Chapter 7 - Change
Lu Ran's scalp went numb as he started to count. One, two, three, four… five demon cats had appeared!
Damn, do demon cats live in packs?
The five demon cats stared at Lu Ran and his familiar. It could have been fine if there were just five normal demon cats. However, he could tell that the last one to appear was bigger than the rest and even comparable to Captain Doofus in stature. Moreover, unlike the other skinny demon cats, it was very muscular.
He used his Eye of Detection on the monster.
[Race: Demon Cat]
[Attribute: Unawakened]
[Species Rank: Intermediate-Transcendent]
[Level: 3]
Lu Ran pursed his lips. It was a level 3 demon cat.
Outnumbered, he contemplated running away. Unfortunately, the five demon cats had already surrounded them; they couldn't escape even if they wanted to.
What do we do? Should I have Captain Doofus enter “that state”?
”That state” referred to a unique change that could occur in Captain Doofus. If Lu Ran’s nightmares could be considered a flaw, then so could that state. Perhaps that was why the two were destined to meet.
Whenever Captain Doofus entered that state during a fight, its potential would always seemingly fully unlock, greatly increasing its power. This hidden power was the reason Lu Ran believed in its strength.
However, going into a frenzy also always made Captain Doofus lose all reason and sense of pain like a rabid dog. Currently, only Lu Ran's telepathy could awaken it from that state, but every time he did, it would fall unconscious for a while. Having deemed it dangerous, he never really liked it when Captain Doofus entered such a state.
Hence, Lu Ran used his previous combat experience to quickly adapt instead.
"Forget it. Let's handle this one step at a time. Don't worry about me and just focus on taking them down,” he ordered. ”Don’t forget to keep an eye on the leader of the pack, though."
Fortunately, while foraging, he found a sturdy, long stick that he could use as a weapon.
With his enhanced physique, Lu Ran felt that he had a decent chance of killing a low-level demon cat using the stick as long as he didn't get his neck slashed by one. He’d likely have trouble dealing with the huge level 3 demon cat, though.
Thus, it all depended on Captain Doofus.
"Meow!!!"
The demon cat that acted as the leader did not seem to plan on joining the fight right away. Instead, with a roar, it sent the level 1 and level 2 demon cats charging toward them.
Perhaps sensing that Captain Doofus was the bigger threat, they all prioritized taking it down. They pounce and swiped their sharp claws at it.
Suddenly, a rock came flying through the air, striking a demon cat right on the head.
"Lucky shot!"
Lu Ran, holding the stick in one hand and another rock in the other, looked at the demon cat that he had just hit as it lay stunned. It glared back at him, making him grip the stick tighter.
In the meantime, Captain Doofus had already engaged with the other three demon cats. Using its incredible combat abilities, it swiftly bit onto the neck of a demon cat and instantly killed it, causing blood to splatter everywhere.
Nevertheless, although powerful, it could only handle one opponent at a time. The other demon cats’ claws flashed as they cut into Captain Doofus’ back and sides. Blood gushed out of the lacerations.
"Awooo!"
A sharp pain coursed through Captain Doofus, making its blue eyes turn bloodshot. It furiously hit the demon cat closest to it.
Lu Ran wanted to check on Captain Doofus, but he had already attracted the attention of a demon cat, putting him in peril. He rushed forward with his wooden stick as the demon cat that he had hit earlier pounced into the air and swung at him with its claws.
While swinging his stick, Lu Ran swiftly realized that the demon cat wanted to break his weapon. Its claws were certainly sharp enough to cut through.
However, Lu Ran did not plan to fight his opponent head-on. Using the length advantage of his polearm, he changed the trajectory of his attack and avoided the opponent's claws. He then jabbed the stick into the demon cat, sending it flying several meters away.
I should sharpen this stick.
Lu Ran closed in while the demon cat was in midair. Luckily, he had gained experience and training from dealing with many animals that were difficult to tame ever since he was a child, including disobedient large dogs. A normal person would definitely have been timid when faced with a situation like this.
Half of the reason Captain Doofus was so obedient now was that Lu Ran had trained it with a stick. After all, he was the only one who could keep its fighting instincts suppressed. The name “Captain Lu” was Captain Doofus’ recognition of Lu Ran!
