The Wolf King began walking forward.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Each step like treading on a heart.
I clenched my jaw, tightening my claws.
My gaze quickly swept the surroundings.
West.
The trees were denser there, terrain more complex.
Lots of rocks and bushes.
Good for escape.
I'd noticed that direction before the battle even started.
If we couldn't win, that would be our retreat route.
"Spike, probing attack!"
Spike froze for a moment, but immediately understood my meaning.
He took a deep breath, body lowering.
Then like a shadow, he charged at the Wolf King.
Incredible speed. After evolving into a Gale Weasel, he left afterimages on the ground.
Claws gleaming coldly, aimed at the Wolf King's flank.
The Wolf King watched Spike charging.
Eyes calm, without any ripple.
Just as Spike's claws were about to touch the Wolf King—
The Wolf King moved.
Just shifted its body slightly.
Effortlessly.
Spike pounced on empty air, claws slashing through nothing.
Then the Wolf King struck back with a claw.
"Bang—!"
That strike was shockingly fast. I couldn't even see the movement.
"Store!"
Spike's figure vanished.
The Wolf King's claw hit empty air.
It paused for a moment, then looked at me.
"Spatial ability?" A cold smile appeared at the corner of the Wolf King's mouth. "Interesting."
I immediately released Spike.
Spike landed beside me, gasping for breath.
"So fast..." its voice carried terror. "I couldn't react at all."
Speed.
Strength.
Reflexes.
Complete domination across the board.
"Shadow, attack from the air!"
Shadow immediately dove from above.
Wings folded, speed extreme.
Talons aimed at the Wolf King's nape.
The Wolf King didn't even raise its head.
Just flicked its tail.
"Smack!"
Shadow was swatted mid-air, tumbling.
Barely stabilized, but had already been knocked back over ten meters.
[Shadow HP: 130/160]
Just one tail strike, and Shadow lost 30 HP.
"Horn, charge!"
Horn let out a low roar, his rock horn glowing earthy yellow.
Full speed toward the Wolf King.
Ground shaking, debris flying.
The Wolf King stood in place, not dodging or evading.
"Come on," it said flatly.
Horn's rock horn collided with the Wolf King's front paw.
"Bang—!"
Massive impact sound.
But the Wolf King didn't budge.
It used just one paw to block Horn's full-force charge.
Then the other paw came down.
"Boom!"
Horn was sent flying.
Tumbling through the air, crashing heavily to the ground.
[Horn HP: 120/180]
"Damn it..."
I gritted my teeth, mind racing.
Direct confrontation wouldn't work.
Then use tactics.
"Waspy, Mind Control!"
Waspy hovered in the air.
Antennae glowing purple.
"Mind Control!"
Purple light shot toward the Wolf King.
The Wolf King's gaze flickered slightly.
But only for an instant.
The next second, it recovered.
"Mental attack?" The Wolf King sneered. "Too weak."
Its mental power was too strong.
Waspy's Mind Control couldn't affect it at all.
[Waspy MP: 10/280]
And the magic consumption was enormous.
"Brownie, Forest Bind!"
Brownie gritted its teeth, closing its eyes.
Green light spread from its body.
"Rumble—"
Thick vines erupted from underground.
Wrapping around the Wolf King's limbs.
One, two, dozens.
The vines coiled tighter and tighter.
The Wolf King looked down at the vines wrapped around its body.
"This is your strategy?"
It exerted slight force.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
All the vines snapped instantly.
Far easier than dealing with normal Forest Wolves.
[Brownie MP: 10/300]
Magic nearly depleted, but with zero effect.
All our tactics.
Before the Wolf King, they were meaningless.
"Done playing?" the Wolf King asked.
Its tone was calm, even carrying a hint of mockery.
"Now—"
"It's my turn."
The Wolf King suddenly exploded into action.
Speed shockingly fast, almost like teleportation.
In the blink of an eye, it was in front of Shell.
"Shell!"
Shell couldn't react in time.
The Wolf King's claw came down.
"Boom—!"
Shell's entire body was sent flying.
Tumbling through the air, snapping a tree as thick as a bowl.
Then snapping a second one.
Finally crashing into a boulder.
"Cough..." Shell spat blood.
[Shell HP: 80/250]
One strike.
Just one strike.
But the Wolf King didn't stop.
It turned toward Venom.
Venom's body trembled in fear, wanting to flee.
But the Wolf King's speed was too fast.
Instantly before Venom.
"Store!"
I activated the spatial mark.
Venom vanished, entering the space.
The Wolf King's claw hit empty air.
It stopped, turning to look at me.
"That trick again."
"Interesting."
It wasn't angry. Instead, it smiled.
"Then I'll go one by one."
"Let's see how many times you can save them."
The Wolf King charged again.
This time the target was Spike.
Spike fled desperately, speed maxed out.
But the Wolf King was faster.
Caught up in the blink of an eye.
A claw came down.
"Store!"
Spike entered the space.
The Wolf King turned toward Shadow.
Shadow flew through the air, trying to create distance.
But the Wolf King leaped.
That jump reached at least ten meters high.
Claw swinging toward Shadow.
"Store!"
Shadow also entered the space.
My magic was depleting rapidly.
[My MP: 200/230]
Continuously using spatial marks, the consumption was enormous.
And—
I discovered a problem.
The Wolf King was playing.
