Ping

Midnight dismissed the system prompt indicating the death of an enemy. And he didn't spare a second glance at the charred Horned-Rabbit's corpse smoking by his side. Instead, he stumbled in a hurry and lunged diagonally to escape the other one. He rolled in the moist and fragrant grass, then used his hands to prop himself and jumped back on his feet.

I overestimated these creatures. Damn, I got too full of myself. Just because I can wield some magic...The destructive power in Flame is quite strong, but it is equally draining on my mana. Sigh, another wasted opportunity. If this goes on, I won't be able to harvest anything again. This won't do.

Despite the close call, he was very calm. He quickly analyzed the situation and utilized the characteristics of his race to play a game of cops and robbers.

Squeak!

The Horned-Rabbit landed lightly on its feet, and it dived deeper into the knee-length grass. It had plenty of experience as both the hunter and the prey. Instinctively it sensed the minute surprise, confusion, and the indecision of the half-ling. This was a chance!

With the environmental benefits, it crawled low and stealthily circled to surprise its enemy.

Heh, you want to catch me from the back? Dream on, I can 'see' you crystal clear. With a buzz, Midnight divided his attention. Half of his brain was busy constructing a new spell structure, while the other half sensed the location of the monster. Then he dragged the battle by hopping, tumbling, rolling, lunging, and sidestepping. He wasn't any slower than the rabbit.

One symbol after another flickered in his mind. Like a swarm of tiny fireflies, they lit his brain and assembled in a complicated structure.

Huff Huff Huff

He felt a stinging pain in his left thigh. Through the corner of his eye, he saw a rupture in his pants. The skin beneath was lacerated and dripping crimson liquid.

I am slightly faster, but my stamina can't hold for long.

He felt his breathing grow erratic, but the spell was nearly complete. Then he 'saw' the monster. It was to his right, its muscles tensing, ready for a jump.

That works. He tightened his calves, exerted force in his spine, and like a clown performing in a circus, made a sudden backflip.

Swish Bang

The rabbit's claws dug into the dirt, then it shot up straight forward. Yet, the enemy was no more! In a fraction of a second, it landed firmly, spun in place, and faced the half-ling once again. It could see his flushed face, it could smell his sweat. The humanoid was tired.

"Venti Ventare Circuitio. Obice Nil." With his outstretched hand, Midnight clenched his fist and spat the words. They slid his tongue infused with power. Together with the intangible projection of the spell they stirred the wind around.

Woosh

A gale emerged and trapped the rabbit. It formed a sphere of rotating air currents.

Bang Scheech

The horn of the creature pierced in the torrents, but it was repelled. An unpleasant sound broke the silence in the field.

Bang Bang Bang Squeak!

It didn't stop. It trashed wildly against the invisible barrier. But, beneath its feet, the gale was annoying.

The greasy winds made it lose its footing and they thwarted its attempts at running. In this narrow space, it couldn't exert enough force to jump, nor did it have the freedom. And without acceleration, its horn was not enough to break the spell.

Nil

Midnight mumbled once again. He used his link connection to pour more mana into the illusory design and catalyze the last effect.

Swish

The gale sucked the air from the tight enclosure. It used it to strengthen the barrier and suffocate the enemy inside.

Bang Huff Bang Huff Gasp

The movements of the monster and the lack of oxygen, soon made the rabbit gasp for breath. It was painful. It was dying. With transparent and bubbly foam gurgling from its snout, the rabbit's muscles tightened and its eyes rolled back revealing their whites. Soon it lost its strength and fell forward, lifeless on the ground.

Sigh

Thankfully the spell worked out. Thankfully, I spend many hours reading books, memorizing symbols, and thinking of this structure.

Heh, death by suffocation is the best way to deal with an enemy without bringing down the quality of its materials. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time, chance, or opportunity to use a tricky spell in the beginning. Facing two of these creatures at the same time is still too much for me...What a bloody waste!

Midnight severed the connection with the magic structure and saw the gale dissipate. Then he furtively checked on his surroundings to make sure that no other monsters were lurking nearby.

Ping

|You killed a Horned-Rabbit.

