*poof*


    The shining light turned to sparkles as those sparkles majestically fell to the floor. They disappeared as soon as they collided with the ck floor as if eaten by a ck hole. As always it was a beautiful sight.


    But it was a horrifying one for Dant and his group as at the centre of the room stood a tiger on its four legs. It seemed like a sabre-toothed tiger just that its teeth were much longer than anything they had seen on prehistoric books. Its size too was about 1.5 timesrger than the normal sabertooth. It had ck stripes on an otherwise golden body. Its body fleshy and full of vigour.


    "Roar!" Its roar was enough to make them shake in their pants. It wasn''t anything like the beasts that they had fought until now. The other beasts especially the TurtTree were dangerous but they were not as scary at first sight like this. It was as if the beast being a king had dominated their hearts consuming them with fear.


    "Are we supposed to fight that?" Verona asked. But even though she felt conflicted she pulled her bowstring as she readied her arrows.


    "Seems like it," Dant replied. He didn''t care anymore. utz woulde and kill it anyway. All he wanted to find a way for Bret to die.


    Meanwhile, utz who was hidden in the ck cloak couldn''t help but curse his luck. Who would have thought that they would encounter such an unusual beast? It might look like just a tiger with long and sharp teeth but it was much more than that. Sabertooth was not much powerful than the other beasts they had fought so far, but something about it made it very annoyingpared to the other beasts.


    "Let''s see what happens for now. I might have to jump in if the matter gets worse. I still have one more stage after this so I better not get any injuries."


    Dant readied his sword, so did Bret while Verona pulled her bow.


    *Swish*


    The bowstring rippled as the arrow left her arsenal. It went straight cutting the air but s. The beast dodged it as it leapt high into the air. It charged at them at high speed. Before they could even realize the beast was onto them. It swings its paw that was endowed with sharp ws on them. A beast''s natural weapon! Luckily though they were able to dodge it. Bret received a light cut in his stomach ripping his clothes in the process while Dant remained uninjured.


    "Roar!" The beast roared again cursing itself for missing its mark. Its pupils reflected Dant as it took its target on the poor man. It leapt toward him as it nned to dismantle him at one swoop.


    Dant who had just got his bnce back after dodging thest attack couldn''t help it as the shadow of the beasts loomed over his head. Was it the shadow of his death? He wanted to dodge but s it was toote. The beast was big enough to m him even if he were to squirm a bit. But did he calcte that?


    He tried to escape but it was all for nought, death was looming on top of his head.


    ***


    *poof*


    utz''s head shifted back as he realized what kind of beast he is going to mess with.


    "Sabertooth," he whispered.


    Due to the beast''s canines, it was named so, but those were the least of his problems. So far utz was of clearing these stages involved sacrificing one of the teammates and then killing the beast at its most weakened or unarmed state. But if things were so easy why would utz be always on his toes? This was hell, lots of variables to consider. And just now one of them had but toe in utz''s way.


    "This cat is fast"


    That''s the problem. This beast decapitates and kills its prey in seconds, far before utz would even get the chance to get close.


    "I guess this time, I have to butt in." He whispered.


    It was then. The Beast had alreadye in close with the group as it pounced towards Dant. At that point, as if something within utz mind clicked. He didn''t know what happened but he took out his E ranked weapon from his inventory. The ''Ninjato of Styx'' which he got as a starter weapon.


    *swish*


    With a swing of his hand, the sword went cutting through the air and it didn''t stop until it met the beast mid-air. It was just an E ranked weapon and couldn''t pierce the beast''s defence but created enough force to make the beast change its course as itnded on its four feet instead of pouncing on Dant.


    Dant breathed a sigh of relief. His chest went up and down as he took quick breaths. His body had even forgotten to breathe when death was upon it.


    "Roar!" the beast roared in anger, now it knew utz location and it had a hell of anger for him foring between him and his prey. The beast was the king of its area… the top of the food chain. How can it bear it if someone snatched its prey?


    Meanwhile, utz hands shook as he stared at his palm.


    "Why… why did I save him?" utz had moved on reflex and he didn''t even know why he did what he did. It was as if someone else was controlling his hand... it was like his hands didn''t work ording to his brain but based on his muscle memory instead.


    utz sighed. His head dropped as his shoulders slumped.


    "I guess old habits die hard."


    utz shook his head.


    "It''s not time for this" utz whispered as he saw the sabertooth approaching him.


    ***


    Author: Like it? Add it to your library!


    Let me know your thoughts about the chapter in thements!


    Creation is hard for authors. Cheer me up with your power stones!