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Chapter 7: The Plague of the Rabid Hound
It wasn’t just the beast’s savage ferocity but Kaplan’s cunning that plunged us into a dire crisis.
Though massive and strong, this hound rarely attacked head-on. Instead, it rebounded off trees, using swift aerial turns to exploit our weak defenses. Its tactics were devastatingly effective. Apart from Millionfold's initial ambush, we hadn’t inflicted any real damage. Meanwhile, its fierce and unpredictable attacks soon left all three of us wounded.
"This can't go on!" I shielded my vitals with my shield while scanning the surroundings. To our left was a relatively open clearing. In the southwest corner lurked several level-five wild dogs. Experience told me that as long as we kept our distance, they wouldn’t be disturbed by our battle.
"Over there!" Making up my mind, I turned, pushed Elegant Strings behind me, and pointed to the clearing, shouting. Though the highest-leveled among us, as an elven ranger, his frail physique and light armor made him our weakest link defensively.
Elegant Strings acknowledged and ran towards the clearing. Seeing prey escaping, Rabid Hound Kaplan roared and lunged to intercept but was blocked by Millionfold and me.
With our elven comrade temporarily safe, Millionfold used War Stomp—ironically, this disgraceful tauren was adept at fleeing. Taking advantage of the beast's slowed movement, we retreated to the northeast side of the clearing.
Rabid Hound Kaplan pursued swiftly. This formidable creature possessed unmatched stamina, nearly catching up within moments. Had we not prepared, it would have scattered us in one leap.
Our chosen battlefield proved advantageous. With fewer trees for the hound to use for rebounds, its attacks, though still powerful and lethal, followed predictable straight lines. This allowed us to mount more effective defenses and counterattacks.
"Clang!" I used "Block" to meet Rabid Hound Kaplan's charge, then slashed diagonally with my sword, dealing 25 damage. Though minimal, it slowed the hound’s momentum, giving my companions a chance to retaliate.
As Rabid Hound Kaplan landed, Millionfold’s massive stake swept across. In its haste, the agile hound dodged the vital spots but took a heavy blow to its back. Enraged, it lunged at Millionfold’s neck. The slower tauren couldn’t dodge in time...
A sharp arrow shot almost point-blank struck the hound’s abdomen like a venomous snake's strike. This treacherous shot not only repelled the beast, saving the tauren from severe injury, but also drained 67 of Rabid Hound Kaplan's life points. As the great beast roared in anger, Elf Ranger Elegant Strings stood behind us, bow drawn, ready for the next assault.
Though newly acquainted and clumsy beginners, our brief cooperation had fostered subtle默契 among us, forming simple tactics. For instance, I used my shield and armor to block the hound’s attacks, slowing it down. Millionfold bore less defensive pressure but delivered more attacks. Our presence protected Elegant Strings, allowing him to approach prey closely and unleash his clumsy yet powerful archery. Perhaps he was the closest ranger to his prey in history, using his bow like a dagger, assassinating targets at close range.
This rudimentary formation had flaws, but against Rabid Hound Kaplan, it worked well. Attack, retreat, attack again, retreat again... After repeating this cycle three or four times, Rabid Hound Kaplan's life was reduced by three-quarters, while we remained relatively unscathed thanks to Millionfold’s potent healing potions.
"Just a bit more, it’s almost done!" Watching the silver-furred leader retreat, I couldn’t help but shout excitedly.
"Be careful, don’t rush. Remember the Founder’s teachings: The revolution isn’t over, comrades must keep striving." At close range, Elegant Strings’ archery was reliable, with greatly improved accuracy and higher damage than his peers—though few let enemies get so close. He shot the hound’s hind leg and said to me. His scholarly tone seemed cautionary, but his smug demeanor suggested victory.
Just as we thought victory was assured, Rabid Hound Kaplan suddenly ceased attacking. It retreated a few steps, glaring at us, then threw back its head and howled. The sound was wild, shrill, and chilling.
"Is that a wolf’s howl or a dog’s bark? It’s creepy..." Hearing the eerie howl, Millionfold shivered and said, "I have a bad feeling..."
