Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 68: The New Predator.

"Absolutely not."

"Kaelen," Roxy groaned, adjusting the strap of her woven basket. "It’s a bird hunt. I’m not going to fight a Behemoth. I’m going to catch dinner."

"The forest is dangerous," Kaelen countered, his icy blue eyes narrowing. "Zarek is gone. The Tiger is prowling, and you want to wander off into the undergrowth alone? You are still recovering."

"I am recovered enough to walk," Roxy argued, stepping closer. "And I need you here. The triplets are asleep, but if they wake up, they need milk, diaper changes, and someone to make sure Drax doesn’t try to teach them how to fly off the roof. You are the only one I trust with them."

Kaelen’s resolve cracked, just a fraction. The compliment hit its mark. The only one I trust.

"I can carry the pups in the sling," Kaelen suggested weakly. "We hunt together."

"And scare every bird within a five-mile radius?" Roxy raised an eyebrow. "You are an Apex predator, Wolfy. You step on a twig, and the forest holds its breath. But I am more prey than predator."

Technically, I don’t even belong here.

She reached out, resting her hands on his rigid biceps. She softened her voice, looking up at him with big, pleading eyes.

"Please? I want to do this for you. I want to make this meal perfect. If you come, you’ll just spear them, and the meat will be ruined. I need to catch them whole."

Kaelen stared at her. He looked at her neck, where a faint purple bruise from Zarek’s mouth still lingered. His jaw tightened.

He leaned down, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply, a long, ragged intake of breath.

"You smell of him," Kaelen grumbled against her skin, the vibration running through her.

"I know," Roxy whispered. "I’m sorry."

"But," Kaelen continued, rubbing his cheek against hers, transferring his own scent, "underneath... You smell of me. My mark is on you, Roxann."

He pulled back, his eyes dark and intense.

"Go," he commanded, though his voice was rough. "The beasts of this forest know my scent. They know the scent of the Dragon. You carry both. You are walking with the aura of two Kings. Nothing will dare touch you."

He poked her forehead gently.

"But if you are not back before the sun touches the tree line, I will tear the forest apart to find you."

Roxy smiled, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his nose. "Deal. I’ll be back before you can say ’finger-lickin’ good’."

****

The System’s navigation led her deep into the Iron-Wood, past the stream, and toward a dense thicket of tall grass and berry bushes.

According to the scan, this was a nesting ground for [Wild Jungle Chickens].

As Roxy walked, she realized Kaelen wasn’t joking about the scent.

Usually, a solo walk in the beast world was a terrifying experience. She would hear twigs snapping, see glowing eyes in the shadows, and feel the weight of being at the bottom of the food chain.

Today was different.

A massive [Spiked Boar] stepped out onto the path ahead of her. It was the size of a minivan, with tusks that could pierce steel. It made her remember her first experience upon arriving here.

Not another stupid pig. This time, I am prepared for you.

Roxy froze, her hand drifting to the [Stun Gun] strapped to her skirt.

The Boar sniffed the air. Its beady eyes locked onto her. Then, its nostrils flared. It let out a terrified squeal, spun around so fast it tripped over its own hooves, and bolted in the opposite direction, crashing through the brush as if the devil himself were chasing it.

Roxy blinked.

"Huh," she muttered, looking down at her dress. "I guess ’Eau de Alpha’ really works."

She continued walking. A pack of foxes scattered like roaches when she approached. Even the birds seemed to stop singing when she passed under their trees.

They were treating her like she was a predator.

"Okay, System," Roxy whispered as she reached the target area. "Where are the chickens?"

[Target Area Reached: The Berry Thicket.]

[Detection: 15 Wild Chickens in the vicinity.]

[Note: These are Earth-variant chickens, but larger due to the oxygen levels of this world. Aggression level: Low, unless provoked.]

Roxy crouched down behind a large fern.

There they were. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

They looked exactly like the Rhode Island Reds she remembered from her grandmother’s farm on Earth, only this time they were on steroids. They were about the size of turkeys, with vibrant rust-colored feathers and thick, sturdy legs.

