Chapter 11 Furball

Jason finally brought the carriage to a halt at the edge of a dense, sprawling forest. The air was heavy with humidity, and the sound of rustling leaves and distant beasts calls filled the atmosphere. It was almost dusk, and the golden hues of the setting sun cast long shadows over the landscape.

As the group disembarked, they could hear the distinct growls and screeches of beasts echoing from the forest depths. Some of the sounds were faint, belonging to smaller creatures, while others were deep and guttural, hinting at larger, more dangerous predators lurking further inside.

Marcus shivered involuntarily as he stepped closer to Liam. "Man, I've got a bad feeling about this."

"What's wrong?" Liam asked, glancing at him.

"What happens if we die in here?" Marcus asked, his voice low, almost a whisper.

Liam hesitated, his brows furrowing. "I don't know. I'd like to think the game would just log us out automatically, but... I'm not willing to test that theory." He exhaled, shaking his head. "Honestly, I'd rather not find out. Let's focus on getting everyone's systems online so we can log out the proper way."

Marcus nodded but still looked uneasy.

Liam scanned the horizon, noting the encroaching darkness. "Alright, listen up," he called to the group, who gathered around him. "You all know the plan. We don't need to venture too far into the forest. Stick close to the edge and focus on the easier beasts."

He paused, ensuring everyone was paying attention. "Remember, the goal is to kill the beasts, extract their crystals, and get back here safely. Don't get greedy, and don't take unnecessary risks."

The group nodded in agreement.

As they prepared to head into the forest, Sera lingered a few steps behind Liam, her eyes wide with disbelief. She couldn't hide her astonishment as she watched them talk and strategize.

"These people…" she thought to herself. "They're treating beast hunting like it's a game. Are they really that strong?"

Liam noticed her staring and turned toward her. "Sera, stay close to the carriage. We'll handle the rest."

Sera blinked, caught off guard. "Y-Yes, of course."

The group split up, each heading into a different part of the forest, while Liam remained near the carriage. His instincts told him to stay behind—not because he doubted his friends' abilities but because he didn't trust Sera completely.

The NPCs in this game were unnervingly lifelike, and something about Sera's behavior didn't sit well with him. She might decide to take the carriage and leave them stranded in the forest.

Liam climbed into the carriage, keeping an eye on Sera as she wandered near the vehicle. After a moment, she joined him, stepping gracefully into the carriage and sitting across from him.

"Not joining your friends?" she asked, her tone casual but curious.

Liam shook his head. "No. Someone has to stay behind and watch over things. Besides, I don't trust the forest at night. The insects alone are bad enough."

Sera chuckled softly. "I can't argue with that. It's sweltering out here." She fanned herself lightly with her hand, her skin glistening with sweat.

Liam nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's hotter than I expected. And these bugs… I'm not used to this at all."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the sounds of the forest creating an almost oppressive backdrop. Then, Sera did something that caught Liam completely off guard.

She began loosening the buttons of her shirt, one by one. Her movements were slow, deliberate, and entirely unbothered by Liam's presence. As she undid the last button, a significant portion of her ample breast spilled into view, her skin glistening with a sheen of sweat that reflected the dim light.

Liam's breath hitched as his gaze was involuntarily drawn to her. He couldn't help but notice how the sweat rolled down from her face, tracing a path along her collarbone and disappearing between her breasts.

Sera leaned back slightly, her posture relaxed as if she were completely unaware of the effect she was having. "It's unbearable in this heat," she said softly, her tone casual but sultry.

Liam swallowed hard, trying to tear his eyes away, but found it increasingly difficult. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, Sera seemed even more attractive than before.

She glanced at him, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Are you alright, Liam? You look... distracted."

Liam cleared his throat and quickly averted his gaze, focusing on the distant forest. "I'm fine," he muttered.

But as the moments passed, Liam couldn't shake the strange pull he felt toward Sera. Something about her was different—irresistibly magnetic—and it was starting to unnerve him.

----

Marcus wandered deeper into the forest, scanning his surroundings carefully. His plan was simple: find an easy target, kill it, extract its crystal, and activate his system. Once that was done, he could leave this cursed game behind.

