1-8 Tail Devourer: Reborn as a Snake

Chapter 01 - Reborn as a What?!

REBORN AS A WHAT?!

I hate snakes!

Shai detested most reptiles, however, her repulsion towards those legless slithering creatures with scaly skin was on a completely different level.

Snakes were natural predators. Even the venomless ones could evoke the feeling of dread and unease merely through their undulating motion. Then there were the beady slit eyes, forked tongue, and sharp fangs—that could inject deadly venom into its victim—all bore disconcerting features of the creature.

Regardless of what most serpent enthusiasts claim, you see a snake; you run. Shai intended to do exactly that when she encountered the snake. Sadly for her, she wasn't nearly fast enough.

Damn. It killed me!

That was the reason behind all her conspicuous hatred of snakes.

Even in death, the memory of the little white snake biting remained fresh in her mind. It hadn't been a swift death either. The prolonged, excruciating pain added another misery to her end.

In her mind's eye, she witnessed her entire life in reverse, from the agony and injustice of her death. None of it mattered any more.

Slowly, even that memory faded as Shai moved closer to the unknown. Towards the immense, endless. . . void.

No words could describe where she was drifting, her mind muddled to maintain coherent thoughts. Eventually, she descended into the void for her eternal slumber. . .

Abruptly, a blinding light crashed into her, ripping the most indignant scream out of her throat. It rekindled all the regret and resentment she had experienced with the weird and incongruous event of her death. The excruciating agony of losing her life flooded back, accompanied by a growing sense of restlessness.

The light dissipated, leaving Shai to lament in complete darkness.

Am I not dead? Is this the afterlife?

There was no one to clear her confusion. Only her and the endless darkness.

Shai couldn't feel her body any more. Darkness claimed it. Yet her mind seemed to work. Well, not too perfectly, as she couldn't fathom how deranged the darkness was making her. Shai fell into a slumber.

An eternity later, Shai awoke again. Well, it probably wasn't an eternity, but she sure felt like it. Unlike before, the darkness didn't frighten her. Something strange had enveloped her protectively in its embrace, fending off the strangling darkness.

Am I dead or not? She questioned, infuriated. Can't you get it over with?

Shai didn't really expect an answer, but she actually got one, though it only confused her more about her predicament.

[Congratulations, you have transcended Death. . . and are being reborn.]

[Initiating emergency system protocol.]

Um, what? Shai was stupefied. Who are you? How are you talking to me?

The voice was of someone elderly, like an old and wise grandpa. Unfortunately, the grandpa didn't seem to hear her plea any more. 

Shai spent an unimaginable amount of time with only darkness as her company. There was a growing sense of coldness along with the peculiar, fuzzy sensation spreading throughout her being, nourishing her.

She was always slumbering and waking up to find herself in the darkness. After waking for the ninth time in the darkness, Shai discovered she had been looking elsewhere when salvation was within her. Despite the darkness singing the melody of doom, Shai found a strong sense of life within her. It listened to her call, soothing her growing restlessness as she spent an unimaginable amount of time fostering the life force.

[Congratulations! You have learned the skill Basic Meditation (F)] 

Her mind jerked at the sudden elderly voice. Hey, invisible Grandpa, you're really making me uncomfortable now. Can't you just show yourself without giving these weird messages?

Receiving no answer, Shai went back to slumber again.

The force grew as she continued playing with it. But even a child would get bored out of their favourite toy, provided enough time. While Shai wasn't a child, she had a limit to her composure as well.

Eventually, she called upon the power, as sparkles of light coalesced in her mind's eye. Within a moment, Shai's heart warmed up, the power building within her. But only after a couple more seconds, she felt uneasy holding onto the power. Intuitively, she was aware she had done something wrong that could harm her dearly. The force wouldn't dissipate within her even if she released her hold.

What to do? Whattodo? Whattodo?

Her choices were limited. It was either releasing the built-up power of frustration within her, which would harm her in ways she wasn't aware of, or trying to attack the all-encompassing darkness. Shai would be a fool if she chose the former.

With the decision made, Shai tried to jerk away, lobbing the power into the darkness.

Take this! She winced. Please!

A sharp twinge of pain assaulted her, but her attention was elsewhere. A shimmering light flickered through the cracks the force created in the veil of darkness. Bars of sunlight streamed through the small gap. She attempted to move her arms, only to discover no response.

Shai tried to scream out in indignation, but only a faint hissing sound escaped her mouth. Her body convulsed, uncomfortably trapped in a confined space. Shai wriggled, desperate to break free from her predicament.

Flashes of a golden shimmer clouded her vision, twisting into something Shai barely recognised. Alongside these visuals, the undeniably impressive elderly voice spoke directly into her mind. Again! 

[Warning! You have initiated awakening...]

[Scanning for potential damage and soul trauma…]

[No latest damage or trauma found… Determining the hatching to be left undisturbed]

[Terminating emergency system protocol.]

[Preparing for early awakening…]

The voice was ancient, like expressing a divine decree, yet completely indifferent. Wait, shouldn't my focus be on what he is saying?

Umm, Grandpa, would you mind reiterating all of that?

[Congratulations, you have successfully hatched.]

[Kismet is intrigued with your birth. You have received the lesser blessing of Kismet. +5 All attributes]

Wait, what!?

[Welcome to Shattered Twilight, Hatchling.]

I died after that venomous snake bit me, and then. . . Wait, hatchling? A grim premonition washed over her. No, please don't tell me.

No, no, no, she tried to shout, but all that came out was the hissing noise. What happened to me?

The surrounding space trembled as she lurched uneasily. Eventually, the tiny space cracked open, flooding her sight with blinding sunlight. Shai finally discovered what had transpired.

I'm a snake! She screamed. Once again, no words escaped her mouth, only an eerie hiss. She shot out through the crack and found it to be an egg planted in the earth. Freed, now it was time to assess her situation better. Yet nothing changed.

No matter how many times she glanced at herself, the sight of a little white snake coiling on the grass didn't change.

The sheer incredulity of the situation overwhelmed her, disabling her to comprehend the predicament she was in. The shimmering transparent texts and the elderly voice only added to the confusion.

People don't reincarnate after death. Or do they? Even if they did, they didn't retain their memory.

The abnormality of her situation was unlike anything Shai had ever experienced. It challenged her understanding of the familiar world she knew. Then again, the familiar world changed before she died, no?

[As a creature of chaos, you have lost your privilege to gain a Class.]

[However, the system has considered your circumstances. Many options of the Path are still open to you.]

[Achievement unlocked! Bizarre circumstances might create unexpected and unique results. But the path you walk is not without any reward. You have gained the Mark: Fatemarked.]

The voice interrupted her contemplation. Shai tried to scream again, this time more out of exasperation. Gah!

She wasn't sure if she understood it right, but it felt like she lost something important. Was it something greater than her humanity? After venting a little, she collected her thoughts and assessed her situation.

So, I'm a snake. Am I experiencing any cognitive difficulties? Most reptiles were intellectually limited. Shai was certain they were incapable of processing coherent thoughts like she was doing now.

Was she somehow different?

Well, I don't feel foolish, she thought, aside from my usual foolishness. Perhaps I retained my intelligence in this rebirth. Or could it be that I am incapable of recognising my diminished mental capacity?

That would be a cruel joke—cheating death only to become a witless snake.

Perhaps she was simply insane, and all of this was nothing more than a figment of her imagination. But a snake? Seriously, brain? Couldn't you have chosen something better?

Something majestic, like a dragon.

[Preparing status page . . .]

What now?

____________

[Shai]

Rank: Foundation (F)

Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 1

Laws: None.

Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser)

Attributes:

Primary Attribute: Total (Base)

- Physique: 6 (1)

- Mind: 8 (3)

- Soul: 14 (9)

- Recovery: 7 (2)

Special Attributes:

- Insight: 6

- Evolution: 11

- Fortune: 12

Unallocated points: 1

Aspect: 

Golden Eyes (Dormant) | Poison Affinity (D)

Skills[2/8]:

Basic Meditation (F) | Bestial Instinct (E)

Boon:

Inventory | Lingual Comprehension

Remark:

I'm only a Level 1 Hatchling.

[System Log] [Active Quest]

_____________

[You can summon and surf around the status page simply by Willing it strongly.]

So I'm in some weird video game? She questioned. Or I'm insane.

None of the two options seemed appealing to her. So she shouted inwardly. Log out! Exit! Sign off! Godmann it, send me back to my life!

Only a silence answered her call. 

Shai could not deny her death. Honestly, she didn't remember much as she had been in a panic, but she was sure something had seriously gone wrong with the world. 

