Locci eyed the two competitors before him. The first, a white fox, exuded an air of cunning. The second, a white vulture, appeared poised and formidable. Neither seemed weak, but Locci was undeterred by the challenge.

Suddenly, the white fox, Batsunix, vanished from sight, leaving Locci on edge. He knew the fox hadn't departed; rather, it possessed the uncanny ability to become invisible, likely preparing to launch a surprise attack.

With the fox concealed, Locci's attention turned to the vulture. However, before he could act, the bird spread its wings and ascended into the sky, leaving Locci alone on the field.

Despite being alone, Locci remained vigilant, acutely aware of the potential for ambush or aerial assault. He understood the risks of being the sole visible target in the arena.

Deciding to take action, Locci cautiously began to move, all the while straining his senses to detect any trace of the invisible fox. He attempted to catch its scent, but to no avail. Yet, a sense of impending danger nagged at him, keeping him on edge.

As Locci focused on detecting the invisible fox, he remained wary of the vulture's movements. Suddenly, the white vulture, Vizernix, swooped down unexpectedly. Locci braced himself, anticipating a talon strike, but to his surprise, Vizernix's wings emitted a radiant light, unleashing two slashing beams that cut into Locci, drawing blood.

Despite the searing pain, Locci fought to maintain his composure. Fortunately, the wounds were superficial enough that he could still maneuver freely. This allowed him to evade when Vizernix attempted to rake him with its talons.

Locci lunged after Vizernix, but the vulture had already taken flight, demonstrating superior speed and agility.

Frustration boiled within Locci as he growled in annoyance. Suddenly, Batsunix pounced, latching onto his back and sinking its fangs into his neck.

'I forgot about this cunning fox!'

Feeling the sharp pain of Batsunix's bite, Locci tensed his neck muscles. With a swift motion, he flipped his body, attempting to dislodge the fox. After a struggle, he succeeded in shaking Batsunix off. However, before he could recover, two slashing beams tore into his back, eliciting a cry of agony.

As Batsunix vanished once more, leaving Locci feeling utterly powerless, his legs gave out beneath him, causing him to collapse.

This marked Locci's first encounter facing multiple adversaries simultaneously. His inexperience proved to be a significant handicap, but he refused to surrender. While he lacked battlefield experience, his human origins endowed him with superior intellect.

Realizing his disadvantage, Locci adopted a strategy of feigned weakness, hoping to lure his opponents into a false sense of security.

Vizernix took the bait, swooping in for what seemed like an easy attack. However, just as the vulture extended its talons towards him, Locci sprang into action. With a swift movement, he unleashed a flurry of blue arcs from his front leg, striking Vizernix squarely and sending it crashing to the ground.

Locci quickly discerned that Vizernix still clung to life. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly mounted the vulture's back and sank his teeth into its neck, determined to finish the job.

Just as Locci seemed to gain the upper hand, Batsunix reappeared, intent on catching him off guard with a surprise assault. Thinking fast, Locci used Vizernix as a shield, causing Batsunix to inadvertently target the vulture instead.

With both assailants relentlessly attacking Vizernix, the vulture succumbed to its injuries, breathing its last breath.

As the life ebbed from Vizernix, Locci and Batsunix ceased their assault, leaving the fallen bird's body behind as they readied themselves for the impending showdown between them.

They stood face to face, each assessing the other's state.

Of the three competitors, only Vizernix lay lifeless, succumbing to its injuries. Locci bore wounds from the battle, while Batsunix remained relatively unscathed, with only minor injuries.

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Aware of its advantageous position, Batsunix didn't hastily launch an attack. Instead, it capitalized on its ability to disappear from view, vanishing into thin air.

Realizing that aimless movement would only deplete his stamina, Locci refrained from unnecessary actions.

Instead, he honed his senses, preparing himself for Batsunix's inevitable reappearance. With a keen understanding of the fox's tactics, Locci remained vigilant, concentrating his attention on the direction he anticipated.

As the air behind him seemed to ripple and distort, Locci sensed Batsunix's stealthy approach. Anticipating the attack from behind, Locci swiftly pivoted, confronting Batsunix head-on.

With lightning reflexes, Locci executed a slashing motion, triggering his signature move, [Frostbite Fury].

