More than twenty level 1 arrows were required for the legs of a red-eyed, two-horned horse to yield, which took just over ten seconds to be shot. Next, she shot at something akin to a mix between a wolf and a porcupine, which began to accelerate upon receiving the fourth impact.

“We should name it a wolfpine,” the lynx named it

The elf’s movements and the reduced distance had allowed the corrupted animal in front to discover her. She then fired a pair of Ethereal Arrows, which were more effective than normal arrows, as their level was the same as Goldmi’s, 4. That didn’t stop the wolfpine, but it did cause its movement to be unstable.

She then aimed to another blackish deer, targeting the muscles that moved its legs. Her intention was the same as against the others, to hinder or impede its movements. The main problem was the quality of the arrows, and the limited number of Ethereal Arrows, due to the low mana available. The same for Piercing Arrows.

The deer wasn’t trying to dodge, but moved decisively forward, accelerating when it was clear on its goal, which made it an easy target. And, as the nailed arrows, or the wounds from the ones detached, piled up, its race became less vigorous.

When she thought it was enough to delay it, the elf went on to attack a two-meter-high ram, which had overtaken the deer and was pouncing on her, threateningly displaying its horns, while protecting its face.

Practically depleting her mana and some energy, Goldmi attacked each of the ram’s legs with an Ethereal Arrow, increasing its effectiveness with Piercing Arrow. She thus managed that its legs couldn’t support the speedy race, so it stumbled, rolling several times on itself due to its speed, and also receiving some damage.

Despite its state, it got up immediately, advancing towards the elf, although not only had it being delayed, but its speed was much slower, and it even fell again more than once.

One was still in peak form, a snake nearly ten feet long. Although it moved somewhat slower than the others, it surpassed the rest when they were slowed down or stopped. The archer didn’t have much time to attack it from a distance, only six arrows were able to pierce its skin, and none of them managed to reduce its attack’s speed.

Meanwhile, the wolfpine had approached up to just a few meters, when powerful fangs dug into its unprotected neck. The lynx had risen to level 3 before encountering the jungle spirits, so there were only two levels of difference, a gap that was mitigated by the surprise attack, the wounds of the corrupted being, the difference in intelligence, in experience, and the different starting point of both enemies. If the two of them were of the same level, the feline’s stats would be considerably higher.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The corrupted being tried to turn, but the angle of the attack made it very difficult for it to counterattack, and soon it succumbed to its new and old wounds.

“What a bad taste in the mouth,” the lynx complained, and immediately confronted the deer.

This time, she could not catch it by surprise, as her position had been compromised after the first attack. The deer opened its mouth, showing sharp and triangular teeth that weren’t typical of a herbivore, but of the being it had become.

It attacked the feline directly, trying to bite her, but she easily dodged it, tearing at her enemy’s thigh with her sharp claws. This time, she may not have had the surprise factor, but she did have their origin. She was a predator, while the deer’s origin was that of a herbivore. That nature might have changed as it had been corrupted, but that hadn’t given it hunter’s instincts and skills, just dangerous teeth, and the urge to attack.

The lynx didn’t get behind the deer, as its kick could be dangerous, but jumped on its back, confusing it. Its impulse to attack in any way was opposed to an undeveloped body for it. Perhaps, the best thing it could have done was to fall and roll on itself, but, instead, it was trying futilely to reach with its jaws the one who was riding its back, while holding on with her claws and attacking with her fangs.

However, it didn’t die from the feline’s attacks, but the death blow was given by the ram, which rammed against the nearest target. It couldn’t reach the lynx, but the deer she was on, and from which she jumped to land on the ram.

With a huge predator on its back, the wounds on its legs made it difficult to hold on. Frantically, it pounced around, somehow trying to attack the living being that was on it.

Goldmi dodged the snake with Serpent’s Attack, slashing it less deeply than a weapon of her level would have done. She would have liked to use Tangle to restrict its movement, but the power of nature couldn’t be used in that corrupted place.

She didn’t have much energy left and barely mana, and her enemy was level 6, two above hers. The archer knew that, in those conditions, it would be almost a miracle to defeat it, so she stayed close to the entrance to the cave, ready to take refuge behind the invisible barrier.

However, she was concerned that the barrier might be broken if attacked by corrupt beings, which could only see a stone wall, so they hadn’t discovered it until then. And she worried about her sister if she left her alone against many enemies. Goldmi knew that, for now, she was fine, because she could feel it through their bond, without looking at her, and despite the fact that she was complaining about the bad taste of the corrupted beings.

Suddenly, and after using Blazing Dagger to repel the snake’s attack, a warning came from that bond. When she looked briefly at her sister, she felt a cold sweat running down her entire body.