Chapter 3: Danger Appears as Soon as It's Mentioned

"Water Leaf Dog…"

Qin Chuan rubbed the Water Leaf Dog's fluffy two big tails, tentatively asking, "Besides playing with water balls, what else can you do?"

"Woof!"

Hearing Qin Chuan's words, the Water Leaf Dog threw the water ball perched on its nose to one side, then vigorously flicked its tail.

In Qin Chuan's astonished gaze, a stream of water appeared out of thin air, shooting toward the trunk of a nearby small tree, accompanied by a muffled "Bang!", directly carving a noticeable dent in the trunk.

If the water ball just now was play, then this stream of water right now is a genuine attack method.

A blunt blow capable of denting the trunk would likely break a bone if it hit a person.

A Water Leaf Dog that looks harmless possesses such power; Qin Chuan gained a deeper understanding of this world's extraordinary power.

"Anything else?" Qin Chuan asked, intrigued.

Upon seeing an extraordinary creature for the first time, he couldn't help but feel curious.

"Aoo!!!"

Another stream of water shot out, before Qin Chuan could react, it blasted toward his head.

Before he could understand, the stream grazed his face and swept toward the back of his head.

【Spirit Beast Race: Shadow Leopard】

Qin Chuan was greatly startled.

Damn!

Cursing silently, Qin Chuan turned and ran without a word.

The Water Leaf Dog is Lv4, while the Shadow Leopard is Lv12; the stronger is obvious at a glance.

Accompanied by a beast's howl from behind, a wave of murderous aura made Qin Chuan's back break out in a cold sweat instantly.

【Spirit Beast Attribute: Dark】

【Spirit Beast Status: Uncontracted】

Without a word, he sprang into a run, only glancing back after running a few meters.

"Could it be that the earlier intimacy was just a pretense?"

But the description clearly said the Water Leaf Dog has a friendly temperament…

It was about to act, but in the next moment its expression changed swiftly, and without hesitation it flicked its tail hard.

On this leopard-shaped spirit beast's head were obvious water marks, one eye swollen and bloodshot, constantly emitting painful whimpers.

【Spirit Beast Level: Growth Tier Lv12】

"Bang!"

"Woof!"

A muffled sound came, followed immediately by an angry beast's roar.

【Spirit Beast Introduction: Dark Spirit Beast Shadow Leopard, bloodthirsty by nature, able to conceal its presence, a natural-born hunter.】

A pitch-black leopard-shaped spirit beast had appeared behind him at some point.

The Water Leaf Dog nodded in a human-like way, its eyes showing excitement.

If the Water Leaf Dog can have such a formidable attack, wouldn't one swipe from the Shadow Leopard tear me to shreds?

Moreover, this guy can conceal his presence; by the time he was behind me, I hadn't noticed a thing.

If it weren't for the Water Leaf Dog reacting in time, he would die without even knowing how he died!

Right! Where's the Water Leaf Dog?

Qin Chuan's heart jolted, and then in his peripheral vision he caught a blue blur not far beside him.

He let out a sudden sigh of relief, casually scooped the Water Leaf Dog into his arms, and Qin Chuan's legs burst with power as he sprinted with all his might.

Behind him, the Shadow Leopard violently shook its head, dispelling the dizziness from the Water Leaf Dog's earlier strike; although one eye still throbbed painfully and its vision was somewhat blurred, its gaze fixed on Qin Chuan's back was filled with murderous intent.

Its limbs exerted force suddenly; in the span of a breath, the Shadow Leopard pushed its speed to the limit—as a natural-born hunter, speed is its advantage.

Gazing at the rapidly approaching figure before it, the Shadow Leopard's foreclaws flashed with a dark gleam; its vicious killing move was already primed.

Without looking back, Qin Chuan already felt the terrifying aura lunging at him from behind.

But against an opponent that overwhelmingly outclasses him in speed and strength, there's not much he can do; he can only continually adjust his running direction, trying to detour using the surrounding environment.

Such interference had little effect; after a few seconds, he could already hear the Shadow Leopard's breathing behind him.

This made Qin Chuan's heart sink.

Thanks to the textual introduction before entering the Dream World, he wasn't overly worried about his own danger; instead, he was more concerned about the Water Leaf Dog in his arms.

Even if he died, he could still enter the Dream World, but if the Water Leaf Dog died, it would be truly dead.

Before the final moment, he always wanted to try to save it.

Apparently sensing Qin Chuan's thoughts, the Water Leaf Dog poked its head out of his embrace, raising its head high and looking from his shoulder toward the Shadow Leopard behind him.

A flash of bright light passed through its water-blue eyes, and it let out a loud cry.

"Woof!!!"

The next moment, a puddle suddenly appeared under the sprinting Shadow Leopard's feet; it stepped heavily into the puddle, about to exert force with its claws, but was tripped by some mysterious force in the puddle.

In its state of frantic sprinting, its body instantly lost balance, tumbling and slamming directly into a nearby tree, emitting a muffled thud and rendering it immobile.

Hearing the commotion behind him and feeling the killing intent temporarily recede, Qin Chuan stared back in surprise; upon seeing the situation behind him, he instantly rejoiced.

"Water Leaf Dog! Nicely done!"

He laughed heartily, his heart filled with the joy of surviving a disaster.

But the next moment, the Water Leaf Dog suddenly let out an anxious cry.

"Woof!"

Qin Chuan only felt the ground give way beneath his feet, and before he could react, his whole body toppled over, rolling down a steep slope.

In the intense pain, he only had time to tightly hug the Water Leaf Dog in his arms, and soon lost consciousness as the world spun.

——

"Uh…"

Not knowing how much time had passed, Qin Chuan woke up in pain.

He tried to sit up, but this simple action made him suck in a breath of cold air.

Every part of his body ached.

"Woof~"

Seeing Qin Chuan awake, the Water Leaf Dog waiting beside him grew excited, its two large tails wagging rapidly.

Seeing the Water Leaf Dog, Qin Chuan's memories quickly returned.

He and the Water Leaf Dog had escaped the Shadow Leopard's pursuit, but he lost his footing and tumbled down a steep slope.

Now it seemed he had narrowly survived.

Wait! How long had he been unconscious?

Qin Chuan's expression changed, and he quickly tapped the light point above his field of view.

【Player Name: Luo】

【Player Level: Novice】

【Contract Slot: 0/1】 【View】

【Item Equipment Slot: 0/10】 【View】

【07:49:37/08:00:00】 【00:00:00】

Qin Chuan: "???"

With this faint, the Dream World's open time is almost over?!

"Woof!"

The Water Leaf Dog's bark brought Qin Chuan back to his senses; he was about to say something, but saw the dog flick its tail and then turn and leave.

Is it time to part…?

Watching the Water Leaf Dog quickly shrink in his field of view, Qin Chuan felt a tinge of regret; he weakly raised his hand to wave, then leaned against a large rock and stared at the countdown.

【07:59:59/08:00:00】 【00:00:00】

【08:00:00/08:00:00】 【00:00:01】

【Dream World Entrance Closed】

(End of Chapter)