Lu Ran tried to hit the demon cat in the head, but since the blow earlier was non-lethal, it managed to quickly stand up with a quick twist as soon as it fell to the ground. It then charged toward him once more.
It's useless.
Lu Ran tried to use the same trick again, but as he focused on his opponent, a sudden roar stopped the demon cat in its tracks. It then backed up a few steps, seemingly having given up.
Lu Ran’s expression sank. He quickly looked at the alpha demon cat, thinking that it was about to attack. To his surprise, though, it was simply staring intently at him with a human-like expression. Soon after, it turned around and retreated, and the two remaining demon cats followed.
Captain Doofus howled, expressing its desire to give chase. However, Lu Ran ordered it to wait. As commanded, although it maintained a fierce stance, it began to suppress its aggression and merely stared at the retreating monsters.
Captain Doofus was already injured and bleeding, which was the condition for it entering the rabid dog state. Now that the demon cats had taken the initiative to retreat, though, Lu Ran decided against using it.
The two watched their opponents retreat deeper into the jungle. Eventually, the demon cats disappeared, allowing Lu Ran to finally breathe a sigh of relief. As his tense nerves relaxed, he looked at his shaking hands.
Although he didn't know why the alpha demon cat ordered a retreat, they would obviously be at a disadvantage if they continued to fight. Even if they ultimately won, it would be a pyrrhic victory with serious injuries.
This is a freakin’ beginner trial?
"Aowww."
Dissatisfied by its inability to kill five enemies in one second, Captain Doofus now looked extremely depressed. Although they were heavily outnumbered, it didn't think they would lose.
"Sorry, Captain Doofus. The situation is just too complicated for me to let you fight as much as you want. Maybe next time—huh? Wait."
It seemed Captain Doofus had gone through some changes.
[Race: Husky]
[Attribute: Unawakened]
[Species Rank: Intermediate-Transcendent]
[Level: 2]
[Skills: None]
Without realizing it, Captain Doofus reached level 2 after killing another demon cat. Consequently, all of its stats had increased.
That explained how Captain Doofus still managed to knock the demon cat several meters away despite it already being wounded twice.
Lu Ran couldn’t help but be happy.
"The alpha demon cat probably ordered its subordinates to test you, Captain Doofus, but when it discovered that you could kill them in an instant and sensed that your aura had grown stronger, it quickly decided to retreat. Your endlessly growing aggression more than likely scared it too.
“They definitely had the numerical advantage, but their leader refused to risk getting hurt just for two prey. In nature, if a predator was injured during a hunt, it’s common for its status in the pack to decline and its nemesis to kill it.
"Although the projected creatures here are extremely aggressive, they likely still follow some of their natural instincts. They’re probably only hunting for food, not mindlessly attacking anything that moved. If so, then I made the right judgment. In battle, victory isn’t always the top priority.”
He could survive for as long as he could scare the enemy into a retreat.
Lu Ran had only taken an instant to completely analyze the situation. Although he didn't know if he was correct, it seemed to be one of the only sensical explanations at the moment.
"Anyway, Captain Doofus, come here and let me treat you."
“Woof!”
Captain Doofus, who had just made another great contribution, ran over. Lu Ran looked at its wounds and then looked at the hemostatic mushrooms that he had collected.
"I don't know its effects, but it’s the only thing I can count on right now."
I hope this thing is more effective than the medicine I prepared.
Before he could use the mushroom, though, Captain Doofus stopped moving around. As if in a daze, it stared at his neck.
"Woof?"
Lu Ran wasn’t sure when it started, but his antler pendant was now emitting a faint golden glow.
As the golden light approached, Captain Doofus felt its blood being suppressed as if it had encountered a tiger, and was woken up from its daze.
The dim light grew increasingly brighter, eventually becoming so strong that Lu Ran noticed his pendant changing.
To his confusion, the Eye of Detection showed him an information window about the pendant!
[Name: Broken Horn of the Divine Deer]
[Grade: Epic]
[Description: Horn of a legendary divine deer that gained healing capabilities after absorbing the abundant natural energy of the forest.]
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