Calradia Continent, Vikia Kingdom, Jiwadin Province, Rhine County, Sunset Fortress.
On the snowy plains, a red-haired young man with a muscular build and broad shoulders, wearing a fur coat and leather boots, walked slowly, making a crisp "creak" sound.
He had a medieval European knight's longsword hanging from his waist, a longbow in his left hand, and an arrow in his right hand. His eyes carefully scanned his surroundings, confirming there was no danger before quickly moving forward.
After walking about fifty meters, he stopped. There, a giant white rabbit with blood-red eyes lay twitching and shaking in a pool of blood, an arrow piercing its neck, pinning it to the snow.
"Chased for four days, finally caught you."
The young man's name was Li Ge'an. Three months ago, he transmigrated from a world called Blue Star, with the same name but a different surname. He became the son of the Baron of Sunset Fortress, named Ge'an Stark.
To kill this rabbit, he had been lying in ambush for days, and today, he finally succeeded, showing a pleased expression on his face.
"Show data."
Ge'an bent slightly, planting his sword in the snow. He frowned as he looked at the bloodstains on the ground, then single-handedly lifted the 50-pound rabbit.
"Swift Rabbit, first-tier bloodline creature, timid and cautious, good at disguise, has sharp danger-preemption ability, though it will bite when provoked."
Then, a mechanical electronic voice echoed in his mind.
This system had no name. It could detect, perceive, and display the attributes and characteristics of certain creatures, automatically storing the information in the host's mind, making it impossible to forget.
Over the past few months, Ge'an's mind had stored data on over 300 species of plants and animals.
He had named it "007."
This was the most powerful creature he had captured so far, already possessing a first-tier bloodline.
Ge'an smiled slightly, pulling out a glass bottle from his pack, and accurately stabbed the rabbit's carotid artery with his longsword.
Ssshh—
Blood spurted out, and Ge'an positioned the bottle's mouth to catch the blood from the wound, filling it to the brim before capping it. He then grabbed the rabbit's long ears and slowly walked back to the castle.
Tonight, he could have rabbit meat. Unfortunately, the cooking methods in this world were extremely simple, or else he could have enjoyed some delicious spicy rabbit meat. Ge'an shook his head slightly in regret.
...
"Master, you're back."
After Ge'an entered the castle and removed his fur coat, a middle-aged butler with silver hair approached.
The castle's steward—Narl, a senior knight over forty who was still unmarried, had once promised Ge'an's mother to care for her son. As a result, he gave up the chance to fight alongside the Baron and chose to stay in the castle, watching over Ge'an.
"This is...?"
"Swift Rabbit?"
Narl's eyelid twitched, his eyes showing confusion as he exclaimed.
Ge'an smiled and nodded, handing him the rabbit:
"Uncle Narl, tonight we'll try Swift Rabbit meat."
The confusion in Narl's eyes faded, replaced by shock as he numbly took the rabbit and whispered:
"These things are very cunning and hard to catch."
The Swift Rabbit was unique to this region of Vikia, living in the snow year-round. They were nocturnal, feeding on crops, and the locals despised them. However, these small creatures had exceptional insight and the ability to predict danger, making them difficult to capture. Narl remembered trying three times to catch one and failing.
Has the young master's archery improved so much?
Narl was both shocked and pleased, carrying the rabbit toward the kitchen.
Tonight, there would be an extra meal. He smiled faintly at the thought.
"Narl, senior knight."
"Strength: 3.1, Agility: 3.5, Mental: 0.4."
"Sword skill: Spiral Slash."
"Status: Injured."
Ge'an accessed Narl's data and then looked at his own, stroking his chin and muttering: Based on this, I should be a senior knight's attendant now.
In ten days, the knighting ceremony will take place. I hope I can be promoted to a knight.
In this era, unless you're a noble, anyone who isn't a knight has almost no future.
And I'm just the son of a small baron with two older brothers ahead of me, so I might not inherit the title.
The only way to change my fate is to be promoted to knight.
Fortunately, I have the system, so I'm not too worried.
As Ge'an crossed the castle hall on his way to his room, he saw his father and a familiar face.
"Hi, Ge'an."
A middle-aged knight dressed in black leather armor with golden curly hair and a rapier at his waist greeted him enthusiastically.
It was Lian, his father's companion, a senior knight and the lord of Graystone Fortress.
"Lian, senior knight. Strength: 2.8, Agility: 4, Mental: 0.5."
Beside him was a burly, bearded man with blue eyes showing intelligence and spiky brown hair, full of energy. He was the lord of Sunset Fortress, Baron Marion Stark.
"Marion, senior knight. Strength: 4, Agility: 2.9, Mental: 0.3."
When the Baron saw Ge'an, his brow furrowed, and his expression grew cold, subtly showing some disdain.
Ge'an nodded slowly and greeted them with a smile:
"Father, Uncle Lian."
Lian chuckled, his sea-green eyes blinking:
"In ten days, it's the knighting ceremony. Are you ready, Ge'an?"
"I'm ready, Uncle Lian."
Ge'an nodded.
Baron Marion's expression remained unchanged. After a long pause, just as Ge'an was about to leave the hall, he suddenly spoke coldly:
"Things are unstable outside. Don't go out too much."
Ge'an was startled, suppressing his surprise, and nodded:
"Yes, Father."
He then passed through the corridor and entered his room.
Taking the glass bottle filled with blood from his pocket, Ge'an began thinking about what his father had just said.
If he wasn't mistaken, there might be a war coming to Jiwadin.
This border city between the Vikia Kingdom and the Swadia Empire had been in constant conflict, and its people had always lived in turmoil.
Only by growing stronger could one survive.
Thinking this, Ge'an's desire to grow stronger grew even more intense.
Opening the bottle, Ge'an placed his right palm downward, gently over the bottle's mouth, closing his eyes, and taking a deep breath, silently telling himself: I can't fail this time.
"007, extract bloodline."
Ge'an suddenly opened his eyes and whispered, his face serious, his gaze filled with the determination of a gambler's last desperate bet.
"Current extraction level: 1; Mana requirement: 0; Success rate: 0.1%."
"Extraction starting…"