Yes, she never heard of or encountered anything like this, but that didn't make it impossible. It happened. It killed her. And now she was reborn as something less desirable than a human.

But why a snake? Shai was torn between celebrating her new life and lamenting that she had transformed into the creature she despised the most. Well, it's better than dying, I suppose.

She recalled the agony of her death. It was an experience she found unpleasant to relive or even contemplate. To avoid dwelling on the agonising memory, she shifted her focus to the status page before her.

Shai sucked a deep breath through her tiny nostrils and mouth, unsure of how to interpret the system. This expanded her horizons in a whole new way.

It felt peculiar to see shimmering texts running across her vision. The system provided a comprehensive breakdown of her being. While she recognised most of the terms, she wouldn't mind having a better explanation.

First came the primary attributes, encompassing the four fundamental aspects of her being. All described in familiar terms and accompanied by numerical values.

Unfortunately, Shai lacked a frame of reference to determine whether her stats were impressive or mediocre. In fact, they seemed rather lacklustre to her. She was a little taken aback by the fact that her [Strength] was merely 6; 1 if she excluded the blessing by the Kismet person. 

It's probably because I'm a newborn, tiny snake? Shai wondered. Yet unlike she imagined, her sight was clear, in contrast to the bleary view a newborn creature should have. Wait, with all this reincarnation and things, won't magic be something real too?

The image of how she shot a small beam of translucent light out of her mouth did inspire confidence in the notion of magic being real.

With a thought, she felt the familiar energy within her, the same energy that accompanied her in the darkness. She called upon the power, mimicking how she broke the egg. It surged within her tiny form, and like before, an uneasy expression developed on her features. She had to get the power out of her system again, or she might injure her baby form.

Shai jerked her head as the power gushed out of her mouth in a swift motion to strike the lush grass, digging a small hole in the ground.

Whoa! What did I do?

[Would you like to learn, Qi Dart (E)?]

Yes...? Shai thought hesitantly.

[Qi Dart will cost 1 Insight Point.]

[Accept | Decline]

Shai looked at the prompt suspiciously for some time and accepted it with a thought.

A raw surge of intangible pressure overwhelmed her mind instantly, rendering her to squirm on the ground. A flood of information and insight on how to manipulate energy came to her, branding her body, mind, and soul somehow that she would never forget. The sheer feeling was overwhelming like she could do nothing to reject it once she accepted. Thankfully, it didn't press on her longer, leaving a surreal feeling of nausea. 

[Congratulations! You have learned Qi Dart (E).]

[Qi Dart (E): Mastery – 1%

Attacks with a sharp semi-corporeal projectile of energy.]

The elderly voice spoke as Shai thanked him after getting a hold of herself. Now, it was time to check out her skills.

Chapter 02 - Level Up!

Shai spent a few moments to calm herself and followed the way the skill directed her to channel the energy. It was much smoother and safer now, as she was able to shoot the translucent and semi-corporeal dart out of her mouth at will. She aimed her head at one of the towering trees around her and shot the [Qi Dart], jerking her head.

Delight spread within her as she peered into the hole in the bark of the tree. It was merely a couple of fingers deep, but that didn't stop Shai from wiggling her head in glee. 

Even the mastery of the skill raised to 5% just with these simple usages.

Other than [Qi Dart], Shai had [Basic Meditation (F)] and [Bestial Instinct (E)] as her skills. Honestly, none of the two seemed as magical as [Qi Dart] to her. What about the Aspects, though?

Poison Affinity was pretty much self-explanatory—she simply needed her to bite to use it. But then there was Golden Eyes (Dormant). Shai experimented by moving a little of her energy into her eyes, but to no avail. Getting nowhere with Aspects, she moved to Boon. Inventory and Lingual Comprehension.

Shai was eager to explore more of her abilities when a sudden chill spread across her scaly skin. Her instincts cried as she spun around to inspect her surroundings. It felt like something just moved around her.

She looked around suspiciously, but after searching for a couple of minutes, found nothing in the vicinity. Still, she gathered a small amount of energy inside her mouth, building it up into a [Qi Dart], just in case.

Shai decided to withdraw from the area. After all, she was a powerless little snake with average attributes. It wouldn't be wise to remain in the open.

Even though her new body had its instincts, her mind made it difficult to navigate without limbs. She was still registering herself as a human. Sighing inwardly, Shai resigned herself to following her instincts.

I wonder what Elle will say if she sees me like this,she thought. Her elder sister had been the only family she was close to in recent times. 

She crept through the forest, shuffling through dry leaves and lush grass. Undoubtedly, she was unaccustomed to crawling, but after practising for a few minutes, she became surprisingly adept at it. All she had to do was rely on her instincts, and it seemed natural for her to be a snake.

Dad probably won't even know of my death...

As Shai lamented, a shadow of a figure lunged at her abruptly. The movement was swift, but Shai quickly twisted her head, releasing a flare of condensed energy from her mouth.

Qi Dart!

It struck the shadow before it could come within a metre radius of her.

The creature recoiled, and Shai promptly shot another Qi Dart to ensure her safety.

[You have slain a Hamster Lvl 3.]

A hamster? She was cautious of a mere hamster all this time? Even if they looked unnaturally big to her small form, they were still just hamsters, no?

I'm really growing foolish in this snake form!

Sadly, she didn't have time to dwell on that thought as two more hamsters lurched at her simultaneously, as if seeking revenge for their fallen companion. Or simply acting out of their inherent stupidity. Probably the latter. These creatures lacked any sense of camaraderie; all they cared about was filling their stomachs. Ironically, Shai could relate to that sentiment to some extent now. She hadn't eaten anything for eternities. 

Her snake form swiftly dodged the attack from the front, while she gathered another [Qi Dart] in her mouth. A deranged part of her wanted nothing but to succumb to the base instinct and bite this disgusting creature to death. But Shai resisted the crazy impulse. 

There was no need to rely on poison when a [Qi Dart] would suffice. But Shai didn't know when she would get the chance to use the poison. 

The thought was unsettling, but she was a snake. She couldn't live in denial.

Shai released the dart, slinging the hamster away. Only one of them remained now. The giant hamster squeaked as it continued to chase after the little snake.

Shai twisted and turned, skilfully manoeuvring through the dry leaves and lush grass. She was faster than she had initially assumed in this form. Intending to finish it off as quickly as she could, she began forming another [Qi Dart], only to find all of her energy reserves had plummeted to nothing.

Shit! Shai braced herself and coiled swiftly, preparing for a sudden lunge towards the hamster. I guess it's a good opportunity to test her poison. 

Shai's tiny snake head rammed against the creature, her fangs biting into the neck without holding back even the slightest bit. The fangs pierced through the hamster's neck effortlessly, resulting in dark scarlet blood spraying into her mouth. 

Shai regretted her decision immediately. These notifications appeared conveniently in her peripheral vision when she was unoccupied.

[You have killed Hamster Lvl 2.]

[You have killed Hamster Lvl 4.]

[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 2. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]

A surge of power enveloped her entire being instantly. Her body heated up, as the power coursed through her, flooding every part of her being, empowering her. Then, everything returned to normal.

The process lasted only a dozen or so seconds, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of improvement once it concluded.

Well, she thought, that was easy. And disgusting.

Shai couldn't deny that she had severely underestimated her new form. Perhaps her attributes weren't as low as she thought. Of course, the +5 to all attributes boosted the strength of her infant form to a greater degree. So much so that these hamsters were mere prey to her.

Wait a second, hamsters are supposed to be the prey of snakes, Shai thought. Did magic make them so ravenous and savage that they would even chase after a snake?

I need to be extra careful. Although she had magical capabilities now, it was only to a degree she could overwhelm hampsters. 

Shai was repulsed by the filth staining her body. She got rid herself of the disgusting blood, frantically jerking her body.

[You have gained a quest.]

[Quest: Eat until you're full. 

You found yourself in an unfamiliar, mysterious land, after hatching. As a newborn snake, your first duty is to secure food. Since you retained most of your memory, you should have some ability to collect your own food. 

Clearance Conditions: Consume food until you are fully satiated. Bonus: Gather food for the upcoming days. 

Time Limit: 12 hours. 

Rewards: A sense of contentment. 

Penalty: None.] 

There it is, she sighed inwardly. Grandpa, can't you just rest it for a while? 

Then again, Shai was feeling quite strained in her stomach after her violent spree against the hamsters. She had no problem finding contentment as the reward for her mission, though this quest felt unsettling. Letting out a sigh, which sounded no better than a hiss, she turned her snake head towards the lifeless hamster corpse.

Her stomach growled.

