Chapter Forty: I Like Small Animals (Part II)

Looking back, it was those five words—“likes small animals”—that led me to fall for the long-haired elven woman’s trick, landing myself in this absurd predicament. Had I known what Yan Formation meant by “likes small animals,” I would have reconsidered whether to follow Xian Ge Ya Yi into this mess.

To be precise, Yan Formation’s claim that she “likes small animals” was a complete and utter lie. The affection she showed toward animals could not be described by the ordinary word “like.” It was an indulgence, an incurable obsession. And the most fatal point: the animals she liked were anything but “small.”

“Don’t hurt this little bear, look how adorable it is…” The moment she saw an animal, the elven beauty with her flowing hair shed all traces of her former elegance and noble composure, and transformed into a wide-eyed, childlike girl, shouting excitedly.

Mountain grizzly—level thirty beast—its massive body was twice as wide as mine, its hind legs when upright matched the height of a grown minotaur, its greedy maw filled with teeth as long as my fingers, bits of meat still hanging from its mouth, emitting ear-shattering, brutish roars. From beginning to end, I could not see what was “adorable” about this savage giant, nor could I fathom why anyone would affectionately call it “little bear”—especially as it was now bellowing and chasing us, clearly coveting our tender, juicy flesh.

With my current combat experience and level, I could easily handle even three beasts of this caliber at once, skinning and disassembling them without breaking a sweat. But Yan Formation would never allow such a thing. Not only were swords forbidden, even poking them with a finger was not permitted. This beautiful elven ranger had an utterly different aesthetic; in her eyes, these sharp-toothed, bloodthirsty monsters were as innocent and harmless as plush dolls, angels beneath the divine throne. Regrettably, their attitude toward us did not change: their claws still cost us life, their teeth still hurt when sunk into our backsides.

“How can your friend have such strange tastes? Is she all right in the head?” Gasping for breath as we were chased by a bear that should have been easy to dispatch, I couldn’t help but feel a helpless sense of “a tiger fallen to the plain, bullied by dogs,” and quietly asked Fei Yin at my side.

“I can’t help it either. This happens every time—halfway through, the beasts chasing us could fill a zoo, and we never even reach the quest location,” Fei Yin shook her head in resignation, casting a speed spell on herself.

“Give me a speed spell, please, I’m about to cramp up from running…”

“Magic potions cost money, you know.” My pitiful plea earned only a cold glance from Fei Yin.

I should have realized this was a plot to find a scapegoat. For a level thirty-five ranger, the class change quest was difficult enough, but with a level thirty-two ice mage, it should be more than manageable—there was no need to drag Xian Ge Ya Yi and me into it. Most likely, when Fei Yin sent the call for help to Xian Ge Ya Yi, she already planned to kick this unlucky nearsighted fool into the beast pack as a distraction.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I had appeared at the wrong place at the wrong time, throwing myself into a disaster everyone else avoided—a grievous injustice.

As we pressed forward, countless mountain grizzlies, moonlit wolves, black-bellied vipers, and other wild beasts joined the chase—over a dozen in all, a dark mass behind us, a spectacle in its own right.

“This is bad, more are coming! They’re almost upon us!” Xian Ge Ya Yi glanced back, immediately shrieking in terror and sprinting ahead, leaving us behind.

This wasn’t my first time fleeing with Xian Ge Ya Yi. We’d been through similar situations before. No matter how dangerous the pursuers, the elven archer never lost his composure, often mocking us for our panicked escape with a calm quip.

“Xian Ge Ya Yi, look at you! You never used to be this timid!” I shouted in confusion.

“I used to be nearsighted—I couldn’t see anything!” he retorted indignantly, pointing behind him. “Now I finally realize how terrifying these creatures look!”

In turning, his speed unknowingly slowed. The nearest moonlit wolf leapt forward, springing behind him and opening its maw in a furious snarl. Xian Ge Ya Yi cried out in fright, “Oh my gods!” and ran, head down, without daring to look back.

“We need to find a way to get rid of them!” Fei Yin called out, not clear to whom. “If we keep running like this, they’ll catch us sooner or later.”

Hearing the beasts’ footsteps closing in, a risky idea suddenly sprang to mind. While running, I drew my sword from my belt and gripped my shield tightly, preparing for a desperate stand.

