Argh! It's a Flying Snake! Hup, Haap, Hep!

There's a way to eat food that's truly satisfying. Stuff as much as possible into your mouth in one go. Imagine a lettuce wrap stuffed to bursting. You chew and chew on that massive bite that's almost too big to handle, swallow it down with your throat just barely closing around it, then chug some cola in the midst of that slight blockage. Nothing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fills you up quite like it.

Even as a snake now, it's the same. I could tear off chunks with my teeth, but swallowing whole is better. Maybe it's an instinct that comes with being a snake. Plus, out in the wild, it's safer to gulp down your prey in one bite and move on rather than leisurely picking at meat. After swallowing the rabbit whole, I rested in the underbrush. Not just for digestion. Ah, so dizzy.

Using Borrowing Horn a few times had given me a solid feel for it. I hadn't noticed much drain from other skills, but this one definitely consumed something. At first, it felt like all my energy just drained away. Borrowing another monster's skill—such infinite potential comes at a cost. Was it mental strength? Or maybe the mana I might have? Not sure. To refill whatever it was, I had no choice but to hunt other monsters and rest.

But Borrowing Horn's level went up, yet mine hasn't. No way that dangerous rabbit wasn't a worthy opponent for me. With those front teeth alone, it was terrifying. Way too harsh. Fine, whatever. Time to target something stronger than a rabbit anyway.

I slithered along slowly. On the way out hunting, I'd picked up an important skill.

This was a skill the centipede couple had too. A must-have for a cool snake like me. Essential for sneaking up on prey quietly. As I pushed through the underbrush, my sounds definitely got quieter. After crawling like that for a while, I stopped dead.

A sunny spot lay ahead. Sunlight poured down from the blue sky unobstructed by leaves. It looked like the kind of light that would feel great basking in. And apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so—there was already a guest. A lizard about my size.

I focused my eyes to appraise it.

Tail Whip! A Lv10 skill. Rare for weaklings. Fitting its name, its tail was long. And at the tip, something spiky like a mace stuck out. It fought by swinging that thing. Definitely one of the stronger monsters I'd encountered. Worth fighting.

It was basking, regulating its body temperature, eyes gently closed in bliss.

...Hmm, that Tail Whip looks tempting, but I've got a tail too. Swinging mine around in battle would be pretty great. Right now, I had the rabbit's Leap borrowed. Maybe borrow that Tail Whip? From what I'd figured, higher-level skills were better to borrow. Borrow a Lv3 and get Lv1; Lv6 gets you Lv2. And that Tail Whip was a delicious Lv10.

After a moment's thought, I decided. No need. Mana's low. A short rest probably hadn't fully recovered it. Might be fine, but no way to check precisely, so better play it safe. And for a sneak attack, Leap was handier than Tail Whip. Hide like this, coil up, launch out, bite its side, and flee.

I coiled my whole body. Then sprang out flat. Thwack! A true flying snake. The Longtail Gecko basking in the sun didn't even notice my leap. And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right as I went to bite it—

Something fell from the sky. No other way to put it. Bang! A gunshot-like roar echoed. And where the Longtail Gecko had been... nothing. I landed pointlessly. Looking around, no lizard. Just bloodstains where it had been. Then, moments later—

Splat! It fell from the sky, head twisted from the height. The pulped Longtail Gecko. Looked delicious.

A bird cry rang out. Looking up, a bird perched on the big tree ahead. Hadn't seen it before. Beasts are most vulnerable when hunting others. Knowing that, I'd checked my surroundings thoroughly before leaping. Where'd this bird come from?

It was big enough to snatch the Longtail Gecko and fly off. Fierce eyes, bright red feathers. Its large yellowish beak hooked sharply at the tip—clearly a raptor that tore into meat.

You're my real enemy. Raptors are snakes' natural predators—common knowledge. This guy's dangerous. A flying bird versus a ground-crawling snake? Bad matchup. You stole my prey, but I'll let it slide this time. I backed away slowly.

Would've been nice if it'd just let it go. But it cockily showed curiosity toward me. Spread its wings wide and slowly lifted off. Danger. Survival instinct screamed, and I scrambled toward the underbrush. Then searing pain struck my back. Bang! Now I knew how the gunshot sound happened. Its flight speed was insane. Sudden acceleration, then talons slamming down on prey.