Just the thought of devouring raw disgusting meat made Shai's stomach churn, though that could just be her hunger. To make matters worse, it was the flesh of these filthy hamsters. While she was sure she would have no trouble digesting raw meat, the idea of consuming it in its uncooked, contaminated state was hard to bear. Unfortunately, the hunger was something she couldn't endure for long.

Let's cut the crap and get it over with! Shai cursed and approached one of the hamsters.

Here goes nothing, she muttered to herself, and jerked her head forward to bite into the flesh. Surprisingly, she didn't feel any repulsion from consuming the raw meat, other than her initial disgust.

I truly am a reptile now. The realisation twisted her stomach. 

She didn't have to chew, so it hardly took a while to devour the corpse as a whole. Well, it certainly felt like an immaculate task, with how the enormous bulge moved through her form. Yet within a few minutes, the bulge compressed... and Shai was hungry again.

Shai grimaced, or rather, did the mental equivalent of it. With a mental sigh, Shai approached the remaining two corpses to feast upon them. 

After devouring another hamster, Shai felt her hunger satiated, though it was only the beginning of her ravenous appetite. For the last one remaining, Shai hassled with the System for several seconds to finally open her inventory. It turned out that simply willing it to happen wasn't enough. She needed to supply magical energy to open the obnoxious-looking magical hole. 

After the dark hole materialised, Shai simply pushed the corpse into it and departed from there, unaware of how she would eject her food from the Inventory. It would probably take some tests and fail as well.

Now that her hunger was satiated, it was time for her to think hard about everything she experienced. Perhaps I should dig a hole and hide.

Chapter 03 - New Skill

After securing herself in a hole, Shai decided to conduct a few experiments. She churned out one [Qi Dart] after another, to finally conclude her current limit was six before she would run out of energy. 

Thankfully, spending all her energy on this experiment wasn't a complete waste. She gained some good mastery over the skill, currently standing at 17%. 

The level-up didn't seem to increase her magical capacity all that much. Shai had two unallocated points which could be used to boost her attributes. For now, she decided to keep it as it was. Two points wouldn't make her super strong. Besides, she could use them whenever she liked.

For her next experiment, Shai needed to recover her energy as fast as she could. Thankfully, the meditation skill helped in boosting the process. Within an hour or two, she was brimming with power again. 

Satisfied, she put her attention on her poison. Ignoring her sentient mind of a reincarnated person, poison was the only other weapon she could utilise to her benefit. In this unfamiliar world, hamsters grew to towering heights, who knew what kind of abominations lurked in the forest?

Though she could resort to biting and injecting her venom, very much like the way she had been bitten before, she believed that employing long-range poison would be far preferable and more effective. After all, it was hardly graceful for a young woman to resort to biting at every repulsive creature she encountered. Just because she was a snake didn't mean she couldn't maintain cleanliness and civility.

Yeah, I'll kill them from afar. They wouldn't even know what hit them.

She planned to incorporate poison into the Qi Dart skill. While uncertain if she could completely transform the energy into venom, she hoped to implant a little of the liquid poison in her Qi Dart. She focused on channelling the necessary process for the Qi Dart skill. Raw spiritual power swiftly gathered within her mouth, emanating a comforting warmth.

However, the skill manifested too quickly for her to inject poison into it. In the end, she had no choice but to expel the Qi Dart outward from her mouth.

In the following attempt, Shai concentrated on slowing down the process. It was only when she had depleted almost half of her energy reserves that she witnessed a glimmer of success. Yet, to her dismay, the [Qi Dart] plummeted right before her, failing to achieve the desired speed and trajectory with the implanted poison.

Just as she was about to resume her practice, a familiar prompt materialised in her mind's eye, accompanied by the resonating voice of System Grandpa.

[Would you like to learn the skill, Poison Dart (E)?]​

Yes, yes, yes! Shai eagerly exclaimed within her inner thoughts even before the acceptance prompt appeared.

[Poison Dart (E) will cost 1 Insight Point. Please confirm your investment.]

[Accept | Decline]​

This time, Shai refrained from accepting the prompt hastily, opting to ponder the importance more thoroughly. The special attribute seemed consumable, as learning the [Qi Dart] had depleted 1 point of Insight, leaving her with a remaining 10 points.

Would the Poison Dart skill be worth the investment of an insight point? Shai couldn't be certain, but survival took precedence over all else. Her time spent in the darkness had changed her, instilling a sense of paranoia that was impossible to disregard.

Despite being aware of her state, she was unsure of how to mend her fragmented mind.

Well, knowing that I'm a little loony is better than unknowingly descending into madness, right? Right?

To her dismay, there was no response from anyone.

Congratulations! You're absolutely right, mimicked Shai in the voice of System Grandpa in her mind. Knowing you're insane makes it a little better to cope with it, even experts will say it is the first step of recovery.

Having all her fun with the lunacy, Shai released a deep sigh and returned to the prompt. Grandpa, if this works you'll be in my top ten favourite persons. Right after William Goldman. 

She willed to learn [Poison Dart]. Instantaneously, System Grandpa flooded her mind with invaluable information, just as he had done the previous time.

As the weight of knowledge settled within her small head, Shai couldn't help but emit a sharp hiss of pain. The pressure of acquiring new insights was both exhilarating and overwhelming.

[Congratulations! You have learned the skill, Poison Dart (E).]

[Synergy detected...]

[Would you like to incorporate Qi Dart into Poison Dart? As the base ranks of the skills are too low and synergised to a greater degree, it will cost you nothing.]

[Accept | Decline] 

Shai only had to think once to accept the prompt. Considering her skill slots were limited, it was best to have a superior skill than two inferior skills. Honestly, Shai was curious to see what would happen after she accepted it.

[Incorporating the two skills...] 

[Incorporation complete. Setting name and rank...]

[Congratulations! You have learned the skill, Arcane Shot (D)]

[Arcane Shot (D): 

Mastery: 1%

A more versatile wide-range attack that can carry an arcane element within it.] ​

Taking a moment to absorb the newly acquired knowledge, Shai marvelled at the depths of understanding of the skill. The skill description simply didn't do justice to what she learned through the purchased insight. This skill was just not about poison, though Shai only had to resort to poison as her arcane element.

Moreover, she could use the skill as it was, without infusing poison, like a greater version of [Qi Dart], which was a huge plus, considering the limitation of her poison. She needed to test more to find out about it.

Makes sense, she thought to herself, finally emerging from the hole she had sought refuge in. There was a quest to complete as well.

It hadn't even been an hour since Shai got out of her hole, and yet she found herself in a conflict. She was simply sightseeing, marvelling at anything fresh and unique to this world, minding her own business, occasionally hunting creatures like hampsters or rabbits when she came across a grey wolf.

Initially, she had no intention of getting into trouble. Shai was happy hunting hamsters for now. Sadly, the beast went into full murder mode at the very sight of her, as if Shai had eaten its babies. Being the noble snake that she was, Shai had no choice but to fight back.

Swiftly shifting to her left, Shai evaded the grey wolf's bite, leaving an opening in her opponent's defence. She didn't forget to unleash a concentrated burst of energy in the form of [Arcane Shot] from her mouth. 

It struck right below the grey wolf's neck, eliciting a howl as fresh red blood oozed from the wound. [Arcane Shot] gave her greater control of how much energy she wanted to use, or whether she wanted to infuse poison in it or not. This attack barely had any venom in it.

Granted, the grey wolf posed a tougher challenge, her being merely a hatchling. However, to satiate her insatiable hunger and complete the quest, she selected it to be the prime prey.

Shai shot one lesser [Arcane Shot] after another, penetrating a few inches into the wolf's body, but it was far from enough to stop a grey wolf. Wolves were born predators and held a superior position in the food chain to hamsters. Even if they were of the same rank and level, a wolf possessed greater strength, agility, and ferocity. Unfortunately, for the wolf, it couldn't utilise spirit energy, and Shai could.

Shai slithered further away as the wolf chased after her, her snake body twisting and manoeuvring through the lush grass and towering trees. Considering only a third of her energy reserves remaining, Shai played her final card.

Poison it is, she mused, swiftly manoeuvring towards the trunk of a nearby tree. She condensed another [Arcane Shot], infusing it with a substantial amount of venom. With the insight in her mind, the process proved to be surprisingly effortless. Her venom blended seamlessly with the energy, even though it was carried in a liquid form.

Now, all she needed to do was ensure her shot hit the intended target. There was a limit to how much poison she could produce, after all.

Shai lunged at the trunk of the tall tree, aiming to climb upward as the grey wolf pursued her. With a precise thrust, she ascended a couple of metres in one swift motion. Coiling her body around the tree trunk, she climbed another metre, positioning her head to face the grey wolf below.

