Chapter 11
Startled by the sight, Ray swiftly stored the large rabbit in his storage ring and dashed off in a single direction with reckless abandon. A dozen pairs of eyes, now revealed in their true form, observed the prey's escape.
In an orderly fashion, the group of large gray wolves pursued Ray, resembling well-trained special soldiers. Their growls reverberated behind Ray, heightening the tension in the air.
Reaching into his storage ring, Ray retrieved something and firmly gripped it. A subtle transformation occurred within Ray's body, and then the young man moved with agility. He had extracted a strand of hair, knowing that it contained a trace of energy that could be duplicated. Ray had solved the issue, but the stored energy would only last for a week before dissipating, rendering it unusable.
Before his departure, Ray had prepared an energy reserve, even if it comprised only a few strands of hair. Obtaining these from the source had proven challenging for Ray, as it was taboo both on Earth and in the current world to store and use others' body parts without consent. Ray acknowledged the potential for misuse if he couldn't replicate their talents.
As Ray struggled to run, he remained oblivious to the wolves closing in on him. With relentless momentum, a massive wolf leaped forward, accurately clamping its sturdy jaws around Ray's shoulder. A hoarse roar escaped Ray's lips as searing pain radiated from his back. Before he could collect his thoughts, another jolt struck the opposite shoulder, intensifying the agony. The wolves continued their assault, biting at Ray's waist and legs with unyielding determination.
Overwhelmed by pain, Ray mustered the strength to extract a few more hairs from his storage ring. Activating his talent, a cloud of white smoke emerged from the young man's pores. But Ray didn't stop there; he hastily reactivated his talent, causing repulsive, worm-like red veins to writhe on his skin's surface.
"Arghhhh!"
With an aura of momentum and intense pressure, the four wolves were forcefully thrown back, releasing their grip on Ray's body. Gasping for air, Ray's appearance had transformed into that of a hideous figure emerging from the depths of hell.
Determined not to delay any longer, Ray continued running in one direction, his movements arduous. The pursuing pack of wolves regarded him with uncertainty. Their instincts told them that their prey was no longer a defenseless lamb but a tiger cub capable of inflicting harm.
But despite the delay, the wolf pack continued to chase Ray relentlessly. With the three activated skills, Ray managed to slightly increase his pace. The numerous wounds on his body had numbed from the intense shock, leaving him with no other thoughts except for running automatically in one direction.
Realizing this, Ray's fear no longer controlled him. He gradually calmed his mind and attempted to think, even though his body still moved involuntarily due to fear. However, panic struck Ray when he noticed that the wolves were closing in on him.
As Ray's legs continued to carry him forward, he suddenly heard a faint gurgling sound, which would soon bring him a moment of joy. "Ahhhhh, I hope my guess is right!" Ray exclaimed in delight at the gurgling, changing his escape path to a different direction.
After a few moments of running, the previously lagging wolf was now dangerously close to Ray. Seizing the opportune moment, a large gray wolf once again pounced on Ray's previously injured shoulder. "Arghhhhh!" Ray cried out in pain. Yet, despite being pinned down by the wolf, he didn't halt his frantic sprint but continued running in the same direction.
In the taiga forest, an unusual sight unfolded. A child, no larger than a wolf, struggled to drag the wolf on his back. This slowdown allowed the other trailing wolves to close the gap. One of the massive wolves charged at Ray excitedly, seemingly eager to follow its companion's lead.
Meanwhile, Ray, still carrying the wolf on his back, showed no signs of fear or anxiety. A faint sense of satisfaction appeared on his face as he gazed in a specific direction. "Ahhhh, my guess was right!" Ray shouted, his emotions complex. He then continued running, paying no attention to his surroundings.
Just as the large wolf was about to reach Ray's neck, he abruptly turned around, wearing a smug grin aimed at the wolves. "Hahahaha, I will remember today's lesson, you amusing canines!" With those words, Ray leaped into the air and descended peacefully, his back facing downward and his eyes closed.
The wolves that had lunged and chased Ray could only slow their pace and stop at the edge of the cliff, their eyes filled with loathing and reluctance. It was evident that they realized their prey had slipped away, mocking them in the process.
At the bottom of the lake, a young man became entangled with a wolf larger than himself. However, after a while, the wolf vanished, leaving no trace behind. Ray, sinking in the water, could only feel a sense of satisfaction and gratitude in his heart.
The young man had a hunch that there might be a waterway he could use to escape from the wolves. Ray initially assumed it would be a shallow river that could only temporarily slow down the wolves' pursuit. However, to his surprise, he discovered a deep and wide lake.
Ray felt a sense of satisfaction as he successfully killed one of the wolves clinging tightly to his shoulder while they were entangled in mid-air. Adjusting his mindset, he began to assess his surroundings and decided to explore, knowing that he still had enough breath to sustain him for a while.
At the bottom of the lake, Ray observed the presence of grass, dead logs, rocks, and groups of small fish swimming around. He also noticed other aquatic creatures, including a moderately-sized turtle in a corner not too far away. Curiosity got the better of him, prompting Ray to approach the turtle and touch it.
At that moment, Ray activated his talent, which had completed its cooldown period. He unconsciously exhaled in the water and realized the usefulness of his passive ability. "Huff huh... This passive is useful!" Ray thought to himself.
While Ray was busy exploring his surroundings, a piece of dead wood lying nearby suddenly exhibited an odd movement. It seemed as if a lizard was opening its eyes, but the eye-opening motion appeared intricate, resembling the opening and closing of two layers of eyelids. If someone were to witness this, they would think the log was a unique creature with multiple layers of eyelids.
The motion of the seemingly lifeless wood gradually drew closer to Ray, moving calmly as it was influenced by the flow of the water. After a while, the dead wood safely arrived behind Ray. A second later, the seemingly decaying wood split in half, revealing several objects resembling white stones within the split.
Upon closer inspection, it became apparent what was staring at Ray. It was a crocodile!