"Huff.. Huff... Hu.."

Holding my right shoulder in a desperate attempt to stop the blood flowing from the claw mark on it, I ran as fast as I could. As my feet left the ground, I had a hard time finding the courage to put it forward again. I felt so tired that I just wanted to take a sleep, probably because of all the adrenaline that's been squeezed out.

I forcefully put my revolting feet on the ground as I looked at my goal. A translucent green barrier, in the shape of a cylinder reaching up to the sky.

Like someone from above has inserted a straw on the ground.

As I reached closer to my goal the fatigue started increasing. Making my vision a little blurry.

But I didn't let my tired eyes take a rest as I kept looking around.

*ROOAR!*

Hearing the roar behind me, I gritted my teeth, Damn that was quick, looks like it has a strong head. Observing the trees around me my eyes landed on a tree with a low branch.

Putting pressure under my right leg I used whatever energy I had to make a jump. Streaching my only functional hand I grabed the branch.

"Uhhh."

Groning in pain I used my legs to climb on the branch.

Taking a deep breath I didn't let the cold shade affect me. Looking at the wound covered in blood, I rubbed my left palm over it, gritting my teeth at the nerve-wracking sensation of my dust-coated hand rubbing my naked muscles, I collected my blood.

This is nothing you have been through pain worse than this. I encouraged myself as I splashed the blood on my palm over the.

Hopping off the branch I covered the wound tightly. Running straight to the barrier.

I hope it buys me some time. He did track me through my blood after all. Though I know sensing a large amount of my blood on the tree will only confuse the blood sensing monster for a while, that little while is all I need.

I thought as I was now able to see the inside of the barrier. A small clearing with green grasses and most importantly the small pond inside gave my tired body the courage to continue.

A few meters more, then I can finally.. re-

As I ran straight to the barrier, my eyes caught the glimpse of two red balls glowing between a pair of big trees.

I don't need another look to know what those balls were...

*Growl*

Time seemed to slow down as I looked back at the red eyes staring at me.

A creature with the back portion of a grey wolf and front of a black lion, with scary red eyes lacking any pupils, glowing brightly even in the middle of the afternoon. This monster.. I would remember it all my life.

Unfortunately, our staring section didn't last any longer as the illusion of the slow world created by my mind was broken by the monster, pouncing at me with its leg spread out.

I noted a point that I would never forget for the rest of my life.. if I have one.

Monsters too have intelligence.

"Khuua!"

Feeling the claw hitting my back, my mouth let out an uncontrollable amount of blood. I could feel my back bending at an unnatural angle as my body became airborne...

The air trip, however, didn't last long as my body collided with the land, my already wounded shoulder which received the first impact made me know what hell felt like.

After a few rolls, my body came to a halt.

"Uhhh.."

The scratches received by my body or the back which may have a fracture were not the reason for my grunt, but rather my shoulder was which by now looked like a piece of meat dripping with blood.

*Growl!*

The monster too seemed to agree as it let out another growl, its dripping drools enough to express its feelings.

Damn it! I have never felt so..

so powerless before.

Looking at its blood-red eyes as it advanced towards me I couldn't help but recall the hell that it broke...

"Ahhh! Get away from me!"

"Someone save me I don't want to die!"

The person at the front-most screamed as he punched the wolf biting his foot with all his might. This was followed by a scream from behind.

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"Damn it! Move aside."

A man pushed me away as he ran to my right, some people followed him while others ran to the left.

I slowly retreated to the centre keeping a close eye on the wolves and people.

The wolves are only attacking the person nearest to them, hm...

They are not even considering the people at the centre, but their number is making sure no one escapes.

"Ahhhh! Bastard help me take this wolf down! No, don't leave me behind!"

Right engaged.

I noted as I looked to my right.

"Kyaa!"

"No! No! Don't throw me I have a- Ahhhh.."

Left engaged. Front engaged.

Further notes were added as my eyes scanned all fronts.

And back...

Shifting my eyes backwards I took a look behind me..

There my eyes caught the scene they would never forget. Wolves were munching down on human organs, while some of the living humans looked at their organs being eaten with horror.

A man was punching or trying to punch a wolf who was eating his other still attached arm while looking at the two wolves eating both his legs not even bothering to tear them apart..

He seemed to be mumbling something though in midst of the screams his last speech was unheard..

Four wolves were fighting over a woman's body pulling her from each of her limbs, while the young and living woman..

Looked at the sky in silence, tears falling from her eyes.

Her tears however were wiped by the jaw of another wolf joining the distribution.

"This.. This is hell."

An old woman muted as the people gathered at the centre couldn't help but agree.

