[Author’s Note] Thank you for reading. Chapter 14
5. Curse of the Messenger 013 – Curse of the Messenger #1
━M-my house is destroyed!
I let out a scream that could rival a banshee as I stared at the broken stone walls.
Memories of digging tirelessly to create my home and agonizing over how to build the most stable walls flashed before my eyes like a movie reel.
The satisfaction of my hard work and labor felt utterly empty now.
A bubbling rage festered in my gut, and all the fur on my body stood on end.
I shouted at the massive wolf like I was making a complaint.
━Hey, that’s outrageous! You broke my house!
━Huh?
The wolf, who had turned its back to me, stopped in its tracks and turned its head as if to ask what the problem was.
It seemed completely unfazed by its actions.
Even with me standing there all puffed up, the creature was relaxed as a sofa. Its single eye twitched slightly, and then it turned away again.
I leaped at its back, digging my claws into its fur and riding its back like a rollercoaster.
━You white-furred beast, what are you doing?
Shaking off the flies clinging to it, the wolf wobbled left and right. I clung tightly through its vigorous movements.
All that filled my mind was a fierce desire for revenge on my home.
I had a gut feeling that if I allowed myself to be underestimated like this, I’d be stuck groveling for evermore.
So, without hesitation, I charged at the giant wolf, clawing at its thick hide. It let out a pained scream.
━Get off, you flea-ridden pest!
The wolf collapsed onto the ground and rolled in the dirt, trying to scratch its back. In the chaos, I managed to slide down and grab its long fur.
Its belly looked surprisingly soft and pliable compared to its other parts. Most importantly, it had a glaring weakness that was exposed between its hind legs.
‘So you’re a male too? Then even giant wolves have the same weak spots!’
I mercilessly scratched at its private parts with my claws. The wolf’s body sprang up like a coil, twisting as it yelled.
━Gaaah! How dare you!
Its front paw swiped at me, trying to throw me off.
Fueled with stubbornness, I continued scratching at its belly and genitals without backing down.
My sharp claws cut into the skin, making bl**d spew forth from the gashes.
While it wasn’t a lethal wound, it was deep enough.
━You little scoundrel!
The wolf bit down on my body with a furious snap.
I was violently pulled away from its genitals due to its overwhelming strength.
Its teeth dug into my flesh, a ferocious grip that threatened to pierce through. Yet, compared to being bitten by a snake, it was bearable.
It seemed my thickened skin had paid off after all.
Even as half my body was being chewed, I swung my paws at its vulnerable gums and face.
Scratching at its supposed weak spots, the beast coughed and spat me out onto the ground.
━Cough! You little rascal! How annoying. I was going to let you live!
The wolf gasped for air.
I was greatly surprised that my attacks had seemed to work better than expected. My claws must have been sharper and stronger than I thought.
Standing on all fours, I let out a loud growl.
Perhaps my reasoning was clouded by excitement and anger, but at that moment, I felt overconfident enough to take on that gigantic beast.
━A small beast like you. Who would’ve thought you would come at me like this? Mistake on my part. So, indeed, is it possible you could k*ll a snake?
The wolf stuck out its long tongue, licking the bl**d from its wounded mouth. Fur bristled as it glared at me.
It emitted an intimidating presence that sent shivers down my spine.
━You white-furred beast. I will devour you. My bl**d and flesh will be yours!
The giant wolf crouched low, preparing to pounce like hunters do before they spring upon their prey.
How much force must it generate from that massive body? I quickly assessed whether I could withstand it.
‘It’s probably like getting hit by a huge truck. But I have to face it.’
Even if I ran, it was clear I wouldn’t last half a day against that pack of wolves.
If I climbed a tree to hide from its subordinates, that giant would find me the moment it appeared, and I’d be toast.
‘Whatever happens, I’ll settle it here.’
I crouched down, resuming my battle stance.
In my mind, I envisioned clashing with the beast, sharpening my claws to gouge out its one eye.
We locked eyes for a moment, sizing each other up.
Rustle.
A cold wind began to blow, shaking the branches around us. The sounds of leaves colliding echoed through the moonlit forest.
As the wind gradually died down, silence enveloped the area. Suddenly, it lunged at me first.
It felt like this heavy wolf was launching itself, blocking out the night sky and casting a massive shadow over me.
Complete darkness.
I also lifted my front paw high and leaped into the air.
━Kublai, you let your guard down!
At the moment our bodies crossed paths, a loud thud resonated. Something suddenly shot out from the forest, crashing into the wolf.
I landed on the ground, bewildered by the unexpected development.
Wrestling with the giant wolf was a beast that prominently showcased its four limbs and long tail. Its vertically-split green pupils gleamed brightly.
‘A lizard?’
Actually, calling it a lizard might be an understatement; it looked more like a dinosaur! Long limbs boasted claw-like talons.
It resembled a raptor from Jurassic World, just scaled up a few times.
With two horn-like spikes protruding from its forehead, it looked even more terrifying.
The wolf bared its teeth at the intruder, revealing its fangs.
━You! Yan-Mite!