"Compared to its lineage..." Elegant Strings frowned, worriedly saying, "...I suddenly realized we’ve overlooked a more important issue..."
"What issue?" I asked, puzzled.
"Why is it called 'Leader'?" At this, Elegant Strings’ face turned pale.
A critical question, whose answer we had just learned.
Summoned by Rabid Hound Kaplan’s call, wandering wild dogs gathered around. I counted roughly fourteen or fifteen, averaging levels five to six. These beasts assembled around the silver-furred leader, eyeing us menacingly.
So, "Leader" meant the ability to summon and command followers.
Kaplan stopped howling, barked at the pack as if issuing orders. Immediately, the wild dogs charged at us.
All three of us froze simultaneously, exchanged knowing glances, then shouted in unison:
"Run!"
The mismatched trio of wild dog hunters fled. If anyone had been watching, they’d have seen quite a spectacle: three hapless fugitives trailed by a pack of ferocious wild dogs, raising a dense cloud of dust, leaving a trail of blood.
"They’re getting closer!" Millionfold glanced back and screamed in fear.
"Of course, wild dogs run faster than us," I replied.
"Damn it, why do I always end up being chased when I’m with you?"
"Hmph, the first time those hens chased you, you brought them upon yourself!"
"If only you had listened to me and left that big guy alone..."
"Who was it that thought this big guy looked easy to handle and happily shouted about beating him to death?" Elegant Strings sneered.
"That was morale boosting! You... wait for me, I... I can’t run fast!"
"Then stay behind and serve as a roast ox for the wild dogs; once they’re full, they’ll forget about us!"
"Oh, you heartless bastards..."
"You should focus on ru- Ow..."
Though an elf should be the most agile among us, poor vision limited Elegant Strings’ speed. The forest, dense with intertwining branches, became his greatest enemy. Trees showed no favoritism to the race beloved by the goddess Netheria. Running through, Elegant Strings emitted continuous cries of pain. His once-handsome face now bore countless scratches, making him appear the most disheveled among us.
Turning a bend, the pursuing pack was now less than four steps away. Suddenly, Elegant Strings tripped over a thick root crossing the path, "thud," falling headfirst into a large tree hollow.
By the time we heard his cry and tried to rescue him, it was too late. A group of wild dogs surrounded the hollow. Then, an exceptionally wild shriek came from behind. Wherever the shriek passed, the previously barking pack fell silent, cowering in fear. After the shriek, the silver-furred Rabid Hound Kaplan slowly stepped out, approaching the hollow.
The leader’s blood-red eyes peered into the hollow, then seemingly enraged, growled discontentedly, circled the hollow a few times, and barked impatiently at the nearby dogs.
"What’s it doing?" Thankfully, the wild dogs’ focus on Elegant Strings gave us ample time. We retreated to safety, tended to our wounds. From behind a bush, I observed, puzzled, "It seems unhappy."
"Who knows, maybe it’s dissatisfied with the just-acquired picnic..." Millionfold cautiously peeked from behind a thick tree trunk, "...Perhaps the lean elf physique doesn’t meet the dogs’ culinary standards—too bony, not much meat, and likely to get stuck in teeth..." He glanced at his robust frame and added self-mockingly, "If it were me in there, their appetite might be better..."
Honestly, Millionfold’s attitude baffled me. Undoubtedly, his courage didn’t match his size—I suspected he embodied all the cowardice of the tauren race. Yet, after narrowly escaping death, while I trembled with lingering fear, he joked about his life as if the recent danger was mere play.
Similarly, someone so averse to conflict willingly risked his life here, concerned about our elven comrade’s fate—a sign of loyalty. Yet, he showed no concern or worry for Elegant Strings, leisurely anticipating the impending tragedy, seeming cold and cruel.
These contradictory qualities coexisted in this horned warrior, making his weak character paradoxically optimistic—or rather, indifferent—towards life. He felt nothing toward death, neither avoiding nor fearing it.
Could you imagine? Someone afraid of pain, itching, falling, injury, bleeding, fighting, and opponents, yet unafraid of "death"—the eternal abyss I once thought was the world’s only true fear.
