I sighed, letting out a frustrated huff that could rival a dragon's roar, and massaged my throbbing temples.

Oh boy, my brain felt like a rollercoaster that went on a loop-de-loop without any breaks. But honestly, my sanity had always been a bit of a wild ride, even before this whole whacky adventure began.

Life sure knew how to throw a curveball my way, but hey, I wasn't going to let it bowl me over like a set of pins.

(Focus… focus…)

Despite the never-ending flood of info coming my way, I pulled myself together and focused on the task at hand.

"Merecritt? Rank F? Skills and techniques? Connections?" I mused out loud, my voice echoing like a curious cat's meow in a cavern. "Feels like I've been thrown into a mind-bending video game with no pause button." And who was the game developer, you ask? Well, it was none other than the mastermind who sent me here.

"But enough about that, Aera," I scolded myself. "Stay on track!" I couldn't help but notice my tail involuntarily swishing back and forth, like a happy cat's tail when chasing a bouncing ball of yarn. Placing a minuscule paw to my chin, I pondered.

Ok. The way the data presented itself was like diving headfirst into a futuristic game console. G.A.I.A., the new companion in this crazy escapade, claimed to help me process and make sense of all this "data" swirling in my head. Pretty neat, hm?

But why did it kick into gear all of a sudden? And how did it even work, for crying out loud? I vaguely remembered absorbing some peculiar particle, so maybe that was the magical key that activated this whole thing?

I glanced around, half-expecting a mysterious wizard to pop out of thin air and provide me with all the answers from the confines of their sleeves. But, darn, no such luck. I sighed.

Life wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. You couldn't just snap your fingers and get a genie to grant your every wish. It was time to be my own detective and put the puzzle pieces together like a pro.

'Merecritt...' okay, so that's what I am now. A 'Merecritt'—a whimsical creature with retractable ears and eyes that sparkled with curiosity. I twitched my new set of ears, enjoying the novelty, before glancing at my paws that now looked like something out of a fairy tale.

'Rank F...' guess that means I'm not exactly top of the food chain. 'More like a lowly snack for anyone with bigger teeth and sharper claws,' I thought with a touch of sarcasm.

'Skills and techniques...' well, I practiced karate once upon a time, I sighed, and hey, at least I still remembered and retained all memories and such from my life as a human. So maybe that counted for something? But was it enough to help me survive in this strange world?

'Connections...' Now that was a tricky one. Making friends wasn't exactly my strong suit. Would that be my Achilles' heel in this new world? Only time would tell, but one thing was certain—I wasn't giving up now.

I was going to find my way through this labyrinth of mysteries and challenges, like a daring adventurer in uncharted lands, and show everyone that this tiny creature had the heart of a lion—or whatever the equivalent to such a majestic creature would be in this realm. Please, please, please do not speak such a creature into existence…

Taking a deep breath, I glanced over my shoulders once again, surveying the area. I found myself in a clearing surrounded by a dense tropical forest of towering glassy trees. It was akin to stepping into a magical realm where nature had turned its colors up to eleven.

In my vicinity were vibrant red and blue vegetation, and crystals sprouting from the ground which painted the scenery equivalent to a lush zone of sparkling jewels that an extravagant dragon would hoard.

Whereas, the air was filled with the melodies of bird-like creatures, the buzzing of insects, and an eerie howl in the distance that sent shivers down my spine... irk.

It was beautiful, in a way, yet I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered within me. I was alone, lost, and feeling as defenseless as a kitten in a dog park.

Anything could happen, and and I had to be ready for whatever came my way.

Suddenly, a snap of a branch jolted my nerves, and I anxiously twitched my long, fuzzy ears, straining to catch every sound in the world around me.

[ Critical Observation ]

Whenever something grabbed my attention—a "bird" chirping nearby or leaves rustling in the wind—my senses sprang to life, soaking in the information.

[ Critical Observation ] Ok, stop.

As far as my eyes could tell, everything looked the same, yet every sense felt different; like they were being stimulated for the very first time. This was truly an amazing sensation—one that made even my heart race!

