I slithered deeper into the forest, the faint light filtering through the dense canopy above. The forest floor was quiet, almost too quiet, and my senses were buzzing with the tension in the air. Something wasn't right.
My new Enhanced Sensory trait was kicking in, letting me pick up on the smallest shifts—the subtle tremor of footsteps on the ground, the faint scent of something large moving nearby.
'Hmm. Big guy, aren't you?' I thought, flicking my tongue to taste the air.
With my new Harden skill, I felt confident—almost eager—to test it out in a real fight. But I wasn't an idiot. Charging headfirst into battle wasn't my style. I liked surviving, and that meant playing it smart.
'Let's see if I can pick up something useful.'
I activated Status Inspection. At Level 2, it gave me more information, but I wasn't expecting miracles. A creature that could make the ground tremble was probably stronger than me by a few ranks.
[Status Inspection Lv 2 activated.]
There it was. A massive creature moving slowly through the trees, its presence so heavy that it seemed to warp the atmosphere around it. From my hidden spot in the underbrush, I could only make out its outline—a huge, lumbering figure with massive horns jutting from its head.
[Horned Beast (Lv 12) detected.]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Charge Lv 3]
– [Thick Hide Lv 2]
– [Stomp Lv 2]
[Status: Aggressive]
'Level 12? And here I thought I was doing well at Level 10. Nope. Don't fancy being stomped into snake paste today, thanks.'
I tightened my coils, keeping low in the shadows. This thing was two levels above me, and I wasn't stupid enough to fight something with Thick Hide and Stomp without a plan. Besides, I didn't know how far my Harden skill would take me yet.
But I also couldn't resist the urge to get a closer look.
[Stealth Lv 2 activated.]
My scales seemed to melt into the shadows as I slithered closer, using Stealth to keep my movements hidden. The Horned Beast was slow, its heavy body moving methodically through the trees, crushing branches underfoot with each step.
'I bet that thing could plow through a village if it wanted to.'
I waited, watching, learning. Its Charge skill would be deadly if it spotted me, but the key was its Thick Hide—that would be the challenge.
After a few minutes of observation, I knew I wasn't going to risk it. Not today. But this information would be useful. I slithered back, my body moving silently through the undergrowth.
'Someday, I'll be the one hunting beasts like that.'
For now, I needed something a little more manageable—something that wouldn't flatten me if I made a mistake. I moved through the forest, letting my senses guide me.
That's when I felt it—a presence, weaker than the Horned Beast.
[Status Inspection Lv 2 activated.]
[Clawed Badger (Lv 8) detected.]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Burrow Lv 2]
– [Claw Strike Lv 3]
[Status: Alert]
'A badger with claws that can tear through the earth and prey. Sounds like a decent warm-up.'
The Clawed Badger was sniffing the air, digging into the ground with its powerful claws. It hadn't noticed me yet. This was my chance to strike first.
I positioned myself under the roots of a tree, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
[Stealth Lv 2 activated.]
I moved in closer, silently slithering through the brush until I was just a few feet away. The badger continued to dig, unaware of my presence. It was now or never.
[Bite Lv 5 activated.]
[Venom Lv 5 activated.]
My fangs sank into the badger's side, and it let out a startled growl, thrashing wildly as it tried to fight back. But my Venom was already starting to work, slowing its movements. The badger swung at me with its powerful claws, but I activated Harden, feeling my scales tighten and absorb the impact.
[Harden Lv 1 activated.]
The badger's claws hit me, but instead of piercing through, they slid off my hardened scales. I wasn't invincible, but I could take a few more hits like that.
'Nice. This skill really does work.'
The badger's strength was fading, my venom working its way through its body. It tried to dig itself into the ground with its Burrow skill, but it was too weak to escape.
With one final bite, I finished it off, sinking my fangs deeper and injecting the last of my venom.
[You have defeated Clawed Badger (Lv 8).]
[You have gained 70 XP.]
[Hunger decreased by 15%.]
I took a moment to catch my breath, watching as the badger's body went limp. It had put up a decent fight, but it wasn't enough to take me down.
Now came the fun part—Devour. I began consuming the badger, my body tingling as I absorbed its essence. This time, I was hoping for something useful.
[Devour Lv 1 activated.]
[You have gained the skill: Burrow Lv 1.]
'Burrow? Oh, this is going to be fun.'
[Burrow Lv 1]
Description: Allows you to quickly dig through soft ground, creating tunnels for ambushes or escape. The higher the skill level, the faster and more efficiently you can dig.
The idea of using Burrow to ambush my prey brought a grin to my face—at least as much as a snake can grin. This skill would open up a whole new range of possibilities. I could hide beneath the ground and wait for the perfect moment to strike, or escape dangerous situations when I was outmatched.
'I might not have claws, but digging? Now that's useful.'
I flicked my tongue, satisfied with the outcome of the fight. I hadn't gotten some flashy attack skill, but Burrow was more strategic—it suited me.
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]
– [Harden Lv 1]
– [Burrow Lv 1]
[Traits:]
– [Cold-Blooded]
– [Predator's Intuition]
– [Enhanced Sensory (Advanced)]
– [Enhanced Physical Strength (Basic)]
[Status: Satisfied]
[Hunger: 0%]
With my new skill in tow, I slithered away, eager to find something else to test it on. This forest was full of creatures, full of challenges, but I was getting stronger with every battle.
'Who knows? Maybe next time I'll dig my way to a victory.'
With a satisfied hiss, I vanished into the shadows once again.