Unexpected.

...

Raising his head, Ekhael looked at the surrounding area before finally looking at the feline on the ground.

Although he managed to land a clean hit on the feline and he managed to wound it, he could clearly see that it was not deep enough to seriously injure it.

...

Hiss!

The feline hiss at Ekhael angrily as the blood flows from its wounds, it stares at Ekhael with deep hatred.

Slightly struggling, the feline stood up on its four legs and showed its sharp fang toward Ekhael.

Ekhael, who saw the expression of the feline couldn't help but feel his blood run cold, he could feel the deep crisis loom over him.

Run!

Again, Ekhael grips his axe tightly as he again begins to run toward the protected area of his lord manor.

If he stops for a second he knows that the consequences would be dire.

It would be either death or serious injury.

Mustering all his strength, Ekhael dashed toward the direction of the manor, shortening the distance between the two in the process.

28 meters, 26 meters, 18 meters, 16 meters...

"Only a little more!" Ekhael gritted his teeth as his eyes showed hope.

This is the first time in his life that he wishes to grow another pair of legs! So he could run faster.

As he was only a couple of meters away from the protected area, the feline on his back again raised its paw and swipe towards Ekhael.

As if he could feel that his life is in danger, Ekhael slash his axe toward his back. This time he controlled his strength, not strong but fast enough to hit the thing on his back.

Swish!

The sound of air whistling entered his ear as Ekhael's head slightly tilted to the back due to the slashing of his axe.

Unexpectedly, his axe which was supposed to hit the feline on his back didn't feel any kind of resistance.

This!

Ekhael who saw everything that happened on his back couldn't help but feel a deep horror.

The feline which should be in mid-air, slashing its sharp claws toward his back was crouching on the ground. Ready to pounce at him in any second.

It looked at Ekhael like it was mocking him, it was as if it managed to trick a prey.

"I'm dead.'

Ekhael thought instinctively as he saw the crouching feline suddenly jump toward his back.

...

In the moment of life and death, everything seems to go in slow motion.

Ekhael watches as the feline slowly raises its paw in mid-air, its familiar mocking and seemingly smiling face still pasted on its face like it already won the jackpot prize.

A meal worth a couple of days!

Slowly, its sharp claw enlarged in Ekhael's eyes as the distance between the claw and his face shortened.

"I'm dead... How idiotic of me, I should have swung downward instead of swinging semi-upward.'

Ekhael thought as the claw approached his face. At the brink of death, Ekhael couldn't help but regret his actions.

"If I just did the best thing... I would probably live."

Sigh.

Sighing, Ekhael closed his eyes, already giving up resisting. He only hopes that death would not be painful.

...

At that moment, the slowed time returned to its normal pace... Then...

BOOM!!!

In an instant, a loud crashing sound echoed in the surrounding forest.

Hearing that sound Ekhael couldn't help but to flinch. However, after a couple of seconds, the expected pain or the sound of tearing flesh never came.

Ekhael who was already waiting for death opened his eyes and looked at the figure in front of him in astonishment.

The Hell's Fire Hound which he ignored most of the time suddenly appeared in front of him and seems to save him from the brink of death.

Indeed it's really the Hell's Fire Hound! And it was slightly larger than before.

...

..

.

AN: praise the Hell's Fire Hound!