The Moonlit Hollow was quiet again, the fresh snowfall covering the traces of the recent battle. Aria stretched her sore muscles beneath her rocky shelter, the faint ache from her fight with the wolves lingering like an unwelcome guest.
"I won," she thought, her sharp blue eyes scanning the hollow. "That should be the part I focus on. Not the fact that every day in this place feels like an audition for Survive or Die."
The system chimed softly, dragging her from her thoughts.
"Territory progress: 35% secured. Threat level: Minimal."
Her ears flicked. "Minimal, huh? Sure. Just like falling off a cliff is a minor inconvenience."
Her stomach growled, interrupting her sarcasm.
"Right," she muttered, pushing herself up. "Food first. Sarcastic internal monologues later."
---
Aria padded toward the stream, her sharp eyes scanning the snow for signs of prey. The hollow felt eerily still, as if the Wildlands themselves were taking a breath.
The scent of a Frost Hare caught her attention, and she crouched low, her claws flexing against the icy ground.
"Another hare?" she thought, her tail flicking. "Not exactly a gourmet feast, but at least it won't try to bite me."
She activated Lunar Veil, her shimmering form blending seamlessly into the shadows. Moving silently, she crept closer to the unsuspecting hare.
The hunt was swift and precise, her claws striking true. As she devoured her meal, the system chimed again.
"Quest Progress: Sustenance Secured +15%. Current total: 50%."
Aria sat back, licking her paws clean.
"Halfway to a secure territory," she thought, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "Assuming no more uninvited guests show up, I might actually get there."
---
She spent the next few hours patrolling the hollow, her sharp senses on high alert. The battle with the wolves had shaken her more than she wanted to admit, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching her.
"Paranoia," she muttered, sniffing the air. "It's not watching if there's nothing there."
But the tension in her chest wouldn't go away.
The Wildlands weren't just dangerous—they were relentless. Every beast was fighting for survival, and even the strongest predators could be taken down by the wrong opponent.
"Note to self," she thought, her claws scraping against the ground. "Never get too comfortable. Comfort equals death out here."
The system chimed softly, as if agreeing.
"Recommendation: Begin skill integration training. Focus on synergizing Lunar Veil and Spirit Step for optimized combat and evasion."
Aria let out a low growl. "Why do you always sound like a personal trainer who secretly hates me?"
Still, the system had a point. She had the tools to survive, but she needed to learn how to use them effectively.
---
She chose a cluster of rocks near the edge of the hollow as her training ground. Activating Lunar Veil, she darted between the shadows, her movements silent and precise.
The shimmering cloak of moonlight felt more natural now, her body adjusting to the subtle shifts in energy.
"Lunar Veil: 35% Progress."
Next, she focused on Spirit Step. Phasing through the rocks required intense concentration, the energy within her humming like a live wire.
Her first few attempts left her panting, her stamina draining faster than she expected.
"Spirit Step: 25% Progress."
"Okay," she muttered, collapsing onto the snow. "Note to self: don't phase through things on an empty stomach. Or at all, if you can help it."
---
Her training was interrupted by a faint rustling sound, her sharp ears perking up. She crouched low, her sharp blue eyes scanning the area.
The noise came from the bushes near the stream, too subtle to be a predator but persistent enough to catch her attention.
Aria moved cautiously, her body blending into the shadows as she crept closer.
What she saw made her pause.
A small, fluffy creature with bright blue fur and wide, curious eyes peeked out from the bushes. It was barely half her size, its round ears twitching nervously as it sniffed the air.
"Unknown entity detected: Frost Mink. Threat level: None."
Aria blinked, her claws retracting. "A mink? What's it doing here?"
The mink let out a soft squeak, its tiny body quivering as it spotted her.
"Relax," Aria muttered, crouching lower. "I'm not going to eat you. Probably."
The mink didn't move, its bright blue eyes locked onto her.
"What's wrong with it?" she thought, tilting her head. "Is it lost? Hurt? Or just incredibly bad at survival?"
She inched closer, her movements slow and non-threatening. The mink let out another squeak, its small paws trembling as it backed into the bushes.
"Calm down," Aria muttered. "I'm not going to—"
The bushes rustled again, and a much larger shape emerged.
Aria's fur bristled as a massive shadow loomed over the tiny mink.
---
The creature was enormous, its black fur shimmering faintly in the pale light. Sharp claws scraped against the snow as it stepped forward, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto her.
"Hostile detected: Abyssal Bear (Beast Awakening Stage, Advanced Phase). Threat level: Extreme."
Aria's heart sank.
"An advanced phase beast?" she thought, panic rising. "What is it doing here? Did I step on some cosmic bad luck trap?"
The bear let out a low growl, its massive form blocking her view of the mink.
Her sharp blue eyes darted between the bear and the bushes, her mind racing.
"Okay, options," she thought. "Run? Probably smart. Fight? Definitely stupid. Save the mink? Even stupider."
The bear's growl grew louder, its glowing eyes narrowing as it crouched.
"Yep," Aria thought, her claws flexing. "I'm about to do something really, really stupid."
---
She activated Lunar Veil, her shimmering form blending into the shadows as she darted toward the mink. The bear roared, its massive paw swiping at her, but she phased through the attack with Spirit Step.
"Spirit Step: 30% Progress."
She reappeared behind the bear, her claws striking its flank with all the force she could muster. The creature snarled, turning to face her, its massive jaws snapping inches from her tail.
"Okay, maybe this was a bad idea," she thought, dodging another attack.
The mink let out a terrified squeak, darting out of the bushes and scrambling toward the rocks.
"Good," Aria thought, her heart pounding. "At least one of us is smart enough to run."
---
The bear lunged again, its claws raking through the snow as Aria twisted out of its reach. She activated Lunar Veil once more, darting around the massive predator with practiced precision.
Her strikes were quick and deliberate, targeting the bear's legs and flanks. The creature snarled, its movements growing sluggish as she wore it down.
"Lunar Veil: 40% Progress."
Finally, the bear let out a frustrated roar, its massive body turning and lumbering away into the snow.
Aria collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through her.
"Quest Complete: Defend the Helpless. +30 EXP earned. Minor Skill Upgrade: Spirit Step 35% Progress."
---
The mink peeked out from behind the rocks, its wide blue eyes filled with cautious curiosity.
"You're welcome," Aria muttered, her voice dry. "Now get out of here before something else tries to eat you."
The mink let out a soft squeak, its small paws scurrying toward the stream.
As the tiny creature disappeared into the distance, Aria let out a shaky breath.
"Never again," she muttered, curling up beneath the rocks. "No more heroic rescues. I'm not cut out for this."
But as she drifted off to sleep, a faint smile tugged at her lips.
Maybe, just maybe, she was.