Chapter 7

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: Where's the Mom?

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Thump.

My heart pounded.

Look at that clean cut.

No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠way it was an accident.

Someone clearly sliced that Phishing Snake clean in half.

I wanted to believe it was just some petty thief stealing my meat, but that didn't add up either.

Not with all these felled trees around.

From the various signs, it was obvious this wasn't the work of some small-time crook.

It had to be some monstrous brute, way bigger than me right now.

Of course, I couldn't be sure it was the same creature that cut the snake.

Still, one thing I could be certain of: this place was far more dangerous than I'd thought.

What if the Phishing Snake hadn't thrown itself in the way and blocked the nest entrance?

I might've been the one sliced in half.

And the fact that I only noticed now, after the outside was wrecked like this, was weird too.

Evolution must put you in such a defenseless state that you don't even register a tree getting smashed.

And it seems to take longer than expected.

I've gotta be way more careful all around.

Just a half-beat off, and I'd have been dead.

What kind of monster passed through here?

What could I even do if I ran into it?

"Chirp...."

I took a deep breath.

"Snore...."

Eh, what good does worrying do?

If something like that comes for me, I'd just have to let it eat me painlessly.

Or play dead like I'm not worth the nutrition.

I'm not saying I wouldn't try to avoid it.

But I can't let it consume me either.

Hiding away fretting over it until I starve to death? That'd be so unfair.

"Caw."

Maybe it's because I have Bird's Wisdom, but I bounced back to positive thinking quick.

Truly a birdbrain worthy of the name.

I'll just take this as intel that dangerous predators are prowling nearby.

Still, after a few sweeps of the area, I confirmed it's safe for now.

Since it's gone with the sun up, probably a nocturnal hunter.

That's enough thinking about mystery predators.

Time to kick off day two of crow life for real.

First things first: get used to this new body.

"Caw."

I hopped up onto a nearby tree stump.

Thanks to that unknown monster toppling it, it was easy to climb.

I'm a crow now.

Crows have lots of traits, but what I need most is flight.

Impossible for a newborn crow body, but I'm not a Little Crow anymore—I'm a Little Night Crow.

And not a day-one crow, but day two.

I gave my unfamiliar wings a little flap.

Flap.

Feels weird.

If I get the hang of it, maybe I could use them like hands, but that's not happening right away.

For now, let's stick to their real purpose.

"Caw!"

Patter!

I threw myself forward.

Thud.

And dropped straight down.

"Squawk...."

Yeah, flying's still off the table.

I peeked at my wings.

Not feathers—just fluffy down.

Honestly, flying with down is the weird part.

Even after evolving, that "Little" prefix means no real feathers yet.

All the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nutrients that should've gone to feathers went to bulking up instead.

Used to be tons of room in my acorn helmet; now it's snug.

Bigger size is great, but it makes me uneasy.

What if I keep evolving and stay like this?

Just getting bigger without feathers?

"Cheep...."

Eh, it'll work out somehow.

And it's not like I have zero feathers.

Don't I have those proud gray and brown ones on my chest?

If worst comes to worst, I could collect them one by one like this.

"Chirp!"

I laid down some soft leaves as padding and practiced a few more times.

Still no flying, but I got the feel for using my wings.

Once muscles build up, I can use them in fights too.

Even without flight, wing slaps would come in handy.

After rolling around on the leaf bed a bunch, I straightened up in a puddle.

This is enough wing practice.

Next up: my new trait.

Pheromone Manipulation.

Pheromones give off a weird vibe.

Like I've turned into an ant, or I'm about to hawk some overhyped cologne.

I already planned how to practice.

Like the Phishing Snake did to me—lure in prey.

Practice and fill my belly: best of both worlds.

"Caw caw."

Of course, mess up and instead of prey, Mountain Eater bros come swarming.

So I need a spot without big guys where I can be king.

"Squawk."

I cried out like a predator and headed to a fallen tree.

The smallest one—so even if something pops out, it's not too risky.

This size should be fine.

