The Bloodwing lunged again, but this time, I was ready. I activated [Camouflage] fully, vanishing into the shadows, and leaped to a higher branch. The creature followed, its glowing wings slicing through the darkness.
A blur. A rush of air. My exoskeleton shivered as the Bloodwing's proboscis whistled past where my head had been moments ago. Too fast—I barely had time to react.
I leaped backward, flaring my wings for balance, but the Bloodwing adjusted instantly. It twisted mid-air and lunged again, its needle-like weapon stabbing forward. I lashed out with my Blade Limbs, but the creature pulled back at the last second, my attack slicing through nothing but air.
I gritted my mandibles, my mind racing. This wasn't like the others. They had been predictable, reacting purely on instinct. But this one?
I activated [Camouflage], the shadows from my forewings wrapping around me, blending me into the night. The Bloodwing hesitated, its wings shifting subtly as it scanned the area. My Compound Vision caught every flicker of movement, every minute adjustment it made as it hovered in place.
Good. This was my chance.
I launched forward in complete silence, aiming to sever its wing joint before it could react.
But the moment my blades came down, the Bloodwing spun in mid-air, dodging by the slimmest of margins.
Then came the counterattack.
A sharp, blinding pain exploded through my side as its proboscis stabbed into my exoskeleton. Not deep, but enough. I recoiled, twisting away as greenish fluid—my own blood—trickled from the wound.
My breathing quickened.
It knew. It predicted my move.
I landed on a nearby branch and crouched low. The wound stung, but I pushed the pain aside. I had to think. I couldn't overpower it. I needed another strategy.
The Bloodwing circled above, its wings vibrating with a deep hum. It was waiting for me to make the next move.
I had underestimated it before. I wouldn't make that mistake again.
I flexed my Blade Limbs, testing their reach. The Bloodwing's main weapon was its proboscis, but that wasn't its only advantage.
Its speed.
That was the real problem. My attacks couldn't land because it was adjusting before I could fully commit.
I needed to force an opening.
I leaped forward suddenly—but not at the Bloodwing. Instead, I aimed for the ground below, crashing into the undergrowth. Leaves scattered as my body pressed low to the earth.
The Bloodwing dived instantly, going for the kill.
Perfect.
The moment it struck, I twisted my entire body sideways, dodging at the last possible second. The Bloodwing's own momentum carried it downward, its proboscis embedding deep into the dirt.
For a split second, it was stuck.
I lunged, both blade limbs arcing down.
The Bloodwing shrieked and thrashed, its wings buzzing wildly as it struggled to free itself. But my first blade found its target—tearing through the joint of its right wing.
A direct hit.
The creature screeched in agony, yanking itself free with a final desperate burst of strength. But now it was grounded.
Now I had the advantage.
The Bloodwing screeched, its compound eyes flashing with rage. Despite its injury, it launched itself at me, wings flaring aggressively. Its proboscis lashed out in wild, desperate strikes.
I dodged left, then right—but I wasn't fast enough.
Pain exploded in my shoulder as the serrated tip pierced deep. A white-hot sensation spread through my body. Poison? No—just deep enough to damage muscle.
I gasped, staggering. My vision wavered.
Not yet.
I forced myself to move, ignoring the pain. The Bloodwing was right in front of me, overcommitted. I turned my entire weight into my next strike.
My left blade limb severed its remaining wing.
The Bloodwing collapsed to the ground, its body writhing as it tried to regain balance. I didn't hesitate.
I lunged forward, driving both blades deep into its thorax.
The Bloodwing gave one final shriek. Then it stilled.
You have defeated Bloodwing (Tier 1 Level 10).
Essence Gained.
Level Up!
I staggered back, breathing heavily. My body ached, my wounds stung, but I had won.
The system screen blinked into existence, displaying the familiar notifications.
Status Update
Name: N/A
Race: Mamti
Tier: 1
Level: 9
Body: 6
Soul: 14
Mind: 16
Stat Points: 1
Skills:
Blade Limbs [Tier 1 Level 5]Compound Vision [Tier 1 Level 3]Camouflage [Tier 1 Level 7]
My [Blade Limbs] had jumped to Level 5.
[Compound Vision] had improved to Level 3.
[Camouflage] had skyrocketed to Level 7.
It made sense. I had used Camouflage constantly during the battle, vanishing and striking from the shadows. My Blade Limbs had landed the killing blow, but Camouflage had given me the edge.
And now I had a stat point to allocate.
I considered my options.
Mind was already high.
Soul was fine.
But Body…
With a thought, I allocated my stat point.
Body: 6 → 7
A strange sensation rippled through me—a reinforcement, a strengthening. My limbs felt slightly sturdier, and my wounds were a little less severe. It wasn't a massive difference, but in battle, it might mean survival.
I flexed my blades one last time before retreating into the trees, finding a new perch high above the forest floor. The night was still alive with movement, but for now, I had earned my rest.
But I would adapt.
And I would survive.
---
The adrenaline from the battle was still coursing through my body, but exhaustion crept in right behind it. My wounds ached, the dull throb of my injuries serving as a reminder—I need to evolve fast.
I settled on a thick branch high above the forest floor, allowing my body to rest. My forewings locked protectively over my hindwings, shielding them from any potential threats. The cool night air brushed against my exoskeleton, the rhythmic sounds of the forest filling my senses.
Despite the lingering pain, I had never felt more alive.
I glanced at my status screen again, rereading my level and stats. Tier 1, Level 9. The next level was close. Just one more push.
But something was bothering me.
The fight with the Tier 1 Level 10 Bloodwing had been different. The others had been fast, yes—but they had been predictable. That last one, though? It had adapted mid-fight. It had learned my movements and anticipated my counters. That wasn't normal, not for a simple creature.
Had I encountered an anomaly? Or was this something I should expect as I climbed higher?
I thought back to my past life. In that world, humans weren't the fastest or strongest, but they survived because they learned. Adaptation was the key to survival.
I shifted my focus inward, feeling the newly absorbed essence pulsing within my Soul.
Creatures in this world didn't just grow by existing. They evolved through combat, through survival. The essence I absorbed from fallen enemies strengthened me, pushing me closer to my next evolution.
I concentrated on the feeling. It wasn't just energy—it was something deeper. Something that settled into my very being, reinforcing the foundation of my existence.
Was this the process of becoming stronger? Taking the essence of others, refining it, and making it my own?
It was an unsettling thought. But also a necessary one.
I had to grow. I had to evolve.
---
I cast my gaze across the forest, analyzing the landscape with my [Compound Vision]. From my elevated perch, the night stretched endlessly, a vast and unfamiliar hunting ground. The trees swayed gently, their dense foliage shifting in the breeze. Patches of moonlight slipped through the gaps in the canopy.
This was my territory for now.
I wasn't sure how creatures claimed territory in this world, but I understood—stronger predators controlled the best hunting grounds. If I wanted to thrive, I needed to secure a location where prey was abundant.