I shook off the last drops of water from my fur and stretched, enjoying how my muscles rippled beneath my white coat. The peaceful moment ended abruptly when the system's notification appeared.
[New Quest Available: Defeat Five Rank 2 Beasts]
[Difficulty: Normal]
[Reward: 2 Skill Points, 500 XP, 100 Store Points]
[Accept? Y/N]
"Five Rank 2 beasts?" I grinned, flicking my tail. "Finally, something interesting."
I mentally selected 'Y' and waited for additional details.
[Quest accepted. Note: Target creatures are significantly below host's current power level. No individual XP will be awarded for defeats. Quest reward XP will be granted upon completion.]
My excitement dimmed slightly. "So they're not even worth killing for XP? Just the quest reward?"
[Correct. These opponents will provide combat experience but minimal growth potential.]
I sighed but understood the logic. After my evolution, these creatures weren't true challenges anymore—just practice targets.
"Well, let's get started then."
I hadn't traveled far when my nose caught the distinct scent of wet earth and something musky. Following the trail, I crept through dense underbrush until I spotted my first target—an enormous boar with metallic-looking bristles covering its body.
My Analyze skill activated automatically:
[Ironhide Boar (Rank 2)]
[Level: 24]
[HP: 400/400]
[mana: 300]
[Stats:
Strength: 68
Speed: 42
Defense: 65
Agility: 35
Intelligence: 25]
[Skills:
Iron Skin: 2
Reinforced Charge: 2
Tusk Gore: 2
"Not bad," I whispered, assessing my opponent. Its defense was impressive, but its intelligence was laughably low. Perfect for testing my abilities.
The boar's head jerked up, its beady eyes searching. It had caught my scent. Before I could make the first move, it lowered its head and charged, surprisingly fast for its bulky frame.
I waited until the last possible moment before sidestepping with casual ease. The boar thundered past me, skidding as it tried to turn.
"Too slow," I taunted, summoning three Ice Spikes that shot from the ground, piercing its legs. The boar squealed, its movement immediately hampered.
It tried to charge again, but limped pathetically. I circled it, enjoying the hunt perhaps more than I should have.
"Let's end this," I murmured, channeling lunar energy into my claws. The silvery glow of Moon Slash illuminated the clearing as I pounced, slicing through the boar's ironhide like it was paper.
The beast collapsed, dead before it hit the ground. I approached and extracted its mana core, a small glowing sphere that pulsed with energy.
I consumed it immediately, feeling a slight tingle as it dissolved.
[Mana Core absorbed. +1 Stat Point acquired.]
[Random stat increases: +3 Speed, +2 Intelligence, +1 Agility]
[mana increases: +5]
The scent of my first kill lingered in my nostrils as I padded deeper into the forest. The trees grew denser here, their thick canopies blocking most of the sunlight. Perfect hunting grounds for ambush predators—and for me.
A faint rustling caught my attention. Something was stalking through the undergrowth, moving with practiced silence. I pretended not to notice, continuing forward while keeping my senses alert.
My Analyze skill activated when I caught a glimpse of sleek black fur between the trees:
[Venomous Shadow Panther (Rank 2)]
[Level: 27]
[HP: 310/310]
[Mana: 400]
[Stats:
Strength: 52
Speed: 68
Defense: 45
Agility: 70
Intelligence: 40]
[Skills:
Shadow Meld: 3
Toxic Bite: 2
Night Vision: 2]
Its agility and speed were impressive—nearly matching my own. This would be more interesting than the boar.
The panther vanished completely, its black fur melting into the shadows between trees. My ears twitched, tracking its silent movements circling behind me. Most prey would be oblivious until it was too late.
My Danger Sense flared suddenly—a cold prickle along my spine. I leapt sideways just as the panther lunged from darkness, its fangs grazing my flank where my throat had been moments before.
"Nice try," I growled, summoning an Ice Wall that cut off its retreat into the shadows.
The panther hissed, realizing it was trapped in a small clearing. Sunlight illuminated its sleek form, nullifying its stealth advantage. Venom dripped from its fangs, sizzling where it hit the ground.
It circled me warily, looking for an opening. When it finally pounced, I was ready.
I met its charge head-on, ducking beneath its outstretched claws. With perfect timing, I raked my own claws across its exposed underbelly. The panther yowled in pain, twisting midair to land awkwardly.
Before it could recover, I pounced, sinking my teeth into the back of its neck with a decisive crunch. The fight ended instantly.
I extracted the mana core from its body and consumed it, feeling a pleasant warmth spread through my body.
[Mana Core absorbed. +1 Stat Point acquired.]
