Capítulo 4: Into The Woods
The notification faded, and with it, the lingering tension in my body ebbed like a receding tide. My eyes flicked back to the status screen, noticing something I hadn't before. Near my name, a tag that had read [Hunger] was now gone.
I frowned, connecting the dots.
So [Root] doesn't just absorb energy—it removes status debuffs too. My mind latched onto the implications, thoughts cascading in rapid succession. If [Root] could sustain me by drawing energy from the things I killed, it meant I wouldn't have to worry about starving or dying of thirst, at least not immediately. A grim solution, sure, but effective.
The wind stirred, brushing cold fingers across my skin. I shivered. The warmth from the bird's energy had faded, leaving behind the stark reality of my situation.
I glanced upward. The sky was a surreal tapestry of soft blues and silvers, punctuated by streaks of light that danced like auroras. Ethereal whales glided lazily above, their halos casting faint glimmers over the landscape.
This wasn't a dream. It wasn't some twisted game, either. This was real.
Magic. Swords. Monsters. A world torn straight from the pages of every fantasy I'd ever loved—and feared.
A chill that had nothing to do with the wind crawled up my spine. I won't survive the night like this.
My gaze drifted toward the forest on the far side of the meadow, its shadowy expanse bristling with an oppressive energy. It was alive in a way that sent primal warnings screaming through every nerve in my body. I didn't need to step inside to know it was a bad idea. Too early for that.
I shook my head, trying to steady myself.
What do I know? I forced myself to recap. I'm near a lake, in what looks like a meadow, surrounded by low-tier animals. And I need a plan.
My eyes darted back to the surrounding creatures. If [Root] required me to kill things to gain energy and sustain myself, I'd have to hunt. My stomach growled, and I winced. Dinner first. Strategy later.
Movement caught my eye—a small, horned rabbit grazing on the edge of the meadow. Its tiny antlers shimmered faintly in the fading light, making it almost seem harmless. Almost.
I squinted, willing my mind to focus.
Without warning, my vision shifted. A pulse of awareness rippled outward, and words materialized in the air above the creature.
[Horned Rabbit]
Difficulty: FFF
Grade: [Green]
Skills: Roll, Charge
I blinked. The words floated like a hologram, their meaning sinking in slowly.
Appraisal. Mystic Eyes.
A grin tugged at the corner of my lips. This was going to be useful. No—essential. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the things around me was survival gold in an unfamiliar world. And this wasn't just a one-trick ability. Mystic Eyes had space—room for more powers to grow. The thought made my pulse quicken with excitement.
Eight possible powers, I thought, remembering the lore behind the Colossals. My mind briefly wandered to a certain anime back on Earth—one that made every fight with ocular abilities a spectacle. The possibilities were endless.
The rabbit twitched its nose, blissfully unaware of my scrutiny.
Another growl from my stomach brought me back to the moment. "Sorry, little guy," I muttered, crouching low.
The rabbit didn't stand a chance. My body moved instinctively, muscles coiling as I lunged forward. The horned rabbit started to roll away, but I managed to grab it by its hind legs, yanking it off balance. It kicked wildly, its tiny antlers scraping against my arm, but I tightened my grip.
With a single, decisive motion, I snapped its neck.
Ping!
[You have killed a Horned Rabbit.]
['Root' has absorbed energy.]
The rabbit dissolved into shimmering ash, leaving behind another wisp of energy that hovered briefly before flowing into my hand. That same warmth coursed through me, stronger this time. My muscles felt just a little tighter, my breaths a little steadier.
I glanced at the fading notification. Was it a coincidence most of the animals here were low-ranked? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I didn't have time to think about it now.
The sun was sinking, and the meadow was growing colder by the second.
I straightened, my eyes darting back to the status screen. The progress bar for [Root] shifted slightly, a faint percentage now visible beneath it: 90% remaining to next level.
"So it's like leveling up," I muttered, glancing around. "Only it runs on…well, death."
Grim, but efficient. I couldn't afford to be picky about methods.
I turned back toward the remaining creatures in the meadow, my gaze locking onto another horned rabbit. My Mystic Eyes pulsed again, the information flooding my mind almost too fast to process.
[Horned Rabbit]
Difficulty: FFF
Grade: [Green]
Skills: Roll, Charge
One more kill before nightfall. I clenched my fists, forcing down the strange mix of excitement and dread rising in my chest.
Whatever this world threw at me, I'd face it. One step at a time.
Presentes
-- Presente
recebido Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder