I moved closer, my eyes studying the trembling rabbit. Its cotton candy-like fur, so delicate and soft, didn't seem like the coat of a creature capable of harm. But something in its eyes unsettled me—a flicker of anger, of desperation.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure. I had killed before, but only when I needed to. This didn't feel necessary. But as I nudged the arrow loose with my jaw, releasing the rabbit from its prison, something changed.
Without warning, the rabbit lunged at me, teeth bared and claws extended. The sudden ferocity caught me off guard, and I stumbled back, feeling its sharp claws rake across my side.
Pain flared, but more than that, rage.
I had spared it!
Snarling, I lunged forward, all hesitation gone. The fight was brief and brutal. In a matter of moments, I had the rabbit pinned beneath me, its struggle weakening with each breath.
As its life faded, I couldn't shake the bitter regret. I couldn't blame the rabbit for attacking in fright; I couldn't blame myself for responding to it.
---
[System Alert]
---
[You killed: Albino Rabbit +8 XP]
Loot Acquired:
- [Albino Rabbit Fur]
- [Small Rabbit Meat]
---
[Quest Complete: Hidden Quest - First Kill]
+10 XP
Reward:
- [Passive Skill: Guide] (Multifunctional)
---
[Level Up!]
Congratulations, you've reached Level 2!
Rewards:
- +1 Active Skill Slot
- +5 Stat Points (Distribute freely)
- +10 HP Capacity Increase
---
[Level Up!]
Congratulations, you've reached Level 3!
Rewards:
- +1 Active Skill Slot
- +10 Energy Capacity
---
[Skill Selection Available]
Please select 2 skills from the following Lvl 1 skills:
1. Quick Strike
Description: A swift attack that deals 150% damage.
Cooldown: 1 second
Cost: 5 Energy
2. Healing Touch
Description: Restores 10% of your HP over 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Cost: 20 Energy
3. Evasive Roll
Description: Perform a quick roll to evade an incoming attack, increasing dodge chance by 50% for 2 seconds.
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Cost: 5 Energy
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
4. Power Tackle
Description: A powerful tackle that deals 200% damage.
Cooldown: 8 seconds
Cost: 10 Energy
5. Berserk
Description: Increases attack speed by 30% for 10 seconds.
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Cost: 30 Energy
---
"..."
I stared at the system for a good while. This was the first time I received more than just a notification.
"So killing something was the first step for progress. If only I knew beforehand."
I looked at the corpse of the rabbit, it's pink fur now brownish due to blood. So I killed it, though unintentionally, and leveled up twice.
I received a few rewards as well. A passive skill and two Active skills.
I smiled somewhat intrigued.
My eyes hovered over the skill selection screen. Each option had its advantages, but I knew I had to be careful. The choices I made now could define my path moving forward. If possible I wanted to take a decision later after putting some more thought into it. But I didn't know if that was possible.
Quick Strike was tempting—speed and power combined into one efficient move. I could imagine it being useful in tight situations where every second mattered. Then there was Healing Touch, a skill that could keep me alive in the heat of battle. The idea of being able to mend myself without needing outside help was appealing. But would I have the time to use it in the middle of a fight?
I glanced at Evasive Roll. Dodging incoming attacks would be a lifesaver, especially if I found myself up against something bigger and stronger, which seemed more than likely given the forest's looming threats. Power Tackle, on the other hand, was raw power—a devastating hit, perfect for a finishing blow. And then there was Berserk, a high-risk, high-reward option that could turn me into a whirlwind of destruction, albeit briefly.
1 healing type, 3 offensive types and 1 defensive type.
Since I could only choose 2 I had to compromise on one aspect.
The forest seemed to hold its breath as I pondered my choice. The sounds of the hunt had faded into the background, my focus completely absorbed by the system's display in front of me. Yvonne was still shooting arrows around the fields forgotten about me in her hunting endeavours.
---
[Skill Selection Available] Please select 2 skills from the following Lvl 1 skills:
1. Quick Strike
2. Healing Touch
3. Evasive Roll
4. Power Tackle
5. Berserk
---
In the end, I settled on Quick Strike and Evasive Roll. They seemed like the most balanced options for someone like me—someone who wasn't a hunter, but needed to be fast, adaptable. The screen flickered for a moment before the system confirmed my selections.
Healing was something my body would do on its own as well. And maybe I could find about herbs or medicines in later stages.
Compromising attack and defence was a foolish mistake I wasn't ready to make.
