Reincarnated as a Rabbit: Tales of Carrots and Chaos by PotatoYawn

Tags: LitRPG, Portal Fantasy / Isekai, Dungeon, Comedy, Non-Human Lead, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Male Lead, Progression, Reincarnation
Status: In-Progress
Updated: 2024-12-02 11:04:27

Summary:

In a world where gods bicker like siblings, heroes flex for fame, and magic flows as freely as tavern ale, one unlucky soul gets the reincarnation deal of a lifetime—well, almost.

Waking up in a fluffy body with twitchy ears and a tail that won't stop wiggling, our protagonist quickly realizes his new life isn’t exactly the stuff of epic ballads. He’s not a fearsome dragon, a dashing swordsman, or even a mildly threatening goblin. Nope. He’s a rabbit—a cute, pint-sized ball of fluff with "snack" written all over him.

But hey, when life gives you carrots, you make stew… or, uh, figure out how not to become rabbit stew. Armed with quick wits, an absurd amount of luck, and a knack for dodging death by hopping around, this hare-raising adventure sees him hopping through a magical world full of danger, absurdity, and even romance. (Who knew some people were into rabbits?!)

With gods watching his every move, adventurers mistaking him for loot, and predators thinking he looks delicious, one thing’s for sure: it’s not easy being prey. But with a little cunning and maybe some help from a snarky companion or two, he might just prove that even the smallest creature can have the biggest bite.

[Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]

Chapter 1 - Rabbit?

When I opened my eyes, all I saw was pitch black. I couldn’t see anything.
Where am I? What happened to me?

My mind raced. Was I kidnapped? Locked up in some sicko’s basement?

I tried to stand up, but something felt… off. My body wasn’t moving the way it should. My limbs were all wrong? If that’s the right word for it.

Panicking, I tried to grab my hand, only to realize I couldn’t. My fingers wouldn’t move. Instead, I felt something furry and soft brushing against me.

A paw.
Wait. What?!

Frantically, I looked around, squinting into the darkness. Then, just as I was about to spiral further into my confusion, I saw a faint light behind me. An opening—like the entrance to a cave.

I stumbled toward it, limbs awkward and unfamiliar, and stepped out into the sunlight. A gentle breeze hit me, and for a moment, I felt… calm. The sunlight warmed my body, and the fresh air from the surrounding greenery was oddly soothing.

Then I looked down.
Two small, white, fluffy paws stared back at me.

It took a second to sink in. No. No, no, no, no. This can’t be.

I shuffled to a nearby puddle, peered into the reflection, and there it was. A bunny stared back at me.

Not just any bunny. A very cute bunny. My fur was as white as fresh snow, my ears drooped slightly at the sides, and my eyes were wide and shiny.

Sigh.
“So… I’m a rabbit now.”

My memory came rushing back like one of those flashback portions that you commonly see in a movie. It’s kinda weird but oh well, I guess I died. Now what? An accident. A Fucking accident! A plane crash—specifically, a plane crashing into my house. Who even hears about stuff like that? If I hadn’t been the victim, I wouldn’t have believed it either.

Another sigh.

If there’s a sigh counter this would probably be the time to start counting or make it into a drinking game because based on what happened let me tell you that you’ll be drunk in no time.

“Great. Just great. First, I got flattened by an airplane, and now I’m a rabbit. What’s next? Am I going to end up on someone’s dinner plate?”

What do rabbits even do anyway? Eat grass? Roll around the grass? Play with other rabbits? Sleep in burrows? Smoke grass? It isn’t even possible for rabbits to smoke grass!

My stomach growled, snapping me out of my sulking. Right. I needed food. And considering I was now about as threatening as a plush toy, hunting was out of the question, considering that I’d be the one that’s getting hunted instead.

So… grass it is?

If a human saw me, what meal would they make me into? Grilled rabbit? Or perhaps Rabbit stew? Well, I guess I need to survive, and to survive I never thought that I will ever say this, but I need to act cute!

Maybe they will even take me home as a pet and live my life like a nouveau-riche rabbit and eat some tasty treats.

Considering that when some people from a certain country in Southeast Asia found out that the government was planning to turn rabbit meat into common food, some citizens even protested in anger. This means that cute is justice!

I glanced around. A patch of wild grass swayed gently nearby.

“Well, guess there’s a first time for everything. Let’s see if this meets my… godly palate.”

Hopping over awkwardly, I nibbled at a blade of grass.

Gulp.

This taste, this aroma, and the flavors rushing into my palate made me imagine I am sitting on a throne of flowers, and below me is a paradise filled with all the finest grass in the world! I have reached foodgasm.

Nah, I’m just joking the taste wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly a gourmet meal either. Still, I wasn’t about to complain.

“Not bad,” I muttered between bites.

“Could use some seasoning, but I’ll live.”

I kept munching until I was full, and as the sunlight warmed my fur, drowsiness started to set in. I hopped back to the cave—the closest thing I had to a home—and curled up in a cozy spot. Within seconds, I was out like a light.

When I woke, the sun was still low in the sky. It must’ve been dawn. I remembered reading somewhere that rabbits are crepuscular animals—active during dusk and dawn to avoid predators.

Predators.

A chill ran down my spine. I tried not to think about wolves, foxes, or anything else that might turn me into a snack. Surely they wouldn’t find me on my first day, right? Right?!

Well, I hope so, because I am only 1 day old since I reincarnated just earlier (Oh wait, I’m not even 1 day old), I still have more grasses to eat and maybe someday I will even have the chance to eat the legendary carrot only mentioned in the old legends passed down to me by my great great great great grandfather rabbit, who was said to have eaten the legendary carrot!

To calm my nerves, I hopped outside for some fresh air. As I chilled near the entrance of my burrow, I noticed something. Movement.

I turned my head and spotted it. A small green caterpillar, happily gnawing at my grass.

“Hey! Get off my lawn, you disgusting worm!”

Fueled by a ridiculous surge of territorial pride, I hopped toward it. The caterpillar didn’t notice me at first, so I snuck closer, crouched low, and…

Pounce!

I bit down (gently, because ew, no way I was eating it) and crushed it with my hind legs.

[Obtained 1 Exp.]

If you ask, why didn’t I just bite it off, well I do not want to eat caterpillars and just the thought of its juices oozing and my tongue tasting it made me shudder.

Wait. What? Before I get sidetracked again, did I hear it correctly?

“Did I just… gain EXP”

Like those in the video games?!

Before I could process what happened, I heard movement again. Another caterpillar was munching away a few feet away.
Time for round two. I pounced again, squashing it just like before.

[Obtained 1 Exp.]

I blinked. This wasn’t my imagination. I was gaining experience points.

“Wait, wait, wait—does this mean I can level up?”

This means that I might possibly level up and even evolve like what I have read in web novels! And what should I evolve into? I know, A bigger rabbit! I will be the biggest rabbit in town, the boss rabbit, the don of the rabbit mafia.

Well just kidding, it seems that it might be possible for me to escape my fate of being prey forever. But can I really evolve? What if I’m just stuck in this form forever? Never managing to escape my life of being hunted down by the big guys. Well, whatever, EXP is EXP!

Excitement bubbled inside me. I scanned the area, spotting more unsuspecting caterpillars. One after another, I went on a miniature rampage. By the time the sun fully rose, I’d squashed ten of them.

[Leveled Up! 1 → 2]
[Obtained [Skill] Bounce Lv. 1]

“YES!” I pumped my tiny paw in triumph.

“Not bad for a rabbit’s first day.”

Curious about my new skill, I tried it out. When I used Bounce, my hind legs launched me farther and faster than before. It wasn’t much, but it’s honest work.

Exhausted but satisfied, I hopped back to my burrow and curled up again. For the first time since I woke up in this strange, fluffy body, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t doomed to be prey forever.

As the rabbit drifts off to sleep, outside the burrow, where glowing eyes peer out from the bushes. Watching its surroundings with a vigilant aura. A shadowy figure steps into the clearing, sniffing the air.

Chapter 2 – There’s a Predator on the Loose!.

When I woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky. My fluffy body stretched out as I yawned, ears twitching lazily.

Another day as a rabbit, huh?

I wonder how this life would actually play out for me. It’s kinda fun, looking at my Godly visage on the small pond. You can say that I’m a handsome rabbit. If you don’t agree with me then let me tell you what I did to those caterpillars yesterday. Speaking of yesterday.

Yesterday had been… surprisingly productive. Not bad for my first 24 hours as a fluffy herbivore. I’d leveled up, gained a skill, and even discovered that caterpillars apparently taste terrible, even when you’re not eating them. (Seriously, squishing them felt gross enough. Let’s not even talk about what their goo would taste like.)

But now what? My EXP-farming rampage was great and all, but how far could I get squashing bugs? What if I needed, like, a thousand caterpillars just to hit Level 3? At that point, I’d basically be the bane of insect-kind. The Rabbit Exterminator or maybe The Insects Bane or The Exterminator. Cause you know, Insect exterminator… whatever. It had a nice ring to it, but somehow I doubted that’d make me any less delicious to predators.

Speaking of predators…

The fur on the back of my neck suddenly prickled. My ears stood straight up as I froze. Something wasn’t right.

A strange rustling sound came from the bushes nearby.

Okay, okay, stay calm. Maybe it’s just the wind, I thought. Except… there was no breeze.

Don’t panic, don’t panic, don’t panic.

The rustling grew louder. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my body refused to move. Oh crap, I’m about to become rabbit stew, aren’t I?!

And then, it appeared.

A pair of glowing yellow eyes stared at me from between the bushes, unblinking and menacing.

“Oh, fuck” I whispered.

The creature stepped into the clearing, and my heart sank. It was a wolf—or at least, something wolf-like. Its fur was matted and black as midnight, its teeth glinted like daggers in the sunlight, and it was about five times my size. Worst of all, its eyes locked onto me like I was already its next meal.

“Oh, come on! I just leveled up yesterday! Can’t you let me enjoy my progress for one day?!” I shouted, hopping backward toward the safety of my burrow.

“I’ll call the cops on you if you don’t stop it right now you predator!”

The wolf snarled, and the sound sent shivers down my tiny spine.

“No? Okay, cool, cool. Guess I’ll just die, then!”

Without thinking, I turned tail and bolted.

My legs pumped furiously as I raced across the clearing, the wolf hot on my heels. Every time I glanced back, it seemed closer—its massive paws pounding against the ground like thunder.

With every pounding on the ground, my heartbeat fastened more and more I felt like it would burst any time now.

“Why is this thing so fast?! I’m a rabbit! Aren’t I supposed to be the speedy one?!”

As I leaped over a patch of wildflowers, I remembered my new skill. Bounce.

“Alright, rabbit legs, don’t fail me now!” I shouted.

I activated the skill, and my hind legs launched me into the air like a tiny, furry rocket.

“WHOA!”

I soared farther than I’d ever hopped before, landing on the other side of a small stream. My heart was pounding, and my breath came in short, panicked gasps, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.

The growls of the wolf made me unable to even think about resting even for a millisecond. Death awaits but I plan to not let it get to me just right after dying and reincarnating.

The wolf growled behind me, undeterred. It splashed through the stream like it was nothing, closing the gap faster than I could manage.

“Come on, Bounce, don’t let me down!” I activated the skill again, leaping farther and higher, but it wasn’t enough.

The wolf’s jaws snapped dangerously close behind me, and I swore I felt its hot breath on my tail.

I needed to think of something—anything—before I became a fluffy snack.

As I bolted through the forest, an idea popped into my head.

What if I led the wolf somewhere else? Somewhere dangerous?

It was a terrible plan. Actually, scratch that—it was barely a plan at all. But I didn’t have many options.

I zigzagged through the forest, using Bounce to gain just enough distance to avoid becoming lunch. The wolf snarled in frustration, its glowing eyes never losing sight of me.

After what felt like an eternity of running, I spotted my target: a steep hill covered in loose rocks.

Perfect.

I pushed my tiny legs to their limit, activating Bounce one last time to clear the top of the hill. The wolf, so focused on chasing me, didn’t seem to notice the change in terrain until it was too late.

Its massive paws stepped on the loose rocks, sending it tumbling down the slope in a cloud of dust and fur.

“Yes!” I shouted, pumping a paw in victory.

“Take that, you overgrown fleabag!”

The wolf landed in a heap at the bottom of the hill, dazed but alive. It shook itself off and growled up at me, but for now, it seemed to be keeping its distance.

Panting and shaking from the adrenaline, I sat down at the top of the hill to catch my breath.

“That’s right, run away! You’re lucky you didn’t get to me or else I would’ve turned you into a dog meat dumpling!”

I couldn’t believe I’d survived. Somehow, against all odds, I’d outsmarted a wolf.

Not bad for a rabbit, I thought, a small smirk forming on my face.

Just as I was starting to feel a bit too smug about my victory, a voice echoed in my head.

[Congratulations! Quest Completed: "Don’t Let the Predator Touch You."]
[Rewards: +50 EXP, [Skill] Danger Sense Lv. 1.]

“Wait, what?” I blinked. “A quest?!”

I hadn’t seen any notifications about a quest when the wolf first appeared, but apparently, I’d just cleared one. Not only that, but I’d gained another skill—Danger Sense.

Curious, I tried to focus on the skill. Immediately, I felt a strange tingling sensation at the edges of my awareness, like an invisible warning system.

Whoa. This is actually pretty useful.

As I experimented with the skill, another notification popped up.

[New Quest Available: “The Forest’s Secret.”]
[Objective: Investigate the strange energy source deeper within the forest.]

“Strange energy source? What does that mean?” I muttered, tilting my head.

I was about to dismiss the message as some kind of glitch in this bizarre, RPG-like system when I felt it—a faint pulse of energy, barely noticeable but undeniably real.

It was coming from somewhere deeper in the forest.

For a moment, I debated whether to investigate or just go back to my burrow and pretend none of this had happened. But then I remembered the wolf. If this strange energy could help me grow stronger, maybe it was worth the risk.

“Well, it’s not like I have anything better to do,” I said, hopping to my feet.

“Let’s see what this forest is hiding.”

And with that, I set off toward the source of the strange energy, my Danger Sense on high alert.

As the rabbit ventures deeper into the forest, the shadows grow darker and the air heavier. Unbeknownst to him, something—or someone—is watching his every move.

A note from PotatoYawn

Rule no 1 when you detect a predator: RUN!

Chapter 3 – Into the Unknown~

The deeper I went into the forest, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

It wasn’t like the sunny clearing near my burrow, where the grass was soft, the flowers smelled sweet, and the only real danger was overeating. No, this part of the forest was… different. The air felt thicker, cooler, almost heavy. The once-vivid greens of the foliage were muted here, shrouded in deep shadows cast by the towering trees overhead. Even the wind seemed reluctant to pass through. The air… it’s suffocating.

And then there was the silence.

Not the peaceful, relaxing kind of silence, but the eerie kind that crawled under your skin and made you hyper-aware of every little sound—like the snap of a twig or the rustle of leaves. A silence so loud that your mind will be left abuzz.

My ears twitched constantly, swiveling at every faint noise. The faint tingling sensation of Danger Sense buzzed at the edge of my awareness. It wasn’t full-blown panic—just a low, persistent hum, like a distant alarm. Whatever this skill was, it seemed to be warning me that something was wrong.

I wasn’t alone here.

The thought made my fur stand on end. I’d only been a rabbit for about a day, but even I could tell this wasn’t the place for someone—or something—as defenseless as me.

But I couldn’t turn back now. That strange energy… it was getting stronger. The faint pulse I’d felt earlier was more distinct now, like a heartbeat thrumming through the earth. Whatever it was, it had to be important, right? Maybe it was some kind of treasure, or a legendary item that could turn me into something stronger—like a dragon rabbit or a magical beast not that I mind, actually that would be really cool.

Imagine me being a huge-ass Draconic rabbit rampaging around towns and kingdoms with nothing to stop my path I will go on to dominate this world. I am inevitable! Just kidding.

“Or,” I muttered to myself,

“it could be a death trap. That’s cool too.”

Whatever it is, was it really right for me to continue in this direction? The problem is, even though I have thoughts of going back, there’s the stinky dog waiting for me back there, and here in front of me is a place that feels like ants are crawling beneath my skin. It’s one or the other, well I’ve already died once, let’s gamble my life again.

I hopped forward cautiously, keeping my ears perked and my nose twitching.

As I ventured deeper, the trees exuded an eerie air as they grew closer together, their gnarled roots twisting over one another like the grasping fingers of ancient hands. Shafts of light barely pierced the canopy above, leaving much of the ground cloaked in shadow. It feels like somewhat, this forest is alive, not alive as a simple tree but alive in the sense that it feels like a huge incomprehensible being is looking down at me with each hop I take.

The hum of my Danger Sense buzzed louder now. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was enough to keep me on edge. I found myself glancing over my shoulder every few minutes, half-expecting to see glowing eyes or a shadowy predator stalking me.

But there was nothing.

At least, nothing I could see.

The forest, however, was alive in other ways. Strange markings were carved into some of the trees, faintly glowing a dull blue. They reminded me of runes, like something out of the RPGs I used to play. Were they just decorations, or did they have some sort of function? When you think of it, the roots look like tentacles wrapped around the trees.

As I passed one of the trees, my fur prickled, and Danger Sense flared for a brief moment. I stopped, staring at the strange carving. It was circular, with jagged lines branching outward like a spider’s web.

“What is this?” I muttered, hopping closer. My paw instinctively reached out to touch the bark—

BZZT!

A sharp jolt of energy snapped through my body, sending me skittering backward. My ears flattened against my head as I glared at the tree.

“Okay, note to self: don’t touch the glowing weird stuff.”

The hum of Danger Sense settled back to its usual low buzz as I shook myself off and continued forward.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the forest itself was watching me now.

After what felt like an eternity of careful hopping, I paused in a small clearing to catch my breath. The strange energy was close now—so close I could feel its faint pulse thrumming beneath my paws. But before I could investigate further, the tingling of Danger Sense flared up again.

This time, it was sharp and immediate, like a siren going off in my head.

I froze. My ears twitched, straining to pick up any sound, and my nose twitched as I sniffed the air.

Something was here.

And then I saw it—a flicker of movement in the shadows, low to the ground.

It wasn’t a wolf this time, but something smaller. Sneakier. A wildcat, maybe? Its fur was striped in dark shades of gray and black, and its green eyes gleamed with a predatory intensity that made my heart race.

The cat prowled forward, muscles rippling under its fur as it moved with terrifying grace.

“Oh, come on,” I whispered.

“Why can’t you guys just leave me alone?! I’m not even tasty! You won’t even be full when you eat me you stupid cat!”

The wildcat crouched low, preparing to pounce. My instincts screamed at me to run, but I didn’t move. Not yet.

Instead, I focused on the tingling sensation of Danger Sense. It wasn’t just a warning system—it was more than that. I could feel the wildcat’s intent, the tension in its body as it calculated the perfect moment to strike.

And then it moved.

I activated Bounce just as the wildcat lunged, its claws swiping through the space where I’d been just moments ago. My legs propelled me into the air, carrying me to safety on the other side of the clearing.

Looking back at the cat, I knew that it was now pissed off, learning that it won’t be an easy dinner this time.

The wildcat hissed in frustration, spinning around to face me. It stalked forward again, slower this time, its green eyes locked onto me.

I kept my focus on Danger Sense, feeling for the subtle shifts in the wildcat’s intent. When it tensed up again, I was ready.

The moment it lunged, I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. I didn’t just rely on my instincts this time—I relied on the rhythm of its movements, the faint signals my new skill was giving me.

It lunged again, and again I dodged, using Bounce to keep myself out of reach.

“Yeah, that’s right!” I taunted, even as my heart pounded in my chest.

“You can’t touch me! I’m untouchable! I’m—”

I tripped on a root.

The wildcat didn’t hesitate. It pounced, claws outstretched, and I braced myself for the worst—

BZZZT!

A sharp jolt of energy crackled through the air, sending the wildcat screeching backward. It landed in a heap, dazed and shaking, before scrambling to its feet and darting off into the trees.

I blinked, heart still hammering, as I realized what had happened. I’d tripped into another one of those glowing runes, and apparently, they didn’t just shock curious rabbits—they shocked anything that got too close.

“Well, I guess even the forest hates predators,” I muttered, picking myself up.

The Danger Sense buzz faded, signaling that I was safe—at least for now.

With the wildcat gone, I turned my attention back to the strange energy source. It was just ahead, in the center of the clearing.

As I hopped closer, I saw it: a large, flat stone embedded in the ground, covered in glowing runes similar to the ones on the trees. In the center of the stone was a small pedestal, and atop the pedestal rested a faintly glowing crystal that’s wrapped by tree trunks that kinda looks like tentacles.

The crystal pulsed with the same rhythm I’d been feeling all along.

“What is this?” I murmured, my eyes fixed on the glowing object.

The moment I stepped onto the stone, a new notification appeared in my vision:

[You have discovered an Ancient Relic (Unknown).]
[Do you wish to absorb its energy? Warning: Absorbing the energy may trigger unknown effects.]

“Unknown effects, huh?” I said, tilting my head.

“Sounds like a terrible idea.”

I stared at the crystal for a moment, weighing my options. This could be dangerous—potentially life-threatening—but it could also be the key to climbing the top of the hierarchy of the food chain.

“Eh, screw it,” I said finally.

“Fortune favors the bold, right?”

I reached out, touching the crystal with one paw. The moment I made contact, a surge of energy shot through me, and everything went white.

When the light faded, the rabbit found himself changed. His Danger Sense had grown sharper, more precise, but it came with a price: visions of the past, echoes of the forest’s ancient history, and a glimpse of a shadowy figure watching him from afar.

Chapter 4 – Small Oasis

Boing.

Two days. It's been two full days since I touched that glowing orb deep within this ancient forest. And if I'm being honest, I'm still not sure if it was the best decision of my life… or the worst.

Sure, I'm stronger now—faster, sharper, deadlier. But that power came with side effects. My head feels heavier, my thoughts sharper, and my senses… heightened. Every snap of a twig sounds like a thunderclap, every shadow seems to stretch further than it should, and every breeze carries whispers that I can't quite hear. It's like the orb opened a door in my mind, one I can't close.

Worse, there are the visions. Flashes of things I shouldn't be able to see things like glowing runes flickering like dying embers, strange creatures prowling the forest long before I got here, and a shadowy figure watching me from just out of sight. It's like I'm connected to the forest now—tied to its past and its secrets in ways I don't understand, and perhaps I will never be able to.

And then there's [Danger Sense]. Before the orb, it was just a vague tingling, a feeling that something was off. But now? It's more than a warning. It's like an extra layer of awareness, a radar that hums constantly in the back of my mind. When danger gets close, it flares to life, sharp and insistent, pushing me to move before my brain can catch up. Ignoring it makes my fight or flight response go haywire so it's really not advisable for me to do it. Well, it's an essential part of my survival skills so I guess it's fine.

The orb didn't just make me stronger—it changed me.

------------------------------

Still, life as a rabbit isn't all existential crises and creepy visions. Most of my time is spent grinding for EXP, and let me tell you, caterpillars make the perfect punching bags.

[Level Progress: 6/20 EXP to Level 7.]

The system finally gave me a progress bar, which is great because now I know exactly how many of these little squish-bags I need to crush. Twenty EXP to level up, and each caterpillar is worth 1 EXP.

Squelch.

Another one down.

[Obtained 1 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 7/20 EXP.]

"Yes! Fear me, worms! Bow down before me! You do not have the right to look at my fluffy visage!" I shouted, puffing out my chest.

The caterpillars have been getting smarter over the past two days. They've started traveling in groups, clustering together near feeding grounds. It's like they think numbers will save them.

Spoiler: They won't.

Squelch.

[Obtained 1 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 8/20 EXP.]

Recently, I've noticed that they started to fight back. Those low lives deserved to be exterminated for their heresy!

"Bow before me, rebels! Your uprising is futile!"

I hopped toward the next caterpillar, activating [Bounce] to launch myself high into the air before slamming down with all my might.

Thud.

The caterpillar narrowly dodged me sideways. After landing on the ground, the caterpillar bit me on my sides.

FUCK

After I was bitten by that caterpillar, I tried kicking it with all my might like I was a spartan warrior and to my surprise, learned a new skill.

[Obtained [Skill] Kick Level 1]

[Obtained 1 EXP.]

[Level Progress: 9/20 EXP.]

"Hah! Another one bites the dust!" I cheered, doing a little victory spin.

"At this rate, I'll hit Level 7 in no time."

A new skill is a nice addition to my repertoire, I wonder how it differs from the normal kicks that I do. Maybe if I kick normally, I consume mana too? Maybe?

Now that the caterpillars have been fighting back, I have a newfound motivation to kill more caterpillars! It is time to conduct a caterpillar genocide!

"Fear me, worms! Don't show your faces around these parts or else I'll kill you and all your ancestors combined!"

It is now time to quell the rebellion from my great empire! Death to the rebels!

---------------------

As satisfying as it is to crush caterpillars, the effects of the orb are never far from my mind. My senses are sharper than ever, which is great for spotting enemies but terrible for my nerves. Every rustle of leaves, every shift of shadow sets me on the edge.

[Danger Sense] hums constantly now, like an itch I can't scratch. It's always there, even when there's no immediate threat. Sometimes it spikes for no reason at all, leaving me wide-eyed and jittery as I scan the forest for enemies that aren't there.

Then there are the headaches. They come and go, but when they hit, it feels like my skull is going to split open.

The visions are the worst, though. They come without warning: flashes of glowing runes, strange creatures I've never seen before, and always, always that shadowy figure. It never speaks, never moves, just watches, like it's just an observer, someone that knows the past and the future.

I don't know what the orb did to me, but it's like I'm carrying a piece of this forest inside me now. And I don't know if that's a good thing or a curse.

----------------------------

After a long day of grinding, I hopped back to my puddle—a small, crystal-clear oasis I've claimed as my own. It's fed by a nearby river, and though it's technically just a glorified splash zone, I like to think of it as my private swimming pool.

You can say that the puddle is my own private swimming pool. I claim ownership of this property, but I will permit the squirrels to drink because they gave me some nuts.

They didn't bribe me okay! They are just my friendly neighbors living on top of the trees. Speaking of my neighbors. The squirrels were already there when I arrived. Hello neighbors, nice to see you today! I gave them a nod.

My neighbors. A family of four—Papa Squirrel, Mama Squirrel, and their two little ones. Papa Squirrel greeted me with a shiny nut, which I accepted with a nod.

"Thanks, buddy. You're alright for a tree rat," I muttered, tucking the nut under my paw.

I washed off the day's grime in the puddle, letting the cool water soothe my aching paws. Life wasn't perfect, but I was making progress.

[Level Progress: 17/20 EXP.]

Just three more, and I'd hit Level 7. Tomorrow, I told myself. Tomorrow, I'll finish this grind.

------------------------------

When the dawn came, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to hunt, planning to cause terror for the rebels in my kingdom! But as soon as I stepped out of my burrow, [Danger Sense] flared sharply in my mind.

Something was wrong.

I froze, my ears twitching as I scanned the forest. That's when I heard it—a faint rustling sound, followed by the wet squelch of something being devoured.

I crept toward the noise, my heart pounding. As I got closer, the buzzing of [Danger Sense] grew louder, more insistent.

And then I saw it.

A ferret.

It was sleek, dark-furred, and reeked of smugness. Worse, it was feasting on MY caterpillars—four of them, gone in an instant.

"Hey! Get away from them, you thieving weasel!" I shouted, thumping my foot in anger. That's my EXP—I mean citizens!

The ferret glanced at me, its green eyes gleaming with amusement. Then it went right back to eating.

"Oh, you wanna play it like that, huh?"

I activated [Bounce], launching myself toward the ferret with all the force I could muster, gaining momentum with each hop that I took.

Thud!

My feet slammed into its belly, and with all the momentum gained from using [Bounce], it got knocked over, forcing it to spit out its half-chewed meal.

"Hah! Take that, you peasant!" I shouted, puffing out my chest.

The ferret hissed, its body coiling like a spring. Its eyes locked onto mine, and [Danger Sense] screamed in my head.

The ferret lunged.

-----------------------------

The ferret was fast—faster than anything I'd fought before. Its claws slashed through the air, and I barely dodged in time.

I countered with a [Kick], landing a solid blow to its snout.

[Ferret]
[HP: 21/25.]

The ferret stumbled but recovered quickly. It lunged again, its teeth flashing, and I felt [Danger Sense] guide me to sidestep just before its jaws snapped shut. \

This guy is really cunning!

I activated [Bounce] to gain some distance, but the ferret was relentless. It zigzagged through the undergrowth, closing the gap with terrifying agility.

The ferret, seeing that I was gaining more distance focused on rushing towards me then suddenly he turned swiftly and to my surprise, he was now just beside me.

"Damn it!" I growled, panting as I dodged another swipe.

The ferret struck again, sinking its teeth into my back.

[No Name]
[HP: 13/17.]

I suddenly felt something wet trickle down my back, my body growing hotter as each moment passed by.

FUCK!

I yelped, kicking it off with all my strength.

[Ferret]
[HP: 18/25.]

The ferret crashed into a tree and was slightly stunned by the sudden kick.

The fight was brutal. Every time I dodged, [Danger Sense] buzzed sharply, warning me of the ferret's next move. But I was running out of stamina—and HP.

Chapter 5 - The First Battle

A note from PotatoYawn

If you haven't voted yet for the poll, you can vote in chapter 4

I stopped for a second to catch my breath and to observe what the ferret might do next.

It seems that the ferret got right back to his senses and returned to his fighting stance. The ferret hissed at me in an aggressive manner.

Seeing that he was back into the game, I used [Bounce] to gain some momentum in my hops.

The ferret moved in a swift manner and prepared a motion to bite once again. I narrowly dodged the bite by jumping up, but once again the with cunning wit of that bastard he bit me on my belly.

[No Name]

[Rabbit]

[HP 8/17]

FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, AM I GOING TO DIE TO A FUCKING FERRET?!

In my panicked state, I used [Kick] on the bastard’s face, I crashed him beneath my feet.

[Ferret]

[HP 13/25]

The ferret’s face caved in a bit, and he coughed some blood.

I used [Bounce] once again and went deeper into the forest in an attempt to lose the ferret. I felt my breaths go faster and faster with all the stress that my mind and body are taking right now.

The ferret chased after me once again.

SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, WHAT THE FUCK SHOULD I DO

The chase continues once again, the ferret continues in his pursuit.

I continued to narrowly dodge his attacks, but some have gone through.

[No Name]

[Rabbit]

[HP 5/17]

I am now covered in my own blood, but still, I have to survive.

The ferret and already felt our exhaustion from our bodies, it came to a point where the ferret slowed down for a bit due to exhaustion and I was able to lose him and hide behind a big rock.

I know that I will not be able to hide forever and that he will find me soon. I need to think of a way to finish him off.

As my HP dropped dangerously low, I spotted two trees growing close together. An idea sparked in my mind—a desperate, reckless plan.

I activated [Bounce], launching myself toward the gap between the trees. The ferret followed, its sleek body twisting through the air.

I ricocheted between the trees, building momentum with each jump. The strain on my legs was excruciating, but [Danger Sense] kept me focused, warning me of the ferret’s every move.

[No Name]
[HP: 3/17.]

The ferret lunged, its jaws snapping inches from my face. That’s when I struck.

Using all the force I’d built up; I launched myself straight at the ferret and delivered a devastating [Kick] to its skull. All the momentum built up on my legs from ricocheting transferred to its body, crashing down to the ground.

CRACK!

The ferret crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath its broken snout. I noticed that the ferret was on the verge of death but still alive and breathing.

I rushed towards him and bit his neck. I released all the built-up rage and frustrations and finished him off by biting his neck to the point that his skin pulled off from his body

It twitched once, then went still.

[Defeated Ferret.]
[Obtained 20 EXP.]
[Level Up: 7 → 8.]

I collapsed onto the ground, panting and trembling. My legs felt like jelly from all the ricocheting, and my vision blurred as the adrenaline drained from my body. But I’d done it.

I’d defeated a predator.

“Take that… you stinky… weasel…” I gasped, lying flat on my back as my tiny chest heaved.

The system notification blinked faintly in my mind, and for a moment, the sheer satisfaction of leveling up washed away the pain.

[Status Updated.]
[No Name]
[Rabbit]
[Level 8 [0/40 EXP]]
[HP: 3/19]
[Mana: 5/15]
[Skills]
[Bounce Level 3]
[Danger Sense Level 1]
[Kick Level 1]

Forty EXP to the next level.

“Great. Just great. Guess I’ll be grinding caterpillars until the end of time…”

But the ferret… The ferret was worth 20 EXP. Twice as much as leveling up! A predator like that had to be worth hunting again someday, but the thought made my paws tremble. I’d barely survived this encounter.

I forced myself to sit up, staring at the ferret’s lifeless body. My fur was matted with blood—some mine, some his—and my limbs shook with exhaustion.

The iron-like flavor of the Ferret’s blood that flooded my mouth felt disgusting, but I was glad that I was able to escape my fate.

I’ve been too careless on my part, becoming overconfident sure has its shortcomings but why am I even overconfident?

I am a rabbit for God’s sake, a prey near the bottom of the food pyramid.

This wasn’t like the caterpillars. Killing the ferret hadn’t been just a casual stomp-and-squelch routine. It had been a fight for survival, brutal and desperate. And in the end, I’d won.

But the cost…

I looked at my paws, still trembling. The image of the ferret’s face caving in under my final [Kick] played in my mind, over and over. I’d done what I had to do, but part of me wondered if I was starting to enjoy this a little too much.

“No. Stop it,” I muttered to myself, shaking the thought away.

“It’s survival. Nothing more.”

But the weight in my chest lingered, even as I hopped shakily back toward my puddle.

On the way back, I felt a strange sensation wash over me. It wasn’t quite painful, but it wasn’t comfortable either. It was like something deep inside me was… shifting.

The orb.

The power it gave me wasn’t finished. I could feel it now, thrumming faintly in my core, like a heartbeat that wasn’t mine. It felt alive, pulsating in sync with the forest itself.

And then there was the buzz of [Danger Sense], always humming faintly in the back of my mind. It was quieter now, but I knew it would never truly go silent. The orb had amplified it, sharpened it, and turned it into something more than just a warning system.

Sometimes, when I activated it, I felt like I could almost see the intent of the creatures around me. Their movements slowed ever so slightly, giving me just enough time to react. But it came at a cost. Each time the skill flared, it left me drained, as if it were pulling from a deeper well of energy than just my mana.

I paused mid-hop, catching my breath as the orb’s power pulsed faintly in my chest.

“What… did you do to me?” I whispered to the empty forest.

The trees, of course, didn’t answer. But I swore I felt them watching.

When I finally reached my puddle, the squirrels were waiting. Papa Squirrel was perched on a low branch, his beady eyes fixed on me. He let out a series of sharp chirps, his tail flicking rapidly.

“Yeah, yeah, I know I look like crap,” I muttered, limping toward the water.

“Rough morning, okay? Give me a break.”

But Papa Squirrel wasn’t chirping about my appearance. He hopped down from the branch, his movements quick and jittery, and darted toward me. He stopped a few feet away, his tail still flicking furiously, and let out another series of sharp, urgent squeaks.

“What’s your problem?” I asked, my ears flicking in irritation.

Mama Squirrel joined him, her movements just as frantic. The two of them squeaked and chirped at each other, glancing toward the deeper part of the forest.

I froze.

They were afraid.

Before I could ask what was wrong, [Danger Sense] buzzed faintly in my mind. Not the sharp alarm of an immediate threat, but the low, ominous hum that had become all too familiar.

Something was out there.

I stared into the forest, my fur bristling as the buzzing of [Danger Sense] grew louder. The squirrels had scampered back up their tree, their squeaks fading into the distance.

And then I saw it.

A figure.

Tall. Humanoid. Watching me from the shadows.

It was too far away to make out any details, but its presence was unmistakable. It didn’t move, didn’t speak—just stood there, its gaze fixed on me.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared back, every instinct screaming at me to run. But I couldn’t move. It wasn’t fear that held me in place—it was something else. Something deeper.

The orb pulsed faintly in my chest, and for a brief moment, I felt like I could sense the figure’s intent. It wasn’t hostile… not yet. But it wasn’t friendly either.

“What… are you?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The figure tilted its head slightly as if amused by the question.

And then, without a sound, it turned and disappeared into the forest.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, my mind racing. The buzzing of [Danger Sense] had faded, but the tension in the air lingered.

Who—or what—was that? And why was it watching me?

I glanced down at my paws, still stained with the ferret’s blood, and felt the orb pulse again in my chest. Whatever was happening to me, whatever the orb had done… it wasn’t over.

And I had a feeling the forest wasn’t done with me either.

“Looks like things just got a lot more complicated,” I muttered, turning back toward my burrow.

As I hopped away, the faint sound of rustling leaves echoed behind me, sending a shiver down my spine.

The rabbit wasn’t alone anymore.

Chapter 6 - A Quiet Moment

The forest had finally gone quiet again. Not the kind of quiet that screamed “Something’s stalking you,” but a calm, almost serene stillness. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves whispering secrets I wasn’t privy to, while golden sunlight dappled the mossy ground.

I limped toward my puddle, each step a reminder that I was, indeed, still alive. My legs were jelly, my fur was a matted mess of blood and dirt, and my forearm throbbed from the ferret’s bite. But I wasn’t dead. Not yet.

When I reached the water, I collapsed onto the soft moss at its edge, too tired to do much more than stare at my reflection. A battered white rabbit with droopy ears and an expression best described as “mildly traumatized” stared back.

“Well,” I said, raising a paw in mock salute,

“you’ve looked worse. Probably. I mean, you were flattened by an airplane not long ago, so maybe today’s an upgrade?”

The rabbit in the water didn’t reply. Figures.

With a groan, I dipped my paw into the puddle and splashed water onto my face. The coolness stung, but it felt good to wash off some of the grime. I scrubbed at my fur as best I could, though the dried blood clung stubbornly. If I was going to be the king of the Kingdom of Fluff, I at least needed to look the part.

“Alright,” I muttered, peering at my reflection.

“Time for the deluxe spa package.”

After a few more splashes and a fair bit of contorting, I managed to clean most of the visible dirt. My fur still looked like it had been through a blender, but at least I didn’t smell like death. Progress.

Satisfied, I stretched out on the moss, letting the sun dry my damp fur. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to relax. No predators. No glowing runes. Just me, the puddle, and the soft hum of the forest.

Whoever it is out there, stay where you are and let me enjoy my bath. No peeking.

Of course, peace never lasts long in my world.

A sharp chirp from above jolted me out of my tranquility. I tilted my head back to see Papa Squirrel perched on a branch, his tail flicking furiously. Mama Squirrel wasn’t far behind, clutching a shiny nut like it was a priceless artifact.

“Oh, hey,” I said, sitting up.

“What’s the commotion this time? Don’t tell me there’s another ferret. I just got the last one out of my fur—literally.”

Ba dum tss

Papa Squirrel scurried down the trunk, chittering loudly. He dropped the nut at my paws, then gestured at it with his tail.

“For me?” I asked, poking the nut.

“You shouldn’t have. No, seriously—I have no idea how to eat this.”

Papa Squirrel gave me a look that could only be described as exasperated. He mimed cracking the nut open with his teeth, then gestured again.

“Fine, fine,” I said, picking up the nut.

“Let’s see what we’re working with.”

I turned the nut over in my paws. It was smooth and glossy, like a little gemstone. Pretty, but completely impenetrable. After a few failed attempts to bite into it, I resorted to smashing it against a rock.

CRACK. The nut split open, revealing a pale, nutty center. I sniffed it cautiously before taking a nibble. Huh. Not bad. Definitely better than grass.

Papa Squirrel chirped approvingly, then scampered back up his tree, tail flicking smugly. Mama Squirrel followed, but not before casting a wary glance at the shadows beyond the clearing.

As I finished the nut, I couldn’t help but glance back at the pile of rocks near my puddle. The act of cracking the nut had been oddly satisfying. For the first time in what felt like forever, I hadn’t been running or fighting or stressing about dying. I’d just… smashed something. And it was fun.

An idea began to form.

What if I started collecting things to smash? Rocks, nuts, weird forest junk—whatever caught my eye. Not only would it be a way to kill time, but it might also help me hone my coordination.

“Alright,” I said, hopping toward the pile of rocks.

“Time to get creative.”

I spent the next hour gathering anything remotely interesting: smooth pebbles, shiny bits of bark, even a gnarled piece of wood that looked suspiciously like a tiny club. Each time I added something to the pile, I felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

When I was done, I sat back to admire my work. My pile wasn’t impressive—yet—but it was a start.

“Welcome to the Hobby of Destruction,” I said, patting the nearest rock.

“Membership: one very tired rabbit.”

As the sun dipped lower, I began experimenting with the pile. I tested different rocks to see which ones were easiest to break. I discovered that certain nuts cracked more cleanly than others and that smashing them at an angle was more effective than brute force.

It wasn’t just about smashing anymore. It was about learning. Each crack, each crunch, taught me something new about the objects around me—and, in a weird way, about myself.

At one point, I picked up the gnarled piece of wood and gave it a few experimental swings. It wasn’t much, but it felt… good. Strong. Like a tool I could actually use. I made a mental note to practice with it more.

With my new collection assembled, I set to work. I tested the rocks first, smashing them against each other to see which ones cracked the easiest. Then I moved on to the pinecone, using the gnarled wood to batter it into submission. It wasn’t just mindless smashing—I was learning. Certain angles worked better than others, and timing was everything.

My favorite discovery was a particularly stubborn nut that refused to crack. I spent a solid ten minutes trying different techniques, growing increasingly dramatic with each failure.

“Fine!” I shouted, shaking a paw at the offending nut.

“You win this round! But mark my words—I’ll be back!”

I tossed it back into the pile for another day, feeling oddly triumphant despite the defeat.

After exhausting my limited energy on my new hobby, I flopped back onto the moss near my puddle. The sky was a vibrant orange now, the last light of day stretching long shadows across the clearing.

I stared up at the canopy, my mind drifting. The past few days had been brutal. I’d faced death more times than I cared to count, and yet here I was. Still standing. Still fighting.

“Why, though?” I muttered.

“What’s the point?”

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, like a second heartbeat. It didn’t have an answer, but its warmth was oddly reassuring.

“Fine,” I said.

“I’ll keep going. But you’d better have a damn good reason for all this.”

The orb pulsed again, stronger this time. I frowned, placing a paw over my chest. Was it… responding to me? Or was I just imagining things?

As the first stars began to dot the sky, the squirrels returned. Papa Squirrel chirped loudly, his tail flicking in agitation. Mama Squirrel followed close behind, clutching another twig like a weapon.

“What now?” I asked, sitting up.

“More bad news?”

Papa Squirrel pointed his tail toward the deeper forest. His chirps grew sharper, more urgent. Mama Squirrel added her own high-pitched squeaks, her tiny paws trembling.

I stood, my ears swiveling. [Danger Sense] buzzed faintly in the back of my mind—not the blaring alarm of immediate danger, but the low hum that warned something was coming.

“Alright, alright,” I said, raising a paw.

“Message received. I’ll stay out of the deep woods tonight.”

The squirrels didn’t look convinced, but they retreated to their tree, still watching me with nervous eyes.

As the forest settled into its nighttime stillness, I curled up near my burrow, staring at the stars. The orb pulsed faintly again, a constant reminder of its presence.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” I whispered.

“Or are you just… there?”

The orb didn’t answer, of course. But its warmth spread through me, steady and unchanging.

I closed my eyes, letting the forest’s whispers lull me into an uneasy sleep. The orb’s hum echoed in my dreams, carrying with it images I couldn’t quite understand—glowing runes, shadowy figures, and a web of light stretching endlessly across the forest.

When I woke, the sky was just beginning to brighten, the faintest hints of dawn creeping over the horizon.

“Another day,” I muttered, stretching.

“Another chance to not die.”

I glanced at my pile of rocks and nuts, a small smile tugging at my lips. Maybe today, I’d add something new to the collection.

Chapter 7 – The Predator’s Return

Boing. Boing. Boing.

The life of a rabbit—especially this rabbit—was a ridiculous mix of absurdity and terror. One moment, I’m leaping majestically over a puddle, admiring my fluffy reflection, and the next, I’m fending off ferrets with delusions of grandeur.

Yesterday, one of those overgrown weasels almost turned me into a snack. And let me tell you, it wasn’t fun. Sure, I won the fight, but barely. The bite marks on my back and legs still burned, and my once-pristine fur was patchy in spots, thanks to those razor-sharp claws. Because of that stupid noodle rat, I’ve spent the whole day just resting, preventing me from getting back to Killing— I mean protecting the precious citizens of my kingdom.

[No Name]
[Rabbit]
[Level 8 [0/40 EXP]]
[HP: 19/19]
[Mana: 10/15]
[Skills: Bounce Level 3, Danger Sense Level 1, Kick Level 2]

“Zero EXP,” I muttered, glaring at the glowing status screen in my mind.

“It’s like starting from scratch. Again.”

I sighed dramatically, glancing at my surroundings. The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, its towering trees forming a thick canopy that only let in faint shafts of sunlight. The air was damp and heavy, filled with the earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves. Somewhere in the distance, a bird called out, its sharp cry echoing through the trees.

This place was both beautiful and terrifying. On the surface, it looked like any ordinary forest, but spend more than a few days here, and you’d start noticing the little things. Like how the shadows seemed darker than they should be. Or how the air felt... alive. Watching.

And then there were the creatures. This forest wasn’t just home to caterpillars and squirrels. No, it had predators. Real ones. Creatures that made the ferret look like a puppy in comparison. I hadn’t seen them yet, but I could feel them. Out there, somewhere, waiting. Am I just paranoid from all that has happened to me since reincarnating in this world? I don’t know.

When you think about it logically if there are magical orbs just lying around waiting for a random rabbit to snatch it and RPG elements like skills and weird trees and stuff. We can most likely conclude that we’re currently in a fantasy setting. Am I right or Am I right? Of course, I am right you dumbos.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on existential dread. I had a mission: grind EXP and get stronger. Because if another ferret showed up, I wasn’t sure I’d survive a second round.

I started the day at my puddle, which, by the way, I had officially claimed as my territory. It wasn’t much—a muddy little splash zone fed by a nearby river—but it was mine.

Papa Squirrel was already there, perched on his usual branch. He chirped sharply when he saw me, his tail flicking irritably.

“What’s your problem, Acorn Lord?” I asked, dipping my head into the cool water.

“Jealous of my fluffy and handsome visage?”

He chirped again, this time more urgently, and hopped down to the ground. His beady little eyes scanned the trees, and he let out a series of rapid squeaks, glancing back at me every few seconds.

“Okay, what’s with the drama?” I asked, straightening up.

“Is there another ferret around? Or are you just mad I haven’t paid rent? Wait, you should be the one paying me rent.”

Mama Squirrel appeared next, carrying a shiny nut in her tiny paws. She dropped it at my feet, her expression unusually serious.

“Uh... thanks?” I said, nudging the nut with my paw.

“Are you guys trying to bribe me? Because it’s working.”

Papa Squirrel let out a sharp squeak and pointed his tail toward the deeper part of the forest. My ears twitched as a faint hum of [Danger Sense] buzzed at the edge of my awareness. It wasn’t a full-blown alarm—just a low, persistent hum that made my fur stand on end.

“Right,” I muttered, backing away from the puddle.

“I’ll steer clear of that area today. Thanks for the warning, I guess.”

The squirrels chittered nervously as I hopped off, their eyes never leaving the shadows of the deeper woods. Whatever was out there, it had them spooked.

Grinding EXP was as monotonous as ever. Caterpillars were plentiful, sure, but each one only gave me 1 EXP. And with 40 EXP needed to level up, that meant I had to squash forty of them. Forty.

“You guys better appreciate this,” I muttered, crouching low in the underbrush.

“I could be doing something meaningful with my life, but nooo, I’m stuck exterminating worms.”

The caterpillars were clustered around a patch of wildflowers, munching away like they didn’t have a care in the world. Perfect. It’s like they unionized, they created a union for caterpillars. But alas, I don’t tolerate rebels in my kingdom.

I activated [Bounce], launching myself high into the air before slamming down into the center of the cluster.

Squelch.
[Obtained 1 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 1/40 EXP.]

“Bow before your fluffy overlord!” I declared, puffing out my chest.

“No rebellion will be tolerated in the Kingdom of Fluff!”

One particularly bold caterpillar lunged at me, its slimy body twisting in a desperate attempt to bite me.

“You dare to harm me you peasant?!,” I scoffed, sidestepping its attack.

“You’re just a glorified gummy worm.”

I delivered a swift [Kick], sending it flying into a nearby tree. The impact left a gross green smear on the bark.

[Obtained 1 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 2/40 EXP.]

I was mid-squelch when [Danger Sense] flared sharply, the faint hum turning into a blaring alarm. My ears shot up, swiveling toward the sound of rustling leaves. My nose twitched as I caught a faint, musky scent.

No. It couldn’t be.

I turned slowly, my heart sinking as a sleek, dark shape emerged from the bushes. Its green eyes gleamed with hunger, and its scarred body rippled with muscle.

Another ferret.

But this one was different. Bigger. Stronger. Meaner. It wasn’t just a predator—it was a veteran. A seasoned killer.

“Oh, come on!” I groaned, backing away slowly.

“What is this, ferret revenge day?! Did you guys hold a meeting or something? Or are you the father of the one that I fucked over yesterday? If I kill you what’s next? Will the grandpa come, after that then the great grandpa, then the ancestor, and maybe even the sect your ancestor belongs to?!”

The ferret hissed, baring its sharp teeth. My [Danger Sense] screamed at me to move, and I leaped backward just as it lunged, its claws raking the air where I’d been standing.

The ferret wasted no time, darting toward me with deadly precision. Its claws slashed through the air, and I barely dodged in time, activating [Bounce] to launch myself out of its reach.

I twisted mid-air and delivered a quick [Kick] to its snout, feeling the impact reverberate up my leg.

[Ferret]
[HP: 26/30.]

The ferret stumbled but recovered quickly, its green eyes narrowing with fury. It lunged again, zigzagging through the underbrush with terrifying speed. I barely dodged its attack, but its claws grazed my side, leaving a shallow cut.

[No Name]
[HP: 18/19.]

The ferret zigzagged around me, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. My breathing was labored, my heart pounding as I leaped back to avoid its relentless attacks. This wasn’t just another mindless predator—it was smart, calculating. Its glowing green eyes tracked my every move, and it wasn’t about to give up on its next meal.

“Alright, you oversized weasel,” I panted, hopping back a few feet.

“You think you’ve got me cornered? Let’s see how you handle this!”

I activated [Bounce], launching myself high into the air. My hind legs coiled like springs, propelling me upward and out of its reach. The ferret lunged after me, snapping at my tail, but I twisted mid-air and delivered a [Kick] straight to its face.

CRACK.

[Ferret]
[HP: 22/30.]

The ferret stumbled, its head snapping to the side, but it recovered almost instantly. It growled low in its throat, blood trickling from its snout as it crouched low to the ground, preparing to pounce.

“Seriously?!” I groaned, landing on shaky legs.

“For fuck’s sake how are you still standing?”

The ferret lunged again, this time faster than before. I barely managed to sidestep its attack, but its claws raked across my side, leaving a shallow gash. Blood flowed from my sides tainting my fur red.

[No Name]
[HP: 15/19.]

I yelped, the sharp pain jolting me into action. My instincts screamed at me to run, to get away from this thing, but I couldn’t. If I turned my back on it, I was dead. I had to stand my ground.

The ferret circled me, its green eyes glinting with predatory hunger. It was playing with me now, savoring the thrill of the hunt. My legs trembled beneath me, exhaustion creeping into every muscle, but I refused to give up.

“You better wish I don’t die today,” I muttered through gritted teeth, crouching low. “Not today.”

The ferret pounced again, its claws outstretched, but this time I was ready. I activated [Bounce] and launched myself toward a nearby tree, ricocheting off its trunk and back toward the ferret. My momentum carried me forward, and I twisted mid-air to deliver a powerful [Kick] to its ribs.

THUD.

[Ferret]
[HP: 18/30.]

The ferret skidded across the ground, yowling in pain, but it wasn’t done yet. It scrambled to its feet, its scarred body trembling with effort as it growled low in its throat.

I didn’t wait for it to recover. Using [Bounce], I ricocheted between the trees, building up speed and momentum. The strain on my legs was excruciating, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t afford to hold back—not against this thing.

The ferret lunged at me again, but this time, I was faster. I twisted mid-air and delivered another [Kick] to its head, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone beneath my paw.

CRACK.

[Ferret]
[HP: 12/30.]

The ferret staggered, its movements growing sluggish. Blood dripped from its snout and sides, staining the forest floor. But even now, it refused to back down. Its glowing green eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mixture of rage and desperation.

“Why won’t you just die already?!” I shouted, panting heavily.

The ferret lunged one final time, its claws aiming for my throat. Time seemed to slow as [Danger Sense] flared in my mind, warning me of the imminent attack. My muscles tensed, and I activated [Bounce] one last time, launching myself straight into the air.

This time, I didn’t aim for its head or body. I aimed for its exposed neck.

I twisted mid-air and delivered a devastating [Kick] to its throat, feeling the impact reverberate through my leg.

CRUNCH.

[Ferret]
[HP: 0/30.]

The ferret crumpled to the ground, its body twitching once before going still. Blood pooled beneath it, staining the forest floor in a dark, sticky mess.

I collapsed onto the ground, my legs trembling with exhaustion. My breathing was ragged, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. The taste of blood and dirt filled my mouth, and my fur was matted with sweat and gore.

But I’d done it. I’d won.

[Defeated Ferret.]
[Obtained 20 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 23/40 EXP.]

“Twenty EXP,” I muttered, staring up at the canopy of trees above me.

“All that work... for twenty EXP.”

My body ached, my muscles screaming in protest as I forced myself to sit up. The ferret’s lifeless body lay a few feet away, its scarred form twisted at an unnatural angle. It had been a fierce opponent—stronger, faster, and more experienced than me. But in the end, it hadn’t been enough.

I glanced down at my paws, still trembling from the fight. The memory of the final blow replayed in my mind, the sickening crunch of bone echoing in my ears.

“I’m not cut out for this,” I muttered, wiping the blood off my fur.

“I’m a rabbit, damn it. A prey animal. I’m not supposed to be fighting predators.”

But even as I said the words, a part of me felt... different. Stronger. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, and I felt a strange warmth spreading through my body. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. Something was changing.

As I limped back toward my puddle, the orb’s pulsing grew stronger. It wasn’t painful—just... strange. Like a second heartbeat, steady and rhythmic. My mind buzzed with half-formed thoughts and images, flashes of things I couldn’t quite understand.

“What... is this?” I whispered, clutching my chest. The orb didn’t answer, of course, but I could feel its presence, humming faintly in the back of my mind.

The forest seemed quieter than usual as I made my way back to my burrow. Even the squirrels were silent, their beady eyes watching me from the safety of their trees. Papa Squirrel chirped once, a low, cautious sound, but he didn’t come down to greet me.

“Yeah, yeah, I know I look like crap,” I muttered, collapsing onto the soft grass near the puddle.

“Rough morning, okay? Cut me some slack.”

The water rippled as I leaned down to drink, my reflection staring back at me. My fur was a mess, matted with blood and dirt, and my eyes looked sharper, and more intense than before. The orb pulsed again, and for a brief moment, my reflection seemed... different. Stronger. Wilder.

“What’s happening to me?” I whispered.

I didn’t have time to ponder the question. [Danger Sense] buzzed faintly in the back of my mind—not the sharp alarm of an imminent threat, but the low, persistent hum that meant something was out there. Watching.

My ears twitched as I scanned the forest, my muscles tensing despite my exhaustion. And then I saw it.

A shadow. Tall. Humanoid. Watching me from the edge of the clearing.

The orb in my chest pulsed sharply, and for a brief moment, I felt a strange connection to it. Like it wasn’t just watching me—it was waiting.

“What... are you?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

The shadow didn’t answer. It tilted its head, its movements slow and deliberate, and then it disappeared into the trees without a sound, leaving me alone with the sinking realization that the forest wasn’t done with me yet.

A note from PotatoYawn

What do you guys think of the fight scene? Comment down below if you like it or nah. If you want me to improve something

Chapter 8 – A New Hunt Begins

The shadow was gone, but its presence lingered like a storm cloud over my head. My ears twitched constantly, straining to catch even the faintest sound of movement, but the forest around me remained eerily still. No chirping squirrels, no rustling leaves—just an oppressive silence that felt far too unnatural.

“What in the actual hell was that?” I muttered, glancing at the spot where the shadow had disappeared. My voice sounded absurdly loud in the quiet, and I immediately regretted speaking.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, an unfamiliar rhythm that echoed the tension in the air. It wasn’t painful, but it was distracting—like a quiet drumbeat in the back of my mind, reminding me that whatever had been watching me wasn’t just a figment of my imagination.

I wonder what this orb is, come to think of it, It’s quite strange. Who the fuck actually leaves their valuables in a random-ass forest in the middle of nowhere and god knows what’s even in here. I mean I swiped it from that place cause why not right? Sucks to be that person. I won’t give this back to you, Idiot.

I shuddered, taking a deep breath to steady myself.

“Alright, fluffy legs, time to move. Can’t just sit here waiting to get eaten by something worse than a ferret.”

The fight with the ferret earlier had drained me, but the experience it gave me brought me closer to leveling up. That was good. No, great even. Because I had a sinking feeling that I’d need every ounce of strength I could muster for whatever lay ahead if we were going with the progression of the enemies that I encountered.

It would seem that the next might be a tiger, maybe a bear, what about goblins? Am I really in a fantasy world? I don’t know, or maybe I’m just dreaming, and the next moment I get slapped to reality by that friend of mine for waking up late.

Well, I don’t know. Thinking of what could be present in a fantasy world most likely there would be elves, goblins, griffons, and dragons. I hope I don’t encounter dragons. Unless… I could have that certain donkey’s charisma.

I hopped back to my burrow, speaking of. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned about my burrow! My burrow? Yes, my burrow!

Well let’s see, although I’m not an architect or an interior designer or a Kungfu—I mean Feng shui master, I for sure can tell you that I’ve placed it in a perfect spot. Well, it’s just below the tree of the squirrel family really.

The view looks nice if you’re looking at it a few meters away. It’s a lone tree situated in the middle of the clearing with a small pond and a nearby river on the east side which gives it a serene and refreshing view. Not bad right? Right?

Well, I’m kinda tired right now from all the bouncing and hopping away from bastards trying to kill me so I’m gonna go sleep. Well, Ciao.

Squelch

No Name]
[Rabbit]
[Level 8 [31/40 EXP]]
[HP: 19/19]
[Mana: 10/15]
[Skills: Bounce Level 3, Danger Sense Level 1, Kick Level 2]

Nine more caterpillars, I thought grimly, squaring my shoulders—or, well, as much as a rabbit can square its shoulders.

“Nine more, and I’ll hit Level 9. Then… who knows? Maybe I’ll stop feeling like the universe’s punching bag for once.”

It’s once again another day, I mean dawn cause I wake up at dawn just like rabbits do. Well, I don’t know what other rabbits do.

I started grinding again after waking up, cleaning myself on the pond (Never forget proper hygiene folks), and saying goodbye to the squirrel family. It feels quite nice being able to do these things despite dying once and getting crashed into a pulp.

Although it might seem that I’m quite relaxed based on how much I yap in my head, It’s really not the case. That’s what happens when everything around you might want to eat you anytime. It’s not fun, people. Alas, although it might seem a good idea to wallow in despair, I guess it would be better for my mental state if I continue to find enjoyment in life like squashing these bugs.

Squelch

But before I could focus on the grind, that lingering hum of [Danger Sense] tugged at the edge of my awareness again, sharper this time. Something was out there. Watching. Moving. Its identity? Not. A. Single. Clue.

“Great,” I muttered, crouching low to the ground.

“Of course, it can’t just be an easy day of squashing caterpillars. Can’t you guys let me rest for a while?”

The forest was unnaturally quiet as I crept forward, my paws brushing softly against the mossy ground. The shadows seemed deeper here, stretching unnaturally between the trees. It wasn’t just my imagination—something about this part of the forest felt… wrong.

It feels really icky and gives me goosebumps, this might be the effect of [Danger Sense] but up until now, it still hasn’t failed me yet, I know there’s something there, I just have to be prepared for it.

