Racing through the dense undergrowth of the forest, Evan chased after the feathered thief. Bush after bush, he struggled to keep up, his small body moving with the agility of a seasoned hunter. Despite his strength, the bird remained just out of reach, its wings flapping frantically as it darted between the trees.
Suddenly, the bird slowed down, hovering just ahead. Sensing an opportunity, Evan surged forward, arm outstretched, fingers grasping at the empty air.
FlapFlap—the sound of beating wings filled his ears as the bird shot upward into the sky, vanishing into the canopy. Evan skidded to a stop, tilting his head back, eyes locked onto the disappearing figure. Frustration twisted his face into a grimace, his jaw clenched in irritation. But after a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself.
"Huuuuu… Relax... I'll find another one," he muttered, closing his eyes in an attempt to quell his frustration.
Shuuu—a faint rustling sound came from the surrounding foliage. At first, Evan ignored it, still caught up in his own thoughts.
Shuuu—another rustle, this time louder. His eyes snapped open, scanning the dense greenery around him. His gaze flicked between the towering trees, the thick bushes, and the tangled undergrowth, but he saw nothing.
"Did I imagine it?" he whispered to himself, muscles tensing as he strained to listen.
ShuuuU—this time, the sound was unmistakable. Before he could react, a dark shape burst from the underbrush—a wolf.
Evan's breath hitched as he locked eyes with the beast. It was enormous, nearly a meter tall at the shoulder, with sleek black fur that shimmered in the dim forest light. Its crimson eyes burned with an insatiable hunger, a terrifying, primal desire for blood.
Grrrrr—the wolf growled, baring its sharp fangs. Drool dripped from its jaws, pooling onto the earth below as if it had been starving for days.
Panic surged through Evan's veins, his mind racing. What do I do?! What do I do?! Shit! Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his body tensed with fear. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move. It was as if they were rooted to the ground. Move! Move, damn it! MOVE! his thoughts shrieked in desperation.
The wolf inched closer, its growl deepening. Thump-thump-thump—Evan's heartbeat pounded in his ears, drowning out everything else.
Tup—the wolf took another step.
Evan swallowed hard, his breath shallow. His wide eyes remained locked on the predator before him, unable to look away.
Tup—another step. Grrrr… The beast was toying with him, savoring the fear radiating from its prey.
Then, without warning, the wolf lunged.
A blur of black fur and flashing fangs hurtled toward Evan. But in that instant, something inside him snapped—the terror transformed into raw determination. Instinct took over.
At the last possible second, Evan threw himself to the ground, rolling to the side just as the beast's massive frame soared past him. Huffff… Huffff… His breath came in ragged gasps, adrenaline flooding his system.
The wolf landed with a heavy thud, its claws digging into the earth. It whirled around immediately, its red eyes burning with even greater bloodlust. But now… something else gleamed in them—amusement. The beast was enjoying this. It was playing with him.
A wicked grin twisted its muzzle, lips curling upward in a grotesque semblance of joy. It wanted the chase to last. It wanted to taste Evan's terror.
Fuck… fuck, fuck, fuck! Evan's mind screamed. Why the hell did I have to run into a psycho wolf?!
The creature began circling him, slow and deliberate, like a predator savoring the moment before the kill. Evan turned with it, never letting it out of his sight. His mind raced for a plan, something—anything—that could save him.
Then, his eyes landed on a towering tree just a few meters away. His only chance.
Four meters… The distance felt impossible.
The wolf was still circling, savoring his helplessness. But just as Evan considered making a break for it, the beast attacked again—this time charging straight at him, no hesitation, no tricks.
Time seemed to slow.
What do I do?! THINK! Evan's thoughts were a blur of panic and strategy, his survival instincts screaming in his mind. His eyes widened as an idea struck him—reckless, but his only shot.
Instead of running away, he ran toward the wolf.
The beast's crimson eyes flickered with surprise as Evan sprinted straight at it. Jaws gaped wide, fangs ready to tear into flesh. But the moment they were close enough to collide, Evan leaped—hands outstretched, using the wolf's snout as a springboard.
KRAK! The creature's jaws snapped shut, missing him by inches. A chill ran down Evan's spine at the brutal sound.
Launching himself upward, he soared a meter and a half into the air, time stretching as he frantically searched for his next move. Then—
There! A thick, sturdy branch lay at the base of the tree. His mind snapped into focus.
That's it! he screamed internally.
As he landed, he immediately lunged for the branch. Behind him, the wolf recovered quickly, shaking off its failed attack. This time, it didn't hesitate—it lunged again, aiming to finish the hunt.
Evan grabbed the branch just as the beast leaped.
A heartbeat later—
SHUNK! A sickening crunch echoed through the forest.
The wolf's momentum carried it straight into the sharpened end of the branch. The thick wood pierced through its skull, silencing its growl in an instant.
Evan collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. The beast twitched once, then fell limp. Blood pooled around the fallen predator, staining the earth in dark crimson.