For attack, I chose quick strike since it costed the lowest amount of energy. Meaning I could use it many times before dropping dead.
---
[Skills Acquired: Quick Strike, Evasive Roll]
---
I took the rabbit's corpse in my jaws and dashed back to Yvonne, completing my task.
"Good work, Nero," she finally said, her tone neutral but laced with a faint hint of approval.
Yvonne continued firing arrows as the light began to fade, her focus unbroken. By the time the sky dimmed, we had hunted several other small creatures, including a feathered Red Bird of some sorts and a white fox.
"Let's head back now." Her words lingered in the cool evening air as we made our way back to the main group, the rabbit's limp body, along with others, now fastened securely to her saddle. The hunt was far from over, but with my new skills and a strange energy pulsing within me, I felt... more confident.
Whatever awaited us in this forest, I was no longer just a passive observer.
---
By the time the sun began to set, we had regrouped with the others. The day had been long, marked by tense silences, bursts of action, and careful planning. Several traps had already proven effective, while others would reveal their value during the night, when the forest came alive in the darkness.
Yvonne's gaze drifted, her thoughts distant, troubled. I knew better than to ask, so I settled quietly in my spot in their carriage.
As the evening wore on, the hunters pulled out the preserved meat they had brought with them—no fire was lit, to avoid disturbing the creatures of the forest. They shared some with me, placing the strips of dried flesh near my muzzle, and I ate quietly, savoring the meal.
But my thoughts kept returning to the system's notifications: the kill, the level-up, the new skills. It all felt thrilling, though I hadn't yet attempted to use any of the abilities I had unlocked. I was waiting for the right moment, the perfect opportunity to see what I was truly capable of.
Time passed, but no one slept. Every ear was tuned to the faintest sound, every breath held in suspense. The air was heavy with tension, and only the softest whispers and occasional gasps could be heard. The forest was cloaked in darkness, broken only by small lanterns nailed to trees with arrows or daggers, casting faint pools of light.
Normally, the hunters would sleep through the night and check their traps in the morning. But tonight, they were restless, either out of caution or perhaps a touch of desperation.
I overheard Yvonne and the others murmuring softly.
"This isn't the usual behavior for the animals around here," one of the hunters whispered. "Something's stirring them up."
Yvonne nodded, her brow furrowed. "We've never set so many traps before. We're drawing too much attention. But we are also helpless, we have to meet the quota."
"Still, this scale of a hunt… it feels like overkill," another added.
I rolled my eyes, annoyed. What language were they even speaking? And how long would it take for me to learn it? I still couldn't understand a single word.
"Damn, there should've been a translation skill in the selection," I muttered to myself. "I would've picked that just to figure out what the hell this huge hunting operation is all about."
Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind, softer and more feminine than the usual system notifications.
[Initiating Guide... Translating in world language...]
"Huh? What...?"
It took a moment, but soon their words became clear, as if they were speaking in my own tongue.
"You think it's just the animals reacting?" one hunter whispered. "I'm telling you, it's not natural."
Yvonne's voice was sharper now. "Whether it's natural or not, we have a job to do. The traps are set. All we can do is wait."
My ears perked up. What was this all about? That voice had said, "Initializing Guide," right? Wasn't that the name of one of my passive skills?
So, it was like this…
"Um... Guide?" I hesitantly called out, wondering if my guess was right.
[That's me. What's your command?] the voice responded calmly, ready and waiting.
From the moment I arrived in this world, I wondered why my system didn't talk to me like the ones I had read about. Well, now I had a perfect alternative.
"So, Guide, you're my passive skill, right? The one I got after completing that hidden quest? Do you have any other uses?"
[Indeed. I can perform various functions like appraisal, operating the system in your stead, and even enemy analysis. My abilities will grow as you level me up.]
Yeah that's what I needed. I got the feeling that this passive skill will prove out to be more useful than the active ones I selected.
"Oh, interesting. So how many languages do you know?"
[Just one, called the world language. Everything I translate for you will be in that.]
"Well, that's convenient… I guess." I thought for a moment before asking, "Can you tell me how I ended up in this world? Was it some bored god or something? Who created you?"
[That's a mystery. I have no information on this context. Perhaps this information will unlock when you level up.]
"Of course," I muttered. "Always with the leveling."
"HOOOOWWLLLLLLL!!"
Suddenly, the whole group jolted reflexively as the air was filled with the deafening howl of coming from an unknown direction. The sound was so sharp it made my ears ring.
"Oh no," I said, my body tensing. "That howl sounds way too familiar."