Chapter 3: The Beast of the Forest

Deo's quick reflexes had him whirling around, his stance defensive and his eyes wide as they searched the treeline. Emerging from the shadows of the trees was a creature unlike any he had ever seen. The beast stood on four muscular legs, each ending in sharp, obsidian-black claws that dug into the earth, creating small furrows with every step. Its body was covered in a dense coat of russet fur, dappled with dark, irregular spots that seemed to shift and change with the creature's every movement.

Its face was elongated, reminiscent of a wolf, but with a more pronounced snout. Two tusks, curved and wickedly sharp, jutted from its lower jaw, and its eyes—oh, those eyes—were a piercing shade of gold that seemed to glow with an inner fire. The beast's tail was long and whip-like, ending in a tuft of dark fur, and it moved with a serpentine grace, flicking from side to side in agitation.

Standing just slightly taller than Deo, the beast had a bulk that spoke of raw power and speed. Its musculature was evident even beneath the thick fur, giving it a formidable appearance that made it clear: this was a top predator.

He swallowed hard, realising he was not equipped to handle a confrontation with such a beast. Still, he stood his ground, hoping that showing no fear might deter the creature or at least earn its respect. He forced himself to remain steady, trying to project an aura of calm and strength. He hoped, more than anything, that this would be enough to keep the beast at bay. The dense silence of the forest was punctuated only by the rhythmic inhales and exhales of the creature and the rapid beating of Deo's heart.

Deo took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "Easy there," he began, speaking softly but firmly, doing his best to maintain eye contact with the creature. "I mean you no harm."

For a moment, it almost seemed like the beast was considering his words. But as the tension grew, Deo, in a desperate attempt, reached out with his Flora Communication skill. It was a long shot, but if there was even a slight chance he could connect with the creature and persuade it he wasn’t a threat…

[Flora Communication cannot be applied to fauna.]

A wave of frustration washed over him. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. Deo tried cycling through his available skills.

[Again, Botanical Knowledge is a skill that cannot be used on fauna and is only intended for flora. Suggest using the basic identify skill instead]

Taking the subtle suggestion, Deo mentally activated his Identify skill, focusing on the looming creature.

[Obsidian Prowler - Level 40. An apex predator known for its incredible strength, agility, and razor-sharp claws. Further information cannot be provided due to level disparity.]

A chill ran down Deo's spine. The sheer difference in their levels, combined with the lack of complete information, made it clear just how outmatched he was.

The Obsidian Prowler slowly began to circle Deo, its muscular body moving with a languid grace that belied its deadly power. Each step it took was measured and deliberate, its massive paws barely making a sound against the forest floor. It seemed to be taking its time, eyeing him up and down as if sizing up its next meal. The way it tilted its head, the occasional flicker of its tail, the calculated movements — it was eerily reminiscent of a house cat playing with a mouse.

The predatory glint in its eyes never wavered, and Deo could feel the weight of its gaze on him, probing for any sign of weakness. He tried to hold his ground, knowing that showing fear could trigger an attack. But with each pass the beast made, the gravity of his situation became even more apparent. The creature was toying with him, and he had no idea how long this game would last or how it would end.

Drawing from his recent connection with the Ironbark tree and his newfound skill, Deo activated his Ironbark Armour. With a surge of mana, his skin was enveloped in a layer of tough, greyish bark. It provided a sense of security, though he was under no illusions about its ability to withstand the full force of the prowler's attack.

Attempting to buy himself some room and find an escape route, Deo took careful steps, trying to edge away from the creature. But every move he made was closely mirrored by the prowler. If he took a step to the left, the beast shifted its stance to block him; if he tried to back away, the creature advanced, its snarl deepening.

It was clear the Obsidian Prowler was having its fun, enjoying the chase and the hunt. It wasn't in a hurry, confidently keeping Deo hemmed in, controlling the pace of their deadly dance. Deo could feel beads of sweat forming on his forehead, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. How could he possibly escape from this apex predator?

Just as Deo was pondering his limited options, the beast's demeanour shifted dramatically. Its eyes narrowed, pupils dilating, and the muscles along its back tensed visibly. In the blink of an eye, the Obsidian Prowler lunged with astonishing speed.

The ground seemed to shake as it covered the distance between them in less than a heartbeat. Deo, relying on pure instinct, threw himself to the side in a desperate roll. The beast's massive claws swiped the space where he'd stood moments ago, leaving deep gouges in the earth. The sheer power of the attack was evident; had Deo been a fraction slower, he would have been torn to shreds.

