The Gnolls’ farmlands, covered in snow, lay in front of us while we hid behind the massive rock formation they had stupidly allowed to remain unguarded.

“Are you sure we’re going to get in this way?” Alistar whispered.

“Yeah, Nova said that we shouldn’t outright slaughter them. If we have to fight them, we need to give them a chance. So, since my target is there...” I said, pointing beyond the farmlands, toward an exquisite construction of wood.

Stunning wood carvings covered the house, artfully depicting what could only be ascended Gnoll hounds. They looked like creatures taken straight from the Book of the Sun, with wings, frills, and spiraling horns that sprouted from the sides of their heads and descended toward their paws.

I continued where I had left off: “...first I’ll scout the place. Then, if I don’t find it, we are going to raze the entire village to the ground.”

Faruq chuckled, “Yes, Captain.” He was not kidding. He had learned, really learned, that I did not joke when I spoke that way.

In the three months that we had spent training at the treehouse, he had learned that I was maybe not the best person to define captain, but I did indeed act like one.

The wind whistled pollen on us. The weather was definitely cold, but our party in furs, and we were all resistant to cold, in one way another.

Roana and I had our three Shade Stars to thank for our resistance to the cold. Alistar could count on ambient Shade resistance, while the absent Nova could rely on her new Passive Perk of Cold resistance. Faruq had his Metal Flow Body; he could utterly ignore the current amount of atmospheric Shade.

However, this was the coldest the Shade Season ever got around here. We could not really afford to spend too much time immobile like we were right now.

We had traversed the entire forest and delved a few dozen kilometers into the Gnoll’s region, reaching a beautiful village that seemed relatively rich compared to a regular Gnoll’s encampment.

As I had understood things, a Gnoll Warlord lived here, and while this was his mansion, he and his followers were outside waging war on whatever the fuck Gnolls regularly fought against, besides humans. I had no idea, really.

However, I had searched far and wide for this place, and I had finally found traces of those Dark Crystals that led me right here.

Okay, maybe I had not really been the one responsible for finding them. It had actually been Nova… thanks to the fast connection she had established with the newly appointed nun of the Sun stationed in Murkstall.

Vanguardia, for that was her name, had grown close to my sister. Thanks to that, she had even uncovered, at my request, what had happened with the Titan and the expedition.

To keep the peace between the nations, a large slice of the Dark Crystals that resulted from the Titan’s killing went as compensation to the Gnolls for what their encampment had suffered for the Titan’s rampage.

As it turned out, almost eighty percent of that Gnoll encampment population had died at that hands- paws of the Titan. It had really been a massacre.

It was partly my fault, and yet… I couldn’t give a shit.

It was unreal how… uncaring I had become of those not close to me in these past few months. After knowing of our parent’s betrayal and then hearing the villager’s decision of kicking me out of the village, something inside of me had finally clicked, and I had… I did not know if I could say I had changed, but I was surely growing up as a person, but if I had to say in what direction I was growing? I couldn’t know...

We waited for Loki’s scouting to end; my left eye had turned into that of a lion as I saw through his eyes. The guards were stupidly snoring on the job, or at least, one of them was; the other one was an obese Gnoll who played a solitary game of cards.

The one I was using now was Animal Instinct II Minor Perk, I had chosen sight for it, like momma Jane had, and it had revealed to be extremely useful because I could Trace through it.

I Traced the sleeping guard to gauge the Gnoll’s average levels.

Graugh Klarn, Guardian Level 35 (258.997/300.000), Farmer Level 25 (12588/25000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 95%

Agility: 12

Constitution: 25

Strength: 20

Focus: 8

Perception: 17

Willpower: 21

Strengths: None in particular apart from Constitution

Weaknesses: Focus

Class Skills: Fast gait (Agility), Hard Hide (Constitution), Heavy Paw (Strength), Luck of the Draw (Fortune)

Sub-Class Skills: Strong Back (Constitution), Bug Sight (Perception), Untiring (Willpower)

Race: Gnoll

Sex: Male

Height: 182 cm

Weight: 102 kg

Age: 38

Origins: Glarkeville

Family: Graugh Serk Klarn, Glerp Klarn, Trop Klarn

That was enough; their levels were average, like ours,

But although guards, these people were not real fighters. Even in direct combat, we would overwhelm them. I could take them out in the dozens before they would have time to notice.

Loki came back soon after.