“I have a plan that can stop them, at least for a while!” I shouted to my companions.

Yan Formation saw the sword in my hand, looked back at the encroaching beasts, and resolutely stopped me. “No! You mustn’t harm these little animals!”

Her naive words were so ill-timed I nearly choked. She wouldn’t let me hurt the “little animals,” but who could stop this pack of hungry, drooling beasts from hurting me, their unlucky prey?

“Don’t worry, I’ve got a better way!” Thankfully, I was confident and agreed without hesitation.

“Farewell, Jeff—I’ll pray for you… after the bear flattens you.” Damn Xian Ge Ya Yi, fleeing far ahead, still tossing out unlucky remarks. Worst of all, he’d found a white handkerchief somewhere and was waving it in the wind, as if sure I was doomed.

I gradually slowed, letting my companions move ahead, increasing the distance between us. Once I was about three paces behind, I stopped and faced the onrushing beasts.

A grizzly rammed my shield, making me feel as if struck by a four-wheeled carriage. The beasts swarming after quickly overwhelmed me; wolves tore at my armor, vipers coiled around, threatening to break me in two. Luckily, their levels weren’t high enough for lethal damage, and I could still endure.

In moments, the beasts had me surrounded. Amid the chaos, I estimated the farthest grizzly was within five paces.

Then, a surge of battle energy rose from my abdomen to my chest, gathering at my throat—a powerful force from my life’s core, compelling me to shout, to unleash the fervor and bloodlust boiling within.

“Ah…” I heard my own wild, rough, defiant roar, so fierce it seemed to swallow the beasts’ howls. The creatures around me stirred uneasily; the giant python drooped, the wolves tucked their tails and fled.

This was a skill I learned from the warrior trainer at level thirty-two—“Fear Roar.” When I used battle energy to fuel my shout, any enemy within five paces would be affected by “Fear,” halting their attacks. I first encountered it when the leader of the Saber-Tooth Bandits, Lidas, used it against me, leaving me terrified and unable to fight.

“Raa…” At that moment, a grizzly suddenly roared and lunged, jaws wide, aiming for my head. When I used the skill, it was close—perhaps its courage made it immune to “Fear Roar.” No wonder people say those lacking courage should eat bear gall; perhaps it’s because bears are so bold.

It came so fast I had no time to think—instinctively, I swung my shield at its face. With a dull thud, its sturdy nose met my shield, and it stood dazed, eyes unfocused, wobbling in place. My “Shield Bash” had stunned it temporarily—and only then did I see a trace of “adorableness” in this “little bear.”

Damn it, Yan Formation’s peculiar animal-protecting obsession was baffling, but I had promised not to harm these creatures. An honorable adventurer should always keep their word—even when accidents occur. I glanced apologetically at the grizzly’s crooked nose and slightly diminished health bar, silently cursing myself.

Taking advantage of the beasts’ fear and confusion, I hurried after my companions. Soon, I reached the foot of Red Mountain—where Yan Formation would complete her class change quest. My three companions were waiting atop the rocks.

“Oh, you actually made it back…” Xian Ge Ya Yi feigned surprise and disappointment, but couldn’t hide the joy in his voice at my safe return. “All that praying for nothing—what a waste of emotion!”

“Jeff, you… you didn’t do anything to those little animals, did you?” Yan Formation, seeing me, immediately worried about her “adorable little animals.” Apparently, while I risked my life staying behind, not one second of concern for my fate crossed her mind—a rather poignant realization.

One person slaying over a dozen beasts of similar levels, and all in under a minute? Get real! Did she think I was the god of war incarnate?

“No. I just scared them off with a battle shout.” And flattened a bear’s nose, I thought to myself, but kept silent—an honorable adventurer shouldn’t lie, but sometimes we must allow a little selective memory.

Upon hearing my reply, Yan Formation finally nodded in relief.

“I’m so mad, so mad, so mad…” I turned to see Fei Yin biting her lip in frustration, muttering gloomily, her eyes lingering longingly on the path we’d come from.

“If only we’d skinned those beasts—imagine how much they’d fetch…”

(I keep feeling I’ve forgotten something. Let me reserve a spot here and add it when I remember.)