I needed a plan, and fast. My mind raced as I darted through the trees, the creature hot on my heels. It was faster than me, stronger than me, and definitely more experienced at hunting. My only advantage was [Bounce] and my irritating tendency to not die.
"Think, think, think!" I muttered, dodging another swipe of its claws. My ears twitched as I scanned my surroundings, searching for anything I could use to my advantage.
Then I saw it.
A narrow ravine, its edges lined with jagged rocks and thick underbrush. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was better than nothing.
I activated [Bounce], launching myself toward the edge of the ravine. The creature followed with haste and a relaxed manner, its glowing eyes gleaming with predatory anticipation.
At the last second, I twisted mid-air and kicked off the trunk of a nearby tree, propelling myself sideways and out of the creature's path.
It didn't have time to adjust.
The predator's momentum carried it over the edge of the ravine, its claws scrabbling desperately at the loose dirt as it tried to stop itself.
"Go drop dead!"
For a moment, I thought it was over.
But then it climbed back up.
"HOW ARE YOU NOT DEAD?! You're supposed to fall and die dramatically!" I shouted, backing away as the creature pulled itself onto solid ground.
It growled low in its throat, its glowing eyes locking onto mine with renewed determination. It's mouth curling into a smirk.
"Alright, plan B," I muttered, my legs trembling with exhaustion.
The predator lunged at me with extreme precision, readying its claws to swipe at the ground where I was.
I hurriedly used [Bounce] to dodge backward, narrowly escaping that tragic fate that might ensue when I get hit by its paw. Just looking at the muscular body of that panther gives me shivers; I know for sure that just one strike might be all that it takes in order for me to be crushed to a pulp.
I hopped toward the surrounding bushes, trying to cloud its vision with greeneries. Although I know for sure that it most likely has an acute sense of smell, but still, being unable to see your prey is a huge factor that might even decide whether I get into its stomach today or not.
On the opposite side of the bushes, I saw a huge boulder and a cluster of trees close together with one particular tree having a hole of just the right size.
This just gave me the perfect idea.
Seeing that I hopped into the greeneries, the panther continued its relentless pursuit, still maintaining the relaxed attitude that it had.
As it saw me beside a huge boulder, its eyes gleamed and pounced. I hurriedly used [Bounce] to once again evade his attacks. Seeing that it failed to hit me again, it lunged once again, this time using the force from pouncing to propel itself faster.
Although I tried to twist my body in midair, I was unable to.
[No Name]
[HP: 10/19]
The panther was too fast, and his jaws barely bit my forearm, using it to throw me down to the ground.
I felt a sharp excruciating pain on my forearm, blood flowing down to my feet. Noticing that some of my flesh was chomped off, contrary to panicking, I was calm. Strangely calm. I know that my chance of survival is quite low, but still, I want to live.
With the state of my body, I don't think I can proceed with that plan. Time to find an alternative.
[Danger Sense] has been roaring since earlier, I tried to ignore it because it was kinda annoying but now I'll try to listen to it. It might just be able to get me out of this predicament.
I fixed my posture bracing myself for what was about to come, although my right forearm might be unusable now. Still, I want to live.
The panther looked at me amusingly, sensing that it might be able to play with its dinner first before eating.
Sensing that it's currently quite relaxed and complacent I used [Bounce] to hop forward towards the back of the boulder. The panther quickly followed suit, following my blood trail as I hopped for my life.
Zigzagging through the forest, narrowly dodging the jaws of the beast, I felt my adrenaline pumping up giving me my chance at a gambit.
As each of my blood trickled down to the ground I felt weaker and weaker, but still, I wanted to live.
The panther pounced at me as I landed on the ground, I twisted my body, narrowly evading his pursuit. Seeing the chance to counterattack as the panther passed me by, I delivered a [Kick] to his balls, crushing its dreams of being a father in the future and delivering a critical blow to my pursuant.
[Unknown Predator]
[HP: 17/40]
I finally arrived at a cluster of trees, making the place more advantageous for me, limiting the movement of the panther and with me being able to utilize the trees for [Bounce].
Seeing that the panther is crouching on the ground in agony, I used [Bounce] to gain momentum and ricochet among the trees toward the panther. With each moment that I kick off a tree, the pain worsens and my stamina continues to drop down.
[No Name]
[HP: 8/19]
The bleeding draining me of my blood makes me more desperate to end this fight then and there. It's a race against time for me, I need to kill that bastard before time runs out.
As I delivered a [Bounce] on the tree nearest to the panther, the momentum built up from ricocheting reached its climax, making me go faster and faster, readying my feet to hit the panther with a [Kick].
Alas, the panther was able to narrowly dodge.
---------------------------------------
The fight dragged on; each moment more grueling than the last. My muscles ached, my breath came in ragged gasps, and my vision blurred with sweat and exhaustion.
But I refused to give up.
The creature lunged again, and this time I didn't dodge. Instead, I activated [Bounce] to launch myself straight at its face, twisting mid-air to deliver a [Kick] with all the strength I could muster.
CRACK.
[Unknown Predator]
[HP: 12/40.]
The creature staggered, its head snapping to the side as blood dripped from its jagged grin. But it didn't fall.
"Seriously?!" I panted, landing on shaky legs. "What are you made of?!"
The orb in my chest pulsed sharply, and for a brief moment, I felt a strange surge of energy. My body felt lighter, my movements sharper, and the world around me seemed to slow.
"Alright, you creepy bastard," I muttered, crouching low. "Let's finish this."
The predator lunged again, its glowing eyes blazing with fury. But this time, I was ready.
I activated [Bounce], launching myself high into the air as the orb's energy surged through me. My vision sharpened, and for a split second, I saw it—a faint pattern of glowing lines tracing the predator's body, like a map of its weak points.
I twisted mid-air, aiming for its exposed neck, and delivered a devastating [Kick] with all the force I could muster.
CRUNCH.
The creature crumpled to the ground, twitching once before going still.
[Unknown Predator]
[HP: 0/40]
[Defeated Unknown Predator]
[Obtained 60 EXP.]
[Level Up: 8 → 9]