The orb pulsed faintly again, as though reacting to the tension.

------------------------------------------

The scent hit me first—faint, but unmistakable. A sickly sweet odor that made my nose wrinkle. It was familiar, though I couldn’t quite place where I’d smelled it before.

[Danger Sense] hummed louder, and I froze, my ears swiveling toward the sound of distant movement.

Snap.

A twig cracked somewhere to my left, and my heart leaped into my throat. My body tensed instinctively, ready to activate [Bounce] at the first sign of trouble.

The bushes rustled, and then it emerged.

At first glance, I thought it was another ferret. But as it stepped into the faint sunlight filtering through the trees, I realized it was something else entirely.

Its body was low and sleek, covered in mottled black fur that shimmered faintly with a strange, oily sheen. Its legs were long and spindly, ending in sharp claws that clicked softly against the ground. And its eyes—glowed with an unnatural yellow light, bright and piercing in the dim forest; a panther.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered, backing away slowly.

“What even is that thing?!”

It wasn’t just a predator. It was something far worse.

At that moment, I knew for sure, that thing was out to get his dinner, seeing the excitement in its body language.

The creature tilted its head, its glowing eyes locking onto mine. And then it smiled. A grotesque, jagged grin that sent a chill down my spine, making me shiver and stop thinking.

[Danger Sense] screamed in my mind, and I barely had time to react before it lunged.

---------------------------------------

I activated [Bounce] at the last second, launching myself into the air as the creature’s claws raked through the space where I’d been standing. It landed gracefully, its spindly legs absorbing the impact with ease, and immediately turned to face me again.

“Alright, alright, calm down!” I shouted, darting to the side as it lunged again.

“Let’s talk about this like civilized beings! Or, you know, just let me go and I’ll promise not to hold a grudge and take revenge!”

The creature didn’t respond, of course. Instead, it crouched low to the ground, its glowing eyes narrowing as it tracked my every movement. It was fast—faster than the ferrets I’d faced before—and far more intelligent.

This wasn’t a fight I could win with brute force.

[Danger Sense] buzzed sharply as the creature lunged again, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying precision. I barely dodged in time, activating [Bounce] to launch myself out of its reach. My legs burned with the effort, but I couldn’t afford to slow down.

The creature was relentless, darting through the underbrush with inhuman agility. Every time I tried to gain distance, it was right there, snapping at my heels.

I twisted mid-air and delivered a [Kick] to its side, feeling the impact reverberate through my legs.

[Unknown Predator]
[HP: 34/40.]

It stumbled, letting out a low, guttural growl that sent shivers down my spine. But the attack barely seemed to faze it.

“Of course,” I muttered, panting as I landed.

“Of course, you’re tougher than a ferret. Why wouldn’t you be?!”

Chapter 9 – I want to live

I needed a plan, and fast. My mind raced as I darted through the trees, the creature hot on my heels. It was faster than me, stronger than me, and definitely more experienced at hunting. My only advantage was [Bounce] and my irritating tendency to not die.

“Think, think, think!” I muttered, dodging another swipe of its claws. My ears twitched as I scanned my surroundings, searching for anything I could use to my advantage.

Then I saw it.

A narrow ravine, its edges lined with jagged rocks and thick underbrush. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it was better than nothing.

I activated [Bounce], launching myself toward the edge of the ravine. The creature followed with haste and a relaxed manner, its glowing eyes gleaming with predatory anticipation.

At the last second, I twisted mid-air and kicked off the trunk of a nearby tree, propelling myself sideways and out of the creature’s path.

It didn’t have time to adjust.

The predator’s momentum carried it over the edge of the ravine, its claws scrabbling desperately at the loose dirt as it tried to stop itself.

“Go drop dead!”

For a moment, I thought it was over.

But then it climbed back up.

“HOW ARE YOU NOT DEAD?! You’re supposed to fall and die dramatically!”

I shouted, backing away as the creature pulled itself onto solid ground.

It growled low in its throat, its glowing eyes locking onto mine with renewed determination. It’s mouth curling into a smirk.

“Alright, plan B,” I muttered, my legs trembling with exhaustion.

The predator lunged at me with extreme precision, readying its claws to swipe at the ground where I was.

I hurriedly used [Bounce] to dodge backward, narrowly escaping that tragic fate that might ensue when I get hit by its paw. Just looking at the muscular body of that panther gives me shivers; I know for sure that just one strike might be all that it takes in order for me to be crushed to a pulp.

I hopped toward the surrounding bushes, trying to cloud its vision with greeneries. Although I know for sure that it most likely has an acute sense of smell, but still, being unable to see your prey is a huge factor that might even decide whether I get into its stomach today or not.

On the opposite side of the bushes, I saw a huge boulder and a cluster of trees close together with one particular tree having a hole of just the right size.

This just gave me the perfect idea.

Seeing that I hopped into the greeneries, the panther continued its relentless pursuit, still maintaining the relaxed attitude that it had.

As it saw me beside a huge boulder, its eyes gleamed and pounced. I hurriedly used [Bounce] to once again evade his attacks. Seeing that it failed to hit me again, it lunged once again, this time using the force from pouncing to propel itself faster.

Although I tried to twist my body in midair, I was unable to.

[No Name]

[HP: 10/19]

The panther was too fast, and his jaws barely bit my forearm, using it to throw me down to the ground.

I felt a sharp excruciating pain on my forearm, blood flowing down to my feet. Noticing that some of my flesh was chomped off, contrary to panicking, I was calm. Strangely calm. I know that my chance of survival is quite low, but still, I want to live.

With the state of my body, I don't think I can proceed with that plan. Time to find an alternative.

[Danger Sense] has been roaring since earlier, I tried to ignore it because it was kinda annoying but now I’ll try to listen to it. It might just be able to get me out of this predicament.

I fixed my posture bracing myself for what was about to come, although my right forearm might be unusable now. Still, I want to live.

The panther looked at me amusingly, sensing that it might be able to play with its dinner first before eating.

Sensing that it’s currently quite relaxed and complacent I used [Bounce] to hop forward towards the back of the boulder. The panther quickly followed suit, following my blood trail as I hopped for my life.

Zigzagging through the forest, narrowly dodging the jaws of the beast, I felt my adrenaline pumping up giving me my chance at a gambit.

As each of my blood trickled down to the ground I felt weaker and weaker, but still, I wanted to live.

The panther pounced at me as I landed on the ground, I twisted my body, narrowly evading his pursuit. Seeing the chance to counterattack as the panther passed me by, I delivered a [Kick] to his balls, crushing its dreams of being a father in the future and delivering a critical blow to my pursuant.

[Unknown Predator]

[HP: 17/40]

I finally arrived at a cluster of trees, making the place more advantageous for me, limiting the movement of the panther and with me being able to utilize the trees for [Bounce].

Seeing that the panther is crouching on the ground in agony, I used [Bounce] to gain momentum and ricochet among the trees toward the panther. With each moment that I kick off a tree, the pain worsens and my stamina continues to drop down.

[No Name]

[HP: 8/19]

The bleeding draining me of my blood makes me more desperate to end this fight then and there. It's a race against time for me, I need to kill that bastard before time runs out.

As I delivered a [Bounce] on the tree nearest to the panther, the momentum built up from ricocheting reached its climax, making me go faster and faster, readying my feet to hit the panther with a [Kick].

Alas, the panther was able to narrowly dodge.

---------------------------------------

The fight dragged on; each moment more grueling than the last. My muscles ached, my breath came in ragged gasps, and my vision blurred with sweat and exhaustion.

But I refused to give up.

The creature lunged again, and this time I didn’t dodge. Instead, I activated [Bounce] to launch myself straight at its face, twisting mid-air to deliver a [Kick] with all the strength I could muster.

CRACK.

[Unknown Predator]
[HP: 12/40.]

The creature staggered, its head snapping to the side as blood dripped from its jagged grin. But it didn’t fall.

“Seriously?!” I panted, landing on shaky legs.

“What are you made of?!”

The orb in my chest pulsed sharply, and for a brief moment, I felt a strange surge of energy. My body felt lighter, my movements sharper, and the world around me seemed to slow.

“Alright, you creepy bastard,” I muttered, crouching low.

“Let’s finish this.”

The predator lunged again, its glowing eyes blazing with fury. But this time, I was ready.

I activated [Bounce], launching myself high into the air as the orb’s energy surged through me. My vision sharpened, and for a split second, I saw it—a faint pattern of glowing lines tracing the predator’s body, like a map of its weak points.

I twisted mid-air, aiming for its exposed neck, and delivered a devastating [Kick] with all the force I could muster.

CRUNCH.

The creature crumpled to the ground, twitching once before going still.

[Unknown Predator]

[HP: 0/40]

[Defeated Unknown Predator]

[Obtained 60 EXP.]

[Level Up: 8 → 9]

[Level Up: 9 → 10]

Chapter 10 – On the Brink of Change

The forest seemed quieter than usual. The tension that had filled the air during my fight with the shadowy predator had dissipated, but the silence left in its wake was suffocating. Not peaceful, no—this was the kind of quiet that made your ears twitch at phantom sounds, your heart race at shadows that didn’t move. Even the insects and other things you can find inside a forest had stopped their usual chittering. It was as though the entire forest held its breath, waiting.

And so was I.

I stared at the lifeless body of the predator sprawled on the forest floor. Its sleek, black fur shimmered faintly under the patches of sunlight breaking through the canopy. Blood oozed from its broken neck and jagged grin, staining the ground beneath it. My legs were trembling, barely able to hold me up. My chest heaved, each breath burning like fire in my lungs.

The system notification blinked faintly in my mind; the sound of its familiar chime almost muted.

[Level Up: 8 → 9.]

[Level Up: 9 → 10.]
[Maximum Level Reached. Evolution Possible.]

For a moment, I just stood there, my mind frozen in place as I processed the message. Did I just leveled up twice?

“Maximum level?” I whispered, my voice cracking slightly.

“Evolution… possible?”

My thoughts spiraled. The word "evolution" had appeared, and yet I had no idea what it meant. Of course, I could guess—this was clearly some kind of game-like system, and if reaching the maximum level was the trigger for evolution, it most likely meant I was about to… change. Physically? Mentally? Would I still be myself? Was I even prepared for what came next?

Am I going to evolve like one of those monsters you put on a ball? If that’s the case, then I want to look cool at least.

I shook my head, pushing the questions aside. Now wasn’t the time to panic. My instincts screamed at me to move, to clean myself, to recover, to hide—but instead, I found myself transfixed. I couldn’t stop staring at the panther’s corpse.

I did it, I survived.

My blood-drenched body stood there for a while, staring at the corpse of the beast. I wonder, would it be better to just give up right now? My journey just started but I feel like it would be more tiring in the future.

It had been close. Too close.

I’d won, yes. But I wasn’t the victor because of raw skill or talent—I’d won because of desperation and the strange power of the orb within me. Without that final surge of energy, that final glimpse of glowing weak points, I would’ve been nothing more than a bloody smear on the forest floor.

And now here I was, alive but battered, standing on the edge of something new. Something I didn’t understand.

Sigh

I wanna die~

God, Demon, Djinn, or whoever you are out there. Can you give me a break for a while? I don’t think I’ll survive at this rate. It’s a good thing that the pain on my bloody arm was alleviated by that orb. I think? Bloody hell mate, just give me a break for once.

“Evolution, huh?” I muttered, glancing down at my trembling paws.

“What the hell does that even mean for a rabbit?”

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, as though responding to my words.

I hopped unsteadily away from the predator’s corpse, each movement sending a fresh wave of pain through my body. Blood still dripped from the wound on my forearm, staining the ground beneath me. My HP bar flashed faintly in the corner of my vision, a grim reminder of how close I’d come to death.

[No Name]
[Rabbit]
[Level 10 [MAX]]
[HP: 6/19]
[Mana: 8/15]
[Skills: Bounce Level 3, Danger Sense Level 1, Kick Level 3]

Every part of me ached. My legs felt like jelly from all the ricocheting and dodging, my lungs burned, and the gash on my forearm throbbed with every beat of my heart. But I couldn’t afford to stop here.

“Focus,” I whispered to myself.

“Clean yourself up. Eat. Rest. And figure out whatever the hell this ‘evolution’ thing is supposed to be.”

I made my way back to my burrow, zigzagging through the trees and underbrush to avoid any potential predators. The forest was still eerily quiet, and the absence of sound made my fur bristle. My ears twitched constantly, straining for any sign of movement, but there was nothing.

By the time I reached my burrow, my legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand. I collapsed near the edge of the pond, panting heavily.

“Okay… first things first,”

I muttered, dipping my injured forearm into the cool water. The pain was sharp, making me wince, but the sensation of the blood washing away was oddly soothing. I licked my wound carefully, cleaning it as best as I could before curling up near the pond’s edge.

My reflection stared back at me from the water’s surface—wide, frightened eyes, matted fur, and bloodstains that refused to come off entirely. I didn’t look like a hero or a survivor. I looked like prey. A prey that just narrowly escaped being dinner. I have to thank the orb for this.

As the sun began to set, painting the forest in hues of gold and crimson, I turned my attention back to the system notification still hovering in the corner of my vision.

[Maximum Level Reached. Evolution Possible.]

“What do I do?” I muttered, my ears flicking nervously.

“Do I just… wait? Or is there some kind of trigger I’m supposed to activate?”

The orb pulsed faintly in my chest again, and for a brief moment, I felt something—a pull, like an invisible thread tugging at the edges of my consciousness. It wasn’t painful or overwhelming, but it was insistent, like a quiet voice urging me forward.

“Is this… the orb’s doing?” I whispered, placing a paw over my chest.

“Is this what you want me to do?”

There was no answer, of course. Just that faint, rhythmic pulse.

I sighed, glancing down at my paws again. They looked small and fragile against the backdrop of the forest floor, but I knew better. I wasn’t the same rabbit I’d been when I first woke up in this strange world. I’d leveled up. I’d fought predators and survived. I’d changed, little by little, with each battle and each step forward. I was becoming something different. Different from what I was before I reincarnated.

And now, I was on the brink of something bigger. Something I didn’t fully understand. Where this would lead me I don’t know, the only thing I understand is that I want to live. I still want to see the next day, swim in my pond, and maybe see those squirrels again and gather more things for my collection.

“Alright,” I muttered, my voice trembling slightly.

“Let’s see what this ‘evolution’ thing is all about.”

As I settled into my burrow, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming. [Danger Sense] had been quiet since the fight with the predator, but there was an underlying tension in the air that made my fur bristle.

It was as though the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

I curled up tightly, my body trembling slightly from the lingering adrenaline and pain. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its rhythm steady and unchanging, like a heartbeat.

Sleep didn’t come easily. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—memories of the fight, questions about evolution, and the lingering unease of that shadowy figure I’d seen earlier. Who—or what—had been watching me? And why? These things have been keeping me up at night especially with [Danger Sense] creeping up from time to time, it gave me a sense of unease even from the subtle movements.

The thing that I’m quite surprised about is that I heal quite fast, I don’t know if rabbits in this world are actually like that but the moment I wake up, I feel refreshed the next day with the gash on my side after the ferret fight fully healed.

I don’t know what’s actually happening but it’s a welcome surprise for sure. Imagine having a hole in your stomach not healing for a few days or weeks and you’re a fucking rabbit. Scary~

When sleep finally claimed me, it was anything but restful.

I found myself standing in a vast, empty expanse—an endless void of swirling darkness and faint, glowing lines that pulsed in rhythm with the orb in my chest. The lines twisted and coiled around me, forming shapes and patterns that I couldn’t understand.

In the distance, a faint light flickered, drawing my attention. I moved toward it instinctively, my paws barely making a sound against the invisible ground.

As I approached, the light grew brighter, and the patterns around me shifted, forming shapes that were almost recognizable—trees, mountains, rivers. It was as though the void itself was trying to mimic the world I knew.

The light took shape, and I found myself staring at a towering figure from afar—a silhouette of glowing lines and shifting patterns. It had no face, no features, but its presence was overwhelming.

The orb in my chest pulsed sharply, and I felt a strange connection to the figure, as though it were both a part of me and something far greater.

“Who… are you?” I whispered, my voice echoing in the void.

The figure didn’t respond, but the lines around it began to shift, forming images that flickered and danced like flames. I saw glimpses of creatures I didn’t recognize—some terrifying, some beautiful. I saw battles and ruins, forests and mountains, and a strange, swirling abyss that made my heart race with unease.

And then, I saw another figure in front covered in a blanket of darkness with only the silhouette visible. The only notable thing that I can gather about the figure in front of me is that they have a scholarly atmosphere with long flowing hair.

The “Scholar” suddenly moved his hands.

Click

With a snap of the “Scholar’s” fingers, A huge Circle with intricate patterns appeared, flames burst forth from within and rushed towards the towering figure in the distance.

Thud

And with a stomp of his foot, Earth rose to the sky and proceeded to swallow the towering figure whole.

It was an image that might forever be engraved in my mind. The figure raged from the being encaged into a burning hell. Prancing about, trying to destroy the earthen cage but alas, it was unsuccessful and the flames from hell burned it into a crisp. The image of the colossal figure suddenly fading from reality like sands on the desert.

The “Scholar” suddenly faced me, pointing at the orb within my chest, and uttered.

“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.”

The images faded, and the void around me began to collapse, pulling me back toward the waking world.

I woke with a start, my heart pounding and the orb in my chest glowing faintly beneath my fur. The forest around me was quiet, but the tension in the air was almost suffocating.

I glanced down at my paws, my mind racing with the images I’d seen in the void.

All those images that were shown to me by the towering figure and the scholar burning it, what does it mean?

Now talking about those images that I’ve seen that were shown to me by the colossal figure was burned into my mind, what was it trying to say to me? And what the fuck does lorem ipsum something something bullshit mean?

Well, I don’t have a clue and maybe it was even just a strange dream brought by stress, so it doesn’t really mean anything. Or is it? Well fuck it.

“Evolution,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“It’s not just about getting stronger, is it? It’s about… change.”

How this will all change me I don’t know. But amidst all the worries that I have, the first thing I need to remember is that I need to survive in order for me to continue worrying about the future. Worrying about the future are only for those who have the privilege of a safety net. I don’t even know if I’ll die tomorrow or later, I need to change. A change is necessary for survival.

The system notification blinked faintly in the corner of my vision, and I knew that I was standing on the brink of something far greater than I could have imagined.

But with that knowledge came fear.

Because once I took this step, there would be no turning back.

[Maximum Level Reached. Evolution Possible.]

[Choose your Evolution Path: Lesser Horned Rabbit, Greater Rabbit, Red-Eyed Lop, Lesser Mana Rabbit, …]

[Proceed: Yes/No?]

Chapter 11 – Whispers Beyond the Forest

The sharp clang of metal against metal echoed through the bustling streets of Vaeloria, the City of Three Suns. Located on the eastern edge of the Western Continent, Vaeloria stood as a symbol of survival and renewal in the Seventh Era. Its towers, crafted of white marble and enchanted steel, glittered in the midday light, reaching toward the heavens as if defying the shadows of the Sixth Era’s chaos.

At the heart of the city, just beyond the market square, lay the sprawling headquarters of the Elyssian Adventurer's Guild. It was a hive of activity, a sanctuary for the bold, the desperate, and the power-hungry alike. Merchants barked prices for monster hides and rare ingredients while adventurers, clad in mismatched armor and brimming with bravado, jostled for attention at job boards plastered with notices of bounties, expeditions, and escort missions.

The smell of roasted meat mixed with the pungent tang of iron, blood, and sweat, saturated the air.

In a quiet corner of the guildhall, a figure sat cloaked in shadow despite the light filtering through the grand stained-glass windows. Her leather armor bore the scars of countless battles, and the hilt of a dagger peeked out from beneath her dark green cloak. Averia Silvertongue, a half-elf known for her sharp tongue and sharper blades, nursed a cup of mead as she scanned the bustling hall.

Unlike the adventurers around her, she didn’t jostle for jobs. She didn’t need to. Averia wasn’t a common adventurer. She was a Seeker, a high-ranking guild member whose purpose wasn’t to fetch lost items or slay run-of-the-mill monsters. Seekers were tasked with uncovering the unknown—ancient ruins, forgotten dungeons, and, occasionally, things better left buried.

And Averia had just returned from one such mission.

She grimaced, the memory of the Rift Zone expedition still fresh in her mind. They had lost two men—someone that had been there for a long time in her party, when the ground shifted beneath their feet, dropping them into a chasm that wasn’t there moments before. The magic in the air had been thick, suffocating, and wrong. And the whispers…

She shook her head, taking a long sip of her drink to drown out the lingering unease. No one believed her when she spoke of the whispers. Not the guildmaster, not her fellow Seekers, not even the archmage who occasionally consulted the guild on magical anomalies.

“They’re just echoes,” they had said.

“Residual energy from the Rift.”

But Averia knew better. Echoes didn’t seep into your dreams. They didn’t crawl beneath your skin or linger in the edges of your vision like a shadow you couldn’t catch.

“These whispers, I’ll get to the bottom of this… for them.”

Her musings were interrupted by the sound of heavy boots on the wooden floor. She glanced up, her sharp emerald eyes narrowing as a figure approached. He was tall, with broad shoulders and the unmistakable air of someone who thought himself important. His armor gleamed, polished to perfection, and the sigil of the Lumineth Theocracy—a golden sunburst encircling a sword—was emblazoned on his chest plate.

One of these stuck-up knights again

“Lady Silvertongue,” he greeted, his tone dripping with disdain.

“You’re a hard woman to find.”

“That’s the point,” Averia replied, leaning back in her chair. She didn’t bother to hide her irritation.

“What does a holy knight of Lumineth want with a Seeker? Let me guess—you’ve misplaced another relic and want us ‘commoners’ to fetch it for you?”

The knight’s jaw tightened, but he maintained his composure. Eyes twitching.

“This isn’t about relics. It’s about the Rift Zone you recently returned from.”

Averia’s smirk faded, replaced by a wary frown.

“What about it?”

The knight glanced around the hall before leaning in closer.

“We’ve received reports of… unusual activity in the area—creatures behaving erratically. Magical anomalies. And then there’s this.”

He reached into a satchel at his side and pulled out a small object wrapped in cloth. Placing it on the table, he carefully unfolded the fabric, revealing a shard of obsidian-like stone. Its surface shimmered with faint, shifting patterns, as though it were alive.

Averia’s blood ran cold. She had seen a similar stone deep within the Rift. It had been embedded in the wall of the chasm, pulsating with a faint light that seemed to sync with her heartbeat. She had tried to ignore it, to convince herself it was just another magical oddity. But seeing it here, in the hands of a Lumineth knight, made her stomach twist.

“Where did you get this?” she demanded, panicked, her voice low.

The knight hesitated.

“It was found near the eastern edge of the Forest of the Forgotten Sanctum.”

Averia’s eyes widened.

“The Sanctum? No one goes near that place. It’s a death trap.”

“Precisely,” the knight said, his tone grim.

“And yet, this was found just outside its borders. We believe there’s a connection between the Rift and the forest—a thread tying them together.”

Averia leaned back, her mind racing. The Forest of the Forgotten Sanctum was a place of legend and fear, said to be filled with untold treasures and horrors in equal measure. Many had ventured into its depths, but few returned. Those who did speak of strange phenomena—trees that moved when unobserved, creatures with unnatural features, and whispers that seemed to come from the very air.

The guild had largely avoided the forest, deeming it too dangerous even for high-ranking adventurers. But if the Sanctum was connected to the Rift…

“What do you want from me?” Averia asked, her voice cautious.

The knight straightened; his expression solemn.

“We need someone to investigate the forest. Someone with your expertise. If there’s a threat lurking there, we must identify it before it spreads.”

“And if I refuse?”

The knight’s eyes hardened. “Then we’ll send someone else. But considering your reputation, I thought you might prefer to take the lead.”

Averia stared at the obsidian shard, its shifting patterns hypnotic. She didn’t trust the knight or his motives, but the mention of the Sanctum stirred something in her—a mix of curiosity, dread, and a flicker of determination.

“Fine,” she said finally, draining the last of her mead.

“I’ll take a look. But if I find out you’re withholding information, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

The knight inclined his head.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

As the knight left, Averia remained seated, her gaze fixed on the shard. Her hand brushed against the hilt of her dagger, a subconscious gesture of reassurance. The forest called to her, its mysteries and dangers lurking just beyond the horizon.

And though she didn’t know it yet, her journey into the Forest of the Forgotten Sanctum would bring her face-to-face with a creature unlike any she had ever encountered—a creature small, fluffy, and far more dangerous than it appeared.

Far away, deep within the forest, a faint pulse emanated from an ancient orb, its glow flickering like a heartbeat.

The world was shifting, threads of fate intertwining as forces both seen and unseen prepared for the trials to come.

The Seventh Era was an age of reclamation, but some legacies were never meant to be unearthed.

A note from PotatoYawn

Finally a glimpse of what's outside the forest. The next chapter will be the evolution!

Chapter 12 – The First Step Beyond

I stared at the notification floating in my vision, its faint glow casting a strange light over the walls of my burrow. My entire body felt frozen, the gravity of the decision before me pressing down like the weight of a mountain.

[Maximum Level Reached. Evolution Possible.]

[Proceed: Yes/No?]

For a long moment, I couldn’t breathe. Evolve? Change? Was I ready for that? Did I even have a choice? My instincts screamed at me to press "Yes," to move forward, to grow stronger so I wouldn’t end up as some predator’s midnight snack ever again. But the thought of what came next filled me with dread.

“What happens if I press yes?” I muttered aloud, staring at my trembling paws.

“What happens if I don’t?”

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly in response, like a heartbeat in sync with my own. It wasn’t exactly reassuring. If anything, it felt like it was urging me forward, whispering, you can’t stop now. You’ve already started.

“Yeah, no pressure, right?” I muttered, my ears twitching nervously.

“Right?”

The forest around me remained unnervingly silent. No rustling leaves, no chittering squirrels, no distant howls. Just the suffocating quiet of the unknown pressing in on all sides. I couldn’t stay here forever. Not in this state. I had to do something.

My eyes flicked back to the notification. [Proceed: Yes/No?]

I raised a paw, hesitating for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, I took a deep breath and muttered,

“Screw it. What’s the worst that could happen?”

My paw hovered in the air for just a moment longer before I mentally willed the answer.

[Yes.]

The instant I chose "Yes," the world around me seemed to blur. The walls of my burrow shimmered like heat waves, bending and twisting into strange, unrecognizable shapes. My body went stiff, my muscles locking up as a wave of energy exploded outward from the orb in my chest. It wasn’t pain—not exactly. It was more like… pressure. Like my entire being was being unraveled and re-stitched together all at once.

My vision swam as a new notification blinked into view.

[Preparing Evolution Path…]

[Analyzing Species Data…]

“Wait, what? Analyzing? What are you analyzing?!”

I shouted, my voice echoing unnaturally in the shimmering void.

Then came the choices.

[Choose Your Evolution Path:]

[Lesser Horned Rabbit]: A more aggressive and physically durable form. Notable for its sharp, protruding horns and enhanced combat abilities. Often described as battle-hungry.

[Greater Rabbit]: Physically bigger and stronger than the base rabbit form. Notable for its incredible reflexes and heavy hits. Intimidates their enemy with their large frame.

[Red-Eyed Lop]: A rabbit that’s able to influence the mind of its enemy. This form grants an increase in mental strength and agility.

[Lesser Mana Rabbit]: A path for those attuned to magic. This form grants an expanded mana pool and the ability to manipulate basic magical elements.

[Hidden]: Additional Requirements needed.

I stared at the options, my brain stalling. Horns? Magic? Influence? Was this real? Was I actually about to pick how I evolved? And why were some of these paths locked? My eyes lingered on "Hidden," and a cold shiver ran down my spine. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, as though it has a faint recognition of what lies beyond it.

“Yeah, no thanks,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“I don’t even know what that means, also “Additional Requirement needed” Do you want me to say it again Orby?”

I read through the remaining options again, trying to make sense of what would be the smartest choice.

“Let me see, can I get some more information?”

The instant that I thought of it, the orb pulsated and the descriptions for each evolution choice expanded.

“Nice, now we’re talking, let’s see, first let’s read about [Greater Rabbit].”

[Greater Rabbit]

[Description]

Biological Traits of the Greater Rabbit

Size and Appearance

The Greater Rabbit grows to roughly twice the size of an average rabbit, standing at about 3 feet tall when on its hind legs. Its muscular frame gives it a more imposing silhouette, and its fur becomes denser, providing better protection from both environmental elements and minor physical attacks.

Its ears are longer and more sensitive, capable of picking up distant sounds with extraordinary clarity. The inner lining of the ears has a subtle, iridescent sheen, a trait that might hint at further magical potential in future evolutions.

The eyes take on a sharper, more predatory glint, with a faint glow in low-light conditions, improving its ability to navigate in darkness and sense danger.

The claws and hind legs become more developed, allowing for stronger kicks, faster digging, and the ability to briefly cling to surfaces for stability during combat.

Physical Abilities

Enhanced Agility: The Greater Rabbit is much faster and more agile than its base form, capable of executing rapid direction changes mid-jump. Its [Bounce] ability becomes more powerful, with greater propulsion and control in mid-air.

Increased Strength: Its legs develop significant muscular power, allowing it to leap higher, kick harder, and carry heavier loads.

Improved Durability: The thicker fur and tougher skin provide resistance to minor slashes and bites, giving it better odds in physical confrontations.

Enhanced Senses: Its heightened hearing, sharper vision, and improved scent detection make it a master of detecting predators and prey alike. These abilities also tie into the [Danger Sense] skill, amplifying its effectiveness.

Intelligence and Awareness

The Greater Rabbit experiences a notable boost in cognitive function. It becomes more capable of strategic thinking and planning during combat and survival situations.

It starts recognizing patterns in enemy movements and can assess the strength of opponents more effectively.

This intelligence extends to environmental awareness, making it skilled at identifying hidden dangers, tracking creatures, and understanding the behavior of predators.

Behavioral Traits of the Greater Rabbit

Survival Instincts

The Greater Rabbit develops a heightened sense of territorial awareness. It becomes more proactive in defending its home and resources, challenging weaker predators or rival creatures that encroach on its domain.

