I leaped frantically between branches.
The footsteps behind me grew closer and closer.
The Forest Wolves were fast, and they knew this forest too well.
I could hear their low growls, feel their killing intent.
The northern thicket was ahead.
Still some distance away.
But the Forest Wolves were already catching up.
I could hear their heavy breathing just behind me.
"Faster!"
I leaped with all my strength.
Suddenly—
A Forest Wolf charged out from the side!
It had already circled ahead!
I hastily changed direction.
But another wolf appeared too.
They were surrounding me.
I immediately released Waspy and Brownie.
"Prepare to fight!"
Waspy instantly took flight, Brownie also ready.
But from the surrounding bushes, more Forest Wolves emerged.
One, two, three...
Six!
Six Forest Wolves surrounded us in a fan formation, blocking all escape routes.
I quickly checked the nearest one's information.
[Forest Wolf]
[Level 12/30]
[HP: 180/180]
[MP: 80/80]
[Strength: 22]
[Defense: 15]
[Speed: 20]
[Luck: 8]
[Pack-hunting wolf-type magic beast, fairly intelligent, usually hunt in groups of 3-5, common threat in forests]
Stats way higher than ours.
I glanced at the others—stats all similar.
Some had higher strength, some faster speed.
Any one of them alone could crush me.
Let alone now being six against three.
They slowly closed in, growling.
Eyes cold, full of killing intent.
This wasn't ordinary hunting.
They were here to kill me.
"Waspy, prepare to disrupt. Brownie, stay close to me." I said in a low voice.
"If there's a chance, charge toward the thicket."
Just as I finished—
Three Forest Wolves attacked simultaneously!
Pouncing from different directions!
The nearest wolf leaped, front claws swinging toward my head.
I immediately ducked.
Claws grazed my ear, taking several hairs.
But another wolf was already pouncing from the side.
Its claws heavily struck my flank.
"BAM!"
Intense pain—my ribs felt cracked.
I was knocked back several steps, staggering and nearly falling.
[HP: 130/155]
The third wolf seized the chance to pounce at Brownie.
"Watch out!" I shouted.
But too late.
That wolf's speed was extreme—just as Brownie tried to dodge, it slapped him down with one claw.
"SMACK—!"
Brownie flew like a struck pebble, rolling several meters.
[Brownie HP: 70/100]
"Mental Disruption!" Waspy flew toward the wolf.
The wolf's movements faltered, eyes glazing over.
But just for an instant.
It shook its head and regained clarity, as if swatting away an annoying insect.
Then continued pouncing at Brownie who'd just gotten up.
Brownie hadn't steadied yet when the wolf bit its tail.
"Ah!"
The wolf violently shook its head.
Brownie's entire body was flung up, slamming hard into a tree.
"CRASH—!"
The trunk shook, dropping several leaves.
Brownie slid down, curling up, trembling in pain.
[Brownie HP: 50/100]
I wanted to save it.
But two Forest Wolves blocked my path.
One wolf growled and pounced from the front.
I jumped to the side.
But this was a trap.
The other wolf had been waiting there, opening its jaws toward my hind leg.
"SLASH—!"
Teeth pierced flesh, biting deep into muscle.
Excruciating pain!
I screamed, frantically clawing at its face, scratching across its eye.
The wolf released in pain, backing away several steps.
[Forest Wolf HP: 145/160]
But my hind leg was already mangled, blood continuously gushing.
[HP: 90/155]
Before I could steady myself, another wolf pounced.
Front claws pressed heavily on my back.
"CRASH—!"
I was pinned to the ground, face against dirt.
Couldn't breathe.
The wolf's claws pressed like iron pincers, its heavy body immobilizing me.
It lowered its head, opening its jaws.
Rank breath rushed over, drool dripping on my neck.
About to bite through my throat!
Just then—
Waspy charged over.
"Mental Disruption!"
The wolf's movements froze briefly.
I seized the chance, struggling desperately, kicking its abdomen with my hind legs.
The wolf flinched in pain, knocked back slightly.
[Forest Wolf HP: 170/180]
[HP: 70/155]
I rolled away, just getting up—
Another wolf charged from the side.
Faster than the other wolves, like a black shadow.
I had no time to react.
"BAM—!"
Sent flying, my back slamming hard into a trunk.
"CRACK—"
The sound of bones breaking in my back.
Intense pain nearly made me lose consciousness.
[HP: 50/155]
I slid down, struggling to get up.
But my legs wouldn't respond, heavy as lead.
Waspy tried to help me.
But a wolf leaped, its tail whipping like a lash and striking it.
"SMACK!"
Waspy was sent flying, hitting a branch and bouncing back to the ground.
