"Blop!"

"Running ability levelled up!"

"Blop!"

"Running ability levelled up!"

"Blop!"

"Running ability levelled up!"

This whole situation was uncommon. Even the stingy Bonger was throwing upgrades at me like a madman, probably taking it as the only possible way out of this situation. To hide in the dense trees, I still had to cover quite a bit of the distance. With every notification that I received, I could feel my running speed geting faster. It was as if my movements were turning more efficient, bringing more effect with less energy required to push my legs forward!

Per every ten steps that I took, a notification sounded before my running ability reached the 10th level cap. I could either invest all my points into developing it further or count on the Bonger to spare me even more mercy. While the pillars of fire erupting right behind my back, I even considered investing my attribute points in this pointless skill, but in the end, I decided to hold to them for a little longer. What if my plan will turn awry?

Thanks to some luck, we managed to reach the forest line before geting hit by this Penguin insane attacks. I couldn't even claim to be responsible for avoiding them since the only indication I had as to when to dodge came from my intuition. At first, I tried to look for a hint forecasting another attack but it didn't bear any fruit. Maybe if I could see the penguin, some of his actions would betray his attacks… But this monstrum was nowhere to be seen! Either flying too high or hiding behind the clouds, the only time when I could gaze on this insane calamity was when I was on the verge of dying thanks to its spell!

Thankfully, as soon as the trees covered our whereabouts, the attacks lost their accuracy. Instead of appearing right under my bottom, they started putting ugly scars on the forest line. Wait, forest line?

Only when I looked back I managed to realise that the area that we came from didn't turn to the arctic climate of another location right away! Those two locations were separated by a patch of grasslands, with signs of a great fire happening there in the past! While it indicated that this penguin attacks could reach the places outside of its liar location, it also proved that it either couldn't or didn't want to expand his sphere of influence even further!

"Do you have any idea of what we should do now? It seems that we are safe for now, but I don't want to stay here for a prolonged time. What if it can somehow detect us?"

While I have a fleeting idea of how I could solve this problem, I can only do it if I'm alone. Not because I'm reluctant to show off the prowess granted by the system. That would be outright dumb in my current position. I just can't be bothered with paying any attention to any other detail outside of my plan!

"Why are you asking me?! I knew it was a stupid idea to enter this location!"

With her psyche already affected by the events that happened even before the penguin attack, it was no wonder that yet another traumatic experience could break her composture. While I still owed her my life for pulling me away from this strange lockdown spell before, If I wanted to help her, I had no other way other than letting her go to back to the sect alone!

"Okay then. Can you locate some nearby beasts out there? They will be crucial to our escape."

When someone is on the verge of losing his mind, directing their attention somewhere else is the best way to push the breakdown for a later date. It's not like I can heal her mental wounds on the spot. It would take a long time of peacefull and calm environment to do so. I simply lack both the time, appropriate tools and the space to help her right now.

As someone who got dragged in this mess by me, the minimum that I should do is to take care of her well being. If I were to die here, then so be it. Receiving this second chance was a blessing that I don't really feel like I deserved anyway! If my life can be traded for someone who risked all to save it, it will prove that my existence had some sort of meaning!

"Yes, there are like four groups of gyuarnas trying to escape from the borderline of the areas. What do you want to do with them?"

With her mind in an already fragile state, Eve fails to notice what kind of mood is taking over my brain. With the existential questions popping up in my head, I need to set my plan in motion first and then fully focus on executing my part!

"Pick the group that is the closest to the direct line away from that monstrous penguin. When I give you a signal, I need you to rush to them first, then follow their movements. Don't try to fight with them. Just use their auras as a cover for yourself."

Preparing myself to risk it all, I explain what she is supposed to do. Before she manages to voice any complaints, I raise my hand to stop her words.

"Your aura is on par with the beasts in this location, while I do not have any aura whatsoever. If we both run with the animals, this monster will be able to track us down. I will distract it first, and then just run off to the forest. This way it won't chase after you, and as soon as I break its line of sight, it won't be able to track me either. Sooner or later, I will find my way back to the sect!"

Only half of what I said was true. There is no way I will be able to outrun a flying enemy. The very moment that I enter the open plains, my body will be set on fire by one of those strange beams that this penguin is capable of using. In this do or die situation, I can only bank all my hopes on this shitty system!