CHAPTER 4
Rizika was facing the river, and she was only a few steps away. There was a problem in her system. Heck! It's not just a problem. She's in an entire dilemma. Determined to jump on the water, her ears caught up to a noise that was coming her way. And it was coming fast. Her heartbeat sped up at what those could be. Then a loud bark echoed in the forest. A wild beast was coming her way, and she didn't have any weapons in her system. What could make-up and jewelry do to fight those beasts?
"Oh, hell!" She jumped on the river. She closed her eyes, anticipating the sucking force of the whirlpool from the portal, holding her breath. But nothing happened. Instead, her body just floated, and the water was only shoulder-deep on her.
Her eyes snapped open, and she saw two large hounds coming from the trees. "Oh." She stayed still and stared at the friendly-looking beasts. They don't look that scary for her. They're the cute version of Tepers from Albria. Tepers were one of the wild beasts in the forest. They have bat-like ears, red demonic eyes, a wide mouth with razor-sharp teeth, and fangs. They don't have fur, but their skin was reddish, and their large paws had elongated claws.
So, for that, the hounds that were barking at her were cuter in appearance. Even if they bare their fangs on her face. But their loud noise was hurting her ears.
"Shut up. It's been a long time since I haven't eaten a Teper. Maybe you taste better." Tepers can be eaten in their realm. But their meat was considered one of the most expensive because it was hard to capture if the hunter wouldn't be killed first.
The dogs did not cease their noise, and they were about to jump on the water with her.
Oh, no. It seemed like they were about to eat her alive. She moved to the other side of the river quickly and hauled herself up on the riverbank. She looked around for something to be a weapon.
This was something she could handle easily. If only she had anything with her. There wasn't even any wood lying around. The darkness in the forest wasn't an option for her to go there. There could be any other beast lurking around in the dark, waiting for any stupid prey to stumble on their way.
[System: High alert. Danger!]
She wanted to roll her eyes at that. This was never a high alert for her. Since her sword and any weapons hidden in her body were gone. She decided to make do with her belt. It wasn't long enough, but if they try to pounce on her, she can whip them away.
The two hounds successfully crossed the river. "Determined, rascals." She uttered under her ragged breath. She retreated and gripped the belt in her hand tightly, preparing to hit them.
"Fucking system." She cursed again. She doesn't even have any ability.
[System ability: Mimic.]
Her brows furrowed. What was that? She had an ability, and it was a mimic? How would that even work?
[System: Mimic is to copy someone in their moves and talents.]
[System: Would you like to use mimic?]
"Shut it." She spat angrily. How would that be helpful?
One of the dogs, the white one, pounced on her, and she whipped the belt to its face. The slapped threw it on the ground, and it winced and shook its head. Then it immediately stood back up. The other one, which had black fur, leapt on her. She could have kicked it, but she was barefoot, and she doesn't want to risk her toes being eaten or any of their teeth sinking on her skin. She doesn't have any healing potions or lotions or whatever the bastard system referred to it for.
She jumped to the side and hit it with a belt, but it avoided in the last second. The white one instantly grabbed the belt by its teeth, and of course she couldn't play tug with it when the other one was about to attack her again. She let go of the belt and retreated away.
[System Alert: Would you like to use mimic ability?]
"Fuck it, let's use it!" This was one of the moments that she felt so out of choice.
[System: Mimic target spotted.]
She never looked away from the hounds.
[System: Mimic ability activated.]
Then instantly, her body moved in its own accord. She crouched down, her fingers clawing the ground. And her dark peachy blonde hair was touching the grass. They were covering the sides of her face.
'What's happening?' "Woof! Woof!"
Instead of hearing her deep woman voice. A bark slipped past her lips, and her guttural growl was vibrating in her throat. Did she just... She tried to talk again. 'System' "Woof!"
"Woof! Woof!" 'The hell!'
She was more like barking to herself than to the dogs. If anyone from Albria could see what she was doing right now, she would rather be eaten by these mongrels. If only she could rip out the system in her being, she would have done so.
But she had a mission. She knew her real purpose. That's what she was holding on right now to stay alive.
Blacky and Whitey encircled her and were on their paws, ready to attack on her at once, any second. Yeah, she had just called them as what their colors are. Their fur shone under the moonlight.
Her hair had fallen like a curtain in front of her face. Does she even look scary at all? She was growling at the back of her throat, though. At least her voice doesn't sound like a cornered puppy.
Then a small light danced on their direction. Followed by another. "Matt! They're here!" The man emerged from the trees across the river. He was looking behind him, gesturing for his companions to come his way. "Blacky! Whitey! What did you have there, buddy?" The stranger called and the two dogs slowly retreated from her.
Was name guessing also my ability? She wanted to laugh but instead a bark was voiced out. That made the dogs turn aggressively on her again. She retreated and leapt away from them. She had to get to the forest. The stupid idea was sometimes the best option. Her palms hurt from the impact when she landed from leaping. She was still crouching like a dog. 'System, deactivate it! Damn it!'
[System: Mimic ability deactivated.]
[System: Stamina: 30%]
Her body slowed down and it was like the remaining energy in her before had been drained when the ability was gone.
[System: Low stamina alert!]
"Who's in there?" The man from before called out. A light was directed on her. "Don't move!"
She grunted and forced herself to run. Her body posture was back to being normal. She was about run like human.
Bang!
She did not make it to the trees as she fell on the ground again. She winced at the searing pain in her right thigh. Someone did fire at her and it was a bullseye even if the surroundings were only lighted by the full moon above.
[System: Stamina: 5%]
[System: Dangerously low stamina alert!]
[System: Take full rest.]
[System: Dangerously low stamina alert!]
Her head was pounding as the system was alerting her. Shut up.
"Just shoot it so it won't move." A rich, deep, and rough voice from a man. It was so deep that she could have imagined the vibration to her ears. And there was no doubt that just hearing that voice, it was from a dangerous someone.
The dogs had quieted down, but were waiting on alert near her foot. They would certainly attack if she stood up. She raised her head to take a glance across the river.
Her eyes landed at the most dangerous yet captivating man she had ever seen. She was sure of it even if it were just the shadows of his face that she can see from afar.
His silvery hair glowed like silky soft strands under the moonlight. She couldn't figure out the color of his eyes but she can feel his burning gaze at her. His body was huge enough that he can easily crush her, even by a single hand alone.
She heaved a deep breath as her eyes saw the gun in his grip. He was the one who shoot her on the spot. The handsome bastard was the one who fired at her! The anger in her just bubbled up. Sweat trickled down her brows. Her hair was just giving her a fraction to see him as the rest covered her face.
[System: Congratulations! Target spotted!]
[System Mission: Tame the Mafia Boss begins!]
[System Mission Task: Play damsel in distress]
[System Mission task: Damsel in distress 0/100%]
Damsel in distress? She's a freaking General in their kingdom in Albria Realm!
She clutched the grass in her palm tightly. The unsurmountable rage was boiling inside her again. She doesn't have any energy left as dark spots were dancing in her vision. The blood was gushing from her open wound in her thigh. The pain went numb. If she had to crawl just to get out of there, she would.
But as of the moment, she doesn't even have to play pretend. She never felt so out of choice in her life before. Goddammit. She was already a damsel in fucking distress!
[System Mission Task: Play damsel in distress.]
It doesn't have to freaking remind her. How she wished he shot her in the head instead. "Forget the damn mission. Just kill me." Her last words before her vision turned blurry. Her eyelids were too heavy to open. Then, she blacked out, facing the man across the river.