The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 48: An "Open and Aboveboard" Ambush

Lumian carefully wrapped layers of white bandages around his left hand. Then, he gathered his gear: the "Corrupted Mercury," an iron-black axe, gray amber perfume, biscuits, cheese, a blood-soaked lamb chop, rope for traps, and a bag of cold water. After securing his shotgun on his back, he exited his semi-underground home.

In the pervasive, thin gray mist, he traversed a barren, cracked wilderness with no vegetation, heading straight into the ruins of the dreamscape, making his way toward the clearing where the fire monster often roamed.

Upon hearing distant sounds from that direction, Lumian turned toward the route the monster usually took, arriving at a natural trap he had previously identified.

This trap was a deep pit by the roadside, flanked by a collapsed wall on the front and left sides, with a pile of stones on the right, leading to a half-destroyed building behind. The pit was well-hidden, difficult to notice from the road, and Lumian had discovered it only after multiple explorations.

He crouched behind the pit and threw a few sharpened sticks inside, then covered it with a pre-woven rope net and scattered some loose soil over it.

With the trap now set, it was time to place the bait.

Lumian carefully positioned the two blood-soaked lamb chops near the edge of the net, with one end supported by the ground and the other hanging over the pit.

Satisfied with the precarious balance, Lumian stepped back and entered the partially collapsed building, climbing up to the remnants of an outer wall. He crouched down, adjusting his position to keep a clear view of the trap without being easily spotted by the monster.

Next, Lumian took out the gray amber perfume and sprayed a bit on the wall.

The faint, sweet fragrance spread out, carried by the occasional winds that swept through the ruins of the dreamscape, leaving a slight lingering scent on the wall and on Lumian himself.

Without lingering any longer, Lumian jumped down from his perch.

Upon landing, he moved away, carrying the faint scent of the perfume. He made a large arc, returning to the path the fire monster usually took, this time closer to the area where it hunted for flesh to replenish its energy. Lumian changed direction again, crossing the path and entering the ruins of a nearby building.

He stopped behind the shaky remains of the structure, leaning against the wall as he waited.

Just as with his strategy against the shotgun monster, Lumian never expected his earlier setup to severely injure the fire monster. It was more of a lure and alarm, tailored to the monster's keen sense of smell, observational skills, and behavioral patterns.

Only a "Hunter" would know how to use a "hunter's" strengths against it!

Of course, this strategy hinged on the assumption that the target relied heavily on instinct, with only residual intelligence limited to combat.

With his back against the wall, Lumian drew the "Corrupted Mercury" with his left hand, now wrapped in white bandages, and removed the black cloth covering it.

He didn't know when the fire monster would arrive, so all he could do was be patient.

And patience was a strength he had cultivated during his time as a wanderer.

Time passed slowly. Unseen by Lumian, the charred, flame-covered creature had entered the path.

It walked forward about ten or twenty meters before its nose twitched, catching a faint scent of blood.

The creature didn't immediately turn around. It continued moving forward while glancing toward the source of the scent.

As it passed the collapsed wall, the two blood-soaked lamb chops came into view.