Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 18: Human?

A lion pounced — the middle one with the braided mane — and this time the young panther didn’t move fast enough. The lion’s jaws clamped down near his shoulder, teeth sinking deep. The panther’s snarl cracked into a pained howl, but instead of retreating, he lunged forward with wild, desperate strength and rammed the lion straight into a tree.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

The impact shook leaves loose like rainfall, but surprisingly, the lion didn’t release him. Even after being slammed into the trunk two times, it clung on stubbornly, claws dug into the panther’s ribs.

Lavayla narrowed her eyes.

At the base of the tree, something glinted. A thick, jagged piece of wood — broken, sharp, and stained with fresh blood.

He’s not just ramming him.

He’s trying to impale him.

Before she could process that brutal bit of strategy, the panel before her flickered.

Ding!

[New Mission: Assist the Shadowclaw Panther Tribe in their fight against the Sunmane Lion Tribe and ensure their victory.]

[Duration: 5 hours.]

[Reward: 50,000 points. +10,000 bonus if completed within 2 hours 30 minutes.]

The system practically squealed in her ear.

’Host~! This is a mission with a reward of 50,000 points! And an extra 10,000 if you do it fast! Host—’

Lavayla clenched her jaw so hard it hurt.

"Shut. Up."

’But host—’

"Assist the panthers? You want me to stroll out there like some bargain-bin savior? How the hell do I assist them without getting turned into decorative forest mulch?"

’Host, calm down~ You can absolutely assist them — with the right weapon. Didn’t you ask for an escape tool? Well, I not only have something that can help you escape...’

The panel brightened, items materializing one by one.

’...but also things you can use against the lions~!’

Rows of weapons, abilities, and gadgets filled the screen in rapid shimmer:

[1. Smoke Burst Pellet] – 300 points

Creates a dense cloud of gray smoke for 15 seconds.

Visibility drops to zero within a 20-meter radius.

Recommended: quick escapes.

[2. Sleep Mist Capsule] – 750 points

Releases a mild sedative mist.

Causes drowsiness, slowed reactions, and mild confusion in affected targets.

Duration: 30 seconds. Range: 15 meters.

Warning: ineffective on high-tier Beastmen.

[3. Sonic Disruptor Marble] – 600 points

Emits a piercing, disorienting frequency when thrown towards the target.

Stuns targets for 10 –15 seconds.

Note: Does not attract beasts; they may avoid the area.

[4. Mirage Veil Shard] – 1,500 points

Casts an illusion of your silhouette running in a different direction.

Lasts 12 seconds.

Perfect for misdirection.

[5. Temporary Ability: Fade Step (Lv.1) – 2,000 points]

Allows the host to blur into semi-transparency for 20 seconds.

Reduces sound of movement.

Not true invisibility.

[6. Temporary Ability: False Aura Cloak] – 1,200 points

Masks your presence and scent for 20 seconds.

Effectiveness is reduced if the target is actively searching you.

[7. Beast Repellent Powder] – 500 points

Repels low-tier beasts.

Useless against Beastmen.

[8. Emergency Burrow Spade] – 950 points

Instantly creates a shallow pit or hide-hole large enough for one person.

Takes 3 seconds to activate.

For hiding—not escaping.

[9. Escape Rope (Auto-Grapple) – 1,800 points]

Shoots upward and anchors to the nearest sturdy branch within 20 meters.

Pulls users up rapidly.

Silent, fast, ideal for vertical escape.

[10. Temporary Ability: Camouflage Skin (Lv.1) – 1,600 points]

Alters pigmentation to match surroundings.

Duration: 20 seconds.

Good for staying still, not moving.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Recommended Set Based on Host’s Situation:

Sonic Disruptor Marble

Paralyzing Micro-Dart (Single Use)

Temporary Ability: Camouflage Skin (Lv.1)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Lavayla, who was still reading it one by one, saw the system’s words and read through them before nodding. She didn’t hesitate, "Buy all three."

Ding—

[2,320 points deducted. Current balance: –17,080 points.]

The items appeared in her palms in a brief shimmer, settling into her grip. The marble was smooth and cold, the dart no bigger than her fingertip, and the Camouflage ability showed on the panel with the words ’ACTIVATE’ pulsing beneath it.

Good. Exactly what she needed.

Down below, the fight was turning into pure brutality. The young panther was no longer dodging so much as staggering, blood slicking down his front leg. Tharn kept throwing himself into the fray to cover him, batting Tark back with swings that were losing accuracy by the second. The lions were pressing harder, smelling victory.

Lavayla swallowed, tasting iron in her mouth.

’Nessa, I’m going to kill you if this doesn’t work.’

’Host, don’t worry! It will work, trust our system’s weapons!’

"This is it," Lavayla ignored the system and muttered under her breath. "Do or die."

She wound back her arm and flung the Sonic Disruptor Marble with every ounce of strength she had. It struck a half-buried rock with a sharp crack—

Then detonated in a vicious burst of sound.

A piercing wave rolled through the clearing, vibrating in her bones. The lions recoiled instantly, their ears flattening, bodies twitching as the shock rattled their senses.

Tharn didn’t hesitate. He lunged the moment the opening appeared, claws sinking deep into the lion nearest him. The young panther, driven by fury, barreled into the already weakened one and tore into him.

Two lions dropped in rapid succession.

Tark staggered but didn’t fall, shaking his head like he was trying to force the world back into focus.

Lavayla didn’t give him the chance. She snapped the tiny launcher up, slid the Paralyzing Micro-Dart into place, and exhaled to steady her aim.

"Come on... just hold still."

She fired.

The dart buried itself in Tark’s hind leg. His muscle seized a moment later, buckling his stance and throwing his balance off just enough—

Tharn struck again, raking open Tark’s flank before dragging the younger panther away and running off.

Lavayla clicked her tongue.

That was all it took.

Tark stayed for a heartbeat, snarling at the panthers through gritted teeth, then retreated in a tense, angry withdrawal, dragging his wounded body.

Only when his silhouette disappeared into the bush did Lavayla finally let out the breath she’d been choking on.

"Okay..." She wiped sweat from her brow with a trembling hand. "Escape. Now."

She activated Camouflage Skin.

Her body shimmered, colors shifting until she blended seamlessly into the bark of the tree behind her. Her breathing softened. Her steps silenced. The baby bound to her back had miraculously fallen into slumber.

She eased herself away from the battleground inch by careful inch.

Minutes dragged.

The forest stilled.

Only when she’d put a generous distance between herself and the fight did she stop, bracing her hands against her knees as the Camouflage faded from her skin.

"Holy shit..." She laughed shakily. "I lived."

She straightened and turned—

—and a shadow landed in front of her with the heavy force of a falling boulder.

Lavayla froze mid-step.

The camouflage broke instantly under the sudden jolt. Golden fur retracted, claws shrank, bones cracked and reshaped themselves in a fluid ripple—

Tark rose from the transformation standing tall in his human form. Blood smeared across his torso, muscles tense, chest heaving as he caught his breath.

His dark eyes swept over her slowly, intently. Confusion flickered there... and something else. Something unsettlingly close to dissection.

He tilted his head, voice low and rough.

"...human?"