Its territorial instincts also extend to nearby creatures that it considers allies. This means the Greater Rabbit may defend others in exchange for food or alliances.

Combat Style

The Greater Rabbit fights with a mix of agility and brute force. It relies on quick movements to evade attacks and land devastating kicks and strikes.

Its hind legs can deliver bone-crushing blows, while its claws, though not as strong as those of predators, can still deal damage in a pinch.

With its enhanced strength and intelligence, it learns to weaponize its environment—using rocks, branches, or terrain to outmaneuver or harm enemies.

Curiosity and Exploration

As its intelligence grows, so does its curiosity. The Greater Rabbit becomes more willing to explore its surroundings and investigate unusual phenomena. This might lead it to discover new resources, hidden dangers, or opportunities for growth.

Its growing awareness of its abilities and the world around it marks the beginning of a more adventurous mindset, hinting at its eventual rise beyond mere survival.

“This looks…good?”

Well, it’s basically just a bigger version of a normal rabbit but with enhanced feet. Let’s see, since I mainly fight by kicking, I think this would actually be beneficial for my survival since my main method of attacking enemies is my feet and the rapid directional changes in midair are a great addition to my abilities.

Although it looks great it looks kinda plain also which means boring. Do I just wanna become a bigger rabbit?! Well, no of course not. If the other choices don’t satisfy me then I’ll think of it then, but for now let’s see the others.

Let’s check [Lesser Horned Rabbit]

[Lesser Horned Rabbit]

[Description]

Biological Traits of the Lesser Horned Rabbit

Size and Build

The Lesser Horned Rabbit is only slightly larger than its unevolved counterpart, standing about 1.5 times the size of a normal rabbit. Its body remains agile and compact, built for quick movements and rapid escapes.

Its fur tends to be darker and more mottled, helping it blend into rocky or forested environments, offering better camouflage against predators.

Horns

The defining feature of the Lesser Horned Rabbit is the development of a sharp, bony horn protruding from the center of the rabbit’s forehead. This horn is composed of keratin, the horn is about 5 to 7 inches long and resembles the structure of a young rhinoceros' horn, rough and sharp.

While not sturdy enough to take on larger predators head-on, the horn is an effective defense mechanism for smaller creatures and can be used to deter attackers in close quarters.

The horn also serves as a mating display and a status symbol among others of its kind, with larger and more polished horns being a sign of strength and fitness.

Eyes and Senses

Its eyes are sharper, offering better vision in low light, allowing it to navigate and detect threats more effectively in dense forests or at night.

Its ears have also developed to pick up on a broader range of frequencies, making it particularly alert to the movements of predators or rivals.

Legs and Movement

The Lesser Horned Rabbit has slightly more muscular hind legs, allowing it to leap higher and farther than a normal rabbit. This enhanced mobility not only aids in escaping predators but also allows it to traverse rocky or uneven terrain more efficiently.

Behavioral Traits of the Lesser Horned Rabbit

Habitat and Range

Lesser Horned Rabbits are typically found in rocky forests, dense shrublands, and hilly grasslands. Their environments often offer plenty of cover and vertical terrain that allow them to utilize their improved jumping skills for both mobility and survival.

They tend to avoid wide-open areas like plains, as their camouflage and agility are less effective in such exposed environments.

Diet

As herbivores, Lesser Horned Rabbits feed on a variety of grasses, shrubs, and roots. However, they have also developed a liking for tougher plants, using their horns to scrape bark from trees or dig out particularly stubborn roots.

Social Behavior

Territorial Nature: Unlike their unevolved counterparts, Lesser Horned Rabbits are mildly territorial. A dominant individual may claim a small patch of land as its own, particularly if the area has an abundance of food or cover.

Mating Displays: During mating seasons, males will often display their horns by ramming them against rocks or trees, creating distinct sounds to attract females or warn off rivals. Actual combat between males is rare but can occur when two claimants desire the same mate or territory.

Small Groups: They are more independent than unevolved rabbits, often seen in small groups or alone, rather than in large warrens. Groups are usually made up of related individuals, such as siblings or mothers with their young.

Defense Mechanisms

When threatened, Lesser Horned Rabbits will attempt to flee first, utilizing [Enhanced Leap] to escape to higher ground or dense foliage.

If cornered or unable to escape, they will charge their attackers with [Horn Jab], aiming for soft or vulnerable spots. While they are still prey animals, these defensive measures give them a better chance of survival than unevolved rabbits.

Predators

Despite their increased capabilities, Lesser Horned Rabbits are still targeted by predators such as foxes, ferrets, and larger raptors. Their horn makes them less attractive targets, but they remain vulnerable to larger, more determined hunters.

Now that’s more like it, it looks cooler than the previous one. The addition of the horn is a plus, I think that I’ll be able to deal more damage rather than just kicking my enemies with my hind legs.

If that’s the case, then that would be really useful in the long run for my survival. Besides, now I can make skewers mwehehehehe. That sounds so stupid not gonna lie.

Now moving on, time for the [Lesser Mana Rabbit]

[Lesser Mana Rabbit]

[Description]

Biological Traits of the Lesser Mana Rabbit

Size and Physical Appearance

The Lesser Mana Rabbit is slightly larger than an average rabbit, about 1.5 times the size of a normal rabbit. Its fur is softer, often appearing faintly luminescent under moonlight or in the presence of mana-rich environments.

Their fur coloration varies based on their environment:

Forest dwellers have pale green or earthy hues to blend into foliage.

Mountain variants exhibit grays and silvers, with faint glowing patterns along their backs resembling veins of mana.

Desert-dwelling Lesser Mana Rabbits have light brown or golden fur with faintly shimmering highlights.

Their eyes glow faintly when they are actively channeling mana, often taking on vibrant hues like blue, green, or violet.

Mana Reservoir

Internally, the Lesser Mana Rabbit possesses a small mana reservoir, a unique organ located near its heart. This organ allows the rabbit to absorb ambient mana from its surroundings and store it. While their mana pool is small compared to magical humanoids, it’s sufficient to fuel their basic survival abilities.

The reservoir also glows faintly during moments of stress or heightened magical activity, acting as a visual cue for their mana usage.

Enhanced Legs

Their legs are slightly more muscular and flexible than those of regular rabbits, allowing them to leap further and with greater control. This is both a physical adaptation and a result of their ability to enhance their jumps with minor bursts of mana.

Sensitive Ears

The Lesser Mana Rabbit's ears are highly sensitive to mana fluctuations, acting like natural detectors. If mana in the environment surges or if a predator with magical capabilities is nearby, their ears twitch and stand erect, alerting them to danger.

Physical Durability

While they are still fragile compared to larger creatures, Lesser Mana Rabbits are slightly more durable than their non-magical counterparts. Their muscles and bones are subtly reinforced by mana, making them harder to injure through blunt force.

Behavioral Traits of the Lesser Mana Rabbit

Skittish but Smart

Like ordinary rabbits, Lesser Mana Rabbits are inherently skittish and rely on speed and agility to escape predators. However, their intelligence is slightly higher due to their exposure to mana, allowing them to:

Learn and adapt to threats more quickly.

Recognize patterns in predator behavior.

Use the environment tactically to escape danger, such as leading predators into magical traps or obstacles.

Mana Foraging

In addition to consuming regular vegetation, Lesser Mana Rabbits instinctively seek out plants, fungi, and water sources rich in mana. Mana-infused herbs like Glowing Grass and Arcane Blossoms are their primary food sources.

When food is scarce, they can survive on pure ambient mana in the environment, though this weakens them over time.

Territorial Awareness

Lesser Mana Rabbits are territorial creatures but in an indirect way. They don’t actively fight to claim land but will subtly “mark” their preferred areas by leaving faint magical imprints (small traces of mana left behind when they hop or forage). Other mana-sensitive creatures recognize these imprints and often avoid overlapping territories.

Herd Mentality

Lesser Mana Rabbits are semi-social creatures, often forming small herds of 5-10 individuals. Herds provide a collective advantage by pooling their sensitivity to mana to detect predators.

The alpha of the herd is usually the rabbit with the largest mana reservoir or the most efficient mana usage in evasion and speed.

Nocturnal Activity

These rabbits are primarily nocturnal, as mana levels in the environment tend to peak during nighttime due to fewer magical disturbances (like humanoid activity). This also helps them avoid daytime predators.

It looks kinda interesting, does it mean that I’ll be able to use magic when I pick this? Yes? Well looks like it.

Seeing that they might have the ability to use magic, fighting through means other than close combat opens up. This would really help me with my survivability since it seems that I’ll be able to do some hit-and-run tactics instead of going head-to-head against my enemies like I always did.

It’s a good choice for sure, besides, I’ll also finally be able to use magic, watch me throw a fireball at their balls.

Let’s see, now for the final one the [Red-Eyed Lop]

[Red-Eyed Lop]

[Description]

Biological Traits of the Red-Eyed Lop

Physical Appearance

Fur Coloration: The Red-Eyed Lop has soft, fluffy fur with a sleek, almost iridescent sheen to blend into dim lighting or its natural environment. The fur is typically a mix of smoky gray, deep brown, or midnight black, making it harder for predators to spot. In rare cases, some Red-Eyed Lops have pure white fur.

Eyes: The defining feature of the Red-Eyed Lop is its deep crimson eyes that shimmer faintly under moonlight or dim conditions. The red hue is unnaturally vibrant, making them appear otherworldly to creatures. When activated, its skill causes its eyes to glow, enhancing its ability to affect enemies psychologically.

Ears: The lop ears are long and hang down the sides of its face. These ears are highly sensitive, able to detect even the faintest vibrations in the ground, giving the Red-Eyed Lop an edge when hunting or avoiding predators.

Size and Build

The Red-Eyed Lop is slightly larger than a standard rabbit, with a more muscular frame, making it capable of strong bursts of speed or powerful, precise leaps.

Its hind legs are dense with muscle, built for both fleeing and launching devastating kicks if cornered. Its claws, though small, are sharper than usual for digging or close-range combat.

Unique Adaptations

Eye Adaptation:

The red eyes of the Red-Eyed Lop through adaptation through time developed its red eyes to produce an intimidating effect. The coloration is linked to enhanced visual acuity, allowing it to see clearly in low light or at night, making it an efficient nocturnal predator.

The glow effect when the skill is activated is caused by a bio-photonic layer in the eyes, which emits faint light and hypnotic patterns that confuse or intimidate enemies.

Sensory Enhancement:

The Red-Eyed Lop has a heightened sense of smell and hearing, helping it detect predators or prey from greater distances.

Its ears can pick up low-frequency sound waves, such as the rustle of a distant predator or the heartbeat of a nearby creature.

Defensive Traits

Camouflage: The dark fur colors combined with the muted sheen allow the Red-Eyed Lop to blend into shadowy environments, helping it evade predators.

Enhanced Reflexes: Its nervous system is wired for split-second decisions, allowing it to react faster to ambushes or attacks.

Behavioral Traits of the Red-Eyed Lop in the Wild

Solitary but Observant

The Red-Eyed Lop is a largely solitary creature, often preferring to avoid densely populated areas unless seeking shelter or mates. It spends most of its time foraging for food while maintaining constant vigilance for threats.

Psychological Warfare

Unlike most rabbits that rely solely on physical escape mechanisms, the Red-Eyed Lop employs psychological tactics to dissuade predators.

If approached by a predator, it will often fix its glowing red eyes on the enemy, activating its eye-based skill to instill hesitation or fear. This allows it to escape while the predator is momentarily stunned or disoriented.

Territorial Instincts

While generally nomadic, a Red-Eyed Lop will defend its immediate surroundings if it feels cornered or if the environment is a particularly abundant food source. It will use its eye skill to intimidate and its sharp claws and powerful kicks to fight off intruders.

Nocturnal and Opportunistic

The Red-Eyed Lop is primarily active during dusk and night, using its enhanced night vision to forage for food while evading diurnal predators.

It is opportunistic in its diet, eating grass, roots, and occasionally insects or small creatures if necessary. This adaptability makes it resilient in harsher environments.

Ambush Evader

When pursued, the Red-Eyed Lop doesn’t run in predictable patterns like a standard rabbit. Instead, it uses erratic, high-speed leaps combined with its psychological skill to confuse predators.

Hypnotic Behavior

If hunting smaller prey (e.g., rodents or insects), it can use its glowing eyes to lure them into a stupor before attacking. This rare predatory behavior sets it apart from herbivorous rabbits.

Now this is an interesting one, could I say that it’s a rabbit that manipulates its enemies? It’s quite tempting considering that it seems really cool not gonna lie. If possible, I could confuse my enemy and push it off a cliff, now that’s a nice idea. Or maybe make them kill themselves…. Well, that’s an idea for sure. A nasty one, but an idea.

Now let’s try seeing what’s [Hidden]

[Hidden]

[Description]

[Unable to view]

[Requirements are not met]

[Additional Requirements needed]

No luck huh, Oh well. I’m satisfied with my range of choices now, so it doesn’t matter actually.

“Okay, think. I’m small, squishy, and everything in this forest wants to kill me. Do I want to become a bigger rabbit, a rabbit with horns, a rabbit that can do magic, or a rabbit that can confuse them?”

My ears twitched as I weighed the pros and cons.

A Lesser Horned Rabbit sounded useful. With extra durability and horns, I’d be harder to kill in close combat. But did I really want to go around headbutting everything like a pissed-off goat? Greater Rabbit sounded great, especially considering how much I relied on [Bounce] and dodging to survive. But something about Lesser Mana Rabbit called to me. The idea of manipulating magic, of having something other than just my legs and teeth to fight back… was tempting.

But still, the moment I saw it, the moment I read what it is. It called to me.

“Manipulation,” I muttered. “Let’s go with Red-Eyed Lop.”

What’s my reason? Well, the reason is… cause it sounds so cool that’s what! Do I even need to explain myself?!

I focused on the Red-Eyed Lop, willing the system to select it. The moment I made my choice, a new notification appeared.

[Confirmed: Red-Eyed Lop.]

[Beginning Evolution Process…]

“Oh crap,” I whispered as the shimmering void around me began to pulse and shift.

The Pain and the Power

The moment the evolution process began, I understood why so many creatures in this world never made it past their first evolution. Seeing that I still haven’t seen a single magical creature in my vicinity, assuming that I’m not the only one who can evolve. It wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was excruciating. My entire body felt like it was being stretched, reshaped, torn apart, and rebuilt. My fur bristled as waves of heat and cold coursed through me, my muscles spasming uncontrollably.

The orb in my chest burned like a miniature sun, its rhythm growing louder and faster until it felt like my entire body was vibrating in time with it. My vision blurred, colors and shapes blending together into an incomprehensible swirl.

“This sucks,” I gasped, gritting my teeth—or at least, I thought I still had teeth. It was hard to tell when my entire body felt like it was melting and reforming at the same time. “This really, really sucks!”

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the pain stopped.

I collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily as the world slowly came back into focus. My body felt… different. Lighter. Stronger. The air around me felt charged, tingling faintly against my fur. And the orb in my chest? It was still there, but its pulse had softened, its presence less overwhelming.

A new notification appeared.

[Congratulations! You have evolved into a Red-Eyed Lop.]

[New Skills Unlocked: Hypnotic Gaze Level 1, Blood Sight Level 1.]

[Level Up! [Bounce] Level 3 → 4]

[Level Up! [Danger Sense] Level 1 → 2]

[Level Up! [Kick] Level 3 → 4]

[Stats Increased.]

[Level Reset: 0/30 EXP.]

[Status Updated.]

[No Name]

[Red-Eyed Lop]

[Level 0 [0/30 EXP]]

[HP: 25/25]

[Mana: 30/30]

[Active Skills: Bounce Level 4, Danger Sense Level 2, Kick Level 4, Hypnotic Gaze Level 1]

[Passive Skills: Blood Sight Level 1]

I blinked at the updated status, my mind racing as I tried to process the changes. My HP and mana had both increased significantly, and the new skills…

“Hypnotic Gaze? Blood Sight?” I muttered, testing the words.

“What even are those?”

As if on cue, while I was looking outside of my burrow, my vision suddenly shifted and began to see some weird red vague shape on the bushes outside as if it seemed to be in the shape of a caterpillar. I tried to focus my eyes more on the figure since I was quite curious about it and suddenly I was hit with a hot sensation.

“Ouch!”

It seems that focusing on it came with a price, but I was also surprised to see that when I focused my eyes it seems that the shape became clearer and became fine lines, I wonder what it means? Well, I have to explore it later, I guess.

Hmm, can I turn it off? Seems not. I guess this is what the eyes of a normal Red-Eyed Lop usually see.

I also felt a sensation in my mind, it’s kind of like hmmmm, how can I actually describe this feeling? Well, it’s kind of having my mind fortified? If that’s the right word for it. I can’t actually explain…NO! If you can’t understand it then you’re just dumb then. It’s your fault, not mine! Hmph!

“Whoa,”

I whispered, glancing down at my paws. They tingled faintly, and a soft red light formed in the shape of my paws. I guess it seems that my eyes have some heat-seeking function now? Like one of those radars, I supposed. Let’s try focusing my eyes again then.

“Oh shit, shit, shit, shit!” I yelped, hurriedly closing my eyes.

I saw lines on my paws like a vein. My eyes felt hot to the point that it feels like it’s about to burst. I guess it seems like I won’t be able to use this skill much. Even then, what is the point of seeing their veins? What’s the use of it? Not a single clue from my end.

“Hypnotic Gaze… Damn, that’s cool!”

Am I able to hypnotize them to give me their grass?! What about I hypnotize them to gather carrots for me? I’ll be stinky fucking rich! Eating carrots won’t be a dream anymore. Grandpa Rabbit, I’ll be able to fulfill your dreams for you, and I’ll be able to eat carrots on behalf of our family, Grandpa! Ancestor! I'll be able to fulfill the dreams of our family!

Well, that was dramatic, but finally, finally…

As the adrenaline from the evolution began to fade, a new feeling settled over me—excitement. For the first time since waking up in this world, I didn’t feel completely helpless. I was still small, still vulnerable in a lot of ways, but now… now I had options. I wasn’t just a rabbit anymore. I was something more.

But with that excitement came a sense of unease. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its presence a constant reminder that my journey was far from over. Whatever had been watching me before, whatever shadows lingered in this forest… they weren’t going to stop just because I’d evolved. If anything, I had a feeling that things were only going to get more dangerous from here.

“Well,” I muttered, stretching my new and improved legs.

“Bring it on. I’m ready for whatever this world throws at me.”

Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

As I stared out at the darkened forest, a faint rustling sound reached my ears, followed by the soft hum of [Danger Sense]. My heart skipped a beat as I crouched low, preparing for whatever was coming. But this time, the [Danger Sense] was just a false alarm, the humming stopped suddenly.

I’ve always felt uneasy whenever [Danger Sense] finds something, but this time I’ll be ready, I wanna be ready.

Tomorrow let’s test my skills.

A note from PotatoYawn

Whew, the first 4.6k length chapter finished! 

Chapter 13 – The Awakening

When I woke up, the world felt sharper, brighter, and more alive. My body buzzed with energy like I’d plugged into some untapped power source. The orb in my chest thrummed steadily, its rhythm in perfect sync with my heartbeat.

After evolving, the orb felt different—closer. Before, it was like a parasite I’d grudgingly accepted, something alien leeching off me. Now, it was part of me, pulsing in sync with my heartbeat, almost comforting. Symbiotic.

But symbiosis isn’t selfless, is it?

I didn’t know what the orb was getting out of this deal—or what it would demand later. For now, I could only hope the benefits outweighed the risks.

I don’t know how it benefits the orb, but I can feel that it’s doing something. Maybe I’ll know in the future or maybe I won’t who knows, only time will tell. All I know is that the orb is slowly becoming a part of me.

Maybe in the future, if I’m able to evolve again, assuming that I’ll be able to is that it will slowly integrate within me. It’s quite a scary thought but I won’t lie, it helped me survive this goddamn forest of god knows where.

I stretched, my movements effortless, as if my body had shed a weight, I didn’t even know I carried and hopped towards a nearby puddle. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a nearby puddle—and froze.

Gone was the familiar white fur and now I’m introduced to a new image of myself. Gone were the days when I looked like a cute plush toy that you buy for your girlfriend. My ears were now longer and had deep crimson patterns on them, and my eyes—oh, my eyes—were glowing orbs of radiant red I can describe it as mesmerizing but at the same time it made my heart beat faster. They shimmered, exuding a predatory intensity that made even me hesitate.

I blinked. The rabbit in the water blinked back.

“Alright,” I muttered.

A Red-Eyed Lop huh

“This… is different.”

Status

[Status]

[No Name]

[Red-Eyed Lop]

[Level 0 [0/30 EXP]]

[HP: 25/25]

[Mana: 30/30]

[Title]

[Abilities]

[Active Skills: Bounce Level 4, Danger Sense Level 2, Kick Level 4, Hypnotic Gaze Level 1]

[Passive Skills: Blood Sight Level 1]

I didn’t notice it yesterday after the status update because I was tired but… WHAT THE FUCK?!

“OI, WHO SAID THAT YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO LEVEL 1 WHEN YOU EVOLVE LET ME FIGHT YOU GODDAMN IT!”

Sigh

This is making my motivation lower…all those caterpillar grind for what? For nothing? Nothing at all?

Sigh

My indignation about the cruelness of this world by a text that caught my eye.

[New Skills Acquired: Hypnotic Gaze Level 1, Blood Sight Level 1]

Oh right, I got new skills from evolving.

I tilted my head, curiosity outweighing my frustration.

“Alright, let’s see what you’ve got for me, Mr. New Fancy Skills.”

As I moved toward “My Pond”, the small pond where the squirrels usually congregated, I noticed the world around me reacting to my presence. Birds in the trees took flight at the sight of me, and smaller creatures scurried away as if I were a predator.

I arrived to find Papa Squirrel perched on his usual branch, tail flicking irritably. He spotted me and froze, his tiny body stiffening as his beady eyes locked onto my glowing red ones. Even Mama Squirrel, who was carrying a nut in her paws, dropped it with an audible thunk.

“Oh, come on,” I said, hopping closer.

“It’s just me. Don’t act like I grew fangs.”

Papa Squirrel chirped sharply and bolted up the tree, disappearing into the foliage. Mama Squirrel scrambled after him, pausing only to cast one last, wary glance in my direction.

“Really?” I sighed, flopping down by the pond.

“All that time we’ve spent together, and now I’m suddenly scary?”

A smaller squirrel—one of their children—peeked out from behind the tree trunk, its wide eyes fixed on me. I tried to soften my expression, but it must’ve caught the glint of my crimson streaks because it squeaked in terror and vanished.

Now this is just sad, after all the memories we’ve had together, all the nuts we’ve crushed and broken, this is what happens?

Sigh

“Well, great. My neighbors think I’m a monster. This is going to be fun.”

The first thing I tried was [Blood Sight]. It activated as naturally as blinking, flooding my vision with an eerie clarity. The world shifted, colors dimming as a web of crimson light spread across the forest. Each thread led to something alive—birds, squirrels, caterpillars—all glowing faintly as their life force pulsed through them.

After a few seconds, heat built behind my eyes, like hot needles pressing into my skull. I winced, shutting them tight as the pain surged.

“Ow—damn it!”

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the afterimage of the glowing threads.

My vision swam, blurry and uneven, and for a moment, panic set in. What if I’d overdone it? What if this stupid skill blinded me permanently?

I deactivated the skill, blinking away the afterimage.

“Okay, that’s… unsettling and it fucking hurts. But cool.”

So, it wasn’t an illusion then, I can’t use this skill for too long, or else I feel like my eyeballs will burst into nothingness. I still don’t want to be blind especially since I’m quite weak and alone right now.

Next, I scanned the forest, it’s quite a nice surprise that I saw red hues in my surroundings, it means that this skill is passive. With [Blood Sight] being a passive skill, I could see every creature within range—squirrels hiding in the trees, birds in flight, and even a faint glow from burrowing insects. Larger, brighter glimmers stood out too: predators, watching from the shadows.

But the drawback of using it actively sends a chill right through my spine. I wonder if I use it too much I would really go blind. I hope not.

The sight sent a chill down my spine.

“At least I won’t be caught off guard now.”

Sigh

The world seemed different now. Sharper. The muted greens of the forest burst into vibrant hues, and faint traces of glowing energy threads weaved between trees and rocks, crisscrossing like a web. The buzzing came from one of these threads, pulsating faintly with an eerie light.

“What… is that?” I whispered, stepping closer.

My eyes narrowed, and the thread unraveled before me, revealing a small, mana-infused insect flitting among the leaves. A rare creature, its body radiating with a faint golden glow. I wouldn’t have noticed it before, but now it stood out like a beacon in the dark.

“Target acquired,” I said, crouching low.

The poor thing didn’t stand a chance. With my enhanced reflexes, I pounced, pinning it under my paw before it could react. Its faint glow flickered, and a notification blinked into my vision.

[You have defeated a Mana Beetle. Obtained 3 EXP.]

“Mana Beetle?” I tilted my head, examining the faint traces of energy it left behind. “So, these red eyes aren’t just for show. They can track mana or life energy or maybe heat if I’m basing it on my knowledge from Earth?”

I don’t know, but the only thing I know is that the skill is really convenient. I can’t use the skill for a long time, but brief moments are fine.

The implications sank in. I wasn’t just stronger—I was tuned into the forest in a way I hadn’t been before. I could see its hidden layers, the energy pulsing through its veins.

The enhanced physique that I have also shown new improvements, I was quite surprised when I was able to jump higher than before, being able to catch the Mana Beetle before it could even react.

This… was going to be fun.

My next experiment was [Hypnotic Gaze]. A cluster of caterpillars had gathered on a nearby patch of leaves—perfect test subjects. I locked eyes with the nearest one, activating the skill.

“I, The King of the Puddle kingdom, order you bastard to…MOVE LEFT!”

The caterpillar froze instantly, its tiny body stiffening as though caught in an invisible grip. I focused harder, pushing my will outward, and the caterpillar shifted to the left, moving in jerky, hesitant motions.

“Hah!” I grinned, releasing the skill.

“Obedient bugs. Who knew?”

“Those who kill should be prepared to get killed themselves. Hmph!”

Did I look cool? I looked cool right?! Right?!

The other caterpillars, unaware of their comrade’s fate, continued munching obliviously. I hunted them one by one, combining [Hypnotic Gaze] with [Bounce] to immobilize and strike.

By the time I finished, my EXP bar had ticked up steadily.

[Level Up: 1 → 2.] [Level Up: 2 → 3.]

“That’s more like it,” I said, flicking a bit of caterpillar goo off my paw.

“Back in the game.”

While [Hypnotic Gaze] and [Blood Sight] were flashy and exciting, my bread-and-butter skills still needed work. I spent the next few hours practicing [Bounce] and [Kick] in the clearing near my burrow.

[Bounce] felt different now—stronger, more responsive. Each leap carried me farther, and I found that I could adjust mid-air with more precision than before. I tested it against a low-hanging branch, ricocheting off it and landing neatly on a boulder.

“This is amazing,” I muttered, crouching low to test my next leap.

“If I keep this up, I’ll be bouncing circles around these predators in no time.”

[Kick] was just as impressive. I practiced on a fallen log, the impact of each strike sending splinters flying. After a few tries, I activated [Blood Sight] mid-combat, tracking the log as if it were a moving enemy. The combination of skills made my strikes faster, more accurate, and infinitely more satisfying.

This time I finally have a chance. This time, the prey will become the predator. Wait for me you bastards. I’ll show you how to hunt.

The day passed quickly as I tested my newfound abilities, but the forest wasn’t going to let me train in peace.

As the sun dipped lower, the hum of [Danger Sense] tickled the edge of my awareness. It wasn’t a full-blown alarm—just a faint buzz, enough to make my ears twitch.

I looked around with [Blood Sight] and scanned the area. A big hazy glow appeared in the distance, moving closer with each second. It was larger than the smaller prey I’d hunted all day, its life force strong and steady.

A low growl rumbled through the clearing, and a sleek wolf stepped out of the shadows. Its black fur glistened in the fading sunlight, and its golden eyes locked onto mine with predatory intent.

For a moment, we stared at each other. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly as if sensing the tension.

The wolf snarled, its body coiling as it prepared to lunge. I tensed, activating [Hypnotic Gaze]. My red eyes flared, locking onto the wolf’s glowing yellow ones.

The wolf froze mid-step, its muscles trembling as it struggled against my will. My chest tightened with the strain of holding the skill—it wasn’t as easy to control as a caterpillar.

“Back off,” I growled, my voice low and firm.

The wolf hesitated, its body rigid, before letting out a frustrated snarl. It turned and slunk back into the forest, its golden eyes flicking back toward me before disappearing into the shadows.

I collapsed onto the ground, panting, the strain leaving me lightheaded.

[Skill Proficiency Increased: Hypnotic Gaze Lv. 1 → Lv. 2.]

“Well,” I muttered, wiping the sweat from my brow.

“That could’ve gone worse, luckily that guy wasn’t that hungry or else we’ll have to find out if I really became stronger or not.”

As the sun dipped lower, I returned to my burrow, my body aching but my heart racing with excitement. This evolution wasn’t just an upgrade—it was a rebirth. My abilities weren’t just tools anymore—they were weapons.

The forest had grown eerily quiet. The squirrels were still keeping their distance, peering down at me with wary eyes. I gave them a half-hearted wave, but they didn’t budge.

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered.

“I’m terrifying now. Get over it.”

But I wasn’t the only one adapting. The forest had noticed me. The predators that once dismissed me as prey now saw me as something more. I wasn’t just surviving anymore—I was climbing the food chain, one level at a time.

Curling up in my burrow, I stared at my faint reflection in the puddle nearby. My glowing red eyes stared back, their intensity unnerving even in the dim light.

Whatever was coming next, I wasn’t just prey anymore. I was evolving.

This time I finally have a chance.

This time, the prey will become the predator.

Wait for me you bastards, I’ll show you how to hunt.

And the forest wasn’t ready for what that meant.

Chapter 14 – Going Deeper

The sun shined through my burrow waking me up from a nice sleep after a long time.

After stretching out all the tension within my body I hopped towards a nearby puddle, looking at my reflection.

“Yep, I look more handsome than ever.”

“How can I say I’m a handsome rabbit? Simple. Just look at me. My visage is unmatched—magnificent. Let’s see if you don’t feel ashamed of your ugly face you peasant pig! Admit it. Hmph!”

