Grinding Ranks, Burning Vengeance
I picked out a suitable F-rank monster as my first practice opponent.
The one I chose was the Red Spider, which I'd fought to deathly boredom before.
There couldn't have been a better first target.
I was confident I knew them as well as they knew themselves.
In truth, the fight ended anticlimactically.
Was it because I'd battled them so many times before?
Even without my usual hunting tactics—just a straightforward frontal clash—I handled it with ease.
From the start, the stat gap was massive, so it felt like I simply crushed it with raw power.
It wasn't even useful as practice.
Still, it felt good.
Like the cheap thrill of bullying the weak? A satisfying rush washed over me.
Is this why everyone loves curb-stomping?
I fought a few more after that.
Confidence was starting to build.
Time to ramp up the difficulty.
Day 57 of Survival.
Bopal Bunny.
An evolved form of the Horn Rabbit, this rabbit-themed monster somehow clocked in at E-rank.
On paper, it matched my rank, famous for its invisibly swift movements.
As an E-rank, the Bopal Bunny held some sway on the 18th floor, but it was surprisingly rare.
As everyone knew, its pre-evolution, the Horn Rabbit, sat at the bottom of the food pyramid—constant prey for other monsters.
So few made it all the way to Bopal Bunny.
That made any survivor like this one a battle-hardened beast, packed with experience and effort befitting its E-rank.
I selected this Bopal Bunny as my first E-rank opponent.
To be honest, a head-on fight would be a stretch.
As I'd said, reaching this evolution demanded real grit, so in pure combat experience, it outclassed me.
That's why, for this battle, I leaned into my specialty: hunting, not brawling.
Of course, I wasn't going full routine either.
That would've been a guaranteed win.
My hunting style was that perfected.
I stuck to Stealth, Ambush, and Charge.
Those three handled about 70% of my usual hunts, but skipping the finishing Constrict made it a razor-thin margin.
"Kyuu—?"
Unlike the herbivore-like Horn Rabbit, the Bopal Bunny was a full carnivore.
Omnivore, technically, but this one was mid-meal.
It lifted its head from gnawing a presumed G-rank corpse, ears perking at some sensed presence.
Impressive, E-rank indeed.
It hadn't spotted me, but it felt something off—that much was clear.
Too late, though.
-Shaa───!!!
By the time it noticed, I was already upon it.
As it tilted its head in confusion, I struck.
"Kyuu—?!"
It leaped back in shock from the sudden ambush.
A scene I'd seen hunting Horn Rabbits before.
But this time, its dodge was lightning-fast.
It retreated far out of reach.
In a normal hunt, that might've been a fail—but this wasn't normal.
My ambush goal was already met.
"Kyuu……!"
It glared silently.
Just a drab brown furball; not very intimidating.
-Shiii───
I flicked my tongue.
A habit from twice losing to the Silent Wolves.
My sensitive tongue gathered intel.
No real threats nearby.
Now I could fight without worry.
Beating it straight-up would've been tough.
One slip, and I could've died—or at least taken heavy wounds like against the Surprise Bird.
So I'd prepared a safeguard: the initial ambush. Specifically, Poison Fang.
As it dodged, I'd nicked its foot.
Mission accomplished.
Our ranks being close, it wouldn't drop dead instantly—but enough to hinder it.
Best I could do without real attack skills.
Keep applying Poison Fang in the fight, let the venom stack. This should be a landslide.
And it was—the longer it dragged, the more it tilted my way.
Early on, its speed had me struggling.
But smart use of Intimidation and stacking poison let me crush it cleanly later.
I took some hits from the rough start, but the gains outweighed.
A fierce battle! Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Durability have increased.
An excellent counter! Skill Counter G has been created.
Counterattacks incoming enemy strikes.
Timing the counter perfectly increases power.
New skill acquired, solid experience gained—a great session.
Day 58 of Survival.
Wounds healed perfectly by morning, as expected.
New day, new start.
I wanted more Bopal Bunny rounds, but they're scarce.
Hunt for another suitable foe.
Oddly, a lone Silent Wolf was wandering solo.
Tongue checks multiple times—no packmates.
Upgraded Instinct stayed silent too.
Opportunity.
I'd been avoiding hunts to build combat exp, but this called for a thorough takedown—not a fight.
Head-on? Still too much. But hunting? Easy.
Petty revenge achieved.
Wolf meat was delicious.
Tonight's sleep: premium.
Day 60 of Survival.
Two months in this body.
Jumped into the labyrinth at 20 aiming for hunter, portered 10 months. Now snake two months.
I'm a year older already.
Strange mix of emotions.
Exact date unknown, but outside's probably New Year?
Last year this time, I never imagined this fate...
Last year's me—no, even two months ago—aimed for hunter.
Now? Monster, not hunter.
No complaints about being a monster, though.
Sure, initial confusion hit hard.
Sudden loss of humanity. Dream shattered overnight. Bleak future. Fear of the unknown.
Emotions tangled into chaos.
But living like this changed me bit by bit.
Now? Utterly satisfied.
Unlike my powerless past, effort here yields real rewards.
Motivation surged.
How could I not be thrilled? I'm happier than ever before.
From that angle, maybe thank those who abandoned me?
The thought crept up—ridiculous.
I scoffed.
Forget them? Forgive? No.
I'd suppressed it for survival and growth, but revenge burned steady.
'A gentleman's revenge takes ten years, never too late... Same for me.'
No matter the time, I'll have it.
Payback guaranteed.
But my current level? Not yet... Need more strength. More.
They're all E-rank hunters.
Rank-wise, my equal—but veterans of the labyrinth.
Avenging at E-rank? Suicide.
At least D. No, C for proper payback.
Factoring their growth and team raids, B-rank to feel safe.
More reasons to power up.
Ten years too long. Five... no, three years max. Revenge then.
I vowed silently.
Day 66 of Survival.
Skills leveled up.
Gluttony and Gorge hit D-rank. Regeneration became Rapid Regeneration C, Poison FangExtreme Poison C.
Intimidation and Charge reached C-rank, no name changes.
Name shifts seem to need special conditions.
Intriguing, but growth first—no distractions.
Solid battles today too.
Day 71 of Survival.
Out picking fights for exp as usual.
Sudden ambush.
I wasn't using Stealth, so it happens—but startling.
Especially with constant tongue-scanning.
Should've heeded Instinct's weird morning ping?
Eh, good experience anyway.
Can't always strike first.
Attacker: Chameleon Spider. E-rank.
Evolved Red Spider, blends into surroundings.
Stealth on par with mine—or better?
Caught off-guard, but no biggie.
Recent fights built confidence.
Same E-rank solo? I could win.
World's vast, though.
Much to learn.
Today's lesson: I have Extreme Poison, but no poison resistance.
Having venom ≠ resisting others'.
Learned that hard.
Felt off after slaying the charger.
Underwhelming for its aggression—I was smug—then pain at the spit-stabbed spot.
Check: Wound healed via Rapid Regeneration, but swollen.
Ah, poisoned.
Luckily low-rank; just pain, no major damage.
But vigilance spiked.
I'd focused on visible threats, ignored subtleties.
Now? Watch invisible angles too.
And never ignore Instinct, no matter how minor.
Bonus: New skill Poison Resistance G.
Productive day.
Day 77 of Survival.
The forest buzzed with commotion.
What's the racket today?
Up and checking: Hunters appeared.
Perfect chance.