From the very start, Rhos had known Keeper Taru would eventually try something that would endanger his life. It was only a matter of time.
Like most old heads in the Elderwood Biome, Mountain Gorilla Taru never considered people born outside the Biomes to be real humans. In his eyes, they existed solely to serve those fortunate enough to have been born beneath the protection of the World Shell barrier.
That was the very reason Taru had accepted him into Ranger Division 14 a year ago. And also because live bait was a position no one else wanted. But as far as the Keeper was concerned, that was the beginning and end of Rhos’ worth.
So when Taru suggested leaving him behind, he wasn’t surprised. In fact, he felt relieved. It meant he had judged the man correctly.
But he did get surprised when Taru hesitated to abandon Nimra. At first he had assumed it was sentiment to his fellow inborn comrade, but looking back at it now, it wasn’t that at all.
Leopard Cat Nimra was Gamma Class. She possessed a Special Aspect and enough talent to become a valuable Ranger in the future. More importantly, she was another body.
Someone who could buy Taru a few precious seconds if another monster appeared. Perhaps that was what made her worth saving.
This must have been why she decided to go against him suddenly, because she also came to the same conclusion.
Whatever reason it was, he was glad. It would have been a disaster if she had sided with the Keeper instead.
Even with the two of them ganging up on him did not take away the fact he was still a Keeper. A Beta Class Rager was simply too strong for Rhos currently.
Fortunately, the instant his senses detected the familiar scent drifting through the forest, he abandoned any thought of trying his best to beat Taru despite the overwhelming odds. Instead, he focused on stalling him.
Wraths were monsters who followed the strongest fluctuations of spiritual energy. And among the three of them... It was Taru who burned the brightest.
It was often said that the brighter the torch, the quicker the darkness would find it. And now....
....Darkness had arrived.
The towering silhouette behind the Keeper swallowed what little remained of the evening light. Its silver fur reflected the pale moonlight and its six crimson eyes glowed from the darkness like floating embers.
Even after seeing it once before, Rhos felt every hair on his body stand upright and his breathing had become shallow.
That thing was still terrifying beyond reason.
When Nimra came back to her senses, she lifted her head just enough to see the creature standing behind Taru. Her face was immediately drained of color, she was just as speechless as Rhos was.
She clutched the back of his jacket with both shaking hands and pressed herself against him like a frightened child searching for warmth.
Taru turned around, the confidence that had remained on his face only moments ago vanished completely. His squinted eyes widened at the horror looking down on him like fresh meat.
"T-The Wrath.... It caught up already? Why didn’t I sense it?!"
When the creature took a step forward and leaned in closer to him, blue spiritual energy exploded around both Taru’s arms.
"I’m not dying here!"
He roared as he planted one foot into the earth before launching himself directly toward it. It seems like he had surmised he wouldn’t be able to escape in his current condition and decided to attack.
However, that was in vain because in the next instant, Taru’s charge was thwarted by the dozens of crimson horns lining the wolf’s back. They liquefied like before and impaled him through his abdomen, bursting out through his back.
His feet no longer touched the ground and blood poured out of his mouth and wound but it never fell onto the ground. The crimson horns drank it greedily, slowly sucking every last bit of it from his body.
"I... I don’t want to die"
The proud Keeper who had barked orders and ridiculed him moments ago now kicked helplessly in the air. He stretched one trembling hand toward Rhos and pleaded in a pitiful voice.
"Red Deer... save me"
That was enough to snap Rhos out of being petrified by fear. He did not hesitate when he went up to his feet, picked up the dagger and pulled Nimra by the wrist while running into the forest.
Behind him, Taru’s pleading screams became even more pitiful as he was dragged toward the rows of crimson fangs. When they bit down on the Keeper, the forest became silent.
Mountain Gorilla Taru had met his end. Rhos’ lips curled into a tired smile.
"Lucky bastard. You only had to die once"
***
The two remaining Rangers stumbled into the darkness. Neither of them had the strength left to sprint properly anymore, especially not with the injuries they had incurred.
But he was better, Nimra on the other hand was barely holding it together. Taru’s punch had done far more damage than he initially thought. He would carry her but he couldn’t risk straining his body even more.
Trying to navigate the forest at night turned out to be a lot harder when you were running for your life. It certainly didn’t make it easier when the very thing they were running away from crashed through the undergrowth with terrifying speed.
Rhos clenched his teeth. It was painfully obvious they wouldn’t be able to outrun it, but they couldn’t hide from it either. The scent of blood soaked both their clothes and bodies
Running was all they had.
’So this is it’
His wounds burned, he could barely see and his legs felt heavier with every passing second. Rhos was a rational person, and right now, he couldn’t see a way they would be able to come out on top.
Strangely enough, the thought of dying here didn’t upset him. He had spent two years brushing shoulders with death. Maybe this ending suited someone like him.
Being devoured by a Wrath was certainly a lot better than any other alternative, especially in this messed up world.
"Hehehe... guess that’s not the worst way to go"
At least he tried his best searching for her. It’s a miracle it even lasted this long.
’...Sorry, Asha’
Just when Rhos had made peace with his approaching demise, something yanked violently on his arm. His feet left the ground and his entire world was flipped.
Without warning, his body was ripped backward through the air.
"Huh?"
In that moment it felt like time crawled at a snail’s pace and the moonlight seemed strangely bright.
Several meters away, Nimra was where they had been running together. She had one hand outstretched and looked at him with tears flowing down her emerald eyes.
"Just this once... let me be the selfish one"
His amber eyes widened in realization and disbelief. Nimra had just thrown him, using every last ounce of strength left in her battered body.
"I’m sorry..."
She whispered one final time before she turned and ran. Rhos’ thoughts froze. At the same time, sudden warmth washed over his back.
He turned his head. The Wrath was already behind him with its enormous maw opened. Rows of crimson fangs descended like the gates of death itself.
With his body floating helplessly through the air, there was nowhere to dodge. For the first time since becoming a Ranger... Red Deer Rhos felt utterly powerless.
One thought surfaced in his mind, completely erasing everything else.
’She betrayed me’