[ Critical Observation ] I’m aware, G.A.I.A…

Then, a figure caught my eye; a magnificent creature came into view, resembling a majestic deer with striking red dots for eyes, a sleek coat of black fur, and regal crimson patches enhancing its impressive frame. But what truly took my breath away was the vibrant, electrifying orbs dancing atop its antlers, emanating a contagious sense of zest and vigor.

I couldn't help but stare in awe at the creature before me, almost forgetting my current situation. It was like something out of a fairy tale, and I couldn't believe that I was actually seeing it in person.

But my feelings of wonder were short-lived as the creature suddenly turned its head and locked eyes with me. My heart raced as I realized that it was staring directly at me. Was it about to attack me? Was I… going to be its prey? In this world there are no guarantees as to what could happen, so I held my breath, while locking eyes with the deer creature.

It was then…

— G.A.I.A. Activated

— Eldritch-Abyssal Detected and Verified:

The voice of G.A.I.A. resounded.

— Species: Doervus

— Sub-Name: "Doom Deer"

— Rank: F

— Classification: Common

I instinctively took a step back ready to bolt at any moment, but instead of attacking me, the deer creature simply tilted its head, as if it were curious, studying me with its striking red eyes.

With cautious steps, it moved closer, walking alongside the serene pond that separated us. My heart pounded with both fear and awe - acknowledging this was a creature of the wild, and yet it seemed to have a sense of intelligence behind those red orbs..

Then, something peculiar occurred. The Doervus emitted a soft, almost melodic sound. Despite its lack of a mouth, the sound seemed to emanate directly towards me. Though soothing, it caused my head to throb.

The Doervus seemed to be attempting to communicate, but I couldn't comprehend its message. It appeared agitated as it stomped its hooves and emitted a louder melodic note. The vibrations reverberated through the ground and air, intensifying my unease.

— DANGER ⚠️ DETECTED

— DANGER ⚠️ DETECTED

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

My eyes drifted to the deer's orbs and noticed that it pulsated with electricity—and before I knew it, I had already launched myself off the ground with a mighty leap, narrowly avoiding the electrical current released from its antlers.

As I landed on all fours, my body quivered with the adrenaline coursing through me. But I didn't stop there—I swiftly propelled myself upward again, narrowly dodging the hostile and abnormal deer charging at me with its menacing horns.

The Doervus's body crackled with crimson electricity as it passed by me; the wind from its charge causing my fur to ruffle and I could feel the heat emanating from its electrified fur. I realized quickly that this creature was not to be trifled with; it was a predator in every sense of the word.

Questions flooded my mind. Why had this seemingly peaceful creature, which I had admired moments ago, suddenly turned hostile? Was it because I was a Merecritt? Was it defending its territory? Or was it simply a reminder that no creature could be trusted in this damn dimension?

I quickly dodged its next charge, tumbling out of the way just in time to see hooves and bolts of electricity sizzle past me. I could feel the heat on my fur and my skin as it passed by, and I knew that a direct hit would be bad news.

I managed to scramble to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to figure out what to do next.

I took a deep breath and steadied myself, preparing for its next attack. The Doervus was now circling me, the orbs hovering within its antlers flashed with an eerie light. I could feel the electricity crackling in the air, raising the hair on my fuzzy body. My fight-or-flight response had kicked in, and I was definitely leaning towards the latter. But I couldn't just run away from every danger in this world—I needed to… I needed to focus, learn how to fight back, and fast.

Drawing on the survival skills from my previous life, I reminded myself to keep a clear head, analyze the situation, and strike when the opportunity presented itself. I observed the creature, eyes locked on its antlers, waiting for it to make its next move.

— [ DOERVUS ] SKILLS ANALYZED:

— Regal Ram

— Doom Zap

— Cruel Chomp

My intuition alerted me with a jolt and I quickly scanned my surroundings for any potential weapons or escape routes. The trees seemed too polished to climb, but the crystals scattered on the ground caught my attention. Perhaps they could be of some use.

