Chapter 12
Jared scouted the outskirts of the vast Sweden Forest, his grip tightening on the emerald dagger at his side. According to what he'd gathered, venturing too deep into the forest was a death sentence for someone at his level. The inner zones were teeming with terrifying creatures, so he chose to stay within the outermost perimeter—where danger was still present, but less overwhelming. Here, he hoped to gather just enough essence to finally become a warrior.
But after nearly an hour of wandering the outer edge, Jared had found absolutely nothing. Not a beast, not a trace of essence—just endless trees, silence, and his own growing frustration.
"This is pointless," he muttered, kicking a rock. If he kept this pace, he wouldn't make any progress. At this rate, he'd be stuck as a powerless nobody forever.
With a deep breath and a flicker of desperation, he pressed farther into the forest—past the border he had sworn not to cross.
The deeper he went, the thicker the air seemed to grow. Every crackle of a leaf or sway of a branch sent chills down his spine. His mind conjured vivid images of colossal monsters slithering from vines, jaws wide open, snapping him like a twig.
He tried to calm himself. If I keep my distance, move slowly, and keep my eyes sharp… I can spot any threat early and run.
That thought was only slightly reassuring—and relied heavily on the idea that he could outrun such a creature.
Just when Jared was about to turn back, he heard it.
A heavy shuffling came from the nearby bushes.
His heart slammed against his ribs. The rational thoughts vanished instantly.
"To hell with hunting!" he whispered harshly, gripping the dagger with both hands. "Forget essence—I just want to live!"
He locked his gaze on the trembling foliage. His hands trembled. His breath hitched. He waited—each second dragging like a century.
Then, the bush parted.
Jared's face drained of color as he braced himself for the horrifying beast he imagined… only to freeze as something small emerged.
A rabbit.
A tiny, horned rabbit.
It stood a few meters away, lazily munching on a red nut. Two short black-and-white wings tucked against its fluffy body, and its tiny horns barely peeked out from its head.
Jared stared, jaw slack.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
His fear turned instantly to rage.
This… this dumb rabbit made me think I was about to die?
He gritted his teeth, eyes blazing.
"You little bastard…"
Fury bubbled inside him as he raised his emerald dagger. "You're getting roasted tonight!"
He lunged forward—but before he could even get close, something blurred past him.
Jared froze.
The rabbit was gone.
A second later, a sharp sting tore across his cheek.
He gasped and touched the side of his face—his fingers came back red with blood. A clean, deep cut.
His eyes widened. What the hell?
Then he heard it—a low, angry screech.
He spun around and his heart skipped.
The rabbit was behind him—but not the same rabbit from a moment ago.
Its eyes glowed a menacing red. The two tiny horns had elongated into razor-sharp spikes. Its once-fluffy wings had stretched wide, now sleek and pointed. But the most horrifying change? Its front paws had transformed into long, vicious claws, twitching with tension.
Jared swallowed hard as the realization slammed into him like a thunderbolt.
Claws. Horns. Wings…
His legs wobbled.
"This is… one of the beasts from the Sweden Trial."
The Sweden Trial—Earth's initiation rite for those seeking to become warriors. Jared knew the lore well. Every Earthling had to face it. The creatures within ranged from Level 1 to Level 10… and this rabbit, of all things, was one of the most feared Level 1s.
Not because of its size, but because of its speed, its erratic movements, and the raw lethality of its claws and horns.
Jared's heart pounded.
But Jared wasn't truly afraid—not yet. The winged rabbit, for all its terrifying speed, had a critical weakness. Or so the Fashion Rat had told him.
"They're fast, sure—but glass cannons. Weak constitution. No real defense. Land one solid blow, and you're golden."
That voice echoed in his mind like a lifeline.
Jared exhaled, slowly shutting his eyes for a moment as he centered himself.
"Alright," he whispered, tightening his grip on the emerald dagger. "Let's end this."
He lunged forward, feet pounding against the forest floor. "Come on, you damn rabbit!"
With all the strength he could muster, Jared slashed downward, aiming to maim if not kill.
But reality was cruel.
The rabbit vanished in a blink.
Before Jared could even react, several sharp blurs zipped past him—followed by searing stings that ripped through his flesh. His breath hitched. Warm blood soaked through his torn shirt, painting it red.
He stumbled backward, dazed, as crimson lines opened across his chest, arms, and back. The pain bloomed violently, weakening his limbs.
Floating a few meters away, the horned rabbit hovered mid-air, eyes blazing with irrational fury. It looked like a demon cloaked in fur and wings.
Jared growled, blood dripping from his chin. How the hell is this happening?
If I can't even kill the weakest beast on Earth, how could I possibly challenge those who rule the stars?
How could I ever slay the gods?
A fresh surge of determination ignited inside him. With a cry, Jared dashed forward again, pushing past his limits. But his speed—though impressive for his level—was still far too slow.
The rabbit blinked away, then reappeared behind him, raking its claws across his back.
"ARGH!" Jared screamed as agony exploded through his nerves. He turned and swung wildly, aiming at the flickering blur—but his blade met only air.
Minutes passed. Or maybe seconds—it was hard to tell through the haze of blood and pain. Jared's body was wrecked. Gashes laced his skin, his face was ghostly pale, and blood poured freely from his wounds.
Above him hovered the damn rabbit—untouched, smug, almost taunting.
Jared's vision wavered. Everything around him was spinning, colors blending together. But he refused to fall.
Not yet.
With a shaky grin, he looked up at the creature and forced a grin. "Come on, you smug little furball... When I catch you, I'm roasting you to perfection."
The rabbit screeched in response, its body glowing faintly as it launched forward again, claws bared and sharp as daggers.
Jared didn't run.
He clenched his teeth, extended one blood-soaked arm—and braced.
The impact came like a meteor. The rabbit's claws dug into his forearm, shredding flesh and muscle.
Pain overwhelmed him. His knees buckled.
But he held on.
With the last of his strength, Jared raised the emerald dagger and drove it downward—right into the rabbit's exposed belly.
A howl of pain tore through the forest as the blade struck true, ripping open the beast's side and severing one of its wings in a single, brutal swipe.
The rabbit thrashed, trying to escape, but Jared wouldn't let go.
"I. Said. You're. Dinner!" he shouted, eyes blazing.
He tackled the beast mid-air, slamming it to the ground. The rabbit clawed desperately, shredding his arms, but Jared didn't flinch. He wrapped both hands around its twitching body and, with a scream of fury and triumph, slashed the dagger clean across its throat.
The rabbit spasmed.
Then went still.
Jared slumped beside it, gasping, his blood mixing with the rabbit's. He was a mess of torn flesh, broken bones, and fading breath—but a wide, exhausted smile crept across his face.
"I did it…" he whispered, coughing violently. "I killed it... I really killed a beast…"
His body collapsed next to the corpse, crimson soaking the forest floor.
Everything around him dimmed.
So this is it…? he wondered, eyelids growing heavy. Is this where I die...?
More blood welled up in his throat. He spat it out and clenched his jaw.
"No," he muttered. "Not now… I can't die now. This... this is just the beginning…"
And with that final thought, his eyes fluttered shut, and darkness took him.
To be continued…
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