If you don't harvest the materials, the corpse will rot away in half an hour.|

As expected of Euclex. This is what I call a sense of realism. The corpses of the monsters won't just disappear but will rot away and return to Earth's embrace. This means that in the meantime they can draw the attention of more monsters. I need to pay attention to this point.

Fuck, the process is accelerated. I don't have much time.

He closed the window, rolled his sleeves, and hurriedly approached the monster. Then he squatted down and closed its eyes. This was his apology and respect toward the creature. Albeit virtual, the world of Euclex was extremely realistic. Natives or monsters, they all had their lives, pasts, experiences, and feelings.

Ok, let's begin.

He gently clapped his hands and pulled the rusty dirk.

Erm, I have already researched this topic. Let me think, Horned-Rabbits are pretty much rabbits with a horn. He first amused himself with a silly observation. Thankfully, it happened in his head. It wasn't a reflection worthy of sharing with others.

Cough

He cleared his throat and fully calmed himself. The slight trembling in his hands subsided.

As a city boy, I have no practical experience in butchering a rabbit. At least this monster has the anatomy of one. I have the basic knowledge.

Yes, besides the pelt and meat, which I still haven't had a chance to taste, but I have heard is not too bad, I should be able to harvest its keratine appendage...

He used his left hand to grip the dagger firmly and first tried to cut the horn.

Clang

His hand turned numb and the dagger chipped a bit. A few rusty metal pieces fell into the grass.

"..."

Speechless, Midnight inwardly face-palmed himself in exasperation.

I forgot about its properties. This horn is very hard. On the other hand, my dirk is...is...damn it...

According to the AI, this dirk had once belonged to a grandpa from Lesotte. The said elder tried to kill a frog, but couldn't penetrate its skin. As a result, he was the one to perish. It was a sad yet ridiculous story.

This won't do. Midnight placed the tool aside and pressed his finger to the base of the pointy long appendage. Then he focused, constructed a tiny mistic structure, and projected it forward.

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"Frigus." With his finger as the focal point, the temperature fell sharply, and the underside of the horn turned brittle. Then he grabbed the dirk again and used its wooden handle to strike the horn once more.

Bang Crack

This time he heard a cracking sound, and the horn broke down, gently falling in the grass.

Ping

|You aquired 1 Horned Rabbit Horn. Common (E+)

Mediocre harvesting technique. The structure is damaged and cracked.|

Midnight read the message and lamented at the AI, What do you want from me? I never wanted to receive this trashy dirk as my reward! Don't you dare to complain about the quirkiness of my solutions!

Then he pondered, Indeed, the quality of the material depends on many factors. The first is the level of the monster. The second is the damage sustained in battle. Last is the skill and technique of the harvester...

From what Anna told me. The AI evaluates the materials with two main systems.

One is called Grade. It points directly to the monster's strength, rarity, and the utility of the materials. The same applies to ores, gems, herbs, and so on. This system uses words like Trash, Common, Rare, Unique, Legendary, and whatever is above.

The second system known as Degree or Level, points toward specific aspects. It is based on the particular condition of the said material. It uses letters, with the lowest being F.

With his thoughts adrift, he took the horn and put it in his bag. The lower temperature had damaged the basic structure of the keratin, and the degree of harvesting was low. However, he could probably earn a coin or two from it.

Sigh, living with a debt is nasty. Such things do make one feel uncomfortable and distressed... I should work hard...

He groaned inaudibly and focused on the corpse. After three full seconds of recollection, he kneeled, grabbed a foot, and twisted it.

Kacha

The joint was snapped with a crisp and clear sound. Then with the dirk in hand, he inserted the blade between the newly formed gap and cut away the foot. He repeated the same process until all four rabbit legs were trimmed.

Ping

|You aquired 4 Horned Rabbit Paws. Common (A-)

Very fresh and dirty.|

Rabbit paws? I had no idea these were harvestable items. Heh...

