The bear was not sapient. But it was old enough to be conscious. More than that though, it was conscious enough to know that something was wrong. The wounds the little pink thing inflicted upon it had scarred over. They still hurt, but at least the pain was expected.
The pain in the bear's lungs, however, was not expected. It had started with a writhing unease in its back. Then the unease had moved into its heart. Finally, after a sharp pain in the lungs, the unsettlement had settled in the Nickleback bear’s left lung.
For several days the unease settled into the old bear’s lung. It was almost able to ignore the disquiet in its lung, but every once in a while, a sharp stabbing pain flared up, seemingly just to make sure that the unsettlement was not forgotten.
It was just over a week later that it happened. Mind you, the bear was not counting, but a week had passed nonetheless. As the bear was plodding along, it was contemplating whether there would be any ripe berries in the usual spot yet, or if it should go hunt for meat instead. Right as it decided that there was no harm in checking for ripe berries, even if there were none ready, the writhing unsettlement flared up again.
The feeling started with just a slithery feeling moving across the bear’s lung in restless contortions. But, soon, the pain came. Still, the pain was normal. Until it wasn’t. The pain intensified suddenly, and then it stayed at a piercing crescendo with throbbing intensity.
But the show had just begun. With a wrench of agony, unsettlement was unleashed to wreak havoc in new places.
At first, the Nickleback bear tried to ignore the pain. It had succeeded for a time, even reaching a thicket of bushes. Nestled among waxy green leaves, berries of a sea-blue hue hid, just waiting to be munched. Despite the distraction inside, the berries outside were motivation enough to push past the pain.
Enveloped in a giant wet mouth that delicately pulled away, the ripe berries rolled off the branch. As the bear munched, it tried to find peace during the raging storm of pain inside its lung.
As the mouthful of berries was swallowed with gusto, the bear went cross-eyed, then its vision went black as it collapsed in a heap. A second later, the movement started. Sporadic bursts, uncontrolled jerks, and violent shaking took over the body and went on for several seconds. Then the body was as still as death.
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Butch watched as the bear winced and hurried in another direction. He also watched when it collapsed and went into a wild seizure.
As soon as the body had stilled, steady wings guided the Crowhaunt buzzard out of the sky and down to the still beast. Butch wanted to get to feasting before his less intelligent kin found the bear.
As a young vulture, Butch had performed a [feat] by killing a high-tiered monster. Even though it had been mostly an accident, he was still rewarded for defeating a creature three tiers above him. He did not really think that getting choked on counted as winning a fight, but he was not really one to be ungrateful for the blessing of cognitive thought.
After gaining the reason to comprehend, well, anything, he had thought long and hard about the reasoning behind [feats]; Butch had decided that it came down to simple laziness. Sure, he knew that he was not by any means all that knowledgeable about the system, but there was no evidence to the contrary.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Folding wings colored a deep gold, he perched easily on the back of the bear. He had been following it ever since the weak human had decided to attack it. No matter who had won, he had been assured a meal. After the human had been defeated, and Butch had consumed his fill, he had noticed a strange wince from the bear as it ambled off.
With nothing else to do, he had followed the bear, and noticed occasional winces, even when it was not shifting its injuries. Something had been wrong, and Butch had put his hopes in the chance that it would prove to be fatal. He was right. Now he could gorge himself.
Surveying his mark, the scavenger tried to find the best way to bypass the hard armor and tough skin that surrounded the bear. Deciding that the eyes would probably be the safest bet since the bear was on its stomach, Butch landed in front of the big head with a little jump and flap. In and out, he pecked.
Brain was always a delicacy, even if it was a bit fatty.
He stopped suddenly, considering. What if whatever had killed the Nickelback was capable of killing him too? No, he decided. His [greater ailment resistance] would protect him. After all, one does not consume the dead without developing some protections. He started eating again.
After a time, he was almost full. He had not finished the brain yet, but this was a big bear, with a big head, so that was expected. He went forward again, reaching as far as he could, he closed his beak and pulled his head out again.
Right as his head exited the skull, however, he squawked and got rid of his mouthful as quickly as possible. Holding his mouth open to try and cool it down from a sudden burning sensation, he looked down, trying to find what had burned his mouth so badly.
On the ground, hidden among various rocks and plants, was a little… string? It was glowing red hot, and as Butch watched, the plants around it were becoming singed and the dirt blackened.
Cocking his head to the side, Butch watched the strange string- thing.
He supposed that if a string like that was in his head, he would probably die as well. Turning back to the corpse, he started his meal again.
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Whaa?
Consciousness slowly faded in. Sluggishly, the world came into focus. Smells, feelings, and sounds bombarded the small snake as he raised his head. For a moment he was confused. None of the stimuli he was used to were present. The liquid, the squishy walls and floor, and the strange vibrations were all missing.
He was struck from his contemplations by a sudden voice in his head.
“-EYES NOT DETECETED. AUDITORY MODE ACTIVATED.-
NOTIFICATION LOG:
TIERS RECEIVED- +6
-error- self-awareness not present. -cannot auto-assign current number of stats.
Searching for solution.
Consuming minimum tiers necessary to activate self-awareness. -3
AWARD GRANTED: SELF-AWARENESS.
FULL SELF-AWARENESS ACTIVATED.
ADDITIONAL REWARDS AVAILABLE-
REMAINING TIERS, 3, SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE RACIAL DEBUFF: BLINDNESS
REMOVE DEBUFF? YES/NO
Confused, the overwhelmed little snake repeated the last question. What was all this? And by the time the mysterious voice stopped, he only remembered the last thing that had been said.
“Wemofe debuf?... yesh? Nwooo? Whaat?”
CONFIRMATION RECEIVED.
“Whaa?”
REMOVING RACIAL DEBUFF: BLINDNESS CONSUMING 3 OF 3 TEIRS.
Error- race: otherworld serpent lacks tiers. Error- incapable of removing all tiers.
Searching for solution… … … … … … … …
Error- no solution found. Contacting Watcher… …
“Whaa??