Akira stretched as the sun rose over the farm. After last night’s training, the farm work felt different. Tasks that once left him exhausted now seemed easier. His muscles ached less, and his stamina felt nearly endless.
While picking crops in the field, a sudden rustling caught his attention. He turned his head to see a peculiar sight—a small rabbit stepping out from the edge of the forest.
At first glance, it looked like any ordinary bunny, but as it moved closer, Akira froze. The creature’s fur was pure white, but two crimson horns jutted from its head, glinting in the sunlight. Its blood-red eyes locked onto him for a moment, and then, with a flick of its ears, it turned and darted back into the forest.
“What the hell was that?” Akira muttered.
His curiosity burned. Dropping the crops into the basket, he grabbed the wooden dagger from his belt—the one he’d found in the basement last night—and followed the rabbit into the trees.
---
The chase seemed endless. The rabbit was fast, darting through the dense underbrush, its white fur flickering like a ghost in the shadows. Akira pushed himself to keep up, leaping over roots and ducking under low-hanging branches.
“Damn, you’re quick!” he panted, his legs burning.
After what felt like thirty minutes, the rabbit slowed, leading him into a clearing. Akira skidded to a halt, breathing heavily.
The clearing was quiet. Too quiet.
Akira’s senses prickled with unease. Then he noticed the red glints in the shadows.
One. Two. Ten.
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Dozens of red-horned rabbits emerged from the underbrush, their blood-red eyes glowing ominously. They surrounded him, their horns gleaming like rubies.
“This… isn’t good,” Akira muttered, gripping his dagger tightly.
The first rabbit lunged, its horns aimed for his legs. Akira barely sidestepped, slashing out with his dagger. The wooden blade scraped against its side, drawing a thin line of blood.
The other rabbits took that as their cue. They attacked in waves, their small bodies leaping at him from all directions.
“Damn it!” Akira cried, swinging wildly.
One rabbit’s horns grazed his arm, leaving a shallow cut. Another slammed into his back, knocking him forward. He stumbled but managed to stab downward, piercing a rabbit through its side.
---
**+10 EXP**
*Item Dropped: Blood Ruby Horn*
---
A chime echoed in his mind, but he didn’t have time to celebrate. Another rabbit lunged, and he spun, slashing it mid-air.
---
**+10 EXP**
*Item Dropped: Blood Ruby Horn*
---
The Kaeto System notifications appeared with each kill, but the rabbits weren’t relenting. Akira’s movements grew sharper as adrenaline pumped through him.
He dodged another strike, his body remembering the footwork he had practiced the night before. The rabbits were relentless, but their attacks were predictable. Slowly, he began to adapt.
“Come on, you little monsters!” he shouted, slashing one rabbit in half and kicking another away.
His arms ached, and his cuts stung, but with each kill, he grew more confident. The system rewarded his efforts, and he could feel himself improving.
---
**+10 EXP**
**+10 EXP**
**+10 EXP**
*Items Dropped: Blood Ruby Horn x3*
---
The pile of dead rabbits grew, their ruby-red horns gleaming in the sunlight. Finally, only one remained. It hesitated, its crimson eyes glaring at Akira, before lunging in desperation.
Akira sidestepped smoothly, slashing down with all his strength. The rabbit fell, motionless.
---
**+10 EXP**
*Item Dropped: Blood Ruby Horn*
**Level Up!**
*All stats increased by 1.*
*5 Free Attribute Points awarded.*
---
Akira collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. Blood and sweat dripped from his body, and his hands trembled as he gripped the dagger.
“Damn… that was intense,” he muttered.
He opened his inventory, where the Blood Ruby Horns were neatly stored. Each horn shimmered like a gemstone, its deep red color mesmerizing.
---
**Blood Ruby Horn**
*Description:* A rare drop from Horned Rabbits. A prized crafting material used in weaponry and jewelry.
---
Akira smirked. “Looks like I’ve got something valuable here.”
He checked his stats and saw that leveling up had improved his physical condition. His body felt lighter, his cuts already beginning to sting less. He allocated his free points into **Strength** and **Agility**, hoping to improve his combat abilities.
Standing up, he glanced around the clearing. The fight had been brutal, but it taught him an important lesson: the world of Noble Eternity was dangerous, even at its surface.
But it also held rewards for those brave enough to face the risks.
With the Blood Ruby Horns safely stored and a new level under his belt, Akira made his way back to the farm, a determined grin on his face. This was only the beginning.