BXBX NOVEL 42. Hunter, Hunted
Ike leaped out of the tent, his sword already flashing out. Internally, he gritted his teeth. Even with his Rank 1 strength and speed, it had taken considerable time to dig a pit he\'d been comfortable calling deep enough to hold the wolf. Dirt stained his hands and collected under his fingernails. The wolf hip bones he\'d used to dig it laid to the side, worn and scratched from the effort. And yet, the beast had seen through it at the last second and caught itself.
I still put it off balance. I still gained an advantage! His sword flew forth.
The wolf growled. It dropped into the pit rather than take the hit. Ike slashed the air and struck down, barely avoiding tumbling into the pit himself. He looked down.
The wolf stood at the bottom of the pit. The stakes he\'d set there laid on the ground, kicked over by the wolf. Lustrous moon-silver eyes gazed up at him. It opened its mouth and yawned, exaggeratedly.
"Is this boring to you?" Ike asked mockingly.
The wolf lowered its head and sneezed. It turned around, barely able to fit in the small pit.
"That\'s right. Sit there and give me your skill," Ike said. He grabbed one of the pointed stakes from beside the tent and lifted it.
Before he could throw it, the wolf leaped. It hit the wall inches below the lip and slid back down, unable to jump high enough.
Ike sighed. Thank goodness. It is deep enough—
Lowering itself to a crouch, the wolf leaped up. Its front paws latched onto the edge of the pit, and it scrambled with its back paws, searching for purchase. It found grip and kicked, propelling itself toward Ike at speed. Lightning flickered around its body, lighting the dark around it.
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Ike leaped back. His back struck the tent. The wolf opened its mouth and bit at his neck. He jerked his sword up, barely catching the wolf\'s bite on the flat of the blade. The wolf jumped back, landing on the far side of the pit.
Ike pushed away from the tent, lowering his stance. The wolf regarded him from the other end of the pit, lowering its head. It growled warily, silver eyes watching him.
"Come on," Ike said, gesturing it on.
The wolf crouched, then leaped, flying over the pit. A muscular, furry body shot at Ike. Ike sliced at it with his sword, but the second his weapon made contact, a blast of electricity shot off the wolf\'s fur and down to his wrist. The sword flew away, vanishing into the pit, and the wolf dropped toward Ike.
The wolf slammed into Ike and knocked him onto his back, into his tent. His tent crumpled. Growling, the wolf bit at his neck.
Ike activated his sensory skill, and suddenly, the wolf moved in slow motion. Mustering all of his strength, he slapped the wolf in the jaw, knocking its head to the side. Its bite went wide, missing his throat.
The wolf growled. Jerking its head back, it struck at his neck again. Even though he was prepared for the attack, Ike barely threw his arms between them in time. The wolf\'s fangs dug into his forearms. Blood dripped down onto his face. He glared at the wolf, not giving an inch. Forget it. You aren\'t killing me tonight.
The two struggled in the ruins of the tent. The wolf bit and clawed, and Ike grabbed at it, trying to pin it down. Blood ran down Ike\'s arms and face as the wolf scored a few minor wounds, streaking over the tent\'s walls. The wolf tumbled into the tent and tangled up in its downed ties. Ike threw himself at the wolf, flipping it onto its back. He pinned it down at its neck and threw his weight onto its body. The wolf struggled, but couldn\'t throw him off. He\'d caught it.
Ike caught his breath. Turning his head, he wiped his sweat on his sleeve, then nodded at it. "You\'re smart, aren\'t you? You know what\'s going on here."
The wolf watched him silently. One of its ears flicked back, then forward.
"I don\'t need your skill anymore. I needed it to mask my lightning skill, but now, that doesn\'t matter. Rosamund knows, and I\'m in the Abyss. No one\'s coming after me. Rather than your skill, I\'d much rather have you. A hunting dog." Besides, I can probably craft something like its skill using my Unique skill, if I have enough time and mana. Compared to having a skilled hunting companion, the skill is much less useful.
The wolf bared its teeth. It growled.
"Or I can kill you and take your skill. Your choice," Ike said, looking down at it.
Silence. Silver eyes regarded him. The wolf licked its lips.
Ike waited. Come on. I want a dog. Dogs can be trusted. Dogs are great. Come on, be my dog!