'Okay, Sam. Breathe. Well, metaphorically. You're a snake, so you don't really breathe like you used to, but... you get the point,' I thought, still coiled up in my little burrow. My mind was racing after what I'd just seen.
That squirrel beast didn't stand a chance against whatever nightmare had come up from the ground. It wasn't just a predator—it was smart, using poison traps and waiting patiently to snatch its prey.
'I'm in way over my head here.'
But I couldn't stay hidden forever. I had to get stronger. Evolve. Become something that even these forest monsters would fear.
[Hunger: 70%]
'Right, of course. And as always, the hunger hits first.' I flicked my tongue, catching the familiar scent of small creatures nearby. Bugs, rodents—nothing too dangerous, nothing too exciting, but enough to keep me going.
'It's time to level up again. The faster I grow, the better my chances of survival.'
I slithered out of the burrow, carefully scanning the area to make sure that trap-laying beast wasn't anywhere nearby. The air seemed clear for now, and the forest was quiet again, though I didn't trust it to stay that way for long.
I moved carefully through the grass, my senses heightened, my body tense. Every sound, every shift in the wind made me freeze, waiting for something to pounce. But nothing did. The only creatures I could sense were the usual—small, weak, easy prey.
I spotted a couple of beetles crawling on a tree trunk nearby. Normally, I wouldn't get too excited about bugs, but right now, food was food.
[Beetles (Lv 2) detected.]
'Perfect. Easy targets. Time to get a quick meal.'
I slithered toward the beetles, keeping my movements smooth and silent. When I got close enough, I struck, sinking my fangs into the first beetle.
[Bite Lv 4 activated.]
[Venom Lv 4 activated.]
[You have inflicted poison.]
[Target health decreasing rapidly.]
The beetle twitched, barely putting up a fight before succumbing to the venom. I quickly devoured it, feeling the hunger subside slightly. The second beetle didn't fare any better.
[You have defeated Beetles (Lv 2).]
[You have gained 10 XP.]
[Hunger decreased by 30%.]
'Still not enough. But it's a start.'
I continued moving through the forest, searching for more prey. My senses were sharper now, more attuned to the subtle changes in my environment. I could pick up the faintest rustle of leaves, the tiniest movement in the grass. But there was something else too—something more distant, a strange scent that caught my attention.
It was faint, but distinct. A mixture of earth and something... metallic?
[Enhanced Sensory (Basic) detects: Unidentified scent. Distance: 50 meters.]
'What is that? It doesn't smell like any of the creatures I've hunted so far.'
Curiosity tugged at me, pulling me toward the source of the scent. I knew it could be dangerous, but my instincts told me it was something important. Something that could help me.
I followed the scent, moving cautiously through the thick undergrowth. The forest around me grew denser, the trees closer together, their twisted roots forming a maze-like pattern on the forest floor. The scent grew stronger with every slither, and my heart began to race.
[Distance: 20 meters.]
There it was—a small clearing up ahead, just beyond the thick trees. And in the center of the clearing, partially buried in the dirt, was a small, glowing object.
'What the...?'
I slithered closer, peeking out from the bushes. The object was smooth and round, with a faint, pulsing glow that flickered like a heartbeat. It looked like a gem or some kind of crystal, and it was embedded in the earth as if it had been there for ages.
[Unidentified object detected.]
[Status: Unknown.]
[Warning: Proceed with caution.]
'Yeah, no kidding.'
I scanned the area, making sure I wasn't walking into another trap. There didn't seem to be any other creatures nearby, and the air was still. No vibrations. No hidden predators. Just me and the glowing object.
'Okay, Sam. Let's check this out. Slowly.'
I approached the object, my tongue flicking out to taste the air around it. There was something... strange about it. The scent wasn't like anything I'd encountered before. It didn't smell like food, and it didn't smell dangerous, but there was an odd energy radiating from it.
As I got closer, I felt a strange pull—like my body was instinctively drawn to it. My scales tingled, and a sense of anticipation built inside me.
'What is this thing?'
I reached the edge of the object and paused. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with it. Could I eat it? Could I touch it? Would it blow up in my face?
But before I could make a decision, a message appeared in front of me.
[Rare Item detected: Mana Core (Fragment).]
[Description: A fragment of a magical beast's mana core. Absorbing it may enhance your abilities or unlock hidden potential.]
[Warning: Absorption may trigger unpredictable effects.]
'Mana core? So this thing came from a magical beast?' My excitement started to rise. 'This might be exactly what I need to unlock one of those special evolution paths!'
But there was the warning: unpredictable effects. That didn't sound too reassuring.
'Do I take the risk?'
I knew that if I wanted to evolve, I needed something special. And this mana core fragment seemed like the perfect opportunity. If I absorbed it, there was a chance it could give me the power boost I needed to unlock my evolution.
'Alright, Sam. Time to gamble. What's the worst that could happen?'
I slithered forward and touched the core with my snout. A surge of energy shot through me, making my body shudder. My scales tingled as the core's magic began to flow into me, spreading through my body like a warm, electrifying pulse.
[You are absorbing Mana Core (Fragment).]
[Abilities enhanced.]
[Warning: Unstable magic detected.]
[Temporary boost applied.]
'Unstable magic? What does that even mean?!'
Before I could react, the energy from the core surged again, stronger this time, and I felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to move—to strike. My body reacted on its own, as if driven by the magic coursing through me.
[Temporary Skill Unlocked: Mana Strike Lv 1.]
[Description: A magically enhanced strike, using the absorbed mana to deal powerful physical damage. Lasts for a limited time.]
'Whoa. I actually got a new skill!'
I could feel the power building inside me, waiting to be unleashed. My muscles felt stronger, more charged. But there was a catch—the skill was temporary. Whatever boost I had from the core wouldn't last long.
I needed to find a target. Fast.
I scanned the area, my senses heightened. There was no way I was wasting this opportunity. If I could use this new skill on a stronger creature, maybe it would give me enough XP to finally unlock one of my special evolutions.
That's when I heard it. The faint rustling of something large moving through the trees. Heavy footsteps. Slow, deliberate. Whatever it was, it was big—and nearby.
[Enhanced Sensory (Basic) detects: Large creature approaching, 30 meters south.]
[Warning: Level ??? detected.]
'Perfect. Time to test out this new power. Let's see what you've got, Mana Strike.'
I coiled up, waiting for the creature to get closer. My body buzzed with energy, my fangs itching to sink into something. The footsteps grew louder, and I could feel the ground vibrating beneath me.
Closer. Closer...