Grinning inwardly, Shai unleashed the [Arcane Shot] at the beast, targeting the same spot below its neck where she had wounded it before. The grey wolf let out a pained howl, writhing on the ground at the moment of impact. It took several seconds for the venom to take effect, during which the wolf desperately scratched at the tree bark, emitting anguished groans.

A wave of unexpected empathy washed over Shai as she witnessed the beast's suffering. Unwittingly, she felt remorseful, realising she should have granted it a more merciful death. Even if it tried to eat her.

The wounded creature limped unsteadily, gradually losing all strength within a minute. Sensing its impending demise, Shai descended from the tree, approaching the wolf as it struggled in its final moments.

Easy now, she hissed softly, drawing near to the dying wolf. In a last, feeble attempt, the beast lunged at her before collapsing onto the ground, lifeless.

[You have killed a Grey Wolf Lvl 4.]

[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 3. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.] ​

Shai looted the fallen wolf into her inventory.

I suppose that should suffice for tomorrow's meal, Shai contemplated. Then her thoughts were interrupted by another quest notification from System Grandpa. ​

[Congratulations! You have completed your first quest and bonus quest, Eat Until You're Full. This accomplishment fills you with a sense of contentment.]

[You have gained a new quest.]

[Quest: Advancement - I

You have taken the first step into cultivation, the next step is to incorporate all power, essence and truth to advance to copper rank.

Clearance Conditions: Reach Hatchling Level 25.

Time Limit: 30 Days.

Reward: Insight into the Paths.

Penalty: None.]​

Okay Grandpa, I appreciate the recognition, but is there any way to decline these quests? Shai received no response, leading her to conclude that these quests were mandatory. Not that she had anything else in mind. But 30 days feels too short... After all, snakes need to sleep a lot.

She would have to hunt relentlessly during these 30 days to accumulate enough significance or experience to reach the height of Lvl 25. Her gut was telling her it would only get harder as she levels up.

It appears I'll be relying more on poison than I initially anticipated.

Chapter 04 - Humans

Even though Shai received the quest to advance, she didn't jump at the first creature she saw. Instead, she went back to her hole to rest and contemplate her gains. No need for unnecessary violence on her birthday.

The thoughts of advancement were on her mind. Unfortunately, System Grandpa was as elusive as ever in giving more of a run-down version of what she needed. She had no clue if it was even possible to reach level 25 in thirty days. Well, considering I gained two levels just today, perhaps it won't be difficult...

But she won't gamble her fate on perhaps and buts.

Which brought her back to the status page again. Mostly at the 3 unallocated attribute points.Wonder where I'll invest them?

The answer wasn't simple as all attributes seemed useful. Physique would make her stronger, faster, tougher, and harder to kill. MInd, perhaps would make her more intelligent? Or cognisant? Soul was the most elusive.

Shai wondered if Soul was the attribute her magical power depended on. However, even with levelling up twice--which increased her Soul by two points--she didn't feel much increase in her energy reserves, which expunged the idea. Shai urgently needed more magical energy. Not just so that she could protect herself better, but also to train. More energy would make her more efficient in training. 

She had a sinking suspicion that either Soul or Mind influenced the total amount of energy she could draw upon.

It takes Insight points to gain new skills, so she couldn't ignore that as well. Evolution sounded something important. Grandpa Darwin would approve of it. Fortune is good luck, probably.

Lastly, Recovery could help her recover energy quicker. Perhaps even her physical needs as well.

In the end, Shai deemed more magical energy would be the biggest help. Perhaps more skills too, but she didn't know if the Grandpa would give her chances to learn more skills or not.

After staring suspiciously at the status page for an unprecedented time, Shai invested 1 point to Soul. She waited to see if there was any increase in her energy reserve.

The calm stream of energy within her stirred up, but then within a couple of seconds, all calmed down as though nothing happened. Shai spent a good couple of minutes retracing the feeling and what actually transpired. Perhaps the total amount within her risen, but it was at a minuscule level, 1 to 2% at best. However, the 1 point of investment seemed to change something in the energy.

The density perhaps?

Shai invested another point to trace the sensation again, fully committing to the visualization state. 

It wasn't simply density or viscosity... more points into the Soul change the soul to a deeper degree...She didn't have the right words to describe it.

Shai kept the last point, just in case, and checked her status page one last time before moving into deep meditation.

____________

[Shai]

Rank: Foundation (F)

Path: Favoured Hatchling Lvl 3

Laws: None.

Mark: Fatemarked. Blessed by Kismet (Lesser)

Attributes:

Primary Attribute: Total 

- Physique: 8

- Mind: 10

- Soul: 18

- Recovery: 9

Special Attributes:

- Insight: 5

- Evolution: 11

- Fortune: 12

Unallocated points: 1

Aspect:

Golden Eyes (Dormant) | Poison Affinity (D)

Skills[3/8]:

Basic Meditation (F) - 89% | Bestial Instinct (E) - 3% | Arcane Shot (D) - 7%

Boon:

Inventory | Lingual Comprehension

Remark:

I was only a Level 1 Hatchling.

[System Log] [Active Quest]

_____________

Shai was in a deep meditative state way past midnight, circulating her energy to the best of her abilities. Which helped her mastery of [Basic Meditation (F)] to reach the 90% mark.

With that accomplishment to put her at ease, Shai slept like a newborn baby. Despite the frequent howls of wild animals unnerving her, she found herself too tired to care about and dozed off.

As a snake--a newborn as that--Shai was required to rest a lot of hours, possibly more than half of the day. As far as she was aware, Shai was certainly not a normal hatchling. Hopefully, putting some points into Mind would diminish the need for sleep.

When the first rays of sun dawned on the looming darkness of the wilderness, Shai didn't feel that rested at all. It was about five hours since she slept, which wasn't nearly enough.

She would've slept for longer, but a disturbance bothered her enough to let her sleep soundly. She wasn't certain if it was due to her reptilian form or [Besitial Instinct], but she could perceive these kinds of anomalies more, not that she had any clue what was happening, other than a disharmony in the air. Not just anomalies, somehow I'm intuitively aware of the sunrise as well.

The disturbance rose to its peak and finally calmed down. Shai perked her head up from the hole to sense the disturbance was about fifty away. Whatever caused the ruckus wasn't progressing towards her. Whatever they were, they weren't after her.

Maybe I should check them out? A dangerous thought, but she was curious. Without a proper assumption of the dangers, how could she be wary of them? Besides, she would only look from afar, hiding in the bushes.

Making her decision, she continued along the grassy path, adopting a more stealthy approach. Only then did she notice her speed had risen a little, and she had... grown? Well, it was only by a couple of inches at best... but that was fast. Magic makes everything weird, I guess. 

In a matter of moments, Shai found out who was behind all the ruckus. It was after all humans.

By the time she reached the area, the battle reached its conclusion. However, it could hardly be called a fair fight, with five individuals ganging up on a lone younger man. All of them seemed to have magical powers like her. The reddish-orange halo of power around them proved that easily. She wasn't that special to have magical power after all, but she doubted if any of them were reborn like her. 

The band of five had a more condensed halo about them than the captured youth, but clearly, they seemed to be nothing more than a group of mercenaries, hired goons. But they looked strong...The deep orange halo around them looked dangerous.

Concealed within the hedge, the little white snake carefully eavesdropped on the group of humans before her. The captive's hands and legs were securely bound, as they latched a collar around his neck. Instantly the yellow halo of power around him was suppressed. 

Is that metal collar something that can nullify magical power? Shai felt a sudden chill in her core.

Regardless, something of significance must be unfolding for these five to gang up on a seemingly weaker and younger man.

"They shouldn't have gone far," said a man who had some resemblance to a monkey. Half beast? He was positioned on the left side of the group's apparent leader. The deeper shade of orange halo gave evidence of that.

"I've already sent Lashin to search for them," replied the leader, a broad man who towered over the others by at least a head. With an unsightly scar stretched from his right cheek through his hair, along with a massive bastard sword on his back, he exuded a formidable presence. "It won't be long before we capture that elf and the bloody witch."

Elf? Witch? Shai pondered from her hidden spot. While she was familiar with both terms, she never met any. Witches were super old grannies who couldn't stop themselves from seeking ways to retain their youth. On the other hand, elves naturally possessed long lifespans, highly talented in all sorts of spirit arts according to the lores of D&D. 

An elf and a witch—a rather suspicious pair indeed.

"Boss, would you mind if I had that elf?" inquired the monkey guy once again, his lascivious grin betraying his intentions. He held a bloodied mace in his hand. "He seemed quite formidable to me, you know how—"

"Haha, we're all aware that you're a sadist, Mikel," interjected another man with animal features, unable to contain his snickers. Unlike the monkey-man, this fella had scaly reptilian skin. Shai didn't know how he came to be, but he was definitely not her kin.

