The Storm Runner appeared round a bend, pulled in by the smell of blood. It was ten feet away from the trap when it suddenly stopped. It lowered its head and went still, quills lifting along its spine. It wasn't looking at the boar leg, it was looking at the dirt instead.
My heart came up to my throat, I held my breath, afraid that any movement might give away my position and scaring the raptor away. Beads of sweat rolled down my nose despite the cool forest air. I was purely relying on my Electro Perception as it was still dark, the sun rise barely casting streaks of orange on the floor through the thick forest canopy.
I watched the Storm Runner study the floor for a few minutes, and as if it was satisfied by the conclusion it arrived at, it lifted its head and began approaching the bait while I continued holding my breath. As it stepped within range and lowered its head towards the boar leg, the static charge in the vicinity reached the threshold, triggering the trap. Three short spikes launched with lightning speed towards the Storm Runner.
Either through coincidence or pure survival instincts, the Storm Runner tilted its head to the side just as the trap triggered. Two spikes shot forward and pierced its body, one near the rib and another on its left thigh. The third and most important spike however, completely missed its head, barely causing a scratch by the side of its face.
The Storm Runner started shrieking loudly, and released a discharge of lightning around it, not aiming for anything in particular. It was probably a survival reflect when it was attacked. When it failed to free itself, it started thrashing while it continued its shriek, warning others not to approach.
I had planned for this as one potential outcome. In case one of the spikes missed or the trap was not able to decapitate the raptor immediately, the possibility of it trashing around was very real. I anchored the trap to the forest floor as part of my plan B. I was watching the scene I had envisioned in my head play exactly as I expected in front of me.
What I had not expected was the intensity of movement from the raptor, probably due to a rush of adrenaline released by its body. My worst fear came true as the traps broke free, and the raptor started running away though not quickly as the spear was still stuck in one of its legs.
I jumped from the tree and gave chase, afraid to lose my quarry to another predator in the jungle
I threw all thoughts of stealth out the window and used Lightning Infusion to close the distance quickly, not wanting it to get too far and attract another beast. Even without Electro Perception, the trail of blood along the forest floor was easy to follow given the giant hole by the side of its ribs.
I caught up in less than a minute, gripping the spare spear I brought with me tightly in my hands. It was limping on one leg, most of its mobility lost. I was internally glad as that meant it can't do a spin quickly to throw those quills at me.
I quickly ran around it to cut off its retreat, the raptor snapping its jaws at me and hiss-roared as I stabbed at its head with my spear. While I wanted to end things quickly, I figured the safest play was to be defensive and keep the raptor where it was while it bled out.
It did not take long for the Storm Runner to realize what I was trying to do, as it quickly changed its tactic and started gathering Lightning Mana in its mouth. I could see the ball of lightning accumulating and growing in size before it was released at me. Dammit, clever girl. I could not help myself recalling a scene from a certain Jurassic movie even as the bolt of lightning flew at me.
I tried jumping out of the way but I should have known better, as my own Lightning Bolt was just as quick. Now I know what they meant when they said getting a taste of your own medicine.
Unfortunately for the raptor, that bolt of lightning did not kill me out right. My innate lightning resistances and Lightning Adaptation mutation had negated most of the damage. Nevertheless, I was still down on my knees, both hands on the floor while the spear was lying by my side.
Shit! That had hurt more than I had expected. The raptor looked confused momentarily as nothing probably survived its own Lightning Bolt in the past. That confusion did not last long as it started shrieking at me again.
While most of the damage was negated, I had still suffered from the paralysis effect. I fought the paralysis, trying to move my hand slowly to grip the spear. I was running out of time as the raptor approached me slowly and warily, partly also due to its own injuries.
Using the spear as a walking stick, I was able to partly force myself to stand. My legs were shaking as I stood, more to put a strong front rather being able to move freely. The paralysis effects were wearing off but I was in no condition to tussle with the raptor in close combat.
The raptor paused as it saw me stand up, again shrieking at me for not dying after being struck like it had expected me to. It took a step back, momentarily making me think it might run away again.
Instead, it reared its head, getting ready to release another Lightning Bolt at me. "Fuck, if I let that hit me, lightning resistance or not, I definitely won't be able to move. It can definitely finish me off with those sharp claws afterwards"
I momentarily considered trying to fire my own Lightning Bolt at it but its resistance was probably higher than me with those bones and thick hide. That was the moment an internal switch clicked in me. I did not have fight fire with fire, or in this case, lightning with lightning. I merely needed to guide the lightning away from me, just like how I guided my own Lightning Bolt.