Swiftly evading another charge from the Doervus, I felt the crackling electricity grazing against my fur. Seizing a crystal, I yanked it free from the ground and clutched it tightly in my paws, hoping it would prove effective.

As soon as the Doervus rushed towards me again, electricity arcing through the air, I dodged to the side, using my agility, which I recalled to be [MereSwiftness], to dash, zooming through the field with accelerated speed as I evaded a current of electricity zapping across the field.

And then, with a leap, I landed on the Doervus's back.

The Doervus bucked furiously beneath me, trying to throw me off, letting out a horrific melodic howl. I held on tightly, using my small size and stretchable ears to my advantage—wrapping and grasping onto its neck.

I raised one of my paws and focused my willpower, allowing the energy within me to flow through it and into the crystal that naturally drew upon my energy. The crystal began to glow with a blue light, and I thrust it straight into the Doervus's back. A blast of energy exploded as the crystal impacted its back, causing the Doervus to let out a horrible, singsong screech, its orbs flickering wildly.

I took advantage of its momentary weakness, leapt off its back and landed on the ground.

Quickly, I darted towards a nearby crystalline boulder, using it as cover as the Doervus resumed its pursuit.

Waiting until the last possible moment, I sprang upwards, scaling the crystalline surface of the boulder. The Doervus charged forward, colliding headfirst with the boulder, sending tremors through the ground and causing fragments to scatter.

I observed from above until my intuition alarmed me to hop off the boulder as the Doervus stepped back and advanced forward once again, tackling into the boulder, leading it to crumble into pieces, scattering in numerous directions.

The moment my feet touched down onto the ground once more, as I watched the Doervus having just regained its composure, shaking its head. I began to reassess my situation. So, if we were both F rank monsters, then I must have a chance against it, right? Then I need to use my skills and abilities if I seek to overcome this creature… But how exactly did my new abilities work? I did not seek to harm this creature any more than necessary, so I still had an alternative approach to try.

"Wait! Wait! I am not an enemy!" I cried out. "I have no intention of causing any more harm! So, let's quit while we're still intact!"

Honestly, I didn't expect my plea to work. But deep down, I genuinely meant those words. My personal motto was that there was no point in fighting when there was no need for it and rather avoid fighting unless necessary. I just hoped the Doervus understood my intentions.

The Doervus seemed caught off guard by what I said. Believe it or not, it actually looked like it understood me. Its head cocked to the side, lost in thought for a sec, before it slowly nodded and lowered its antlers... could it be happening? But before I could react, a painful jolt shot through my body as its antlers sparked with electricity. Somehow, it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be, but wow, that hurt a lot!

The stag let out a deep, melodic noise before taking a step closer, its large, razor-sharp hooves poised to attack. It was clear at this point that this creature would only stop attacking once I perished.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I became infuriated.

Whatever, if you want to fight? Then let's fight!

The Doervus came speeding towards me, its entire body sparking with red electricity and emitting an intense amount of heat. It was clearly trying to skewer and fry me alive! Fear made my fur stand on end, but instead of fleeing from the monster's attack, I leapt—amazed at my bound—and landed behind the beast, preparing myself for its next move!

Another Doom Zap! I thought, anticipating the Doervus's next move.

It turned and unleashed its electrical power with a loud crackle, a bolt of lightning arcing across the ground towards where I stood. Just as the electric energy was about to hit me dead-on, I jumped out of the way and rolled to safety.

"Aaagh!" I let out a high-pitched shriek, narrowly avoiding the stag's swinging antlers that sliced through the air with a mighty crash.

Once again, I dodged its electrifying antlers and hooves, leaving the Doervus momentarily disoriented, giving me a chance to catch my breath and reassess the situation.

With the opportunity to formulate a strategy, I considered the Doervus's remaining skills. "Alright, that's one more move to go. '[Cruel Chomp],' huh...? Well, that sounds pretty bad. But then again, that last one looked deadly—it must have been its [Regal Ram] if I were to make a guess."

I dashed across the field, zooming diagonally here and there to disorientate the Doervus while I thought up my next action. The creature struggled to keep up with my agile movements, its red orbs flickering as it tried to anticipate my next move.

