The implications of this revelation weighed heavily on him, but the gnawing hunger in his stomach reminded him that survival took precedence over contemplation.
Suddenly, a translucent Status Window, reminiscent of those seen in anime and manga, materialized before his eyes.
[Your Soul has reached Level 1. You have unlocked the passive skill "Status Window" and can now access more information about yourself.]
[Your hatred grows stronger]
[You have absorbed 1 / 10 Souls. You need to absorb 9 more Souls to reach Level 2 and get the Skill "Aura]
Kurogami stared, bewildered, at the unexpected apparition, struggling to comprehend the voice's implications.
Then, another Status Window appeared.
The Status Window displayed a simple prompt:
[Do you want to know more about me?] [YES / NO] Kurogami hesitated, then selected "YES."
[I am your personal assistant. Humans might call me a system. I will inform you about your achievements, skills, levels, and more. Do you have any other questions?] the system explained.
A final Status Window appeared:
[Do you have any other questions?] [YES / NO]
Kurogami hesitated for a moment, then selected "NO."
This was enough information for him. He needed some food and rest first.
Kurogami approached the lifeless rabbit with a newfound determination. He had to eat, to regain some semblance of strength. He needed to skin it, but his hands trembled as he touched the warm, sticky flesh. The voice offered no instructions, only the echo of the creature's pain. He took a deep breath and started to pull at the fur, his bare hands slipping on the slick muscle beneath.
With each failed attempt, the scent of iron grew stronger, mixing with the coppery tang of blood and the earthy odor of the forest. His stomach churned, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.
"Disgusting," he muttered under his breath.
After what felt like an eternity, he managed to strip a small piece of skin away from the rabbit's body. The sight was too much, and he stumbled back, vomit splattering the ground. He knew he had to eat, but the thought of consuming the raw, mutilated flesh was too much.
He threw the remains into the brush, hoping to avoid attracting more predators, and decided to try again in the morning. Maybe he'd find some berries or nuts.
Exhaustion claimed him, and he curled up in the damp leaves, his stomach a hollow ache. He had hoped the night would bring peace, but the sounds of the forest were a cacophony of snaps and growls that kept him on edge.
Each noise was a potential threat, a reminder of the peril that surrounded him. He tried to push the thoughts away, focusing instead on the warmth of his makeshift shelter, the solidity of the ground beneath him. But the voice whispered, "You must be more careful, Kurogami. The forest is unforgiving."
The night passed in a blur of restlessness, punctuated by the occasional snarl or screech from the darkness. When dawn finally broke, he emerged from the tree trunk, his body stiff from the cold and his stomach demanding sustenance.
He stumbled out into the clearing, his eyes adjusting to the dim light, and that's when he heard it: the rhythmic crunch of bones, the wet tearing of flesh. His heart stopped as he saw the creature—a monstrous black bear with teeth and claws that defied nature's design—feasting on the rabbit's corpse. It had found his mess and made a meal of what he hadn't had the stomach to eat.
Frozen in terror, he didn't dare move a muscle.
The creature looked up, its eyes meeting his, and for a moment, time itself seemed to stand still. The bear's jaws were caked with blood, bits of fur and rabbit flesh clinging to the sharp fangs. The sight was so primal, so terrifying, that his mind rebelled against it.
Yet, the voice remained calm, informing him that this was a Class 3 predator, one that could easily end his life. It was a stark lesson in the harsh laws of this new world: waste not, want not. His eyes widened in horror, and he realized that he had made a grave mistake. The rabbit's remains were a beacon to the very monsters he was trying to avoid.
The bear took a step closer, its massive paw thudding on the ground. Kurogami knew he had to act, to do something before he became the creature's next meal. He clutched the bloody branch tightly, his knuckles white. The creature took another step, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
With a roar that seemed to shake the very earth, the bear charged at him, its eyes full of hunger and malice.
Kurogami's instincts kicked in, and he wanted to run away.
He had felt fear before, but this was different. This was pure, unbridled terror that clawed at his soul and told him to flee. But as the black bear lunged forward, something strange happened. A burning emotion, one he hadn't felt in so long, surfaced from the depths of his being: hatred.
It was as if the very core of his being had been ignited, and it filled him with a fiery determination. He didn't know where it came from, but he knew he couldn't give in to it. Not now. Not yet. He had to survive.
But survival was a fleeting concept as the bear's massive paw swiped at him, its claws digging into the flesh of his right arm.