章 4: DumDum
"Graah!" The 'stuffed animal' jolted as he scurried away from the perpetrator that disturbed his rest.
With a sniff of his nose, the creature's figure tensed as he glared warily at the humanoid. "Who are you? Why are you in MY territory?"
Xuan Li's eyes widened.
'A talking panther? Just what place am I in?!'
He hid his surprise and carefully pondered over the panther's appearance, words, and attitude.
Was he in the panther's territory?
Xuan Li found it incredulous to think about. How strong would a baby panther the size of his forearm possibly be? But then again, this place's laws of nature could be highly different from that of Earth's.
"Where is this place?" The human ignored the animal's questions. He himself didn't know the answers, after all.
The panther growled as his eyes narrowed. His golden eyes shone for a moment.
Even though he had been reduced to this state for a while now, he still couldn't get used to being looked down upon by a mere mortal whom he could crush with a swish of its tail before.
Oh, but this mortal wasn't so simple.
He could smell it. This mortal was from another space, a space that he, who had traveled basically to every corner of this plane, had never seen before. He hadn't ever met anyone like him.
Even though the mortal looked so weak, perhaps he's hiding something that could be a threat to him.
Just the thought of being truly erased from existence sent shivers down the little panther's spine. He swallowed back the whimper that was about to rise from his throat.
Seeing how the panther still hadn't answered his very simple question after so long of a pause, Xuan Li felt amused. Was he not going to get any answers from this baby panther after all?
He looked strangely scared of him. What does this mean? He didn't think that he's a particularly strong existence.
"Hey, are you a Dumdum?" Perhaps it was due to the spur of the moment, but Xuan Li couldn't help but ask. It was a careless choice, he would be happy if this choice brought about some terrifying consequences.
The panther looked lost for a moment as he pondered. 'Dumdum'?
Xuan Li observed it with his elbows propped onto his knees as he sat down on the soft grass.
The panther with its sleek black fur that had lightning bolts seeping out seemed like a pretty strong animal; especially with its head held up high as if it was the king of the jungle or something.
Panthers were animals that could easily kill a human with a scratch of its paws-- except, it wasn't always easy to find one.
Wait.
Panthers could easily kill a human.
At this, Xuan Li suddenly got an idea.
To achieve death, he would do all he could. Even if it had to be by the hands, as in, the paws of a beast like the black panther. If not the baby panther, then its parents.
With a triumphant smile on his face, he spoke roguishly, "You see, Dumdum is a term used to describe stupid people. While you aren't exactly human, you ARE a stupid animal, phahahahaha!"
"And look at your size! Your cute little paws! I bet you aren't strong either." Xuan Li snickered.
If this was a baby panther, then it must have parents! Parents who will take revenge for their child! Parents who can easily crush him!
That was Xuan Li's line of thought.
The animal flinched. He was taken back; no one had ever talked this way to him or had told him that his paws were 'cute,' not even 'Them,' much less a mere mortal. Even after he was severely injured, no wild beasts came near him due to the fierce aura that lingered on him. Yet this mortal actually dared to speak to him in this manner? He had the guts to call the great Him, stupid?! He must be out of his mind.
"You strange mortal… Take back those words!" There was obvious rage within the panther's voice and his golden eyes glinted dangerously as his body began to morph.
The 'baby' form was something he had taken after being injured, a form that consumed the least energy possible. However, during crucial moments, the panther could still revert back to his original form for a short amount of time-- crucial moments like this one. His pride had been hurt; he wouldn't just stay silent, pretending that he was unaffected. He would show his true strength, and make the foolish human eat dirt.
But the mere mortal didn't even bat an eye, smirking, "Heh. So what if I don't? Are you gonna eat me? Pfft. Do you even have the strength?" He let out a chuckle, doubling up in laughter.
At this moment, the panther had realized that the human was provoking it on purpose. There was something wrong with this human. With his fearless demeanor, could it be that he was trying to lure it into a trap?
But even while considering that possibility, the panther couldn't help but charge at the human, trying to bite off his head. He leaped forward, shaking off the bad feeling he had in his guts.
After all, the matter of him being severely weakened was a huge sore spot.
He had decided-- he would definitely kill this audacious mortal!
On the other hand, Xuan Li, who was looking at the black panther growing closer and closer, grinned even wider. Although he hadn't expected the baby panther to change forms, it was a change that he welcomed with both arms.
Indeed, he would die today.
To him, it didn't matter whether he died by drowning or mutilated by a wild beast.
After all, the outcome would be the same.
But…
"Awoo… Awoo..."
What had happened?
Why wasn't he dead yet?
Why hadn't the panther chomped off his head?
Xuan Li had even felt the sensation of the animal's sharp teeth piercing his skin. Small drops of blood trickled down his neck, falling on the green grass.
He opened his eyes, greeted with the scene of a ferocious black panther-- that was growing smaller and smaller by the second. He was rolling helplessly on the grass, gripping his jaws in pain, letting out small whimpers every passing moment.
And… were those tears?
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