My hind legs pushed off hard.
Charging toward the three Forest Wolves' encirclement.
This was the only way out.
They immediately reacted.
The leader pounced from the front, jaws wide.
The other two flanked from left and right.
Three directions—no escape routes.
Now!
"Spatial Dodge!"
My body instantly vanished.
Three Forest Wolves struck empty air.
1 second later.
I appeared 5 meters away, toward the forest depths.
No pause—kept running.
Angry growls came from behind.
But they didn't panic.
Quickly adjusted and began pursuit.
I could hear their heavy footsteps.
Getting closer.
I ran desperately.
The wound on my leg sent searing pain—each step like treading on knife points.
But couldn't stop.
Stop once, and it's death.
After running some distance, I immediately released Waspy and Brownie.
"Run in different directions!" I shouted.
"Don't look back!"
"Regroup at the thicket!"
Waspy and Brownie understood immediately.
Waspy flew left.
Brownie ran right.
I continued forward.
Three directions, scattered escape.
The pursuing wolves paused briefly.
One became three?
But the lead wolf made a judgment immediately.
"Split up and chase!" It growled.
"One each!"
"Don't let them escape!"
The three wolves immediately separated.
One chased Waspy.
One chased Brownie.
The leader kept after me.
Damn!
Their reaction was too fast.
And their coordination was seamless—splitting up caused no confusion at all.
Didn't even buy a moment's delay!
I gritted my teeth and kept running.
The wolf behind pursued relentlessly.
I could feel it closing in.
Footsteps growing clearer.
Breathing right behind me.
I wove through the trees.
Using tree cover to dodge left and right.
But the wolf was too fast.
And it knew this forest too well.
Every time I tried to detour, it cut off the path ahead.
"Huff... huff..."
I gasped heavily.
Stamina dropping rapidly.
Wounds bleeding.
Magic power depleted—Spatial Dodge couldn't be used again.
Just then—
Waspy's cry came from the left.
I turned to look.
Waspy was flying through the air, very unsteadily.
Wings not fully recovered yet.
The wolf chasing it leaped, nearly biting it.
Waspy dodged narrowly, but altitude dropped sharply.
"Waspy!"
Sounds also came from the right.
Brownie was running desperately.
But its back injuries made it slow.
The wolf chasing it was almost caught up.
Distance only three meters.
Two meters.
"Damn!"
They were both about to be caught!
The splitting strategy completely failed!
I had to do something!
I gritted my teeth and suddenly changed direction.
Charging toward the lead wolf pursuing me.
Not fleeing—attacking!
The wolf didn't expect my counterattack.
But it reacted immediately, opening its jaws to meet me.
I dodged its bite at the last moment.
Then leaped, biting toward its neck.
"SLASH!"
Hit!
But the wolf's hide was too thick.
Only broke through a bit of skin.
[Forest Wolf HP: 195/200]
The wolf shook its head, flinging me away.
"BAM!"
I crashed into a trunk.
[HP: 95/155]
Intense pain.
I slid down.
The wolf slowly approached, eyes cold.
"Looking for death."
I struggled to stand.
But my legs were weak.
Couldn't win.
Couldn't win at all.
But if I didn't do something...
Waspy and Brownie would both die.
I looked left and right.
Waspy had fallen to the ground, wings unable to fly anymore.
The wolf chasing it was closing in.
Brownie was also about to be caught.
"No..."
Can't be like this.
Have to gamble!
I sank my consciousness into the space.
Took out the golden plant.
Something the system couldn't identify.
Must have special properties.
Maybe...
Maybe it could make me stronger!
I opened my mouth.
Bit down.
The golden plant's leaves were tender, juice flowing out.
Sweet with a strange taste.
I chewed heavily.
Swallowed.
Another bite.
The entire plant—roots, stems, leaves—ate it all.
Warmth spread from my stomach.
Magic power stirring.
I waited.
Waited for power to surge.
Waited for injuries to heal.
Waited for any change.
But...
Nothing happened.
No power increase.
No wound recovery.
No effect at all.
"Damn..."
I lost the gamble.
Just then—
The lead wolf suddenly froze.
Its eyes locked onto me.
More precisely, onto the golden juice remaining around my mouth.
"You... you ate it?!"
Its voice filled with incredulous rage.
Then it threw its head back, letting out an earth-shaking howl.
"AWOOOO—!"
That wasn't an ordinary call.
But a summons.
The wolf chasing Waspy immediately stopped and turned this way.
So did the one chasing Brownie.
They simultaneously abandoned their targets.
All charged toward me.
"It ate the golden plant!" The lead wolf roared.
"The Wolf King's treasure! It ate all of it!"
"Kill it!"
Three wolves' eyes burned with fury.
All charging at me.
I froze.
Golden plant?
The Wolf King's treasure?
So...
They hunted us because of that golden plant?!
But now wasn't the time to think about this.
Though I didn't know why.
The goal was achieved.
All three wolves abandoned Waspy and Brownie.
All chasing me.
"Run!" I shouted to Waspy and Brownie.
"Wait for me at the thicket!"
Then turned.
Full speed escape.