As Locci's flurry of claws struck, Batsunix was forced to reveal itself, pushed back by the onslaught. Landing gracefully on the snow, the fox quickly regained its footing.

Batsunix was known for its stealth tactics, rarely engaging in direct confrontations. This explained its initial attempt to flee when Locci closed in. However, the effects of Locci's Frostbite Fury had taken their toll, slowing Batsunix's movements and limiting its ability to evade.

Despite his injuries, Locci swiftly closed the distance to Batsunix. With a determined leap, he landed squarely on the fox's back, sinking his teeth into its nape.

Batsunix squirmed in a desperate attempt to break free, inadvertently toppling onto its back and exposing its vulnerable belly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Locci sank his teeth into Batsunix's exposed abdomen, drawing blood. Yet, even as Batsunix writhed in pain, it managed to regain its footing.

As Batsunix fled in terror, leaving a trail of blood in its wake, Locci's senses heightened with the scent of fresh blood. With a surge of adrenaline, he let out a triumphant bark and pursued the fleeing fox with relentless determination.

As Locci closed in once more, Batsunix lashed out with its claws, slashing Locci's face and causing him to reel in pain.

Enraged by the attack, Locci retaliated with a relentless barrage of claws, overpowering the fox with his superior physical strength.

The onslaught continued until Batsunix lay motionless, defeated by Locci's ferocity. Fueled by adrenaline, Locci lifted his gaze to the sky and unleashed a primal howl, a testament to his victory in the fierce battle.

Regaining his senses, Locci winced as he felt the stinging pain coursing through his body.

'Ouch, that hurts. I need to level up immediately to heal my injuries.'

Without hesitation, Locci devoured his fallen foe. At this stage, he felt no revulsion at consuming the flesh raw.

[Your sense has increased!]

Just as Locci had hypothesized, his body seemed to digest food more efficiently during moments of activity, as he still felt the pangs of hunger even after devouring the fox.

With his appetite still unsated, Locci moved on to the vulture, wasting no time in consuming it as well.

[Your force has increased!]

'Not enough! I need more!'

With his body yet to level up, Locci understood the necessity of further sustenance. He approached the fallen wolves. Standing before one, he wasted no time in consuming it, driven by the primal urge to satisfy his hunger.

[Your polish has increased!]

[Your speed has increased!]

[You have leveled up!]

As Locci ascended to a higher level, his injuries miraculously healed. However, despite because of that, his belly remained empty, craving more sustenance.

'I can still eat even after leveling up. I won't miss this chance to consume more.'

However, as he prepared to feast once more, Locci suddenly paused, realizing the truth of the creatures lying before him. They were wolves, just like him.

A wave of realization washed over Locci as he comprehended the gravity of his actions. Despite his earlier desperation and injuries clouding his judgment, he now faced the harsh reality of having committed cannibalism.

'No, that notion holds no significance for me. In this world, only the strong will survive. I will consume them not out of pleasure in killing and eating, but out of necessity to sustain myself.'

With a steely resolve, Locci pressed on with his meal, driven by the primal instinct for survival.

[Your wisdom has increased!]

[Your stamina has increased!]

After consuming the entirety of one of the wolf carcasses, Locci made a startling discovery: feeding on creatures of the same species as himself resulted in a faster increase in his stats.

'I wonder if this world encourages cannibalism between Nixes'

Setting aside his thoughts, Locci proceeded to the next carcass, only to find that his stats failed to increase this time. Undeterred, he continued to consume another body.

It was only after he had finished the latest meal that a system message finally appeared before him, revealing crucial information about his progress.

[You have met a requirement to modify your legs. You can choose one of the following passive abilities for Frostbite Fury:

1. Swift Legs: Enhances your agility, allowing for quicker movements and faster attacks.

2. Frost Paws: Infuse your claws with freezing energy, causing normal strikes to slow and weaken your opponents.

3. Frozen Fortitude: Increases your resistance to cold and physical damage.]

Reading the system message filled Locci with a surge of excitement. While he had heard of Nixes being able to modify their bodies and evolve, experiencing it firsthand made him realize just how far he had come on his journey. The opportunity to enhance his ability and modify his body further filled him with a sense of pride and accomplishment.