Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 17: Bloody Brawl

One of the Beastmen from the party of two stepped forward, his wide chest rising and falling as he snarled, "Tark! How dare you! Even after injuring my sister, I let you go because of your tribe’s shaman — yet you still dare come here and claim this land as yours?! The land our tribe has been foraging on for years!"

One of the three Beastmen at the far end snorted, "And so? What does that have to do with us? There are plenty of other places you can forage. Since when does wandering through a forest make it yours?"

The one beside him, arms crossed, added, "Besides, this place is far from your Shadowclaw tribe — you’d need to spend two full nights in the forest to get here. It’s not part of your territory. So why are you claiming it, hm?"

"Gorak! Drop the act. Your tribe is farther than ours! You’re just here to snatch—" the Beastman behind the first speaker cut in heatedly. He seemed the youngest of the group, thinner, his features sharper with youth.

"Heh. At least you’re not completely brainless," the last of the three said with a smirk. "If you know that, then get out."

Lavayla watched them quietly, noting their stark differences — one side with tan skin and tangled black hair, the other golden-skinned and blonde, equally wild.

The black-haired Beastman at the front glared at Tark. "Your arrogance is one thing, but barking orders at us is another. Are you insane?"

Tark stepped forward too, his smile stretching like that of an alleyway thug. "Did you only just realize? If you’re not doing what I said, then what? You want to fight me?" He chuckled, eyes glinting. "Tharn, take the brat and scurry back to your tribe. Go keep tending to your worthless sister."

The moment the words left his mouth, the younger Beastman behind Tharn snapped. A guttural snarl ripped out of his throat, and before Lavayla could blink, he shifted — no bone crunching, no agonized screaming, just a smooth, impossible ripple of change.

One second he was a man.

The next, a massive black panther.

Lavayla’s eyes widened. What in Twilight hell—

"Nessa? Is this what you meant by this world being a low-level magic world?"

’Uh? Host? Are—are you calling me by my name?!’

Lavayla ignored the flustered system. Her heartbeat thundered as the young panther lunged, jaws clamping down on Tark’s lower arm — the arm he’d raised to guard his throat.

Tark hissed, but before anyone could react, the panther was flung off, skidding across the dirt, blood dripping between his teeth.

Tharn immediately shifted and charged, intercepting Tark just as he turned toward the younger panther.

Scowling, Tark bared his teeth — and shifted.

Lavayla’s jaw dropped. A—A fucking lion?!

Well... that sure explained why they were all golden-skinned and blond-haired.

’Host~ you’re forgetting arrogant too~.’

The remaining two also turned and immediately a bloody, chaotic brawl erupted — claws tearing into flesh, powerful limbs slamming against the forest floor, snarls echoing like thunder between the trees.

Lavayla flattened herself even more against the bark.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

This is above my pay grade. I need to get out of here, how the hell do I get out of here?!

The panther Beastman — the youngest — darted around with reckless fury, biting and swiping at the lion-Beastman who towered over him in sheer size. Tark, now a massive golden lion with a mane like wildfire, roared so loudly the tree branches trembled.

Tharn, the older panther, lunged at Tark’s flank, claws digging into his ribs, dragging down long bloody lines. Tark snarled and whipped around, jaws snapping, trying to catch Tharn’s throat.

The other two lions joined, circling, trying to box the panthers in.

Lavayla mentally swore. The air vibrated with so much killing intent she felt physically smaller.

On the ground, leaves fluttered up and scattered from the force of each impact.

The young panther misstepped — barely — and one of the lions slashed across his side. A harsh yelp tore from his throat, blood splattering across the roots.

Lavayla bit her lip, heart clenching. She didn’t want to care, but seeing someone that young getting shredded in front of her—

’Host,’ the system whispered, tone unusually tight, ’this is a dominance fight. They’re not aiming to kill, but they won’t hesitate if pushed.’

"Oh, wonderful," Lavayla muttered. "So if they decide to go from dominance fight to full-on murder match, what then?"

’Then you will also be at risk, host.’

"Then how do I leave here? I need to fucking leave? If they see me, I’m dead meat." Lavayla closed her eyes then opened them again, "Is there something I can use in the weapon or system mall to escape? Anything at all?"

’Host, this is the first time you are encountering Beastmen–’

"So? What the fuck does that have to do with anything?!"

The baby on her back squirmed, sensing the tension. Lavayla pressed her palm over his back, trying to calm him, though her own hands were trembling.

’What I mean is host... remember you haven’t done any mission today?’

"What are you saying? Don’t tell me–" Lavayla swallowed, "Don’t tell me my first mission for the day is related to these fighting Beastmen?" As she spoke, she peeked out, checking out the situation, and cursed.

The fight was escalating fast.

The youngest panther darted forward again, leaping onto the back of one of the lions and sinking his teeth into his shoulder. The lion roared and slammed backwards into a tree, trying to crush him.

Tharn intercepted, ramming into the lion’s legs and knocking him aside just enough for the younger one to escape, albeit limping.

Tark, the largest lion, took advantage of the opening and swiped Tharn across the muzzle. The blow was heavy — Lavayla heard the crack from where she hid.

Tharn staggered.

The younger panther let out a piercing snarl and leapt in front of him, shielding him despite his own wounds.

Lavayla exhaled, breath shaky.

These guys are insane. Loyal, stupid, and insane.