Chapter 72: Night Hunt

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Night Hunt

Just like with the last path selection, two Insight panels popped up right in front of Seraphina Sinclair.

One was the Insight on the monster, and the other was the Insight result for the "Night Hunt."

Night Hunt.

’Judging by the name, this has to be the mechanism behind the monsters appearing at night!’

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t rush to check the information. The two panels had already appeared. ’If I don’t light the fire now, am I just going to wait for the monsters to swarm me?’

’That would be too late.’

The lighter’s flame licked at the toilet paper. It was flammable and caught fire almost instantly.

Seraphina Sinclair tossed the twisted paper onto the gasoline-soaked firewood. The moment the flames erupted, the monster shrieked as if it had seen something terrifying. Its human face contorted, but its body kept moving forward.

Seraphina Sinclair silently gripped her dagger, steeling herself for a bitter fight. But then, like a phantom, the creature vanished into thin air right before her eyes.

’Something’s not right. Something is very, very wrong.’

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t hastily put away her weapon, her gaze sweeping vigilantly across the cabin.

There were no monsters in the area illuminated by the fire.

She couldn’t see any sign of the monster.

’Did it get too close to the campfire and die instantly?’

Seraphina Sinclair frowned. After another fruitless search, even though she was still uneasy, she had to assume the monster was dead.

She slowly sat down and first looked at the monster’s panel.

[Night Traveling Mucus (E-level)]

[Description: An amalgam of Black Mist and the resentment of the dead, typically active at night. Unrestful souls are imprisoned within the mucus, and their wails lure more prey near. The mucus is highly corrosive and will dissolve flesh on contact. When stimulated, it releases a hallucinogenic gas.]

[Weakness: ???]

’Hallucinogenic?’

Seraphina Sinclair’s heart leaped into her throat. She gripped her dagger and instinctively took a step back. And in the next instant!

A pitch-black human face lunged from the shadows—judging by its trajectory, it was aiming straight for Seraphina Sinclair’s face.

Seraphina Sinclair whipped out a Fire Drawing Rune and tore it without hesitation. A sudden burst of flame lit up the area. The monster, seemingly photophobic, went rigid and fell stiffly to the ground.

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t hold back. ’The monster is just paralyzed for some reason, it’s not dead!’

’Kick it while it’s down! If I miss this golden opportunity, the rest of the fight will be hell!’

Seraphina Sinclair had made the right call.

The moment the flames touched the Night Traveling Mucus, they erupted violently. The monster writhed and struggled within the fire, letting out horrific shrieks.

Seraphina Sinclair watched with a frown, her expression impassive.

But she had forgotten that for this monster, being on fire was also a form of intense stimulation.

It twisted in the flames, its human face suddenly staring unblinkingly at Seraphina Sinclair. It opened its massive maw, then closed it again, puffing out its cheeks like a toad as if charging up an attack.

Seraphina Sinclair paused, then casually pulled the bamboo stick from Miller’s Hardware out of her Silver Moon Earrings.

’That’s right, all this miscellaneous junk is stuffed in the Silver Moon Earrings. Now’s the perfect time to use it.’

She quickly shoved the stick under the monster, and with a sharp flick, flung it into the campfire!

It all happened in a flash. Before the monster could spit out whatever was in its mouth, it tumbled into the campfire. It let out one final shriek and completely lost the will to struggle.

As for Seraphina Sinclair, she quietly went to the bathroom, filled an iron pot with water, and splashed it onto the floor to cool it down.

’Don’t catch on fire...’

’I really don’t want a drafty floor!’

’Not even for one night!’

Perhaps because she had doused it in time, only a black scorch mark remained on the floor.

Seraphina Sinclair had seen too many of these to feel anything about it anymore.

The only thing worth complaining about was...

"An E-level monster doesn’t even drop a Supply Box?"

Seraphina Sinclair scratched her head. Once she confirmed the monster was completely dead, she sat back down by the campfire and opened the other panel.

[Night Hunt]

[Description: When darkness shrouds The Black Mist World, dormant Hunters will emerge in droves. They fear the light but crave living flesh. Firelight can temporarily repel them, but if the flames go out for more than 30 seconds, the Hunters will follow the scent of the living. Hunting Range: Each mobile cabin attracts a specific number of Hunters. Their strength and number are related to the survivor’s current distance from the dead. Travel too far, and you will be marked as a priority target...]

Seraphina Sinclair fell silent. ’Isn’t that describing me perfectly?’

’I’m already traveling three times the distance of a normal survivor each day. So that’s why I was marked...’

Seraphina Sinclair shook her head and continued reading.

[...All nightly Hunters are photophobic; fire can cause them to retreat or be annihilated (depending on the species). A continuously burning campfire forms a "Safe Zone." The area illuminated by the firelight is the safe zone! However, this "Safe Zone" is not absolute. If your cabin’s Level is too low and it is not sturdy enough, Hunters will break right through the door!]

[Current Hunter Level: F, corresponding to a Black Iron-tier cabin!]

’I see.’

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t rush to close the panel. Instead, she took a screenshot.

’This is important information. Information I risked my life to get. I certainly can’t just give it away for free. I’m not short on basic materials at the moment, so...’

’Maybe I’ll sell it for some Black Fog Coins.’

’Even if I can’t spend them, it’s comforting just to have them on hand.’

Seraphina Sinclair glanced at the time. It was only nine o’clock. Still early. She could sell it now!

[Blacktiger Ford]: Selling detailed intel on the nightly hunt mechanism! A direct screenshot of the Insight results, full of important information. Only 5 Black Fog Coins, first come, first served!

With the shining example set by Effortless Master, the survivor who had selflessly shared intel earlier, Seraphina Sinclair’s message naturally sparked a great deal of resentment.

"??? Master Blacktiger, that’s not cool. You’re actually charging for it?"

"Effortless Master shared intel for free, and you’re trying to sell it for cash? There’s no need for that. We’re all survivors here, we’re in the same boat. Why be like that?"

"5 Black Fog Coins? You’re banking on the fact that everyone got 10 Black Fog Coins in the Starter Pack and can afford it, aren’t you?"

"LMAO, you really think you’re hot stuff? I wanted to call you out when you were renting out lighters, and now you’re trying to profit off an information advantage?"

"Don’t buy it, everyone! I’m sure someone will post it for free later!"

Seraphina Sinclair glanced at the comments. She had expected this kind of response, and her expression remained unchanged.

Sure enough, people immediately started trying to guilt-trip her.

But soon, dissenting voices began to appear—

"Effortless Master chose to share for free, that’s on them. Master Blacktiger wants to sell it, that’s his right, isn’t it?"

"Forget about whether he should or shouldn’t. What I really want to know is... how did Master Blacktiger get that Insight in the first place?"