"Shut up, Dock," Mikel retorted sharply, watching his boss warily.

"You'll have plenty of time to indulge yourself, but first, we must capture them," the boss declared, shaking his head disapprovingly at his crew. He directed their attention towards the captive practitioner. "These three are dangerous lots. Have you seen any Copper ranker like him challenging us, head-on without fear?"

"He's a lunatic," Dock provided. "Maybe they all are."

The boss nodded, his gaze focused on the captive, who had murder in his eyes, completely silent even though his mouth wasn't muffled.

"The witch will be tricky," the boss said. "We need to hurry before the poison wears off." Pausing for a moment, he raised his eyes towards the canopy of trees. "Huh, looks like Lashin's here."

Shai had assumed Lashin to be another member of their group, but to her surprise, it turned out to be a bird—a marvellous golden-tailed Eagle, to be precise. Lashin gracefully descended, landing on the shoulder of the towering male as the boss affectionately stroked its neck.

"Did she find them?" Mikel inquired anxiously.

The leader shook his head. "Lashin did not," he replied, "but she did discover some traces of their presence. Let's move."

The group swiftly departed, carrying their captive along with them, while Shai let out a breath of relief from her concealed position. It was evident that something dubious was afoot. Sadly, it was of a magnitude far beyond her capabilities to get involved. Not that she would like to. The guy mentioned Copper rank--it is likely something after Foundation.

Just as she decided to abandon any involvement with these dangerous humans and beastmen, transparent texts materialised once again in her mind's eye, as System Grandpa presented her with a new quest.

[Quest: Unveil the Secret of the Land.]​

Chapter 05 - Magic Mushrooms

[Quest: Unveil the Secret of the Land.]

You have stumbled upon suspicious activities in the wilderness that may lead to a larger secret. Explore the secrets of the land while ensuring your safety amidst ill-intentioned entities.

Clearance Requirement: Unveil the secret of the land.

Don't die.

Reward: Insight of Concealment.

Penalty: None.]​

This seems rather ominous! Hey, Grandpa! Are you sure this isn't a LITTLE suicidal? Shai couldn't help but hiss at the notification, although she was aware that the system was indifferent to her idle comments.

The reward of the quest seemed interesting, but the quest was perilous, to the point of being suicidal. The requirement of 'Don't die' was quite literal. A single conflict with these humans would cause her doom, reminding her again how powerless she was.

Having experienced death, Shai never wanted to experience such a feeling again. I need to grow strong!

Shai slithered away cautiously from the hedge, meticulously referencing her danger detection. This wilderness harboured higher-ranked threats, and the slightest misstep could result in her demise.

Shai roamed the area for approximately an hour, encountering a few low-level creatures along the way. Surprisingly, most of them were bloodthirsty like the hamsters. Unfortunately, slaying them didn't even allow her to level up once. 

Her stomach emitted another loud growl. Again? Hadn't I eaten just a couple of hours ago? Yet, the ravenous emptiness within her seemed insatiable, as if she had been deprived of food for months.

With a hiss, Shai slithered away in search of a more suitable spot. Her forked tongue came out of her mouth frequently, sensing anything out of the ordinary. Her tongue didn't just help in smelling, it appeared, as she picked up on some magical disturbance ahead of her. Weirdly useful.

Shai crept around, trying to pinpoint the location of the disturbance. Slithering through the dry leaves and grass, Shai felt relieved to discover that it wasn't dangerous humans this time. Instead, she stumbled upon a scene of two creatures locked in a fierce battle, wreaking havoc in their surroundings.

One was an enormous black-scaled Python, while the other appeared to be a meter-long, fire-breathing insect. Shai had never encountered a bug of this size, but then again, she never had magical power before either.

The snake was clearly stronger, whereas the flying beetle-like insect had the advantage of flight and movement. Both creatures had inflicted significant wounds upon each other, evident from the aftermath scattered around them. The halo around them weakened to a faint reddish glimmer. It seemed they had been engaged in this fierce struggle for quite some time. But for what reason?

Intrigued, Shai's gaze wandered around until she discovered the cause of their conflict—a tree laden with peach-pink fruits. What surprised her was how those fruits had a halo of aura around them as well. However, the true prize seemed to be the fluffy mushrooms sprouting from the bark, which had a deeper colour. 

Are they perhaps magic fruits and mushrooms?Shai wondered. Wait can the python even digest the Spirit Mushroom?

Could she digest them?

Weirdly, Shai found herself filled with greed just looking at the prizes. Is this another beastly instinct?

Shai didn't dwell on these musings for long. She crawled purposefully toward the peach tree, her attention fixed on the snake and the fire-breathing insect, fighting for their lives.

Contemptuously, Shai observed the two creatures locked in a life-or-death struggle over mere fruits and mushrooms. Even if they were magical, it hardly made sense to gamble your life on it.

How foolish are they?

This was what happened when unchecked greed and arrogance consumed one's senses.

Unperturbed by the ongoing battle, Shai manoeuvred her way to the peach tree, taking a longer route. She cast a disdainful glance at the two dimwitted creatures before climbing up the tree to claim the prize for herself.

The peach fruit brimmed with the essence of magic. Along with the mushrooms they were the best sustenance she could find. 

Shai gathered them all into her inventory nonchalantly, leaving only the underdeveloped mushrooms behind. She tried a few peach fruits to satiate her hunger as an unsavoury look spread to her expression. Despite them being filled with rich essence, she felt the urge to puke the fruit out. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to swallow.

As it turned out Shai could digest this magically rich fruit, albeit rather slowly. Surprisingly, not only did the fruit satiate her hunger, but also recovered her energy as well. With such effect, Shai did not mind the unsavoury taste. Not at all.

As time passed, Shai consumed her third fruit, all the while observing the ongoing battle between the python and the fire-breathing black beetle. She felt like spectating a wrestling match, however, in this scenario, the fighters weren't humans, no fixed winners, nor were there any other spectators except Shai.

The python certainly possessed the advantage in terms of strength, but the insect could fly. With this simple fact alone, it could hold its own against the five-metre-long black-scaled python.

Whenever the python lunged forward to attack, the giant insect would flap its wings to evade. The insect also had the upper hand in ranged attacks, although its fire couldn't easily burn through the black scales of the python.

Shai grew bored witnessing the repetitive exchange between the two creatures. The python displayed a profound level of stupidity. It could simply claim the prize, as the insect had no means to stop it. Similarly, the insect could do the same, and perhaps even more efficiently, by collecting a few fruits and mushrooms before flying away. But no, they both felt compelled to prove their dominance over each other.

Little did they know that someone else was quietly reaping their prize while they foolishly engaged in a futile battle.

This has gone far too long. Shai wasn't even studying anymore, considering she had a practical idea of their strengths and weaknesses

Hissing in annoyance, Shai decided to put an end to their stalemate. She gathered her energy, condensing it into a potent [Arcane Shot]. To add a final touch, she infused a substantial amount of poison into the attack. 

With her weapon prepared, the white snake fixated her gaze on the two targets, deliberating on whom to strike first. Considering that the reptile would likely possess better poison resistance, Shai decided to direct her assault towards the insect.

There was no sense of kinship in Shai's mind. She was simply irritated and eager to bring a swift end to the conflict. The opportunity presented itself sooner than she had anticipated. Seizing the moment the insect was preoccupied with evading the snake's attack, Shai unleashed the [Arcane Shot]. The projectile, filled with potent poison, shot forward, its speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye. It struck the insect's back wing, penetrating deeply.

The insect was oblivious to what had struck as it crashed down. No matter how it struggled to flap its wings, it was futile. The poison-infused projectile had torn through its wing, rendering its attempts at flight in vain as it crashed several metres away.

In its impending doom, the insect emitted a shrill cry, using its legs to dodge the python's attacks while desperately scanning for the source of the attack that had disabled its wings. Sadly, there was no rest to the relentless assault of the python, considering it finally got a chance at victory.

To spice up the proceedings, Shai readied another [Arcane Shot]. She was uncertain if she could inflict much damage to the python's scales, but the huge serpent was already baked well, exhausted from all the tussling with the firebreathing insect.

The python's physique was sturdy, easily a few folds higher than her own, reinforced by its black scales. However, that didn't mean it was without vulnerable spots.

Shai channelled as much energy as she could muster, the rest of her focus was completely on the python's movement.

Her aim was the python's eye. The wounded reptile relentlessly pressed its assault on the insect, unaware of the true enemy lurking in the tree. Shai's mouth burned with fiery anguish as magical energy built up, ready to blast out the [Arcane Shot]. Recoiling her head back, Shai swiftly thrust it forward, releasing the projectile.