It struggled to fly but its wings were damaged, barely lifting inches off the ground.
[Waspy HP: 55/85]
Brownie crawled toward me with difficulty, wanting to heal.
But the strongest wolf—the pack leader—pounced at it again.
Brownie sensed danger and tried to dodge.
But it was too slow.
The wolf's claws raked across its back.
"SLASH SLASH SLASH—!"
Three deep wounds, nearly reaching bone.
Blood spurted out.
"Brownie!"
Brownie screamed and fell, trembling all over, blood continuously flowing from the wounds.
[Brownie HP: 30/100]
I gritted my teeth, using my last strength to stand.
Legs shaking, blood still flowing.
But I had to save it.
I pounced at the pack leader.
Biting its leg with all my strength.
"CRUNCH—!"
Hit!
Teeth pierced its flesh.
The wolf just shook its leg, as if bitten by a mosquito.
[Forest Wolf HP: 185/200]
Then it turned, biting back at me.
"SLASH—!"
Caught my front paw.
Intense pain!
It violently shook its head.
My entire body was flung up, spinning in the air.
"CRASH—!"
Slammed hard into the ground.
[HP: 30/155]
Vision blurring.
Pain everywhere.
I could feel my front paw's bones had broken.
Blood covered the ground, seeping into the soil in a dark red patch.
Waspy barely stayed airborne.
Blood dripping from its wings, drop by drop hitting the ground.
It used Mental Disruption again.
But the effect was even weaker this time.
The wolves just shook their heads and continued closing in.
[Waspy HP: 35/85]
Brownie lay on the ground.
The wounds on its back still bleeding, pooling beneath it.
It looked at me weakly, eyes full of despair.
[Brownie HP: 25/100]
Six Forest Wolves slowly encircled us.
They weren't rushing to kill us.
But enjoying their prey's despair.
The pack leader walked before me.
Looking down at me, eyes cold as iron.
Then opened its jaws.
Sharp fangs gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
Ready to bite through my throat.
I gasped for air.
"Huff... huff..."
Consciousness fading, vision darkening.
"Can't... die here..."
I looked north.
A rocky area beside the thicket.
Many crevices between the rocks.
If I could get there...
The wolf's jaws had already opened, rank breath washing over me.
At that instant—
I used "Spatial Dodge"!
My body instantly vanished.
The wolf bit empty air, fangs clamping on dirt.
1 second later.
I appeared five meters away, toward the rocky area.
All six wolves turned simultaneously.
Stunned briefly.
Then immediately gave chase.
"Waspy! Brownie!" I shouted.
I put them in the space.
Then ran toward the rocky area with everything I had.
The wound on my leg tearing with pain.
Every step made the wound split wider.
Blood trailing all the way.
But I couldn't stop.
Forest Wolves chasing behind.
Their speed far exceeded mine.
The gap closing.
I could feel their breath on my back.
Almost caught up.
The rocky area ahead!
Ten more meters... five meters...
The pack leader pounced from the side.
Claws swinging toward my back.
I jumped with my last strength.
Claws grazed my tail, tearing off flesh.
I rolled into the rock crevice!
"CRASH—!"
Hit the rocks, intense pain in my shoulder.
[HP: 20/155]
But I was in.
The crevice was narrow, only fitting small magic beasts like me.
Forest Wolves too large to enter.
They roared outside.
Clawing at the rocks.
"SCREECH SCREECH SCREECH—!"
Sparks flying, but the rocks were solid.
They couldn't get in.
I dragged my injured body deeper into the crevice.
My hind leg almost numb, could only use front claws.
Leaving a trail of blood.
Crawling to where they couldn't reach.
Then collapsed.
Pain everywhere.
Blood still flowing.
Consciousness fading.
"Brownie..." I said weakly.
Brownie emerged from the space.
It was also badly hurt, three wounds on its back still bleeding.
But it immediately crawled to my side.
"Vitality Bestowal..."
Pale green light flowed from it to me.
Very faint, like firefly light.
Brownie's magic power nearly depleted.
Light wrapped around my worst wounds.
Blood slowly stopped, wound edges beginning to heal.
But injuries still severe.
[HP: 60/155]
Brownie collapsed exhausted, lying beside me, gasping heavily.
Waspy also emerged from the space.
Wings still bleeding.
It barely flew before me, wobbly.
"Gray..." Waspy's voice very weak.
"Did we... survive?"
I looked toward the crevice opening.
Forest Wolves still there.
Six pairs of eyes glowing green in the darkness, like ghostly flames.
They hadn't left.
But waited outside.
Waiting for us to come out.
"For now... we survived." I said.
Voice so hoarse it was barely audible.
Then closed my eyes.
Consciousness plunged into darkness.