But today the forest felt different, it felt like I’d been transported to a new forest, one that wasn’t the same as the one that I had been living in before.

The forest stretched endlessly before me, its canopy of green leaves filtering the sunlight into golden patches that danced across the ground. It wasn’t just a backdrop anymore; it breathed with life, every shimmer of light and every rustle of leaves a reminder that I was part of it now. My newfound clarity from evolving brought the world into focus like never before. Each rustling leaf, each faint chirp of a bird, each distant growl of a predator—it all felt vivid and alive as if the forest were breathing around me.

It wasn’t just alive—it was charged with something unnatural. The leaves shimmered faintly, their edges tinged with an iridescent glow, while veins of golden light pulsed through the bark of nearby trees, as though the forest itself carried a heartbeat. I feel like…I’m in a different world altogether.

The air felt heavier today, charged with something I couldn’t quite place. Maybe it was my heightened senses, or maybe it was the shift in how the forest seemed to treat me.

I drew in a deep breath.
“I don’t feel like an intruder anymore,” I muttered.

This place, once hostile and foreign, now felt strangely connected to me.

One thing was clear—I needed to explore more. This forest wasn’t just a backdrop; it was a world of its own, and I was officially part of its ecosystem now.

Why haven’t I explored the forest after all these times you asked? Well, if you actually used your brain then you would have already come to a conclusion that a rabbit exploring a forest full of wolves, lynx, wolves, bears, wolves, and other magical creatures like maybe magical wolves.

Was that explanation enough? If it wasn’t then maybe you’re a fast runner. So fast that when wisdom and intellect kept chasing you, they weren’t able to catch you because you’re too fast for them.

I started then started hopping towards the opposite side of the river, if the river is to the east, then I guess I’m now going to the west. How would I know the direction? Well, it’s about looking at the position of the sun overhead. I don’t have the energy to explain it but let’s just say that I’m going in the direction of the huge mountain deep in the forest.

I set my sights on the mountain rising from the heart of the forest, its peak shrouded in mist. It was a place I’d only ever seen from a distance, a place that had always felt suffocating. But now… now it called to me.

The trail twisted through the forest's depths, the trees crowding in as though determined to block out the sunlight. Overhead, their towering forms reached skyward, their branches tangled together like the ribs of some colossal creature. The silence was unsettling to the point that the crack of a twig beneath my paw exploded like a thunderclap. Shadowy trunks stood tall like watchful sentinels, while the swaying canopy groaned with an eerie creak as if urging me to retreat.

The further I went, the stranger the forest became. Flowers glowed softly along the path, some casting fiery light that flickered like embers. Their faint warmth brushed against my fur as I passed. A few even shifted subtly, as though following my movements.

It just gives off a weird atmosphere, quite different from where I was staying before with the squirrels. If I have to describe it, I will say that in that area, aside from the place where I got the orb. Everything feels like it was just back on earth minus the game-like feel that I get from the status and such.

I crouched low, moving carefully as [Danger Sense] hummed faintly at the edge of my awareness. The forest was alive—not just with life but with subtle noises: the faint hum of insects, distant bird cries, and the rustle of unseen creatures in the underbrush.

My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, bathing my vision in its familiar crimson haze. Ahead, a faint glow pulsed—small, quick, and erratic. It flitted through the bushes, its movements sharp and fluttering like a candle in the wind.

A perfect first target.

I crouched, my muscles coiling as I locked onto the glowing thread.

Stay calm. Observe. Strike.

The rabbit-like creature froze briefly, its ears perking up, but it was too late. I launched forward with [Bounce], closing the distance in a single leap.

The creature bolted, its panic lighting up the web of life force in my vision. I was faster, and more agile now, and it wasn’t long before I twisted midair, cutting it off. It froze, trembling, its wide eyes locking onto mine.

I activated [Hypnotic Gaze]. My red eyes flared, and the rabbit creature stiffened, its body seizing under my control. For a moment, I felt an odd connection, as though my will had completely overtaken its instincts.

I hesitated. The trembling creature looked so much like… me, before all of this. Helpless. Weak. Back when the world felt too big, too cruel, and survival was a desperate gamble. Was this what I was becoming? The thing I used to fear?

My claws twitched, instincts screaming at me to strike, to end this. But I hesitated. The creature’s wide, trembling eyes reminded me too much of my own reflection, back when the world was all teeth and shadows. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest—no, in the orb. Its pulse felt heavier now, resonating with something I couldn’t name.

The connection snapped, and the creature bolted, its glow fading into the shadows. I let it go, my claws sinking into the dirt where it had been.

I sat back on my haunches, my breath heavy.

“Well,” I muttered,

“That was pathetic.”

Alas, the forest didn’t give the time to dwell.

While hopping through the bushes, [Danger Sense] buzzed sharply, and I spun just in time to see a streak of dark fur hurtling toward me. A lynx-like predator, its glowing red life force blazing in my vision, pounced from a nearby tree.

I leaped back with [Bounce], barely avoiding its outstretched claws. The ground where I’d stood exploded in a flurry of leaves and dirt. Its amber eyes narrowing.

The lynx stalked closer, its body low to the ground, muscles rippling with each step. It was bigger than me, faster than the wolf from last night. My heart raced as I realized I’d strayed too far from my burrow, too deep into its territory.

Run.

The thought flashed through my mind, but I shoved it aside. No. If I wanted to survive, I had to stop running.

I activated [Hypnotic Gaze], pouring everything I had into my glowing red eyes. The lynx hesitated, its body trembling as it locked onto my gaze. For a moment, I thought it might work—its steps faltered, and its muscles stiffened.

Then, with a furious snarl, it shook off the effect and lunged.

I darted to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. My instincts screamed at me to flee, but instead, I turned and lashed out with [Kick], my hind legs slamming into its ribs. The impact sent it sprawling, a surprised yowl escaping its throat.

I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Before it could recover, I leaped onto its back, claws digging into its fur.

“Not so fun when the prey grows claws, is it?” I growled through gritted teeth, my breaths coming fast and shallow. My hind legs ached, but adrenaline pushed me forward, keeping me on my feet.

It thrashed, throwing me off, but I landed on my feet, ready for its next move.

The lynx stared at me, its amber eyes blazing with frustration. Blood matted its side where my claws had grazed it. For a moment, we circled each other, each waiting for the other to strike.

Then, with a low growl, the lynx turned and slunk back into the shadows, its body tense with unspent aggression.

I stood there, panting, my chest heaving as the adrenaline faded.

[Skill Proficiency Increased: Kick Lv. 4 → Lv. 5.]

“Well,” I muttered, wiping a streak of dirt from my fur,

“I’d say that went better than expected.”

After catching my breath, I continued hopping on and pressed deeper into the forest. During my travels, I saw a creature that resembles a slime that you commonly encounter in JRPGs and stuff. They are actually quite cute with their body just being one big blob. I am not sure if they have consciousness or not.

When I tapped the Slime with my paw, my paw just went boing boing on its body, the slime didn’t even mind my presence.

Its gelatinous body rippled with each poke of my paw, a satisfying boing-boing that made me laugh despite myself. Maybe it wasn’t a predator or prey. Just… existing. Like me, in a way.

Well did you know that Slimes eat grass just like rabbits do? This gentleman understands the sophisticated taste of organic wild grass. A true connoisseur of fine dining, am I right Mr. Slime?

After playing around with the slimes for a bit I got back on my way deeper into the forest.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the forest seemed to hold its breath. Shadows stretched long and thin, and the air turned heavier with each step. The clearing emerged like a secret unearthed, like the forest itself had stepped aside, revealing something it had kept hidden for centuries. The cavern’s entrance yawned before me, its jagged edges glowing faintly with crimson hues. The air here was thick, suffocating, as though the forest was holding its breath. The air grew heavy, pressing against my fur and lungs, as though the forest wanted me to hesitate—to turn back. But the orb in my chest had other plans, its rhythmic thrum syncing with the eerie energy that seemed to seep from the cavern’s depths.

My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, illuminating faint red traces near the entrance—humanoid, but smaller. The orb in my chest pulsed rhythmically, its silent thrum syncing with the cavern’s strange energy. It wasn’t just curiosity pulling me forward; it was something deeper, something I didn’t yet understand.

Chapter 15 – First Dungeon

The cavern’s entrance loomed ahead, jagged edges glowing faintly with crimson light. The air grew colder as I approached, sharp and biting against my fur. The orb in my chest pulsed steadily, syncing with the faint hum emanating from the cave. Every instinct screamed at me to turn back, but the steady warmth in my chest urged me forward.

A chime echoed softly, and a glowing text hovered in the darkness:

[Entered: Labyrinth of Echoes]
[Description: A dungeon formed by unstable mana flows. Once a natural cave, it has transformed into a living trial ground for those seeking power—or a grave for the unworthy.]

The words faded, leaving the weight of the warning lingering. I glanced at the orb’s soft glow beneath my fur, its pulse steady despite the growing unease in my chest.

“A labyrinth? Like one of those from JRPGs?” I muttered, stepping into the shadows.

“Great.”

Now things are getting interesting. I wonder if it’s the right decision though. But what’s actually a dungeon doing here out in the middle of nowhere.

The orb pulsated and suddenly a system notification appeared.

[Description: A dungeon formed from the forest’s lingering mana. What was once a natural cave has become a trial ground for those seeking power—or a grave for the unworthy.]

“Oh,” I muttered, my ears twitching as the text faded away.

“Well, that’s not ominous at all.”

Well, it looks like the orb really wants me to go here for whatever reason. I don’t know what’s in here but I guess it’s fine considering that I wanna change. I want to reach new heights of this world, away from being at the lowest of the fucking food chain.

Before venturing further, I mentally summoned my status. The familiar screen flickered into view:

[Status]
[Name: No Name]
[Race: Red-Eyed Lop]
[Level: 3 (15/30 EXP)]
[HP: 28/28]
[Mana: 34/34]
[Active Skills:]

Bounce Lv. 4

Danger Sense Lv. 2

Kick Lv. 5

Hypnotic Gaze Lv. 2

[Passive Skills:]

Blood Sight Lv. 1

[Title:]

None

“Level 3, huh? Guess I’m not as pathetic as I thought. Though I could really use a few more tricks,”

I muttered, dismissing the screen.

I padded cautiously forward. The air was heavy and damp, pressing against my fur like a wet blanket. The faint hum of energy in the cavern walls grew louder with each step, pulsing in time with the orb’s rhythmic thrum.

The transition was immediate. The warmth of the forest gave way to damp, cold air that clung to my fur. The walls shimmered with faint crimson veins, their glow pulsing like a heartbeat. Stalactites above glistened with condensation, droplets falling in a rhythmic patter that echoed eerily in the silence.

As I moved deeper, the ground became uneven. My paws slid against slick stone, streaked with greenish moss that seemed to writhe faintly under my gaze. Small puddles reflected distorted images of the jagged ceiling above, rippling as though disturbed by unseen forces.

The faint hum I’d felt at the entrance intensified, resonating in my chest like a second heartbeat. It wasn’t just sound—it was mana, coursing through the very walls of the labyrinth.

I paused, my ears twitching at the faint sound of something shifting in the darkness ahead. My [Danger Sense] hummed, a soft warning at the edge of my awareness. Activating [Blood Sight], the shadows lit up with faint traces of life force, their movements slow but deliberate.

The first glow revealed itself as I crept forward—a translucent, wobbling slime. Its body pulsed faintly, a reddish hue bleeding into its gelatinous form. Its core, a small sphere of energy, floated inside like a trapped ember.

A slime

A small, wobbling slime, its translucent body pulsing faintly with reddish light.

“Perfect,” I muttered, crouching low.

The slime lunged as I approached, its movement surprisingly quick. I vaulted over it with [Bounce], twisting midair to land behind it. My hind legs lashed out in a swift [Kick], striking its core directly. The slime rippled violently before bursting apart.

Unlike the ones in the forest, this one glowed faintly with a reddish hue, its gelatinous body rippling as it moved. Its core—a tiny sphere of pulsing energy—was visible, suspended within its translucent form.

I crouched low, coiling my muscles. Stay calm. Observe. Strike.

The slime bounced toward me, and I darted to the side with [Bounce], landing behind it. My hind legs lashed out in a swift [Kick], striking its core directly. The slime wobbled violently before bursting into a puddle of faintly glowing liquid.

[You have defeated a Lesser Slime. Obtained 2 EXP.]

[EXP: 17/30]

The orb pulsed faintly in response, almost approving. But the faint whispers that had been trailing me since I entered grew louder, overlapping in dissonant harmony. They weren’t voices, exactly, but their mournful tone sent a shiver down my spine.

“Great,” I muttered, shaking slime off my paws.

“Creepy walls, whispering voices, and killer jelly blobs. What’s next?”

The corridor opened into a larger chamber, its floor scattered with jagged stalagmites and glowing stones. The walls were lined with shifting crystals that pulsed faintly, their light casting warped shadows.

I hesitated, scanning the room. My [Blood Sight] flickered faintly—there was movement ahead, erratic and fast. My [Danger Sense] buzzed again, sharper this time.

Three figures emerged from the shadows, their forms slick and glistening. More slimes, but larger than the first. Their dark, viscous bodies pulsed with ominous crimson light, their cores flickering erratically as though unstable.

The first slime lunged with unnatural speed, forcing me to dodge. My paws skidded against the damp floor as I twisted midair with [Bounce], narrowly avoiding another attack.

Activating [Hypnotic Gaze], my eyes flared red as I locked onto the second slime. It froze in place, its pulsing body trembling under my control. Wasting no time, I struck the third slime’s core with a powerful [Kick]. Its body wobbled violently before collapsing into liquid.

[You have defeated a Crimson Slime. Obtained 5 EXP.]
[EXP: 22/30]

The immobilized slime broke free, lunging at me with a distorted screech. I twisted to the side, my claws raking its core. The blow wasn’t clean, and the slime shuddered but didn’t dissolve. It lashed out, its gelatinous body elongating unnaturally.

I darted back, panting as the whispers in the chamber grew louder. The crystals lining the walls pulsed brighter, their glow intensifying as the fight dragged on. The slimes moved erratically, their attacks growing more desperate.

“That’s enough,” I muttered, lunging forward with a final [Kick]. The immobilized slime burst apart, its liquid form dissolving into the stone.

[You have defeated a Crimson Slime. Obtained 5 EXP.]
[EXP: 27/30]

The final slime twisted toward me, its core flickering wildly. I lunged before it could react, my claws striking true. It collapsed into a faintly glowing puddle, leaving the chamber eerily silent.

[You have defeated a Crimson Slime. Obtained 5 EXP.]
[Level Up! 3 → 4.]
[EXP: 2/50]

A rush of warmth spread through my chest, my muscles feeling lighter, my movements sharper. My [Kick] felt more precise, my [Bounce] more fluid. Even the whispers in the chamber seemed to fade slightly, their tone less oppressive.

Oh, I leveled up. Now that’s a nice surprise.

The chamber trembled faintly as I moved toward the far wall. A new passage had opened, its jagged edges glowing with soft blue light. The air grew colder as I stepped forward, the faint hum of mana vibrating through the stone.

I paused at the threshold, glancing back at the pulsing crystals. Their light had dimmed, their once-lively glow reduced to faint embers. The dungeon felt alive, shifting with each step I took, its energy responding to my presence.

“Guess you’re watching me,” I muttered, stepping into the new passage.

“Let’s see what else you’ve got.”

I continued hopping on deeper into the dungeon until I finally came across a diverging path.

Now this is a cliché. The problem is, which path should I choose, they kinda look alike not gonna lie.

Without thinking through it any further I chose the right path because it’s right. If it’s right, then it’s the right path.

The journey was quite uneventful aside from the random slime appearances. This all suddenly came to a halt when the passage opened abruptly into a vast chamber, its ceiling stretching high above me. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth, and the floor was littered with uneven rocks, some sharp enough to cut if I stepped wrong.

The walls shimmered faintly, their surfaces lined with jagged crystals that glowed softly with shifting hues of red and orange. As I stepped further in, the light intensified, casting distorted reflections across the chamber.

My ears twitched as a low crackling sound filled the air. At first, I thought it was the crystals themselves, but then I saw it.

The crystals weren’t just glowing—they were moving. Their surfaces rippled like water, and as I watched, shapes began to form within them.

At first, the shapes were vague—blurry, liquid-like. But then they stepped free, breaking away from the crystals with a sound like shattering glass.

Reflections of me.

There were three of them, each identical to my current form—crimson streaks on their ears, glowing red eyes, the same confident stance. But there was something wrong. Their movements were too sharp, too fluid, as though they weren’t bound by the same rules.

“Oh, great,” I muttered.

“Because one of me wasn’t enough.”

The first reflection lunged without any warning; its movements unnervingly precise. I leapt back with [Bounce], narrowly avoiding the claws aimed at my throat. Landing on the uneven ground sent a jolt of pain through my hind legs, but I kept moving, twisting midair to avoid another strike.

It was fast—faster than me.

The second and third reflections moved to flank me, their eyes glowing brighter as they advanced. I lashed out with [Kick], aiming for the nearest one, but it ducked under the blow, its movements perfectly timed.

“Okay,” I muttered,

“This is bad.”

I darted backward, putting space between us. My gaze darted around the room, searching for anything I could use to my advantage. The reflections weren’t just mimicking my form—they were stronger, faster, and entirely relentless.

As I circled the room, I noticed something strange. The crystals lining the walls pulsed faintly whenever the reflections moved, their light brightening in time with each attack.

My eyes narrowed.

They’re connected.

I bolted toward the nearest crystal, dodging a swipe from one of the reflections as I moved. My claws scraped against the crystal’s surface, and a sharp hum filled the air. I struck again with [Kick], shattering the crystal into jagged shards.

One of the reflections froze mid-attack, its body trembling before collapsing into liquid.

“So that’s how it is,” I muttered, dodging another strike.

The remaining two reflections were faster now, their movements more erratic as if compensating for the loss of their ally. I twisted midair to avoid a lunge, landing awkwardly on a jagged rock that cut into my paw.

[HP: 30 → 28]

Ignoring the pain, I darted toward the next crystal. My legs burned as I pushed myself forward, narrowly avoiding the glowing claws of the second reflection.

With a powerful leap, I struck the crystal, shattering it. Another reflection dissolved, leaving only one.

The final reflection hesitated, its movements flickering as I turned toward the last crystal.

“This is the end,” I muttered, bounding toward it.

The reflection lunged in a desperate attempt to stop me, but I twisted midair, landing behind it. My hind legs struck the final crystal with all the strength I could muster, and it shattered in an explosion of light.

The remaining reflection let out a distorted wail before collapsing into liquid, leaving the chamber eerily silent.

I stood there, panting, as the adrenaline slowly faded. My paw throbbed where the rock had cut me, and my legs felt like they were on fire.

[You have defeated Crystal Reflections. Obtained 15 EXP.]

“Well,” I muttered,

“That was a nightmare.”

The chamber trembled faintly as I stepped forward, and a new passage opened in the far wall. It was narrower than the first, its walls jagged and uneven.

The air grew colder as I moved deeper, the faint hum from the first chamber replaced by a rhythmic vibration that I could feel in my chest. Shadows danced along the walls, their movements unnervingly fast, as though they were alive.

The corridor twisted sharply, leading me to another chamber.

This room was smaller but no less ominous. Floating orbs of light drifted lazily through the air, their movements slow and deliberate. Each orb glowed faintly, its light shifting between red and blue hues.

At first, they seemed harmless—peaceful, even. But the moment I stepped into the chamber, they began to move.

The first orb shot toward me, its light brightening as it hummed sharply. I dodged just in time, the orb streaking past me and slamming into the wall. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, and the other orbs shifted, their movements becoming faster and more erratic.

I darted between them, my legs burning with each leap as I tried to avoid their attacks. The orbs moved in patterns, their light flickering in a rhythm that felt deliberate.

My ears twitched as I listened to the hum that filled the room. It wasn’t random—it was a melody.

They’re following the rhythm.

I crouched low, watching the orbs carefully. Their movements were synchronized with the hum, rising and falling in time with the melody.

As the next orb lunged, I moved in sync with the rhythm, twisting midair to avoid its attack. My hind legs lashed out, striking its glowing core. The orb shattered with a sharp crack, its light dissolving into the air.

The remaining orbs hummed louder, their rhythm shifting as they attacked. I dodged another, using [Bounce] to vault over a cluster of orbs and land near the edge of the chamber.

Each attack followed the melody, their rhythm becoming faster and more chaotic as their numbers dwindled.

I timed my movements carefully, dodging and striking in time with the shifting rhythm. One by one, the orbs shattered, their light fading into nothingness.

As the final orb dissolved, the hum faded, leaving the chamber eerily silent.

A new staircase spiraled downward, its steps glowing faintly with a soft blue light.

The orb in my chest throbbed violently, its rhythm syncing with a deep, guttural growl that echoed from below.

I stared down the staircase, my heart pounding. Whatever waited below, it wasn’t going to be as simple as the trials I’d faced so far.

“Well,” I muttered, taking a deep breath.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The jagged walls of the dungeon glimmered faintly with crimson light as I padded forward. The air grew colder with every step, the faint hum from the crystals growing louder.

Just as I reached the edge of the staircase descending further into the labyrinth, the ground trembled faintly. A low, distant rumble echoed through the chamber, sending a shiver down my spine.

Far below, in the labyrinth’s shadowed depths, someone screamed.

(???’s POV)

“Gather your gear, Vanguard,” Kelsor had said that morning, his voice calm and commanding.

“The Labyrinth of Echoes is active again. This isn’t a high-level assignment, but you know the rules. No complacency.”

Kelsor’s team, the Vanguard, was a seasoned squad from the Guild of Verdant Blades, tasked with clearing low- to mid-tier dungeons. Their current mission: to secure the Labyrinth of Echoes after reports of an adventurer group vanishing within its depths. The guild suspected a mana surge had caused the dungeon to grow unstable, spawning more dangerous creatures.

Their job was simple:

Survey the Dungeon: Ascertain the threat level.

Clear the Core Room: Ensure no unstable mana constructs remain.

Recover Artifacts: If possible, retrieve items for the guild.

It should have been routine—a novice-tier dungeon was nothing for a group like theirs. But as they descended further into the labyrinth, it became clear that this mission was anything but routine.

The Vanguard’s current predicament was anything but manageable.

“On your left, Nira!”

Kelsor bellowed, his voice booming as the team’s scout ducked beneath the swiping claws of a shadowy beast.

“I see it!”

Nira snapped, her twin daggers flashing as she sliced upward in a fluid arc. The creature recoiled, its wraith-like form shimmering as her blades passed through it, leaving behind faint streaks of silver light.

Malric, the team’s mage, stood at the center of the fray, his staff planted firmly into the ground. The runes carved into its surface glowed a brilliant blue as he chanted, his voice low and resonant:

“By the tides of Aelria, bind and break! [Glacial Chains]!”

Frost erupted from the ground, encasing two of the shadow creatures in jagged, shimmering ice. They shrieked and thrashed, their forms flickering like dying embers.

“Good one, Malric!”

Kelsor barked, bracing his shield as another creature lunged toward him. The impact sent a deafening clang through the chamber, but Kelsor held his ground, his boots digging into the stone.

“Now finish them!”

“On it!” Nira replied, vaulting over Kelsor’s shoulder. Her daggers struck true, shattering the frozen creatures into black mist that dissipated into the air.

The momentary victory gave them no reprieve. The chamber’s walls pulsed faintly, and the air grew heavier, pressing against their lungs. The faint hum that had been present throughout the labyrinth grew louder, resonating with a dissonant tone that made their ears ache.

“What now?”

Kelsor muttered, his shield arm trembling from exertion.

The shadows ahead coalesced, forming a towering figure that stepped into the dim light. Its body was humanoid but grotesque, made entirely of shifting darkness, with crimson veins of light pulsing along its limbs. A hollow cavity in its chest glowed faintly, like an exposed core of molten energy.

“Mana Construct,” Malric said grimly.

“And a big one.”

“We can handle it,” Kelsor said, though his tone lacked its usual confidence.

The creature let out a guttural roar, shaking the chamber. It swung an arm, its claws cutting through the air in an arc of crimson energy. The Vanguard scattered, narrowly avoiding the blast as it struck the ground, leaving a smoking gash in the stone.

“Malric! Slow it down!”

Kelsor shouted, raising his shield to deflect another attack.

Malric’s staff pulsed with energy as he raised it high, his voice rising with urgency:

“By the frozen crown of Vexria, still the unyielding tide! [Frostwave Surge]!”

A wave of icy energy erupted from his staff, engulfing the creature’s lower body. Its movements slowed, frost creeping up its legs, but it didn’t stop.

“It’s too big for that to hold it for long!” Malric warned.

“Then I’ll cut it down to size!”

Nira darted in, her movements a blur as she closed the distance. Her daggers flashed, striking the creature’s exposed core. Sparks flew as the blades connected, leaving jagged cracks in the glowing cavity.

The construct roared, lashing out with surprising speed. Its claws grazed Nira’s arm, sending her spinning through the air before she crashed into the wall.

“Nira!” Kelsor bellowed, rushing to intercept the creature before it could advance further. His shield glowed faintly as he activated his defensive skill, [Fortress Barrier], blocking a powerful strike that sent him sliding backward.

“I’m fine!”

Nira coughed, struggling to her feet. Blood dripped down her arm, but she gritted her teeth, gripping her daggers tightly.

The construct’s movements grew more erratic, its roars echoing painfully through the chamber. Malric continued chanting, his magic keeping the creature’s legs encased in frost, but his strength was waning.

“We need to finish this—now!”

Kelsor shouted, charging forward with a battle cry. His shield glowed brighter as he slammed into the construct’s leg, staggering it.

Nira seized the opening, leaping onto the construct’s back. Her daggers struck again and again, widening the cracks in its core.

“Malric! One more spell!” she shouted, her voice strained.

Malric raised his staff, his face pale with exhaustion. His chant wavered as he summoned the last of his mana:

“By the searing light of Solis, strike true! [Blazing Spear]!”

A lance of pure light shot from his staff, piercing the construct’s core. The creature let out a deafening wail as the light exploded within it, shattering its form into shards of darkness that dissolved into the air.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Kelsor lowered his shield, his chest heaving as he stared at the remains of the construct.

“That… was no novice dungeon,” he muttered.

“No kidding,” Nira said, wiping blood from her arm as she staggered toward him.

Malric slumped against the wall, his staff clattering to the ground.

“We need to report this to the guild. Something’s changed here. This place… it’s not normal.”

Kelsor nodded, his gaze hardening.

“We’ll regroup at the safe zone. Then we’ll—”

His voice trailed off as a faint hum filled the air again. The walls pulsed with light, and the ground beneath their feet trembled.

“Are you kidding me?” Nira groaned, raising her daggers.

But this time, the hum wasn’t coming from the dungeon itself.

It was coming from deeper within.

A note from PotatoYawn

What do you guys think of the first dungeon chapter?

Chapter 16 – Challenger

Far above, in the twisting corridors of the dungeon, I froze mid-step. The faint vibrations beneath my paws had grown stronger, sharper. The whispers I’d been hearing since entering the labyrinth shifted, growing louder and more distinct.

Ahead of me, the staircase spiraled downward, its steps glowing faintly with an ominous blue light.

Something was moving below.

“Well,” I muttered, forcing a smirk despite the chill running down my spine. “Looks like I’m not alone down here.”

Taking a deep breath, I descended further into the labyrinth.

The corridor opened into a vast chamber, its air heavy with the lingering scent of magic. Scorch marks marred the stone floor, and faint traces of mana flickered in the dim light, as though the battle here had barely ended.

I froze, my ears twitching. The whispers I’d heard throughout the dungeon had grown louder, sharper, but now there was something else—voices.

Harsh, rhythmic sounds bounced off the stone walls. The tones were unfamiliar, layered with guttural growls and abrupt, clipped consonants. It wasn’t just noise—this was speech.

I crouched low, peering through the shadows. Three figures stood in the center of the chamber. One of them—a broad-shouldered man with a glowing shield—was scanning the room, his stance tense. Beside him, a woman with bloodied arms crouched, her twin daggers glinting faintly in the light. The last one—a robed figure leaning heavily on a staff—was muttering something under his breath, his face pale.

The words spilled from their mouths in bursts, quick and sharp. I couldn’t grasp their meaning, but their tone carried urgency and tension.

“They’re regrouping,” the shielded one might have said. At least, that’s what I imagined. The sounds carried weight, his voice low and commanding.

The robed one barked a response, his staff glowing faintly. His words were smoother but no less foreign, each syllable sharp enough to cut. The woman with the daggers hissed something guttural, and her gestures—pointing toward the shadows—were all I needed to understand. They’d seen me.

Humans…

I hesitated. It had been so long since I’d seen others like this, but there was no comfort in the sight. They looked dangerous, their weapons and magic humming with barely restrained power.

Before I could retreat, the woman’s head snapped up.

“Movement,” she said sharply, her voice cutting through the silence. Her daggers were in her hands instantly, her posture low and ready.

The man turned, his shield rising as his eyes locked onto me.

“What the—?”

The robed one stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly.

“It’s infused with mana. A dungeon creature.”

Dungeon creature? I bristled at the term, but before I could react, the man bellowed:

“Take it down!”

The woman darted toward me, her daggers flashing in the dim light. I leapt back with [Bounce], twisting midair to land behind the heavily armored man as he advanced. My legs burned from the strain, but I kept moving. Every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but I ignored it, locking my eyes on the glowing staff the robed one held.

“Stay in position!” the man barked, his shield raised high.

“Cut it off from retreat!”

The mage stepped forward, his staff thrumming with magic. His voice was calm, deliberate.

“By the frozen winds of Aelria, halt its advance! [Icy Grasp]!”

Jagged frost erupted from the ground, curling toward me like grasping hands. I darted to the side, my legs trembling as I twisted between the icy tendrils. My chest burned with every movement, but I forced myself forward.

The armored man moved fast—faster than I expected. His shield swung in a brutal arc, catching me mid-leap.

[HP: 25 → 18]

Pain shot through my ribs as I hit the ground hard, my breath leaving me in a sharp gasp. For a moment, the world blurred. My chest heaved as I tried to suck in air, the ache spreading like fire through my sides.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its rhythm steady. I could feel it—the warmth it gave, the way it pushed back against the burning pain. My vision cleared, but my limbs still felt heavy, slower than they had just moments ago.