As I weaved through the field, an idea struck me. I noticed a patch of dense shrubs nearby, providing ample cover. If I could lead the Doervus there, I might be able to gain an advantage.

I altered my path, heading towards the shrubs, making sure to leave a tantalizing trail for the Doervus to follow. With each twist and turn, I could hear its thunderous hooves and crackling electricity behind me.

If anything, Cruel Chomp sounds less worse than being electrocuted to death... I hope. Thing doesn't even have a mouth…

And oh, how wrong I was. The deer darted forward, and before I could react, its neck extended and its mouthless face ripped open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. In a blink of an eye, I felt a sudden jolt in my back as it sank its teeth into my waist! My body spasmed as an electrical shockwave into my body.

I let out a high-pitched cry as the electricity coursed through my body.

I gritted my teeth and instinctively wrapped my tail around its neck and began pummeling it with my elongated ears—the very ends balled up into pseudo-fists! This argh—screw it! Duck this! I unleashed a yowl as I continued to punch it.

The deer buckled under my assault, and it let out a yelp before letting go of its bite; however, its horns were still electrified! And they weren't going anywhere until I managed to knock them off!

Which meant I needed to keep attacking!

"I will break your antlers! Let go, or I'll shatter them!" I let out another high-pitched scream as I continued punching the beast with my ears. The Doervus made a vigorous attempt to throw me off, but had no desires to let go, and I had no desires to stop striking the creature after what's it done. I noticed that the Doervus's electric charge was beginning to fade but the deer's antlers were still active. But its antlers began to crack from my relentless assault on its head.

My "fists" still weren't enough I realized. What else did I have to attack it with when my "fists" weren't enough!?

─ G.A.I.A Activated ─ RECOMMENDATION: MereSphere, a technique that harnesses energy particles from the user's interior and the environment around them to expel a ball of energy. Create a ball of energy, then hurl it at the opponent to strike them. The power of the blast is dependent on the amount of 'Abyssal Particles' the user can absorb.

Abyssal Particles?

I had no idea what they were, but I trusted the G.A.I.A.'s guidance. I focused all my concentration on gathering energy, pulling it from deep within me and the world around me. Once I felt a surge of energy, I opened my mouth wide and let out an ear-piercing shriek. In front of me, a ball of energy formed—a glowing [MereSphere].

With a quick swipe of my tail, I released my hold on the Doervus and grabbed the sphere with my tail. I plunged the glowing sphere directly onto the stag's antlers as I was blasted upwards. It was like lighting a fuse. The Doervus's head and antlers burst with a loud bang, smoke and sparks shooting through the air.

The stag's head jerked violently to one side, signifying the intensity of the impact. But I wasn't done yet.

My ears twitched and my head turned. With a swift and successive motion, I used the last of my energy to swing my elongated ears at the Doervus, smacking it hard and square on its head as the monstrous deer dropped to the ground in a dusty heap.

Plopping on the ground, heaving, I swiftly placed some distance between us.

I noticed that the Doervus didn't seem too damaged by the blast as it shakily got back to its feet.

Now how would I perform this skill... [MereEar:Slash]? Well, if there ever was a time to use it, then now would be perfect!

As the ferocious Doervus got back to its feet, it galloped towards me with renewed fury.

I made a split-second decision to switch to a more defensive strategy. I jumped to the side, dodging its sharp horns.

And then in one fluid motion, I sprang forward to unleash a fierce strike with my stretching, flailing ears—smacking its vulnerable flank to cause the Doervus to stumble.

With a burst of energy, I activated the natural skill of the Merecritt's—the [MereEar:Slash]—and launched myself with incredible speed. But not towards where its antlers were located!

Instead, outside my expectations—with energized ears, I sliced and flew straight through its torso to my horror..!

The impact was like being hit by a truck and the pain almost made me pass out! But it also felt pretty satisfying and terrifying at the same time! And after a few seconds, the Doervus finally fell over with a THUD!

I had won against my first monster… but at a saddening cost.

Or so I thought, as I turned and faced it…