The forest seemed more alive now—like it was breathing, pulsing with life. Every sound, every movement, every slight change in the air reached me with startling clarity. My body felt stronger, more responsive, and for the first time since arriving in this world, I didn't feel like prey anymore.
I'd evolved. I wasn't just a Baby Snake now—I had become a Predator Snake. Time to see what exactly that meant.
Status Window:
[Name: Unnamed]
[Species: Predator Snake]
[Level: 10]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Bite Lv 5]
– [Venom Lv 5]
– [Slither Lv 4]
– [Stealth Lv 2]
– [Status Inspection Lv 2]
– [Devour Lv 1]
[Traits:]
– [Cold-Blooded]
– [Predator's Intuition]
– [Enhanced Sensory (Advanced)]
– [Enhanced Physical Strength (Basic)]
[Status: Focused]
[Hunger: 15%]
'Not bad. Definitely looking stronger.'
I focused on some of the newer abilities that had popped up. I needed to understand what I was working with now. Time to dig into the details.
[Stealth Lv 2]
Description: The ability to blend into your surroundings and avoid detection. At Level 2, you can move through most environments without being detected by low- to mid-tier creatures. Combining Stealth with Slither reduces noise and increases your chances of successfully sneaking up on prey.
'Now I can sneak around like a pro. Even I won't be able to see myself.'
Next up was the real game-changer—my senses had been enhanced far beyond what I ever imagined.
[Enhanced Sensory (Advanced)]
Description: Your senses—sight, smell, touch—have been heightened to an advanced level. You can detect minute vibrations, scent trails, and even subtle shifts in temperature and sound. This trait makes you highly sensitive to danger and gives you an edge in tracking prey, even when they're hidden. Accuracy increases with proximity.
'Yep. This is going to make hunting a lot easier.'
I shifted my focus to the other new ability—one that felt more instinctual, buried deeper in my core.
[Predator's Intuition]
Description: Your instincts as a predator have been honed. You can now sense danger and track prey with greater accuracy. This trait increases your chances of ambushing enemies, recognizing threats, and finding weaknesses in your prey. As this trait improves, your ability to anticipate enemy movements and reactions will also sharpen.
I flicked my tongue, feeling the subtle changes in the air. I could sense everything around me with more clarity—creatures that moved nearby, the faint scent of prey in the distance. It wasn't just about seeing or smelling anymore; it was about knowing.
'Okay, this is definitely an upgrade. I've got Spidey senses, but for snakes.'
But my favorite ability wasn't one I had to activate—it just happened.
Finally, there was Devour, the passive ability that had already proven itself. The real wild card. Time to see how far I could push it.
[Devour Lv 1] (Passive)
Description: When you devour a creature, you have a chance of absorbing its skills or traits. The success rate increases with stronger prey. Devour automatically activates when consuming a defeated enemy, but not every meal will yield a skill or trait.
This was what would make me a predator in more ways than one. Every fight, every kill—it wasn't just about survival. It was about growth. But I wasn't stupid. Devour was a gamble. Sometimes I'd get lucky, sometimes I'd be left with nothing but a full belly.
'No guarantees... but I'll take my chances.'
I moved forward, slipping into Stealth as I slithered through the underbrush. My senses told me there was something nearby—a Scaled Lizard, its body camouflaged against the leaves. I narrowed my focus, tracking its every movement without even needing to see it.
[Scaled Lizard (Lv 6) detected.]
[Rank: Unranked]
[Skills:]
– [Harden Lv 2]
– [Quick Strike Lv 1]
– [Camouflage Lv 1]
'Okay, you're a bit trickier than I thought.'
The lizard was using Camouflage to blend into the surroundings, and I could already tell its Harden skill would make my attacks more difficult. Its Quick Strike skill meant it could retaliate fast. I wasn't going to get an easy kill here. This thing could fight back.
'Oh, this should be fun.'
I coiled up, my muscles tensing as I prepared to strike. But the lizard wasn't going to just sit there and wait for me. As soon as I moved, it darted forward, quick as a flash, aiming straight for me.
The lizard lunged with a Quick Strike, and I barely dodged, slithering to the side. Its tail whipped toward me, landing a glancing blow that stung more than I expected.
'Damn. Guess I can't just walk all over you.'
I circled around, keeping my distance. The lizard was fast, but my Stealth and Slither made me quicker. I moved quietly, using the shadows to stay hidden while the lizard searched for me, its head darting from side to side.
It was strong, but it wasn't smart. I waited for my opening, my instincts telling me to let it tire itself out. The moment came when the lizard turned its back, still looking for me. I struck.
[Bite Lv 5 activated.]
[Venom Lv 5 activated.]
My fangs sank into its side, but I could feel the resistance from its Hardened scales. My venom started working, slowing its movements, but the lizard wasn't done yet. It twisted, trying to shake me off, and managed to land a swipe with its tail, knocking me loose.
'Persistent little bugger, aren't you?'
It staggered, the venom taking hold. Still, it wasn't going down without a fight. The Harden skill had kept it in the game longer than most creatures I'd fought so far. But it was weakening, and I wasn't about to let this one slip away.
With one last lunge, I bit down again, harder this time, sinking my fangs deep into the base of its neck. The lizard let out a hiss, its body convulsing before it finally went limp.
[You have defeated Scaled Lizard (Lv 6).]
[You have gained 90 XP.]
[Hunger decreased by 20%.]
I wasted no time, sinking my teeth into its flesh and devouring the lizard. The Devour skill kicked in, and I felt the familiar tingling sensation spread through my body as the essence of the lizard was absorbed.
[Devour Lv 1 activated.]
[You have gained the skill: Harden Lv 1.]
'Harden? Seriously?'
I couldn't help but chuckle. My scales hardened momentarily, toughening up. It wasn't a flashy skill, but it would keep me alive in tougher fights.
[Harden Lv 1]
Description: Temporarily hardens your outer scales, increasing your defense against physical attacks. The higher the skill level, the more durable your scales become.
'Ah, good ol' plot armor. Can't get through a good fantasy story without it.'
I flicked my tongue, satisfied with the new power. Sure, I didn't get all the lizard's tricks, but Harden would come in handy. Especially if I ran into something tougher than this guy.
I slithered back into the shadows, ready to test out my new defenses. The forest was full of dangers, but now... now I had a little extra protection.
And I wasn't done hunting yet.