Although I could understand his feelings better now, I would have to Promote Together we are One to send him better signals and orders, but I was not there yet.

I recalled my last Tracing.

Loke Nightfold

Advanced Class

TechnoHunter Lv. 36

Agi + 1, Con + 3, Str + 3, Foc + 1, Per + 1

Advanced Sub-Class

Red Tamer Lv. 33

Str + 3, Foc + 3, Will + 3, For + ☆

Attributes

Stats

Natural

Augments

Agility

15 + 7 + 20 (Borrowed)

Boots (+3), Dagger (+10), Short Bow (+10)

Constitution

13 + 10

Clothes (+3), Clockarm (+10), Dagger (+35)

Strength

15 + 6

Clockarm (+10), Dagger (+35), Short Bow (+15)

Focus

18 + 4

Dagger (+10), Short Bow (+5)

Perception

22 + 16

Willpower

34 + 3

Dagger (+10)

Fortune

★ ★ ★ ☆ + ☆

Hunting Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

★★Trick Shot II - Agility

(Eligible for Promotion)

★ A Shade projectile follows your shot with a boom

★ Transfer to your Trick Shot’s location and double the following attack’s Strength

Agility + 6

★ Shadow Vigour

Technomantic Body - Constitution

★ Consume tech-parts to heal curable wounds

Constitution is boosted by your tech-parts: (+7)

Hunting Tactics - Focus

★, ☆ Your target’s weak points are partially exposed

★★★ Trace III - Perception

(Max)

★, ☆ Trace much more of the whispers of the Soul

★, ☆ Track your target and see his next move; your target doesn’t notice when they are being Tracked

Perception + 12;

Sixth Sense;

★, ☆ Synesthesia

Tamer Skills

Name

Major

Minor

Passive

Frenzy -

Strength

When your pet’s Health is lower than 30%, their Strength is doubled but their Willpower is halved

Return to nature - Focus

Your pet partially heals eating your prey

★, ☆ Gain minor knowledge about your prey

Animal Instincts II - Perception

(Max)

When your family and pets are in danger your Agility, Strength, and Willpower double for a short amount of time

★, ☆ Coherently feel your pet’s emotions;

See from your pet’s eyes

Perception + 6;

★ Night Sight

Together we are one - Willpower

☆ You can tame weak Flow creatures

Your creatures can understand you

I had not really had the chance to fight much other than scout during the past few months, but I had constantly sent Loki out by himself so that he could learn how to be the predator I wanted him to be. And although he could still not level up past twenty-five, given his stuck Evolution, the Soul fractions he shared with me had been enough to level up twice.

We had all had small improvements of this type, mostly because the others wanted to catch up to me, well, really catch up to me, given that they had all reached the Advanced Classes but Nova.

My sister… I did not allow her to go in battle just like that, no matter how much she shouted; anyway, Little Bush did not offer much. And the stronger beasts were still way too strong for us.

The Vortex of Terror, for example, was something I would never dare to face, while a Ghost of the Night, I had no idea where I would even start with facing one of those.

So, we had all leveled up a bunch by going up against the creatures that started sprouting in the Drylands area.

That happened especially when we took our leave from training to go and meet our dears. In my case, I had mostly spent my free time visiting Harlow.

Since I was at it, I even Traced myself. It had been kind of an obsession in these past months. I did it mainly to check my height.

Loke Nightfold, TechnoHunter Level 36 (140.258/360.000), Red Tamer Level 33 (72058/330.000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 95%

Agility: 15

Constitution: 13

Strength: 15

Focus: 18

Perception: 22

Willpower: 34

Strengths: Mind, Aim, Willpower

Weaknesses: Clock-arm

Class Skills: Trick Shot II (Agility), Technomantic Body (Constitution), Hunting Tactics (Focus), Trace III (Perception)

Sub-Class Skills: Frenzy (Strength), Return to Nature (Focus), Animal Instincts II (Perception), Together we are One (Willpower)

Race: Human

Sex: Male

Height: 176 cm

Weight: 69 kg

Age: 17

Origins: Unknown, Murkstall

Family: Eleanor Nightfold, Faris Nightfold, Nova Nightfold, Murkstall Villagers

My growth had been starting to slow down, but I was, once again, putting all Attribute points I had into my Constitution. At least, I wanted to get as tall as Harlow; meanwhile, I was putting on weight, lean weight.

My arm had grown thicker, so had my thighs and calves; my back was getting broader, and so was my chest. I had finally started eating as an average human should, and it was showing.