Three wolves pursued behind.
Their speed even faster than before.
Rage made them more ferocious.
I could feel their killing intent.
Even stronger than before.
"Damn..."
I desperately wove through the trees.
But the three wolves coordinated seamlessly.
One chased from directly behind.
The other two flanked from both sides.
Trying to surround me.
I squeezed through a narrow gap between tree roots.
The wolves were too large, had to detour.
I gained some distance.
But was quickly caught up again.
I jumped onto a tree, leaping between branches.
Wolves chased below.
The lead wolf leaped, nearly biting my tail.
I quickly jumped to another tree.
But the branch ahead was too thin.
Couldn't support my weight.
"CRACK—!"
The branch snapped.
I fell.
"BAM!"
Hit the ground.
[HP: 80/155]
Intense pain.
But I immediately got up and kept running.
Three wolves had closed in.
Distance only a few meters.
I could see their fangs.
Could see the fury in their eyes.
Just then—
A cliff suddenly appeared ahead!
I slammed to a halt.
Nearly charged off.
Standing at the edge looking down.
Below was a rushing river.
Water crashing against rocks with tremendous roaring.
Height at least ten-plus meters.
Behind me, three wolves slowly closed in.
They didn't rush to attack.
But formed a semicircle, blocking all escape routes.
The lead wolf walked to the front.
"No escape now." It growled.
"Ate the Wolf King's treasure..."
"You must die."
I stood at the cliff edge.
Looking at them.
Then at the river below.
"Yeah, no escape." I said.
"But I already ate it."
"You can't get it back."
The fury in the lead wolf's eyes intensified.
It stepped forward.
I took a deep breath.
"Someday..."
"I'll come back."
Then—
Leaped off the cliff!
"What?!" The lead wolf froze.
It rushed to the edge.
Watching me fall.
Wind howled past my ears.
I spun in the air.
The river below grew closer.
"CRASH—!"
I plunged into the water.
Ice-cold river water instantly enveloped me.
Rapid current swept me away.
I struggled desperately, trying to surface.
But the current was too strong.
Couldn't control direction at all.
My head struck a rock.
"BAM!"
[HP: 65/155]
Vision went black.
Consciousness fading.
But I forced myself to stay aware.
Can't pass out.
Pass out and I'm dead.
I desperately paddled, trying to swim toward shore.
But the current pushed me back again and again.
Struck another rock.
"BAM!"
[HP: 50/155]
Intense pain.
But I gritted my teeth and persisted.
Must survive.
Must find Waspy and Brownie.
Must... get revenge...
A tree branch jutting from the water appeared ahead.
I used my last strength.
Reached out my claws.
Caught it!
The branch in my grasp.
I held on tightly.
Current pulling at me.
Trying to sweep me away.
But I wouldn't let go.
Absolutely wouldn't let go.
Slowly, I pulled myself onto the branch.
Then crawled toward shore.
Bit by bit.
Claws leaving marks on the bark.
Finally.
I climbed onto the bank.
Collapsed on the ground.
"Huff... huff..."
Gasping heavily.
Soaked through, shivering with cold.
Wounds throbbing.
I checked my panel.
[Hoarder Squirrel] [Gray]
[Level: 7/25]
[Experience: 127/200]
[HP: 20/155]
[MP: 15/110]
[Strength: 13]
[Defense: 9]
[Speed: 17]
[Luck: 10]
[A rodent-type magic beast with a pocket dimension, loves hoarding various items, possesses brief spatial evasion ability]
[Traits: Dimensional Cheek Pouch, High Sensitivity, Spatial Affinity]
[Skills: Leap (Proficient), Bite (Proficient), Spatial Dodge]
HP and magic power nearly depleted.
But at least...
Still alive.
I lay on the ground, gasping heavily.
Pain everywhere.
Had to recover somewhat first.
Otherwise even walking would be difficult.
I sank my consciousness into the space.
Good—still had some food inside.
Previously stored Burrow Rat meat.
Not much, but enough.
I took out a piece and began eating.
Chewing, swallowing.
Magic power contained in the beast meat slowly spread.
Warmth flowing through my body.
The pain from wounds lessened somewhat.
[Gained 4 Experience]
I kept eating.
Ate several more pieces.
[Gained 3 Experience]
[Gained 4 Experience]
HP slowly recovering.
Magic power also increasing.
I checked my status.
[HP: 55/155]
[MP: 30/110]
[Experience: 138/200]
Much better.
Though not fully recovered, at least I could move.
I struggled to stand.
Looked around.
Completely unfamiliar place.
The tree species were different from before.
The scent in the air also different.
Swept too far by the current.
Don't know where this is.
Don't know which direction the thicket is.
I looked up at the sky.
Sun in the west.
Afternoon now.
The thicket was north at the forest edge.
I need to go...
I determined the direction.
That way.
I dragged my exhausted body forward.
Though recovered somewhat, each step was still difficult.
The wound on my leg still ached faintly.
But I couldn't stop.
Waspy and Brownie were waiting for me.
They must have reached the thicket by now.
Waiting there for me.
I had to find them.
We promised.
To survive together.