Mustering every ounce of strength, Henry pulled himself off the ice and continued to run. His right hand clutched his wound, trying to stem the bleeding. The sun was setting, casting long shadows that seemed to mock his plight. "Arg," he winced, feeling a sharp stinging pain spreading from his wound. He looked down as he hid behind a tree, his breath ragged. His mana-eater sachets were punctured, and the powder had entered his veins, causing a burning sensation.

Before he could gather his thoughts, loud noises approached. Peeking out, he saw spikes erupting from the ground. "Are those bones?" he whispered, fear gripping his heart. He mustered more strength and ran, his mind racing. "It's not actively pursuing me but only trying to snuff me out with those attacks," Henry thought, panic rising. Why was it doing this? Was it toying with him? The thought sent a chill down his spine. Knowing how far superior it was, the creature must be enjoying this twisted game.

Henry ran and ran, the darkness of the night closing in around him. His legs burned, and his lungs felt like they were on fire. Suddenly, he saw a light glimmering in the distance. He stopped abruptly, his heart sinking. "A cliff," he remarked, his voice barely a whisper. The moonlight revealed the sheer drop before him. "And what's more, I can't even see what's down there. There seems to be a pit right below this cliff," he noted, dread filling his heart.

Behind him, the creature's approach was relentless. His vision blurred, and Henry was barely standing. The creature's hideous face twisted into what Henry could only describe as a grotesque smile. Desperation clawed at him. Taking his only remaining sachet, he threw it at the creature. He was out of options. Either way, he'd die, and it didn't matter anymore. This short-lived isekai was now coming to an end.

The creature caught the sachet, standing on its hind legs. It squeezed it, causing it to explode and spread the powder all over its face. Although the powder wasn't fatal, it irritated the creature enough to act in rage. It slammed its tail down, which glowed a slight brown color. In an instant, the entire edge of the cliff they were standing on vanished. Both Henry and the monster fell from the high cliff into the gaping dark hole below.

The creature, enraged, screeched at Henry, who was falling in acceptance of his fate. Its eyes shimmered blue, and many daggers of ice materialized before it. The creature shot them at Henry, piercing his entire being. Pain exploded through him, but he was too exhausted to scream. It then spread its arms as a thin layer of skin grew, resembling a flying squirrel. It caught the wind and flew to safety, leaving Henry to fall to his demise.

___________The Hunter's Perspective

The creature watched from the shadows, its icy blue eyes locked onto the human who had intruded into its territory. It had been observing Henry for days, noting his movements, his routines, and his weaknesses. The creature's slim, tall build allowed it to move silently through the forest, its spiky back blending with the jagged landscape. It relished the thrill of the hunt, the anticipation of the chase.

When Henry ventured too close to its lair, the creature decided it was time to strike. It waited until the sun began to set, knowing the darkness would give it an advantage. As Henry approached the hunting ground, the creature exhaled a long, cold breath, sending a shiver through the air. It watched with satisfaction as Henry's body tensed, sensing the danger.

The creature moved swiftly, its long jagged claws leaving marks on the ground. It shot a beam of ice from its mouth, aiming to freeze Henry in place. The beam crackled through the air, freezing everything it touched. But Henry, with surprising resilience, pulled himself off the ice and continued to run. The creature's eyes narrowed in annoyance. This human was proving to be more troublesome than it had anticipated.

As it pursued Henry, the creature used its magic to manipulate the environment. Spikes erupted from the ground, bones from long-dead creatures rising to the surface. It wasn't trying to kill Henry outright; it wanted to exhaust him, to break his spirit. The creature enjoyed the game, the dance of predator and prey.

It watched as Henry hid behind a tree, clutching his wound. The creature could smell the blood, the fear. It let out a low, rumbling growl, sending more spikes shooting from the ground. Henry's movements became more frantic, more desperate. The creature could sense his confusion, his panic. It was toying with him, savoring the moment.

When Henry reached the cliff, the creature paused. It could see the fear in Henry's eyes, the realization that he was trapped. The creature approached slowly, relishing the human's despair. It watched as Henry threw a sachet at it, the powder exploding in a cloud. The irritation was minor, but it was enough to enrage the creature. It slammed its tail down, the ground glowing brown as the cliff edge crumbled.

As they fell, the creature's eyes locked onto Henry's. It saw the acceptance of fate in the human's gaze, a look that stirred something primal within it. The creature screeched, its icy blue eyes shimmering with a cold fury. It materialized daggers of ice, shooting them at Henry, piercing his body. The creature spread its arms, a thin layer of skin growing to catch the wind. It glided to safety, leaving Henry to plummet into the darkness below.

The creature landed gracefully, its eyes scanning the forest. The hunt was over, but the thrill lingered. It had asserted its dominance, reminded the intruders of its power. As it disappeared into the shadows, the creature felt a sense of satisfaction. The forest was its domain, and it would protect it fiercely.