I shook myself and scrambled to my feet.

“Get it together,” I growled under my breath.

The mage’s chant rose again, his voice gaining urgency.

“By the binding chains of Aelria, hold and break! [Mana Shackles]!”

The ground beneath me glowed faintly as the chains erupted, snaking toward my hind legs. I jumped, trying to twist free, but the effort was too much. My legs faltered midair, and the chains caught me, dragging me down.

[HP: 18 → 15]

The cold metal cut into my fur, pinning me in place. I thrashed, panic clawing at the edges of my mind as my breathing grew ragged. My vision darkened briefly, and my chest tightened like a vice.

This wasn’t just pain—it was exhaustion. Every ounce of strength I’d gained through evolution felt like it was slipping through my claws. The orb’s rhythm grew louder, steadier, forcing my focus back.

No. Not now.

I locked my glowing red eyes on the woman as she lunged toward me. [Hypnotic Gaze] flared to life, freezing her mid-strike. She trembled, her daggers inches from my throat, her eyes wide with confusion.

But I didn’t strike. I kicked at the chains, my claws scraping against the ground as the metal cracked and splintered.

When I broke free, I bolted, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My legs felt like lead, each movement slower than the last.

The armored man was relentless. He swung his shield again, and this time, I couldn’t dodge fast enough.

The blow caught me squarely in the side, sending me sprawling across the stone floor.

[HP: 15 → 8]

The pain was sharp and immediate, but it wasn’t the worst part. My legs trembled as I tried to stand, every muscle screaming in protest. My head spun, and my chest heaved as the orb’s pulse grew louder.

It wasn’t comforting this time—it was suffocating. My vision swam, the edges tinged with red as my stamina dwindled. My claws scraped uselessly against the stone as I staggered back onto my feet.

The man advanced, his shield glowing with defensive magic. Behind him, the mage began chanting again, his staff trembling with raw power.

I crouched low, forcing myself to breathe despite the stabbing pain in my ribs.

Focus. Think. Survive.

The woman circled me cautiously, her daggers glinting faintly in the dim light. I watched her closely, my legs trembling as I shifted my weight. Every movement sent sharp jolts of pain through my body, but I couldn’t stop.

Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, something flickered in her expression—confusion? Hesitation?

I couldn’t risk it. With a surge of strength, I leapt into the shadows, narrowly avoiding her strike.

I stumbled back, my legs trembling beneath me. The pain in my side pulsed with every heartbeat,

With nowhere to run, the shield bash from the man came crashing down again.

[HP: 8 → 2]

the lingering shock of the shield’s last blow leaving my vision hazy.

The armored man loomed closer; his shield raised again. His face was set with grim determination as he advanced.

“Keep it cornered!” he barked.

The woman moved to flank me, her daggers dripping with that eerie green glow. Poison, I realized dimly. A single cut from those blades, and it’d all be over.

I couldn’t keep this up. My legs refused to obey me, and every breath sent sharp stabs of pain through my chest.

The orb in my chest pulsed wildly, as if it were fighting alongside me, trying to keep me upright. But even its warmth felt distant now, like a flame guttering in the wind.

I wasn’t going to make it.

The mage’s voice rose, his chant echoing through the chamber.

“By the searing light of Solis, pierce the unyielding dark! [Lance of Radiance]!”

A spear of golden light shot toward me, searing through the air with a deafening crack. I threw myself to the side, the heat grazing my fur as it passed.

“Stay down, damn it!”

the man shouted, closing the distance in two long strides. His shield glowed with a faint aura as he raised it high.

I braced myself, my vision narrowing to the arc of his swing.

This was it.

The shield came down like a hammer, its glow filling my vision. Time seemed to slow as my instincts screamed at me to move, but my legs wouldn’t respond.

The orb’s pulse faltered.

No.

My chest burned—not just with pain, but with something deeper. A spark. A defiance I hadn’t felt since the day I realized I could fight back.

I wasn’t just prey anymore.

With a surge of strength, I didn’t know I had; I forced my body to move. My hind legs coiled, my claws scraping against the stone as I kicked upward with everything I had.

I parried the shield with my [Kick].

The blow connected with the edge of the shield, sending a shockwave up my legs that left them numb. The force of the impact staggered the man, his footing slipping as the shield was knocked to the side.

His eyes widened in surprise.

“What the—?”

I didn’t stop. I pushed off the ground with trembling legs, my chest heaving as I scrambled back into a defensive crouch. My vision swam, but I could feel it—something had changed.

A faint glow surrounded me, emanating from the orb in my chest. The warmth surged, filling me with a strength I didn’t understand.

A notification blinked into my vision, its text clear and sharp despite the haze clouding my thoughts:

[Unique Skill Unlocked: Challenger]

Description: The will to face overwhelming odds and rise above. Grants increased strength, agility, and stamina when facing enemies stronger than you. When HP is below 20%, activates a temporary boost to combat abilities and fortitude.

The pain in my legs dulled, replaced by a strange clarity. My movements felt sharper, my body lighter. I could breathe again.

The man recovered quickly, his shield rising once more as he stepped forward. But this time, I wasn’t just dodging.

The shield came closer, its arc slower now. I could see the strain in the man’s stance, the faint tremor in his wrist as he swung. My muscles coiled, my hind legs lashing out with all the force I could muster.

I parried it again with [Kick]

The impact reverberated through my body, but the shield twisted off-course, scraping against the stone.

[HP: 2 → 1 (Recoil Damage)].

I staggered back, my chest heaving, the orb’s pulse thunderous in my ears. The world around me blurred, and then sharpened again as I activated [Blood Sight].

Pain erupted behind my eyes, white-hot and searing. My vision turned crimson, the entire chamber bathed in a web of pulsing life. The armored man’s body shimmered faintly, glowing veins tracing his movements.

And there it was.

A faint flicker of light at the base of his shield arm, where the straps dug into his wrist. A weak point.

My breath came ragged, every step sending jolts of pain through my legs. The orb in my chest pulsed erratically, as though fighting against me, urging me to stop.

But I couldn’t stop.

The woman suddenly crept behind me brandishing her twin daggers, ready to strike.

I hop to the side and use [Hypnotic Gaze] on the woman, making her pause for a bit and used [Bounce] toward her head and used [Kick].

The woman crashed down the floor but was able to get back up fast.

Seeing that the man with a shield was running toward me. I leapt toward him, my movements faster than I’d thought possible. His shield swung toward me, but I twisted midair, using [Bounce] to land behind him. My hind legs struck out with [Kick], slamming into his unguarded side.

[Critical Hit! HP Reduced.]

The man staggered, his shield dropping slightly as he turned toward me.

“Damn it, Malric—help me!” he shouted.

But I didn’t give them a chance. I moved again, darting toward the mage. His staff glowed as he raised it, but I locked onto him with [Hypnotic Gaze]. His body stiffened, his chant faltering as his eyes widened.

The woman lunged toward me from the side, her daggers glinting, but I twisted away, my claws scraping against the stone as I landed just out of reach.

This wasn’t just survival anymore.

This was a fight.

The adventurers regrouped quickly; their stances defensive as they realized they couldn’t pin me down. The glow around me dimmed slightly, the boost from [Challenger] fading as my HP stabilized at its critical threshold.

The man scowled; his shield raised as he took a cautious step back, muttering something and the woman responding to him. I don’t know what they were saying but I still need to brace myself.

Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, I saw something other than fear in her expression. Recognition? Respect?

But I didn’t wait to find out. With a final leap, I darted into the shadows, my breathing ragged as the labyrinth swallowed me once more.

The orb’s pulse steadied, its warmth comforting but faint. I could feel the strain in my legs, the dull ache in my chest.

But I was still alive. And now, I wasn’t just surviving—I, was fighting.

The world spun as I collapsed onto the cold stone floor, my breath hitching with every ragged gasp. My legs trembled under me, barely keeping me upright. The orb’s pulse in my chest was faint now, its warmth like dying embers.

Behind me, the adventurers closed in, their voices echoing through the cavern.

“It’s on its last legs,” the woman growled.

“Then finish it!” the man barked.

I forced myself to stand, my claws scraping against the stone. My [Danger Sense] hummed faintly—too faint to be useful now. I was out of options.

And then, I heard it.

A sharp crack echoed through the chamber, followed by the distinct sound of claws scratching against stone. Something darted out from the shadows, stopping just a few feet in front of me.

A rabbit.

But not like me.

Her fur was a dark, mottled gray, blending seamlessly into the rocky environment. A single horn jutted from her forehead, rough and sharp, about the length of my foreleg. She was smaller than me, but there was a quiet strength in the way she stood, her body angled protectively between me and the adventurers.

Her blue eyes glimmered in the dim light, scanning the adventurers with an alertness I could only envy.

“What the—another one?” the woman hissed, raising her daggers defensively.

The horned rabbit didn’t flinch. She lowered her head slightly, the tip of her horn gleaming as she tensed her legs.

And then she moved.

The horned rabbit launched herself at the armored man, her movements impossibly quick. Her horn struck the edge of his shield with a sharp crack, forcing him back a step.

“She’s fast!” the mage shouted, his staff glowing faintly.

The horned rabbit twisted midair, using her muscular hind legs to propel herself onto a nearby ledge. From there, she launched again, this time aiming for the mage. Her horn sliced through the air, narrowly missing his arm as he stumbled back.

“Keep her in sight!” the man barked, swinging his shield toward her.

She landed lightly, her body low to the ground, her ears twitching as she calculated her next move. The armored man lunged, but she darted to the side, her compact frame allowing her to slip through his reach.

Her horn jabbed toward his leg, forcing him to stumble again.

I watched, stunned, as she danced around their attacks. Where I was clumsy and desperate, she was precise. Every movement had purpose—each leap calculated; each strike aimed for maximum impact.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its rhythm syncing with the rapid beat of my heart.

Why was she helping me?

“Malric, she’s targeting you!” the mage called out, his voice laced with frustration.

The horned rabbit didn’t give him time to react. She leapt toward him, her horn aimed for his staff. It struck true, sending the staff clattering to the ground. The mage cursed, retreating as she landed gracefully, her blue eyes scanning for her next target.

The fight unfolded in brutal chaos, and as the horned rabbit intervened, the adventurers’ tactics faltered.

“She’s fast!” the mage hissed, scrambling to retrieve his fallen staff. “What is that thing?”

“Not a regular dungeon creature,” the woman growled, dodging the horned rabbit’s precise lunges. Her eyes darted between the rabbit and me, her expression clouded with frustration. “A Lesser Horned Rabbit? But they don’t—no, this is different.”

The man with the shield, Kelsor, gritted his teeth, his gaze narrowing as he held his defensive stance. “We’re not equipped for this. Whatever they are, they’re not standard fare. Fall back!”

“Fall back?!” the rogue snapped, her voice sharp with disbelief. “We had it cornered!”

“And now we don’t!” Kelsor shot back, his voice cutting through the tension. “Report this to the guild. If these creatures are outside protocol, it’s above our clearance.”

The mage muttered under his breath, casting one last wary glance at the horned rabbit as it crouched protectively in front of me. “Something’s destabilizing this place… this is wrong.”

The group exchanged grim looks before retreating into the shadows, their footsteps echoing faintly in the chamber.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

The horned rabbit turned toward me, her body still as her blue eyes locked onto mine. There was no hostility in her gaze—only curiosity.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. What was I supposed to say?

She tilted her head slightly, her ears twitching. Then, with a quiet sniff, she turned and hopped toward a narrow passage on the far side of the chamber.

“Wait,” I called out, my legs trembling as I struggled to follow her.

She paused, glancing back at me. Her gaze was calm, almost expectant.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, urging me forward. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to move despite the pain.

She didn’t wait for me, hopping further into the darkness. I followed, each step heavier than the last.

After the adventurers retreated, their voices echoed faintly down the corridor. Even as they vanished into the distance, the strange, alien sounds lingered in my mind.

“What was that?” I muttered, my chest heaving. My own voice sounded small, almost alien to me after the cacophony of their speech.

The horned rabbit tilted her head at the sound of my voice. For a moment, I wondered—had she understood them? Did she know their language, or was it just as meaningless to her as it was to me?

She turned and began sniffing the air, her movements deliberate and unhurried. I watched her for a moment, the alien words of the adventurers still buzzing faintly in my ears.

“They don’t belong here,” I murmured to myself.

But then again, neither did I.

Chapter 17 – Horned Rabbit

My legs shook with every step as I limped toward the edge of the chamber. Each breath burned, the ache in my ribs flaring whenever I moved too quickly. The faint pulse of the orb in my chest was the only thing keeping me upright, its steady rhythm like a quiet command: Keep moving.

The horned rabbit stood ahead, her mottled fur blending seamlessly with the shadows. She scanned the room with unflinching precision, her blue eyes darting to every corner. Not once did she look at me.

I sat heavily against the cold stone wall, wincing as the pain in my side sharpened. My claws scraped against the floor, their dull sound echoing faintly in the chamber.

“I didn’t need your help,” I muttered. The words escaped me before I could stop them, and they hung awkwardly in the air.

Her ears twitched, but she didn’t turn. She didn’t even glance back. She hopped lightly toward the chamber’s far wall, her movements fluid and deliberate.

I glared at the jagged floor beneath my paws. I didn’t need her help—did I? The thought sat heavy in my chest, mixing uncomfortably with the dull ache of exhaustion.

Earlier in the fight, when she first appeared, there had been a moment of hesitation. The horned rabbit had crouched low, her blue eyes locked on the adventurers, assessing them with a sharp, unyielding gaze. Her body had remained still for a fraction longer than necessary—considering, calculating.

Why had she stepped in? She could have waited in the shadows, let them finish me off, and then moved on.

But she hadn’t.

The passage narrowed as we moved, its rough walls brushing against my fur. I struggled to keep up, my legs screaming with each step. The sharp incline of the floor made it worse, every slip on the slick stone sending jolts of pain through my battered body.

She moved effortlessly ahead of me, her frame darting between jagged rocks like a shadow. Her horn caught the faint glow of the moss lining the walls, its surface gleaming faintly.

“You always run off like this?” I rasped, more to myself than her.

She didn’t respond, her ears flicking once at the sound of my voice.

The passage opened into a larger chamber, the air cooler and heavier. Pale moss clung to the walls, casting the space in a sickly green glow. The ceiling stretched high above us, its edges lost in the darkness.

She paused in the center of the chamber, crouching low as her ears swiveled. Her blue eyes scanned the room, sharp and deliberate.

I hesitated at the threshold, the weight of the cavern pressing against me. It felt oppressive, the cold stone beneath my paws sucking away what little energy I had left.

“Okay,” I muttered, stepping into the room with measured caution. “You’ve got my attention. Now what?”

She turned her head slightly, her blue eyes catching the faint glow of the moss. For a moment, we simply stared at each other.

She glanced at me, her gaze unreadable, before hopping toward a patch of moss-covered stone. Without hesitation, she began scraping at it with her horn.

“What are you…?”

The rhythmic sound of her scraping echoed faintly through the chamber. I frowned, watching her. She stopped after a moment, stepping aside as if to invite me closer.

Was she… showing me something?

I moved closer, my paws cautious on the uneven ground. The moss she’d scraped away revealed faint grooves in the stone—markings? No, they were too rough. Claw marks.

Her horn gestured toward the far wall, where more of the strange grooves crisscrossed the surface. I followed her gaze, my chest tightening as I realized what they were.

Something big had been here. Recently.

“Great,” I muttered.

“You dragged me in here to show me that we’re not alone. That’s comforting.”

She hopped a few paces away, her movements quick and purposeful. She stopped at the edge of the chamber, her body low to the ground as she scanned the darkness beyond.

“Wait,”

I said, my voice louder than I intended.

She froze, her ears twitching.

“Why are you even helping me?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

She didn’t pause.

“What’s your deal?” I pressed, taking a step closer.

She glanced at me briefly, her blue eyes unblinking. For a moment, I thought she might respond—or do something to acknowledge the question. But she turned away, disappearing into the next passage without a sound.

I exhaled sharply, my claws scraping against the floor as I pushed myself upright to follow her.

“Figures,” I muttered under my breath.

The next passage was steeper, the ground sloping downward into a narrow tunnel that seemed to stretch forever. My legs screamed in protest, every step sending sharp jolts of pain through my body.

She noticed.

Halfway down, she stopped and glanced back, her blue eyes narrowing slightly.

“What?” I said, my voice more defensive than I intended.

She tilted her head, her gaze lingering on my trembling legs. Then, without a sound, she hopped back toward me.

I tensed as she approached, unsure of what to expect. She stopped just a paw’s length away, her horn dipping slightly as she gestured toward the ground.

Was she… offering to stop?

“I’m fine,”

I said through gritted teeth, straightening as much as I could. My muscles screamed in protest, but I forced myself to keep moving.

“Just… lead the way.”

She tilted her head once more before turning and continuing down the path.

The tunnel opened into another chamber, smaller but chaotic. Jagged stones jutted from the uneven floor, and faint, rhythmic tapping echoed through the cavern, coming from somewhere beyond the darkness.

The horned rabbit stopped at the entrance, her body low to the ground. Her blue eyes scanned the chamber with sharp precision, her ears flicking at the faint sound. I hesitated, lingering in the shadows.

This was her space—I could feel it. The way she moved, her quiet confidence, the calm but deliberate way she surveyed the area—it all screamed of ownership.

I clenched my claws, unease prickling at the back of my neck. For all my Pride, stepping into her territory felt… wrong. I wasn’t used to this. Back in the forest, I’d always carved out my own space—claimed my ground, no matter how small. But now, I was following someone else’s lead, treading on ground that wasn’t mine.

For a moment, I debated turning back. What was I even doing here? Why was I following her?

The horned rabbit didn’t look back. She crept further into the chamber, her steps silent on the stone. I swallowed hard, forcing my legs to move.

“I don’t like this,” I muttered, more to myself than her.

The horned rabbit stopped near the center of the chamber, her head low and her horn angled slightly forward. She crouched beside a cluster of loose rocks, sniffing at the air before tapping the ground with one paw.

I hesitated a few paces behind her, watching carefully. She moved like she belonged here—like this space was an extension of her. Her actions were purposeful, every step calculated, every glance deliberate.

I… didn’t feel the same.

This wasn’t my space. I could feel the weight of the cavern pressing down on me, its narrow walls and jagged edges unfamiliar and unyielding. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, a quiet reminder that this was a challenge I hadn’t prepared for.

The horned rabbit glanced back at me, her blue eyes sharp and unreadable. For a brief moment, I thought I saw a flicker of annoyance—or maybe impatience.

“What?” I said, more defensive than I intended.

“I didn’t ask to be here.”

She tilted her head slightly before turning back to her inspection.

A twinge of frustration flared in my chest. I wasn’t used to this—trailing behind someone else, letting them take the lead. It felt… wrong.

I straightened up, my claws scraping lightly against the stone. I wasn’t just some helpless tagalong. If this was her space, then fine. But if I was going to be here, it wouldn’t be as a bystander.

My gaze swept over the chamber, searching for anything useful—anything to prove I wasn’t just dead weight. The orb pulsed again, a faint warmth spreading through my chest.

“Let’s see what you’re hiding,”

I muttered, stepping forward.

The horned rabbit didn’t react as I moved closer. She remained focused on the far wall, where faint grooves crisscrossed the stone. Claw marks. Recent ones.

I stopped beside her, my eyes narrowing as I studied the markings.

Sigh

The horned rabbit’s ears twitched, but she didn’t look at me. Instead, she stepped aside, her body angled as if inviting me to take a closer look.

The faint grooves in the wall told a story of conflict—a predator’s claws, perhaps, or something worse. My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, illuminating faint traces of life energy beyond the stone. They were faint, erratic, like the last embers of a dying fire.

“Whatever made those marks isn’t here anymore,” I muttered.

“But it doesn’t mean we’re alone.”

The horned rabbit stepped closer to the markings, her blue eyes narrowing as she sniffed the air. Her movements were deliberate, as though she were piecing together the same puzzle I was.

For a moment, I let myself watch her. Her calm precision—her ability to move with purpose, even in unfamiliar territory—was a stark contrast to the tension bubbling under my skin.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, urging me forward. I tensed, my Pride stirring uneasily.

“Come on,” I said, moving past her.

“We don’t have all day.”

Her ears twitched at the sound of my voice, but she didn’t follow immediately. Instead, she remained by the wall, her gaze lingering on the grooves.

I stopped, glancing back at her.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t answer, of course. Instead, she pawed lightly at the ground, uncovering something half-buried in the loose dirt. A fragment of bone, jagged and splintered, its surface scarred with faint bite marks.

My ears flicked back.

“Great. More company.”

She turned her head slightly, her blue eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, I thought I saw… disappointment?

“What?” I said, more defensive than I intended.

“I know what I’m doing.”

She tilted her head, her gaze steady but unreadable. Then, with a quiet sniff, she hopped past me, her steps light and deliberate as she moved deeper into the chamber.

I clenched my claws, my chest tightening.

“Fine,” I muttered, following her.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The cold stone pressed against my side as I struggled to keep breathing. Every twitch of my legs sent a jolt of pain through me, and the faint pulse of the orb in my chest was barely enough to keep me awake.

The horned rabbit was ahead of me, her blue eyes scanning the chamber as though I wasn’t dying right behind her.

“Hey,” I croaked, my voice little more than a whisper.

“A little… help?”

She didn’t move at first. Instead, she crouched low, her ears twitching as she listened to the faint sounds echoing through the cavern. Then, with deliberate care, she turned and hopped back toward me.

Her gaze flicked over my battered form, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. She wasn’t judging me, not exactly, but I could tell she wasn’t impressed.

“Well, excuse me for not being perfect,”

I muttered weakly, though I wasn’t sure she even understood me.

She lowered her head slightly, her horn pointing toward the ground as she nudged me—not hard, just enough to get me to move.

“You’ve gotta be kidding,”

I said, wincing as I tried to push myself up. My legs screamed in protest, and my vision swam.

“I can’t—”

She nudged me again, more firmly this time.

I glared at her—or at least tried to.

“Fine,” I growled, dragging myself upright.

“But if I die, it’s on you.”

She hopped a few paces ahead, her horn angled forward like a guiding beacon. She didn’t look back, but she didn’t rush, either. Her pace was slow and deliberate, as though she understood that I couldn’t keep up.

Every step felt like dragging a boulder uphill, but I kept moving. The faint pulse of the orb in my chest steadied slightly, its warmth a quiet reminder that I was still alive—for now.

The next chamber was smaller, its walls lined with jagged stones that cast sharp shadows in the dim light. Patches of glowing moss clung to the floor, their faint luminescence reflecting off the slick surface.

The horned rabbit stopped near a cluster of moss, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air. She pawed lightly at the ground before glancing back at me.

“What now?” I muttered, stumbling closer.

She gestured with her horn—toward the moss.

I frowned.

“You’re kidding. You want me to eat that?”

Her blue eyes remained fixed on me, her expression unchanging.

I sighed, lowering myself carefully to the ground. My legs protested every movement, but I managed to tear a small piece of moss free with my claws. It felt cool and damp against my tongue, and the taste was earthy, almost bitter.

But as I swallowed, a faint warmth spread through my chest, and my breathing eased slightly.

[+3 HP]

My ears twitched.

“That… actually worked?”

The horned rabbit snorted softly—at least, that’s what it sounded like—and turned back toward the chamber’s exit.

I gathered a few more and ate some in case I would need it in the future.

“Alright, fine,” I muttered, forcing myself upright again.

“Lead the way, oh wise and noble guide.”

The next passage sloped downward sharply, its surface slick with moisture. I slipped twice, my claws scraping against the stone as I struggled to keep my balance. The horned rabbit moved ahead with ease, her small frame darting between the jagged rocks.

At one point, she stopped abruptly, her body low to the ground. Her blue eyes narrowed as she stared into the shadows ahead.

I stopped beside her, my heart pounding as I followed her gaze. My [Danger Sense] buzzed faintly, a low hum at the edge of my awareness.

“What is it?” I whispered.

She didn’t answer—of course not. Instead, she crouched lower, her ears straining toward the faint sound of shuffling ahead.

The creature emerged slowly; its hulking form barely visible in the dim light. Its fur was matted and dark, its claws scraping against the stone as it moved. My [Blood Sight] flared to life, illuminating the creature’s faintly glowing life force.

The horned rabbit didn’t move. She remained perfectly still, her blue eyes locked onto the creature’s every movement.

“Are we fighting this thing or not?” I hissed, my voice trembling.

She glanced at me briefly, then back at the creature. Her body tensed slightly, her horn angling forward. But she didn’t attack.

Instead, she gestured—her movements subtle but clear. Wait.

I gritted my teeth, every instinct screaming at me to act. But I held still, watching as the creature moved slowly toward the far side of the chamber.

When it disappeared into the shadows, the horned rabbit straightened and glanced back at me.

“Great,” I muttered, my legs shaking.

“Let’s just avoid everything, then.”

She didn’t react. Instead, she turned and continued forward, her movements calm and deliberate.

(Adventurers’ POV)

The quiet after the fight was suffocating. The faint glow of Malric’s staff illuminated the chamber, casting long shadows on the jagged walls. The air was heavy with tension, and the only sounds were their ragged breaths and the faint hum of mana coursing through the dungeon’s veins.

Kelsor lowered his shield, his hand trembling slightly as he exhaled. His armor bore fresh scratches, and his shoulder throbbed where the rabbit’s kick had thrown him off balance. He glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

“Everyone okay?” he asked, his voice low but steady.

“Barely,” Nira muttered, wiping a streak of blood from her arm. Her twin daggers hung loosely at her sides; their edges dulled from the repeated strikes.

“That thing… it wasn’t normal.”

Malric slumped against the wall, his staff clattering to the ground. Sweat beaded on his brow, and his breathing was uneven.

“Not normal is an understatement,” he said, his tone grim.

“That wasn’t just a dungeon creature. It was something… else.”

Kelsor frowned, his gaze fixed on the spot where the rabbit had disappeared into the shadows.

“What do you mean?”

Malric hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

“Dungeon creatures are mindless. They act on instinct or respond to the dungeon’s mana. That rabbit… it was different. It fought with purpose. Strategy. It parried your shield, Kelsor. How many monsters have you seen do that?”

Nira’s expression darkened.

“And it didn’t kill me when it had the chance,” she said quietly.

“It froze me with that… gaze of its, but it didn’t finish me off. Why?”

Kelsor’s jaw tightened.

“Doesn’t matter. It attacked us. If it’s still in the dungeon, it’s a threat.”

“Is it, though?” Malric countered, his voice soft but firm.

“Think about it. It didn’t kill any of us. It could have, but it didn’t. Why?”

The group fell silent, the weight of the question hanging in the air.

Kelsor broke the silence, his tone decisive.

“Whatever it is, it doesn’t belong here. We’ll finish the mission, clear the dungeon, and report everything to the guild. They’ll decide what to do.”

“Finish the mission?” Nira asked, arching an eyebrow.

“After that thing nearly wiped us out? What if it comes back?”

“We’re not leaving,” Kelsor said firmly.

“We’ve faced worse. We regroup, recover, and keep moving. The guild is counting on us.”

Malric shook his head, his expression uneasy.

“This isn’t just about the mission anymore, Kelsor. That rabbit… it changes things. If the dungeon is spawning creatures like that, something’s wrong. We need to report this before it’s too late.”

“And abandon the mission?” Kelsor asked, his tone sharp.

“You think the guild will thank us for running back with our tails between our legs?”

“It’s not running,” Malric said, his voice rising slightly.

“It’s being smart. That rabbit wasn’t natural. If there’s more of them—or worse—we could all die down here.”

Nira crossed her arms, her gaze flicking between the two men.

“He has a point, Kelsor. This dungeon isn’t like the others we’ve cleared. The creatures are stronger, the mana is thicker, and now there’s… whatever that was. Maybe Malric’s right. We should pull back.”

Kelsor glared at her but didn’t respond immediately. His shield arm dropped slightly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

After a long moment, Kelsor sighed.

“Fine. We’ll adjust. Finish the next trial, then head to the safe zone. If we find anything else out of the ordinary, we leave and report back to the guild.”

Nira nodded, satisfied.

“Fair enough.”

Malric still looked uneasy but didn’t argue further.

“We should document everything,” he said, pulling a small journal from his satchel.

“The guild needs to know exactly what we’ve seen.”

“Do it,” Kelsor said.

“And keep your spells ready. If that thing comes back, we’re not holding back this time.”

Malric nodded, his quill scratching against the journal’s pages as he recorded the events of their encounter.

As they prepared to move forward, the weight of the encounter lingered in their minds.

“What do you think it is?” Nira asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Not a dungeon spawn,” Malric said without looking up from his journal.

“It felt… independent. Like it didn’t belong here.”

“A rogue creature, maybe?” Kelsor suggested, though he didn’t sound convinced.

“Something that wandered in?”

Malric shook his head.

“No. It was connected to the dungeon somehow. I could feel it. But it wasn’t like the others. It was… evolving.”

Nira frowned.

“Evolving?”

Malric met her gaze, his expression grim.

“Like it was adapting. Learning. And if that’s true…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.

As the adventurers continued deeper into the dungeon, their thoughts remained fixed on the rabbit. Their encounter had raised more questions than answers, and the implications were unsettling.

Would the guild see this as a new threat? Something that would cause some major concern in the future? Or something else entirely?

For now, all they could do was survive the labyrinth and ensure the guild knew the truth.

Chapter 18 – Chimera

The faint shuffling sound grew louder, a deliberate scrape of claws against stone. My [Danger Sense] buzzed like a low hum in the back of my mind, and my muscles tensed instinctively. Ahead, the horned rabbit crouched low, her blue eyes locked onto the darkness where the sound originated.

The creature emerged slowly; its hulking form revealed inch by inch as it stepped into the faint glow of the moss. My chest tightened at the sight.

It was a chimeric beast, its frame distorted and mismatched like a patchwork experiment gone horribly wrong. Its upper body was vaguely feline, with a matted mane of coarse fur, but its lower half resembled an oversized reptilian tail, its scaly surface gleaming faintly in the dim light. Its claws scraped against the ground as it moved, and its mismatched eyes—one a pale, milky white and the other a vivid crimson—locked onto us.

