The squirrel's corpse seemed to come to life on its own, as it lunged at the young canine.
Tenma was scared and disgusted at the same time. He had an enemy in front of him, or at least he could assume so. But it left a bitter taste in his mouth to have to fight on his own now, especially with someone he didn't expect to have a bad relationship with.
"Mik...mik... mik"
Tenma avoided looking into the corpse's eyes, as they sent shivers down his spine.
In moments like this, he would seek help quickly, probably from the monster from earlier.
But he knew he had to do something on his own for once.
"Squirrel! Stop!"
He tried to reason through his barks, but the squirrel ignored him, leaping to attack again, only to stumble without falling.
Tenma had two possible options.
To flee through the route the angel mentioned, or to stay in this place as a pet and ask the monster the things he wanted to know.
But, whatever his decision, he couldn't do anything if he didn't secure his own life and prevent the zombie squirrel from devouring him. Otherwise, he would die.
"... Wait, I've been devoured before, how did I come back to life then?"
Tenma perked his ears up, looking at the angel, hoping for an answer from him, as he backed away from a fierce swipe from the squirrel.
But the angel shrugged, not knowing either.
["I was trapped in your subconscious, I've only just managed to come out."]
"Mik, mik mik mik mik!"
The squirrel seemed angrier, growling at the canine, who now looked somewhat frightened.
"I don't think it was just luck... but I also don't want to try being devoured again."
["Then kill it. I can't interact with anything in this plane other than floating around... I feel useless in all this."]
"Kill..."
Tenma would survey the escape route leading to the rat's nest, it would be the best option. But, if he were to seek his freedom, he would also have to battle against them. He would also have to kill them...
He would become a wild animal from now on.
The angel sensed the canine's fear and nervousness, so he searched the sides for another way out. He tried to submerge under the water, trying to see if he could find the monster from earlier.
But suddenly, he heard a scream.
"Mik, mik! Mik!"
Tenma had grabbed the squirrel by the neck, placing his paw on its chest. It was a fight to the death.
The squirrel scratched and screamed to counter the bites from the canine, but he resisted, with some tears, as he bit as hard as he could.
The squirrel's screams grew more intense, then he felt it lose the life it had recently regained.
Tenma stepped back once he saw that the squirrel had gone still again.
His snout was stained with blood, and his face had a wound from the squirrel's swipe.
And in front of him, he had the first corpse of a possible friend, one he had killed on his own.
["You killed him!"] —exclaimed the angel, approaching Tenma to see him, but he staggered back, still retreating. He seemed about to faint.
But he stomped hard against the ground, raising some dust.
"We have to... go. As soon as possible."
But, as much as he tried to hold himself together, he ended up vomiting and falling into his own vomit again.
***
Even in the forest, where a fierce battle had recently erupted, a victor had been achieved.
With the beautiful nature around already destroyed, turned into ashes with some trees in flames, the battle had come to an end.
With the fierce bear, buried underground, breathing only dirt and suffocating with it, it had been defeated by the trap of the red-haired girl.
Eva had won.
"Shinma... I... I've avenged you..."
But nonetheless, she would feel devastated, sitting down while breathing somewhat heavily.
She didn't want to accept the fact that her pet had died because she had left him alone...
But a memory would come to her mind, making her goosebumps rise as she was still crouched down.
"If I manage to steal the 'Star of God' from the government... I'll be able to bring him back to life."
Eva remembered that there was still some hope.
She would go confront the enemy who had sought her out and tried to kill her. And she would get her revenge once and for all.