Chapter 8: Battle With The Wild Cat [Part 1]

Di Tian found himself in a perilous predicament as a ferocious feline coldly looked down upon him.

The mere thought of engaging in combat with the creature sent shivers down his spine, for the probability of his survival was exceedingly slim.

This was further emphasized by the warning issued by the system, which had emphasized the necessity for "Extreme Caution" in this situation.

Di Tian found himself faced with a difficult decision.

"Do I run...?" he contemplated.

Despite the odds of successfully escaping being low, it was still a significantly higher chance than engaging in a fight and potentially meeting his demise. However, upon thinking about the creature's impressive speed, Di Tian began to question his ability to outrun it.

In this moment of uncertainty, Di Tian's mind became surprisingly serene.

He came to the realization that, instead of fleeing, he preferred to stand his ground and fight. Though he knew that such a decision would likely result in his untimely death, he remained calm and resolute.

"I never thought that my life would be cut short so soon, especially after being given a second chance," Di Tian mused with a bitter smile. He steeled himself for the coming battle, prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

SWOOSH!!!

A sudden and violent rush of wind signaled the creature's arrival, materializing in front of Di Tian in mere seconds. For some inexplicable reason, Di Tian perceived a sense of mischief emanating from the creature, as if he was nothing more than a plaything for its amusement.

'DON'T THINK EVEN FOR A SECOND THAT I'M SOME DAMN PUSHOVER!!!'

Enraged by this perception, Di Tian swore to himself that he wouldn't go down without a fight. As the Wild Cat approached him, Di Tian lashed out with his scaly tail, determined to inflict as much damage as possible. However, the creature was not to be underestimated. With lightning-fast reflexes, it brandished its sharp claws and clashed with Di Tian's tail.

The resounding clash of metal-like objects echoed throughout the dark and foreboding night, sparks flying as the Cat's claws slashed against Di Tian's tail. The scales on his tail nearly caved inwards under the pressure, but his increased defense, the result of numerous level-ups, held strong. Despite the scratches left behind by the Cat's attack, Di Tian felt a sense of relief knowing that the creature couldn't easily break through his defenses.

'Hump, I won't go down without a fight' this small victory was enough to calm Di Tian's panicked heart, at least for a moment.

...

Di Tian's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan to turn the tide of the battle. He knew that he couldn't rely on his defense alone, especially against a predator as formidable as the Wild Cat. He needed to be more aggressive, to fight back with all his might.

"Come on then, you overgrown furball!" Di Tian taunted, trying to goad the creature into attacking him again. "Let's see what you're really made of!"

The Wild Cat let out a menacing growl and charged at Di Tian, its claws gleaming in the moonlight. Di Tian stood his ground, waiting for the right moment to strike.

As the Wild Cat lunged at him, Di Tian quickly sidestepped and slammed his scaly tail against the creature's flank. The impact was powerful, but not enough to knock the Wild Cat off balance. It turned around and slashed at Di Tian with its claws, aiming for his vulnerable eggshell once more.

This time, Di Tian was ready. He quickly rolled into a ball, using his shell as a shield. The Wild Cat's claws scraped against his shell, sending sparks flying, but they didn't penetrate. Di Tian felt a surge of triumph as he realized that his passive skill had kicked in, hardening his shell to withstand the attack.

"You're gonna have to do better than that, kitty," Di Tian taunted, unrolling from his ball and lashing out with his tail. The Wild Cat dodged the attack and lunged at him again, but Di Tian was faster this time. He sidestepped and slammed his shell against the creature's head, causing it to stumble back.

The Wild Cat roared in fury and charged at Di Tian once more, but this time, Di Tian was ready for it. He waited until the last moment, then sidestepped and slammed his tail against the creature's flank once more. This time, the impact was enough to knock the Wild Cat off balance. It stumbled and fell to the ground, stunned.

The Wild Cat roared in fury and charged at Di Tian once more, but this time it held the advantage in the fight, little by little it was cornering Di Tian.

The Wild Cat's ferocity was unmatched, and with every swipe of its razor-sharp claws, Di Tian felt his chances of survival dwindling. He knew he had to come up with a plan, and fast.

"How do I fight this guy?" Di Tian thought frantically. "Every one of its stats is higher than mine, while its skills can bolster its attacks even more, making it all too easy for it to kill me. And on top of that, I can't even use <Roll> because of its size and strength."

In that moment of desperation, Di Tian's mind raced back to the cave he called home. The cave was filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and an idea sparked in his head. It was a risky gamble, but it was the only way he could turn the tides of this life and death battle.

But was it even feasible?

Just as he was about to dismiss his plan, the <Wise One> spoke, reassuring him that the possibility of his plan working was relatively high. With his increased defense and passive skill, Hard Shell, his shell would be able to handle the burden of what he wanted to do.

With renewed hope, Di Tian braced himself for the Wild Cat's next attack. As the massive creature charged towards him, Di Tian executed his plan, dodging and weaving between the stalactites and stalagmites, leading the Wild Cat on a chase.

And then, with a burst of speed, Di Tian dashed towards the largest stalactite in the cave, his shell scraping against the sharp rock. The Wild Cat followed closely behind, its eyes blazing with fury.

…

Di Tian was relieved to hear the <Wise One>'s assessment of his plan. It gave him a glimmer of hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for what he was about to attempt.

He darted around the Wild Cat, dodging its sharp claws and keeping his distance. The creature growled in frustration, unable to land a hit on its nimble opponent. Di Tian's thoughts raced as he looked for an opportunity to execute his plan.

Finally, he saw his chance. The Wild Cat charged towards him with a fierce roar, ready to pounce. Di Tian ran towards the cave's entrance, leading the creature towards the stalactites and stalagmites.

…

As Di Tian ran, the <Wise One> spoke up [You're doing well, Host. Keep leading the Wild Cat towards the stalactite in the cave. Remember, timing is key]

Di Tian nodded, his heart pounding with anticipation. He had to time this perfectly or his plan would fail.

The Wild Cat was closing in, its jaws ready to deliver the killing blow. But at the last second, Di Tian leaped out of the way, and the Wild Cat's massive body collided with the stalactite with a deafening crash.

BOOOM!

As rocks and debris rained down, Di Tian watched in amazement as the Wild Cat struggled to free itself from the rubble. With a final burst of strength, it managed to free itself and turned to face Di Tian, its eyes filled with hatred.

But it was too late...