The night was long. As expected, Cliff didn't sleep; instead, he spent the hours pondering the least risky way out of his situation.
At dawn, the young man with tanned skin began descending the tree, keeping a wary eye on the predator ahead of him. He knew it was risky not watching where he stepped.
Nevertheless… this damn tree is really high, isn't it?
Cliff decided to trust his senses and instincts.
He cursed under his breath.
I should've learned how to climb trees.
It was hard enough climbing up; now, getting down is a whole different story.
As if defying his will, fate had other plans.
Cliff slipped… or rather, he fell!!
Cursing his luck, he desperately tried to grab onto the tree, but in vain...
From a height of 20 to 25 meters, Cliff plunged toward the ground.
This string of bad luck was unprecedented for Cliff: strange summonings, excruciating pain, a foreign world, and chance encounters – had he really fallen this far?
He was fed up with it all.
Cliff stood up, feeling an itch on his ribs. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the sudden pain.
I've been through worse…
With his katana in hand, he pushed forward, hacking through vines and branches blocking his path, hoping to find something to eat.
He muttered a curse under his breath.
This forest is so dense. It feels endless... and I've been walking for more than half an hour. Am I lost? Am I just going in circles?
His stomach growled…
Cliff clenched his teeth in frustration.
Anything will do—any animal—I'm starving, dammit!!
Suddenly, from behind the hedges near him, he heard faint, irregular movements hidden in the foliage.
Cliff, now on high alert, silently swore to strike down whatever creature dared to jump at him.
The rustling grew louder, sending a chill down his spine, but he remained calm, gripping his sword in a defensive stance.
He waited. The sounds of footsteps—fast, seemingly from multiple sources—closed in. Yet, Cliff knew he was alone, suspecting the entity was trying to toy with him, circling to induce fear. Still, he remained focused.
Behind!!!
With all his strength, Cliff twisted his body, using fancy footwork to confront the abomination. His katana managed to block the creature's claws, but when he saw it, he couldn't help but shudder.
The abomination stood as tall as he did, resembling a rabbit, except it had two protruding fangs, a sharp horn, and 8 cm claws on its paws.
Cliff grimaced.
Terrifying, isn't it? Looks like something straight out of a nightmare.
He kicked the creature, creating some distance, as he knew it was physically stronger than him.
Cliff leapt toward it, trying to strike faster than the beast could react, but the creature's agility surpassed his expectations. None of his sword swings even grazed the abomination.
Curse you!!
Cliff was starting to lose his composure, frustrated at hitting nothing but air. The beast's powerful legs allowed it to jump out of range with ease.
Think, think, for God's sake! What can I do to kill this bastard?
A claw swiped past his face, grazing his shoulder. Cliff winced, but the pain only fueled his anger.
He groaned.
I'm going to kill you. Too bad I don't have a pot to cook your meat in!!
Cook!? Boil!?
Cliff's eyes widened. It was so obvious now—how had he missed it? The problem was how to use it. Saying its name, maybe?
He had succeeded with his draining skill last time, almost instinctively. But would it work now? He was in the midst of a battle with this monstrous creature.
Up until now, he had managed to overwhelm the beast, landing blows here and there without giving it a chance to attack. However, he was tiring quickly. His energy and endurance were draining fast.
Still, he had to try. Cliff resolved to give it his all.
He stopped attacking, stepped back, and let the beast come at him. As it charged, he spat in its face...
Damn... what!? It worked!!!
Before Cliff's eyes, the beast, which looked like a demonic rabbit, was disoriented. One of its crimson-glowing eyes had melted into a gaping hole, destroyed by the acid he had spit at it.
Not giving the creature a chance to recover, Cliff's sword whistled through the air, severing an arm.
The abomination let out a bloodcurdling scream, startling Cliff for a moment. The sight of its blood flowing triggered a more ferocious charge from the creature, intent on ending him once and for all. No longer playing with its prey, it attacked with vicious determination.
But Cliff was equally relentless. He dodged or blocked every claw and fang, despite the pain in his wrists. He knew one mistake, one moment of letting go, would cost him his life.
He had the advantage.
He was smarter than the beast, had two good arms, and his eyes were intact. There was no way he could afford to lose.
Cliff roared, "You're going to die, aren't you!?"
Pouring all his strength into his strikes, he managed to cut off the beast's remaining claws. Twisting his wrist, he severed the other arm. The creature screamed, losing balance and falling to the ground. Cliff leapt onto it and plunged his katana into its chest.
The beast struggled in vain, its strength waning as it groaned in agony. Cliff pulled the blade out and stabbed it again... and again.
He unleashed all his frustrations on the creature—his rage, his unanswered questions. Cliff wanted to scream them out but held back.
At some point, he heard a familiar voice announcing:
["You have killed a beast: Horned Rabbit."]
["Your mana has increased."]
Cliff felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins, his fatigue gradually fading. He wanted to focus on this new energy, sensing it had always been there, dispersed in the environment.
Suddenly, the mysterious voice startled him again:
["Your sword has evolved."]
Evolved!? My katana evolved!? Seriously, I must be going crazy. I never wanted to admit it, but it's so obvious, isn't it!? I'm truly in another world!!
He could feel the sword's weight lighten in his hands, its edge sharper, deadlier.
A smile crept across his face.
At least for the moment, he was no longer in mortal danger...
From the creature's chest, Cliff pulled out a crystal containing the essence of the horned monster. It was palm-sized, unlike the crimson crystal from the "slime"; this one was even more vibrant.
Cliff tucked it into his pocket, deciding to absorb it later. There were more pressing matters—he needed to eat.
As he walked, Cliff spotted a small cave and decided to settle there for the time being. Starting a fire out in the open was too dangerous, given the strange creatures in this forest.
He couldn't afford to be reckless.
Determined, Cliff gathered some dry branches and dead leaves, preparing to start a fire. Although the days were cool and pleasant, the nights in the forest were bitterly cold.
Last night, his mind had been too preoccupied to feel the chill. He'd had to monitor his breathing and movements, trying not to alert the uninvited host watching him.
He pulled a lighter from his pocket. It had been three years since he quit smoking, but he still kept it as a memento from his ex. It had been a nonchalant gift, but for Cliff, it held deep meaning.
Even though she had left him, Cliff cherished the time they spent together. Those were the best days of his life.
After all, she was the one who had taken his virginity.
Who would've thought this lighter would save my life one day? I don't even know how to make fire from scratch...
Warmth washed over him as the fire crackled to life. Cliff carefully prepared his meal, roasting the meat over the flames.
As the aroma filled the air, Cliff realized it was time to absorb the essence of his fallen adversary. He couldn't delay any longer. The more abilities he acquired, the better his chances of surviving in this world.