Chapter 3: The First Hunt

Thoroughly leafy trees filtered the morning light as I came out of my camp. My body still vibrated from the tingling feeling of leveling up. But now wasn't the time to sit on one's laurels. A new quest had popped up from the system, one that turned my anxiety screw on.

Quest: Kill the First Predator

Objective: kill a weak predator, train in an actual fight.

Reward: 200 experience, combat skill unlocked.

That felt crazy-destroying a predator. Yet, I am a rabbit-so small and feeble. Fighting any predator, no matter how "easy, just felt impossible. But, of course, the challenge could not be avoided. If I wanted to stay alive, then I had to be stronger. Running and concealing myself would work only for a time.

I looked around. The woods were silent-but something was in the air, in the life all around: birds, insects, and most definitely predators. My new Survival Instinct skill showed me right where the danger was-like some soft sound inside my mind. A strange, weird feeling; something like a warning system.

But then, of course, instead of shunning it, I was compelled to seek.

I took a deep breath and ventured deeper into the forest, keeping low and with much caution. The system quest showed me weaker types of predators-one which I may handle. I needed only to find one which wasn't too strong, something I could trick.

Soon, an hour or so later, I chanced on some sort of trail: minuscule, minuscule paw prints in the dirt no bigger than my own. I could smell the musky tinge in the air. A weasel? I followed the trail more carefully now, my heart pounding. I was led into a small clearing by these prints, and it was there that I saw what I had been searching for.

A creature, somewhat ferret-like, sniffed in the undergrowth, its smooth muscled body flexing as it hunted for food. It was quick but was not very big-maybe half my size. It seemed like a small predator that the system wanted. Still, it was a predator, and I did not know how I would beat it.

As I watched the creature, a new screen popped up:

[Enemy Found: Forest Ferret]

Level: 3

Status: Low-level predator

Weaknesses: speed and agility

It wasn't looking at me yet, but it would soon. I didn't have much time to come up with a plan. My mind was racing, trying to juggle whatever idea that could think of in defense against some sort of thing most likely quicker and stronger than I am.

[System Suggestion] Utilize your agility, your surrounding, and the right timing is what it all counts for an attack.

Not more powerful, no, maybe I didn't need to be; my mind started to develop the sequences of how I outsmarted the fox, how the setting helped me, and how I needed to be sly, not strong.

Instantly, my head was up, and he looked at me-yes, he had seen me. The air grew stiffer, hunching down with knees bent, ready for a leap. My instincts screamed at me-run-but I managed to force my body to remain still. For once, it was about being in front, and if at all possible, making the first move.

In one moment, it jumped out. I barely managed to sidestep; my body turned out to be quicker than I believed. Of course, already Agility +1 helped, but the only speed couldn't count on: the ferret was fast, it minced around me, searching for another chance.

I ran into a felled tree nearby and under the thick roots of it. It gave chase, snarling, attempting to reach me, but its body could not make it through minute interstices in the root. I crawled on the other side, fast-thinking in my mind-I need to make some sort of trap.

Then I saw a branch hanging precariously above the opening. If I could just get the ferret to move to the right place and make that branch fall.

I started running back in the open so he could see me. He did let out a hiss now, really angry, and then charged at me. This time, I did not run far, just under the overhanging branch, where I stopped and waited.

[Survival Instinct Activated]

It was going in slow motion; my senses suddenly became hyper-acutely aware. The ferret was fairly close, jaws chiseled. I jumped to the side with perfect timing and kicked a loose rock at the base of the tree. It hit the weak support holding the branch up, and it fell down with a loud crack.

It hit the ferret squarely on the back, pinning it down on the ground, and he cried while struggling to wriggle himself loose, but it was too big. I didn't waste any time. Seizing the opportunity, I sprang onto the ferret and then used all the energy in me to bite his neck.

The ferret didn't budge.

I stepped backwards, puffed myself, feeling proud of myself. Done. Killed my first enemy.

[Quest Complete!]

Reward: 200 experience points.

New combat skill unlocked: Quick Strike (Level 1)

Next level at: 50/300 XP

[Level Up!]

Stat Boost: Str +1, Agi +2.

I leveled up again and felt another surge of energy. My body became even quicker and stronger in an instant. A new skill appeared on the system screen:

Quick Strike - Lvl 1

A quick, precise strike aiming for damage through enemy weaknesses. There is a small chance the target will become dazed.

Some kind of fighting skill. Finally, something that may actually help me in fighting back better. The system had shown me a glimpse of what it felt like to be strong, and I wanted more.

As I watched the ferret lying there, I caught on to something-something so important: the world wasn't kind; it was cruel. And if I wanted to live, then changing and struggling had to be my doings. Never be weak.

No more was I the simple rabbit, a predator now had I become, and with the system's help, I would go up non-stop in the food chain. But it seemed the ferret was only the tip of the iceberg. So much other dangers existed, and I needed to be prepared. I looked down at the system screen while I waited for what test this would come up with next.

New Quest Unlocked: Claim Your Territory

Objective: Capture part of the forest and kill three other predators to win.

Reward: 300 experience points, Predator's Domain unlocked.

A place that would belong to me: now, that was something that really got me going. I wouldn't just make it; I would be the best. The forest was enormous, full of risks, but I'd be prepared for them. I would be the strongest.

My journey had only just started.