I aimed.
Released.
The arrow pierced straight through one of the dung rabbits.
Dead.
No hesitation.
I grabbed another arrow—
fired again.
Another body dropped.
Again.
Again.
Again.
By the fourth rabbit—
the rest understood.
They vanished underground instantly.
Only holes remained around the tree.
I stayed crouched on the branch, breathing hard.
Cuts.
Scratches.
Blood.
My body stung from dozens of minor wounds.
But none of that mattered.
When I closed my eyes—
I saw Rusty.
Running beside me when he was young.
Licking my face.
Carrying me through danger.
Staying with me every single time.
And now—
he was suffering.
Because of me.
Because of my greed.
Because I wanted to test something I didn't fully understand.
My grip tightened.
My breathing shook.
Then—
the tree trembled.
I looked down.
None of the rabbits surfaced.
Instead—
they were chewing through the roots.
And the bark.
Trying to bring the entire tree down.
…
Smart.
Too smart.
"Damn it."
I spotted another tree nearby—
far, but possible.
Maybe.
I put away the bow.
Drew my sword.
Reverse grip.
Breathed once.
Then I made a choice.
I stopped reinforcing my whole body.
Instead—
I focused all dark aura into my legs.
My heels.
Maximum movement.
I sprinted across the branch—
and jumped.
For one terrifying second—
I almost missed.
Then—
I slammed my sword into the bark of the next tree.
The blade bit deep enough to stop my fall.
My shoulder nearly tore from the force—
but I held on.
Slowly—
I climbed up.
Breathing hard.
Hands shaking.
I pulled the sword free—
and froze.
The blade had chips.
Scratches.
Minor damage—
but damage.
I clicked my tongue.
Then looked down.
Right on time.
The first tree collapsed.
And as it fell—
the dung rabbits emerged, expecting me to fall with it.
I was ready.
Arrow drawn.
Release.
One dropped.
Second arrow—
release.
Another died before it could retreat.
The rest vanished underground again.
Silence.
My chest heaved.
I wanted to chase them.
Kill every last one.
Take their bodies.
Their value.
But then—
I stopped.
No.
That greed—
that same greed—
was why Rusty was suffering now.
I clenched my jaw.
"Not again."
I chose retreat.
Tree to tree—
branch to branch—
I moved carefully, using height and sensory field together.
No reckless charges.
No blind rage.
Just escape.
Eventually—
the trees thinned.
Too much distance between the next branches.
I had no choice.
I climbed down.
Slowly.
Quietly.
I took two steps.
The ground exploded.
A dung rabbit burst out directly in front of me.
Too close.
Its claws slashed across my left side.
Pain ripped through me.
I stumbled back.
Blood spread instantly.
Not deep—
but enough.
I gritted my teeth.
So—
they marked me.
Tracked me.
Hunted me.
More holes opened.
One.
Three.
Five.
They were surrounding me.
Fast.
Precise.
Like predators closing in.
My breathing slowed.
Then stopped.
No more running.
I shifted my grip.
Pulled out my spear.
This time—
I didn't spread my aura evenly.
Dark aura coated my body—
purely for defense.
Miasma—
I poured it into my weapon.
My arms.
My legs.
Offense and movement.
Separate.
Controlled.
For the first time—
not wild.
Not reckless.
Purposeful.
My eyes sharpened.
Every nerve screamed the same word—
Kill.
A rabbit emerged—
I moved first.
The spear thrust downward before it fully surfaced.
Skull pierced.
Dead.
Another from the right—
I spun.
The axe-balance edge split its face open.
A third lunged from behind—
I sensed the vibration—
ducked—
and drove the spear backward blindly.
A screech.
Hit.
Blood sprayed.
I exhaled slowly.
"Come."
My voice was cold.
Wild.
Dangerous.
But this time—
not uncontrolled.
The holes around me remained.
The rabbits hesitated.
Good.
For the first time—
they weren't hunting me anymore.
I was hunting them.