I quickly cast the runes for Lightning Bolt but instead of discharging a bolt of my own, I anchored the ionization trail to the ground beside me and towards the Storm Runner's mouth. As the raptor's Lightning Bolt fired, it was guided by my ionization trail and was diverted to the ground beside me instead of hitting me.
The raptor closed its mouth and looked at me, again confused as it had expected to see me squirming on the floor. I grinned, and did a beckoning hand wave with my free hand, gesturing for it to "come at me". That seemed to rile it up as it gathered another ball of lightning before releasing it at me.
I grounded it again, and observed the Lightning Mana in the Storm Runner's core. It was about halfway empty now, drained from the area discharge and the two bolts it fired. I estimated it probably had three to four shots left, five at most.
The raptor got more agitated, its survival instincts probably warning alarm bells by now as it started firing one bolt followed by another. By the fourth shot, its core was at the dimmest, barely a trickle of mana left in it.
It tried to fire one more time but the ball of energy failed to form in its mouth. The Storm Runner was slouching by now, barely standing on its one good leg. It was breathing heavily, drained from the repeated attacks it had fired and the blood loss it had suffered.
My own paralysis had also mostly worn off by now, as I steadied my spear preparing to face the raptor's last stand. I could see the look of denial in the raptor's eyes as it fought for survival, stubborn bastard I thought. A flicker of respect made me decide to let it go down fighting, instead of waiting for it to bleed out. Stupid decision, I know, but this raptor would become the foundation of Mark II and it deserved the respect it earned.
I gradually approached it, spear out in front of me for a quick stab or to deflect any claws. It was gradually getting lower on the ground, probably losing its strength to hold it self up anymore. I was fully alert and my Electro Perception was fully running.
When I was within a few steps, I saw a pulse of activity in the raptor's already dimming nervous system. That was all the signal I needed to know that an attack was coming, and I side stepped to my left. The Storm Runner's jaws clamped down on where my head was a moment ago, and with all the strength I could muster through my 150 cm frame, I plunged the spear in my hand through the side of its neck.
Only a small squirt of blood came out as the spear pierce its hide, followed by muscles and blood vessels. The Storm Runner fell on its side, its eyes still having the defiant look I saw earlier. But the blood loss and the fatal wound through its neck finally took its toll and the eyes rolled up into its head. "Don't worry, you'll live on through Mark II" I said as I closed its eye lids.
I could see the neural activity completely stopping as the raptor finally died. A different bloom of energy appear just as it did, unlike anything I had ever felt. The raptor was probably also a Yellow cored beast, so it should have been similar sensation to when I killed the Weepwyrm a few weeks back. However, the energy felt qualitatively different this time. It felt as though it was calling to me, beckoning me to reach out.
I placed my hand on the based on the neck, and just as I opened up my channels, a surge of raw lightning flowed into me. It was violent and destructive, but it felt like it belonged. I had worried my mana channels would be fried as that energy flowed through me but that burning sensation disappeared just as fast as it went.
It flowed into my core, churning for a beat before settling down, permanently strengthening me. The chime of notification arrived but I had stopped it from appearing as I was not safe yet.
I quickly used the rope I brought to tie up the raptor. I had to be careful in how I hauled it as the Storm Runner had the scythe like claw on its legs, and the other claws were sharp as well even if they were shorter.
I had decided to leave the trap set up and iron spears for now. I would collect them another day but if I they were somehow lost or broken, they could be replaced with more coin. The more urgent matter was to get the raptor back to the Weeping Grotto and recover myself. I did not suffer any lasting injuries but if more than a single beast showed up now, I would find it hard to defend myself and protect the Storm Runner's body.
I dropped the Storm Runner carcass on the ground as I collapsed on my bottom once I was back to the grotto. The track took longer than I had expected due to carrying the raptor awkwardly, plus having to detour around a few beasts I spotted.
I finally let the notifications come through as I was finally in a safe environment.
[Lightning Bolt leveled up 4 -> 5]
[You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 1,000]
[You have leveled up 1 -> 2]
I read through and dismissed the usual notification, I guessed how I had used the Lightning Bolt's ionization trail to ground an opponent's lightning had been considered an alternative use.
I moved on to the next notification.
[You have absorbed a Lightning Affinity Yellow Core. You have increased your Mana Core Capacity by 500]
"What?!? That's new, no wonder the energy felt different. It seems like I will get a bonus if I absorbed a core of the same affinity."
"Huh? There's another notification"
[New Soul Mutation unlocked: Myelin Insulation]
I just stared at it for a few seconds, as it had been a long time since I had unlocked a new soul mutation.