Unlike last time, I awoke with vigour I could sense a hint of excitement in my heart. Although I had a deep sleep, my dreams were chock full of me in badass situations. The knowledge that I seemed to be in a very 'novel like' situation made me blur the lines between fiction and reality, just how strong could I get? Could I be like those main characters that rise up to challenge gods? Or the ones who rule kingdoms? Is there infinite potential within my tiny yellow wings?!
'hooooo'
I sighed internally to calm myself, no, getting too into this might one day be the death of me. I cannot treat this as some story, this is my life. I didn't want to cling to the belief that if I died, which I assume is what happened to the previous lifetime, that I would once again live as another creature…this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, or well… once in two lifetimes.
I thought to myself, 'system, you're still there right?'
The slightly transparent orange interface opened up:
[Yes]
[1 important alert]
[Owner's life is in critical danger.]
'…'
'WHAT?!'
I was too shocked to respond for a few seconds, danger?
I looked around my "home", the walls seemed to be glowing a faint red, and the roof was still the black mass I saw before, but somehow, the room was still bright.
'Hey system, where's the danger?'
[System is unable to solve this puzzle, hosts body is in danger of perishing]
'No! Not again…'
Wasn't the powerful system supposed to be all-knowing? Why couldn't it help me? Was I born with some disease or something??
'Okay, whatever the situation is… maybe it's best if I hide…'
Thinking this, I tried to waddle into a corner or some other safe area, but the second that I took a step…
*SPLAT*
I fell onto the floor, face… or should I say "beak planting" onto the hay which covered my new home.
I didn't know much about chickens, but couldn't the young of most birds stand up and walk around in a few hours of birth? Or even a day at the very least? There's no clock here, but I assume more time than that has passed…
That's when I remembered something.
'Hey system… do magical beasts require food?'
[Yes, all magical beasts require food, water and a supply of mana to survive]
I still have the body of a newborn, and with this body, I had completely forgotten about feeding and hydrating myself, how could I have been so foolish?!
Oh my god… all this time I didn't pay attention because I felt no thirst or hunger… goddammit, I almost killed myself within the first few days of living…
'System… why can't I feel hunger?'
[KRYPTID's have tremendous Spirit Power, which allows their mind to be immune from all mental afflictions. Their body cannot feel hunger, for through the trials they faced to become a KRYPTID, the body has been strengthened to the point which they have shed the need for worldly desires, they receive all the required nutrition from the world's infinite mana supply]
One thing stuck out to me from this explanation… "the body has been strengthened to the point which they have shed the need for worldly desires".
Last I checked, my body has been strengthened as much as that of a dry mandarin peel.
'The system must not fit me properly… is it a side effect of being a glitch?'
This was dangerous… my mind doesn't allow my body to feel any pain… or at least… the most important ones.
'Shit...'
'System, where can I get food fit for an average Ignison Chick?'
[There are many Eroms in this area, they are classified as the weakest magical beast in existence, dig around a 1-meter radius to discover them]
Oh wow, something even below me in the food chain… but worms really???
'Um system, is there anything a bit more… palatable nearby to eat?'
[No]
Wow, system you're so harsh… No tact at all.
Do I really have to do this? Images of pink wriggling worms infested my mind, I shook my head and focused on the floor.
'Oh god, I'm really doing this… worms…'
No… I need to do whatever it takes to survive, I won't be this lucky next time.
I lowered my face down onto the hay, and used my beak as a makeshift shovel to dig around, I felt weak, but the thought of dying made urged me to break past some limits.
*push push push*
After what seemed like half an hour or so, I felt something stopping my beak from pushing any further, a weak resistance. I pulled my head back off the ground and saw a cluster of small, red, wriggling creatures spasming around my beak.
Fighting every urge to shake them off and run away, moved to an area with a little bit more hay and tipped them off onto the yellow hay, where their red rubbery skin contrasted harshly with the soft yellow floor.
'Oh my god… okay, this is it… c'mon man… you can do this.'
Giving myself a mini pep talk, I closed my eyes and snapped my beak down onto the floor, pecking as hard as I could, again and again.… I couldn't feel anything from my beak but the resistance caused by their rubbery body was vomit-inducing. I was glad I didn't have anything in me to throw up… even if I'm sure that the system would've prevented that.
After I didn't hear any wriggling or movement in the hay, I looked down at the sight of mushed-up worms.
Every human instinct in me refused to eat this, it was a disgusting, fleshy, horrible mess.
But even stronger than the human emotion of disgust, is the instinct to eat.
The instinct to live.
I closed my eyes, opened my beak, and lowered myself.
Disgusting.
If I had tear ducts, they'd be working overtime right now, the sensation of the crushed worm going down my throat was horrifying.
Nonetheless, after guzzling them down, I felt strong enough to walk again. ½ of my needs are met.
Water would quench my thirst and help take away the disgusting feeling of having rubbery chunks of worms in my throat.
'System, where can I find water?'
I stopped saying please and thank you to the system after its harsh treatment of me when I asked for food, it was quite rude. Sure it was the only reason I could live but, hey I can be unreasonable at times too.
[There is a water source approximately 46 meters North, would you like to turn on the minimap display?]
'Um Yeah!'
Without a second thought, I accepted the system's new feature. Minimaps, one of the most useful features in games... this will definitely help! Maybe I had been too harsh on the system, it's minimap was an awesome gift.
At the bottom left of my vision, a rectangular box covered a small portion of my vision. This gift didn't come without repercussions, there was a blind spot now, that certainly seems dangerous, but I won't mind it too much for now.
On the screen, it showed a yellow circular dot in the centre, I assume that's me, and a little ways off, was a picture of a small blue wave, there was a pink dotted line, connecting the two.
'Ooo how thoughtful of you system, okay I forgive you'
I walked in the direction I saw in the minimap, chest huffed in pride at overcoming such a difficult trial but then... I came across a tiny situation.
The giant wall.