Our search continued, did the humans clear the forest of its monsters. Where are they, the so called monsters, nothing to see here, nothing. This was supposed to be a place of death, a place of conflict and of monsters. What happened to the smell of death.
We've been going deep into the forest, several hours had past since the beginning of our march. I don't like wasting my time searching for something. I like doing things with purpose not this aimless search.
With the gang we climbed up a tree, the tallest one we could find, in the hopes of seeing something from the top. I let the big ones carry me as they were much better at climbing than I was, despite the strength and experience I have my claws aren't suited for climbing.
From the top our field of view significantly widen yet still no signs of any monsters, I was not content with just looking the forest from above so I searched not for monsters but for anything, anything at all. With much looking around after I saw what seems to be a hole on a tree.
The forest was quite thick and the trees close to each other, we could made our way to the hole by jumping from branch to branch. Some of us fell to the ground but the damage from the fall was negligible, they joined up with us a few moments later. When we made it to the hole, I could smell life from it.
I poked my head into the hole and see a family of owl sleeping inside. It's no monster but I'll take it. With no hesitation we jumped into the hole and attacked the owls, one big owl and three small owlet. Me at the lead there was nothing the owl could do and were completely overwhelmed not even having the chance to fight back.
An idea poped up in my head, we ate most of the owls leaving only a few parts. When we were back down on the ground we were covered in owl blood and guts. I let some of the ratlings carry the innards of the owl. The smell of blood should hopefully attract some monster.
We continued our march, marking the roots of the trees we came across so we don't get lost and so we could find our way back to human civilization once the hunt was done.
My plan worked and within just a few minutes of walking we encounter our first monster. It was underwhelming, I was expecting so much more. The so called monster looked like a stray dog that hasn't eaten anything for a few months and was also furless.
The ratlings all gather round me, they were concerned. Afraid it would kill me. I couldn't help but found their concern adorable, I could probably best it in a tug of war despite the huge size difference and I have killed many things far stronger than me. But this was pretty much the first monster encounter, and the first time they were present for an actual fight.
Despite my disappointment at the monster in general, I was still rather excited at fighting a monster. The big rat was a monster for sure but I didn't fight it and the farm cattles were just that cattles. The human put up a great fight but the wizards recklessness turned the table against them.
I looked at the starved dog, kind of pitting the poor thing, starvation was no joke even for us monsters. I was under no illusion that the dog was a nonthreat to us, it was significantly bigger than us and it wouldn't take more than a single bite to end the ratlings. Even I would die should it caught me between its jaws. And not to mention the skills and abilities it could have, this could turned ugly if we're not careful.
I ordered the ratlings to stay back and I could feel their discontent through the magic link, they really didn't want me in danger. Unfortunately for them the order was absolute and they couldn't disobey even if they wanted to, I'm not risking their life for something like this. I took a step forward and face the dog, our eyes met and I could feel its hunger. Too bad I kind of wanted to keep it as a pet but with eyes like that it's impossible, that thing will never see me as nothing more than food.
It ran at me and I readed myself. With its jaws wide open it came in for a bite, I jumped up into the air. It reacted immediately and readying another bite to catch me mid-air. I was free falling directly into its mouth, just before it's fangs touch me I use my skill [Double Jump]. Trying my best not to put too much power into the jump I barely escape its fangs.
The look on its eyes changed, it was not just hunger anymore I could see wrath and anger in them. It's probably angry at the food running away, that and the fact that it could tell I was playing it.
Its body shined a faint glow and it charged at me with incredible speed, it was most likely a [Dash] skill, I responded with a [Double Jump], not towards the side to dodge it, no, I jumped directly at it. It has its mouth open so getting cut by it would be a big problem, but I could easily use my flesh magic to get out of its clutches.
The back of my head made contact with its nose, we were both moving at super high speed so the impact was painful for us both. I was thrown to the air and the dog whimper in pain, getting hit in the head made everything blurry for a moment. Thankfully the dog was in too much pain to capitalise my moment of disorientation, it got the equivalent of getting hit in the nose by a professional boxer with his bare hands.
Blood was coming out of its nose and it looked away from me and charge towards the ratlings. It had decided that I was too strong so it changed targets. One bite would be all it took to end the ratlings.
I ordered them all to flee from the dog.