[Random stat increases: +2 Defense, +1 Agility]
[mana increases +5]
Two down, three to go. I shook my head, flinging droplets of the panther's blood from my fur. The forest had grown eerily quiet after our battle, as if the other creatures were holding their breath.
I didn't have to wait long for my next challenge. A wave of heat washed over me before I even saw my opponent. The bushes to my right erupted in a shower of embers as a massive wolf leapt through, its russet fur shimmering with dancing flames. Each paw left scorched prints on the forest floor.
My Analyze skill activated:
[Blazing Fang Wolf (Rank 2)]
[Level: 26]
[HP: 350/350]
[Mana: 350]
[Skills:
Fire Coat: 2
Flame Howl: 2
Fire Claw: 3]
"An elemental opposite," I purred, tail swishing in anticipation. "This should be interesting."
The wolf bared its teeth, flames licking between its fangs. It threw its head back and released a haunting howl that sent nearby birds scattering from the treetops. The sound vibrated through my bones, but I stood my ground.
With surprising speed, it charged. Fire engulfed its front paws as it swiped at my face, the heat intense enough to singe my whiskers even before contact.
"Ice Spear!" I channeled my mana, and a jagged spear of ice materialized, colliding with the flaming claws. Steam hissed and billowed between us as fire and ice canceled each other out.
The wolf snarled in frustration, momentarily blinded by the steam cloud. I seized the opportunity.
"Dash!"
My body blurred with speed as I circled around, positioning myself behind the confused wolf. Before it could turn, I pounced, my jaws clamping down on the back of its neck with crushing force. The wolf yelped once, then went limp as my fangs found its spine.
The flames coating its fur sputtered and died with its final breath.
I extracted the mana core from its chest—this one glowed with an inner fire, pulsing like a tiny sun. When I consumed it, warmth flooded through me, pleasant despite my ice affinity.
[Mana Core absorbed. +1 Stat Point acquired.]
[Random stat increases: +1Strength, +1 intelligence, +1 Speed]
[Mana increases: +5]
The forest fell silent as I stalked through the underbrush, searching for my next prey. Three down, two to go. My paws barely made a sound against the soft earth as I moved deeper into unfamiliar territory.
A faint crackling sound reached my ears, like the snap of twigs during a storm. I slowed my pace, every sense alert. The air felt different here—charged, making my fur stand slightly on end.
I rounded a massive oak and froze. Standing in a small clearing was a magnificent stag, its antlers stretching toward the sky like gnarled branches. But these weren't ordinary antlers—they crackled with visible electricity, blue-white sparks dancing between the points.
My Analyze skill activated:
[Thunder Horned Stag (Rank 2)]
[Level: 28]
[HP: 380/380]
[Mana: 420]
[Skills:
Lightning Charge: 3
Static Shield: 2
Thunder Stomp: 2]
The stag's head snapped up, nostrils flaring as it caught my scent. Its eyes locked with mine—intelligent, wary, and tinged with an unnatural blue glow.
Before I could plan my attack, it moved with astonishing speed. One moment it stood still; the next, it was charging, antlers lowered and trailing electricity like comet tails.
I barely managed to leap aside, feeling the hair along my spine rise as electricity arced through the air where I'd been standing. This opponent was faster than the others—much faster.
"You're quick," I growled, circling cautiously. "But speed isn't everything."
The stag pawed the ground, electricity pulsing down its legs and scorching the earth. It charged again, changing direction mid-rush when I tried to dodge.
One of its antlers grazed my shoulder, sending a painful shock through my body. I hissed, shaking off the numbness that threatened to spread down my leg.
This wasn't working. I needed to change tactics.
"frost Mist," I whispered, channeling mana through my breath. A thick fog of crystalline frost spread across the clearing, obscuring vision and—more importantly—dampening the electricity crackling from the stag's antlers.
The stag snorted in confusion, its movements becoming more hesitant as its electrical advantage diminished. I could see it clearly through the mist, but it was struggling to locate me.
When it finally charged again, I was ready. I coated my claws in a thick layer of ice, nullifying any electrical feedback, and waited until the last possible moment.
As its massive form burst through the mist, I slashed downward, my ice-coated claws severing tendons in its front leg. The stag stumbled, momentum carrying it forward as it crashed to the ground.
Before it could recover, I channeled lunar energy into my claws. "Moon Slash!" The silvery energy burst forth, cutting through the stag's neck in one clean strike.
I approached the fallen beast and extracted its mana core—this one pulsed with tiny lightning bolts trapped within. When I consumed it, a tingling sensation spread throughout my body.
[Mana Core absorbed. +1 Stat Point acquired.]
[Random stat increases: +2 Agility, +1 Speed]
[Mana increases: +5]
I flexed my claws, noticing how my reflexes seemed sharper, more precise. Four down, one to go.