Her shot landed precisely on the mark--the snake's eye--eliciting a hiss of agony from the wounded serpent. It gazed in utter bewilderment at the spirit tree with its remaining eye.

The black-scaled python easily located the small white-scaled snake, a surge of unbridled fury engulfing its heart. Ignoring its original target—the fire-breathing black insect, which was half-dead from the poison coursing through its system—the python slithered towards its hidden adversary.

Shai was too haughty to cower from its furious hissing.

What are you looking at? Shai retorted inwardly, aware the stupid python couldn't hear her. Never seen a fine-lookin' snake as this beauty, have you?

The python was battered with swollen wounds scattered across its body, but there was no stopping its momentum as it rushed at Shai. It hissed in madness, its breath wheezing out, seething with anger. 

Discovering its prize claimed by a small hatchling, and one of its eyes blinded, it could no longer contain its rage. The python reared up, soaring into the air and violently slamming its head at Shai, who lurched quickly to avoid the blow. The python struck the trunk of the tree.

Easy, easy, Dad always used to say anger is the ultimate enemy of reason, Shai taunted, lunging from the tree before the python could wreak havoc any further.

The massive python hissed, its movements almost uprooting the spirit tree, wasting the natural cultivation resources that could have helped many creatures. It lunged at Shai, fury blinding its sight.

You want a fight, huh? Shai mused. Fine, I'll give it to you. Just stop wasting food.

Coiling her body, Shai enveloped herself with the primal energy, her eyes fixed on the gargantuan python that charged towards her, its horrifying maw wide open, aiming to devour her whole. Shai remained steadfast, rooted in place, her gaze unwavering on her target. 

Nothing could unsettle her at this moment.

Chapter 06 - Predator

The python tore at her, intent on devouring her entirely. Instead of retreating, Shai coiled her body as tightly as possible and propelled herself forward, hurtling into the enormous python's mouth.

The clueless black-scaled python had no inkling of what was transpiring, but before it could revel in its supposed victory, splitting agony seared through its innards. The small white snake wreaked havoc inside its mouth, unleashing a barrage of Arcane Shots.

But the onslaught did not end there. Shai ravaged the upper lining of the python's mouth, piercing through from the inside. The little white snake showed no signs of relenting, continuing to rampage to her heart's content. Meanwhile, the python thrashed about outside, slamming its head against the ground as if that was going to hurt her.

The outer scales of the black-scaled python's body were nearly as resilient as raw metal, making it extremely difficult for Shai to inflict any damage. That was precisely why she decided to damage it from within. The oblivious snake had no inkling that death could come in such a manner.

Snakes truly were truly dim-witted, and this one, in particular, seemed even more so. As Shai instigated chaos within the colossal maw of the python, it repeatedly thrashed its head against the earth. It was as if the python had developed a strange yearning for its demise.

Keep going, ugly. You're doing great. At this rate, one of us will surely meet our end, Shai ridiculed, wishing she could make the serpent understand her sentiment.

However, Shai was far from out of danger. The python managed to sink its fangs into her on several occasions, but thankfully, she came out almost unscathed with the thin layer of primal energy empowering her body. It was minimal protection, but it made her sturdier to inflict grievous wounds in short contact. More powerful too.

Just a little more... And she would finally be done with this ordeal.

The python continued to struggle for another minute while Shai meticulously tore it apart from the inside out until she finally managed to nibble into its brain. Although it was questionable whether the python even possessed a functioning brain, given its remarkably foolish actions.

[You have slain a Black-scaled Python Lvl 17.]

[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 4. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]

[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 5. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]

Shai vigorously shook her head, emerging into the light, partly to rid herself of the filth that clung to her body, and partly because the disorienting experience left her feeling dizzy after all the twists and turns she had endured within the python's cavity. Then came the surge of power, washing over her as much of her distress was relieved.

The way she coated her body with the primal energy gave her ideas on how to do it better. A thought for later... because she couldn't believe this dumb snake was Level 17... 

I mean, didn't its Mind attribute increase by levelling up that much?

Apparently not. The feat depleted almost all her energy reserves. She didn't anticipate it would be such a taxing endeavour, despite the python's foolishness and injuries, but considering it was a Level 17 creature she could understand why. 

Killing it would have been impossible if it weren't wounded so badly. Well, if Shai knew it was 14 levels higher than her she would have gone after robbing, never looking back. Even if it didn't have the blessing of that Kismet fellow, which gave Shai attribute points of more than 5 levels, its power should have dwarfed her own.

But in the end, everything worked out. Her ignorance hadn't caused her demise. The rewards would undoubtedly make it worthwhile, though she needed to be more careful from now on. Lvl 17, damn, that was one flabass snake

Collecting herself, Shai approached the lifeless reptile and utilised her Inventory to store it away. She didn't know the space inside would be enough to store such a massive creature, but her worry was unfounded as the huge corpse disappeared from her sight. Although it took a few extra seconds.

Should I eat the flesh of a kin? she mused at the ultimate conundrum of her situation. Hey Grandpa, will that make me a cannibal?

The hint of curiosity slowly turned into outright refusal. Nope, that dimwitted python is no kin of mine. Besides, I ain't eating that ugly thing. Storing it, just in case...

Her treacherous appetite could not be trusted. 

Shai gathered the remaining peaches and mushrooms from the uprooted tree, when another notification appeared on her peripheral vision. 

[You have played a role in slaying Giant Black Beetle Lvl 14.]​

Played a role? Shai chuckled, amused by the phrasing. Sadly, there's no more level-up.

She proceeded to loot the gigantic beetle's corpse. But it seemed System Grandpa wasn't done with her yet, as a soul-wrenching force plunged onto her, eliciting an indignant hiss.

[New achievement! You have defeated a creature 10 levels higher than you, demonstrating the slumbering predator in you.

You have unlocked the inherent mark, Predator.]

[Mark: Predator

A natural-born Predator stalks its prey for hours, even days, patiently waiting for the opportune moment to strike. By exhibiting your predatory nature, you have unlocked an inherited predatory aura that can intimidate lesser-ranked creatures and enhance your ability to conceal yourself.

+5 All Attributes]

A deep surge of power washed over Shai instantly, as a deep sense of invincibility possessed her, causing her to hiss in anticipation. In a matter of seconds, the invincibility vanished, though Shai felt like she was twice as powerful.

She carefully examined her body, expecting to discover where the mark had appeared. However, she found no unique patterns that hadn't been there before. She found nothing to note.

​[Your inherited mark "Predator" is influencing the skill Beastial Instinct (E)...] 

[Beastial Instinct is evolving...] 

[Congratulations! Beastial Instinct (E) has evolved into Predatory Instinct (D). Some of the mastery of the prior skill is lost in the evolution.]

[Predatory Instinct (D): 

Mastery: 3% 

You possess the aura of a predator. The evolved skill enhances the ability to detect the aura of your prey, giving you a better idea of when to attack and when to retreat.]

Sweet, Shai hissed with excitement. So the halo of colour I was seeing around all the creatures is aura? And this skill will help me see aura better? 

She didn't think she was wrong, although she would've liked a more combat-oriented skill. Well, perhaps I won't just jump at danger so easily with [Predatory Instinct (D)]

Having completed her business in the area, Shai lingered, gazing towards the towering ridge ahead. It stood a couple of kilometres high. Perhaps there is a better hiding place in the high rugged terrain.

But first, I need to take a bath, the filth is killing me.

Luckily for her, she found a stream before sunset. Of all the mundane activities, bathing was one of her favourites. Shai relished the opportunity to bathe to her heart's content, taking advantage of the free-flowing water. However, she couldn't deny that she didn't feel as refreshed after bathing as she had initially assumed.

She much preferred cold baths, however, as a reptile, Shai's blood ran cold. Still, the temperature of the water didn't bother her much, though not remarkably fresh, and seemed to have something off about it. Her inner predator stirred at the abnormality.

Shai couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong, but there was an undeniable sense of oddity to it. Regardless, she had no intention of investigating further. All she desired at that moment was...

Her thoughts trailed off as a question formed in her mind. What exactly did she want? It was a question she had no answer to, leaving her momentarily puzzled and contemplative. Her current goal was to survive, even as a cute little snake. But what's after? 

Power? she mused, floating in gentle waves as she inched closer to the bank. Power was the undeniable truth of the world, even if there was no magic in the world. Without power, her survival was in turmoil. 

And magic is cool. Shai believed she could truly accomplish something great if she put her mind to it. Dad always believed in me, even though he was never there for me

Could she fill the inner void with magic? The void left behind by her parent's separation, her father's disappearance, and finally her death...

