Description: The Velociraptor, or simply "Raptor," is a medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur renowned for its deadly speed, intelligence, and pack tactics. Unlike its real-world counterpart, which is relatively small, the Raptors in this world are far larger, standing nearly 6 feet tall at the shoulder and stretching over 15 feet in length from snout to tail.
Trait: "Agility" - Improves host's ability to dodge or react quickly in combat.
Special Trait: "Pack Instinct" - Boosts the host's coordination and awareness when fighting as part of a group.
Obtentions Chances: "Agility" = 10%, "Pack Instinct" = 2%
Taming Condition (Level 12): Dominance – To tame a Raptor, the host must defeat it in single combat without assistance, proving themselves as the alpha.
XP Reward: 500 (single) or 1,200 (if defeating an alpha leading a pack).
Kael cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on his spear. "Great. Just what we needed." If there were 2 Erza, this thing wouldn't be too much of a problem all by itself. But the problem is, he's relatively weak. Should he consider himself lucky that it's alone and not with a pack?
He was too scared, unlike a dodo or a parasaur which are rather easy animals to kill, this shit is smarter than that but above all more ferocious. On top of that, he got used to dinosaurs like Dodos and Parasaurs, even at first he was afraid of them. But what about a Raptor that just wants to eat his ass?
He's not like those MCs who are OP from the beginning who are afraid of nothing and who collect all the girls, no. Currently, he's just a child who doesn't even have the strength to take down a simple parasaur alone in a world of magic where there are creators 1000 times stronger. And now, facing this raptor? We're damn cooked.
Erza didn't respond, her focus entirely on the raptor. Her posture was calm, but Kael could see the subtle tension and the slight trembling in her muscles, the way her fingers flexed around her sword's hilt.
Kael's breath hitched at the raptor's cry, a guttural sound that reverberated through the dense forest like a death knell. His spear felt heavier in his hands, as if his body knew he wasn't ready for this fight.
The raptor's piercing yellow eyes were locked on them, its tail swaying side to side as if calculating the best angle to attack. It didn't charge immediately, it was studying them like a crazy scientist.
"Stay behind me," Kael whispered to Erza, his voice wavering despite his attempt to sound resolute. As he said, the older ones must protect the younger ones.... Bullshits! He trembles with fear even he is shocked by this feeling. Erza seemed calmer than him, what a shame...
Erza didn't move. Her sword was already in her hand, glinting in the fading sunlight. "I'm not some helpless child. If we're to survive this, we fight together."
Kael bit back a retort. He knew she was right, but the image of Erza falling to that creature twisted his stomach into knots. If she dies, he dies too, it just makes sense.
"Alright," he said, swallowing his fear. "Just don't do anything stupid."
The raptor didn't give them time to strategize further. With a guttural snarl, it lunged forward, covering the ground between them in a blink. Kael barely had time to react as it swiped at him with its sickle-like claw.
"Damn it!" he yelped, diving to the side. The creature missed him by inches, but the force of its movement sent him tumbling into the dirt.
Erza was quicker. She stepped into the raptor's path, her sword slicing through the air in a precise arc. The blade scraped against the creature's scales, leaving a shallow gash along its side. The raptor hissed in pain but didn't retreat. Instead, it twisted with terrifying agility, its tail whipping toward her.
Erza jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike, her expression grim but focused. "It's fast," she muttered, repositioning herself.
Kael scrambled to his feet, his spear shaking in his grip. "No kidding!" He darted toward the raptor's blind side, thrusting his weapon toward its flank.
The raptor reacted instantly, spinning on its hind legs to face him. Its jaws snapped shut around the shaft of his spear, splintering the wood with ease. Kael stumbled back, now holding nothing but the broken end of his weapon.
"Fantastic," he muttered, glancing at Erza. "Any bright ideas?"
"Stay alive," she shot back, her eyes never leaving the raptor.
The creature charged again, this time targeting Erza. She met its advance head-on, her blade a blur of steel as she parried its claws and fangs. Despite her skill, the raptor's sheer ferocity began to overwhelm her.
Kael watched in horror as the creature's talons swiped dangerously close to her chest. She sidestepped, but the movement left her off-balance. The raptor seized the opening, lunging forward with its jaws wide open.
Time seemed to slow as Kael saw what was about to happen. Without thinking, he threw himself between Erza and the raptor.
"Get back!" he shouted, raising his arm in a desperate attempt to block the attack.
The raptor's jaws clamped down on his forearm with bone-crushing force. Pain exploded through his body as he screamed, the weight of the creature nearly driving him to the ground.
"Kael!" Erza's voice was sharp, panicked.
Gritting his teeth, Kael lashed out with his free hand, driving the broken end of his spear into the raptor's eye. The creature screeched in agony, releasing his arm as it thrashed wildly. Blood spattered onto the ground as it staggered back, temporarily blinded on one side.
Kael fell to his knees, clutching his mangled arm. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining the dirt beneath him. "Fuck! That hurts!" Kael's arm had a large bite mark all the way down, a little more and he would probably get his arm torn off. Although it wasn't any better right now, there is just a red liquid running down his arm.
Erza didn't waste the opportunity. With a fierce cry, she surged forward, her sword slicing clean through the raptor's neck. The creature's head hit the ground with a sickening thud, its body collapsing moments later.
XP GAINED: 500
{NEW} "Agility" Trait obtained !
Level Up ! Attribute your stats points !
For a moment, the forest was silent, save for Kael's ragged breathing.
Erza dropped her sword and rushed to his side. "Kael, let me see."
He tried to wave her off but didn't have the strength. "It's… fine," he rasped, though the pain was excruciating.
