After passing through what felt like a thin barrier, what laid before me is a forest that was oak-brown and primitive. The path was leaf-carpeted and as I walk, some twigs were crunching under my feet. The forest's smell was fresh and organic, and you can feel that this place is mana rich.
I was in awe of the size and majesty of the trees. Their knotted arms rose ever upwards, as if they were fortresses that stood proudly. Mushrooms grew under it's shady roof. Berries lay ripening under it's leafy dome. You could see wild plants growing freely on the clumpy, mattress of the floor. The beauty of the Mystical forest comforted my heart.
But it's danger is also second to none, as I was appreciating it's splendor, I heard some shuffling and rustling noise not far away behind me.
*Rustle...rustle* Then came out a bunny, a head taller than the normal ones with also a bigger physique, with a nasty 9 inch pointed long horn pointing towards me that was fast approaching my back.
WTH! I unconsciously sweated a bit, imagining the humiliation from dying being impaled from behind. I immediately teleported and positioned myself to a better footing, then I used "Identify" to check on the bunny's stats.
[Status]
Beast type: Rabbit
Rank: 1
HP: 10
Str: 8
Spd: 9
Agi: 9
Sta: 8
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[Magnus: "Ice Spike"]
The ice spike rammed into the bunny's left forehead passing through it's right neck, stopping it from it's tracks. Blood splattered on the ground. It twitched for a few seconds before dying.
[Magnus: Hahaha! Have a taste of your own medicine. You ruined my moment of appreciating the forest's beauty. That's what you get, you rude rabbit!]
I went closer and was about to check my first kill, when suddenly from all directions but at different distances, appeared 6 rank 1 rabbits rushing in with their mean horns heading towards me. Damn! Those pointy horns are gonna hurt.
[Magnus: Bring it on rabbits!]
So I promptly equipped the gauntlet on both my hands and readied myself for combat. I could feel the tension and could hear their steps closing in. As they got nearer, I moved and striked the rabbits.
*Bam* face punch...*Bam* face punch...*Crack* knee kick...*Crack* side kick...*Bam* body punch...*Crack* spin kick
Sounds of sharp strikes were heard and the 6 rabbits could be seen laying dead on the ground. Being at the final stage of Condensation level which can contend with Rank 2 beasts, it was not too hard to defeat the 6 rabbits, although they could have killed Body Refinement cultivators.
I immediately stored all the rabbits and was delighted that they occupied only 1 slot from my storage with a note showing "Rabbits x 7". This would greatly save me a lot of space when I procure more beasts in the future. After that, I headed out and did not linger, as the scattered blood may attract other beasts that may get me badly mobbed.
I decided to do some recon, then climbed a tree and moved and hid from tree to tree whenever possible, as this would give me better vantage point as well. The Outer perimeter alone is quite huge. I saw some squirrels, deers, bees, toads, fox, and more rabbits.
After about an hour, I saw a small cave which can fit an adult just fine. I don't see anything fishy from the outside so I decided to take a look and pulled out my torch and lit it up. I also equipped my gauntlets to be ready just in case. My MP is full so I can use minor teleport multiple times if required.
After a while, I found a clearing which can fit about 2 buses. I silently walked in, and about halfway through, I saw animal droppings of what appeared to be from rodents, then I heard a crack under my foot. Upon inspecting what it was, I saw a bone that snapped but it was only the beginning as there were piles of bones following after that, with a stench of death surrounding the area. Then there were lots of holes on either side of the cave.
I abruptly turned around to leave but blocking my return path were a number of rats now squeaking, with sharp claws and big teeth, each about half as big as a cat. I could also now hear squeakings coming from my back. There was no time to even move a step as they were already jumping towards me. Shit!
[Magnus: "Earth wall"..."Fire ball"..."Fire ball"..."Fire ball"]
*Punch*...*Kick*...*KIck*...*Punch* Some rats were scorching wafting the air with burning flesh, while others flew away as they got hit laying dead as they touched the ground.
I sent out multiple magic and melee attacks but due to their current overwhelming number, I still got clawed and bitten from all angles. I feel pain all over with some of my blood trickling from the wounds.
I used fireballs in order to put more light in the vicinity which let me finally see my way out.
[Magnus: "Teleport"..."Teleport"]
I got off their encirclement, then I rapidly ran towards the exit.
Upon getting out, I immediately used "Earth wall" to close the cave's entrance leaving only a small opening that would only fit 1 rat. I could not afford to be ganged again up by those beasts as I may ran out of magic.
Then I used "Moderate heal" to myself. I fixed myself up but my body still remembered the pain it went through just a moment ago.
[Magnus: Payback time you damn rats!]
I clobbered each rat easily as they came out one by one, and their dead bodies were filing nicely on my left and right sides.
I thought the easy part would never end but they suddenly stopped coming out, then I heard a loud shriek from inside the cave, with audible strides coming closer and closer. I moved away from the cave's mouth, afterwards the earth wall closure got broken and a huge rat, triple the size of a beast rat rank 1, came out.
[Magnus: "Identify"] I casted identify to check it out.
[Status]
Beast type: Rat Boss
Rank: 2
HP: 110/110
MP: 100/100
Str: 92
Spd: 92
Agi: 94
Sta: 94
[Magnus: "Earth wall"] I closed again the cave's entrance to only have the rat boss and I face each other.
Then, I had an evil smile...
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