Yes, an unbearable itchiness. He rolled around on the ground, found a Stone to rub against, and after scraping off a heap of stone chips, he discovered the skin beneath his fur had turned from tender red to a clear gray, much like cowhide, becoming tougher.
Was this how the Skill Point was used?
Huai Shi half-understood after pondering for a while. Is this the method of exploration on this Witch's Night? Strive through PVE or PVP, level up to gain points, then strengthen oneself.
And ultimately become the bravest dog in all the world?
For what purpose!
After standing there dazed for a while, Huai Shi shivered. He felt he could hardly endure the wind cascading down from the snowy mountain. No matter what, this isn't a place to stay. He thought for a moment and began to walk down the mountain.
Below the mountain was a verdant plain, with bushes, forests, and rivers faintly visible in the distance.
For a dog, it's a relatively easier place to hunt.
Huai Shi found a tree hollow that could shelter him from the wind and rain, drove away a nest of mountain cats that were inside, and took over the place. After tidying up a bit, he finally noticed something else was off.
Time.
Is time passing too fast or too slow?
He didn't know; it seemed he had lost his sense of time.
A night should only be eight hours long, and by now at least five should have passed for me. But thinking back carefully, it seems like only five or six minutes have gone by since I came down from the mountain.
Something isn't right.
Here, time seems to be deliberately stretched or shortened.
It can't be measured by the outside world's standards.
Does that mean I'll have to stay here for a long time?
After pondering for a moment, Huai Shi decided to take action. Time to go slaughter some small animals!
After spending an entire afternoon biting to death many rabbits, wildcats, and various other creatures, his Level Two experience bar was almost full.
Soon, he discovered another benefit. It seemed he didn't have to force himself to eat raw meat here.
Since he felt no hunger, it was as if killing them counted as eating. Once Huai Shi lost his aversion to consuming raw food, he became even more relaxed.
Bloody meat, how hard it is to swallow.
As darkness fell, Huai Shi returned to the nest of leaves he had gathered during the day. Just as he was getting ready to indulge in a long sleep, he heard a subtle and secretive sound coming from afar.
It seems like something is silently approaching me.
The RUSTLE of bushes being parted reached him. Huai Shi lifted his eyes from the tree hole to look in that direction, then instinctively held his breath.
Under the faint Moonlight, he saw a robust and massive tiger walking towards him, its face covered in blood, its eyes cold and frighteningly fierce.
He froze for a moment, instinctively wanting to flee.
Are you kidding me? How could I fight it?
I can't beat it, no way.
Just because I'm a Level Two dog doesn't mean I'm not a dog anymore, right? Thinking of fighting a tiger? I must be out of my mind.
But then, he realized he had no way to escape. The tiger was coming straight towards him... as if it had known where he was all along.
Drawing closer with every step.
Another Explorer?
Huai Shi narrowed his eyes, slowly pushing himself up in the tree hole and baring his sharp Teeth. Since I can't escape, I might as well try to give it a good fight.
As the tiger finally neared the edge of the tree hole, Huai Shi leaped out of the den with all his might, baring his sharp Teeth and suddenly pouncing forward.
The sound of a familiar scream erupted.
As the Husky made its forceful leap, the tiger disappeared.
It dissipated like mist.
In its place was something that looked like a large pinecone curled up on the ground, still shrieking in panic and yelling out loud.
"AHHH, HUAI SHI, DON'T EAT ME!!!"
Huai Shi froze on the spot.
What the heck is happening?
What is this thing?
And it even recognizes me.
Soon, he realized, disbelief mounting. "Fu Yi? How is it you?"
"...It's me."
On the ground, the little curled-up hedgehog looked up at him with panic-stricken eyes, finally relaxed, and collapsed, on the verge of tears.
"Ah, I was so scared... I thought I was going to be eaten... This place is so dangerous!"
"Come inside first..."
Huai Shi looked around to see if any nocturnal creatures had been startled, then let Fu Yi into the tree hole.