"Yeh, that's right for all the sins I have committed... the god must be punishing me."

Another old voice said as the speaker walked towards the wolves with a blank look.

I who thought that I was used to blood felt like throwing up, looking at the cruel massacre done by the wolves.

I.. I have to survive, I can't die.. not again.

As three wolves pounced at the old man.

I left the group squeezing in the centre and ran straight towards the old man..

As the old eyes looked at me they light up, but I..

Jumped through him!

Making use of the fact that all the wolves on the back were now engaged I ran straight to the forest. My goal is the green beam nearest to me.

The one at the front was closer.. but..

That monster came from there.

Remembering the scary monster I couldn't help but increase my speed, as I felt adrenaline coursing through my body.

*growl*

A wolf pounced at me with its jaws wide open. Ducking to the ground, I looked at the wolf which was hiding behind the tree.

Before the growling wolf could make a move, I lept at him holding his jaw between my armpit, I forced him to the ground.

The wolf however didn't let me do as I please as he tried to open his jaws while using his legs to push me back.

Looks like I overestimated the strength of the young body.

As my feet were pushed back I knew I couldn't win the battle of force.

Rooting my feet to the ground I let the jaw of the wolf turn to the group of people.

As I felt the wolf increasing his force and my body about to be pushed back.. I moved the hands holding the wolf away sprinting straight into the forest.

Not without a cut received by my right leg.

"Ahhh! Damn you bastard!"

Hearing the scream behind me and the wolf who no longer chases me I didn't need to look back to know what happened.

Looks like the monsters are not very intelligent, the moment they started a human they forget about another.

I run through the trees without a single pause. Looking up it turns out that the beam of light was cylindrical and.. hollow from inside, reaching as high as the eyes could see.

I hope my assumption is right and the space inside the barrier is a safe zone. If others use their mind a little they should be able to get awa-

*Zooop!"

"Huh!"

I felt something pass through me at an extremely fast speed as pieces of torn cloth and flesh covered the right side of my vision.

Halting my step I looked to my right..

"Ahh!"

A scream left my mouth as I barely held it in, looking at the three cuts a few centimetres deep that had appeared on my right shoulder.

It didn't take me long to realise that this was a claw mark of a big..

*Growl*

Monster.

Locking my eyes with the red glowing eyes of the monster with back of a wolf and front of a lion. I couldn't help but wonder..

How was he able to inflict such a big wound without me noticing. Not to maintain that it came from behind, so how did he wound me at front?

As blood started flowing from my wound in an uncontrollable amount, the drool dripping from the monster increased.

Immediately I held the wound with my left hand, trying to stop even a drop of blood that would help me last longer.

The wolf pounded at me with his hind legs stretched forward.

I didn't think for a moment as I rolled to my right, immediately getting up I started running.

*Roar!*

Looking at the monster chasing after me, I couldn't help but wondered how it has gotten slower after the leap, but I didn't have much time to ponder over the matter as I saw it closing the distance.

My injured arm was slowing me down so I used the space between the trees or trees with low branches to run, trying to slow down the wolf as much as I could.

The sound of its footsteps got closer, the barrier was still some distance away, if this continues I would be caught before I reach there.

I looked around trying to find something that could help me..

Looking at the big tree to my left, I ran to it at full speed, I could see the wolf a few steps behind me.

A few steps away from the tree I put pressure under my right leg ready for a jump, and so was the monster capturing my every moment with its red eyes.

Is this.. beastly instincts.

If I jump it would catch me in the mid air landing on top of me or so was what it thought..

Bending my right knee forward I didn't let my left feet paw leave the ground, leaning my chest to the left. I let gravity do its job as my body rolled left on the ground. My eyes caught glimpse of the monster's body flying straight to the tree.

*Baam!*

I didn't even take a look back as the filling leaves were enough to prove what has happened.

Holding the wound with my now dust-filled hands, I ran straight to the barrier.

That should buy me some time, if I stop it just one more time.. then I would get away.

Or so did I thought..

But here I am laying in my pool of blood and flesh, looking at my death approaching me while praising it..

It didn't take the bait but rather figured my destination, and waited for an ambush at its predicted location.

I should have taken a detour. Though none of these thoughts has any use now, even if by some god sent chance the monster chooses to leave me the blood loss will kill me anyway.

As my vision was getting more blurry, and unconsciousness was embracing me..

*Ding!*

*Ding*

*Ding!*

*Din.....

Sounds of notifications like the one I received during the quest filled my ears, followed by my vision covered with one screen after another.

«The starlers have taken an int....

Unfortunately, I couldn't read any further as unconsciousness embraced me completely.

By one way or another..

At least..

The hell ended.