I stared at my four horns from every angle. They were not as long as those of the rabbits but smaller, curving upwards from my forehead like those of a bull.
Looking at their sheen, the glistening sparkling quality that looked like a fresh coat of gloss had just been applied, I was deeply impressed.
So this is Devour.
"How does it work? Do I get the physical abilities of anything I eat?"
«To some extent. You must eat the maximum amount of that specie for an attribute to manifest. It varies depending on the level of each creature you eat.
If you manage to consume something higher than yourself the chances of you getting an attribute increases. Things like the difficulty and the rarity of the creature are also considered.
They must be freshly killed by you and consumed within the hour to be counted.»
"Hmm. There's so many rules but this is nice. My very own cheat ability! Is this a gift from the goddess?"
«Yes. At your point of birth the skill manifested based on your innate desires.»
"So, I got Devour because I wanted to spend my days eating and relaxing? What a gluttonous skill."
«Indeed. It is truly fitting for a greedy person such as yourself.»
Ignoring Sensei's scathing remark, I marvelled at my view. My horns were so freshly polished! Amazing. I examined myself here and there like I'd just gotten a new haircut.
Those fearsome twisted spears that had given me so much trouble were now on top of my head as weapons belonging to me. Why would I let him upset me when I'd just stumbled upon some good luck?
The process of acquiring my horns were still unclear but it seemed I had undergone an evolution, albeit a small one that only improved on what already existed. But, It was still impressive. If I were to headbutt something like those rabbits did, would it result in casualty?
Heh… definitely not.
My horns were not as long as theirs had been. Besides, those rabbits were only able to charge because of the strong hind legs boosting them forward. The body of a snake could not exert such force.
Snakes were not masters of brute force. They excelled in speed, able to strike any prey with venom within seconds. Their bodies themselves were weak.
If the rabbit was a spear, the snake was more like a thin sharp blade. Both could be used in quick thrusts, but where a snake could easily retract after a bite, the rabbit's horns remained lodged into their targets because of their size. Especially when fighting in tight spaces.
It wasn't an efficient method of killing, if an opponent could easily evade it. The rabbits were more likely to get stuck to things after they attacked.
If I used my horns as a knife to slash an opponent rather than skewer, it would be enough to bleed and weaken the prey to slow them down until I could finish them off with my bite.
The rabbits had come at me with no plan besides hitting me, except that one rabbit who used surprise tactics by breaking through a wall. That one was an anomaly.
The rest seemed pretty stupid. Once I figured out how to evade their charge, their attack was rendered useless.
Was it because they had low levels? Could the adult of the specie have figured out a way to overcome this attack weakness?
The wolves I met earlier were a higher level and seemed to exhibit a level of thinking. Especially the Alpha who moved unlike a wolf. He was able to make strategic decisions.
From waiting until the bison got extremely weak before attacking, to leading only two to chase after me while the rest watched over the prey, and when he called for retreat when the battle became a losing one.
All these were things animals would never do.
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Wolves in general, were very smart and loyal creatures but they did not have the ability to think and plan like a human.
These wolves did, or at least the alpha did. Which made me wonder if all the creatures of the Labyrinth had the ability to learn. It could be their intelligence got higher with every level increase.
At level 1–3 the rabbits seemed pretty standard, aside from the crusade weapons they wielded on their heads. The wolf I killed at level 7, had faster reactions and better senses, but it was still a little stupid.
The alpha's level was unknown. He was much smarter than the rest and his level had to be higher to be able to command them.
I wished I had seen what level he was. At the time it was impossible, but the next time I encountered him I'd be sure to take a look.
"Sensei, let's get appraisal!"
«Alright.»
My experience points instantly trickled down until they became a single, pathetic number.
〚Confirmed『Appraisal LV1』has been acquired〛
I looked at my new status.
______________
Name: Aurelia LV3 [Small Hatchling Snake]
Specie: Cerastes Vipera
HP: 40 Defence: 25
MP: 10 Intellect: 38
SP: 36 Magic: 10
Attack: 30 Agility: 35
Skills:
[Stealth: LV2] [Appraisal: LV1]
[Bite: LV3] [Poison Fang: LV2]
[Grip: LV2] [Scent: LV1]
[Heat Sense: LV1] [Silence: LV1]
Titles:
[Apostle] [Coldblooded]
Unique Skill:
[Devour]
Attributes:
[Obsidian Horn]
Resistances:
[Impact Resistance: LV1]
[Pain Resistance: LV2]
Experience Points: [7]
______________
Still weak.