"Idiot," she muttered, pulling his hand away to inspect the wound. His arm was a mess of torn flesh and deep punctures. "You could've been killed."
Kael managed a weak smile. "Yeah, well… you're welcome."
Erza glared at him, but her expression softened. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper.
He blinked, caught off guard. "Did… did Erza just thank me?"
"Don't push your luck," she said, her tone sharp but not unkind.
As she tore a strip from her tunic to bind his wound, Kael's system interface flashed before his eyes.
---
Kael's System Interface
Level: 9
HP: 120%
Magic: 100%
Energy: 105%
Strength: 110%
Speed: 102%
Traits Obtained: 1 (Feather – Dodo, Agility - Velociraptor)
Tamed Creatures: 1 (Dodo - Bobo)
Stats Points Available: 1
---
Kael groaned, focusing on the notification as he struggled to ignore the pain. "Alright, system… strength it is," he muttered.
He put a point to his strength when he reached level 8, for him that's all that matters right now. Without strength, he gets destroyed by dinosaurs. Fuck hp and energy for now, what's the point of being more resistant if I'm going to get killed right after?
---
Strength: 115%
---
As Erza finished tying off the makeshift bandage, Kael's vision blurred as the time passes, exhaustion taking hold.
"You saved me," Erza said softly, her hand resting briefly on his shoulder. "I won't forget that."
Kael chuckled weakly. "You better not. That hurt like hell."
Before either of them could say more, a distant roar echoed through the forest, deeper and more menacing than the raptor's cry.
Kael's eyes widened. "Please tell me that's just my imagination."
Erza's grip tightened on her sword. "We need to move. Now."
Kael tried to stand, his legs trembling beneath him, but his body refused to cooperate. "I don't think I can move," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Erza's expression hardened. "You don't have a choice."
Kael laughed weakly. "I think my body disagrees... just give me a..." His words faltered, his vision darkening as his body finally gave out. He collapsed onto the forest floor, the world slipping away into black.
---
Kael stirred, groaning as he slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, everything was a blur, sounds were muffled, and his head throbbed like he'd been hit by a cart. The faint sound of rustling leaves and distant birdsong reached his ears, and the earthy scent of the forest filled his nose.
A cheerful chirp made Kael jolt upright, or at least, try to. His arm screamed in protest, and he fell back with a grunt of pain.
Standing, or rather, hopping, beside him was Bobo, his ever-loyal dodo, staring down at him with a tilt of its head. It nudged his side with its beak, its expression oddly smug for a bird.
Kael blinked, his memories flooding back. The raptor. The fight. Erza. His arm. "Oh... crap," he muttered, looking down at the makeshift bandage wrapped around his arm.
Bobo let out a series of happy clucks, as if celebrating his survival.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm alive. Thanks for the enthusiasm," Kael muttered, sitting up more carefully this time. His muscles protested, but he managed. He glanced around, noticing they were in a small clearing. Erza was nowhere to be seen. "Where's..."
"She's off scouting," a familiar voice interrupted.
Kael turned his head, spotting Erza emerging from the trees. She looked a little worse for wear, her tunic was torn, her face smudged with dirt, but her sword was sheathed at her side, and she carried a bundle of herbs in her hand.
"You've been out for a few hours," she said, kneeling beside him. "Figured you'd wake up sooner or later."
Kael groaned, leaning back against a tree. "Hours? Feels like I've been out for days."
"You might've been if Bobo hadn't decided to peck your face," Erza said, a small smirk playing at her lips.
Kael shot a glare at the dodo, who puffed up proudly. "Traitor," he muttered.
Erza handed him a small waterskin. "Drink. You lost a lot of blood."
Kael took it gratefully, gulping down the cool water. As he drank, his system interface flickered to life, the notifications flashing in his vision once more.
---
Kael's System Interface
Level: 9 (0/720)
HP: 120%
Magic: 100%
Energy: 105%
Strength: 115%
Speed: 102%
Traits Obtained: 1 (Feather – Dodo, Agility - Velociraptor)
Tamed Creatures: 1 (Dodo - Bobo)
---
He got a skill, he'll look into it later. With an arm like that, he won't last long if he decides to train. He was determined to become at least strong enough to kill a raptor, he's pretty traumatized now.
Kael sighed, closing the interface for now. He had other things to focus on. "So... what happened after I blacked out?"
Erza settled beside him, setting down the herbs she'd gathered. "I dragged you out of the clearing. Managed to patch you up, but I'm no healer." She gestured to his arm. "You're lucky the raptor didn't take the whole thing off."
"Yeah, I'm starting to think luck's not on my side today," Kael muttered, flexing his fingers experimentally. Pain flared up his arm, but at least he could move it.
Erza's expression softened slightly. "You did save my life. I already said it earlier, but… thank you."
Kael blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice. He scratched the back of his head with his good hand. "Uh… yeah, no problem. Just… don't expect it to be a habit."
Erza chuckled, shaking her head. "I'll try not to."
Bobo, seemingly tired of being ignored, hopped onto Kael's lap and squawked loudly.
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Kael laughed, wincing as the movement jostled his injured arm. "You're the real hero here, Bobo."
The dodo clucked in agreement, looking incredibly pleased with itself.
Erza rolled her eyes but smiled. "Come on. We should eat something before we move. There's no telling what else might be out there."
Kael nodded, leaning back against the tree. As much as he wanted to rest, he knew she was right the forest wasn't safe, but for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace, with Bobo's warmth on his lap and Erza's quiet presence beside him.
They had survived the raptor. That was enough for now.