For a long moment, he lay there, heart pounding, lungs burning. Then, finally, he let out a shaky breath.
"Holy shit…"
Evan's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the motionless body of the beast. It was dead. Completely still. And yet, he couldn't quite process it. His trembling hands slowly rose to his face, as if trying to confirm that he was, in fact, still alive.
He kept staring… and staring… his mind sluggishly piecing together what had just happened. How? How had he survived?
His breath was uneven, his heart still pounding erratically—not from fear anymore, but from something else. Something unfamiliar. A strange, unsettling feeling coiled in his chest. As he continued to look at the lifeless predator, something inside him snapped.
Suddenly, he lurched forward, his body heaving violently as he vomited onto the forest floor. The sheer disgust of what had happened overwhelmed him. The sight of the dead beast. The realization that he had—
Killed.
For the first time in his life, he had taken something else's life.
And yet, he knew… if he hadn't, he wouldn't be standing here. He'd be the one lying dead on the ground. Or worse.
The memory of the wolf's twisted grin, its bloodthirsty eyes filled his mind. He was sure of it—if that thing had the chance, it wouldn't have granted him a quick death. It would have ripped him apart piece by piece, reveling in his agony before finally finishing him off.
His stomach twisted again, but this time, not just from nausea. A new emotion burned in his chest as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He glanced at the beast, but this time, his gaze wasn't filled with fear.
It was anger. Hatred. Powerlessness.
His fingers clenched into fists as a bitter realization sank in.
"If it weren't for that damn branch… I'd be dead."
The words slipped from his lips, quiet but weighted with disbelief. He wiped his face, still unable to fully accept how close he had been to dying. But the truth was undeniable.
He had survived. Barely.
Slowly rising from the forest floor, Evan's gaze remained locked on the lifeless beast before him. He was still in shock—though he didn't fully realize it himself. His eyes traced over the creature that had nearly killed him, and in that moment, a realization struck him with chilling clarity.
The dream he had clung to… the false hope of living a peaceful life…
It was nothing more than an illusion. A fragile, unattainable fantasy in a world like this.
Yet, as he continued staring at the beast, his pale, snow-like eyes burned with lingering anger—but also with something deeper. A newfound understanding.
If he remained weak, he would never be able to live the life he wanted.
Taking a slow step forward, he approached the beast that had been dead for several minutes now. Standing over it, he could finally see its eyes up close. And in them, he found something unexpected.
Fear.
The beast's crimson eyes, once burning with the desire to kill, had changed in its final moments. In its last breath, it had realized the inevitability of its own death. But by the time that awareness had dawned upon the creature—it had already been too late.
Evan let out a small chuckle.
His small frame, barely reaching a meter and a half, loomed over the beast's corpse. And as he continued to stare into those eyes—those fear-filled, lifeless eyes—his lips curled into a grin. A grin that stretched wider… and wider… until it became something else entirely.
The manic grin of someone who had just escaped death.
And then—
"HahaHa, HEHEhehe! HAHAHAAAAA!"
Laughter erupted from his throat, wild and unrestrained. It echoed through the forest, filled with madness and relief, until suddenly—it stopped. Silence returned, and after a lingering pause, Evan leaned down slightly over the corpse.
Then, without hesitation, he spat on it.
"Serves you right, you piece of shit!" he shouted at the lifeless body, punctuating his words with a sharp kick to its side. But then, as he crouched directly before the beast's open jaws, his expression shifted.
"…The only thing I regret…" he murmured, his voice now eerily calm, almost emotionless. "Is that you didn't suffer… more."
His words were slow, deliberate. And the voice that carried them was unlike anything a normal person could produce—a voice so chilling it could send shivers through anyone who heard it.
Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the moment passed. Evan straightened himself, exhaled sharply, and spoke again.
"System."
[Yes?] responded a robotic voice.
"How long did that fight last?" His tone was composed now, as if he were forcing himself to remain calm—desperate not to dwell on what had just happened, not to spiral any further into madness.
[To be precise, the battle concluded with the beast's death in 1 minute and 31 seconds.]
Hearing those words, Evan's eyes widened slightly. Still covered in sweat, he ran a hand through his damp hair, wiping his forehead before taking a slow step forward.
"I didn't expect that… But how would you rate my reaction? Keep it brief." His voice carried a hint of curiosity.
[Strictly speaking, very few individuals would have handled the situation as you did—maintaining composure, avoiding panic, and actively seeking a way to escape or fight back. Analyzing all factors related to this battle, I calculate that while the host could have made several better decisions, given the circumstances, the overall performance ranks at a 6 out of 10.]
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[A/N:
How did you like the chapter? I hope it kept you on the edge of your seat and surprised you!
Of course, if you don't forget and feel like it, you can add this book to your library. I also hope you won't forget to gift a Power Stone.
Once again, I truly hope you enjoyed the chapter and that you'll come back for more.
That's all from me for today—have a great day!