He felt surprised, and scoffed, then with a spark of inspiration, he pulled and cut away the tail. The process was effortless even with the rusty dirk, because the vertebra in the tail was quite thin.

|You aquired Horned Rabbit Tail. Common (A-)

Very fresh and dirty.|

Heh. Lucky paws and tail. Are these used for charms? Please don't tell me Lesottians enjoy them in soup with sprinkled, finely diced, spring leeks on top...He stifled his laughter, imagining this scene. This was a surprising harvest, but it didn't matter. He would get anything that could earn him cash! Beggers could never be choosers no matter if on Earth or in Euclex.

And with this, the easy job is done. The next step will be disturbing...

He had to remove the head! It was a requirement for him to strip away the pelt.

Actually, if I had more skill, I could probably get the pelt more cleanly, without decapitation. Unfortunately, I am just a noob. Instead of being greedy, I should choose the easier and simpler way.

He kept the blade tip pointing at the ground and used his right hand to press the rabbit down and palpate its spine. Following the neckline, his finger found the gaps between the two adjacent base vertebrae, and without much certainty, he pierced into the flesh.

Sqwelp

He used some force to overpower the resistance of the disk and the blade sank deeper. Cutting the cartilage was much easier than slicing through the bone. The dirk couldn't handle the latter and it could even snap in two!

Thud, Twack, Splash

Darker, slightly coagulated blood spilled out and a metallic salty scent infused the air. It wafted up and filled his nose. He cussed but concealed the twitching of his nose and continued butchering with firm determination.

Splatter. Splat.

Snap

After five whole minutes of cutting, slicing, pulling, grumbling, and sweating, he threw the head away. It disappeared somewhere hidden in between the stalks, but the violent red color still betrayed its general location.

Phew

Exhaling softly, Midnight rubbed his aching palms.

This is hard work. Now I respect the butchers even more. Who needs to work out in a gym when they can decapitate a rabbit? Ten rabbits a day and I will be a macho man in no time!

He jested, ignored his gurgling empty stomach, and swept his sweat away. Be it his clothes, hands, or face, he was splashed in sticky red and stinky liquid.

Even though its heart isn't pumping anymore, I somehow managed to get splashed from head to toe. My current appearance can be used as an archetype in horror stories. The title, Midnight Massacre, is very fitting!

Eh? Doesn't this somehow make it sound like I am the main victim in this saga?...

He was too hungry and tired to mind tiny matters like his forlorn appearance and brushed these thoughts away. Afraid the scent would draw more monsters, he rested for a minute, just enough to catch his breath, then returned to work.

Next in line was the striping of the pelt.

The procedure looked simple, but practice makes perfection...

He rolled the rabbit so its stomach faced the sky and gently poked the dirk in the mid-line of its lower belly. Meanwhile, he used his free hand to pinch the skin and lift it up. This was a small but significant detail. Doing so would reduce the risk of puncturing the guts. If that happened, forget the quality of the materials, the stench may kill him on the spot!

The skin here is very thin. I should note it as a weak spot.

While working, he suddenly realized a hidden benefit of butchering a monster. This slow, tedious, and unpleasant work could effectively educate him. It was beneficial for his future battles!

Indeed, the time I spend on slowly harvesting materials is not a waste! Perhaps, this is one of the ideas woven in this game. If you are willing, you can gain knowledge from countless little matters. And knowledge ultimately leads to strength. Can this be considered as an eastern egg? Hmm, I wonder...

Mumbling in enlightenment, Midnight cut a little hole inside the skin and used his bare hands and fingers to enlarge the gap. Then he carefully slipped a finger in between the skin and the underlying viscera and took his time to separate them.

No blood, no stench. Good. Seems to be a great success!

He felt some pride, elation, and excitement in his work. At this moment, he felt like he had really made the first step on his path to crafting. It was a tiny step, a meager one, but still a step. He was definitely moving on.

With this newfound motivation, he used the blade to cut straight up following the midline; always keeping his attention on the guts.

At the same time, he couldn't stop imagining a scene. Right after accomplishing the crucial step of peeling off the skin from the underbelly, just a tiny tremor in his hand leads to a puncture in an intestine. Then a whole bunch of shit literally spills out, dosing off his mood and hard work in just seconds.

Have I always been so negative?

