside its den, it had a full view of the open area ahead, without trees or obstacles to block its sight. Behind the hill, however, the forest stretched thick — meaning that to strike at the lion's most vulnerable moment, Dante would have to get dangerously close.
That made the hunt far more difficult. He had to plan his next move carefully — one mistake could mean death.
Setting a trap inside the den was tempting, but alarming the beast now would be disastrous. The ideal plan was to create a trail of traps, wounding it little by little.
As Dante examined the area, he saw claw marks on the stones — deep grooves carved by the lion's strikes, so sharp they almost made the rock look like foam. Giant footprints covered the ground, pressing heavily into the soil.
"How do I kill it?" The question had haunted him for days. His steps slowed as he analyzed everything.
Then, a faint feeling crept over him — anxiety, fear, nausea — and finally, his heart trembled.
Was that a roar? Dante thought. Some large beasts had roars that could disturb the mind itself. He recalled Tyler's warning:
> "If you feel something, it means he's within five kilometers. Run. Because if a level-one predator like him finds you — you will die."
Dante fled instantly. His body accelerated as he leapt through the trees, climbing higher until he reached the tallest one with a clear view of the den.
It was a wise decision. About a hundred breaths later, a gigantic lion with a black mane appeared, carrying a massive boar in its jaws.
At that moment, an idea struck Dante: This is his hunting ground… What if I strike using his own prey?
As soon as the thought formed, he withdrew quickly. He needed venom. Usually, coating his arrows with poison wouldn't work — the arrows wouldn't pierce the lion's flesh deeply enough.
But what if he poisoned the prey's fangs or blood? Then the venom might at least take some effect.
He already knew which serpent to use — Serpelitucus, a snake known in this world for its paralyzing venom.
Of course, the poison would be nearly useless against a level-one beast, but even a single second of paralysis could mean the difference between victory and death.
But how do I make him hunt the prey I choose? Dante wondered. He probably hunts larger beasts that can satisfy him throughout the day… unless I poison one and send it to him. But would he eat it?
He hesitated for a moment — then smirked slightly. No… but I think I can imagine a way.