Also, I had no idea why, but not only did my parents' name not disappear from my Family section of the Trace, but Murkstall appeared as a whole.

Why was that? I had no idea.

Was I lying to myself in thinking I did not care about them? I couldn't know.

What I did know was that I had not gone to visit them for the past three months, and I felt it was the right thing to do.

But enough with that, I had to focus back on the present.

"Those guards are average; they are nothing special. I'll handle it. If worst comes to worst, you'll start hearing explosions; I'll be waiting on you to join in on the fun."

"Count on it," said Roana.

My team, composed of Alisar, Roana, and Faruq, would wait on my command.

Part of me desired only for destruction. While another part just wanted to do this fast and clean.

I had borrowed Loki's Agility to speed my movements further these past few months, and it had really come in handy.

I really did look like a ghost, a Spectre, M.J. would say.

I would break-in from above, the covered sky would shield me from view, and the slowly descending snowflakes would do it even more so.

I put my hand in my satchel; it was full to the brim with Stones, then threw my knife into the day sky and disappeared.

The roof of the mansion was definitely unchecked and unguarded, but I had to be careful.

I had nullified my scent as much as I could by covering my body with chalk, courtesy of Harlow. She had bought it for me in the City, and I had brought it with me exactly for this reason.

Then I started my descent from the walls and into the balcony. If I could have access to any of my pet's abilities, maybe things would be different, I might have used Phase to pass through the walls, but I had chosen something else as my Sub-Class.

It was okay though; there was still the Ultimate Sub-Class to hope for; I had seventeen levels to go before I could unlock it, but time did not really matter, and Jane had confirmed to me that there was something that would indeed allow me to have the best of both worlds. Alas, time would tell.

Descending from the roof to the balcony was child's play.

The lacquered red tiles of the mansion were not made out of wood but worked out of what looked like red bricks, while the banisters were made of hardwood. Still, they were both materials that would further enhance my quietness. The only problem I would have was tied to the falling snow. I would have to be careful with that; one wrong move and the avalanche of snow would come crashing down below; it was a natural thing, it happened, but it would attract attention my way.

I couldn't allow that, not before I was in, at least.

Thankfully, passing from the roof to the balcony went without major problems. Only a little bit of snow dislodged itself from the roof.

Now I had to actually enter the house.

The windows were, of course, sealed shut. But I thrust my knife inside of the lock, forcing my way through it. The lock barely made any resistance to my Spectre's Dignity's penetrating power.

Then I was in.

The window let me inside a bedroom.

The Warlord was damn rich. His place was beautiful and extremely well-furnished.

I would have no qualms about stealing from him, that was for sure.

After I closed the window down, carefully removing the snow that had piled on the windowsill and down my feet, it was time to focus on looking for the place in which he had his stash.

I did not speak Gnollese, but then again. I didn't have to. Tracing would tell me all there was to know about the house. If there was something in the walls or if some everyday objects showed to have more than one use, it was indeed something tied to the Warlord's safe place.

I would conceal a stash of Dark Crystals into a safe; who wouldn't?

I carefully left the room after Tracing every object and wall, the ceiling and the pavement.

The mansion was hardly inhabited.

The only ones who had remained were probably his wife and daughters.

The mansion's house was built so that in the middle of it, a wide pillar rose from the ground and, passing through the center of the building, reached all the way to the ceiling.

It was stylish, but it took a lot of space, and although the mansion was vast, and its floors were stacked one on top of the others, leaving a broad, central space to waste, and I could have a better sight of the above floors, it meant being more easily spotted from somebody walking on the higher floors when I descended, but I had come to act with caution; if I couldn't leave from a room right away, I would wait for the right time to do so.

I had studied the Warlord; he was wealthy, had a ton of sons and daughters, and the males were among his best warriors and leaders. He always brought them with him when he went to his battles; this last one had not been an exception.

There seemed to be only a few guards inside of the house; he probably feared for his daughters or wife to grow a little bit too affectionate with them, a thing which was in my favor as well.

I checked five rooms before I felt something outside of the next one I was to enter. I could hear the sound of a Gnolless.

I could hear her cries from outside the wooden door; no, not cries, something else.

I guess his fears were right, I said to myself, grinning and leaving for another room.

By the time I had checked the whole floor, I had found nothing.