He shook his head, finished up the straight incision, then moved his dagger down but froze. His eyebrows twitched and his eyes darted in confusion. He had suddenly forgotten what came next!

Sigh, there are just too many things to keep in mind...He grumbled, closed his eyes, calmed himself, and assessed the situation.

At times like this, it was useless to grab at straws and forcefully remember. Instead, it was much better to think logically and deduce the facts.

What do I need to do now? What is the biggest obstacle in skinning? Yes, the main problem I am facing is the legs. They protrude out of the trunk and get in my way...Heh, I should first peel them one by one. The hind legs come first...I feel so stupid. Wasn't that exactly why I cut the feet in the beginning?

Inspired, he ditched the dagger and proceeded according to this plan. One by one, as if he was taking down its socks, the shiny meat beneath was slowly exposed under the sun. And the rest was simple. Ten minutes later, he was done.

Ping

|You aquired a Horned Rabbit Pelt Common (D+).

Bits and pieces of the fur are plucked and parts of the pelt are missing.|

I did my best! Will praising me for once hurt your dignity and pride?

He taunted the AI, folded the fruit of his labor, and placed it in his bag. Then he looked at the corpse with pity in his eyes. The once valiant and lively creature was now just a chunk of meat. Grotesque and wet.

I promise to harvest you to the best of my abilities.

Ugh, but the next part is not for those with weaker hearts.

He sucked a breath and licked his lips. Then he took a sip of water, moisturized his throat, and squatted once again.

I need to get the meat. The main parts are the legs and the chunk parallel the spine. I forgot the name of this muscle, anyway...Let's see what happens next...

Without any confidence, he used the dirk to make a vertical incision. He started from right beneath the ribcage and proceeded down the belly. With a plop, the innards spilled out and the scent of flesh intensified.

Blergh

He gagged, but there was no turning back. This was the path he had chosen for himself. He pushed his hand under the diaphragm and scooped the innards in one swift motion. Then he brought the stinky, wet, and hot pile to the side, and covered it with grass.

Returning to the monster, Midnight took the blade and used some force to cut directly through the sternum. Then he repeated the previous action and scooped its lungs and heart as well.

Great, now I have two steaming piles of offal. Ugh, I lied. I can't bear the thought of placing these organs in my bag. I am sorry, Mr. or Madam Rabbit, but I won't keep my promise and harvest everything edible from you...

Amused and depressed, he apologized from the bottom of his heart. Then he cut the legs away. This was surprisingly easy. He just had to bend them, accentuate the joints between the bones, and slice carefully around.

This made him smile for the first time.

No, I need to concentrate. Let's get this done with. The corpse will rot away in less than fifteen minutes!

He buried deep down the budding sense of accomplishment he felt and focused on tying the loose ends. For the finale, he made a parallel incision on both sides of the ribcage, right beneath the floating ribs. Then carefully removed the back muscles of his prey.

Ping

|You aquired the Full Meat of a Horned Rabbit. Common (B).

What a waste! You didn't bleed it! Fresh and fragrant. The quality of the dishes will now depend on the chef's proficiency and skills.|

Phew

He exhaled a stale breath and ignored the nitpicks of the AI. By now he was somehow used to it. Besides, he was exhausted both in mind and body.

To me, this was a psychological step I had to take. The killing was already bad, but processing the remains, where I was close and personal, was even worse...

However, there was no other way. I believe that craftsmen who solely rely on cash to buy materials and never get to 'know' the prey these same materials came from, are ultimately lacking in both resolve and insight. Many things become visible only from such a low and bloody perspective...Of course, it is easy for me to say this when I lack the coins!...

While thinking, Midnight pulled a tiny piece of cloth, wrapped the meat, and dumped it in his bag. Then he used magic to bury the leftovers from the wasted Hog-Pog and the rabbits. This greatly reduced his guilty feelings.

After everything was done, he found a place to hide and rest. His follow-up strategy was to regain his strength and spirituality before continuing the hunt. Now, that he had gained some understanding, it was important to rehearse the process while his memories were fresh.

Life sure is hard for both the hunter and the prey...He couldn't help but mutter.