The Windstepper hound growled aggressively as it neared the corpse. The beast was intelligent and knew the corpse was fresh, thus the one who killed it must be around as well.
However, as it approached closer, I saw that it wasn't in the best condition as some of its fur had been dyed red due to a cut on its upper abdomen.
It also had blood dripping from its teeth and the fur around its mouth, but I could tell from the color that it belonged to the Mephits.
The hound approached the corpse and looked around as I pressed myself against the pillar to avoid being spotted.
After a few moments of hesitation, it began chomping down at the corpse of the Mephit, tearing apart the flesh at the back and exposing the ribcage of the beast.
The Windstepper hounds were the most dangerous beast on the zone due to their unpredictability, they were at the very least ranked G+ and when fully matured would be F rank and some even had the potential to evolve into greater creatures.
However, their potential meant they had a never-ending appetite as they consumed other beasts relentlessly, in an effort to increase their mana.
I wondered if I could just leave it alone, it looked to be almost fully matured and maybe I could escape if it was distracted by the Mephit corpse.
I soon discarded those thought as a Horned Rabbit jumped out a few meters away creating a slight sound and with a violent gust, the sharp fangs of the Hound sank into the rabbit's flesh, as it devoured it whole except the horn and came back to the Mephit corpse.
I would have missed it usually but while the hound ran, it took several steps without touching the ground as it seamlessly created wind platforms to step on, hence the name.
More worryingly, it was faster than me, by at least a sub rank and running away was most definitely a bad idea.
Its eyes were completely black with hints of red, a symptom of mana craze that only made its appearance more intimidating.
However, that meant it wasn't thinking straight, all it felt was pure bloodlust and I got an idea as to how to kill it as I saw a rock archway some distance away with many poorly camouflaged serpents hanging onto the sides.
Risky, but perhaps the only way to escape.
I picked up a rock and threw it around the location where the Horned Rabbit had jumped out and immediately, the hound jumped towards it before growling in confusion upon finding nothing.
I used this opportunity to get a head start as I took a runner's stance, imbuing wind mana into my legs for speed and some dark for power as I shot towards the archways as fast as I could.
Wind rushed past my face as I ran but I soon heard the loud and guttural howl of the hound as it began chasing me.
Judging by the sound of the footsteps and the intensity of the wind I could tell the hound was gaining on me and in a few seconds its sharp fangs would sink into my back.
However, I had already reached the archway as several serpents began hissing in anticipation as I used the accumulated dark mana in my heel to stop suddenly, causing a dust cloud to form.
As I heard the Hounds celebratory roar, I fell backwards, lying flat on my back and raising my dagger up slightly.
In the end, the hound hadn't seen me clearly through the dust cloud and I had seen its linear motion properly to hopefully position myself correctly for this maneuver.
I heard the jaws of the hound snap shut viciously but all it had eaten was dust as it passed right over me. Causing the tip of my dagger to cut the bottom of its abdomen as blood spurted onto my clothes.
The hound grinded to a halt below the archway by digging its claws into the ground and turning around to glare at me releasing a vicious snarl as it prepared to charge at me again.
*HISSSS*
However, in its blood lust it failed to notice the several flying serpents on the walls of the archway as they all shot towards the hound.
The hound looked around too late as the venomous fangs of the flying serpents dug into its flesh.
It attempted to resist, clawing at its own flesh as it killed most of the serpents, but the damage was done. Soon, the limbs of the Hound went limp as its massive body fell to the floor with a thud.
Blood began to spread onto the ground from the cut on its abdomen and I began to approach the hound with my dagger.
The hound attempted to bite at me as I got closer but soon even its jaw went limp as the hound began to whimper in fear.
*SQUELCH*
I drove the dagger deep into the hound's skull right between the eyes and directly into the brain, killing it instantly.
As the hound lay dead on the floor, the only sound left was the whistling wind as my blood-soaked clothes began to stick to my body.
The hound along with the serpents had created a large puddle of red with corpses and body parts strewn amongst it.
As I was about to head back, I saw a slight glimmer coming from the corpse of the hound, in the cut that it had got before our fight.
I stepped forward and inspected the wound, prying it open with the tip of my dagger.
'Thats... fortunate.'
A mana pearl, the crystallized mana core of a dead beast. Most beasts ranked F and above had it, but the location was random, I was lucky to find it in an open wound without having to butcher it.
Covering my mouth to prevent gagging, I got the pearl loose from the flesh, before extracting it with my fingers and placing it carefully in my chest pocket.
Giving one last brief glance to the corpse of the monster hound, I began to return to the gate, following the compass and avoiding serpents.
I was able to get back without any further fighting which I was thankful for, I was running low on stamina and was also beginning to get hungry.
The large metal gates were open this time and as I got closer, I could see the younger guard I had seen before.
I slowed down my pace and sheathed my dagger, and soon the younger guard spotted me as I got closer to the entrance. However, something was odd with him, as he seemed to be quivering in fear as I got closer and as I stopped in front of him, he flinched and released a short yell.
"AH!"
I tilted my head in confusion which only caused him to flinch again.
The older guard appeared from behind the door looking worried but as he saw me and his younger coworker who was still shaking, he paused for a moment.
"Pfft!"
Before doubling over while laughing.