*Grrrrr… AWOOOOOOO~!*
The leader of the Pet Shop, The Dog, has let out its warcry as it bears its wings.
(!!!, What?!)
And the second passed, The Dog was already in front of me, charging at superspeed in the air.
Crashing almost half of the rooftop with its giant body, The Dog made its land on the rooftop as it searched for its prey, me.
But I have long gone from the predator's sight, thanks to the dust he made upon landing. He also can't smell me, thanks to Silver Hunter's liquid.
Seeing the visible big eye, I took the opportunity…
*WOOSH!*
*AAAAARGGH!*
With the harpoon launcher, I destroyed the right eye with a single shot. The Dog let out a cry upon its comrades, but it'll take time for them to reach the rooftop.
That's what I thought.
The harpoon I shot was tied with a chain to the harpoon launcher, which means I can retrieve it anytime. I tried to pull it off its big eye, but the chain was cut like a snapped rope.
(They were here faster than I thought…)
Standing in my way, a group of The Cat. There were exactly 6 of them.
Having a superior strength greater than mine, it makes even one of them a great foe to deal with. But, I've come up with resolve greater than that. Counting how many harpoons I've got, 4 with the remaining one stuck on The Dog's eye.
(Perfect…)
I aimed the harpoon launcher at one of the cats and attempted to shoot them. The cat, having the greater reaction speed, evades the harpoon as the harpoon pierces one of the pillars on the rooftop.
Seeing how my attack missed, they might come to assume I'm defenseless and would lunge at me with numbers of them. But because of that, they come to let their guard down instead.
*CICICICICICICICICI-*
The sound ruptured my ears, but also theirs. The Cats have a great sense of hearing, and I exploited that ability, which led to their downfall.
Thanks to Cicicirikada's vocal cords, that was tied to the harpoon, I was able to bring down The Cats. But… it would be asking too much if it defeated them completely. None of them died, but were on the verge of dying from the ruptured ears towards the brain.
*SPLAT!*
The closest cat was lying on the ground, so I took this opportunity as I stomped on its head. Looking at the other five, they were able to stand on their four, but with sluggish composure and movement.
Therefore, I took out the Chair Leg Sword and forced my way to kill them, one by one.
The fight took a while, alongside a few claw mark and one bite mark on my arm, if it weren't for the vocal cord, I wouldn't be able to stand against them even for 10 seconds.
(That's the last of it, I need to finish the dog quickly-)
And then, the sudden dizziness alongside electricity hit me. I fell on my knees and lost grip of the sword. I felt the warm liquid flowing down my ear.
(Ahh… This body has taken too much damage already from the vocal cord's attack. Would I have given up here? No, I never considered that as an option…)
I glanced over The Dog, it seems the vocal cords also affected him as I saw his ear bled.
(He got it this time… I got lucky…)
The Death of The Cats, pierced eye, and the ruptured ears, I might not have gotten that lucky next time.
(So what if my body happens to break down, I'll just have to grit my teeth and be done with it.)
With that mindset, I once again aimed the harpoon launcher towards The Dog. But the Dog recovered from losing one eye and ruptured ears, lunged towards me faster than I could react.
I anticipated this move and dodged to the right, evading its big body. But The Dog wouldn't sit still, as I'm still within his range.
So I took the Mazard's shield with the grasshopper's poison needle still pierced on it.
To be truth The Dog has one more remaining left eye, but the problem is it's too small as the size of my eye. So it still has the ability to see, but with a fixed range and a bigger blind spot.
The Dog blindly swung his paw on my path, hoping for it to hit its prey. I blocked the paw with the shield as, at the same time, it was pierced with the poisonous thorns on the surface of my protection.
Then the next attack comes from its tail. I managed to block it, but the shockwave sent me far, almost led me to the edge of the rooftop.
(That was close… The harpoon… I've got three left…)
Once again, I aimed the harpoon launcher at The Dog, waiting for the perfect opportunity for it to reveal its weak spot, the right eye that I pierced.
(..... Now's the chance!)
I pulled the trigger
But the harpoon didn't go the way I aimed to
Because I was interrupted by The Rabbit that suddenly dug its way through the floor as it grabbed my shoes, and bit them.
I was taken aback, and lost my composure and balance. That led me to fall off the rooftop.
Is it the end of my day? Most people would've said so. Nobody could survive the fall of that height, let alone a weak and fragile self such as me.
But a miracle landed upon my path…
(T-That was close…)
I thought I would fall to my end, but my hand instinctively grabbed something as I fell.
One floor down from where I fell, my hand grabbed the steel bar with the grip so strong that as if it told me, "I don't want to die."
And unfortunately, I lost my Mazard shield and Chair Leg Sword, but in my other hand, I still hold tightly to the Harpoon Launcher. I guess it's better than losing everything. With the sigh, I spoke loudly from my mind.
"So lucky yet so unlucky…"
Clinging still to the steel bar, I threw the harpoon launcher on the floor I'm on, then tried to get on the floor with both hands. And as I tried to get up the floor, I saw The Dog look down on me from the edge of the rooftop…
"It's useless, it's useless, it's useless for prey to run. From. Predator."
