Apocalypse Cheater

Amidst the aftermath of the battle, the forest seemed to exhale a collective sigh of relief as the echoes of Caxaer's triumphant roar slowly dissipated into the distance.

The once-proud figure of the Crimson Lion lay sprawled on the forest floor, with its body charred.

Caxaer stood tall, an ethereal sentinel amidst the aftermath, its shadowy form flickering with residual energy like the fading embers of a vanquished fire.

In the realm of shifting darkness, a digital pulse of acknowledgement rippled through Caxaer's consciousness, a virtual declaration of its conquest over the formidable beast.

[: Your shadow soldier has managed to kill a monster, Crimson Lion :]

The silent void carried the weight of its achievement, a fleeting moment of accomplishment that reverberated within the shadow's essence.

A satisfied smile played on Daniel's lips as the notification reached him.

The digital whisper of success harmonized with the natural sounds of the forest, creating a fleeting symphony of victory.

With a sense of eager anticipation, Daniel turned his gaze to the path ahead, envisioning the fruitful hours of hunting that awaited him, a period in which his shadows would relentlessly seek out new prey to add to their ever-growing collective.

Yet, as Caxaer basked in its triumph, a restless hunger still churned within its incorporeal being.

The taste of victory was sweet, but it only served to fuel its insatiable thirst to fulfil its duty.

Its form is seamlessly melded with the shifting shadows, becoming one with the darkness as it ventures forth with purposeful determination.

The promise of more offerings beckoned, and Caxaer was all too eager to heed the call.

Elsewhere in the sprawling landscape, a maelstrom of chaos ensued as a frenzied horde of Apets descended upon the forest.

Their presence was a symphony of pandemonium, their raucous cries and thundering footfalls leaving a trail of disorder in their wake.

These creatures, known for their ruthless hunting tactics, were a potent force of nature, a testament to the untamed ferocity that lay hidden within the heart of shadows.

Amid the chaos, a subtle transformation unfurled.

The Apets, once a formidable collective, now bore the indelible mark of shadows.

Their forms wavered between realms, a dance between the corporeal and the spectral that defied easy categorization.

Their existence had shifted, aligning more closely with the ethereal fabric of the shadow realm, granting them newfound powers and abilities that defied the boundaries of the natural world.

As Caxaer's influence expanded, an intriguing limitation emerged.

The shadow-bound Apets found themselves confined to the realm of their living counterparts, their ability to traverse the shadows limited to a localized domain.

This restriction, a safeguard against unrestrained chaos, served as a reminder of the delicate equilibrium that governed their existence.

Even with this constraint, the Apets remained an undeniable force to be reckoned with, their predatory instincts undiminished.

With every encounter, the shadow Apets proved their lethal prowess, their strikes swift and merciless.

In mere moments, the once-dominant creatures were reduced to lifeless husks by the unrelenting onslaught of their shadowy kin.

The forest bore witness to this macabre dance, a cycle of life and death that unfolded with breathtaking speed, leaving an indelible mark upon the land.

As the Apets scurried and roamed in search of worthy prey for their master, they had a cunning plan in mind.

They knew just the right contenders for their master's desires, creatures that could serve as perfect distractions.

After a short journey, they ventured into a specific zone, a realm teeming with diverse insect species.

Among them, the Apets sought out a peculiar insect known as Blitz.

These bugs had a unique trick up their sleeves – they harnessed a chaotic power called 'corruption'.

While most monsters utilized their chaotic abilities to enhance their skills or attributes, these insect critters had a knack for causing 'corruption'.

This nasty condition was worse than just a simple poison.

It gnawed at the very core of a victim's being, and the only cure lay in the hands of Holy Attribute healers or similar rare abilities.

Dealing with these insect monsters posed a daunting challenge unless you had a healer with Holy Attributes nearby.

For the unprepared, an encounter with these bugs could be a one-way ticket to oblivion.

To understand the gravity of the corruption effect, imagine it as a vicious disease that laughs at resistance.

Even the hardest of individuals might find themselves defenseless, as chaos devours everything in its path.

Defying this abnormality required one of three methods

First, a healer with Holy Attributes could counteract the corruption.

Second, severing the corrupted body part might halt its progress.

Lastly, having robust stats provided some defence, like a shield against a relentless onslaught.

Corruption was akin to a relentless fire, consuming cells like fuel to spark its unsettling effects.

Its impact could endure, fueled by the body's cells that it devoured.

However, corruption came in various flavours. In this case, the Blitz insects specialized in corrupting minds.

They released a misty haze that, when inhaled, worked its dark magic within seconds.

Unlike some of their kin, the Blitz didn't need direct contact to spread their sinister influence.

Of course, mightier insect monsters existed, but the Apets adhered to their master's directive, opting for adversaries their collective strength could handle.

Their pursuit continued, weaving a tapestry of strategy and stealth amidst the buzzing life of the forest.

Upon finding their prey, the Blitz, the Apets stopped in their tracks as they sensed close to 50 Blitz, and they believed they were surrounded.

Suddenly, a heavy mist coloured to be green began spreading around the Apets as the Blitz hiding were waiting to see their demise.

However, instead of their expectations, the Apets began jumping around and hunting down the Blitz that was flying above them.

The Blitz has a similar appearance to a Bee, but bigger and similar to the size of a domestic cat.

But what's mesmerizing about them is the green and white stripes of their body which is weird yet somehow appealing to one's eye.

Although Blitz is a group not to be messed with, they were honestly easy to hunt at least for some veterans. For most insect monsters, their terrifying trait only lies in their corruption and nothing else.

In other words, their defence and raw attacks are 5 times weaker than the usefulness of their corruption. Maybe corruption is a way to make up for their lack of survival.

Nevertheless, one thing that made them troublesome was their senses. Their keen senses allowed them to witness every action by half, and that's why they could easily evade attacks.

As soon as the Apets noticed their hidden spots, they began jumping everywhere, hoping to catch them. But the Blitz was avoided.

However, relying on their fellow shadows, some of the Apets executed their ability and teleported to the exact place as the previous Apet, and by bending their legs over their previous fellow they managed to jump higher and faster thanks to the additional force.

By doing this, even some of the Blitz wouldn't expect this to happen since everything happened too fast, and in the end, all of the 50 Blitz were hunted down with their bodies oozing with colourless blood.

It was a bit gruesome as the Apets used their raw teeth to bite them, sending them to their early deaths before continuing for more hunts.