Damn it.
But before Lin could say another word, the leader goat suddenly snapped and charged at him. Its horns aimed directly at his side. Lin tried to jump away, but he couldn't react fast enough.
The leader's horns crashed into his ribs with savage force, knocking him to the ground.
"Ugh!" Lin groaned as pain shot through him like lightning. He lay there, dazed and gasping, barely able to process what had just happened.
The yearlings paused, exchanging surprised glances as if they couldn't understand what they'd just witnessed. "What just happened? How can the outsider be so weak? Isn't he supposed to be strong?"
"Hahaha! Look at this! We were worried for nothing," another yearling said, laughing loudly, his voice a mix of relief and mockery.
Even the leader goat looked confused as it gazed down at Lin's pitiful, sprawled-out form on the grass. Its eyes narrowed in uncertainty as it whispered,
"Isn't the outsider supposed to be strong? But... why is he so weak?"
The herd began muttering among themselves, their earlier aggression giving way to confusion and mockery. Still, Lin hadn't reacted to their taunts, their laughter, or their stares. He didn't try to defend himself or get up because something much more exciting had grabbed his attention.
[Anomaly eliminated successfully]
[Synchronization initiated…] 1% → 10% → 100%
[Synchronization complete]
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the system.]
[Welcome to a reality full of endless possibilities. Here, anything can happen. Hunters may become prey, and prey can turn into hunters in the blink of an eye. Danger lurks in every shadow, while light only creates an illusion of safety. Friends can become enemies, and enemies can become allies in an instant. Stay alert and grow stronger. To help you survive in this unpredictable world, your helpful 'system' is here to guide you.]
"A world where anything can happen! A place with limitless opportunities?" Lin said, his voice trembling with excitement. If he'd known that all it took was getting his head rammed, he would've volunteered for it long ago.
But now, he had it. At last, he had it: a cheat to help him survive this strange reality. Unable to contain himself, Lin burst into laughter, his thoughts spilling out uncontrollably.
It's not the time to celebrate—I need to survive this first before I can do that.
Lin controlled the urge to shout toward the sky like a main character who has finally gotten his cheat, but it wasn't the time for that.
[DING]
Just then, a faint chime cut through the surrounding noise, barely noticeable unless you were paying close attention. After the echo faded, another notification appeared:
[Warning: Hostility Detected.]
All notifications are paused to let the user focus on the immediate threat. Any bonuses, boosts, or system updates are on hold and will resume only after the system determines the danger has passed.
[Note: The user may disregard this restriction if they choose to.]
I can already see what's happening. System, if you truly want to help, this might be the best time for that. Later, I might not be alive anymore - system?
As Lin was requesting the system for help, one of the young goats charged at him, horns aimed viciously at his side. He reacted instinctively, shifting his weight desperately to dodge, but he wasn't fast enough. The horns scraped his ribs, and a fresh wave of pain shot through him.
"Argh!" he cried, stumbling back, the pain fogging his senses. Before he could recover, another goat charged and hit him brutally. Its headbutt threw him backward; he landed hard, his vision blurring from the impact as his heart pounded in his chest.
Damn it, if I only had a few more days to adapt, Lin thought, panic coursing through every cell. This wasn't schoolyard bullying. These goats genuinely wanted him dead. That reality hit him like a ton of bricks.
Desperation flooded him as he tried to get up, but before he could even get to his knees, hooves slammed into his chest like a sledgehammer. The blow knocked the air out of him, leaving him wheezing as he slumped back down. His legs buckled beneath him, and pain shot through every nerve. Disoriented and vulnerable, Lin struggled to breathe while the savage attack carried on.
The sheer weight of one goat pressed down on his body, pinning him to the earth. He gritted his teeth and pushed against it, shaking as he strained to roll free. Come on! Move, dammit! Fight back! Lin screamed in his head, but no matter how much he struggled, it was pointless—his goat body just wasn't built for this kind of smackdown.
"Is that everything you've got, outsider? You're pitiful," the lead goat said, pacing before Lin with a glare of pure contempt. Its voice was heavy with scorn as its hooves thudded on the ground impatiently.
Lin's mind shrieked at him: Get up! But his limbs refused to cooperate. Blood filled his mouth from an especially harsh kick; its metallic tang fueled his bitterness as he tried to draw a breath. Each stomp sent a fresh jolt of suffering through his body. The world spun crazily as his skull buzzed from the effort of simply staying awake.
His sight blurred further as tears threatened, not merely from pain but from rage and utter helplessness. He'd wanted to fight back so badly, and now he couldn't even twitch. His body had totally sold him out, leaving him splayed on the ground like a marionette with its strings cut.
Honestly, if rock bottom had a basement, I'd be in it right now, he thought grimacing.
[Warning: The user sustained a serious injury. The user is bleeding.]