(T-That thing just spoke?!)
It come off as a surprise to me after all this time, there's another talking creature beside me.
But its voice doesn't match its appearance. I would have laughed if it were me from before.
Soon, The Dog seemed like it wanted to lunge me from the rooftop, so my instinct kicked in as I quickly got on the floor, grabbed the harpoon launcher, and ran as fast as I could.
The Dog, on the other hand, threw itself off the rooftop and pierce it claw to prevent itself from falling further, get to the floor I'm in, and chases me as it chases to the depths of hell.
I turned on every pillar I could find, evading its advance.
Not to mention, The Rabbits also have found their way here as they come out of every floor, wall, and ceiling, chasing nothing but their prey.
Somehow or luckyhow, I managed to make my way to the stairs, skipping every stairs by jumping of them. As far as I can managed until I hear a growl from above, I get off the stairs and went for another flat surface of the tag game.
I can hear the crushing debris, it seems like the stairs is no longer usable thanks to The Dog's big body crush it with its weight.
Seems like I was cornered if I were to reach the end of the floor, even if I make my way around them, I'm stuck because of the collapsed stairs.
I think, I'm thinking, how I'll be able to turn the tide of the tag game. The Dog, and a large number of The Rabbits, not to mention The Hamsters and other animals that might make their way to here later.
If I can somehow… Somehow make this a 1v1 situation between only me and The Dog…
There are a few other things that fell alongside the sword and shield, but I still checked the remaining useful item, if it could help me turn the tide it is…
(Sunworm Torch, Few needle, rusty knife, and… !)
…
Like my expectation thought it was, I'm currently cornered at the edge of the floor. In front of me are The Dog and Rabbits. Behind me, still a huge height to fall onto. Death.
I still had my harpoon launcher and two remaining harpoons. Wasn't a good idea to fight off against a huge number of The Rabbits. Even so, I still aimed the launcher… Towards The Dog.
And suddenly…
"Kuh…"
It appears some of the rabbits dig the floor below, to reach me. I immediately stomped on one of them, kicked them, then the next, and more, and more.
But the number isn't decreasing; the floor and ceiling have Rabbits dug through them. And when I realized it, I was surrounded… By every direction but behind… The edge… Death.
One of the rabbits falls on top of me from the ceiling, and it bites my shoulder. The sharp sensation sends the signal of pain to my brain, but I didn't do anything… Perhaps I can't do anything.
Not yet
Soon, the next rabbit follows up by taking a bite on my leg, then on my rib, then to my back, and so on…
"It's. Useless."
The Dog spoke
"It's. Useless. To struggle against an Apex Predator."
But I noticed the voice wasn't coming from The Dog's mouth. In fact, it never moves its mouth other than to show its bare fangs.
"Surrender. Become protein too. Our Cult. Greatest Cult."
I noticed the small bulge on top of The Dog's body. It had a beak, a feather, and was the source of the voice.
"Cult. of. Pets. Cute Pets. Naughty Pets. Pets that like attention. Pets that will companied its Master forever. Pets. Pets. Pets."
(Was that… A parrot?)
I've seen them in picture books, but they usually come in all sorts of colors. But this one has a black purple-ish color so dark that I couldn't tell at a simple glance.
"Pets. Pets. Pets. But we don't have Master. Or a companion that we can cling to. Therefore, we do not deserve to be called a pet. Thus we sought out a journey to search for. Our Master. Are you. Our Master?"
The Parrot gave me a glance, and I can tell that nothing positive comes from its eyes.
"Master. Weak. Harm our kin. Has hatred against us. You. Do not deserve. To be our Master."
As it spoke, The Rabbits continued to bite down on my clothes, flesh, bone, and organ. Bit by bit, I can tell that it's almost my time for me to faint and die being eaten.
But I'm standing. I'm still standing. And then, I laughed.
"He… hehehehehehe… HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"... What. Are you. Laughing." Said Parrot, confused.
I then stopped laughing as I dropped the harpoon launcher. Took something out of my pocket and then showed the parrot something I held within my hand.
"Was it because I'm weak that you don't acknowledge me? Because I'm merely a prey, a food? All this time the death claimed me many times, because of that simple reason?"
To think it was so simple, their kind of thinking I meant.
"Acknowledge to be your Master? SCREW THAT! I DON'T WANT TO BE A MASTER TO A BUNCH OF LUNATICS LIKE YOU!!!"
I marched forward, despite being bitten by The Rabbits.
"YOU ALL PLUNDER THE WHOLE CITY HUNTING AND PREYING UPON EVERYTHING!"
Slowly but surely.
"AND I'VE MADE MY CHOICE HERE, RIGHT HERE AND NOW, I'M GOING TO KILL THIS PREDATOR. YOU. YOU. AND YOU!!!"
I threw The Rabbits, despite the number of them clinging to my body not lowered.
"Even so, must I tell you this. Even prey has its own fang…"
The object that I've shown, I gripped it hard.
Then it popped, like a balloon.