They scratched at the dirt with massive claws, clucking contentedly as they searched for worms.

"Okay," Roxy whispered. "Grandma’s strategy."

Back on Earth, before the bad marriages and the office jobs, Roxy had spent summers on her grandmother’s farm. Catching a rogue chicken wasn’t about speed; it was about using the brain.

She opened her inventory and pulled out a small bag of [Dried Corn] she had bought earlier.

"System, calculate the scatter trajectory."

[Trajectory Calculated. Wind Speed: Low.]

Roxy tossed a handful of corn into the clearing.

The chickens froze. They cocked their heads, their beady eyes locking onto the yellow kernels. They looked around. Seeing no giant wolves or dragons, greed overcame caution. They swarmed the food.

"Step one complete," Roxy muttered, her heart beating fast from excitement.

She crept closer. Moving like a shadow, low and slow.

She waited until the biggest, fattest hen was distracted, pecking furiously at a pile of corn near a large root. It’s greed, very large, which would definitely lead to its demise.

Now.

Roxy moved with a speed that surprised even herself. She dove, her hand sweeping under the bird’s breast, hooking its legs in one smooth motion.

The chicken flapped wildly, dust and feathers exploding into the air. It was heavy, struggling with surprising strength, its wings beating against Roxy’s arms.

"Gotcha!" Roxy grunted, holding tight. She flipped the bird upside down.

As any farm girl knows, an upside-down chicken gets disoriented and stops fighting. The hen went limp, hanging from her hand like a feathered purse.

"One down," Roxy grinned, shoving the confused bird into her basket.

It took her an hour of sneaking, baiting, and diving, but she managed to secure four plump, heavy chickens. Her hair was full of leaves, her dress was dirty, and she had a few scratches on her arms from sharp claws, but she felt triumphant.

That was absolutely exhilarating!

"Kaelen is going to lose his mind when he tastes this," she said to herself, hoisting the heavy basket onto her hip. "Real fried chicken. None of that mystery meat."

She checked the sun. It was beginning to dip, casting long shadows across the forest floor. She needed to hurry.

She took a shortcut back, cutting through a dense patch of ferns near the riverbank. The reeds here were tall, obscuring the ground, and the air smelled damp and earthy.

Roxy was humming a tune, thinking about mashed potatoes and gravy, when her boot connected with something solid.

"Woah!" Roxy stumbled, barely keeping her balance. "Stupid logs..."

She looked down to see what she had kicked, ready to curse at a fallen branch. The curse died in her throat the moment she saw it.

Hidden in the mud and the gloom of the riverbank, half-covered by wet leaves, was a body.

A massive, coiled body.

It was thick as a tree trunk, covered in scales that were a dull, sickly green. They were cracked and bleeding, oozing a strange, bioluminescent blue fluid that stained the mud.

"Ahhh Snake!!!!" She screamed, ready to run.

A snake this size could swallow her and the chickens without burping. But then she saw the human half.

Sprawled in the mud, entangled with the snake tail, was the upper torso of a man. He was face down, his long, seaweed-colored hair matted with blood and dirt. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and covered in bruises that looked like they had been made by a hammer.

He wasn’t moving. He wasn’t breathing. He looked like he had been beaten, dragged, and left for dead.

Roxy stepped back, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Don’t do it, a voice in her head whispered. Walk away, Roxy. You have babies. You have a jealous Wolf waiting. You have a Dragon who burns things. You have chickens to fry.

She turned to leave.

But then the system suddenly flashed a warning, pulsing in her face.

Don’t fucking do it! She warned, gritting her teeth.

[System Alert!]

[New Species Detected.]

[Identify: Syris (Exiled Prince of the Serpent Clan)]

Don’t tell me it’s what I’m thinking...

[Status: Critical Condition. Venom Sacs Ruptured. Blunt Force Trauma. Hypothermia.]

[Threat Analysis: High (When Healthy). Currently: Harmless.]

[Do you want to save this snake?]

[ YES ] / [ NO ]

A/N: Question for the readers, will she save him or not?