━Kublai, leaving the eastern lands to show up here? To allow an ambush like this without realizing that I’m here? Seems like your old age is muddling your nose!
━Shut it! You little brat!
The massive wolf and the dinosaur began to tangle, inflicting injuries upon each other.
The wolf bit into the dinosaur’s neck with its claws and jaws. The dinosaur twisted its body, swinging its long tail.
There was a whip-like sound as it sliced through the air. Getting hit by that thick tail would probably break bones instantly.
In fact, trees struck by the tail splintered and crashed to the ground like twigs.
The wolf halted its attack, creating a distance. But this time, the dinosaur charged at the wolf instead.
As they clashed, sturdy trees buckled like reeds, and solid ground was dug up like clay.
With each of their collisions, a booming sound echoed, shaking the night forest.
It was a fierce battle of giants.
If I were watching it in a theater or on a screen, I would’ve deemed it thrilling. But with my own two eyes, the grandeur of it all chilled me to the bone.
The dinosaur was magnificent, but the wolf held its own as well.
━Grrr!
━Awoof! Awoof!
Small wolves that guarded the big wolf began to attack the dinosaur.
━You little pests!
The dinosaur brushed the wolves aside with ease, its sharp teeth and limbs tearing through them like they were made of paper.
‘Are you telling me it can k*ll wolves that easily? Is this for real…?’
I pulled back my excitement.
No matter how angry I was, I couldn’t believe I had charged at such monsters.
Having been cautioned against reckless rage and boldness, I almost became wolf chow overnight.
‘If I involve myself in that fight, I won’t have a single bone left.’
The wolf pack and the dinosaur seemed too occupied tearing each other apart. The fact that they weren’t focused on me was a huge advantage.
‘Let’s run while I can.’
Sure, my house had crumbled, but anger and pride are trivial compared to life.
We can always build another house somewhere else.
I stealthily gathered the blue crystal and the hard egg from inside my destroyed home. Behind me, the howls of the dinosaur and wolf continued to rage on.
Without looking back, I bolted away.
━Graaah!
━Kaaag!
No matter how far I distanced myself, the roars could still be heard. All that filled my mind was the desperate need to get away from them.
The usual chirping of insects and birds had turned into an eerie silence. Not a single beast showed its face.
The wounds from the wolf ached. My entire body felt like it had been burnt alive.
I thoroughly felt the consequence of my recklessness and foolishness.
‘From now on, I need to be more careful. I thought I was a pretty strong beast.’
I could never have imagined such a giant wolf and dinosaur existing. Who knows what other terrifying creatures might dwell in this forest?
While chastising myself for being overconfident after taking down a snake, I reflected on my choices.
‘Getting easily worked up is a significant flaw. Am I starting to resemble a temperamental beast? Maybe I shouldn’t have picked Grid Ratel.’
Actually, had I chosen Demigrass Raccoon, I might have ended up as the meal for those wolves when they invaded my home.
But thanks to Ratel’s thick skin, I managed to gain plenty. I’m not regretting it. A quick temper is something I can surely curb with my human reasoning.
‘Now that my house is in ruins, maybe there’s nothing to get angry about.’
I chuckled bitterly.
While I outwardly managed a laugh, I promised myself that I must not forget this humiliating feeling and pain.
‘That wolf.’
The way it conversed with the dinosaur suggests that its name must be Kublai.
━The one-eyed wolf, Kublai.
I repeatedly muttered its name to never forget the day my home was destroyed.
*
As morning dawned, colorful birds chirped merrily from every direction.
Having spent the night with one eye open, fearing any more trouble, I let out a sigh of relief.
━Phew, what a situation. Time for me to head down.
━Szzzz.
As I descended from the tree, a rainbow-colored spider raised its front paw toward me.
It shied away, tucked into a corner of its web, unable to approach me due to the glow of the blue crystal.
I planned to exterminate all the spiders, but as a commemoration of our overnight stay together, I decided to spare this one.
━Szzzz.
I still couldn’t understand the spider’s words.
━Is it finally morning?
Once I reached the ground, I stretched out, feeling the energy of the earth beneath my paws.
Grrrr, feeling the growl of my stomach, I sensed it was time to eat something.
‘Is it time to eat my emergency rations?’
I glanced at the hard egg in my hand.
If I crack the shell and consume its contents, I could hydrate and nourish myself all at once.
I tapped the egg, feeling its remarkably thick and solid shell. They say you need a hammer to break ostrich eggs!
I placed the egg on a rock and slammed a stone down on it relentlessly.
Crack, a sound rang out as the stone shattered.
‘What the heck is this?’
I stared in disbelief at the pulverized rock.
What kind of egg is this that it’s this hard?
This time, I decided to hold the egg itself and smash it against the rock. I aimed to break the bottom, letting the contents seep out for me to drink like coconut water.
I firmly grasped the egg in both hands and brought it down against the rock.
The sound of solid objects colliding echoed through the forest. No matter how hard I hit it repeatedly, the egg showed no sign of breaking.
‘Is this even an egg?’
I cocked my head, gazing at the smooth oval object.
Isn’t it just a block of stone?