The wolf I'd killed only happened by chance. If it wasn't wounded I would have died. I said a silent prayer over the wolf's corpse for its sacrifice.
Thank you for becoming my experience points!
The alpha wolf was probably twice the level of the dead one. Considering I faced it and did not die, perhaps I was lucky after all.
I looked at the corpse of the wolf and used appraisal for the first time.
______________
LV7 Iuvenis Lupus
Specie: Ailith Lycaon
HP: 0 Defence: 37
MP: 0 Intellect: 10
SP: 0 Magic: 8
Attack: 40 Agility: 45
Skills:
[Silence: LV2] [Stealth: LV1]
[Howl: LV2] [Scent: LV2] [Bite: LV4]
[Paralysis Poison: LV1]
Title:
[Pack Member]
Resistances:
[Fear Resistance: LV1]
[Pain Resistance: LV1]
______________
The wolf seemed quite strong. Paralysis poison was also interesting. Its saliva must have contained its venom, which was probably why it glowed.
Knowing now that its bite was poisonous, it was stupid of me to have attacked it like I did. Its stats had been superior to mine from the beginning.
I wished I'd left a rabbit corpse to appraise, just to see to what extent our skills differed.
"It said I reached maximum satiation for the rabbit, does that mean I can't get any more attributes from the specie?"
«Those were babies, they didn't have many to begin with.»
"So, I'd be better off attacking an adult."
«Precisely.»
"Alright. But, not right now when I'm weak. I should practice and gather more skills first. This place isn't safe."
I straighten myself and examine my lower body. It had stopped bleeding. The wounds forming a scab. It was alright to move now.
I needed to leave the rabbit nest in event of more rabbits, or worse, an adult returning. It would certainly kill me if it found out I'd eating all the children of its nest.
Unlike snakes, rabbits were true maternal creatures who stayed with their babies till they could sustain themselves. I did not want to be here when the angry mother returned.
Crawling out of the sandy rubble I grabbed hold of the wolf corpse, pulling it through the hole with my teeth.
«What are you doing?»
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking the corpse back."
«Why? The hour is almost up since you killed it. If you don't eat it now you will gain nothing from it. The energy within the corpse will spoil.»
"Yeah, I know. The rabbits are enough for me. I'm bringing this back for the baby nestlings."
There was a pause like he was thinking.
«Why do you care for them? They are just snakes.»
"They have potential to be better if I trained them."
When Sensei's voice sounded again, it was sharp with undisguised contempt.
«What nonsense. Train them? They are bound to die. They won't survive long once they leave the protection of nest. Most hatchlings die on their first hunt. Of the group, only five or six will return and that's if you're lucky.»
"And I'm supposed to leave them to their fates?"
«You can barely survive yourself as it is.»
"I didn't know you were so cold Sensei. It's almost like I don't know you at all. Would you rather I eat them to gain their XP?"
«Hardly. They are even weaker than the rabbits. They would not yield much. But since there are over thirty of them, they should suffice. Quantity over quality is also a gain.»
"Sensei! How could you!"
«Why not? They are not your siblings. You have every reason to eat them.»
The word siblings made me wince as I remembered my own.
How could he say something so disgusting? What a joke. He did not need to tell me twice. There was no way I would ever acknowledge them as my family. How could some snakes compare to the real thing.
"Just because I can do something doesn't always mean I should. I'm not as coldblooded as you would think. Those snakes have the potential to become my personal force if I train them like the alpha wolf did with his pack."
I wasn't thinking irrationally by leaving them alive.
The memory of the coordinated attacks of the wolfs made me admire them. If the nestlings could come under my command like the wolves, hunting would be more efficient.
With a joint force, it would be easy to take down any creature in the labyrinth with little damage, unlike when I attacked by myself.
To make up for the disparity of our abilities, quantity over quality was better. Any foe would perish no matter how strong, when swarmed by multitudes of ants, so why not snakes?