*PSHHHHHHH-*
The gas engulfed the place, covering the whole floor with them. The Rabbits do not sink their teeth into me any longer; they lost the grip on me and fell to the ground.
I then noticed that The Dog was trying to get away, but moving sluggishly.
I went to take the harpoon launcher, but I didn't hurry up and take my time slowly.
Because it matters not anymore.
"I assume the poison has kicked in… But I guess you're too resistant to the poison itself."
I took out the needle as I attached it to the harpoon using a rope. Yes, the harpoon was laced with Grasshopper's poison needle, more or less.
The first harpoon that hits its eye, was also laced with the poison needle. Only for it to show the sign now.
I took no time and shot the harpoon towards beyond the destroyed eye; whatever organ is in there, it sends The Dog in greater pain.
"WAAAAAAARLLFFGH!!!"
I now have one remaining harpoon left. Should I finish this… I may escape from this endless loop of meaninglessness.
"*Cough**Cough**Cough*"
I coughed and looked at my hand. Almost all of its surface is covered with scabies.
The beetlepup's glans store even the most potent form of poison. The glans that I crush, to change the whole tide of this situation. Since before, I only decided to attached the glans to the harpoon. Never having a resolve to get myself caught within the gas.
Me, The Dog, The Rabbits, were all caught within it.
And now, it's a battle against endurance.
Who can last against this yellowish mist longer… I threw the harpoon launcher and took only the harpoon myself.
My body's about to collapse, but my mind tells me to push forward. Then there I was, standing against the defenseless dog that was about to meet its death door.
And at the same time, I can hear it. The sound of swarming. The Hamsters. Has arrived at almost the climax of this cycle.
"I'm angry… But at the same time, I'm calm…" I jumped over the dog's head, and made my way towards The Parrot.
"I'm certain, you are the leader. That keeps the whole pack together. I have a hunch, if I were to end you right here, right now, I would be freed forever of this cycle."
I gripped my harpoon tight. Not letting a single mistake happen.
"How. How. How does a mere prey do this? To me? I can't. Allow this."
As The Parrot finished its sentence, it suddenly came out from the shell, which is The Dog's body, showing off its huge wings.
"I. Will Escape. Before any misfortune. Happened to me. Bye-bye."
The Parrot flew past me, attempting to escape by flying off the building.
"...! What. A prey. Hold on to me."
My hand, moves faster than what my brain could think. It gripped on its leg, and not letting it go.
And soon, The Hamsters had made their way through by climbing the wall, and towards where The Parrot and I were.
But… My feet were no longer on the ground.
"I'm not letting you go…"
Because… I have fly.
"It's. Problem. I need to. Flew higher. To fend off the prey. I need to fly. HIGHER!"
Fly of all the problems.
"Higher. Higher. Higher."
Without a care for the world.
"Need to. Fend off the Prey."
And suddenly, I can feel the light coming from my left.
It was a sunrise that filled the darkness of its city with a yellowish-orange color.
"So Beautiful…"
The most beautiful scenery I've ever seen in my life.
"Ha- Hahahahahaha…"
Perhaps… I've gone crazy with the recent event. So with the harpoon in my hand…
I stabbed the Parrot in the back. And attempt to climb higher than his head.
Perhaps I'm greedy for more. More freedom.
But let me, enjoy the temporary freedom a bit more.
…
The Parrot has stopped moving, but I can tell that he's alive. And now, we're currently diving below at high speed.
We didn't go directly in a straight line, as The Parrot also tried to fly. But perhaps the reason is that I stabbed him.
"Hahahahahahaha! Worry too much about falling? Let me steer you a bit." With that said, I grabbed onto the wings as I flew around as I pleased. And not long then, I can see we're in the vicinity of the very same building that I was in not long ago. And on the rooftop, I see him.
(The Dog? It climbed its way to the rooftop.)
But with anything but sluggish movement, The Dog is at its weakest right now.
(I've got a perfect idea…)
A crazy idea, one could say, I dive in using The Parrot towards The Dog.
At a huge speed, we three crashed, into each other. The momentum was so great that it threw all three of us off the rooftop.
(Ah… This is the end huh…)
I lose my grip on The Parrot, and am currently falling to my death. Alongside The Dog and The Parrot.
(I guess, I've been at the happiest I could've ever been…)
And thus, I closed my eyelids, and let all play out.
…
...
......
"I-I'm not dead?..."
I can feel a soft sensation upon impact, and currently leaning on The Dog, which met its death.
"I… See… I fell on top of The Dog…"
(The very creature I hate, somehow saved me.)
(...)
(Now what? I can barely move my body.)
(Sooner or later, The Harmster and other things will make their way here and-)
(!)
(What?)
What the hamster did, was nothing but surround me, then went back into the Dog's body.
I noticed, that I met one of the hamster's eyes as it might or might not smile at me.
…
I looked at the sun, my source of light.
A silence…
A breeze wind…
A beautiful sunrise…
I… would like to indulge myself a little bit within this moment…
…
.....
......…
Ending 1: First Day, First Dusk, First Night, First Sunrise