Gasping for breath, Deo quickly scrambled to his feet. The prowler, evidently amused by this game of predator and prey, let out a low chuckle-like growl, eyes glittering with mischief. It began to circle him again, clearly savouring the chase and looking forward to the next playful strike.

The Obsidian Prowler's dark, sleek form slinked closer. The playful, almost mocking look in its eyes did nothing to lessen Deo's fear. Without warning, the beast lunged again, this time not aiming to wound, but merely to knock. Its massive paw came up, batting Deo with a force that belied its casual intent.

Despite the protective layer of the Ironbark Armour, the force of the blow was like being hit by a battering ram. Deo felt the air rush out of his lungs as he was sent flying, crashing through ferns and skidding along the ground. He struggled to catch his breath, his vision blurred and head spinning. The bark armour had held up against the direct hit, a testament to the Ironbark tree's strength, but the sheer kinetic force had still done a number on him.

Groggily, he tried to stand, his limbs protesting with sharp jolts of pain. A quick glance revealed the prowler stalking closer once again, its tail swishing with evident delight. Every move it made, every swish of its tail or twitch of its ears, conveyed a sense of utter control and superiority.

Deo knew he couldn't withstand another blow like that. He had to think quickly.

But the Obsidian Prowler gave him no time for further reflection. Deo could feel the prowler's intent shift. It wasn't a mere glance or a gaze anymore; it was a laser-focused attention that screamed danger. Its powerful haunches coiled tightly like compressed springs, every muscle in its lean body vibrating with restrained energy. The world around Deo seemed to slow down, each second stretching into an eternity. He could see every intricate detail: the play of light on the prowler's glossy fur, the flare of its nostrils as it inhaled deeply, and the minute twitching of its tail.

Then, with explosive force, the prowler launched itself towards him. Its massive paws reached out, claws unsheathed and glinting menacingly. Deo had no time to react before the beast crashed onto him, knocking the wind out of his lungs. His back hit the ground with a thud, and he felt the cool, damp grass under him give way to the unmistakable texture of the berries. The beast's massive jaws began to descend slowly, savouring the anticipation.

The Obsidian Prowler leaned down, relishing the moment, the fiery glint in its eyes reflecting a mixture of hunger and amusement. Its jaws opened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. The beast's fangs came down, meeting the hardened bark covering his skin. Instead of the anticipated puncture, Deo felt immense pressure, but the bark held, resisting the beast's bite. The prowler grunted in surprise, its playful demeanour momentarily replaced with irritation. It had expected to sink its teeth into tender flesh, not encounter the unyielding surface of the Ironbark Armour.

Deo's heart raced, his eyes locked with the prowler's. Behind the fiery intensity of its gaze, there was an intelligence that he hadn't initially grasped. It had tested him, gauged his defences. And as the realisation dawned on Deo, a heavy weight settled in his chest. The next bite wouldn't be a playful test. The beast would come down with all its might, and his Ironbark Armour, while formidable, would be no match for the full strength of this deadly beast.

His fingers desperately dug into the soil beside him, searching for any object or plant that could possibly aid him. Every inch of his being focused on the ground beneath, hoping against hope to find some form of salvation. The uneven, cool terrain met his fingertips: clumps of dirt, small stones, and then... the smooth surface of a berry. One of the Fluoroantimonic Berries.

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A plan formed rapidly in his mind. It was risky, but he had no other choice. The beast, sensing his movements, narrowed its eyes, trying to discern his intention. Deo tightened his grip on the berry, preparing for his next, possibly last, move.

Pinned beneath the weight of the beast, Deo's hand desperately fumbled to bring the berry between them. The Obsidian Prowler's weight pressed down on him, threatening to crush the life out of him, but with every ounce of strength, Deo managed to position between the two of them.

Drawing on Verdant Growth, the skill which he hadn't yet tested and wasn't entirely sure of its effects, Deo started to channel mana into the berry. A hint at first, a whisper of energy, feeling the berry vibrate slightly under the touch of his power. However, as the Obsidian Prowler's fiery eyes bore into him, the creature seemed amused by Deo's futile attempt with such a tiny object, its intense glare mocking him, hinting at the power it would employ with its next bite and end his feeble life. The creature's amused condescension became palpable but this only fuelled Deo's desperation.

