Case 5: Owl vs Bear.

Name：Mistress Of The Evil Forest Author：
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Case 5: Owl vs Bear.

What in the world is a 'Sonic Bear'??

Okay, maybe not the time for that, I just need to know that it's really fast. Fast enough to catch me if I try to run.

[Acceleration: Enable the user to move faster. Cost: 2 MP, last for 15 seconds] [Normal]

[Dash: Enable the user to sprint at a high speed for 1 second. Cost: 2 MP, CD: 10 seconds] [Normal]

Wait, assuming that it just used [Dash] to run past me, then it's still on cooldown!

Seizing the opportunity, I immediately use [Domination], which apparently has little to no effect on it, because it just flinches lightly.

''Tch.''

Change of plan. I'm not going head-to-head with it, what was I even thinking.

Having made up my mind, I jump back as the bear approaches me with incredible speed.

''Huu~!'' Ariel tries to scare the bear by huu-ing at its face, but it doesn't even register her.

''!!''

GRRR

BOOM

The bear tries to give me a palm, but I duck at just the right moment and let the tree behind me take the hit instead. I immediately sprint to the side and jump onto another tree in an attempt to gain elevation.

Climbing up the tree with extreme haste, I can hear the bear's rapid steps getting closer and closer, but fortunately, my tree-climbing skills are sufficient to escape its grasp.

''Hah...'' I breathe out, looking at the bear below me, who seems to be pretty angry.

Wait, don't tell me-

THUD

''Hyah!'' I exclaim, almost losing my balance and falling as the bear hits the tree with immense force.

I need to stop it somehow. I dropped the sword earlier, but I still have the bow with me here.

I pull the bow down from my shoulder and take an arrow from the quiver. I've never touched a bow before, but surely I won't miss a target this big at this close distance, right?

THUD

''Tch.''

I almost fell.

Pulling the bow back, I calm my shaky hands and aim for the bear's head before releasing the arrow.

With a small, short whistle, the arrow lodges in the bear's shoulder, causing the creature to flinch slightly, but it seems unfazed.

[HP: 29/34]

GRRR

I hurriedly take another arrow out and pull the bow back again.

THUD

crack

''No...!''

Unfortunately, the tree snaps at that moment, causing the upper part of it to fall to the side along with me. Not wanting to go right into the bear's jaws, I jump forward as hard as I can, spreading my wings to hopefully glide just a centimeter further.

After flying for just a few moments though, the ground is already close to me. My instinct kicks in and I curl up into a ball in anticipation of impact.

''Ugh!''

Scratches pile up all over my body as I roll and roll on the hard, bumpy ground.

''Ugh...''

Where is it-

''!!''

The bear, who was supposed to be standing in the distance, suddenly appears right before me.

crack

''You did really good, Ariel.'' I turn to my beloved banshee and smile lightly.

''Huu~'' She flies around me merrily.

''Oh, you just gained another skill, right?''

I don't think that scream came from the [Cuteness] skill or anything.

''Hu, hu!'' She nods intently.

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Name: Ariel

Race: Banshee Title: Unsuccessful Banshee

Level: 5

HP: 15/15 MP: 13/13

STR: 1.7 INT: 3.4

AGI: 3.6 STA: 2.4

Skill: [Incorporeal State Lv.7], [Cuteness Lv.6],

[Banshee's Wail Lv.1].

State: Happy.

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[Banshee's Wail: Deal extreme mental damage to surrounding targets. Cost: 3 MP, CD: 10 seconds] [Rare]

So that was the real banshee's wail, totally different from the usual huu-ings. But I wasn't affected at all unlike the bear though, what exactly happened...?

Either way.

''Congratulations on leveling up, Ariel.''

She did contribute to that kill, so either the EXP got shared, or she got additional EXP from supporting while I keep the whole thing, I really don't know how it works.

''Hu~!'' She exclaims, doing silly dances in the air.

I smile lightly and turn on my status screen.

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Name: Aurora

Race: Owl-kin Title: Brute Force

Level: 8

HP: 25/25 MP: 30/30

STR: 2.8 INT: 8.2

AGI: 3.4 STA: 2.7

Skill: [Sharp Claw Lv.4], [Domination Lv.3],

[Stealth Lv.2], [Inspect Lv.1], [Night Vision Lv.1],

[Enhanced Hearing Lv.1], [Pain Tolerance Lv.1].

State: Normal.

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Hmm... What exactly is the INT stat again? The other three stats do increase quite regularly, but my INT has always been 8.2. And while STR, AGI, and STA are pretty obvious, I still don't know what INT does. I guess I should be grateful that it is as high as it is.

Either way, I won't say thank you for the experience, bad bear.

''Oh, it's starting to light up.'' I lift my head and look at the sky, which is getting brighter by the second. ''Ariel, are you alright with the sunlight?''

''Hu...'' She shakes her head with a sorrowful expression.

''What do you do when it's not night then?''

''Hu, hu!'' She points in a direction.

''Follow you?''

''Hu.'' She nods.

Hmm... Alright. I don't have anywhere to stay anyway. Worst case, I'll be running from a bunch of banshees or something.

So I pick up the sword and the bow on the ground and begin to follow Ariel.