Shaking her head, the little white snake emerged from the water. Dwelling on those thoughts would only breed dismay and melancholy within her. She needed to stay focused on her survival.

It was pretty straightforward as far as she was concerned. Kill beasts to gain levels. The skills come in handy. Now that she had resources to restore how primal energy quickly, Shai planned on empowering herself so much that she could kill a creature like the Black-scaled Python in a fair fight.

Shai dug another hole in the rugged terrain--a bigger one which let her move around comfortably--and started to work on growing strong wholeheartedly.

Chapter 07 - Essence Weaving

Waking up the next morning, the very first thing Shai did was check the [system log] to see her progress. Obviously, she hadn't expected a level-up notification. 

[You have achieved a small breakthrough. Your path has grown to Favoured Hatchling Lvl 6. +1 to all Primary Attributes, +1 Unallocated Point.]

Well, a couple of days passed, and she did slay a few insignificant creatures of the likes of hampsters, rabbits and a couple of grey wolves. The kill hadn't allowed her to gain a level, but looking at the notification, she could only imagine it to be delayed.

Perhaps, she received some help from the fruits and underdeveloped mushrooms she devoured. They were synthesised complex essences, after all.

Moreover, she again gained a few more inches as her attributes grew. Perhaps the day wasn't far away when Shai could compete with the Black-scaled Python in shape and size.

With still 27 days to go and already Lvl 6, Shai felt mildly confident in completing the quest. Of course, the Predator mark, which increased all her attributes by 5 points, played a great role in amplifying her confidence. 

With the increase, her power was far above her actual level. Still, Shai wasn't confident against the Black-scaled Python in a fair fight. With that in mind, Shai got back to her training. 

Her [Basic Meditation (F)] was only 4% away from completion. She didn't know if she would get to evolve the skill on complete mastery, whatever it was Shai was eager to find out. With some experiments, she found that overloading her channels with primal energy greatly increased the improvement in [Basic Meditation (F)]. 

The theory revolved around keeping your cool even in a terrible situation. Shai found it was easier to be calm when the terrible situation was of her own making. 

Still, the skill would take a few more days to complete. In the meantime, Shai put her focus on the other thing she was working on. 

In the fight against the python, Shai had channelled her energy in such a way that her resilience, toughness, and defence, all increased. After two days of incessant training, she had become more proficient in it, unfortunately, her understanding was so rudimentary, that even the Grandpa hadn't presented himself with a skill prompt. 

Come on, Grandpa, can't just give me a hint at what I'm missing?

Although she hadn't received the skill, her understanding increased more and more with the experience. This skill was bigger than she imagined, perhaps that was why she was missing so much. 

However, she wouldn't stop until she made it. It was only a matter of time. 

Forcing herself to eat a couple of peaches, Shai got out of her hole as the bright light of the rising sun assaulted her eyes. It was the beginning of a new day, the fourth day of her life as a snake. With enough food to go by for over a week, Shai put most of her time into training. 

She channelled the primal energy all over her form, imbuing herself with it completely. It would burn away her energy reserves in a matter of minutes, but it was the only way to train the skill. Her body became resilient and tough in seconds, as Shai put herself through various training drills, forcing herself into a stressful situation. 

The primal energy stirred within her, always on the point of escaping her grasp... Shai was enthralled by the feeling. 

Unfortunately, in less than ten minutes, she ran out of energy. She bought out a couple more peaches and a mushroom from the inventory and devoured them. Feeling the rush of power within her, she coiled to begin meditating. 

Shai was back in full power a quarter of an hour later. She went back to the practice again. The same exhaustion repeated itself a few minutes later, as she devoured more peaches and mushrooms to proceed with the unrelenting training. 

The sun moved up in the sky, as the training continued. Only when it reached the horizon did Shai receive the good news she had been training so damn hard for.

[Your knowledge of the fundamental skill Essence Weaving (E) is incomplete.]

[Would you like to learn the fundamental skill, Essence Weaving (E)?] 

About fucking time, Grandpa! She wheezed, rolling over to straighten up a little.

[Essence Weaving (E) will cost 1 Insight Point. Please confirm your investment.]

[Accept | Decline]

What's a fundamental skill? Shai questioned. But knowing she wouldn't receive an answer, she mulled over what this skill could entail. Possibly the way to imbue energy better and empower herself, like she had been training for. If so...

Shai accepted the prompt as deep knowledge of [Essene Weaving (E)] seized her mind. A hiss escaped her mouth. Although it was merely an E-rank skill, the sheer amount of knowledge overloaded her tiny brain. The feeling was greater than even Arcane Shot, which was a rank above.

[Congratulations! You have learned the skill, Essence Weaving (E).]

[Essense Weaving (E): 

Mastery: 2%

Essence is the primal power of life. Essense Weaving is the fundamental art of all essence-based skills; it lets you employ the primal force most effectively.]

Got it, Shai winced, still a little dazed from the implanted insight. Sadly, it wasn't the skill she desired, but the cost and training were worth it. This skill actually gave her ideas about other minor essence weaving skills she might want to explore. 

It was like asking for a car, but only getting the spare parts and an assembling guide instead.

Settling down to rest for a while, she checked on the resources left in her Inventory. More than half of the mushrooms were available, but she already finished up most of the peaches. Other than those, she only had the corpses of the python and beetle available. After a second thought, she ejected the beetle out of the inventory.

It didn't look that much of a sumptuous meal, but it was what it was. For survival.

Shai began devouring. It was really nasty to eat, but as she proceeded on, Shai actually found a small red marble-like thing in the back of the head of the dead creature. It was radiating a reddish-hot aura as well.

It's not going to burst into flames, is it? she mumbled inwardly and stowed it away back into the inventory, even if it looked like a volatile blob of fire magic.

Finished filling her stomach, it was time for a little strolling, and Shai had the exact place in mind. On her way to the river yesterday, she had stumbled upon a cavern, which seemed to harbour plenty of creatures for her to gain levels from. 

It felt wrong—killing beasts for the sake of growing stronger so that she could live a better life—but that was how the world operated. The system simply elevated it to another level. Shai hissed in resignation as she snaked her way down the rugged terrain. 

To even reach the copper rank, she probably needs to slay hundreds of creatures. Jesus, I have already slayed dozens of them 

Well, most of it came from self-defence, as most of the creatures that discovered her seemed to be hellbent on eating her as if she were some rare delicacy. 

Shai lifted her head and saw a bird in the sky. Like if that foolish birb sees me, it will want to eat me...

Her slitted eyes narrowed as she recognised the bird in flight. Wasn't that the golden-tailed eagle of the mercenary boss?

Shai grunted, or at least mentally expressed her frustration. Crap! I don't have time for this.

Though she wasn't exceptionally knowledgeable, Shai possessed enough common sense to understand that in a confrontation between a snake and an aerial predator, the aerial predator held the advantage. 

Sure, she might be a special snake with memories of past life, but the eagle seemed bad news to her. Even her inner predator gave signals to withdraw immediately.

The mercenary boss was a powerful man, which meant his bird companion should have some capabilities as well. What troubled her the most was the bird's size. It was small, even compared with a common eagle, which only served to unsettle her further.

Thankfully, the eagle hadn't noticed her presence yet. Shai let out a breath as she slithered toward the entrance of a cavern. If her memory served her correctly, this eagle was originally after an elf and a witch. Why was it here, then? Shai had intentionally chosen a different direction from where the mercenaries had exited. However, it seemed their scout was still searching the area.

Moving swiftly, Shai made her way toward the specific hole she had found, obstructed by multiple boulders. She was still a few dozen paces away from the hole when she felt the evil eye of the eagle looming over her.

Goddamn it!

As Shai had feared, these flying predators had excellent eyesight, one of the reasons why they were used in scouting, spying, and surveillance.

It didn't take long for the golden-tailed eagle to spot the white snake stealthily creeping to the ridge. Without hesitation, it lunged toward her, forgetting its original task completely. Clearly, Shai appeared to be nothing more than a delicious meal, adorned with rare white scales.

Shai cursed under her breath, abandoned her sneaky approach and raced at her top speed. An Arcane Shot was prepared in her mouth, but she refrained from attacking or even glancing back. The bird was fast, terrifyingly so. The cavern was within reach, yet evading such an airborne predator proved to be a daunting task.

With a single powerful flap of its wings, the eagle closed the gap by fifty yards, tailing Shai closely. It aimed to swoop down and grab her up as effortlessly as a kingfisher catching fish out of the water.

