"We're being followed." Jasvinder said as looked behind cautiously while trying to maintain pace with me and Upma.
"I know." I said and glanced back at the shadows dancing around in between the dense trees and foliage.
"About 30 of them. They are growing in numbers." He said in his monotone voice.
I looked at him incredulously and wondered how he was count their numbers when even I was not able to do such a thing despite having far better perception than me.
Upma (who I carrying in a piggyback) chuckled at my expression and said "He has a talent for scouting. He's very…" her words were cut short as more howling and barking ensued from different parts of the forest.
"They're calling for reinforcements." Jasvinder said, not an ounce of concern in his voice. "Though there are no 3rd tier ones anywhere near here."
"How do you know that?" I asked, wondering about his unusual talent.
"There are many ways to know. The sound they make is diverse which made me realize that they are all working alone and are not being lead by a single powerful beast. They're not loud enough. There speed is not that fast either. And more. There are patterns in how they hunt if you know how and where to look."
I thought about the things he said and tried to listen closely to the howls and barks in the forest but all I heard was so chaotic that I was not able to make head or tail of anything except for the fact that the number of beasts chasing after us had increased significantly. I looked at Jasvinder who was running a step behind me with a stoic expression and sighed.
"You're too slow." I commented in an offhanded manner, trying my best not to ruffle his huge ego.
"Don't even think about carrying me…" he said while maintaining his stoic expression but I could see the frustration in their depths. He knew he was slow but was too proud to accept help.
I looked at Upma and she understood my meaning. After a few of persuasion I was carrying Upma on my back while carrying Jasvinder in my left hand.
I looked behind and realized that a large number of mutant beasts were chasing after us at the moment and wondered what they would do after I got out of their range of view. Would they turn on each other due to hunger, would they work together hunt other humans or abnormals, or would they simply disperse like nothing ever happened.
'Should I use my Agility Booster Skill?' I have wanted to use it ever since my skill it got upgraded. The agility boost I got is increased along with the time limit. The recuperation time on the other hand was shortened from 12 hours to 6 hours.
'No. It is a trump card that should be kept for 3rd tiered abnormals or mutant beasts.' Lily said. 'Using it right now would be rather wasteful and you'll be vulnerable against 3rd tiered enemies for the next six hours.'
I nodded and looked behind at the rather large group of mutant beasts and wondered how long it will take me to get out of their radar.
"Can you run a little faster?" Jasvinder asked breaking me out of my thoughts. I looked at him and realized that his expression had turned a bit darker and he was looking behind us cautiously.
"Is there danger?" Upma asked.
Jasvinder stayed quiet for a few seconds and for a moment I felt the sounds coming from behind us decrease a bit. "Yes. I'm afraid it's a 3rd tier beast. And it's in our trail."
"Do you have a way to get them off our trail?" I asked. I would rather not fight a 3rd tier beast until I'm forced to do so. Especially when hundreds of 2nd and 1st tier beasts are chasing after us at the moment.
"Yes." Upma replied from behind my back "There is a way but it'll take 100 black coins."
"Do it." I replied instantaneously. I would rather not use my trump card until it's absolutely necessary while out in the wild.
After a few moments of hesitation Upma made up her mind and starting using her black watch. I looked at Jasvinder and noticed that he had a grim expression on his face as he looked back at the beasts chasing after us.
"It's done." Upma said and before I asked what she was going to do, she continued "The 3rd tier smoke bomb will blind the beasts and dampen their sense of smell giving us enough time to shake them off our backs."
"You sure about that?" I asked, not really sure about it. But it was not like I had any other way of doing it.
"Yes." She said "After I throw the smoke bomb, take another direction and continue running. They'll not be able to chase us after that."
I looked at the sun which was half sunken in the horizon and said "Very well. Do it."
The next moment I heard her activate the smoke bomb and throw it behind us.
A 'Fisssss…' sound was generated as the bomb landed on the ground and a large mass of black cloud covered the entire area behind me.
"Change the direction. Now." Upma shouted and I turned left instantly and starting running toward the southern direction.
At this point I had no idea where I was or where I was going. But I had realized that transversing in the forest had gotten much more harder than it had been in the first few days.
I looked behind and realized that no one was chasing after us at the moment. I just hope that I won't run across more mutant beasts in the near future. And if I did, I would make quick work of them before they can gather in large numbers.
I came out of my musings when I felt a pinch on my leg. I looked at Jasvinder and realized that he had gone pale at some point in time and was looking ahead in shock and fear.
"Stop." He said in a voice barely above a whisper.
I stopped instantly and felt a bolt of terror pass through my body as the sight in front of me became clear.