"Alright, no need to overcomplicate this," he muttered to himself. "Just a little beast. Something small. Easy. I'm out of here in no time."

As if the universe heard his plea, Marcus spotted movement a short distance away. He crouched down, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the source. A small, rabbit-like creature emerged from the underbrush.

It was about the size of a cat, with fluffy fur and a disproportionately long tongue that dangled from its mouth. Its large eyes gleamed with intelligence, but what truly caught Marcus's attention was the expression on its face.

The creature stared at him with an unmistakable look of mockery, its small nose twitching as though it were laughing at him.

Marcus's brow furrowed. "What the hell is this? You think you're funny, huh?"

The creature tilted its head, and a strange sound escaped its throat. "Cu-cu-cu!"

Marcus's face turned red with fury. "You little shit! You dare laugh at me? I'll show you who's boss!"

Without hesitation, Marcus lunged forward, but the rabbit-like creature was faster. It leaped effortlessly into the air, landing a few feet away.

"Cu-cu-cu!"

Marcus gritted his teeth and chased after it. "I'll curse your mother, you damn furball! Get back here!"

The chase was on. The creature darted between trees and bushes, its tongue flopping comically as it ran. Every time Marcus thought he was about to grab it, the creature would leap away, landing just out of reach.

"Cu-cu-cu!"

"Stop laughing at me!" Marcus yelled, his voice echoing through the forest. "You're dead meat, you hear me?"

The mocking sound only grew louder, spurring Marcus on. His breaths came faster as his frustration mounted.

"This isn't working," he muttered, stopping to catch his breath. He glanced around, trying to think of a better strategy. Then, a sly grin spread across his face.

Marcus crouched low and grabbed a handful of rocks. "Alright, you little bastard, let's see you dodge this."

He lobbed a rock in the creature's direction. Predictably, it jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the projectile. But Marcus was ready. He threw another rock, and then another, each one forcing the creature to move closer to the base of a tree.

"Gotcha now," Marcus whispered.

With one final rock, he aimed to trap the creature between the tree and himself. The plan worked. The rabbit-like beast found itself cornered, its mocking expression replaced by a hint of unease.

Marcus smirked triumphantly as he approached it. "Who's your daddy now, huh? Say it! Who's your daddy?"

The creature let out a pitiful "Cu-cu…"

Marcus pulled out his knife, twirling it in his hand. "This'll only hurt for a second. Should've been obedient."

Just as he was about to strike, the creature's expression changed. Its eyes grew wide and shiny, and its mouth quivered as it let out a soft, high-pitched squeal.

"Cuuu…"

Marcus froze. "Oh, come on. Don't do that."

The creature tilted its head, its tongue drooping sadly.

"Stop looking cute! It's not gonna work on me," Marcus said, though his grip on the knife wavered.

The rabbit-like beast let out a soft chirp and tilted its head further, the epitome of innocence.

Marcus groaned. "You're kidding me, right? Fine, I'll let you go. But don't make me regret—"

Before he could finish, the creature rolled in his hand like a spinning top. With a swift motion, it leaped up to his face and let out a loud, wet fart.

"Ppppfffftttt!"

The stench hit Marcus like a brick wall. He staggered back, coughing and gagging. "What the hell?! You disgusting little—"

The creature bounded away, its mocking laugh echoing once more. "Cu-cu-cu!"

Marcus wiped his face, his fury reaching new heights. "That's it. You're dead!"

He took aim with his knife, his hand steady despite his rage. With a flick of his wrist, the blade flew through the air, spinning end over end before embedding itself in the creature's back.

The rabbit-like beast let out a final squeal as it was pinned against the trunk of a tree. Its long tongue lolled out, touching the ground as its body went limp.

Marcus approached the carcass, pulling his knife free with a grim expression. "Should've known better, you little punk. Could've lived a long, happy life if you'd just behaved."

He examined the creature for a moment before extracting the crystal embedded in its head. It was small, glowing faintly with an inner light. Satisfied, Marcus pocketed the crystal and tossed the body aside without a second thought.

"It's just a game," he muttered to himself, brushing off his hands. "No hard feelings."