I coiled tightly under the brush, my muscles tense, listening intently as the distant voices of adventurers floated through the trees. They weren't close enough to spot me, but the fact that they were nearby set off every warning signal in my mind.
'Adventurers… No way I'm ready for them yet.'
They were hunting in my forest, likely after whatever creatures they could get their hands on. The last thing I needed was a run-in with some low-level adventurer thinking they could make a name for themselves by slaying an "unranked monster." Still, curiosity gnawed at me. Adventurers meant more than just danger—they meant information.
I flicked my tongue, catching faint hints of their scent: human. Two of them, likely a pair working together. They were far enough away that I didn't have to worry about immediate danger, but their presence was a reminder that I wasn't the only predator in this forest.
'I can't fight them… but I can follow them.'
Keeping low, I slithered silently through the foliage, activating Stealth to stay hidden. My senses sharpened as I got closer, and now I could hear snippets of their conversation.
"You think we'll get promoted if we finish this quest?" one of them asked. His voice was young, uncertain.
"Depends on what we bring back," the second one replied, his voice older and more assured. "Pelts won't be enough. We need to find that creature the guild's been talking about."
I froze. Creature?
"Yeah, I heard about that too," the younger one said. "Something big, something powerful. Not like the wolves or lizards we've seen so far. They say it's E-Rank at least, but no one knows exactly what it is."
"Right, it's unclassified," the older one chuckled. "But E-Rank? If we find it and kill it, we could skip a whole level in rank. Imagine how much we could gain if we brought back its core."
'An unidentified creature… E-Rank?'
I felt a chill coil around my spine. Whatever they were talking about was much stronger than anything I'd encountered so far. A E-Rank creature would crush me without even trying. Even the adventurers seemed a little too eager to track it down.
"Unranked means weak," the older one continued, "but E-Rank? We could take it down with a good plan. Let's keep moving and see if we catch any signs of it."
I slipped further into the shadows, my scales tingling with anxiety. Whatever they were hunting was far out of my league for now. The thought of going after something like that filled me with both dread and excitement. But it was too soon. I had to grow stronger before I could even think about facing a E-Rank beast.
'Good luck with that hunt, idiots. I've got other prey to deal with.'
The adventurers moved on, their voices fading into the distance as they ventured deeper into the forest. I, on the other hand, turned back the way I had come. There was no point in getting involved with them or that unknown creature—not yet.
As I slithered away from the adventurers, I caught another scent on the wind, something more familiar—wolves. And this time, it wasn't just a lone pup. I could sense at least two or three of them.
'Perfect. One more kill, and I'll be ready.'
The hunger in my gut twisted, reminding me that it wasn't just about XP. I needed to eat. These wolves would do just fine.
The pack was moving through a narrow stretch of the forest, their heads low as they hunted something further ahead. They hadn't noticed me yet, but that wouldn't last long if I wasn't careful. I circled around, positioning myself for an ambush. There were three wolves—two larger ones, and a smaller, younger wolf trailing behind.
[Wolves (Lv 7) detected.]
[Rank: Unranked]
[Skills:]
– [Bite Lv 3]
– [Pack Coordination Lv 1]
'I'll take out the smaller one first. If I can separate it from the others, the rest will be easier to deal with.'
I coiled myself up, waiting for the younger wolf to move just a little further away from the rest of the pack. My body tensed, my muscles ready to strike. I could feel the energy buzzing inside me, that burning need to grow stronger.
With a sudden burst of speed, I launched myself forward, my fangs bared as I aimed for the back of the young wolf's neck.
[Bite Lv 5 activated.]
[Venom Lv 5 activated.]
The wolf let out a surprised yelp as my fangs sank into its flesh, my venom flooding its bloodstream. It staggered, trying to shake me off, but I had already coiled around its neck, holding tight. The poison worked fast, and within moments, the wolf collapsed.
The other two wolves heard the commotion and turned toward me, their eyes glowing with sudden aggression. They growled, moving in perfect sync as they circled around me. They weren't going to let me take another one of their pack without a fight.
'Good. Come at me.'
I released the dead wolf and turned to face the other two. This was going to be harder, but I needed the XP. If I could take them down, I'd hit Level 10.
The wolves lunged at me simultaneously, their movements coordinated as they came from both sides. I slithered backward, narrowly dodging their snapping jaws. One of them charged forward, and I reacted on instinct, striking at its flank.
[Bite Lv 5 activated.]
My fangs connected, but the wolf was quick, leaping back before I could inject my venom. It snarled, and I could tell it was going to be more careful now. The other wolf circled behind me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
'They're smart, but I'm smarter.'
I used Stealth to slip out of their sight for a moment, sliding into the shadows of a nearby tree. The wolves growled, confused, as they searched for me. I waited until the closest one turned its back to me, then struck.
[Stealth Lv 1 activated.]
[Critical hit!]
[Bite Lv 5 activated.]
[Venom Lv 5 activated.]
This time, I landed the bite cleanly, sinking my fangs deep into the wolf's shoulder. My venom spread quickly, and the wolf stumbled, its strength fading fast. The last wolf charged, but I was ready.
I dodged its attack and wrapped around its body, biting down on its hind leg. It yelped, trying to break free, but my venom had already started to take effect.
Within moments, both wolves lay still, their bodies limp.
[You have defeated Wolves (Lv 7).]
[You have gained 120 XP.]
[Hunger decreased by 40%.]
Status Window:
[Name: Unnamed]
[Species: Baby Snake]
[Level: 10]
[Rank: Unranked]
[Skills:]
– [Bite Lv 5]
– [Venom Lv 5]
– [Slither Lv 3]
– [Stealth Lv 1]
– [Status Inspection Lv 1]
– [Devour Lv 1]
[Traits:]
– [Cold-Blooded]
– [Enhanced Sensory (Basic)]
– [Enhanced Physical Strength (Basic)]
[Status: Satisfied]
[Hunger: 10%]
I could feel it. That surge of energy, that rush of power that came with leveling up. I had finally hit Level 10.
'I'm ready. It's time to evolve.'