'DAMN IT! MA-MASTER... RUN!!!'
Even though Lee Han was shocked to hear Lara choose such a solid cursing word, he still complied with her sudden warning.
He stepped back, then turned around and ran as fast as possible.
However, before Lee Han ran far, another loud curse sounded in his mind, 'Damn it, Master!! Stop... Stop...' This time, Lara's voice sounded panicked. There was no trace of cuteness in her tone anymore.
Lee Han was perplexed. Did Lara try to prank him? Why did she suddenly act like an ass now?
He shouted, 'What the fuck are you trying—'
Lara spoke again before Lee Han could finish his words. 'Master, don't be an idiot. You took the wrong direction! Hurry, run toward the bridge. Now!!'
'Lara, stop confusing me! And mind your word, can you?—' Lee Han almost stumbled on his feet when his eyes looked toward the end of the bridge.
He could feel his eyes almost pop out when he saw two humongous Siberian huskie monsters standing only a few meters away from him.
Their mouths were wide open as if they were smiling at him. No, but as if they are waiting for him to enter to fill their stomach.
And their beaming dark red eyes were fixed on him as if they saw their precious treasure.
'What the fuck!! Why did these two creatures appear there?' Lee Han was puzzled. He remembered earlier he already killed three weak monsters before and didn't see any monsters.
'They have just arrived from the forest,' Lara said.
Lee Han silently gulped, hearing Lara's words, but when his eyes fixed on their head, it shocked him even more. These two monsters had more gold than the monsters he killed earlier.
'Master, the one with ten gold coins, was their leader. Kill him first,' Lara warned him.
Lee Han felt his blood running cold, looking at the monster leader; his body was twice the size of the monster beside him, with five gold coins above his head.
He grabbed his rifle, aiming at the head of the monster with ten gold coins. He could see this monster calmly looking at him as if he could read his mind.
Before the monster moved, Lee Han pulled the trigger.
However, something stunned him when he saw the monster with five gold coins move so fast to shield his leader and sacrifice himself.
A thunder-like sound echoed through the air, and the howling dog-like fox could be heard when his ammo hit the monster's head; the monster's head was shattered instantly.
"Ooowwlllll..." The Siberian Huskie monster leader howled. And vanished from his spot.
"Fuck!!" Lee Han was shocked when the monster vanished. The monster appeared and jumped towards him in the blink of an eye. The monster's sharp and long claws were launched toward him, trying to hurt him badly.
And it happened so fast.
But Lee Han's reflex is a fraction of a second faster. He rolled to the side after pulling the trigger.
Rat tat tat!
He fired the second shot blindly at the monster, relying only on his gut. It was a three-round burst. This was a necessary shot in case the first shot was a miss.
Silent hung in the air when Lee Han stopped shooting. His rifle was still aimed at the monster.
His eyes were still fixed on the motionless monster lying on the ground just a few steps away. He didn't dare to move.
He waits.
One.
Two.
Three.
.
.
.
After several seconds passed, Lee Han finally breathed a sigh of relief. The monster still didn't move, and Lara didn't give any warning either.
'Are we safe now, Lara?' Lee Han tried to act as calm as possible, but his trembling voice betrayed him. He still couldn't believe he almost died in this place if the monster's sharp, bloody nails tore him apart.
'Yes!'
Lee Han sighed again before he stood up. However, this time, he didn't put his rifle on his back but still held it firmly and aimed at the monster while approaching slowly.
But, just after taking two steps, Lee Han heard a hissing sound, like something was about to burn.
Lee Han abruptly stopped his step and checked his surroundings, yet he didn't see anything burning around him.
He fixed his gaze on the motionless monster on the ground, and he saw the monster's blood didn't hit any object that could be burned.
Lee Han felt alert but confused at the same time.
'Lara, did you hear that?' He asked through their mental connection, worried another intelligent monster would appear and attack them.
'Master! Your vest...'
'Vest?' He looked down and was shocked at the thin smoke that appeared from his chest area, followed by the burning smell.
Lee Han quickly put his rifle in his space storage, removed his vest, and threw it to the ground before he saved others' stuff from his vest.
The vest was destroyed in just a few minutes; all left was a melted-looking vest on the asphalt.
"That was a close call..." He muttered softly while stroking his chest.
He felt relieved.
Previously, Lee Han was so focused on the mighty monster that he didn't notice the small splash of blood on his vest.
...
Even though Lee Han's energy was starting to feel drained, he had no time to relax. He was running out of time; he might end up here tonight if he didn't move now.
However, there is something important he needs to do now. To buy a new outer tactical vest.
'Lara, please guard. I need to check my system first before we move.'
'Go ahead, master...' Lara's cute voice could be heard, enough to relax Lee Han.
He immediately summons his system and checks his money.
'Not bad... I have plenty of gold now to spend.'
Then he checked the price of the Outer Tactical Vest and its capabilities. It didn't take him long to choose as his eyes immediately fell on the top of the list: an expensive vest.
When he checked the description of the vest, he immediately clicked buy. He didn't care if he had to empty his gold coins.
'Good choice, Master. The vest is bulletproof and fireproof. And, you also get some knives and grenades.' Lara complimented Lee Han when she saw him wearing his new vest.
'Yes, but now I'm poor again. My gold coins are almost gone...' He said as he put the ammo and other items into his vest.
'Ugh, Master, it would be best if you moved now. I suggest you run... the night is approaching.'
Lee Han started running while glancing at the sky. The orange sun was getting lower on the horizon.
'How many minutes before nightfall?' He asked while running and jumping from one car to another.
'Ten minutes...'