First Hunts and Hard Lessons

After that, there were no further issues on the way back.

But rather than finding comfort in that, I couldn't help feeling terror at how death had loomed right in front of my nose for so long.

It took quite some time after that for me to fully recover.

Unlike the presences I felt scattered throughout the forest here and there, the area around what I'd temporarily dubbed my 'nest' was utterly devoid of any signs of life.

I didn't know exactly where the boundary lay, but my nest was eerily quiet in a bizarre way.

I was a bit curious about the reason, but since I couldn't figure it out right then, I quietly shelved the question in a corner of my mind.

-Shiii───

Was it because all my tension had released at once? Fatigue came crashing down belatedly.

I'd love to rest right now, but there's something I need to do first.

I shook my head lightly against the drowsiness creeping in. And...

The status window I checked after just one day had changed quite a bit.

I'd been keeping track of the stat notifications, but seeing the newly added skills made me feel a little more secure.

It still stung to see Soul Separation as unavailable, but the items after that brought a smile, enough to momentarily forget the fear I'd felt earlier.

But what's Endurance and Limit Break? When did these appear?

-Shiii───?

Stealth, Ambush, Constrict, Crisis Detection.

These four skills were the fruits of my previous hunt, but the other two were different.

I couldn't even guess when they'd appeared.

Well, it doesn't really matter...

If anything, more skills were only a good thing—I had no complaints about that.

After all, gaining skills meant my survival odds had improved that much.

-Shiii───

Unable to hide my satisfaction, I carefully examined each skill one by one. With so many acquired at once, I planned to scrutinize them thoroughly.

'......'

Were the descriptions so curt because the ranks were low? They were utterly unhelpful.

Thank goodness I could easily infer the abilities from the names alone.

Otherwise, I'd have been clutching my head in frustration.

Not that I had hands to do so.

I can roughly get the others, but Endurance and Limit Break are total mysteries...

The other skills were easy enough to figure out, but those two? No clue.

I could kind of guess Endurance was mental fortitude related... but Limit Break? Nothing.

-Shiii───

The names and descriptions sounded impressive, but with such low ranks, I wasn't holding my breath.

Probably just some moderate doping skill to help with hunts, I figured.

With this many skills popping up at once, it's no surprise a couple are duds.

I wasn't dissatisfied.

If anything, I was more than satisfied.

Maybe because I'd just faced death head-on moments ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ago?

Even if their ranks were low, having so many skills bolstered my weary mind.

With that, I headed straight into the cave where I'd spent the previous night.

There was still plenty of time left in the day, but I lacked the confidence to push further today.

It wasn't just mental fatigue—the sense of fullness was no joke either.

Snakes rested quietly until their food digested after a hunt, or so I'd heard.

...I'm beat.

I surrendered to the overwhelming sleepiness.

Day 2 end.

Survival Day 3.

Digestion must have finished overnight, because my condition on Day 3 was at its peak.

No real hunger, and the forest outside the nest felt far more dangerous than on my last outing, so I opted to stay put and grind stats inside the nest today.

I moved around for what felt like three hours, but it was futile.

I'd burned through stamina for nothing.

Did raising stats really require hunting after all?

The problem was, outside the nest held more hunters looking to prey on me than prey I could hunt...

Could I even pull it off? Survive, I mean?

A bit down, but hadn't I resolved on Day 1? For survival, proactive beat passive.

I recommitted to venturing out again.

For survival.

My stat grinding had shown going out right away was impossible.

No gains, just wasted time and stamina.

After about an hour's rest, I left the nest.

As expected, it was dangerous outside. Crisis Detection blared warnings nonstop.

Suddenly, memories of those massive monsters from yesterday surfaced.

I cautiously scanned for prey, but nothing suitable appeared.

If anything, the occasional monster presences made focusing impossible.

Eventually, as Crisis Detection peaked, I retreated to the nest.

Zero gains.

Some days, nothing works no matter what—like today, a total waste.

Or maybe days like this were normal.

Just Day 3, and I'd underestimated monster life as a snake.

I'd gotten cocky.

I knew labyrinths well as a lowly porter.

A few days and skills, and I'd forgotten, strutting like I owned the place.

Don't quit grinding because growth is slow—keep at it till it rises.

Don't flee Crisis Detection warnings—overcome or exploit them.

Don't avoid the situation—embrace and advance.

I was an idiot.

From now on, assume every day could be like today. No—treat it as such and grind hard.

Deep reflection.

Day 3 end.

Survival Day 4.

Condition's off.

Yesterday's stamina drain? Hunger returned.

Headed out immediately.

Found prey.

'Small Bucktooth Rat'.

Despite the name, it was a G-rank monster with oversized front teeth protruding from its snout.

Slightly smaller than a Horn Rabbit—perfect meal size.

Hunt successful.

No massive changes like the first hunt, but it confirmed hunting was key ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to raising stats.

Plus Stealth ranked up—two birds, one stone.

Or three, with a full belly?

Either way, great.

Time to return and rest.

Crisis Detection pinged several times on the way, but after a few experiences, I grasped how to use it.

As expected, Crisis Detection was a solid skill.

Today's gains were hugely meaningful, unlike yesterday.

No complacency from one good day, though.

Learned that lesson yesterday.

Ex-lowly porter, current bottom ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠G-rank monster.

Always stay low, cautious, cautious.

Just keep grinding for now.

For survival.

Day 4 end.

Survival Day 5.

Condition peak.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

From five days' experience, I'd vaguely realized the rhythm.

Hunt every other day.

Eating one bottom G-rank like me covers about two days' energy.

Not quite full two days' worth, a bit less, but still.

Fact was, hunt every other day sufficed.

So no need to hunt today.

But I went out anyway.

Growth for survival, hunting for growth.

Forest crawling with dangers.

Finding suitable prey amid that? Tough.

Maximizing noisy Crisis Detection, I barely found some.

Today's prey: 'Horn Rabbit', like first hunt. Straight to it.

Not too hard.

Hunt success, solid gains.

Stats and skills up at once. Worth the outing.

Fourth hunt, but already proficient?

Greed stirred.

More hunts, more gains?

Short deliberation, then moved.

Next prey: another 'Horn Rabbit'. Fullness slowed me, but I charged anyway.

And realized.

I'm G-rank. Bottom monster.

It hurts... hurts...! Damn it...! Hurts!

-Shaa────

Pain-mingled cry escaped naturally.

Wanted to thrash, but feared worsening the wound—froze.

Just endured quietly in safe cave, as always.

Easy prey doesn't mean I'm stronger.

Sluggish body couldn't match usual speed; nearly got hunted instead.

Crisis Detection frenzy let me dodge—otherwise, dead.

Fled prey, bolted to nest in panic.

Don't remember the path—just burrowed in, coiled up.

Long gash along flank oozed blood, numbing my tongue.

I'm such an idiot.

How long since vowing no arrogance? Already cocky again.

Anyone seeing would laugh at the fool.

No excuses.

All true.

-Shiii───

Hoarse cry echoed in cave. Heard something, but no time to care.

Flank hurt like hell.

Die like this?

End so stupidly?

Nothing accomplished?

Despite desperate will to live?

Hurts.

No body sensation.

Want to live.

Day 5 end.