Vision spun. Like the poor lizard, gonna get dropped from on high? No—just bounced off from the impact, landed back on the ground. Turning, the Galloper Hawk had neatly folded its wings and perched on the branch. Blood poured from the talon gash on my back. Why retreat when it could've been fatal? Figured out my venomous fangs' terror?

It took off again. Not this time. Used the rabbit's borrowed Leap. Damn, couldn't dodge. Bang! Agonizing pain grazed my belly this time. Even at full strength it'd be hard to evade, but with a whole rabbit in my gut, I was heavier. Should've known... No, regrets too late. I'd scouted hard and still missed the bird.

Thought this was it, but it perched again. What to do? One bite to poison it and I'd win. But crawling on the ground, no chance. Thud! It struck again. No major wound. But like this, I'd die. Why keep repeating this? Then I got it. It started flapping and cackling.

"Cackle-cackle, caw-caw!"

That damn bastard! It was toying with me. Rage boiled up. Yeah, you think I'm funny, huh? Let's see if you cackle like that from inside my belly. Beasts are most off-guard when hunting prey? No—when playing with toys. It saw me as a total joke. Now was my chance.

Borrowed Leap Lv1 couldn't jump that high. But I had an ace. Borrow its Flight Lv7. Am I a genius? My flexible thinking made me tremble.

Nope~ Leap worked 'cause snakes can lunge. Armor too, with my scales. But not Flight. No wings, no limbs—how could I fly? ...Damn, skills have limits, as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feared. But I'm no fool. Can't borrow Flight? Borrow Acceleration Lv5. That insane speed was probably from it. Combine with my crawl, hide under the tree shade. No revenge, but survival first.

Then—

What?! Potential 20, I believed! Setting Potential to 20 got me Diligence. Unlike Unbreakable Will, which I'd grasped vaguely, now I saw Diligence's true power. Potential means growth possibility. I could learn what I normally couldn't.

Meaning, I became a true flying snake. My body lifted. Whoosh, flying fast. Ground fell away instantly. Terrifyingly scary. Heading straight for the Galloper Hawk on the branch. The cackling bird looked shocked at the turn of events. Flapped late, but I was already closing in.

I was flying, but no wings. No control over direction or speed—just straight ahead. It panicked into a loop, but I uncoiled. Crunch! Bit it! Felt my venom fangs sink into its wing joint clearly. Venom glands squeezed, and it flapped madly. I wrapped my body around its torso. Struggle all you want—useless. Squeezed tight. Even a bird can't fly with wings bound. We crashed down together.

Thud! Stars burst before my eyes. Head smacked ground, nearly blacked out, but clung to consciousness. Its flapping weakened. It cackled, then went still.

Hunt success. Heh, hurts like hell. This time, I scanned surroundings without slacking. No other monsters eyeing a share. Sigh of relief. Flying felt... horrific. More like getting swept by wind than flying. Zero control. If I hadn't latched on, might've flown off alone and splatted. Snakes suit crawling better. Maybe. Could get used to it someday. But with Borrowing Horn limited to one at a time, it'd take forever.

I eyed my two dinners. Either would make a hearty meal. Sun's setting—time to head back.

* * *

Swallowed the Longtail Gecko whole. Felt like days without eating. And the Galloper Hawk? Dragged it all the way home to my den. Wish I had a bag. Bird being light helped. Not for lunchbox storage. Wanted to share with the kind centipede couple. Checked its belly for a magic stone, but they'd be thrilled anyway.

Brought it with warm intentions. But the horrific sight shocked me. The centipede couple under the sunset glow. Not leisurely enjoying it. Embracing. Writhing tangled together—what they were doing was obvious. This is that, right? Shameless outdoor—! Thought they were good neighbors, but this is too much. Shock gaped my mouth; the Galloper Hawk dropped.

They startled apart at the noise. Yeah, feel shame. As you should. But... all my misunderstanding. Wasn't making love. They clutched something. Eggs? No, not quite. Shiny black round lump. Husband carefully cradled the sphere. Suddenly struck me— in wuxia tales, spirit centipedes always nurture something. Inner core? That level-up booster for protagonists?

I focused and appraised.

Inner core, bingo.