Not just him, but Elegant Strings too. In fact, almost every “Planewalker” I’ve met shares this trait. Whether the boisterous northern barbarians or aloof high elves; friendly mountain gnomes or stern blue-skinned trolls—all who traverse the chaotic currents of time-space seem unfazed by death. Their common refrain: "Fight them, worst case scenario, die and start over!"
Die and start over?
This seemed different from the death I knew.
I guessed this was our biggest difference. Traveling the endless skies might deepen these gifted individuals' understanding of soul power, allowing them to face death—both theirs and others’—more calmly than I could.
Perhaps death wasn’t serious for Millionfold and Elegant Strings, but losing a comrade still saddened me. However, to my relief, it seemed that wouldn’t happen.
Coincidentally, the hollow was narrow, with two fallen logs blocking the entrance, leaving only a tiny opening. Normally, neither man nor dog could pass easily. The strong inertia from his fall forced Elegant Strings inside—it was sheer luck.
Now, Rabid Hound Kaplan and its summoned beasts were trapped outside by this narrow gap. The silver hound circled the entrance twice, clawing at the obstructing wood but found no way in.
"Elegant Strings, are you okay!" I shouted from afar.
"Hahaha..." The revived elf ranger's laughter was infuriating, "...Don’t worry, I’m fine, very fine! Haha, they can’t get in..." He sounded much better than when he had fallen in with a desperate scream.
Rabid Hound Kaplan lay at the entrance, extending its claws to grab inside. But it always seemed just short. We heard the lucky elf taunting from within: "Come get me, come bite me, come eat me, haha, you can’t reach me..."
Even the usually calm and composed elves could be overwhelmed by fortune. Overexcited, Elegant Strings did something astonishingly foolish. He skillfully removed his pants, exposing his pale buttocks to the hound at the entrance, even shaking them provocatively—a traditional insult from the northwest highlands' savages.
Unfortunately, he forgot one thing: the hollow wasn’t spacious. Performing his ritual brought him closer to the entrance.
Rabid Hound Kaplan seized the opportunity, lunging forward and swiping with its right claw...
"Aaah..." predictably, a piercing scream echoed from the hollow.
"Hey..." Seeing this, I was somewhat worried—but mostly amused—and shouted, "Are you okay?"
"Ow... I’m... I’m fine," Elegant Strings groaned after a moment. His right hand covered his rear, cheeks flushed red from pain or embarrassment. After this ordeal, he seemed to lose the nerve to provoke the encircling beasts outside.
Through the hollow’s opening, we saw him pointing upward. "This tree is hollow inside..." he told us, "...There seems to be a staircase; I’ll climb up and check."
He climbed up, disappearing from view. Soon, he emerged from a hole atop the giant tree, leaves clinging to his head. Below, the waiting wild dogs barked angrily at his shadow.
Even in the hollow facing ferocious beasts, our elven companion maintained vigor and indomitable spirit, albeit overexcited to his rear’s detriment. Strangely, once out, he transformed. Clinging to the trunk, he timidly peeked out, quickly retreating, hands gripping the trunk tightly, face pale.
We hadn’t realized Elegant Strings’ behavior was abnormal. Millionfold and I shouted, "Elegant Strings, shoot arrows from the tree, kill these wild dogs!"
Oddly, Elegant Strings looked more panicked than when chased. His lips quivered, his bow hand trembled almost spasmodically. He fumbled an arrow with his left hand, clumsily trying to nock it, but a gentle breeze startled him. He screamed, dropped the arrow, and clung tightly to the trunk again.
"You fool, what are you doing up there!" Millionfold, exasperated, shouted.
"I... I’m afraid, I... I have acrophobia..." Elegant Strings’ voice was almost tearful.
I had never heard of such a condition: dizziness, cold limbs, nausea, vomiting, and even fainting when at heights.
Now, this unlucky fellow stood atop the tree, trembling violently. Below, hungry wild dogs gathered, greedily looking up, showing no intention of leaving, as if expecting a feast to fall from the sky.
Seeing Elegant Strings nearly faint, their anticipation didn’t seem entirely hopeless.
Suddenly, an idea struck me, and I shouted:
"I have a plan!"
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