The creature’s growl deepened, resonating through the chamber like a distant thunderstorm. Its mismatched eyes flickered in the faint glow of the moss, scanning us with a calculating malice. My legs tensed instinctively, pain shooting through my battered body as I readied myself to move.

Ahead of me, the horned rabbit didn’t flinch. She crouched lower, her sharp horn glinting as she angled it toward the beast. Every movement was deliberate, purposeful. For a moment, I felt a strange pang in my chest—not admiration, of course, but something that made me hesitate.

Then the beast lunged.

The horned rabbit darted to the side, her small frame a blur as the creature’s claws raked through the air where she had stood. Her movements were quick, graceful, leaving no wasted energy. She twisted midair, landing lightly on a nearby outcropping of stone, her horn already angled for another strike.

I gritted my teeth, forcing my trembling legs into motion. The ache in my ribs flared with every step, but I pushed it aside. I wasn’t going to let her handle this alone—not because she needed help, obviously, but because watching from the sidelines wasn’t an option.

The creature’s attention snapped to me as I moved. It snarled, its massive tail whipping toward me like a coiled snake. I leapt with [Bounce], the air rushing past me as the tail slammed into the ground where I’d been standing. The impact sent a spray of loose stone flying, one shard grazing my side.

[HP: 12 → 9]

The horned rabbit seized the opening. She darted forward, her horn glowing faintly as it struck the beast’s flank. A sharp crack echoed through the chamber, and the creature let out a guttural roar, twisting violently to shake her off.

She was already gone, leaping back to a safe distance. Her blue eyes flicked toward me, sharp and assessing, as if gauging my next move.

I ignored the flare of pain in my side and charged forward, aiming for the creature’s exposed underbelly. My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, painting the world in crimson hues. The creature’s life force burned erratically, veins of unstable energy coursing through its massive frame. A faint glow near its chest caught my attention—a weak point.

Perfect.

I coiled my muscles and launched myself toward it, my hind legs lashing out with a powerful [Kick]. The impact reverberated through my body, and the creature howled in pain, staggering backward. Its crimson eye locked onto me, blazing with fury.

“You want me? Come and get me,” I muttered under my breath.

The beast lunged, its claws swiping toward me in a blur. I twisted midair, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the force of the movement sent me tumbling awkwardly to the ground. My legs screamed in protest as I scrambled to my feet, the orb in my chest pulsing faintly.

The horned rabbit moved again, her horn slashing toward the creature’s tail. Her strikes were precise, each one aimed at slowing its movements. The beast roared, spinning toward her with terrifying speed.

The fight blurred into a series of frantic motions. The creature was relentless, its attacks coming faster and harder with every passing second. My legs burned with exhaustion, and the ache in my chest was a constant, throbbing reminder of how close I was to my limit.

But I couldn’t stop.

The horned rabbit darted in and out of the creature’s reach, her movements impossibly fluid. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t falter—not once. Watching her, I felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—something that made me grit my teeth and push myself harder.

She wasn’t better than me.

My claws raked against the beast’s flank, drawing a line of crimson that dripped onto the stone. The creature snarled, its tail whipping toward me again. I leapt, twisting midair to avoid the strike, and landed awkwardly beside the horned rabbit.

For a brief moment, our eyes met.

Her gaze was steady, unreadable. There was no judgment in those blue eyes, no disdain—only a calm, quiet focus that made my chest tighten. She didn’t see me as a rival, or a liability. She simply turned back to the fight, her movements deliberate and unhurried.

It made my skin crawl.

The creature staggered, its movements growing more erratic. The glow near its chest dimmed faintly, its unstable energy flickering like a dying flame. I could feel the shift—the fight was turning in our favor.

The horned rabbit moved first, darting toward the beast’s flank. Her horn pierced its side, drawing a roar of pain that echoed through the cavern. The creature twisted toward her, its claws slashing wildly, but she was already gone.

I saw my chance.

With a burst of strength, I propelled myself toward the weak point, my hind legs coiling for a final strike. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its warmth spreading through me as I lashed out with everything I had.

My [Kick] connected with a sickening crunch.

[Critical Hit! HP Reduced.]

The creature let out a deafening wail, its massive frame convulsing as the glow beneath its chest flared brightly—then extinguished. It collapsed to the ground, the impact shaking the cavern like a small earthquake. The air grew still, the only sound my ragged breathing.

[You have defeated a Chimeric Beast. Obtained 40 EXP.]

I staggered as I landed, my legs trembling beneath me. Every muscle in my body ached, and the faint pulse of the orb was the only thing keeping me upright. My gaze flicked toward the horned rabbit, who stood a few paces away, her blue eyes fixed on the fallen beast.

She didn’t look at me—didn’t say anything. Instead, she crouched low, sniffing at the creature’s still form as if searching for something. Her calm focus sent a flare of irritation through me.

“What?” I said, my voice hoarse.

“Not impressed?”

She tilted her head slightly, her ears twitching, but didn’t respond. Instead, she turned and began hopping toward the far side of the chamber, her movements as light and deliberate as ever.

“Of course,” I muttered, forcing myself to follow.

“You’re welcome.”

As I limped after her, the faint hum of the orb grew louder, its rhythm syncing with the lingering tension in the air. Something about this place felt… wrong. The fight was over, but the whispers I’d heard earlier seemed closer now, their voices blending with the pulse of the dungeon.

I glanced back at the fallen creature, its lifeless form crumpled against the stone. The fight had been brutal—but this was just the beginning.

The horned rabbit didn’t look back as she led the way into the next passage, her horn catching the faint light as we disappeared into the shadows.

The passage twisted further downward, the air growing colder with each step. Thin rivulets of water trickled down the jagged walls, pooling in shallow depressions along the floor. Each step echoed faintly, the sound swallowed by the oppressive quiet of the dungeon. The orb in my chest throbbed faintly, steady but silent. Its rhythm was a constant, an unspoken reassurance that I was still standing—still fighting.

Ahead of me, the horned rabbit moved with a quiet grace, her figure almost blending into the dim light cast by patches of bioluminescent moss. Her horn caught the faint glow, its sharp edge gleaming like a predator’s fang. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t pause to look back, as if she expected me to follow without question.

I didn’t like it, the way she moved so confidently, as though she owned this space. But I followed. Not because I trusted her, but because turning back wasn’t an option.

The passage opened into a wide chamber, its floor uneven and slick with moisture. Massive roots twisted down from the ceiling, their surfaces gnarled and wet, like the veins of a massive, slumbering beast. Small creatures darted between the roots—rodents, or perhaps something less mundane. Their faint, glowing trails of life flickered briefly in my [Blood Sight] before vanishing into the shadows.

The horned rabbit stopped near the center of the chamber, her ears flicking as she scanned the room. I hesitated at the threshold, my claws scraping against the wet stone. The air was heavier here, thick with an unplaceable tension. It pressed against my fur, my chest, making it harder to breathe.

I caught the faint scent of something metallic, like rusted iron. Blood, maybe. It clung to the back of my throat, sharp and bitter. The orb pulsed faintly in response, its rhythm quickening just enough to make me glance down at my chest.

A sound cut through the silence: a faint, wet squelch that set my ears twitching. It came from somewhere beyond the far wall, hidden in the darkness. My [Danger Sense] hummed softly, a low, insistent buzz at the edge of my awareness.

The horned rabbit crouched low, her body tense. Her gaze darted to me, a brief glance that carried more weight than any words could have. Her blue eyes flickered with something—expectation, perhaps, or challenge.

I didn’t need her to say anything. Whatever was out there, it wasn’t leaving. Not without a fight.

I stepped forward, the ache in my legs momentarily forgotten. My claws clicked softly against the stone as I moved, my eyes scanning the chamber for any sign of movement. The orb pulsed again, a faint warmth spreading through my chest.

The sound came again, louder this time. Something shifted in the darkness, a shape too large to be the rodents I’d seen earlier. My [Blood Sight] flared, painting the shadows in hues of crimson. The life force was faint, erratic, but massive.

The moment the creature locked its glowing yellow eyes on us, the horned rabbit’s body tensed. Her horn angled forward like a spear, and her powerful hind legs dug into the stone floor. She was ready to fight—whether or not I was, it didn’t seem to matter.

The hulking beast moved with unsettling deliberation, claws scraping against the stone as it prowled closer. It resembled a giant wolverine, its matted fur glistening with dampness. Faintly glowing moss draped its body like eerie camouflage, and its breaths came in slow, guttural growls. A thin haze of steam rose from its nostrils, curling in the chilled air.

I activated [Blood Sight], and the creature’s life force flared to life in my vision—a chaotic tangle of glowing red veins, erratic and pulsing. My eyes narrowed as I focused. Its weak point flickered faintly: just above the base of its spine.

I’d need to get behind it.

Before I could move, the horned rabbit dashed forward. Her compact frame blurred as she darted left, then right, weaving through the jagged stones that littered the chamber floor. The creature lashed out with its massive claws, narrowly missing her.

She was precise, deliberate. Each movement made with perfect economy, no wasted effort. It made my own reckless bounding feel… amateurish.

But I wasn’t about to let her steal all the glory.

I coiled my legs, [Bounce] activating as I launched myself forward. The familiar rush of air filled my ears as I arced over the beast, landing just behind it. Its head snapped toward me, but not before I lashed out with [Kick]. My hind legs struck the creature’s spine, right where the weak point glimmered.

It howled, its body jerking violently as it twisted to face me. The blow wasn’t enough to take it down, but I felt a grim satisfaction as it stumbled, its movements slower and more erratic now.

[Proficiency Increased: Kick Lv. 5 → Kick Lv. 6.]

The horned rabbit darted in again, her horn flashing as it grazed the beast’s shoulder. A thin line of blood welled up, but it was shallow—she hadn’t aimed to kill, just to distract. The beast’s yellow eyes flared with fury as it swung at her again, missing by inches as she leapt clear.

I caught myself smirking.

Was that her plan? Draw its attention, let me take the final blow? Or was she testing me, seeing if I could hold my own?

“Fine,” I muttered under my breath.

“Let’s show you how it’s done.”

The beast lunged for me now, its claws slashing wide. I ducked low, feeling the air above my ears ripple as the attack passed. My legs screamed in protest as I pivoted, [Hypnotic Gaze] flaring to life as I locked eyes with the creature.

Its movements faltered. The glowing yellow in its eyes dimmed as its body stiffened. I didn’t have long—my hold wasn’t strong enough to freeze something this size for more than a second or two.

“Now!” I barked, though I wasn’t sure if the horned rabbit understood me.

She moved anyway.

Her horn angled forward, and she leapt high, aiming for the beast’s exposed throat. The tip struck true, piercing the soft flesh. The creature roared in agony, thrashing wildly as blood sprayed across the mossy stones.

I darted in while it was distracted, leaping onto its back. My claws raked across its spine, and I followed with another [Kick], striking the base of its neck. The beast shuddered, its growl fading into a low whimper as it collapsed to the ground.

Its life force flickered, then faded entirely.

[You have defeated a Mossbound Beast. Obtained 15 EXP.]

I dropped back to the floor, panting as the adrenaline coursing through me began to ebb. My legs trembled, and I winced as the ache in my muscles made itself known. The horned rabbit landed lightly beside me; her blue eyes calm as she scanned the beast’s lifeless form.

[Level Up! Level 4 → 5.]

A rush of warmth flooded my chest as the notification appeared. My body felt lighter, my movements more fluid, and the faint pulse of the orb steadied.

She glanced at me then, her gaze unreadable. For a moment, it felt like she was waiting for something—acknowledgment, perhaps? A thank you?

I straightened, shaking the blood from my claws.

“Not bad,” I said casually, brushing past her.

“For you.”

Her ears twitched, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she turned and began sniffing the air, her movements calm and deliberate as she scouted the chamber.

The beast’s blood seeped into the moss-covered floor, disappearing into the earth as though the dungeon itself was alive. The moss seemed to pulse faintly, its greenish glow dimming and brightening in an unsettling rhythm.

I took a moment to scan the chamber. The air was cooler here, damp and heavy with the scent of earth and decay. Jagged stalagmites rose like uneven teeth from the floor, their slick surfaces glistening faintly in the dim light. Overhead, clusters of luminous fungi clung to the ceiling, their soft light casting distorted shadows across the walls.

In the far corner of the chamber, a narrow stream trickled over smooth stones, its water black and sluggish. The sound was faint, barely audible over the quiet hum that seemed to emanate from the dungeon itself.

The horned rabbit moved with purpose, her steps light as she navigated the uneven terrain. Her horn caught the faint glow of the fungi, its rough surface gleaming. She stopped near the stream, lowering her head to sniff at the water.

“Great,” I muttered, limping after her.

“What now?”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she pawed lightly at the ground, uncovering a faint groove in the stone. It wasn’t natural—too precise, too deliberate. Another marking, like the ones we’d seen earlier.

This time, I activated [Blood Sight], scanning the area. Threads of faint life force shimmered in the distance, moving slowly, deliberately. They were clustered together, their patterns erratic but purposeful.

“More company,” I said, my voice low.

She turned to me, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. There was no fear in her gaze, only sharp, unyielding focus.

Chapter 19 – Continuing Onward

The horned rabbit’s blue eyes stayed fixed on mine for a brief moment, the subtle tension between us punctuated by the rhythmic trickle of the blackened stream.

She paused at the edge, waiting. Was she sizing me up again? I stepped forward first, claws scraping against the moss—because if anyone was ready, it was me.

The moss beneath my paws was damp, clinging to my fur as I moved closer to her. The faint groove she had uncovered stretched deeper toward the far end of the chamber, where shadows pooled like ink. The air here felt heavier still, pressing against my fur and lungs with an almost tangible weight.

My [Blood Sight] flared again, illuminating the faint threads of life force writhing in the darkness beyond. Whatever lay ahead wasn’t stationary. They were moving—hunting.

The faint hum of the dungeon seemed to grow louder, a dissonant melody that sent shivers through my body. The glow from the moss and fungi shifted slightly, dimming and brightening like a heartbeat.

And then the sound came.

A low growl, guttural and wet, resonated from the shadows. It was joined by others, a chorus of primal snarls that echoed through the chamber. The life forces I’d seen through [Blood Sight] moved closer, their erratic patterns becoming sharper, more coordinated.

The pack had arrived.

They moved deliberately, circling. Predators.

The horned rabbit crouched low, her horn angled forward like a spear. Her muscles tensed, coiled like a spring ready to snap. She didn’t look at me this time—didn’t even glance in my direction. Her focus was entirely on the shadows.

The first creature emerged slowly, its form almost melting out of the darkness. Its matted fur clung tightly to its skeletal frame, and faint wisps of moss draped over its hunched shoulders. Its glowing yellow eyes burned like coals, locking onto us with unsettling intensity.

Six more followed, each one just as gaunt and menacing, their claws scraping softly against the stone as they prowled closer.

I crouched instinctively, my claws digging into the ground as I prepared to leap. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its rhythm steadying my breathing.

The lead beast growled low in its throat, its spines bristling as it lowered itself into a crouch. Its pack circled around us, their movements slow and deliberate.

“Great,” I muttered under my breath.

“More company.”

The lead beast lunged first, a blur of dark fur and flashing claws. I threw myself to the side with [Bounce], narrowly avoiding its attack. My hind legs coiled as I twisted midair, slamming into its ribs with a sharp [Kick].

The impact sent it skidding across the floor, its claws scraping deep gouges into the stone.

[You have defeated a Feral Stalker. Obtained 10 EXP.]

I landed awkwardly, my legs trembling as I struggled to regain balance. Pain lanced through my side as another beast’s claws raked across my flank, tearing through fur and skin.

[HP: 35 → 28.]

The horned rabbit moved in a blur, darting toward the beast that had struck me. Her horn flashed, slicing a shallow line across its shoulder. The creature hissed, its body twisting as it lashed out at her. She leapt back effortlessly, her movements sharp and precise.

I activated [Blood Sight] again, my vision flaring red as I scanned the pack. Their life force burned erratically, pulsing with wild energy. The leader’s glow was stronger, more concentrated—its weak point flickering faintly at the base of its neck.

Before I could act, another beast lunged. I twisted away, my claws scraping against the slick stone as I narrowly avoided its snapping jaws. My legs burned as I pivoted, my hind legs lashing out in a desperate [Kick].

The beast yelped, its body crumpling as it hit the ground.

[You have defeated Feral Stalker. Obtained 8 EXP.]

One of the Stalkers lunged, its moss-covered body blurring as it closed the distance. I reacted on instinct, activating [Bounce] to leap high above its snapping jaws. The air rushed past my ears as I twisted midair, landing behind it. My hind legs lashed out with a precise [Kick], striking the beast’s ribs with a sharp crack.

It yelped, stumbling to the side as its glowing life force dimmed faintly.

I didn’t have time to savor the progress. Another beast was already closing in, its jagged spines bristling as it lunged for my exposed side.

Before I could react, the horned rabbit intercepted. She moved like a shadow, her compact frame darting in low before her horn angled upward in a brutal jab. The tip pierced the Stalker’s throat, a spray of dark blood staining the moss-covered ground.

The beast collapsed with a gurgling snarl, its life force fading into nothing.

The remaining Stalkers hesitated, their glowing eyes flickering as they recalibrated their strategy. I could see the tension in their wiry frames, the way their claws dug into the stone in anticipation.

Time to disrupt their rhythm.

I locked eyes with the largest of the pack, the alpha. Its crimson gaze burned brighter as I activated [Hypnotic Gaze], pouring my focus into the skill. Pain lanced through my temples, the strain of holding such a powerful target evident immediately.

The alpha froze mid-step, its spines trembling as the glow in its eyes dimmed slightly. The other Stalkers faltered, their movements growing erratic as their leader’s control wavered.

The horned rabbit didn’t waste the opening. She darted in again, her horn flashing as she targeted one of the disoriented Stalkers. The beast snarled, its claws raking uselessly at the ground as her strike found its mark, severing its spine.

The alpha broke free of my gaze with a furious roar, shaking its massive head as the crimson light flared brighter. I staggered back, my chest heaving from the exertion.

The horned rabbit glanced at me briefly, her blue eyes sharp but not unkind. Without a word, she shifted her stance, positioning herself between me and the advancing alpha.

She was buying me time.

I straightened, forcing myself to focus. My [Blood Sight] flared again, illuminating the alpha’s tangled web of life force. Its weak point flickered faintly—at the base of its neck, just below the jagged spines.

The horned rabbit engaged the alpha directly, her movements precise as she weaved around its slashing claws. I circled wide, keeping low as I waited for an opening.

When the alpha lunged at her, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from her, I saw my chance.

I leapt forward with [Bounce], my hind legs coiling for a devastating [Kick]. The strike connected with the alpha’s weak point, a sharp crack echoing through the chamber as it stumbled forward.

The horned rabbit seized the opportunity, her horn flashing in a deadly arc. She struck the alpha’s exposed throat, her momentum carrying her forward as the beast collapsed beneath her.

The remaining two beasts circled cautiously now, their glowing eyes flickering with a mixture of rage and hesitation.

The larger one growled low in its throat, its claws scraping the stone as it prepared to charge. I locked eyes with it, activating [Hypnotic Gaze]. Pain flared behind my eyes, sharp and immediate, as I focused all my will on freezing the beast in place.

Its body stiffened mid-lunge, its movements faltering as the glow in its eyes dimmed. My muscles trembled from the effort, but I held firm, buying precious seconds.

“Now!” I barked, my voice hoarse.

The horned rabbit reacted instantly. She darted forward, her horn angled upward as she drove it into the beast’s exposed throat. Blood sprayed in a sharp arc, splattering across the mossy floor as the creature let out a guttural snarl.

I released the skill, staggering as the strain faded. My legs trembled, but I forced myself forward, leaping onto the beast’s back. My claws raked across its neck, and I followed with another [Kick], the impact sharp and decisive.

[You have defeated Feral Stalker. Obtained 15 EXP.]

The last beast growled, its spines bristling as it backed away from the carnage. It wasn’t retreating—it was calculating.

The horned rabbit didn’t wait. She charged, her movements precise as she aimed for its flank. The beast twisted at the last moment, swiping at her with claws that barely missed her hind legs.

I leaped in to intercept the beast, [Blood Sight] flaring as I locked onto its weak point. My hind legs lashed out, striking the base of its spine with a powerful [Kick]. The beast howled, its body crumpling to the ground.

The horned rabbit delivered the final blow, her horn piercing its skull with a sharp, wet crack.

[You have defeated Feral Stalker Alpha. Obtained 20 EXP.]

The chamber fell silent, save for the faint dripping of blood onto the stone. The moss beneath the creatures’ bodies pulsed faintly, its glow dimming as the blood seeped into the ground.

[Level Up! Level 5 → Level 6. EXP to next level: 80.]

A rush of warmth flooded my chest as the notification appeared, my body feeling lighter and stronger. The faint pulse of the orb steadied, its rhythm syncing with the beat of my heart.

The horned rabbit stood over the largest beast, her blue eyes scanning the chamber for any lingering threats. Blood dripped from her horn, pooling at her feet.

She turned to me, her gaze calm but piercing. There was no acknowledgment in her expression, no sign of approval or judgment. Just focus.

I straightened, shaking the blood from my claws.

“Not bad,” I muttered, brushing past her toward the center of the chamber.

“For you.”

Her ears twitched, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she began sniffing at the far wall, her movements slow and deliberate.

I followed, my gaze lingering on the creatures’ lifeless forms. Their blood soaked into the moss, disappearing as though the dungeon itself was feeding on it.

The horned rabbit stood still for a moment after the fight, her chest rising and falling with quiet breaths. Then, a faint shimmer spread across her fur, subtle but unmistakable. Even her horn caught the light differently now, like it had been honed sharper by the battle

“What was that?” I muttered, my ears twitching.

She glanced at me, her blue eyes calm but sharper than before—more focused. Her horn caught the light differently now, its surface gleaming as though freshly polished. Even her stance felt changed, more confident and balanced.

Did she… just level up? My claws scraped lightly against the stone as I mulled over the idea. Creatures in the forest had never displayed such clear growth—at least not to my untrained eyes. But this wasn’t the forest, and she wasn’t like the others.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, as if agreeing with my unspoken thoughts. The horned rabbit tilted her head, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before she turned, leading us further into the dungeon.

The air grew heavier as we moved forward, the faint hum of the dungeon’s life pulsing steadily beneath my feet. Whatever lay ahead, it wasn’t going to be any easier.

And I was fine with that.

The jagged path sloped downward, and the faint hum of the dungeon grew softer, almost as if the air itself was holding its breath. The walls were alive with faint bioluminescent fungi, their hues shifting from soft greens to deep purples, casting flickering shadows that danced with each step. Water trickled faintly somewhere ahead, the sound soothing yet strangely unsettling in the otherwise silent expanse.

I limped forward, the orb in my chest thrumming faintly in time with my steps. The ache in my legs hadn’t left, though the horned rabbit ahead of me moved with the same effortless precision as ever. Her silhouette was barely visible in the shifting light, her horn catching occasional glimmers that made it seem like a beacon cutting through the dim.

She stopped suddenly, one paw raised mid-step. Her ears swiveled toward the sound of trickling water, then toward the faint rustle of something in the distance—something small, skittering out of sight.

“Another fight already?” I muttered, my claws curling instinctively.

She didn’t move, her sharp blue eyes scanning the shadows ahead. Then she glanced back at me, her gaze pointed but calm. No tension in her stance. No urgency in her movements. This wasn’t danger—at least, not yet.

I exhaled, easing the tension in my shoulders.

“Fine. Lead on, oh fearless guide.”

The passage opened into a vast chamber that stole what little breath I had left. The ceiling stretched so high it disappeared into darkness, yet glowing vines trailed down like curtains, their luminescence casting a gentle light over everything below. Massive fungal growths jutted from the ground; their caps large enough to shield us from sight if we crouched beneath them. Spore clouds shimmered faintly in the air, drifting lazily like golden dust motes.

At the center of the chamber, a shallow underground lake rippled softly, its surface a mirror that reflected the fungi and vines above. The water glowed faintly, not unlike the orb in my chest, its light pulsing in rhythm with the gentle currents.

For the first time since entering this dungeon, I felt a pang of awe. The dungeon wasn’t just some malevolent force—it was alive, and it was beautiful.

The horned rabbit moved ahead; her paws silent on the moss-covered ground. She stopped near the lake’s edge, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air. I followed, my claws scraping faintly against the stone.

The closer I got, the stronger the air smelled—earthy and damp, with a faint metallic tang lingering just beneath. My ears flicked as I caught the sound of something faintly creaking—perhaps the vines swaying overhead, or something watching from the shadows.

“Not exactly cozy,” I muttered, glancing around the chamber.

The horned rabbit didn’t respond, of course. Instead, she crouched low near a patch of moss and began pawing at the ground. I watched as her claws unearthed something buried just beneath the surface—a rusted piece of metal, jagged and dull.

“What’s that?” I asked, stepping closer. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, as if sensing something. I ignored it.

The horned rabbit nudged the object toward me, her blue eyes flickering briefly with what might’ve been expectation. I crouched, wincing as my legs protested the movement, and picked up the object with hesitant claws.

It was the broken hilt of a sword, its once-pristine surface corroded beyond recognition. The blade was gone, leaving only jagged remnants. Yet there was something unsettling about it—about how it seemed to hum faintly in my grasp, as if it held the echoes of battles long since lost.

I set the hilt down carefully, my gaze drifting to the horned rabbit. She was already moving again, her body low to the ground as she sniffed at the base of a nearby fungal stalk. I followed her gaze and spotted faint markings carved into the cap’s underside—lines and symbols, hastily etched and weathered by time.

“What’s this now?” I muttered, squinting at the symbols. My [Blood Sight] flared instinctively, casting a faint crimson glow over the markings. They pulsed faintly, not with life, but with something else—something dormant, yet lingering.

A sword…come to think of it, swords actually look kinda cool. I mean fantasy, sword fight, dual-wielding that you see in anime, all of it looks kinda cool. Alas, I’m not fated to be a swordsman in this life, but look at me I got something better hehehehehehe.

A mind controlling rabbit, what’s cooler than that huh?! Not exactly “mind controlling” but we’ll get there you know!

The horned rabbit’s ears flicked, her attention darting toward the far end of the chamber. I followed her gaze and froze.

A cluster of makeshift supplies lay half-buried in the moss—a torn satchel, a shattered lantern, and scraps of cloth that might once have been part of a cloak. Nearby, a small book lay open, its pages damp and curling at the edges.

I approached slowly, my claws hesitant on the uneven ground. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, a soft thrum that seemed to sync with the chamber’s quiet hum.

I crouched near the tattered book, my claws hesitant on the damp stone as I flipped its curling pages. The ink was faded, smudged into dark streaks across the parchment. Symbols sprawled across the page—sharp angles and flowing curves that meant nothing to me.

“What is this?” I muttered, though I didn’t expect an answer. The lines seemed deliberate, purposeful, but their meaning was lost on me. Just more marks on a page.

I couldn’t understand a single thing. What even is this? Is this English? Mandarin? Arabic? Latin? Not a single clue my dude. Not a single clue.

The horned rabbit nudged my side, her horn brushing lightly against my fur. She gestured toward the far end of the chamber, her body tense, ears flicking.

“Right, no time for this,” I said, dropping the book. It wouldn’t do me any good—not unless someone decided to carve out a Rosetta Stone in the middle of this dungeon.

The horned rabbit nudged my side again, her horn grazing my fur lightly. I looked at her, her blue eyes sharp and unyielding. She gestured with her head toward the path ahead—a narrow passageway half-concealed by a curtain of glowing vines.

“You’re eager,” I muttered, setting the book down. My legs ached, my chest still felt tight, but I forced myself upright.

The orb in my chest pulsed steadily, its warmth a quiet reassurance. Whatever lay ahead, we weren’t done here—not yet.

As we stepped toward the passage, the chamber seemed to hold its breath. The air grew colder, the glowing fungi dimming slightly as though retreating from what lay beyond.

“Ready?” I asked, though I didn’t expect an answer.

The horned rabbit glanced back at me briefly, her blue eyes unreadable. Then she turned and slipped through the vines, disappearing into the shadows beyond.

I followed, my claws scraping faintly against the stone as I crossed the threshold. The orb pulsed once, its rhythm quickening.

The passage ahead seemed darker, the air colder. Even the vines seemed hesitant to stretch into the shadows beyond. The orb pulsed once, sharp and insistent, as though warning me.

Whatever lay ahead was worse than anything behind us.

Chapter 20 – The Watcher

The jagged passage gave way to something new. The walls smoothed as though carved by hands instead of nature, their surfaces etched with faintly glowing glyphs. They pulsed softly, like the dying embers of a fire struggling to stay lit. The air shifted, colder and sharper, with a faint metallic tang that scratched at the back of my throat.

Status

[Status]

Name: No Name

Race: Red-Eyed Lop

Level: 6 (EXP: 10/100)

HP: 40/45

Mana: 40/40

[Unique Skills]

Challenger
(The will to face overwhelming odds and rise above. Grants increased strength, agility, and stamina when facing enemies stronger than you. Activates a temporary combat boost when HP falls below 20%.)

[Active Skills]

Bounce Lv. 5
(Enhanced leaping ability with improved aerial control. Can chain into other attacks.)

Kick Lv. 6
(A devastating strike with hind legs. Gains bonus damage against weak points.)

Hypnotic Gaze Lv. 3
(Lock onto a target's eyes to disrupt or temporarily freeze their movements. Improved focus range.)

Blood Sight Lv. 2
(Highlights life forces and weak points. Enhanced range and clarity.)

[Passive Skills]

Danger Sense Lv. 2
(A subtle alert to nearby threats. Improved reaction time in combat situations.)

[Titles]

None

The encounters with the dungeon monsters have been fruitful. Me and my skills have levelled up too which is great.

If I evolved after reaching the maximum level for my race, does that mean skills also has a level cap and might evolve? I don’t know maybe I’ll just find out in the future. It would be a nice surprise if that happens though.

Then again, being able to escape just being a normal rabbit is great. I wonder if the horned rabbit was once a regular rabbit too. Someone that just evolved into a horned rabbit and now has a chance to survive in the wild instead of just running around and never living our burrows.

Ahead, the horned rabbit hesitated, one paw raised mid-step. Her ears flicked toward the faint sound of rushing water below, and she glanced back at me—just once—before continuing.

