52 Death Jungle (2/2)
”In enemy territory, while it may be tempting to creep forward at the slowest possible speeds, that is simply hoping the enemy will not find you! This is passive, and not a good option unless you are forced into it. Think about it, while the slow snail may not be noticed, if it is, it is simply a target! It can do nothing but die if it is seen! However, neither is blazing speed a complete option, obviously at high speeds, traps and other pitfalls will become a serious threat, to say nothing of the worst possibility, running into an enemy which is faster than you, then you are definitely dead.” Lineir nodded, this all made sense to him.
”So kiddo, remember, most of the time, your default option is to continue with stealth, but maintaining a high speed! This way, if you are detected, you are still difficult to hit! This is preferable to either of the extremes. But remember to lean towards speed. Full stealth is passive, in life, those who make the greatest gains must be aggressive, cautious, but undoubtably aggressive! That way, if you encounter someone who is extremely skilled in detection, at least you still have a chance when found. Only in the case of entering the territory of one who is unquestionably untouchable at your level should you commit to pure stealth. Obviously, at that point you have no choice, if discovered, no amount of running will save you.” This logic had served Lineir well on the pillar, and now he applied it to use. Since he did not know what kind of enemies he faced, he moved cautiously, but kept a fast pace.
”STOP!” Mei's voice exploded into Lineir's mind as he immediately braked, legs locking at the knees to dig into the dirt. He sensed something incredibly wrong, and had begun to stop at the same time as Mei's mental shout.
”What is it? I can feel this place is wrong.” Crouching down, Lineir was like a cat preparing to pounce or leap away to safety. Every sense was probing the surroundings, he could hear the jungle's noises, trickling water nearby, smell the rotting vegetation in the air, and his eyes unfocused to scan the largest possible area for movement. Relying on his peripherals, he tried to spot movement.
”Kiddo, the death Qi has been steadily getting stronger. I can almost taste it in the air. It's getting stronger even when you're not moving, something's coming, hide!” Mei's voice softened even though it was in Lineir's head, as if she was also next to him. Lineir straightened his legs, instantly leaping up and sideways onto the trunk of a nearby tree, alighted sideways and leaped off the trunk into the branches of another nearby tree. Hidden amongst the rustling leaves, he stared down waiting.
”Any moment now... the death Qi is getting even stronger!” Lineir tensed, and braced for action. If discovered, he was prepared to run at a moments notice.
A rustle came, and soft footsteps sounded on the loamy root covered ground. Lineir was like a coiled spring now, his eyes flicking instantly to the movement in his peripherals while his body stayed stock still.
”What is that doing here?”
Below him, walking over the place Lineir had just been, was an undead. It was clothed in ragged rotting robes which were brown with dirt, and was more or less a skeleton with a few chunks of black flesh sitting in it's center. For the most part, it was a skeleton, standing almost two meters tall. In its hands was a large blunt cudgel like heavy sword. It was not an artistic weapon, more of a meat cleaver than a sword. It hesitated over the small trenches in the ground which Lineir had dug when he had suddenly braked. Bending over, with its rags drifting sightly in the wind, it sniffed the ground like some sort of unholy dog. Then it raised its head and stared directly at Lineir's hiding spot in the trees.
”No way... it can smell me!?!!!”