"Finally done!"
After several hours of diligent work, Daniel had successfully dug a large pit about three meters deep. Inside the pit, he had scattered sharpened branches using the magical herb shovel. Pharmacist Li's herb shovel was truly remarkable; it was versatile enough to gather herbs, engage in combat, dig pits, and even serve as a knife. It was an extraordinary tool.
"Once this task is completed, I'll see if I can claim this herb shovel as my own." Even before finishing his task, Daniel couldn't help but covet the shovel, completely satisfied with its performance.
With the trap set, it was time to lure the monster.
Daniel stealthily approached the area where the Gorgeous Evil Tiger lurked. As expected, the beast was still there, lying in wait. After several hours, it hadn't moved an inch, clearly intent on guarding the coveted Purple Flame Fruit.
"It is smart that I planned a trap instead of wasting time with you," Daniel mused, eyeing the Gorgeous Evil Tiger.
He employed the Identification Technique once more on the creature, and as anticipated, the sleeping tiger instantly roused, its vigilance piqued as it scanned its surroundings.
This time, Daniel didn't hide. He stood tall and taunted the Gorgeous Evil Tiger, "I'm right here! Come on, big guy! Catch me if you can!"
With that, he turned and sprinted away. The tiger roared behind him, a sound that reverberated through the forest, causing the trees to tremble and birds to scatter.
Daniel's heart raced; he had been right to fear this beast. That roar alone quickened his pulse and heightened his anxiety. If it came to a head-on confrontation, he would likely be annihilated in seconds.
Fortunately, Daniel had the wit to avoid such a reckless decision and had set the trap instead.
As he dashed ahead, the Gorgeous Evil Tiger pursued him with astonishing speed, crashing through the underbrush and leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
"Whoa, it's so fast!" Daniel glanced back, shock washing over him.
While the identification had hinted at the tiger's high agility, he hadn't anticipated it would be this formidable. The creature's speed outstripped his own by several times. Thankfully, he had provoked it from a distance and had taken off immediately; otherwise, he might already have been caught.
Fighting the urge to look back again, Daniel pressed on, pushing his body to the limit. He felt the powerful pressure of the tiger closing in, as if it were about to crush him at any moment.
"Almost there, just a bit more!" he thought, spotting the mark he had made beside the trap, a flicker of excitement igniting within him.
The tiger's speed was terrifying; he could even catch the rancid scent of its breath as it closed in. His nerves were on edge.
Finally, he reached the trap, skirting its edge before turning back toward his original path. In that brief moment, the tiger was now less than five meters behind him.
Unaware of Daniel's cunning strategy, the Gorgeous Evil Tiger continued its relentless pursuit.
"Splash!"
Just as Daniel had predicted, he heard the unmistakable sound of the tiger falling into the pit, followed by the sickening crunch of sharpened branches piercing its flesh and the furious roar of the Gorgeous Evil Tiger. This time, however, the roar was more enraged than majestic.
Daniel paused, returning to the edge of the trap, where he looked down at the tiger, which was now roaring in fury and desperation, as if it wanted to tear him apart.
"Come on, if you have the guts, then get up here! What good is just roaring?" Daniel taunted, standing atop the trap with a sense of triumph.
At that moment, the Gorgeous Evil Tiger was in a dire state. The sharpened branches Daniel had strategically placed had skewered its body, blood flowing freely from its wounds. Despite its agony, the beast still thrashed in a futile attempt to escape, its fierce gaze sending shivers down Daniel's spine.
Fearing it might break free and attack him, Daniel dropped to the ground and, wielding the herb shovel, began striking the tiger's head.
The tiger, stubborn and perhaps a bit foolish, did not attempt to dodge. Instead, it continued to roar defiantly, allowing Daniel to land several blows.
It was astounding how resilient this tiger was. Even with its body battered and bleeding, it took Daniel nearly half an hour of relentless effort to finally bring it down. By the end, he was panting heavily, exhausted.
"Thank goodness I didn't consider a head-on fight. I would have been finished," he thought, relieved.
With the trap's assistance, he had managed to survive the encounter. Without it, he couldn't imagine the outcome.
Of course, Daniel's low level also played a significant role in the struggle. He was at level two while the tiger was at level ten; the disparity in their strength was monumental. Daniel's attacks probably hadn't even penetrated the tiger's defenses. In the end, the tiger had succumbed to its injuries.
Regardless, the important thing was that the Gorgeous Evil Tiger was dead. Now, he could finally claim the Purple Flame Fruit.
"Hey, the corpse of the Gorgeous Evil Tiger hasn't disappeared yet!" While resting beside the trap, Daniel noted with excitement that the corpse remained intact. He leaned down, reached for it, and was thrilled to see it disappear into his backpack.
Having acquired the corpse of the Gorgeous Evil Tiger left Daniel feeling satisfied. Just as he was about to leave, something shiny caught his eye at the bottom of the pit.
Dropped equipment?!
Overjoyed, Daniel couldn't believe his luck. He had previously assumed that monsters in this world didn't drop equipment. It seemed he was mistaken. The drop rate was low; he had slain numerous low-level monsters without receiving a single item. Now, however, this level ten Gorgeous Evil Tiger had given him his very first piece of equipment.
Eagerly, he jumped down into the pit. The branches were broken and scattered, providing ample places to land. Once inside, he quickly retrieved the shimmering item.