The plan was rather simple, Cosmo runs as fast as he could while the villagers are under the effect of the suppression pills. He does feel regretful for taking advantage of their kindness, this was the best course of action to take if he wanted to survive. When Alishi attacked him, it was on the fourth day, but how fast she found him meant she was already looking for him while under the effect of the pill.
"Changing to route c…" Cosmo takes a breath before rushing into the forest.
Route A was to simply take the trading route, it was the fastest as it has the flattest land, noticeable landmarks, least amount of beast, and is a route he knew best. The biggest down side was that so did the other succubuses, some even knew more than him about the trail, so he went against that idea.
Route B, the route he was on, followed his herb picking routes. This route was something Cosmo made as it would weave around territories like scarlet jackals and prism stags. Since he knew the habits of the animals of the forest, he was able to avoid them while staying close to their respected territory, he'd also hoped that the succubuses still had some sort of reasoning to avoid those areas, but since Alishi found him and judging by the state of her torn clothes, they fought through them.
Regrettably, Cosmo chose to go through Route C, which involves going through the 'Apex' territories. Cosmo knows that lesser succubus were strong, at least he thought Sia and Verra were, but the way Alishi fought, let him know that most of them were of similar strength. And in trusting in that strength, he hoped they were strong enough to survive against the 'Apexes' of the Wild Forest…
***
Three days have passed since the attack of the first succubus and Cosmo was moving through the forest at much faster speed. Each step careful and quiet, his pace quick yet steady. Experience from his previous life made him efficient and discipline, the supply point serving as both resting and hiding spots. Moving when there was the least amount of light, he saw two succubuses catching up to him, Duwi and Bree, the baker and chef of the village. Their clothes are also in tatters, panting with dirt matted on their unblemished skin, sniffing the air, their bloodlust now suffocatingly thick, but the one thing that stands out the most was the purple colored blood dripping from their arms.
Right now, they're in the territory of the Golden Stallion, a horse like monster and despite its name, it's muscle is like steel with a powerful charge that levels trees. Cosmo knows that it wasn't going to be killed off so easily but the amount of bloodlust the two succubuses were emitting alone was enough to drive off any beast or animal. The apex are strong enough to fight off one of them but they're not that dumb to fight off more.
The thing that surprises Cosmo the most is that they are working together. Why? Cosmo assumes that they might be too deep into their frenzy to even work with another succubus on the same target.
"He's here!" Duwi sniffs the air deeply, her body quivers at the idea that their dear Cosmo was close.
"C-can we have a moment with C-Cosmo before we return him t-to the village…" Bree speaks, even in this frenzy, she still has this shyness about her.
"No!" Duwi snaps back. "She said that if we found him first, we would go after her!"
"B-but!-" Duwi cuts off Bree with a shove as they start an argument.
'Her?' Cosmo thought. The village didn't really have a hierarchy of any kind, every one was treated equally and did their part, but with this argument, he can assume that the succubuses were searching more methodically because someone was leading them. Nelly? Minny? Those are the only two smart enough to even guess where he might go…
Cosmo shakes the thought, first, he needs to get away from the two. He shifts backwards as quietly as possible, but then the two stops fighting and stares in his direction. He curse himself for making such the mistake of underestimating their senses. Staring back, he takes a deep breath before charging out. Both seemed tired from the search and fight with the apex monster, so it would be best to subdue them now.
Their red eyes seemed to light up as a smile formed across their faces as they almost trip over each other to run towards Cosmo. This made it easy to read them, as he was the only thing on their mind.
As Cosmo closes in, he shifts his trajectory, putting Bree between him and Duwi. Too eager to catch him, Duwi tries to push away Bree with Bree pushing back. Cosmo took the infighting to charge in and place his hand over Bree's stomach, pushing his palm in and 'shocks' her, he put more effort into it since he's now aware at how durable they are.
Bree goes limp instantly as Cosmo's other hand was already on Duwi's head. Before Bree could even hit the ground, Duwi fell too.
Cosmo breaths slowly, collecting himself before running into the forest.
***
Within the Wild Forest, lies the Azura Gorilla, a the apex. It lazily swings on his tree on his makeshift bed. This monster wasn't just strong, he's clever, smart even, able to claim this territory with both brain and brawn.
He recently found the forest to be more active, a few days ago, his rival, the yellow one, was heard screaming and running away from his territory, and just yesterday, some hairless, little ones, ran past his tree. The Azura Gorilla doesn't bother himself with the problems of smaller creatures so he ignored the offence.
Today, he feels a strong sense of bloodlust coming towards him. In response, he yawns and grabs his club, a magical tree trunk with a shape stone tied to the end, and hops down his tree with a surprising amount of grace. He scratches his belly and lifts the massive club over his shoulder. Taking a deep breath, he roars in response to the bloodlust.
