...
Aurelian closed the system panel, his mind racing with possibilities. The System Panel had given him clear path to grow stronger by leveling up. "Alright" he hissed, the sound barely audible, "what's next?" the forest, cloaked in the cool embrace of night, offered no immediate answers. He needed to understand his surroundings, to gauge the dangers lurking in the shadows. Strength was paramount, but knowledge was its equal.
"First things first," he murmured, his voice a faint hiss. "I need to understand where I am."
The darkness wasn't any hindrance to him. His Nocthermal Vision allowed him to see the world in colours of heat and shadow. Every faint ripple of warmth glowed like a pulse. Small creatures were all visible frogs, insects, even a few rodents, but none of them interested him. For he wanted something that could help him acquire talents, foundation of a true Predator.
Then, he saw it. Fifty metres away, coiled against the bark of a old looking tree, lay a massive snake. It's body stretched over a meter and half, its body emitting heat signature slightly dimmer, not because it was a weak but because it was resting or sleeping. Aurelian observed it carefully, noting it's impressive size, and those fangs that sent a chill through his body. He felt a sense of danger for that snake, it was clearly several levels above him.
"If I could somehow defeat it, I could devour it. Then I am might be able to gain poison of my own." Venom was practically synonymous with snakes, yet he pathetically he had none. "I should be able to acquire it, it would increase my combat effectiveness by new league. But rushing in now would be a suicide."
"I need to level up first. Gain more skills. Then plan an ambush when the conditions are perfect."
For the next 2 hours, Aurelian hunted with terrifying efficiency. Two more rats, a few frogs. Each kill a small victory, step closer to his goal. With each kill and devour, Aurelian felt his power growing stronger. During one particularly difficult hunt, he tried using his tail as a weapon after seeing the rats use it, he was quite impressed so he used it, whipping it with surprising force to stun a fleeing rat.
A notification appeared in his mind:
[Skill: Tail Whip (Lv1)] (New!)
•Allows strong tail strikes with increased force and precision by using more stamina.
More importantly, he felt himself cross a threshold.
[Name: Aurelian Sors]
[Species: Small White Snake]
[Level: 3 (102/400 EXP)]
Free Points: 1
Attributes:
[STR: 5]
[AGI: 6]
[END: 6]
[CON: 7]
All his basic attributes increased naturally with his level, Aurelian contemplated on how to use his free point. His perception was already at 10, which was quite good for now. But perhaps balancing his development would be wise.
"My spirit is at 9. If I increase it to 10, I might unlock something useful, just as my perception did." Making his decision, Aurelian allocated his point to Spirit, bringing it to 10. Immediately, he felt a wave of clarity wash over him, and a new notification appeared:
[Iron Mind (Passive)]
• Grants some resistance to fear, illusions, and mental effects.
• Reduces the impact of pain and exhaustion.
The effect was immediate. His thoughts sharpened, his fatigue faded, and the constant background anxiety that had plagued him since awakening in this strange body diminished significantly. "This changes everything. I can think more clearly now. Plan better. And perhaps... take on that venomous snake."
With his newfound mental clarity, Aurelian began formulating a strategy. The larger snake was dangerous, but it had weaknesses. It appeared to be resting during the night, which suggested it might not have good night vision. Additionally, its size, while imposing, might make it less agile than Aurelian's smaller form.
Under the cover of darkness, Aurelian slithered silently toward his target. He activated his nocthermal vision, keeping track of the heat signature that had barely moved in hours and enhanced sight. As he drew closer, he could make out more details the slow, rhythmic breathing of a creature at rest, eyes closed, guard down.
"Perfect."
Aurelian positioned himself strategically, coiling his body to strike. He would need to be precise aim for a vulnerable spot, strike hard, and be prepared to dodge the inevitable counterattack. One mistake could be fatal.
Taking a deep breath to calm his mind, he launched himself forward with explosive force.
His bite landed, sinking into the larger snake's body just behind its head. The snake's eyes snapped open, its body thrashing violently. Aurelian clung on desperately, his small fangs penetrating the snake's neck.
The larger snake twisted with surprising speed, its massive body contorting to bring its own fangs to bear. Aurelian released his grip and attempted to dodge, but he wasn't fast enough. The venomous fangs grazed his body, delivering a partial dose of venom.
Immediately, Aurelian felt the effects of poison. A burning sensation spread from the wound, and his vision began to blur slightly.
Status Effect: Poisoned
• Weakness: Attributes -15%
• HP gradually decreasing
• Stamina recovery reduced
Ignoring the pain thanks to his Iron Mind, Aurelian circled his opponent. The larger snake was fully alert now, its tongue flicking rapidly to sense his position. But in the darkness, Aurelian had the advantage. His nocthermal vision showed him exactly where his opponent was, while the larger snake seemed to be sensing by sound and vibration than sight.
When the venomous snake lunged, Aurelian was ready. He dodged to the side and used [Tail Whip], striking the snake's head with enough force to momentarily stun it. Taking advantage of the opening, he rushed in and delivered another bite, this time holding on longer and causing more damage.
The battle continued, a dance of strikes, dodges and counterattacks. Aurelian's smaller size had allowed him to dodge more quickly, but each time the larger snake connected, it took a serious amount of HP and it was dropping not just from the wounds but also the venom coursing through his system.
In a moment of desperation, Aurelian feinted to one side, then struck from another angle, sinking his fangs into the snake's eye. The larger snake thrashed in agony, its movements becoming erratic.
Seizing the opportunity, Aurelian delivered a final, devastating bite to the snake's neck, tearing through vital tissue. The larger snake's movements grew weaker, its heat signature slowly fading.
When it finally lay still, Aurelian was barely alive. His body filled with pain, his vision blurring, and his HP was dangerously low. But he had won.
Without wasting time, he began to eat his fallen opponent. It was a long process the snake was significantly larger than anything he'd eaten before but as he consumed more of it, he felt his health and stamina gradually recovering.
More than that, he felt a strange warmth spreading through his body, concentrated particularly in his mouth. It was as if new organs were forming, tissue reorganizing itself.
Level Increased: 3 → 4
Free Point Gained: 1
Attributes:
[STR: 5 → 6]
[AGI: 6 → 7]
[END: 6 → 7]
[CON: 7 → 8]
But that wasn't all. New notifications appeared:
[Talent: Poison] (New!)
• Your body has developed a minor poison gland.
• Your poison is capable of causing pain and minor paralysis.
• Requires stamina to generate and store.
• Its strength depends upon constitution and strength attributes.
[Skill: Poison Resistance (Lv1)] (New!)
• Reduces damage from poison effects.
• Reduces duration of poison status effects.
[Poison Talent Influencing Skill: Bite(Lv2)]
[Skill: Bite (Lv2)] has evolved into [Skill: Venomous Bite (Lv1)]
• Delivers a venomous bite that can inject poison into the target
• Causes initial damage plus poison damage over time
• Can induce pain and minor paralysis in smaller targets
• Poison effectiveness depends on your Poison talent.
Aurelian felt a surge of satisfaction. His gamble had paid off. Not only had he defeated a much stronger opponent, but he also gained exactly what he had hoped for, the ability to produce and use venom.
As for his new attribute point, he decided to save it for now. "My perception and spirit are already at 10. I don't need charm yet in this wilderness. Better to wait and see.
With his body still recovering, Aurelian found a secure hiding spot and curled up to rest. The night's battle had been dangerous, but also transformative. He was no longer just a small, unremarkable snake. He was becoming a predator with growing powers and an ever-expanding arsenal of abilities.
As sleep claimed him, one thought remained, this was just the beginning of his rise.
...