NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 10: i am so dead
"Come at me!" Ray taunted, a defiant smirk on his face. "Even if I'm just a mortal, I can still handle a little phoenix whose cultivation is so low I can't even sense it."
Before he could prepare for what was next, a resounding BAAAM echoed through the forest.
"Ahhhh!" A muffled cry escaped Ray's lips as he was sent flying backward, crashing into a tree with a painful thud. The impact left him gasping for air, his body screaming in protest.
How the fkkk?! Ray's mind raced as he struggled to push himself up. I didn't even see it coming!
He looked down at his trembling hands, ignoring the pain shooting through his back. Is this normal for a mortal body? Not being able to sense even the smallest attack? I didn't even have time to react.
The Chicken Phoenix, standing arrogantly on one leg, seemed to mock him, its beady eyes gleaming with disdain. That's it? it seemed to say without uttering a word.
Without missing a beat, the bird charged at him again, its claws digging into the earth as it closed the distance with surprising speed.
Ray, though unable to react quickly enough, analyzed its movements. Basic instincts, limited intelligence, and minimal cultivation power, he observed. Even with this mortal body, I can take it down… but I need a weapon.
His eyes darted around the forest floor, searching for anything that could be used as a makeshift weapon. But before he could find anything, the bird lunged, its sharp beak aiming directly for him.
"Shit!" Ray rolled to the side just in time, the beak narrowly missing his face. Without wasting a second, he scrambled to his feet, creating as much distance as possible between him and the bird.
"That hurt more than I expected," Ray muttered, wincing as he flexed his arm. Good thing those claws didn't dig in too deep. It could've been worse.
Spotting a cluster of rocks nearby, Ray bent down and grabbed a handful. "Alright, you little bastard, let's see how you handle this!" He hurled one of the rocks straight at the Chicken Phoenix.
The rock hit its target, bouncing off the bird's head with a dull thunk. The bird flinched but didn't go down.
Damn, this body is weak, Ray thought, gritting his teeth. Even a direct hit didn't do much damage.
"Guess I'll just keep trying!" Ray growled, pelting the bird with rock after rock. Each throw was more precise, targeting the bird's vulnerable spots. The head's too hard… but what about the neck?
The Chicken Phoenix, though attempting to dodge, was too slow to evade all the projectiles. It squawked in frustration, trying to close the gap, but Ray kept his distance, moving quickly and staying out of reach.
Finally, with a strained thud, the bird collapsed, blood trickling from its head, its legs and neck bruised and swollen.
"That's it?" Ray panted, tossing a rock in the air and catching it with a smug grin. His breath came in heavy bursts, the exertion starting to take its toll. "First beast down…"
He glanced around, spotting a sturdy branch lying nearby. Picking it up, he swung it experimentally. "This'll do for now," he murmured, holding it like a makeshift bat. "Not perfect, but it'll work."
Ray approached the fallen Chicken Phoenix cautiously, the branch raised for a final strike. But as he got closer, the bird's eyes snapped open.
"Pkkkkkkk! Pkkkkkk! Pkkk cooooo! Coooo cooookkkkkkk!" it screeched, the sound piercing through the air, loud enough to make Ray's ears ring.
"Fkkk!" Ray stumbled back, clutching his head. "That's… so loud…"
Then, as the echo of the bird's cries faded, an ominous realization struck him. His heart sank. "Oh no…"
He barely had time to react before the sounds started pkk pkk pkk pkkk a chorus of clucking and stomping coming from deeper within the forest.
"No, no, no," Ray whispered, the color draining from his face. He glanced over his shoulder, eyes wide with panic. "A horde…"
Within moments, dozens of Chicken Phoenixes emerged from the trees, their feathers ruffled, eyes glowing with predatory intent.
The translucent screen flickered above them, displaying their levels:
Chicken Star-5
Chicken Star-3
Chicken Star-2
Chicken Star-2
Ray's gaze locked on the largest of them, a towering beast nearly seven times the size of the one he'd just fought. Its claws were razor-sharp, its wings shimmering with an ominous red hue.
"This is bad. This is really bad," Ray muttered, his breath hitching. "I barely handled one… now there's fifty of them?!"
Without a second thought, Ray turned on his heel and sprinted in the opposite direction, his heart pounding in his chest. "Life is more precious than pride right now," he told himself. "I can't die here. Not like this."
Behind him, the thunderous sound of flapping wings and clucking feet grew louder, the horde closing in fast.
Ray's mind raced as he darted through the forest. I need a plan… something to slow them down… But the terrain offered little in the way of salvation.
Stealing a glance over his shoulder, Ray's stomach churned. The sight of fifty to sixty enraged Chicken Phoenixes was enough to send a chill down his spine.
"Fkkk! They're catching up!" he gasped, pushing his legs to move faster. "I need to find a way out, or I'm dead meat."
He darted left, then right, dodging trees and leaping over roots, desperately searching for an escape. His lungs burned, but he couldn't stop not when his life depended on it.
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