The elder's words still rang in my mind as I moved deeper into the Duskwind Forest, though I could only make out pieces of what he said. Ranks, levels, beasts, adventurers—it seemed this world was ruled by power, and the weak didn't last long.
'Not exactly the most comforting thought for a snake who's just trying to survive,' I mused, coiling under the roots of a nearby tree.
But this wasn't a world where I could simply live in peace. I needed to grow stronger, and I needed to do it fast. The forest was dangerous, and the deeper I ventured, the more powerful the creatures became.
I flicked my tongue, sensing the faintest scent of something nearby. Something alive.
The scent drifted through the cool forest air—faint but distinct. It wasn't the usual small prey I'd been hunting. This was something larger, something with the potential to fight back. My muscles coiled tight, instinctively preparing for what might be my next kill.
'This could be it. Another step forward.'
I slithered quietly through the underbrush, making sure to stay hidden. My Stealth skill wasn't perfect yet, but I had been practicing with every hunt. Staying unnoticed had saved my scales more than once, and now it was about to help me close in on this next target.
Up ahead, I caught sight of the creature responsible for the scent: a boar-like beast, its snout rooting through the dirt, searching for food. Its tusks glistened under the dappled sunlight that filtered through the trees, but its bulk and sluggish movements told me it wasn't the fastest creature around.
[Boarling (Lv 8) detected.]
[Rank: Unranked]
[Skills:]
-Tough Hide Lv 2
-Charge Lv 1
'Level 8. It's close to my level, but I can take it.'
My heart raced as I sized up the boarling. It wasn't dangerous enough to run from, but it would put up a fight. Its thick hide wouldn't make this easy, and one wrong move could get me gored by those tusks. But I needed this—needed the XP.
I slithered closer, circling the beast silently, waiting for the right moment. The boarling hadn't noticed me yet, too focused on foraging. My Venom and Bite were strong enough to do real damage, but I needed to get in close without taking a hit.
'Time to put my skills to the test.'
I coiled my body and launched forward, aiming for the back of the boarling's neck where its hide was thinner. My fangs sank deep into its flesh, and I felt the familiar surge of venom as it began to spread.
[Bite Lv 5 activated.]
[Venom Lv 5 activated.]
[You have inflicted poison.]
The boarling let out a furious squeal, thrashing violently as it tried to shake me off. It turned its head, tusks slashing at the air, but I was already out of reach. Its hide might be tough, but my venom was working its way through the beast's body now.
I darted back, watching the boarling's movements grow sluggish as the poison slowed it down. It charged toward me, but its steps were clumsy, its balance faltering.
[Boarling's health decreasing.]
[Enemy health: 40%.]
'Come on, just a little more.'
The boarling staggered, its legs trembling under the weight of its own body. It was weaker now, but it wasn't giving up. With a loud grunt, it lowered its head and charged again, desperate to land a hit before the venom overtook it.
I waited until the last second, then slithered to the side, narrowly dodging the tusks. The boarling stumbled forward, crashing into a nearby tree with a dull thud. It groaned in pain, its strength fading fast.
I didn't hesitate.
I struck again, biting into the back of its leg this time, ensuring the venom spread even faster.
[Critical hit!]
[Venom Lv 5 activated.]
[Enemy health: 10%.]
The boarling collapsed, its body twitching as the last bit of life drained from it. I backed away, watching as it took its final breath. The fight was over.
[You have defeated Boarling (Lv 8).]
[You have gained 80 XP.]
[Hunger decreased by 30%.]
I coiled myself beside the fallen beast, catching my breath. The fight had been close, but I'd won. My venom had done its job, and now I was one step closer to hitting Level 10. One step closer to evolving into something stronger, something that wouldn't have to worry about getting impaled by a boarling's tusks.
Status Window:
[Name: Unknown]
[Species: Baby Snake]
[Level: 9]
[Rank: Unranked]
[Skills:]
– [Venom Lv 5]
– [Bite Lv 5]
– [Slither Lv 3]
– [Status Inspection Lv 1]
– [Devour Lv 1]
– [Stealth Lv 1]
[Traits:]
– [Cold-Blooded]
– [Enhanced Sensory (Basic)]
– [Enhanced Physical Strength (Basic)]
[Status: Cautious]
[Hunger: 10%]
'Almost there. Just one more good kill, and I'll hit Level 10. Maybe then, I'll be ready for whatever's waiting deeper in this forest.'
I knew I couldn't stay near the outer edges of the forest forever. The deeper I went, the stronger the creatures would become. The Duskwind Forest wasn't the kind of place where you could stay weak and hope to survive.
As I began to devour the boarling, I flicked my tongue, catching the scent of the forest around me. There were stronger creatures out there—far stronger than anything I'd faced so far. And if I wanted to survive, I'd need to be ready for them.
But as I ate, a distant sound caught my attention. Voices—faint but unmistakable. Human voices. They were coming from the direction of the forest's edge, not far from where I was.
'Adventurers?'
I coiled up, narrowing my senses, trying to pick up on their conversation. Adventurers meant trouble, especially if they were hunting beasts like me. I wasn't ready to face them yet—not until I was stronger. But they didn't sound close enough to be a threat… for now.
Still, I couldn't ignore the fact that adventurers were out there, somewhere nearby. And if they were hunting in this forest, I'd need to be careful. They weren't the only predators around.