It wasn't in a hurry to kill us.
It was enjoying the process.
Each attack only used a portion of its strength.
Each pursuit deliberately slowed down slightly.
It was toying with us.
Like a cat toying with mice.
"Damn it..."
This feeling was so frustrating.
But because of that.
We still had a chance to escape.
"Horn, charge the Wolf King!"
Horn froze for a moment but still complied.
It charged toward the Wolf King.
The Wolf King watched Horn approach, eyes carrying amusement.
Just as Horn was about to collide with the Wolf King—
I shouted: "Brownie, Forest Bind!"
Brownie used the last of its magic.
"Boom!"
Vines erupted from underground.
Not wrapping around the Wolf King.
But around the thirteen Forest Wolves nearby!
[Brownie MP: 0/300]
The pack was trapped by vines, momentarily unable to pursue.
"Everyone, retreat! Run west!"
Horn immediately changed direction, running with me.
Waspy and Brownie followed.
The Wolf King watched us flee.
Didn't immediately chase.
Instead, it smiled.
"Somewhat interesting."
"Actually thought to exploit my underestimation."
"However—"
"You still can't escape."
It tore through the vines binding its subordinates with one claw.
"Chase."
The thirteen Forest Wolves immediately gave chase.
The Wolf King also began pursuing.
But this time, its speed was noticeably faster.
No longer playing.
This was true pursuit to kill.
We ran desperately.
Rushed into the western dense forest.
Trees thick, blocking line of sight.
Bushes everywhere, obstructing pursuit.
"Horn, you enter the space too!"
"Store!"
Horn entered the space.
"Waspy, Brownie, you too!"
"Store! Store!"
Both magic beasts entered the space.
Only me left.
Smaller body, faster speed, more agile.
I weaved through the trees.
Using my size advantage to slip through narrow gaps.
The wolf pack was too large, had to detour.
Distance opened up a bit.
But the Wolf King pursued relentlessly.
Its speed was too fast.
Soon caught up again.
I dove into a thicket.
The Wolf King charged straight through, smashing the bushes.
Bushes shattered to pieces.
I jumped onto a tree, leaping between branches.
The Wolf King chased below. It leaped, nearly biting my tail.
I quickly jumped to another tree.
But there were no more branches ahead.
I could only jump down.
The instant I landed, the Wolf King had already pounced.
"Spatial Dodge!"
My body vanished, appearing five meters away.
[My MP: 190/230]
The Wolf King turned, continuing the chase.
"How many times can you dodge?" it asked.
I didn't answer, kept running.
Through a grove of trees.
Over a small stream.
Through rock crevices.
But the Wolf King was always behind, couldn't shake it.
Its stamina seemed endless.
While my stamina was dropping.
Breathing growing more labored.
Legs starting to weaken.
A rocky area appeared ahead.
Rocks of all sizes scattered on the ground.
Many narrow gaps.
I saw an opportunity.
Immediately rushed in.
Squeezed into a rock crevice.
The Wolf King was too large, couldn't get in.
It roared outside: "Come out!"
"You can't escape!"
I ignored it, continuing to crawl deeper into the crevice.
This rock gap was long and winding.
I crawled for a long time.
My limbs were scraped raw by the rocks.
But I didn't dare stop.
Finally, I saw the exit.
Crawled out from the other end.
Looked back.
The Wolf King was still waiting at the original spot.
It hadn't discovered this crevice went all the way through.
I took the opportunity to flee quickly, running in the opposite direction.
Ran for a very long time.
Until I confirmed the pack hadn't caught up.
Only then did I stop.
Leaned against a tree, gasping for breath.
"Huff... huff..."
My whole body was trembling.
Sweat had soaked through my fur.
My consciousness sank into the space.
All members were inside.
Shell lay on the ground, injuries severe.
Horn was also hurt.
Other members were all exhausted.
"Come out."
All members emerged from the space.
"Are we safe?" Brownie asked.
"We're safe."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Shell..." I walked over.
Shell lay on the ground, breathing roughly.
[Shell HP: 80/250]
A crack ran across the armor on his chest.
"I'm okay..." Shell said with difficulty.
Brownie walked over, but looked at its own status.
[Brownie MP: 0/300]
Magic depleted. Couldn't heal.
"First find a safe place."
Spike stood up. "I'll look."
Its nose sniffed the air.
"There's a cave over there."
We followed Spike.
Shell was moving slowly due to severe injuries. I had it enter the space to rest.
Walked for about ten minutes.
A hidden cave appeared ahead.
The entrance wasn't large, but inside was spacious and dry.
"This is the place."
All members entered the cave.
I released Shell too.
It lay on the ground, eyes closed, resting.
Other members also found places to sit.
I leaned against the cave wall, opening my panel.
[Hoarder Squirrel] [Gray]
[Level: 22/25]
[Experience: 515/550]
[HP: 230/230]
[MP: 190/230]
[Strength: 22]
[Defense: 16]
[Speed: 28]
[Luck: 14]
[A rodent-type magic beast with a pocket dimension, loves hoarding various items, possesses brief spatial evasion ability]
[Traits: Dimensional Cheek Pouch, High Sensitivity, Spatial Affinity]
[Skills: Leap (Proficient), Bite (Proficient), Spatial Dodge (Proficient)]
"We need to evolve."
All members looked at me.
Only by becoming stronger would we have a chance.