Ape of the Wilds

The jungle of Aru'Mata was restless. The scent of blood and battle still lingered in the air, but something else had begun to fester—war was coming.

Kuro stood at the edge of the Maw'Tanu village, staring out into the darkened trees, his mind set on his next move. The Tzalik had been broken, their warband shattered, but he knew better than to celebrate. They weren't defeated. Not yet.

Somewhere in the jungle, a new leader had risen among them, someone with the power and vision to unite them into a real force. If Kuro wanted to protect his people, if he wanted to win this war before it even started, he had to do more than wait for the next attack.

He had to take the fight to them.

Name: Kuro

Race: Maw'Tanu Ape

Level: 6 (40/600 XP)

Health: 170/170

Stamina: 150/150

Mana: 20/20

Strength: 14

Dexterity: 14

Endurance: 12

Intelligence: 2

Wisdom: 1

Skills:

• Unarmed Combat (Lv.3) [+] – Mastery over unarmed strikes, grappling, and counterattacks.

• Survival (Lv.3) [+] – Increased awareness, tracking skills, and adaptability in the wild.

• Fire-making (Lv.1) – Ability to create and sustain fire with basic materials.

• Weapon Crafting (Lv.2) [+] – The ability to craft effective primitive weapons and improve them.

• Grappling (Lv.2) [+] – Enhanced ability to subdue enemies, apply locks, and break limbs.

• Aerial Combat (Lv.1) – Increased agility and precision when attacking from above.

• Instinct (Lv.1) – Heightened reaction time and combat awareness.

Titles:

• Jungle Predator – Fear effect on weaker enemies; stealth attacks deal +15% extra damage.

• Tzalik's Bane – Tzalik warriors now recognize Kuro as a major threat.

• Effect: Tzalik forces will be more aggressive in their pursuit of him.

Quest Active: The Warlord's Shadow

• Infiltrate the Tzalik territory and uncover the identity of their new leader.

• Eliminate high-ranking Tzalik shamans to weaken their forces.

• Prevent the next attack before it begins.

Reward: +400 XP, New Combat Skill Unlocked.

Kuro glanced over his shoulder at the five warriors standing behind him.

Kota, the silent killer, his twin daggers gleaming under the moonlight.

Sia, the dead-eyed huntress, already stringing an arrow onto her bow.

Varek, the seasoned warrior, gripping his throwing spears tightly.

Boru, the brute, rolling his shoulders, eager for another fight.

Ruka, the relentless, his spiked club resting on one shoulder.

They had fought alongside him during the ambush. Now, they would follow him into enemy territory.

"Are you ready?" Kuro asked, voice low.

Boru let out a short laugh. "I was born ready."

Kota gave a silent nod. Sia simply stared ahead.

Varek's gaze was focused, and Ruka shifted his weight, impatient.

Kuro didn't need to ask twice.

They disappeared into the trees, vanishing like ghosts into the heart of enemy land.

The deeper they moved into the jungle, the more Kuro could feel the change in the air.

The Tzalik marked their territory with symbols carved into the trees, dark paint smeared onto stones, and bones hung from branches—warnings for outsiders.

Kuro barely acknowledged them.

These lands were his now.

They reached the river crossing, a narrow stretch of fast-moving water that separated the Maw'Tanu's lands from the Tzalik strongholds deeper within the jungle.

Kuro raised a hand, signaling for his warriors to halt.

"Guards," Kota whispered.

Kuro spotted them.

Three Tzalik warriors, standing on the riverbank, weapons in hand. They were watching the water, unaware of the danger above them.

Perfect.

Kuro signaled to Sia.

She nodded, her movements swift and precise. She raised her bow, took a breath, and fired.

The arrow pierced the first guard's throat, dropping him instantly.

The second turned, eyes wide in alarm—

Kota appeared behind him, his daggers flashing. A quick slice to the neck, and the warrior fell without a sound.

The third tried to shout, raising his spear—

Kuro dropped from the canopy, landing directly on his back.

The force sent the warrior crashing to the ground, and before he could struggle, Kuro's claws sank deep into his chest.

The warrior twitched once—then stopped moving.

Silence.

The river flowed undisturbed.

Kuro stood, motioning for the others to move. They crossed the river without another sound.

The signs of Tzalik activity grew stronger the further they traveled.

They passed cleared-out sections of the jungle, areas where the trees had been burned or chopped down—marks of a growing force, one preparing for something much bigger than raids.

Then, they saw the first camp.

A cluster of tents and wooden structures, Tzalik warriors moving between torch-lit paths.

But it wasn't the camp itself that caught Kuro's attention.

It was the massive wooden effigy standing at its center.

A towering figure, carved into the likeness of something twisted, monstrous, and wrong. Its mouth gaped open, jagged teeth exposed, its eyes hollow and endless.

Blood stained the base of the statue.

Kuro's gut tightened.

This was more than just a war camp.

This was a ritual site.

And if the Tzalik were performing blood magic, that meant a shaman was here.

Kuro's claws flexed.

Good.

He needed answers.

Kuro crouched low, whispering to his warriors.

"There's a shaman here. We take him, we find out what they're planning."

Varek nodded. "How do you want to do this?"

Kuro's mind worked quickly.

They needed to move fast and silent.

"Sia, take out the outer guards."

She nodded, already raising her bow.

"Kota, find a way into the shaman's tent. Take him alive."

A small smirk tugged at the assassin's lips. "Easy."

"Boru, Ruka, Varek—you're with me. We hit them hard if things go wrong."

No one hesitated.

The plan was set.

And the Tzalik had no idea what was coming.

Sia moved first.

Her arrows whistled through the night, striking the outer guards one by one.

No screams.

No alarms.

Kota slipped through the shadows, disappearing into the camp.

Kuro and the others waited, tense, ready.

Then, a sound—a muffled grunt from the shaman's tent.

Kota had him.

But something went wrong.

A sudden horn blast split the night.

Kuro's eyes widened.

They knew.

The camp erupted in chaos, warriors scrambling for weapons—

The stealth was over.

Kuro grinned, baring his fangs.

"Burn the camp."

Boru let out a roar of approval as he charged forward, swinging his massive fists.

Ruka smashed through the first group of Tzalik like a storm.

Varek's spear flew, impaling a warrior through the chest.

And Kuro?

Kuro leapt into the heart of battle, his Duskrunner Claws ready.

The war had truly begun.