"It looks like running is our only option," I exhaled, barely catching my breath.
We took off, sprinting like our lives depended on it. Because, well… they did.
Time stretched unbearably. Maybe six minutes had passed, maybe more. My lungs felt like they were about to collapse, and my legs burned with exhaustion. Max was holding up better, but I could tell by the way his shoulders tensed—he was running on pure adrenaline.
Seven minutes left…
The sounds of pounding hooves grew louder behind us. They were closing in.
No other options left.
We had to fight.
Five minutes.
A hundred meters between us and the stampede.
I turned to Max. He met my gaze.
This might be it.
I inhaled sharply, clutched my makeshift weapon, and ran straight at them.
A scream tore from my throat as I slashed at the first deer, then the second. The blade cut deep, but it wasn't enough to take them down. And they… didn't even notice me. Their herd instincts pushed them forward, trampling over everything in their path.
I slashed again.
A hoof smashed into my ribs.
I choked, feeling blood rise in my throat.
My body lifted off the ground, my vision flickering from the sheer force of the impact.
Perfect timing.
With the last bit of strength left in me, I drove my weapon straight through the deer's eye, piercing its brain.
[You have committed your first kill.]
[100 coins have been awarded as compensation.]
But there was no time to celebrate.
More were coming.
They didn't give me a second to breathe before slamming into me again, their bodies nothing short of battering rams.
And then, out of nowhere—
Tokkebi appeared.
For real this time.
[— Damn, what a pain. I really thought you two would die here. Babysitting humans is such a drag…]
The system notifications flickered in front of me.
[Attention, dear Constellations! We're taking a short intermission—don't go anywhere, the fun's just getting started!]
[Due to the influence of a Lower-Grade Tokkebi, scenario difficulty has increased to E-. Time limit extended by 10 minutes.]
[— Have fun dying.]
And just like that, he vanished.
N-no, wait. Something's wrong. If we just last out the timer, maybe things will get easier.
We just had to endure.
That's what I thought.
Until I felt the piercing pain in my gut.
The next second, my body lurched forward.
Impaled.
Impaled on their antlers like a piece of meat on a skewer.
One deer, then another.
I could feel my own blood soaking into their fur as they carried me forward at full speed.
So, this is it, huh?
This is how I die?
My thoughts felt disconnected, like my brain was already preparing to shut down. I had no idea what happened to Max.
The stampede kept moving.
It felt like an eternity.
I wanted to pass out. The pain wouldn't let me.
If I could still feel pain… I was still alive.
I clenched my teeth, forcing my trembling fingers to move.
One last attack.
I stabbed my weapon forward, piercing the deer's throat.
A strangled cry tore from its body, and suddenly, I was airborne.
I slammed into the ground, the impact knocking the air from my lungs.
[You have entered a Safe Zone (1/2).]
I gagged, a mixture of blood and bile spilling onto the dirt.
A notification flickered in my vision.
[A certain Constellation of Justice and Kindness has sponsored you with 200 coins. They suggest investing in Stamina.]
I didn't have the energy to think.
I followed the only method I knew.
[270 coins have been invested into Stamina.]
[Stamina Level 2 → Stamina Level 3.]
[Your body has become slightly more durable.]
My wounds slowly started to close, but an unbearable hunger clawed at my stomach in return.
I lifted my head, blinking at the scene before me.
The stampede had thinned.
And then I saw him.
A blur of motion, weaving between the deer with impossible speed. Clothes torn, blood running down his arms, but still standing.
Max.
He saw me too.
We locked eyes.
I reached out.
— "Grab my hand!"
Too far.
Not enough reach.
I flipped my grip, grabbing the sharp end of my weapon and thrusting the handle toward him.
For a second, I thought I'd miss.
But then—his fingers closed around it.
[Safe Zone status updated (2/2).]
One minute left.
And then, at the worst possible moment…
A mosquito bit me.
Instinctively, I smacked it, crushing the tiny body against my skin.
A new notification popped up.
[100 coins have been awarded as compensation.]
My brain short-circuited.
That counted?
That counted?!
The last thought that passed through my mind before I blacked out was—
"God, I'm such an idiot."