Drake's amber eyes tracked the soft light of the auroras, green and violet ribbons that uncoiled across the sky. The cold had grown stronger, biting into the fleeting heat of his last flames, but he hardly noticed. His body hummed from the residual strength of the fish that had passed through him, and the new sensations were addictive—every muscle, every claw, every scale that tingled with sensation.
He shifted a bit, flexing his wings and tail, and allowing the snow to crunch under his feet. He could move no longer entirely unknown. He felt the way his claws dug into the ice, the way his tail would sweep for balance, the way small flaps of his wings would push him forward in spurts. It was awkward, yes, but effective. He stretched, straining his strength, and exhaled a faint ring of fire that crackled where it landed on the ice.
A sudden twitch in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Something small and white darted across the snow. Drake froze, ears flicking instinctively. There it was again—a tiny ice rabbit, fur shimmering almost translucently in the aurora light. He crouched low, tail coiled, claws digging into the frozen ground. His body felt alive in a way he hadn't imagined.
And then it happened.
A translucent panel flickered into view before him, hovering just above the rabbit. Light shimmered across it, displaying lines of text he didn't consciously understand but instinctively read.
Creature: Normal Ice Rabbit
Stage: 1
Level: Low
Drake blinked. The panel vanished almost as quickly as it appeared, leaving him staring at the rabbit in stunned silence. "What… what was that?" he muttered to himself. He focused again, reaching out with his mind—or perhaps instinct. The panel returned, brighter, hovering above the rabbit once more.
He tested it, summoning it at will, and his mind expanded to understand. Numbers, statistics, levels, and stages—the system was here, just as he had wished. He could see animals, their ranks, stages, and power levels. He could even see himself:
Creature: Drake Flare
Stage: Peek
Rank: 2
Mana Core: Strong
A thrill surged through him. His body tensed instinctively as he realized the implications. He wasn't just alive in this world; he could read it, understand it, analyze it, and use it. The ice rabbit twitched again, oblivious to the awareness watching it, unaware it was about to become his first real test.
He crouched lower, wings tucked, tail coiled for balance. The ice plain around him was silent, the auroras shimmering above, and the rabbit froze, nose twitching as it sniffed the air. Drake exhaled a small wisp of flame to gauge control—it curled harmlessly around the rabbit, making it jump, and he suppressed a laugh. His fire could burn, but he didn't want to waste it yet.
The first attempt was clumsy. He lunged, claws swiping, but his balance betrayed him. He slid sideways, flailing, and the rabbit darted a few feet away, ears flicking. Drake tumbled, snow puffing around him, and landed awkwardly on his chest. His tail thumped against the ice. "Okay, okay… slower," he muttered, shaking his head.
He took a deep breath, analyzing the rabbit through the panel again. Its movements were predictable, small hops and twitches. Drake adjusted his stance, flexed his claws, and focused his energy. Another lunge—this time, claws connected. The rabbit yelped, scrambled, and froze. Drake pinned it carefully with one paw, letting it flail for a moment before biting down. It was over in seconds, but for him, it was triumph.
He paused, staring at the small creature beneath him. Then, instinctively, he tore open its small chest and found the faint glow of a mana core. Pale and tiny, but unmistakable. Hesitation flickered for a moment, then curiosity and hunger won out. He consumed it, feeling warmth and energy pulse through his body, tendrils of strength weaving through muscle and scale. His claws flexed, wings twitched involuntarily, and he could feel himself grow—not visibly, but internally, power thrumming beneath the skin.
The second rabbit proved slightly more challenging. He was still learning the coordination of his new body—timing, balance, focus. Each movement was deliberate, cautious, but each strike more confident than the last. When its mana core was absorbed, the surge of energy made him shiver with raw power. A small thrill of pride surged through him; this was progress, tangible and addictive.
By the fourth rabbit, Drake was beginning to move with rhythm and precision. His tail swung smoothly for balance, claws hit with intention, and short bursts of flame could be directed precisely without overshooting. He felt the energy of the mana cores integrating with his own, each one a small spark adding to a growing inferno of potential.
Sitting back on his haunches, breathing hard, Drake flexed his claws experimentally. Sparks flicked lazily from his nostrils. The power thrummed through him—his senses sharper, his muscles tighter, his mind clearer. Each small creature had taught him more than he could have imagined: balance, coordination, instinct, patience, and hunger—not just for survival, but for growth.
The ice plain stretched around him, silent and vast, the auroras reflecting off the frozen surfaces. Snowflakes drifted lazily in the light, carrying with them tiny whispers of mana. Drake realized he could feel the currents in the ice, the subtle shifts in energy, and even the faint traces of other creatures' presence. His perception had sharpened, and the world seemed alive in a way that both excited and terrified him.
He crouched low, tail coiled, wings twitching lightly. Another rabbit appeared in the distance, small and cautious. He studied it, panel flickering instantly into view: Stage 1, Low Level. Drake smiled faintly, amber eyes glinting. This time, he approached with calm precision, letting his instincts guide him. The hunt was slower now, deliberate, almost meditative. His body obeyed him more naturally, and when he struck, it was with confidence, not awkward flailing.
The rabbit's mana core pulsed faintly as he consumed it, the warmth spreading through him in familiar, invigorating waves. Strength, awareness, control—it all deepened. He flexed wings experimentally, letting small sparks drift from his nostrils, testing his fire. The mana cores were like fuel, tiny gifts that made him stronger, sharper, faster.
Drake sat back, surveying the frozen landscape. The auroras danced above him, the ice shimmered beneath, and the wind whispered faintly across the plains. His body was tired, yes, but it hummed with newfound energy. Every scale, every claw, every sinew thrummed with life. He was learning, growing, and—most importantly—he understood that this world, cold and vast as it was, could become his training ground.
He exhaled a thin stream of smoke, watching it curl lazily into the night air. The mana currents pulsed beneath the ice, around the rocks, flowing through snowdrifts, and he could sense them now, guiding him, teasing him, waiting for him to call on them. His senses were sharper, his power more tangible, and the thought brought a faint, feral smile to his mind.
One small rabbit, four kills, and a handful of mana cores had taught him more than he had expected. He could feel the potential inside him, a coiled energy that was no longer abstract. He was alive. He was growing. He was beginning to understand the rhythm of this world—and himself.
Amber eyes glinting, tail coiled, wings twitching with idle energy, Drake watched the auroras pulse across the sky. The ice plain stretched endlessly before him, silent, beautiful, and alive. The first real taste of power had been sweet. And tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow would bring more.