Striking the Nest
Day 48 of survival.
The forest has been in an uproar these past few days.
Did more hunters show up?
I checked carefully. No, that wasn't it.
The commotion was caused by a pair of birds soaring through the sky.
Surprise Birds. They were the culprits.
They seemed utterly furious that their eggs were gone.
I was thrilled.
Like a married couple or something?
The pair of Surprise Birds turned the entire forest upside down.
Low-rank monsters became easy targets for their rage, and even other E-rank monsters kept a wary eye on them.
I wasn't much different.
If there'd been just one, I would've gone for it without hesitation. But two? I couldn't rush in recklessly.
I'd bide my time for a few more days.
Day 48 ended.
Day 50 of survival.
The opportunity came sooner than expected.
The two that always stuck together were acting separately today.
I waited quietly atop a nearby tree.
Even birds that fly through the sky have to land eventually to rest. I was banking on that.
Stupid plan.
There were plenty of trees in the forest, and the odds of it landing on my tree were slim.
I reflected on my mistake.
I tried moving to a better spot.
The nest where I'd eaten the egg before. I decided to hide right in their home.
Just in case both came back at once, I stayed put and observed.
One returned to the nest.
I watched a bit longer, unsure when the other would show.
Soon enough, the second one came back.
Good thing I'd stayed quiet.
Looked like today wasn't the day.
Day 50 ended.
Day 51 of survival.
I didn't return to my den. Instead, I hid near their nest for a full day.
First time sleeping outside the den, but revenge burned hotter than comfort.
And it wasn't just waiting—I had another gain.
Stealth had evolved into Concealment.
Rank: C.
The status window seemed to acknowledge my night's silent vigil.
I was elated.
One bird left the nest.
The remaining one sat quietly, but something seemed off.
I watched.
It was brooding an egg.
Just days after I ate the last one, and it had laid a new one already.
Unlimited refills...?
I wavered for a moment but stuck to my original goal.
Revenge over hunger.
Though that could change depending on the situation...
Right as I prepared to strike the brooder, Crisis Detection buzzed sharply.
I froze and held my breath.
The one that left returned.
Dragging a G-rank monster corpse. Hunting for food, apparently.
Smart to keep watching.
A bit longer.
The hunter kept flying out sporadically, bringing fresh prey each time. Irregular intervals.
Didn't envy much, but a shuttle bringing me food? A partner like that would be nice.
Am I male or female?
Mentally, twenty years as a guy made me sure, but this body? Snakes were a mystery to me.
No way I'm female, right?
A twinge of unease.
Shaking off idle thoughts, I kept observing.
By afternoon, they even switched roles—the brooder flew out too.
Because of the lost eggs?
Always one guarding the nest.
Still irregular returns, so more watching needed.
Another day of observation.
Hunger nagged, but bearable.
Feasting soon enough.
Skill Endurance E has activated.
Day 51 ended.
Day 54 of survival.
Three full days observing their patterns.
So still, Endurance jumped two ranks.
And like Stealth, the name changed.
Tenacity C.
Not sure yet, but maybe C-rank triggers name changes?
Curious, but no time now.
Perfect moment to strike.
Noon, sun highest. Shift time: brooder and hunter swap.
Brooder out long—30-40 minutes short, hour long. After morning vigil.
Ideal window.
Soon as one left, I slithered forward.
Four days hungry, gut screaming.
Worst since day 2, but I endured.
Fueled my strike.
Feast imminent.
Skill Tenacity C has activated.
Skill Limit Break D has activated.
As the brooder preened obliviously, I lunged in a flash.
Concealment and Intimidation. Ambush and Charge. Constrict and Poison Fang.
My skills synergized perfectly.
Even same-rank foes can't survive carelessness.
"Kii... kiieee... kii..."
The Surprise Bird convulsed in my coils.
It writhed, whimpering, but only tightened my grip.
Fangs sunk in its slender neck, I watched it die.
It struggled toward the nest edge.
Not to escape me—to protect its eggs even in death.
Pitiful, almost.
-Shiii───
I squeezed harder.
It went limp. Twenty minutes of fight.
E-rank endurance? Or maternal desperation?
Didn't matter.
I dismissed stat-up notifications, eyed the cooling corpse.
It had dragged itself from the nest.
Glanced at the eggs: two neat orbs.
Crack─
Maw wide, eggs gone.
Corpse followed swiftly.
Won't be lonely now.
Partner joining soon.
Day 54 ended.
Day 55 of survival.
Hunting yesterday was easy, but not without cost.
E-rank thrashing left wounds.
No wounds, I'd have waited and got the second.
'Healed clean.'
Regeneration worked wonders, as always.
'...But outside's noisy.'
Slithered out.
Forest chaos since morning—or yesterday, really.
"─────!!!"
Not a cry— a howl echoing through trees.
Mate and eggs lost, it rampaged blindly.
Even E-ranks fleeing now.
'Hunting me.'
Well, its killer—me.
'If it's looking, I'll oblige.'
Not head-on, though.
No win guaranteed, and no duty to face a berserk foe.
We both want death; I just optimize.
No rules in kill-or-be-killed.
Checked body before leaving den.
Not peak, but solid.
Time to meet.
Thud- thud-
Forest far from nest: wrecked.
Berserk bird destroying everything.
"─────!"
Tongue scout: locals fled.
G-rank corpses strewn—slow escapees.
'Raged hard.'
-Shiii───
Concealment on, approached slowly, tsked at mess.
Day of rampage, still going.
'Gotta quiet it myself.'
For my peaceful snake life, intervention needed.
Eyes gleamed at the destroyer.
-Shiii───
How enraged? Concealment or not, I was close—unnoticed.
Just flailing, ignoring surroundings.
'Lucky me.'
Easy end expected.
Day of nonstop frenzy, mindless— no match.
Anticlimactic.
Didn't crave bloodbath, but expected tension.
Bit deflating.
'No slacking, though.'
Hubris lesson learned.
Even easy foes get full effort.
Watched for gap, then struck.
Muscles flowed from practice.
Arrow-sharp lunge.
Then—
Crisis Detection screamed.
"──────!!!!!"
Bloodshot eyes flashed at me.