The first thing Aria felt was the cold. It wasn't the biting, suffocating chill of drowning, but a pervasive, bone-deep frost that pressed against her from all sides. She tried to move, but her limbs felt strange—weak, uncoordinated, and unnaturally small. Panic flickered in her chest as she struggled to open her eyes.
The world around her was dim, bathed in shades of gray and white. She could barely make out jagged stone walls enclosing a tiny cave. Snow piled at the entrance, the faint light of dawn filtering through.
Where am I? The thought was sharp, disjointed. She tried to speak, but what came out was a pitiful, high-pitched squeak.
Confusion coursed through her as she glanced down at herself. Her body was covered in soft white fur, patterned with faint gray rosettes. She lifted one trembling limb—a paw—and stared at the small, clawed appendage.
This wasn't her body.
Her heart raced, but she didn't have the strength to panic properly. A low whimper escaped her, echoing faintly in the confined space. Her mind scrambled for answers, fragments of her last moments surfacing: the pond, the cold water, and the blinding light.
Then the voice.
The voice that had spoken to her in the void, cold and mechanical.
Before she could dwell further, a familiar monotone voice rang out, startling her.
"System online. Initializing host parameters."
Aria froze. The voice was the same one she'd heard before she lost consciousness, emotionless and precise.
"Who's there?" she whispered instinctively, though her voice came out as an incoherent squeak.
"Welcome, Host. This is the Beast System, designed to assist you in your new life and guide your evolution."
Beast System? New life? The words echoed in her mind, but they made no sense. Was this some kind of hallucination?
"State your name," the system instructed.
"My name?" Aria rasped in her thoughts. "Aria Lin. What is this? What's happening to me?"
"Identity confirmed: Aria Lin," the system replied. "You have been reincarnated as a newborn snow leopard. Current location: Frozen Wildlands. Current status: Critical. Survival probability: 12%."
The words hit her like a slap. Reincarnated? Snow leopard? Survival probability?
"What do you mean, reincarnated?" she demanded, her thoughts frantic. "Why am I... like this?"
"The circumstances of your reincarnation are classified. My role is to assist your survival and evolution. Immediate action is required to improve your condition."
Before she could protest further, a new message flashed through her mind, accompanied by a faint chime.
[Quest Alert: Survive Your First Day]
Objective: Locate warmth, secure sustenance, and avoid predators.
Rewards: +10 EXP, Passive Skill Unlock: Cold Resistance I.
Aria stared blankly into the dim cave, her paws trembling beneath her. Her thoughts spun, but she forced herself to focus on the immediate issue: survival. The system wasn't going to give her answers, and panicking wouldn't change her situation.
The icy wind howled outside the cave, sending a shiver down her tiny body. Her fur offered some protection, but the cold still bit through, making her limbs feel heavy and sluggish.
"If I'm a snow leopard," she muttered inwardly, "shouldn't I be better at handling the cold?"
"You are a newborn cub with undeveloped physiology," the system replied. "Skill acquisition will improve your resilience."
Aria let out a low, frustrated growl. She didn't need a lecture; she needed warmth and food.
Her gaze darted to the cave entrance. The outside world looked bleak and uninviting, but staying in the cave wasn't an option. She had to move.
With considerable effort, Aria pushed herself to her paws. Her legs wobbled beneath her, weak and unsteady, but she managed a few tentative steps. The sensation of walking on four legs was alien, but her instincts seemed to guide her.
Step by step, she made her way toward the mouth of the cave. The frigid wind hit her like a wall, stealing her breath and making her pause.
"Host vitals dropping," the system warned. "Locate shelter immediately."
"I know!" Aria snapped in her mind, though it came out as a pitiful squeak.
She pushed forward, her tiny body trembling with the effort. The snow was deep, and her small frame sank with every step. Her fur provided some camouflage, blending into the white expanse, but it did little to ease her desperation.
A faint scent reached her nose, carried by the wind. It was earthy and sharp, stirring something deep within her—hunger.
"Prey detected nearby," the system informed her. "Tracking is recommended."
Aria's ears twitched, and she hesitated. Her human mind recoiled at the idea of hunting, but the gnawing hunger in her stomach was impossible to ignore.
"Fine," she muttered inwardly, though her resolve wavered.
She lowered herself instinctively, her body moving on autopilot as she crept toward the source of the scent. Her small paws sank soundlessly into the snow, her muscles coiled with tension. It was a strange sensation—her human mind and animal instincts working in tandem.
The scent grew stronger, and she spotted movement ahead. A tiny rodent scurried across the snow, its brown fur stark against the white landscape.
Her heart pounded as she stalked closer, her body trembling with a mix of anticipation and fear. The rodent paused, its nose twitching, and for a moment, Aria froze.
Then, without thinking, she pounced.
Her small claws raked through the snow, missing her target by inches. The rodent darted away, disappearing into a burrow, and Aria landed clumsily in the snow.
"Prey evaded," the system stated flatly.
Aria groaned, her stomach twisting with hunger. "Thanks for the update," she muttered sarcastically.
A chime rang in her mind, and a new message appeared.
[Quest Progress: 0%]
Her ears flattened against her head, frustration bubbling in her chest. She didn't have the strength to waste on failure.
Forcing herself back to her paws, she scanned the landscape again. The snow stretched endlessly in every direction, broken only by jagged rocks and sparse patches of withered grass.
A faint rustling sound caught her attention. Her ears swiveled toward the noise, and she crouched instinctively. A tiny bird hopped between the rocks, pecking at the ground.
This time, she moved more carefully, her body low and her paws light. Her tail swayed slightly for balance as she crept closer, each step deliberate and precise.
When she was close enough, she pounced again. Her claws caught feathers, and the bird let out a startled cry, flapping wildly.
For a brief moment, Aria hesitated, her human thoughts clashing with her instincts. The bird struggled in her grasp, its tiny heart beating frantically.
"I have to survive," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.
With a sharp bite, the struggle ended.
Aria sat back, her small body shaking. The taste of blood was foreign and jarring, but the hunger in her stomach overpowered her discomfort. She ate quickly, the warmth of the meal spreading through her body like a small flame.
[Quest Update: 50% Complete]
"That's it?" she muttered. "I'm starving, and you give me fifty percent?"
"Primary objective: Secure warmth. Proceed immediately."
The system's cold tone left no room for argument.
Feeling slightly stronger, Aria resumed her search. Her small frame made traveling difficult, but the bird had given her a much-needed burst of energy.
Eventually, she spotted a cluster of rocks partially covered in snow. They formed a small alcove, shielded from the wind. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than freezing in the open.
She crawled into the space, curling up tightly. The stone walls offered some protection from the elements, and her fur helped trap what little warmth she had left.
[Quest Complete: +10 EXP Earned]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Cold Resistance I]
The system's notification brought a faint sense of relief. Her body still ached, and her exhaustion was overwhelming, but she was alive—for now.
As her eyes grew heavy, the events of the day replayed in her mind. The pond, the voice, the freezing wilderness—none of it felt real. Yet the cold against her fur and the hunger in her belly were impossible to deny.
She was a snow leopard. A newborn cub, alone in a world that seemed determined to kill her.
But she wasn't ready to give up.
Not yet.