He forced more mana into the berry, then more still. His reserves depleted rapidly, but Deo was unwavering. He threw every last drop of his mana into the small fruit. It pulsed and shimmered with a malevolent energy, swelling as it absorbed the torrent of power being fed into it. The berry's skin tightened, glistening with potent acidity, its very essence magnified and made more volatile by the deluge of magic. Initially insignificant in size, the berry began to grow at an astonishing rate, pulsing and swelling. With every ounce of mana Deo poured into it, the berry expanded, its flesh stretching thin, the hue of its skin darkening to a deep, ominous shade. The Fluoroantimonic Berry, once no bigger than the tip of Deo's thumb, had now grown to the size of a large melon, trembling with the volatile energy contained within.

The Obsidian Prowler hesitated, its amusement turning into a cautious wariness, sensing the increasing danger from the object between them. Its predatory instincts were on high alert, realising that the tiny fruit in Deo's grasp was no longer just a berry, but a potential threat.

The Obsidian Prowler's posture shifted, its muscular shoulders tensing, and its ears twitching as it processed the transformation happening before its eyes. What was once a source of amusement had turned into an unpredictable anomaly. The playfulness that once shone in its fiery eyes dimmed, replaced with an instinctual caution. Every muscle, every fibre in its powerful body screamed danger. The rhythm of its breathing changed – shallow, alert. Its predatory instincts, honed through countless hunts and challenges, recognised that Deo's desperate act had shifted the dynamics of their confrontation. The tiny fruit that once elicited condescension was now a bubbling cauldron of potential catastrophe.

As the berry reached its bursting point, Deo's focus narrowed. Drawing from the dregs of his mana, he bolstered his Ironbark Armour. The protective layer thickened, ensuring every inch of his skin was shielded. He braced himself for the impending rupture, praying that his last-ditch effort would be enough. The Obsidian Prowler's every sinew tensed, its powerful legs gathering beneath its body in preparation for a rapid retreat. But time seemed to have slowed, and before the beast could make its move, the inevitable happened. With a grotesque, squelching sound, the over-inflated berry reached its limit. The thin skin, strained past endurance from the immense power within, gave way. The eruption of the berry unleashed a torrent of iridescent acid, a chaotic dance of shimmering purples and swirling gold. Like a tempestuous wave, it rushed out in all directions, immediately making contact with everything within its proximity.

Deo was not exempt from the explosion. The vibrant acid splashed onto his form, but the Ironbark Armour, which had saved him earlier from the prowler's bite, once again stood as his last line of defence. It shielded him from the direct impacts, but the splatters and droplets sizzled upon contact, and the acrid fumes threatened to choke him. The bark sizzled and steamed upon contact, but the robust protective layer held firm. He could feel the slight warmth, the faint tinge of discomfort, as the acid tried in vain to seep through the armour.

The Obsidian Prowler, however, did not fare as well. The creature roared in agony as the acid covered its sleek, dark fur. Wisps of smoke rose as the acid began to eat away at its outer layer, the usually impervious hide of the beast showing signs of distress. The vivid colours of the acid contrasted starkly against the obsidian-black fur, creating a macabre tableau of beauty and pain. The once proud and domineering creature thrashed and writhed, desperately trying to shake off the acid that clung to it.

The earth around them bore the brunt as well, with the grass and plants immediately withering and disintegrating upon contact. Pockets of ground bubbled and hissed as the acid seeped into it, leaving behind a scarred and devastated patch in the lush forest. The surrounding air was filled with a pungent aroma, a mix of burnt fur, sizzling vegetation, and the unmistakably sharp scent of potent acid.

The Obsidian Prowler, despite its immense strength and predatory prowess, was ill-prepared for the onslaught of the acid. It tried to shake off the corrosive substance, each twist and turn a testament to the pain it was undergoing. The once fiery eyes, filled with malevolence and amusement, now reflected raw anguish and fear.

It pawed desperately at the ground, attempting to rub the acid off its body. However, its efforts only seemed to spread the corrosive substance further, ensuring that even parts of its body that had initially been spared were now subjected to the acid's burn. With each passing moment, its movements became more frantic, the proud and formidable creature reduced to a state of vulnerability. Deo watched, a mix of horror and relief, as the Prowler let out a heart-wrenching, tortured roar that echoed through the forest, a testament to its suffering.

As the minutes dragged on, the beast's struggles began to wane. The initial frantic energy it displayed in its desperate bid to rid itself of the acid was now replaced by slower, more laboured movements. With one last anguished cry, the Obsidian Prowler finally succumbed, collapsing to the ground, its once sleek and powerful body marred and corroded by the acid's relentless assault.