I followed her through the threshold, my claws scraping against the smooth stone. The ground tilted downward into a broad, spiraling staircase carved into the rock.

It wasn’t like the steps I’d seen in the overworld—these were too perfect, each groove etched with a precision that defied the roughness of the dungeon so far. Between the steps, small, faintly glowing symbols shimmered, their light fading in and out like shallow breaths.

A chill swept over me as I stepped onto the first stair, and the orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its warmth almost apologetic against the icy air.

“What is this place?” I muttered, glancing over the side of the staircase. Below, the darkness stretched endlessly, broken only by faint veins of light snaking through the stone like cracks in an ancient sculpture.

The horned rabbit didn’t answer—obviously. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her horn catching the faint glow of the glyphs. She sniffed the air and then began her descent without a sound.

“Oh, sure. Just act like this is normal,” I muttered, trailing after her. “You’ve been here before or something?”

She didn’t even twitch. Typical.

The stairs spiraled endlessly downward, the faint hum of the glyphs pressing against my ears. My legs burned with every step, and I was pretty sure my ribs still hadn’t forgiven me for the last fight. Every time I slowed, the horned rabbit paused—not looking at me, not encouraging me, just… waiting. Like it wasn’t even a conscious decision.

“You’re not as heartless as you look, you know,” I said between breaths, wincing as my paws slipped on a slick step. “Or maybe you’re just keeping me alive so I can take the hits for you.”

She paused mid-step, her ears twitching. For a brief moment, I thought she might glance back, but she didn’t. Instead, she resumed her quiet descent, her movements as fluid and deliberate as ever.

I snorted. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

The staircase ended abruptly, spilling us into a cavernous hall that swallowed sound and light alike. It was a place steeped in silence, so vast and still it felt like it had been abandoned by time itself. The air hung cold and heavy, carrying the faint metallic tang of mana. I shivered as my claws clicked against the smooth, polished stone floor.

Massive pillars stretched skyward; their tops lost in the shadows above. Each was etched with spiraling glyphs that pulsed faintly with light, shifting between hues of silver and deep blue. The patterns seemed alive, their glow rippling like veins pumping mana through the chamber’s stone heart. Something about them prickled at the edge of my awareness, as though they were meant to be read—or felt.

Ahead of me, the horned rabbit moved silently, her figure dwarfed by the sheer scale of the hall. Her horn caught the shifting light as she passed the glyphs, its sharp surface gleaming like it belonged here, as though she were a piece of the dungeon itself.

“Creepy place,” I muttered, more to fill the silence than anything. My voice echoed faintly, swallowed by the sheer vastness of the hall. The rabbit’s ears flicked, acknowledging the sound but offering no other reaction.

We reached the center of the room, where the floor sloped upward into a circular dais. Its surface was covered with intricate carvings, more elaborate than any we had seen before. The glyphs lining its edges pulsed brighter than those on the pillars, their rhythm syncing with something deeper—something alive.

The orb in my chest pulsed sharply as we approached, its warmth blooming through me. It wasn’t a warning, exactly, but an insistence—a quiet urging to pay attention. I hesitated, the faint thrum of the dais making the fur on my neck bristle.

“Alright,” I muttered, glancing around the chamber.

“I don’t suppose you have any idea what this thing is?”

The horned rabbit didn’t answer, of course. She hopped onto the dais, her light steps barely disturbing the faint glow. Her blue eyes scanned the glyphs with unnerving focus, as if she understood their significance. She sniffed at the air, her ears swiveling as though catching a sound I couldn’t hear.

I followed hesitantly, my claws skidding lightly against the smooth stone.

Up close, the glyphs were impossibly intricate, their patterns spiraling into one another like flowing rivers. They looked… familiar, though I couldn’t place why.

A soft vibration thrummed beneath my paws, growing stronger the closer I got to the center. The orb in my chest pulsed again, sharper this time, its warmth spreading like a whisper of warning.

“Feels important,” I murmured, crouching to get a better look.

Looking at the glyphs and the carvings, it all felt ancient and unnerving to say the least. Something about this magnificent carvings make my heart palpitate.

My claws hovered just above the carvings, tracing the grooves without touching them. The lines shimmered faintly in the dim light, alive with a purpose I couldn’t decipher.

The horned rabbit pawed at one of the glyphs near the edge of the dais. Her movements were deliberate, but not careless. She crouched low, her ears twitching as if listening to something below us. Then she turned to look at me, her gaze sharp and expectant.

“What?” I asked, straightening.

“You think I know what to do with this?”

She tilted her head, her blue eyes glinting faintly in the glyphs’ glow. Then, without warning, she prodded the glowing symbol with her horn.

The reaction was immediate. The glyph brightened, its light racing outward like water spilling across the dais. A low hum filled the chamber, deep and resonant, vibrating through the air and stone alike. The orb in my chest flared, its rhythm syncing with the glyphs’ pulse.

“Hey, hey—careful!” I snapped, stepping back instinctively. The fur along my spine bristled as the light surged around us, the dais thrumming like a heartbeat.

The horned rabbit didn’t flinch. She stood still, her focus unbroken, as though she had expected this. Her horn caught the light, its sharp edges glowing faintly as the glyphs rippled with energy.

“OI! What did you do?!” I growled, my claws scraping against the stone. The air around us grew heavier, the glyphs’ hum growing louder until it reverberated in my chest.

Then the light converged at the center of the dais.

A circular pattern emerged, glowing brighter than the rest. It wasn’t a glyph—it was a seal. The light twisted and swirled, forming the unmistakable outline of an eye.

It stared back at us, unblinking, its iris a deep, menacing red. The hum in the chamber stopped, replaced by a low, guttural rumble that seemed to rise from the very stone beneath us.

The horned rabbit stepped back; her ears pinned against her head as she lowered into a defensive stance. I swallowed hard, my claws digging into the stone as the seal began to pulse, each beat sending a wave of pressure through the room.

Whatever was behind that seal… it wasn’t friendly.

I glanced at the horned rabbit, who remained tense but calm. Her gaze darted between me and the glowing eye as though silently urging me to prepare.

“Right,” I muttered, my legs coiling instinctively.

“Guess we found our next challenge.”

The eye flared, and the rumble became a roar. The glyphs on the dais erupted with light, and the chamber around us began to shift. Stone groaned and cracked as roots shot up from the floor, their jagged edges glowing faintly with the same red light as the seal.

The orb in my chest pulsed one final time, a rush of warmth flooding through me. This wasn’t just a fight—it was something else. Something bigger.

Its body slithered forward, a massive, serpentine frame made of dark stone and glowing, pulsing veins of mana. Four multi-jointed arms unfurled from its torso, each ending in talon-like appendages that scraped against the floor with a sound like grinding stone.

The crimson veins coursing through its body pulsed brighter as it moved, illuminating the cavern with an eerie light.

And then there was its eye.

A single, massive orb sat embedded in its chest, its surface rippling like liquid fire. The pupil was a pinprick of molten red that locked onto me instantly, filling my body with a primal, suffocating fear.

This thing… I think it would be better to call it a watcher with eyes that seem to be able to watch every step of you take and every move you make. It feels like it will be watching you.

The creature let out a grinding, guttural sound, its talons flexing as it rose higher on its coils. The glyphs etched across the floor and pillars surged to life, casting an unholy red glow across the entire chamber.

I barely had time to shout a warning before the Watcher’s eye flared.

A crimson beam exploded from its eye, tearing through the air with deafening force. I leapt to the side with [Bounce], the heat searing past me as it scorched the stone where I’d been standing.

The horned rabbit darted in the opposite direction, landing on a nearby pillar with a grace that made my frantic dive look pathetic.

The beam ended, leaving a molten scar across the floor. My breath came in ragged gasps as the orb in my chest throbbed painfully.

“That thing’s not playing around,” I muttered.

The Watcher turned, its glowing eye swiveling toward the horned rabbit. She crouched low on the pillar, her horn angled sharply forward. The talons reached for her, their glowing veins snaking down their lengths as they scraped across the stone.

I wasn’t about to let it catch her.

With a burst of energy, I activated [Kick], aiming for one of the Watcher’s glowing arms. My legs coiled, muscles screaming as I struck the stone limb. The impact sent a jolt up my spine, but the Watcher recoiled slightly, its talons narrowly missing the horned rabbit.

The serpent-like body twisted toward me, its massive eye locking onto my frame. A cold wave of dread flooded my chest.

The Watcher reared back, its talons rising high before slamming down. Glowing chains erupted from the glyphs, snaking across the floor toward me like living things. I barely had time to react, activating [Bounce] to vault over one chain, only to land awkwardly as another coiled around my hind legs.

[HP: 40 → 36.]

The searing heat of the chains burned through my fur, pinning me in place. I thrashed, claws scraping against the stone as I tried to free myself.

“Fuck! Get off me!” I growled, my breath coming in short, panicked bursts.

The Watcher’s eye flared again, the light growing blindingly bright. My pulse raced. If it fired now, I was done.

Then, she moved.

The horned rabbit darted across the floor, her small frame weaving between the chains with impossible precision. Her horn glowed faintly as she struck the energy binding me. The chains shattered, and I stumbled free, gasping for air.

“Thanks,” I muttered, though my voice shook.

The Watcher hissed, its talons scraping against the floor as it summoned another wave of chains. This time, they snaked toward her, faster and more coordinated. She dodged expertly, leaping between the glowing lines as they lashed out, but the Watcher was learning, its attacks growing more precise.

I had to act.

The orb in my chest flared up, its heat spreading through my limbs. My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, painting the Watcher’s massive frame in crimson hues. Among the pulsing veins of mana, I saw it—a weak point, just below its central eye.

“Gotcha,” I muttered, crouching low.

I launched myself toward the Watcher, claws scraping against the stone as I closed the distance. Its talons lashed out, faster than I’d expected. I twisted midair, narrowly avoiding a swipe that could’ve sliced me in half. Pain lanced through my side as I hit the ground hard.

[HP: 36 → 28.]

The horned rabbit seized the opening. She darted forward, her horn slashing through one of the glowing veins on the Watcher’s tail. The beast howled, its serpentine body thrashing violently. Stone fragments rained down as the dais cracked beneath its weight.

The Watcher turned its attention back to her, its massive eye flaring with rage. The crimson beam fired again, cutting through the air like a sword. She leapt clear, but the beam’s shockwave sent her tumbling across the floor.

I pushed myself upright, my legs trembling. My chest burned with every breath, but I wasn’t about to let her face this thing alone.

“Come on, you overgrown glowstick,” I growled, locking eyes with the Watcher.

Its gaze snapped to me, the molten red pupil narrowing. It lunged, its massive body coiling as it struck with terrifying speed.

I activated [Bounce], leaping over its sweeping tail and landing on its coiled torso. My claws dug into the stone-like surface as I scrambled toward the weak point below its eye. The heat from its glowing veins burned against my pads, but I forced myself to move.

The Watcher reared back, its body thrashing violently. I held on, claws scraping against the slick surface as it tried to shake me loose. The horned rabbit struck again, her horn piercing another glowing vein on its tail. The Watcher roared, its movements faltering for a moment.

That moment was all I needed.

With a burst of strength, I drove my hind legs into the weak point, activating [Kick]. The impact reverberated through my body, and the Watcher howled, its eye dimming briefly before flaring brighter than ever.

The Watcher lashed out in a frenzy, its talons carving deep gouges into the floor. The glyphs around the dais pulsed erratically, casting jagged shadows across the room. The air grew hotter, the oppressive heat sucking the breath from my lungs.

“We need to end this!” I shouted, my voice hoarse.

The horned rabbit darted toward me; her movements still sharp despite the chaos. Her blue eyes met mine for a brief moment, and in that unspoken exchange, we understood.

Together, we moved.

She leapt high, landing on the Watcher’s back and stabbing her horn into one of its central veins. The beast thrashed, its eye flaring wildly. I darted in from below, aiming for the same weak point. My legs burned, every muscle screaming as I struck with everything I had.

The Watcher let out a deafening screech, its body convulsing as the light in its eye flickered violently. The glyphs on the floor dimmed, their pulsing rhythm slowing.

The fight wasn’t over—but the Watcher was weakening.

We had a chance.

Chapter 21 – The Watcher 2

For a moment, the room fell into a fragile stillness. The Watcher’s massive body twitched, its glowing veins dimming as a guttural rumble echoed through the hall. The horned rabbit leapt gracefully to the ground, landing beside me. Her fur was streaked with dark smudges from the fight, but her sharp blue eyes remained focused, unwavering.

My claws dug into the cracked stone floor as I panted, the heat from the Watcher’s burning veins still prickling my fur. The faint hum from the glyphs surrounding us had slowed to a rhythmic pulse, almost like a heartbeat. My [Danger Sense] continued to buzz, a low hum in the back of my mind. It wasn’t over.

“Tell me that’s it,” I muttered, though I already knew the answer.

The horned rabbit’s ears twitched, her gaze snapping to the Watcher’s slumped form. The glowing eye embedded in its chest flickered, then flared to life with an intense crimson light. The pulse from the glyphs quickened, their glow spreading out like wildfire across the floor and up the pillars.

Did I actually jinxed it?!

The air grew heavy, suffocating. The Watcher’s body began to rise, its stone-like coils shifting with unsettling fluidity. Its once-dim veins now burned brighter than before, the glow branching out like cracks in an unstable dam. A sharp, metallic screech tore through the chamber as its molten eye widened, leaking streams of fiery light that dripped and hissed against the ground.

It wasn’t just recovering. It was transforming.

The Watcher’s body split apart at its central coil, unveiling a gaping chasm lined with writhing, glowing tendrils of mana. Its four talons extended, their claws lengthening and sharpening into scythe-like appendages. The glyphs across its body pulsed faster, each beat accompanied by a guttural roar that reverberated through the hall.

The eye in its chest pulsed, releasing a wave of energy that sent a deep tremor through the ground. Cracks spread out from the dais, and the pillars groaned under the strain.

The orb in my chest flared violently, its heat scorching beneath my fur.

“Move!”

I shouted, activating [Bounce] just as a torrent of red chains erupted from the glyphs beneath us. The horned rabbit leapt in sync, her small frame darting through the air as the chains lashed upward, shattering the ground where we had been.

The Watcher turned toward us, its glowing tendrils writhing like living things. One of its talons slashed forward, carving a deep arc through the air. I twisted mid-leap, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the sheer force of it sent me tumbling to the ground.

[HP: 28 → 20.]

Pain lanced through my side, sharp and immediate. I scrambled upright, my breath ragged. The horned rabbit darted to my side, her horn gleaming as she stood defensively between me and the advancing Watcher. Her stance was lower now, her movements more deliberate. She knew, just as I did, that we were fighting for our lives.

The Watcher roared, its massive body surging forward with terrifying speed. One of its talons crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the room. I vaulted over the shockwave with [Bounce], but the horned rabbit wasn’t so lucky. The force threw her off balance, and she hit the ground hard.

“Damn it!” I growled, rushing to intercept the next attack.

The Watcher’s eye flared, a crimson glow building at its center. I didn’t wait to see what it would do. With a burst of energy, I lunged at its side, activating [Kick]. My legs struck one of its glowing veins, but the surface was tougher now, harder to crack. The impact barely fazed it.

The horned rabbit was back on her feet in an instant. She darted forward, her horn slicing through one of the mana tendrils near its chest. The tendril spasmed, spraying glowing liquid that hissed against the stone. The Watcher roared, twisting violently as it lashed out with its talons.

We moved together now, a precarious dance of survival. I drew its attention, leaping and striking at its limbs while the horned rabbit aimed for its tendrils and veins. Every strike was a gamble; every dodge felt too close. The Watcher was faster now, its attacks relentless and precise. It was learning.

With each step I take, I could feel it. That at any moment if we make a mistake, we might lose our lives.

The Watcher’s eye flared again, brighter than before. My [Danger Sense] screamed as the ground beneath me lit up with glowing glyphs. A second later, chains erupted upward, faster and more coordinated than before. I leapt clear, but one of the chains caught my hind leg, searing through my fur.

[HP: 20 → 14.]

The horned rabbit wasn’t spared either. A chain wrapped around her midsection, yanking her off the ground. She thrashed, her horn slicing at the glowing energy, but it held firm. The Watcher let out a guttural roar, raising its talons high as if to crush her.

“No, you don’t!” I snarled, activating [Blood Sight].

The Watcher’s body flared crimson in my vision, its veins glowing like rivers of molten fire. My eyes locked onto a weak point—one of the larger tendrils near its base. Without hesitating, I launched myself forward, adrenaline drowning out the pain in my legs.

I struck with everything I had. My claws tore into the glowing vein, and I followed up with a powerful [Kick]. The tendril snapped, spraying molten mana that sizzled against my fur. The Watcher roared, its talons faltering for a moment as the chains holding the horned rabbit dissolved.

She landed lightly, her blue eyes meeting mine for the briefest moment. There was no need for words. We were in this together.

The Watcher’s movements grew more erratic, its body writhing as its mana veins flickered. But its attacks didn’t slow. If anything, they became more desperate. It lashed out with its talons, forcing us to split up. The glyphs on the floor pulsed faster, releasing bursts of mana that detonated like mines.

I dodged one explosion, the heat singeing my fur, and immediately leapt toward its side. My claws dug into its stone-like body as I climbed higher, aiming for its central eye. The horned rabbit struck from the opposite side, her horn slicing through another vein. The Watcher let out a resounding roar of pain, its molten eye flaring violently.

Just as I reached the weak point near its chest, the Watcher reared back. Its coils twisted violently, and I lost my grip, tumbling to the ground.

[HP: 14 → 8.]

Pain exploded through my body as I hit the stone floor. The world spun, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. The orb in my chest flared, its heat dulling the edges of the pain, but I could feel my strength waning.

The horned rabbit darted to my side, her blue eyes sharp and unyielding. She nudged me lightly, as if urging me to stand.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m not done,” I muttered, pushing myself upright.

The Watcher’s body pulsed with unstable energy, its molten eye leaking streams of light that hissed against the stone. The glyphs around the dais flickered erratically, their rhythm growing uneven.

“This thing’s about to blow,” I said, gritting my teeth.

“We have to end it—now.”

The horned rabbit crouched low, her horn glowing faintly as she prepared to strike. I could feel her determination, sharp and unwavering. My claws scraped against the floor as I steadied myself, the orb in my chest pulsing in time with the Watcher’s flickering veins.

Together, we moved.

I leapt toward its side, drawing its attention with a flurry of strikes. The horned rabbit darted around its talons, aiming for its writhing tendrils. Every hit sent a jolt through the Watcher’s body, its movements growing more unstable.

Finally, the moment came. The Watcher reared back, its molten eye flaring with blinding light. I locked onto its weak point, every ounce of strength I had left surging into my legs.

“Now!” I shouted, leaping high.

The horned rabbit struck first, her horn piercing one of its central veins. The Watcher convulsed, its body writhing as glowing cracks spread across its stone-like frame. I followed a heartbeat later, driving my hind legs into its chest with a devastating [Kick].

The Watcher let out a deafening roar as its body began to collapse, the light from its veins dimming. The glyphs flickered one final time before fading into darkness.

The oppressive silence that followed the Watcher’s collapse lasted only a moment. Then, the air split with a sound like shattering glass, piercing and shrill. My ears flattened instinctively as the hall itself seemed to convulse. The glyphs along the walls, dormant just seconds ago, flared to life with a blinding intensity, their sharp pulses turning the chamber into a chaotic storm of light and shadow.

The Watcher’s broken body began to shift. The molten eye in its chest glowed fiercely, its light spilling out in jagged beams that pierced the surrounding stone. Cracks spread rapidly across its form, revealing an inner core—a pulsing, living mass of raw mana that burned with an intensity I could feel even from where I stood.

Are you actually fucking kidding me?!

I staggered back, the orb in my chest flaring wildly. The heat from the Watcher’s core made my fur stand on end, the sensation searing and relentless. The horned rabbit crouched beside me; her blue eyes fixed on the creature as its transformation continued. For the first time, I caught the faintest flicker of hesitation in her gaze.

“What now?” I growled, my claws digging into the stone. My breathing was ragged, my legs trembling under the strain of the last two phases.

“Can’t we get a break?”

As if in answer, the Watcher let out a deafening roar, its voice layered with the sound of grinding stone and rushing flames. Its body cracked and shattered, pieces of its outer shell falling away to reveal a form even more grotesque and alien.

The Watcher no longer resembled a snake. Its broken coils had reconfigured into a jagged, asymmetrical mass of stone and glowing veins, each tendril ending in serrated edges. Four limbs emerged from its core, unnaturally long and spider-like, their tips glowing with molten heat. The central eye that once dominated its chest was now larger, brighter, and fractured into multiple lenses, each one swiveling independently to scan the room.

The chamber itself seemed to react to the Watcher’s rebirth. The once-stable floor buckled and groaned, shifting beneath my feet as new glyphs etched themselves into the stone, radiating an oppressive, suffocating energy. The pillars that had lined the hall fractured, their tops collapsing and slamming into the ground like falling giants.

The air grew unbearably hot, heavy with the acrid stench of burning stone. My chest tightened, every breath feeling like it was being dragged through molten steel. The orb within me pulsed frantically, its rhythm out of sync with the world around us. Even my vision felt distorted, the edges blurring as waves of heat shimmered in the suffocating light.

The horned rabbit didn’t wait. She darted forward, her horn gleaming as she aimed for one of the glowing tendrils extending from the Watcher’s core. Her movements were sharp and precise, but the Watcher reacted instantly. One of its limbs lashed out, faster than anything I’d seen before.

She barely managed to twist midair, the serrated edge grazing her side as she landed heavily.

“Careful!” I barked, activating [Bounce] to close the distance. My hind legs coiled, and I launched myself at the creature, aiming for one of the weaker veins near its core. My [Kick] connected, the force cracking the glowing tendril.

But instead of retreating, the Watcher lashed out, one of its limbs catching me mid-air.

[HP: 8 → 4.]

The impact sent me flying, my body slamming into one of the remaining pillars. Pain exploded across my back, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The orb in my chest flared violently, its heat dulling the worst of the agony, but I knew I couldn’t take another hit like that.

Seeing that [Challenger] still hasn’t activated, it seems that there might be limitations.

The horned rabbit darted to my side, her blue eyes sharper than ever. Blood dripped from a shallow cut along her flank, but her stance was steady, her determination unwavering. She nudged me lightly, as if to say, “Get up.”

I forced myself upright, my claws scraping against the stone. The Watcher’s limbs moved with unnerving precision, each one weaving through the air in a deadly pattern that left no room for error. Its fractured eyes glowed brighter, and beams of searing light shot out, carving deep scars into the floor.

I leapt to avoid one, the beam passing just beneath me and searing the edges of my fur. The heat was unbearable, a constant reminder that every mistake could be my last.

“Think,” I muttered under my breath, dodging another sweeping limb. The horned rabbit moved in tandem with me, her smaller frame allowing her to dart through the chaos more easily. She struck at the Watcher’s limbs, her horn slicing through glowing veins with precision, but every severed tendril only seemed to enrage it further.

The Watcher roared again, its voice splitting the air. The light from its core intensified, and the glyphs along the floor erupted, chains of molten energy lashing upward in wild arcs. One caught the horned rabbit’s hind leg, dragging her to the ground. She thrashed, her horn slicing through the chain, but the delay was enough for one of the Watcher’s limbs to close in.

“No!” I shouted, activating [Hypnotic Gaze].

The world turned red as I poured every ounce of focus into the skill. The Watcher’s movements faltered for a brief moment, its fractured eyes dimming as the mana running through its veins shuddered. The horned rabbit seized the opening, rolling free of the incoming limb and leaping onto one of the creature’s upper tendrils.

She drove her horn deep into its glowing surface, the strike sending a shockwave through the Watcher’s body. It convulsed, its limbs thrashing wildly as cracks spread across its core.

I landed beside her, panting heavily. My claws trembled as I tried to keep my balance, every movement a struggle. The orb in my chest burned like a furnace, its heat scorching but necessary. My vision blurred as exhaustion clawed at the edges of my mind.

The horned rabbit glanced at me; her gaze unreadable. Her chest heaved with each breath, but her stance didn’t waver. She was tired—I could see it in the faint tremble of her legs—but she wasn’t giving up. And neither could I.

“This thing… just won’t die,” I growled, my voice hoarse.

The Watcher’s fractured eyes focused on us again, their glow intensifying. The air around its core shimmered with heat, and I could feel the shift in its energy. It wasn’t just enraged—it was desperate. The next phase would be its last, one way or another.

“Ready?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

The horned rabbit didn’t respond, but the sharp gleam in her eyes was answer enough.

Together, we turned to face the Watcher as it rose to its full height, the light from its core casting long, jagged shadows across the crumbling hall. Its fractured body was on the brink of collapse, but its power was still overwhelming.

This wasn’t just survival anymore. This was the final stand.

The Watcher loomed, its molten core pulsating wildly as if teetering on the edge of collapse. The hall shuddered under the weight of its presence, and the glyphs along the walls and floor burned brighter, the air thick with the scent of scorched stone and searing mana.

The horned rabbit stood beside me; her bloodied fur matted but her stance unyielding. The faint tremor in her limbs betrayed her exhaustion, yet her blue eyes burned with defiance.

The Watcher shifted, its remaining tendrils curling inward like claws preparing to strike. Cracks spread along its molten core, spilling streams of fiery energy that melted the floor beneath it. A high-pitched keening sound filled the chamber, like the shriek of metal under unbearable pressure.

This was it—the final hurrah.

The Watcher struck first, its tendrils slamming down with terrifying speed. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, the force enough to knock me off my feet. I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another sweeping strike that shattered a nearby pillar into rubble.

“Keep moving!” I barked, my voice hoarse.

The horned rabbit darted left, her small frame weaving through the chaos as she leapt onto a shattered piece of stone. From her elevated position, she launched herself toward one of the Watcher’s limbs, her horn slicing deep into the glowing veins.

The Watcher screeched, its core flaring as molten light poured from the wound. It retaliated with a flurry of strikes, its limbs whipping through the air like scythes. I activated [Bounce], launching myself into the air just as one of the limbs came crashing down where I had stood.

Midair, I twisted, using the momentum to deliver a powerful [Kick] to the Watcher’s core. The strike sent cracks spiderwebbing across its surface, and the orb in my chest flared in response, its heat surging as though feeding off the Watcher’s collapsing energy.

The Watcher roared, its fractured eyes burning like dying stars. A surge of energy rippled outward from its core, slamming into me like a tidal wave.

[HP: 4 → 2.]

I hit the ground hard, my claws scraping against the stone as I struggled to rise. My legs trembled, every muscle screaming in protest. The orb in my chest pulsed erratically, its warmth both a comfort and a burden.

The horned rabbit landed beside me, her breathing ragged. She nudged my side with her horn, urging me to move. There was no time to rest—not while the Watcher still stood.

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, forcing myself upright. “I’m not done yet.”

The Watcher’s molten core pulsed dangerously, and the air around it shimmered with heat. The glyphs on its body flared, and from their jagged patterns, a new attack emerged. A ring of molten chains erupted from the ground, spiraling outward like living fire.

The horned rabbit leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the searing chains as they tore through the floor. I followed, the heat licking at my fur as I darted to the side. One of the chains grazed my flank, the pain sharp and immediate.

[HP: 2 → 1.]

The Watcher’s energy began to wane, its attacks becoming more erratic. The molten chains faltered, their glowing edges dimming as the glyphs along its limbs flickered. The cracks in its core widened, spilling more molten light into the chamber.

“This is it!” I shouted, the strain in my voice betraying my desperation.

The horned rabbit moved first, darting through the chaos with the precision of a seasoned predator. Her horn glowed faintly as she aimed for the Watcher’s core, her body a blur of motion. The Watcher’s limbs lashed out, but she twisted midair, her horn striking true.

The Watcher let out an ear-splitting wail, its body convulsing violently. I seized the opening, activating [Bounce] to launch myself toward its exposed core. The heat was unbearable, the air searing my lungs as I coiled my legs for one final strike.

With everything I had, I unleashed [Kick], my hind legs connecting with the molten core. The impact reverberated through the chamber, the sound of shattering stone drowning out the Watcher’s dying screech.

The Watcher’s body crumbled, its molten core collapsing in on itself. Streams of fiery energy spiraled upward, carving glowing fissures into the ceiling. The ground beneath us trembled violently, and for a moment, I thought the entire chamber would collapse.

Then, silence.

The Watcher’s remains lay scattered across the floor, its fractured core dim and lifeless. The oppressive heat lifted, replaced by a cold, eerie stillness. The glyphs along the walls and floor dimmed, their light fading into darkness.

[You have defeated the Watcher of Veins. Obtained 500 EXP.]

I dropped to the ground, my legs giving out beneath me. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath, the orb in my chest pulsing faintly.

[Level Up! Level 6 → Level 9. EXP to next level: 150.]

The rush of warmth that followed was almost overwhelming, my body tingling with newfound strength. The pain in my limbs dulled slightly, though the exhaustion remained.

Beside me, the horned rabbit stood tall, her blue eyes fixed on the Watcher’s remains. Her fur was matted with blood, and her movements were slower, but she didn’t falter.

“You… okay?” I asked between gasps.

She glanced at me, her expression calm but unreadable. Then, with a quiet nod, she turned her gaze to the far end of the chamber.

The far wall began to shift, the stone rippling lie water. Slowly, a massive door emerged from the darkness, its surface etched with glowing glyphs unlike any I’d seen before. The air around it was cold and still, the silence almost reverent.

I staggered to my feet, my claws scraping against the stone as I approached the door. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its warmth steadying my trembling legs.

As I reached the door, a voice echoed through the chamber—deep and resonant, yet soft, like a whisper carried on the wind.

“Welcome, my child.”

The voice sent a shiver down my spine, its tone both comforting and unsettling. I turned to the horned rabbit, but she was staring at the door, her blue eyes wide with something I couldn’t quite place.

The glyphs on the door pulsed softly, their light growing brighter with each beat.

“What… is this?” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

The horned rabbit didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped closer to the door, her gaze fixed on its glowing surface. The air grew heavier, the weight of the unknown pressing down on us like a tangible force.

The voice spoke again, its tone impossibly calm.

“Although that old thing has been withered through the test of time, it’s still surprising that someone actually defeated it.”