He counted at least ten, confident that he could take them, for he was the Azura Gorilla, king of the blue apes and he relishes the chance to test his might. He readies himself as they step closer, ready to pounce.
"What are you girls doing?" A voice pieces through the woods, the bloodlust of the ten falters. "Go. and. find. HIM." The command is short but each word made the Azura Gorilla and the ten, flinch. They spread and runs around him, but he was to focus on the one in front of him, a single presence, still hidden in the dense forest.
For the first time in his life, he feels fear and for the first time in his life, he runs.
***
The sound of water crashing against rocks, the mist of the waterfall reflects the light of the evening sun, forming a rainbow. An almost peaceful scene, if not for the screams of succubuses at the top of the waterfall.
Cosmo puts Cinith in an arm lock and 'shocks' her, knocking her out, then Entis comes from his left flank to grab him.
He dodges it and goes in to place his palm on her side but she dodges it, then Fel come in from Enthis's back, her aim was low and tackles Cosmo.
Before she could put in the strength to grapple Cosmo down, she feels a shock on her back, causing her to let Cosmo go.
He steps back, creating distance between him and the succubuses standing before him. Alishi and Cinith lay unconscious on the ground, Fel is shaking off the shock while Enthis, Nelly, and Minny circle him.
'Damn it!' He thought.
Bree and Duwi came back to catch him but he was able to ambush them and knock them out, but then Joi was their shouted where he was, causing him ran away before dealing with Joi. This led to him being cornered on the top of a waterfall, fighting off the succubuses before him. Cosmo assuming Joi probably went back to tell whoever was leading them where he was.
Cosmo was closing and opening his hand, flexing his fingers, palm sore and red, he's been fighting them off for the past week, pushing his body and techniques to their limits. The reason Fel wasn't knocked out was because he's exhausted, unable to put in anymore strength into his technique. He'd hope that the Blue Gorilla would hold them back but that monkey did nothing.
Yet, Cosmo's glad that he made it to the waterfall, a major part in his escape plan. He inches closer to the edge, while holding his hands out towards the sucubuses. They close in on him, eyes locked focus, yet careful, learning that Cosmo is stronger then they previously thought.
Despite searching tirelessly for him, their stamina is insane. Cosmo is careful and efficient, and hoped that they were at least tired from the search, they just ran and jumped everywhere, searching for him in some kind of frenzy, yet they barely look drained, the panting and drooling was only from the excitement of finding Cosmo.
They step closer, and Cosmo steps back. He wants to do this when the tide was low but he had to take the chance, the only thing he hopes is that they aren't that deep in frenzy to follow him.
With a quick turn of his heel, he made a mad dash towards the edge of the cliff. They follow him, some screaming at him to stop.
But he leaps into the air and dives into the raging waters.
***
Cosmo is well aware of the nose of the succubus, each supply point has a fresh change of clothes and scent masking herbs. After stopping at each one, he would change clothes and spread the old one in hope of throwing off their nose. As the effect of the suppression pill wears off, the more their sensitive sense of smell would return, letting them sniff him out, making any quick effort to mask his scent useless.
Hence the waterfall, this would cut off any smell of him and since this river has multiple splits, the succubuses will now need to guess where he would go. Cosmo made a gamble that their nose would be use to a constantly running and dirty Cosmo, so he takes the chance to clean his body the best he can, letting the river carry him, hoping that this should give him a large lead from the succubuses.
Hiking, running, and hiding for two and a half weeks, with the last few days was him constantly running. Now, he was finally close to the border of the forest.
After the fifth day of the chase, he already went further than he had ever traveled, everything after that was him going on the memory of a map and reading the stars. Right now, he's limping towards new land and is looking for a place to rest.
"A few minutes…" Exhaustion was setting in, running for days left him weak and barely conscious. "All I need is a few minutes…"
As if his wish was granted, he spots a small cave under a tree. It was perfect, it blended in with the scenery and looked difficult to spot at a distance.
Tired and weak, he crawls in the small cave and falls limp, letting the coldness of the ground wash over him.
***
The sleep was dreamless, nothing but him and a void. He hears a small voice, it grows and grows, he wonders if it was 'that' voice, threatening to bring back that madness, but it's something different, calming, alluring… familiar.
Cosmo's eye's shots open as he quickly looks out the cave. Fear strikes his heart, knowing it's now useless to hide.
So he crawls out the cave and brushes off the dirt. He looks up at the stars and moon.
"Damn it…" He speaks out loud, as more than two hours had passed since he fell asleep. Two hours he could've used to distance himself from her. The cave he once thought was a blessing is actually a trap.
"Don't be like that, boys like you need their sleep." She chuckles as she closes in, a play hop with each step.
Cosmo stares forward, going into a stance, at least he felt rested, maybe that was enough for a chance to win. He takes a deep breath, relaxes his body, and focuses on the women in front of him.
"Verra…"