The forest, which had been filled with the cacophonous sounds of the Prowler's pain, gradually returned to its previous serene state. Only the occasional chirp of a distant bird or the rustle of leaves in the wind broke the silence. The aftermath of the confrontation was a sombre scene: a once-mighty predator lay defeated, and the ground around it bore the scars of the acid's devastation.

[Obsidian Prowler Defeated!]

[XP Gained: 2500]

[Congratulations! You've levelled up! You are now level 3]

[Congratulations! You've levelled up! You are now level 4]

[Congratulations! You've levelled up! You are now level 5]

[Congratulations! You've earned a new title: "Giant Slayer" for defeating an enemy of significantly higher level. With this title, you gain +10% to all damage dealt to enemies of higher levels than yourself.]

[Skill Level Up! Verdant Growth has reached Level 2! Mana Efficiency Improved: The skill now requires 20% less mana for flora growth.]

[Skill Level Up! Ironbark Armour has reached Level 3! Durability Increased: +30%. Mana Upkeep Reduced: -20%]

Deo stared at the flood of notifications, struggling to comprehend what had just occurred. He'd gone from being mere moments away from certain death to overwhelming a creature that was vastly superior to him. The level jumps and the title were a testament to the enormity of the achievement. Catching his breath, Deo gazed at the remains of the Obsidian Prowler, the potent acid still bubbling on its form. As he watched, the notifications kept popping into his vision.

His heart still raced from the adrenaline, and he couldn't help but marvel at the turn of events. For a moment, it all seemed too surreal, like something out of a dream or a nightmare. However, the scorched earth, the acrid smell, and the lifeless form of the beast brought him back to the harsh reality. He gingerly touched his chest, feeling the solid presence of the Ironbark Armour underneath his fingers. Just minutes ago, that same chest heaved with raw panic, certain that every breath would be his last. The reality of his close brush with death settled deep within him. It was a stark reminder of how precarious his situation in this world was.

He had managed to escape the jaws of death this time, but Deo was acutely aware that luck had played a significant part in it. Next time, he might not be so fortunate. He needed to be smarter, faster, more skilled. The new world didn’t care about his background, where he came from, or who he used to be. Here, only the fittest survived. And to fit that bill, he would need to truly understand his new class and master the skills granted to him.

His eyes drifted back to the notifications, particularly the levelled-up skills. These were the tools of his survival. Verdant Growth and Ironbark Armour had proven their worth today, but they would need to be further refined and tested. He needed to practice, not just when faced with danger, but every day, pushing his limits, familiarising himself with every nuance of the skills.

Collecting himself, Deo's thoughts began to arrange themselves into a clear sequence of steps. The completion of the flora quest remained at the forefront. The natural world around him was full of mysteries and potential aids that might be essential for his survival. Every plant, every herb could potentially be a weapon, a shield, or a lifeline. Understanding the world around him would be the key to carving a niche for himself in this alien environment.

Besides, he thought with a glance down at his tattered serving uniform, a new attire wouldn't hurt either. He couldn't be gallivanting around the forests looking like a displaced waiter. Some form of sturdy clothing suitable for this world would be necessary.

Lost in thought and making plans, Deo began to take a step forward, ready to embark on the next chapter of his journey. However, before he could even properly set off, a system notification blared loudly in his consciousness:

[WARNING: Mana has reached 0. Ironbark Armour has been deactivated.]

The sudden, sharp loss of mana sent a debilitating jolt through his system. Like a whip's crack, a wave of excruciating pain surged through him, originating from the very core of his being. His vision blurred and his legs buckled beneath him.

"Oh... I should have deactivated the armour before reaching this point," Deo gasped, clutching his head. The realisation hit him hard; his continuous upkeep of the Ironbark Armour, combined with the deluge of mana he had poured into the berry, had completely drained him dry, and the abrupt shutdown was his body's way of coping with the sudden deprivation.

A piercing pain sliced through Deo's temples, and an overwhelming fatigue washed over him like a tidal wave. His knees buckled, and the world spun as he collapsed onto the ground, barely registering the soft thud of his body against the grass. It felt as if his very essence was being torn apart, the sensation of his magical reserves being entirely depleted was beyond excruciating. Before he could muster another thought, consciousness slipped away, and Deo collapsed onto the forest floor, utterly spent.