Chapter 72: CHAPTER 71 -
The stronger ones were still fine; they would get their share no matter how low the food supply they had, but the same couldn't be said for the weaker ones.
The weaker ones are often bullied and forced to look for their food themselves, and one such Smilodon encountered Alex.
Now that beast was hell-bent on eating Alex before the smell of his blood attracted the stronger ones.
*Swoosh*
This time, instead of attacking like last time, it started running circles around Alex, and the moment it saw an opening, it slashed its claw on Alex's back.
*Slash*
Alex, who couldn't follow the beast's movements for a second, felt a searing pain in his back as he realized that his back had been slashed again.
The new wound was right above the old one, causing the agony he felt to get elevated, and Alex couldn't suppress his groan anymore.
"Arghhh!"
He gritted his teeth as he fell on a knee due to the power behind the attack.
But before he got slashed again or directly had his head chopped off, he quickly activated every ability he needed right now.
'Battle analytics.'
The moment he activated the battle analytics, his vision, which was unable to follow the beast, could now follow its track.
His eyes turned toward the beast, only to find the beast lunging at him with its fangs bared.
Why would the beast let go of a chance so clear as its prey is on its knees, sitting like a duck ready to get slaughtered?
'Killing intent.'
He then activated his killing intent, causing the beast to frown mid-air.
"Growl!"
But with a growl, its focus returned back on the battle.
*Slash**Chomp*
It slashed its claw in front of it while also trying to take Alex's head away with a single bite, but the moment it focused on the front, it found nothing but air.
"Graaawllll!"
Its head jerked toward Alex with a jerk, only to find him rolling to the right with blood still flowing out of his back, causing it to growl in anger.
The same human—a weak human—had dodged its attack for the second time now, and the beast found it shameful.
"Roar!"
With a roar, it rushed toward Alex, who was now sitting on his knees trying to stabilize his body.
But just as the beast bolted toward Alex, a metallic gleam reflected in its eyes, and it saw a sharp black dagger thrown at it.
"Huff."
The smilodon, however, just scoffed at the attempt, and as if wanting to show how futile Alex's attempt was, it paused on its spot.
The beasts, although not as intelligent as humans and not much of a communicator, could still see and feel emotions.
They could tell when one was feeling fear, and they could understand the expression of fear and confidence.
The Smilodon that Alex had encountered was one of the lowest ranked in its pack, due to that, it was never able to have the feeling of dominance.
So, when it found a prey whom it could hunt alone and that too a weak one, it was thrilled.
Now, it wanted to incite a feeling of despair in Alex just like the stronger smilodons do.
*Woosh*
It waited for the dagger to come close, and the moment the dagger—and attack that Alex used all of his strength for—was just an inch away from its face, the beast ducked down, causing the blade to fly off without hitting its target.
"Graa…"
It turned back toward Alex with a smug growl, wanting to see its prey trembling in fear, but just as it looked ahead, it heard the sound of air being cut, and the next second...
*Swish**Slash*
A sharp arrow came swishing right at its head, only to get dodged because of the beast's fast reflexes, but the beast couldn't completely avoid the attack.
"Grrrr..."
It growled in anger and pain as it saw the wound on its shoulder; the arrow that missed its head scrapped its shoulder, causing a bloody red line on its shoulder.
From the moment Alex had used killing intent, he knew that it wouldn't do much to the beast, but the momentary frown and distraction were enough for him to roll away from his spot.
"Ghhhh!"
The pain was only getting worse as his open wound would get rubbed on the ground the moment he rolled down, but he bore the pain as the time was not on his side.
He tried to slide up on his knees and hurriedly threw his dagger at the smilodon, causing its focus to waver again.
But that gave Alex enough time to take out his bow from the inventory and accurately aim his arrow at the beast's head, but...
"Growl..."
As he saw the beast's bloodthirsty eyes staring at him with rage bubbling in it, his expression turned grim.
Alex could tell that his same attacks were not going to work again; the surprise element was now gone.
The fact that the beast now seemed really angry didn't help in this situation.
As Alex had guessed, the smilodon wasn't happy with how things were going on now.
The AI spoke in a cryptic tone; no one knew what it was thinking, but whatever it was thinking was related to getting Alex out of this situation.
'...'
Alex didn't comment at the AI's words; instead, he took out another arrow from his inventory and knocked it on the bow.
*Strain*
He pulled the string and aimed his arrow at the inraged beast.
"Grrr..."
The smilodon growled at Alex's courage, but it had enough now; it crouched a bit, ignoring the arrow aimed at it.
It wanted to see fear in Alex's eyes, but what it was was defiance; it was as if he was still thinking that he had a chance.
The last one was a surprise attack, and it wasn't going to let it happen again; it just dashed toward Alex at a speed faster than before.
*Swoosh*
Alex, who saw it, hurriedly fired the arrow, aimed perfectly at the beast's temple, but the beast just tilted its body, easily avoiding the attack.
But things didn't end there as the beast roared.
"ROAR!!"
It was a loud, angered roar, and Alex, who heard it, widened his eyes as he found his body freezing.
His eyes, for the first time, trembled.
But then he grounded his teeth.
'Do it!'
He commanded inwardly, and the next instant.
*ZZZZZZZ*
The pain that he never wanted to experience ever again was once again coursing through his body.
'ARGGGGGGHHHH!!!!'
He roared inwardly as the pain was higher than the one last time, but he didn't object as he needed to get out of this stunned state as quickly as he could.
But just as he broke free from the stun, his eyes widened to the extreme as he saw the smilodon right in front of him with its jaws about to crunch his head.
He hurriedly waved his hand and let his body fall back to the ground.
Then next second...
*Slash*
*Pierce* X3.
The sound of flesh being torn echoed through the surroundings.