Chapter 46
Nina tried to run, but Sano caught her in an instant. With one hand, he clamped down on her wrist and slammed her back against the tree trunk.
In despair, Nina cried out to Little Bun in her mind, “Little Bun, are you selling counterfeit junk? Why can’t your stuff even hurt him p>
[Host, all items in the system shop are genuine. It’s likely because of his innate ability—your tranquilizer dart couldn’t penetrate his defenses.] Little Bun explained.
Nina felt a wave of anxiety. Think—think fast.
“Is there anything else in the shop that can immobilize him p>
[There is a Immobilization Talisman. If you stick it on him, he won’t be able to move temporarily. Duration: 10 minutes p>
“Okay, I’ll buy two—one as backup p>
Ten minutes was ten minutes. At least it gave her a chance.
“Nina, you’re being very naughty,” Sano said, leaning in close, his breath brushing against her ear. “But you’re impressive—having a storage space and all. Was it given to you by your former male p>
Nina shrank away slightly. “None of your business p>
“Mating is only a matter of time. Why resist so much?” Sano said.
“But I’m pregnant right now,” Nina tried to pull away.
Sano was losing patience. “Stop wasting your strength. You can’t escape p>
“You’re hurting me—let go of my hand,” Nina struggled.
Sano released her wrist. He wasn’t worried about her fighting back; in his eyes, her little tricks couldn’t hurt him at all.
He leaned in to kiss her. Nina immediately turned her head away and, in the same motion, pulled out the immobilization talisman and slapped it onto him.
In an instant, Sano felt his entire body freeze.
What was going on?
He tried to move—his arms, his legs—but nothing responded.
What did Nina do to him? Why couldn’t he move?
“Nina, what did you do to me?” Sano demanded angrily.
Nina ignored him. She immediately summoned thick vines, wrapping them around his body and quickly binding him to the tree.
She knew the vines wouldn’t hold him for long. Taking advantage of the fact that he couldn’t see her clearly, she threw on the invisibility cloak, slipped on the speed shoes, and bolted.
Once the talisman wore off, Sano shattered the vines with brute force. He scanned the area—and realized Nina was gone.
Focusing, he sniffed the air carefully and soon locked onto a direction.
Nina, you can’t run from me.
He transformed into his beast form and sprinted after her.
Even with the speed shoes, Nina was heavily pregnant and running on two legs—she was no match for a four-legged beast. Sano caught up to her quickly.
Seeing him closing in, Nina panicked.
What the hell—wasn’t she invisible? How could he pinpoint her so accurately?
Her scent?
She hurriedly asked Little Bun, “Little Bun, is there anything that can mask my scent p>
[Yes. Scent-Masking Sachet. Price: 1,000 system credits p>
“Buy it—now p>
[Confirmed. Item has been placed in your inventory p>
Nina immediately put on the sachet.
By then, Sano was less than ten meters away.
Suddenly, the scent vanished. Sano stopped short, confused. He knew Nina was nearby—but he couldn’t see her or smell her.
Nina moved cautiously. Dense bushes surrounded her; she didn’t dare run, afraid of making noise.
“Nina, come out right now,” Sano called toward her general direction. “Or don’t blame me for being ruthless p>
He could roughly judge where she was, but didn’t dare rush in blindly.
Nina kept moving, inch by inch.
“If you won’t come out, then don’t blame me,” Sano said coldly.
His eyes narrowed as he began launching indiscriminate attacks in all directions.
Several blades shot straight toward Nina. She dodged desperately but stumbled into the bushes on her right, slamming into them and accidentally jarring her belly. A sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
The disturbance immediately caught Sano’s attention. He locked onto her position and advanced.
He formed countless sharp blades and aimed them in her direction. “Nina, I know you’re there. Show yourself. I don’t want to really hurt you p>
Nina looked up at the blades pointed straight at her and swallowed hard.
If all of those flew at her, she’d be turned into a pincushion.
But she also didn’t want… that.
Nina was torn.
“Nina, hurry up. I’ll count to three,” Sano said icily.
“One p>
“Two p>
Sano raised his hand. The final “three” hovered on his lips.
“Wait—I’ll come out p>
Not wanting to be riddled with blades, Nina removed the cloak.
Sano grinned triumphantly and lunged at her.
Nina instinctively dodged, and the pain in her belly intensified. She clutched her abdomen, face contorting. “My stomach—it hurts so much p>
“It’s fine. If the cub dies, it dies,” Sano said indifferently as he restrained her limbs. “We’ll mate right now p>
Nina clenched her teeth. This wasn’t even beastly—it was inhuman.
As Sano pinned her down and reached to tear her clothes, a sharp claw slashed toward him.
Sensing danger, he rolled away at the last second.
Mino instantly shielded Nina beneath him, fury blazing. “Sano—you deserve to die p>
Mino had followed the faint scent of Nina’s body wash—the one she’d deliberately left behind. It smelled like flowers, so other beastmen wouldn’t notice it, but Mino knew her too well to mistake it.
He hadn’t expected to arrive just in time to see Sano trying to violate her.
Rage exploded within him. He gathered his power and unleashed countless ice blades toward Sano.
Sano dodged frantically but was still cut again and again, his body quickly drenched in blood.
Enduring the pain, he fled toward the riverbank and leapt in without hesitation.
Seeing Sano disappear beneath the water, Mino didn’t pursue. He rushed to Nina instead.
Aji and Sal arrived moments later.
“Nina, how are you?” Mino asked urgently, seeing her pale, agonized face.
“Mino… my stomach hurts so badly p>
Nina curled up, biting her lower lip until it turned white. Bright red drops seeped from beneath her skirt.
The sweet, bloody scent hit their noses. Seeing the blood pooling beneath her, all three males went deathly pale.
“Don’t be afraid,” Mino said, his voice trembling. “I’m taking you back to the tribe right now—we’ll find the shaman healer p>
Aji quickly helped lift Nina onto Mino’s back. Mino ran with all his strength toward the tribe, the other two following anxiously behind.
Enduring the pain, Nina slipped into the system space. “Little Bun, check on the cubs—quick p>
She tried to heal herself with her ability, but the effect was minimal.
[Host, you’ve disturbed the pregnancy. Take a Fetal Stabilization Pill immediately, then a Recovery Elixir p>
Nina swallowed the pills at once—but she was too weak. Before long, her consciousness faded.
Mino and the others reached the shaman healer’s dwelling at top speed.
“Shaman! Shaman healer p>
Aji rushed into the stone house—only to find it empty.