"Run!! Kuta!! Run!!" A loud shout from Kina, standing in the distance, brought me back to reality.
Looking at the huge behemoths running in my direction, I couldn't help but curse. (Why did we have to take this godforsaken route!)
"Kuta! What are you doing!?"
Listening to Kina, I quickly start running.
Huff, huff, huff
My breathing became rigid as my heart pounded from fear and excitement.
Kina, looking over, saw my situation, and from her facial expression, I could tell it wasn't good.
"Kuta!! Leave the bag, you'll run faster!!" She shouted, full of worry.
Hearing this, I wanted to let it go, but when I thought about the contract with Tskuta and her first request, my face turned pale. Of course, because of the excitement, no paleness could be seen.
(If I don't drop the bag, there's probably a 10 percent chance I'll survive this, but... if I do drop the bag.)
Gulp
(I'm dead the moment it falls to the ground.)
As I was conflicted with this life-and-dead decision, the behemoths behind me grew ever closer.
(Damn, legs run!!!) I urged my body in desperation, but it looks like luck was just not on my side.
Click
I tripped over something, causing me to fly forward. My body collided with the ground and rolled a few times before stopping.
"Huff, Huff"
My breathing was heavy, and due to excitement, I forgot the unbearable pain I was experiencing right now.
Blood flowed out of my feet, and yet I didn't scream. All I wanted to do was survive in this world, but now I'm so close to dying.
Or death's so close to me. Whatever, I don't really care if I die here or not. What difference will it make? I've already died once, and I'm sure dying twice won't be a problem.... Right.
Closing my eyes, I heard the sounds around me. The sound of the behemoths pillar-like feet grew ever closer. The sound of my heart pounding in my chest and the sound of...
"Kuta!!!!"
Kina.
-19 hours earlier-
It's been a few hours now since we started our journey this morning. According to the time of day I learned through Kina, it's should be around 17:00 right now.
As for why I would learn such a thing, Well, two moons, people! In this world, a night is exactly 17 hours and a day is 10 hours, meaning a full day is 27 hours. Which is totally bizarre; I don't know why I never noticed it before.
As Tskuta also stated yesterday, we did begin training. Most previous monsters I dealt with (excluding the Mutated Swift Rabbit, of course) were under level 5. When facing them, it was basically like bullying, most died with one slice from my sword.
The monsters I'm now facing, however, are totally different.
[Name: ????
Level: 4
Race: Jacked Wolf
Skills: --------
Talents: Sneaker Lv. 1, Deterrence Lv. 2]
Now, just to be clear, don't be fooled by its level. It would be more appropriate to be fooled by its name. As it says, it's literally a jacked wolf.
Although I don't know much fantasy things, but the best figure fitting this creature would be the mythical werewolf.
Standing upright on its two hind legs, it has dark grey fur all over its body. Two pointed ears, blood-red eyes, and sharp rows of teeth. In size, it was slightly taller and bigger than me.
"Kuta, aim for its heart!" Kina shouted loudly.
Listening to her, although very appreciative of her cheering and advice, but...
(How the heck am suppose to even come close to this creature! Its presence is totally annihilating my body right now, leaving my soul in fear.)
My legs were trembling, and hope was lost in its aura. Clumsily grasping onto the sword hilt, my eyes were filled with fear.
"Kuta, stop being scared! Just jump forward, then strike here like this." Kina shouted while doing some pretty fast movements with her sword that I'm pretty sure no normal person could follow.
Listening to her caused me even more fear. My grasp on my sword's hilt was slowly slipping, and just as all hope was about to be lost, a voice sounded.
"If you drop that sword, just know that the pain you're about to experience from this Jacked wolf won't be nearly as much as I'm going to inflict upon you."
Gulp
Knowing who the owner of this voice is, I swallowed in fear. Looking towards the Jacked Wolf standing a few feet apart, I smiled wryly.
"The fear you instill in me is strong, but do you know what defeats fear?" With that, my grasp on my sword hilt tightens.
"Stronger fear." With a sword in my hands, I step forward and slash horizontally at my opponent.
(Just as in the movies, and now bleed.)
My eyes were full of confidence in the upcoming blood scene. I mean, I'm level 5, while that thing is level 4. Of course, I'll be the winner.
But a scene happened in front of me, that caused me to be shocked and embarrassed.
In response to my attack, all the Jacked Rabbit did was bend backwards. Yes, bend backwards.
An attack that I've worked on for three days was avoided by bending backwards. How humiliating.
(Why didn't I just stalk then kill it in one blow.) Although helpless, but in order not to give it any breath, I lunge forward again.
"Kuta!! Lower your shoulders!"
(My shoulders??) Hearing this caused me to be stunned and also made an opening for my opponent to attack.
Without any way to dodge, all I could do was block with my sword.
Clang
It's claws collided with my blade, causing me to take a step backwards.
(What the! How's this guy so strong.) I complained inside, but still stayed focused.
"Kuta!! Don't swing with your hands, swing with your arms!"
Unlike before, where I totally understood nothing Kina said, now, however, everything is totally different.
"So swing with your arms while your shoulders are lowered. It seems pretty complicated and yet feels so simple." I mumble
Looking at my opponent in front of me, I got into my novice stance.
(Okay, little wolf, it's my turn now.)
Stepping forward once again, I followed my opponent's movements.
(So that's how you dodged) I thought while noticing its feet's claws tightly gripped into the ground.
(If so, let's see if you can still dodge when I come closer.) Deciding on my action, I step more forward towards it.
A slightly ugly face appeared in the Jacked Wolf's already ugly face. Just as it wanted to release its grip, the blade of my sword was near its chest, and with my slash.
(Now bleed.)
Blood sprayed out of its chest.
"Wow!! Good, now stabbed its heart." Kina shouted excitedly.
(Of course, I'm not letting my experience points go to waste.)
Changing the way I held my sword, I stabbed down, ending the life of the Jacked wolf.
[Killed Level 4 Jacked Wolf]
[Gained 36 Experience Points]
[Current Exp. (132/160)]