It was a four-story mansion, and I had just finished checking the upper one; it had taken me almost half an hour. However, I needed to speed things up because things would just get more dangerous the more I descended.

I needed to find the Warlord's chamber, and from what I had gathered, it was located on the ground floor. But would he hide his things inside his own chambers? Wasn't it a bit too cliche? I guessed it was safe as long as he stayed there, but the Gnoll was mostly always out; guards would end up trying something nastier than fucking his daughters if they suspected that it was this easy to steal from him.

Or could it be that he was that sure of himself?

With Gnolls, it might even be so, and with a Warlord, it was even more likely.

In the end, I decided that I would take my chance and try to go directly to the heart of the mansion. I would intrude his chambers.

When I descended to the second floor, I noticed that I could partially see the Warlord's chambers even from up there.

Although, there was a problem, and it was the two Gnolls that guarded the entrance.

Cloffgan Track, Heavy Warrior Level 40 (265.887/400.000), Breeder Level 34 (125.333/340.000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 98%

Agility: 15

Constitution: 23

Strength: 26

Focus: 15

Perception: 18

Willpower: 22

Strengths: Strength, Willpower

Weaknesses: None

Class Skills: Charge II (Agility), Hard Hide (Constitution), Crashing Paw (Strength), Never give up (Willpower)

Sub-Class Skills: Strong Back (Constitution), Dance of the Dog (Focus), Eye for the belly (Perception), Domination II (Willpower)

Race: Gnoll

Sex: Male

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 92 kg

Age: 41

Origins: Glarkeville

Family: Tergn Track, Glafga Track

The Gnoll was equipped with a wide, massive lance. Still, it was a slow weapon; it would not be able to catch me.

Dragh Crowf, Guardian Level 41 (126.589/410.000), NetFisher Level 31(65663/310.000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 93%

Agility: 18

Constitution: 28

Strength: 20

Focus: 16

Perception: 19

Willpower: 25

Strengths: Constitution, Willpower

Weaknesses: None

Class Skills: Hard Hide (Constitution), Mallet Paw II (Strength), Never give up (Willpower), A dog's tail (Fortune)

Sub-Class Skills: Fisher Fortitude (Constitution), Catch them II (Focus), Narrow the scope (Perception), Not giving up (Willpower)

Race: Gnoll

Sex: Male

Height: 183 cm

Weight: 95 kg

Age: 45

Origins: Glarkeville

Family: Tork Crowf, Marka Crowf, Draugh Crowf, Trank Crowf

As his Skill said, the other Gnoll used a mallet, another slow weapon.

Yeah, the two guards were indeed higher leveled than those stationed outside, but neither their Skills nor equipment scared me. There was nothing I had to worry about.

I could kill them both within a second, literally.

I descended to the second floor, waiting for nobody to be around so that I could see the guards and aim batter at them.

Then I waited, extending my Perception to the floors below; when nobody was there but the two guards, I readied myself.

I took one deep breath; then I aimed one of my green fletching arrows, the Piercing ones, at the Heavy Warrior.

The very moment I let go of the bowstring, I pulled myself through the Trick Shot of the already about-to-hit arrow; still, upstairs, the frost stemming from the exhausted Stone fell like snowflakes.

Down the ground floor, the Heavy Warrior's head jerked back; the projectile that had just dug deep inside his eye had ripped his life in one hit. And I was already there, reaping the profit.

With a pirouette, I slipped my already drawn knife into the Guardian's throat, Form of the Vector, making sure that nothing could stand in the way of the attack's momentum.

I ripped the knife out, turning my attention around me; nobody had seen anything.

You've earned 28506 + 29589 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next TechnoHunter level: 198.353/360.000

I was about to stuff my Spectre's Dignity into the Warlord chamber's door, but the door lock smelled like magic.

I was very sensible to Shade, I felt the smell of a Shade Talisman somewhere beyond that door, and my Sixth Sense told me I did not have to slam my knife in there.

Keys, I needed keys.

I had them.

The Guardian had the keys latched to his belt; I cut them away and tried the three different keys. The second one was the right one.

I was in; the very next moment, Sixth Sense did not trigger.

However, I could not just enter and forget about the two bodies outside.

I brought them in, then cleansed the still wet blood with some clothes I found inside the chambers and closed the door behind my back.

I was in, and I was alone.

Here comes the fun, I thought to myself. For Sun's sake, I was starting to enjoy my free and brand new life.

The world was mine to explore, and I had no deadweight tying me down.