Thankfully, there was no instinctual fear plaguing Shai's mind as a snake should have against its natural predator. Well, perhaps it would have been present if she were just an ordinary snake with a dull mind. Then again, she had recently acquired the Predator mark, which should assist her in resisting such primal urges.

Her mind remained cold and calculating, even in the face of danger. She couldn't devise a better plan to defeat the eagle. Unlike the injured python she had slain before, she had no hopes of overpowering it. The deep orange aura around the bird evidenced that. Her only goal now was to create an opportunity to escape. Surely, that couldn't be too difficult, right?

Shai braced herself as the bird's shadow loomed over her.

Chapter 08 - Grand Escape

With swift precision, the eagle swooped down and captured Shai in the middle of its beak. Shai had expected that, unfortunately, she hadn't taken it into account for the crushing force the beak inflicted on her poor spine. She was literally on the verge of being torn apart. 

A jolt of agony surged through her spine, battering her from within. The crushing force was intense, but she refused to be consumed by fear. The primal essence surged through her body, giving the little edge she needed. She strained her neck upwards, locked eyes with the eagle and unleashed the poison-infused [Arcane Shot] directly at its eye.

There was no way for the bird to evade the attack, although it desperately tried to evade the imminent danger it had brought upon itself. Despite all of its efforts, the eagle failed. Shai was just too close.

The projectile struck its eye, causing a burst of blinding pain. Shai's gamble bore fruit, however, she wasn't out of danger yet.

The bird screeched in agony, releasing Shai from its beak as it collided with a tree. Shai crashed down and bounced a little on the rough earth, but she had no time to linger and assess her condition. Agony overwhelmed her, but she swiftly turned and crawled toward the cavern, gaining a sense of her direction while preparing smaller, concentrated spirit Arcane Shots in her mouth that she could unleash simultaneously.

Although she had successfully blinded one of its eyes, the poison alone was insufficient to kill the eagle immediately, if ever. The best she could hope for was to slow down its pursuit.

In any case, she only managed to get the shot as a result of the bird's profound lack of intelligence. There was a reason people insulted others by calling them "bird brains." 

Though a bird as magnificent as the golden-tailed eagle should possess greater intelligence than a mere reptile, Shai was no ordinary reptile.

She had once been a high-functioning mortal, who didn't need the primal essence at all. Just a couple of cups of coffee were enough. Now, she didn't have caffeine to keep herself astute, but she had her moments with the primal essence even in all the paranoia and recklessness.

Her time in the darkness deranged her, and the snake form did help her mental stability, but it didn't diminish her intelligence to the point where she would succumb to a bird. The deep surge of coldness in her blood wouldn't let her. It rumbled in disgust, almost compelling her to see the bird to its end.

Shai wasn't the food, but it was the other way around.

Shai had to grit her teeth to keep her predatory instinct in check, knowing all that was doing was filling her with a false sense of superiority and power. Her mind was torn between her primal desire for dominance over the stupid bird and her rational self.

The wounded eagle screeched as the tree it clashed against shook, and out came an enraged predator of two metres long, wide wings flapping behind, its shadow enough to shelter two men. From the size of half a metre, it turned into something that could crush a human head easily with its beak. With one flap of its wing, its shadow appeared on Shai, who barely managed to stay level-headed.

The bird's aura underwent a startling transformation, growing a deeper orange, comparable to all those mercenaries, only losing out to the leader of the group. It was easily the strongest predator she had faced as of yet. But Shai stayed calm and collected, refusing to be intimidated.

The irrational part of her mind was telling her to see through this dumb bird and teach it who the real predator was. Shai ignored that part, recognising the futility of engaging in such a primal power struggle.

Shai's body lurched towards the direction of the cavern while she twisted her head to meet the bird. She unleashed a barrage of [Arcane Shots], her movements precise and calculated. The eagle, caught off guard by the attack, attempted to evade, but in doing so, it missed an opportunity to capture the small white snake that had blinded its eye.

The dozens of [Arcane Shots] seared through its wings, inflicting fresh wounds upon the magnificent bird.

I bet you didn't see that coming, did you? Shai hissed with satisfaction, revelling in her momentary triumph. Her confidence bolstered, she swiftly manoeuvred her narrow body through the tiny gaps of the boulders and escaped, leaving the disoriented eagle behind.

In most normal cases, the battle would've ended here. But Shai was paranoid to a fault.

Shai didn't stop after slipping through the gaps of boulders. Instead, she moved as fast as she could, driven by gripping dread and weakness. A seething agony coursed through her body, too painful to ignore, but Shai had no other choice but to rush away. Her life was on the line.

The cavern ahead was shrouded in impenetrable darkness, but her serpent eyes possessed an uncanny ability to sense faint outlines of her surroundings. Though the sight was far from normal, she managed to navigate through the looming darkness with surprising efficiency.

The sound of loud thumping echoed behind her. Evidently, the golden-tailed eagle wasn't ready to let her go so easily. Not after she burst open one of its eyes. 

Thankfully, smashing the boulders aside would take over a good minute, even if it was lucky, then the bird would face more trouble flying inside the short tunnel-like cavern that seemed to be reaching deeper into the abyss itself.

All of that would provide Shai with enough advantage to flee far from the reach of the aerial predator.

Shai delved into even narrower subterranean tunnels, reaching deeper into the cavern, where the eagle's huge body wouldn't be able to pursue her. If the sky were its realm of advantage, then this was exactly where Shai would thrive, even though she felt eerie inside, snaking through the narrow tunnels.

With each turn, Shai felt as if the cavern had no end. When she scouted it yesterday, she never thought it would have such depth. Perhaps there was another escape route within, considering the eagle would likely wait instead of recklessly charging inside. Then again, considering its intelligence, Shai wasn't so sure about that.

[Would you like to learn the skill, Pain Resistance (E).]

[Pain Resistance (E) will consume 1 point of Insight Point.] 

[Accept | Decline]

Huh? Shai barely thought for a second about the notification, before accepting it. There was no rush of knowledge this time, only a numbing sensation which finally brought a semblance of sanity to her mind. 

Perhaps if she was thinking straight she would have questioned the need for such a skill, considering the skill slots were limited. But it wasn't just a little bit of pain that she could endure. No, it was an ungodly amount of agony, and the more she moved the worse it felt. 

The tiny bones of her spine had fractured, perhaps even shattered completely... she couldn't tell. Hell, she couldn't even feel much of her lower body. It felt like she was drawing it along. 

After crawling swiftly for about ten minutes, she found no signs of any other creatures in the cavern. Shai thought that she might encounter giant insects or reptiles along the way, but none whatsoever so far. Well, she wasn't complaining since her battered body was barely capable of another fight.

Shai went on for a few more minutes, twisting and turning into the paths. Just as she was about to hiss in relief that she was safe, she fell off from reaching the end of the tunnel.

Thankfully, the pit wasn't too deep. She escaped the fall with minor injuries, though it did a number on her with all the wounds she already bore.

A bird tells me I'll master the [Pain Resistance] skill pretty quickly, she groaned at the thought.

Her day couldn't have gone any worse when another notification expanded before her eyes, along with Grandpa's imperative voice. Shai let out a low hiss of misery.

[You have entered the dungeon, Twisted Web.]

[Dungeon: Twisted Web

Grade: Unknown.

Information: Unavailable.

P.S.: For reasons unknown, the System cannot determine the grade or the primal essence currents inside Twisted Web.]

What does that mean, Grandpa? Shai let out an indignant sigh, rereading the text to understand better. Whatever it meant, it didn't sound like good news for her.

Regardless, it changed nothing. She was out of options.

Shai limped on the stony ground, her narrow body undulating uncomfortably. Her eyes drifted around the cavern, desperately searching for any areas to take refuge. Finding no other creatures in her detection, she let out a sigh of relief. The encounter with the eagle had drained her more than she had anticipated. Even the act of fleeing had depleted a significant amount of her energy.

She was exhausted, weak, severely wounded, and, most of all, hungry. Her bottomless stomach growled as a reminder of that.

Fortunately, she wouldn't have to resort to hunting any time soon in her weakened state, as the food she had saved up would suffice... at least for a few more days until she would have to eat the python. The constant hunger that gnawed at her, she wasn't so sure if she cared about cannibalism anymore.

Retrieving some mushrooms from her inventory, Shai devoured it without chewing. Her metabolism worked in mysterious ways. Her digestion ability humbled the frail mortal girl she had been in her previous life.

Satiating her hunger, she moved into a large crack in the stones and coiled her narrow body to rest.

I need to reach level 25 as soon as possible, she decided. More than 25 days remained for her to complete the quest, but she didn't know if she would survive that long with everything the world threw at her. No, 25 days won't do it.

I'll have to be strong no matter what!