I focused.

My brown feather seemed to shimmer, and suddenly chicken scent wafted around.

Made my mouth water without thinking.

So this is the pheromone the Phishing Snake used.

Grub, catch a whiff of this.

"Kisss...."

No red bean paste sounds, but it worked instantly.

A small grub hiding in the tree crawled out.

Some bugs look pretty normal, huh?

"Chirp!"

I pecked up the early-rising bug and ate it.

Stomach's not starving, but eat when you can.

"Squawk."

Taste is meh, but the texture...

Makes me realize yesterday's Phishing Snake was gourmet.

Still, gotta get used to bug-eating.

I hunted bugs to replenish energy, then practiced Pheromone Manipulation with the calories.

After a few tests, I figured out what pheromones I can use.

I named them Allure Scent and Threat Scent.

Allure Scent is like the Phishing Snake's—makes things smell delicious.

Chicken to me, but different for others.

Status said it auto-adjusts per target.

Grubs in rotten wood can't resist poking their heads out.

Of course, no hypnosis-app level effect.

They show interest and peek out, but don't walk right into my mouth.

Just draws curiosity, I'd say.

Phishing Snake used its tongue as bait to compensate.

I should think of improvements too.

Maybe wiggle my tail to look like food?

Allure Scent does that much; Threat Scent is the opposite.

Grubs hit with it turned tail and fled.

Dunno if they sense threat or just find it gross.

Might be more accurate as Filth Scent, but effect's similar enough.

I can probably emit others, but no clue what they do.

Can't use unknown skills, so seal everything but these two for now.

"Caw caw."

Still, feels like progress.

I'm at self-sufficient prey-luring stage now.

Not hunting fighters, but pheromones handle bugs fine.

Won't starve wandering anywhere.

Wait, think about it: I took down a Phishing Snake.

Status called it an earthworm, but name's Snake, so it's a snake.

Baby bird that ate a snake?

Am I stronger than I think?

"Caw...."

I eyed my talons.

Pretty sharp for a baby bird.

And my beak? Not just any beak—Sturdy Beak.

Plus a crow that manipulates pheromones?

Who could stop me?

"Kieek!"

Why's a big shot like this here?

I hid fast at the creepy cry.

What the hell is that?

A mantis?

Why's the mantis so huge?

Wings mean it's a male, I guess.

If males are this big, females must be huge.

Look at those fancy skill names.

Nothing like Crawling or Bite and Crush.

And those scythe arms have poison too.

Grabbed by those, and you're done—no bones left.

"Kiaak!"

It went to the stump where I'd been eating grubs, then smashed its forelegs like something ticked it off.

Was this its hunting ground?

And I scarfed its grubs?

"Kaaak!"

Look how on edge it is.

If it caught me snooping, I'd be toast.

Doesn't look happy, so time to bail.

Pat.

Right as I turned to flee, my black eye caught something.

Sparkle sparkle.

A green feather on the mantis's hind leg.

Not every creature has feathers.

Squirrels didn't, nor the grubs I ate.

Some like Phishing Snake only show later.

Point is, feathers aren't easy to get.

And now a shiny green one right in front of me?

I swear I hear it yelling.

"Take me, please!"

Its traits.

Feather effects match the foe's traits.

So this one's either Poison Generation or Low Glide.

Both super useful to me.

Get Poison Generation?

Poison-wielding crow unlocked.

Fills my attack power gap.

Get Low Glide?

A gliding crow!

...Other crows might pass, but for flightless me? Tempting.

Boosts my mobility.

Attack or mobility.

Either way, jackpot.

How could I pass on that green feather?

Practically says "Mine" already.

"Kisak! Kiruk.... Kek?"

The mantis cocked its head.

Those classic mantis eyes stared right at me.

I stared back.

"Caw caw."

Hi, fellow bug-eater here sorta.

Mind if I snag that feather on your leg?

I flapped my wings to prove I was harmless.

"Kisaaaak!"

Yeah, it didn't take it that way.