Aria stretched lazily under the pale morning light, her silvery fur shimmering faintly. The Moonlit Hollow was quiet, its narrow canyon walls keeping the bitter wind at bay. For the first time since her reincarnation, she felt something dangerously close to peace.
"Well, look at me," she thought, her tail flicking smugly. "A mighty beast, a proud homeowner, and not freezing my tail off for once. Who knew I was destined for such greatness?"
The system chimed in, breaking her moment of self-congratulation.
"Territory progress: 10% secured. Defend against external threats to maintain control."
Her ears twitched. "Right, because it's not enough to just survive in this deathtrap of a world. I also have to deal with trespassers. Thanks, system. You're really out here making my life easier."
She rolled onto her paws, stretching out her body. There was no point in lingering. If she wanted to secure the territory, she needed to hunt, scout, and make it clear to any would-be intruders that the Moonlit Hollow was off-limits.
---
Her sharp blue eyes scanned the canyon as she moved, her claws flexing instinctively against the snow. The stream that ran through the hollow glittered faintly in the light, a small blessing in an otherwise barren land.
"Alright," she thought. "Step one: breakfast. Step two: make sure no one's squatting in my territory. Step three: avoid death. Easy enough."
The scent of prey caught her attention, and she crouched low, her body moving with practiced precision. Her Lunar Veil shimmered faintly as she activated the skill, her form blending seamlessly with the shadows.
The source of the scent came into view—a cluster of small, plump Frost Hares grazing near the stream.
"Perfect," she thought, her muscles coiling. "And here I was, worried I'd have to skip breakfast. Thanks for volunteering, guys."
---
The hunt was swift. Aria's claws flashed in the morning light, her movements sharp and efficient. Within moments, the largest of the hares lay limp in her jaws.
"Quest Progress: Territory Secured: +5%."
She blinked. "Seriously? I take down a rabbit, and that counts toward territory control? Guess I should've declared myself queen of the Wildlands weeks ago."
---
Her meal finished, Aria began exploring the hollow's edges, marking boundaries and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. The process was tedious but necessary. This was her space now, and she wasn't about to let anyone—or anything—take it from her.
"New Quest: Eliminate Intruders."
Objective: Detect and neutralize trespassers within the Moonlit Hollow.
Reward: +20 EXP, Minor Skill Upgrade.
Aria's fur bristled as the system's announcement echoed in her mind. "Intruders? Seriously? I've been here for, what, a day? Do I have a neon sign that says 'Free Real Estate' hanging outside the canyon?"
She let out a low growl, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. It didn't take long to catch the scent—faint but unmistakable, the musky tang of predators.
"Great," she muttered. "Guess it's eviction notice time."
---
The scent grew stronger as she followed it, her body moving with calculated precision. Her enhanced perception picked up the faint sound of growls and shuffling paws.
She crept forward, activating Lunar Veil as she approached a cluster of rocks near the hollow's edge. Peering around the stones, she spotted the intruders: two mangy-looking wolves prowling near the stream.
"Predators detected: Dire Wolves (Beast Awakening Stage, Initial Phase). Threat level: Moderate."
Her fur bristled. "Wolves. Why is it always wolves? Can't it be something less bitey, like, I don't know, a squirrel uprising?"
The wolves didn't seem to notice her yet, their attention focused on the stream. One of them sniffed the air, its glowing yellow eyes narrowing.
"They're sizing up my home," Aria realized, her tail lashing. "Not on my watch."
---
She considered her options. Taking on two wolves at once wasn't ideal, but this was her territory now. If she didn't fight, they'd see her as weak—and that was a mistake she couldn't afford.
Activating Lunar Veil, she moved silently, circling the wolves until she was directly behind them. Her heart pounded as she prepared to strike.
"Alright," she thought, her claws flexing. "Let's do this."
She lunged, her claws raking across the first wolf's flank. It let out a startled yelp, spinning to face her. The second wolf growled, its fangs bared as it advanced.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Big bad wolves. Scary stuff," she thought dryly. "Come and get me."
---
The fight was chaotic. The wolves worked in tandem, their attacks swift and coordinated. Aria's agility gave her an edge, allowing her to dodge their strikes with ease, but she knew she couldn't keep it up forever.
The first wolf lunged, its jaws snapping at her tail. She twisted mid-air, her claws slashing across its snout.
"Lunar Veil: 15% Progress."
The second wolf charged, its massive paws kicking up snow as it barreled toward her. Aria activated Spirit Step, her body dissolving into silvery light for a brief moment. The wolf's jaws closed on empty air as she reappeared behind it, her claws striking its hind leg.
"Spirit Step: 10% Progress."
---
Despite her speed, the wolves were relentless. They circled her, their growls reverberating through the hollow. Her breaths came in short gasps, her muscles aching from the effort.
"Okay, maybe I underestimated this a little," she thought, dodging another attack.
The first wolf lunged again, and this time, she countered. Her claws sank into its shoulder, and she bit down hard, tearing through fur and flesh. The wolf yelped, collapsing onto the snow.
The second wolf snarled, its yellow eyes blazing with fury.
"You want some too?" she growled, baring her teeth. "Bring it."
---
The second wolf hesitated, its ears flattening. It glanced at its injured companion, then back at Aria.
Finally, it let out a low growl and turned, dragging the injured wolf with it as it limped away.
Aria stood still, her chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through her.
"Quest Complete. +20 EXP earned. Minor Skill Upgrade: Survival Instinct I → Survival Instinct II."
She let out a shaky breath, her body trembling from the effort.
"Yeah, that's right," she thought, watching the wolves disappear into the distance. "Tell your friends. The Moonlit Hollow is off-limits."
---
"System," she muttered, collapsing onto the snow. "Show me my updated stats before I pass out."
The panel flickered into view.
---
[Status Panel]
Level: 5 (EXP: 35/150)
Cultivation Realm: Beast Awakening Stage (Initial Phase)
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 17
Perception: 15
Endurance: 12
Spirit: 13
Skills:
Survival Instinct II: Enhanced awareness of danger; reaction speed improved during ambushes.
---
Aria's sharp blue eyes scanned the panel, her tail flicking.
"Strength finally hit double digits," she thought. "I'm basically a tank now. Okay, maybe a tank with claws. A claw tank."
She let out a soft huff, curling up beneath the rocks. Her body ached, but her territory was safe.
For now.