THUMP… THUMP… THUMP… THUMP—
The wheel gradually slowed, its pointer ticking violently from one slot to another before coming to a crawling halt.
Arin held his breath.
The pointer stopped.
Right on something he absolutely did not expect.
"...Basic Combat Technique?" he whispered, stunned.
For a moment, he simply froze.
He had been mentally preparing to receive rotten meat—maybe bloody eyeballs, if his luck was "good."
But this…
This was the best reward he had received in this life or the last.
A soft shimmer filled the air.
An orb materialized—glowing with an ethereal white light, its surface swirling like mist trapped inside crystal. It drifted downward slowly, almost reverently.
Arin couldn't think.
Couldn't blink.
He was mesmerized by the miracle unfolding before him.
The orb paused right above his head.
Then—
FWIP—!
It shot straight into him.
A jolt flashed through his mind. His vision dimmed.
And then—
A translucent serpent mirage rose before him like an apparition.
It circled around him, its movements graceful, deliberate.
Then it began to demonstrate.
Slow at first—each motion clear, each shift of its coils purposeful.
Then faster.
And faster.
Its body twisted, coiled, launched, cracked the air, and used its tail with lethal precision.
Arin felt each step carve itself into his instincts.
The Basic Combat Technique.
Eight stages—simple, brutal, perfect for a serpent.
1. Coil the body tightly to compress energy.
2. Explode forward, using the stored tension for a fast strike.
3. If the prey retreats, tilt and realign, preparing for a second launch.
4. Repeat the strike, faster, catching the enemy off-guard.
5. When within reach, wrap around the prey, binding them.
6. Tighten—constrict until movement breaks or breath stops.
7. Shift position to secure the kill.
8. Bite the vital point with full force, ending the prey instantly.
A name seared itself into Arin's mind—written in blazing fire:
"Eight-Coil Killing Technique."
As the mirage completed its final movement, it dissolved into shimmering light and sank straight into his consciousness.
And then he felt it.
The technique.
The instinct.
The predatory drive—
a serpent's true method of hunting.
And he had memorized all of it.
As the spectral silhouette faded, Arin's heartbeat quickened. A fierce urge to try the technique surged through him.
His muscles tensed, his stance shifted—his body was already preparing to reenact the coils and strikes he had just witnessed.
But before he could even take a breath, the system chimed in.
…
[Tip]
Buy a healing potion first before attempting it.
Knowing you, you'll probably kill yourself trying it.
…
Arin's eye twitched.
He hissed softly, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Silence.
Of course the system didn't answer. It never did when he actually wanted it to.
Still scowling, he opened the shop menu.
---
Shop (F-Tier)
[Karma: 20] [Refresh: 1]
1. Broken-Quality Healing Potion – Cost: 5 Karma
A weak, diluted potion. May heal you… eventually. Tastes like mud.
2. Rotten Meat – Cost: 1 Karma
Barely food. Might attract flies. Might also give you diarrhea.
3. Dull Stone Fang (Damaged) – Cost: 10 Karma
A chipped fang imbued with faint beast energy. Good for practice.
Breaks easily. Do not use on actual enemies unless you hate yourself.
4. Snake-Skin Patch – Cost: 3 Karma
A tiny piece of shed skin. Can be absorbed to slightly strengthen scales.
Very slightly.
....
Arin stared at the glowing number in disbelief.
"How… how did I get 20 Karma? Wasn't it 12 before I reincarnated?"
The system answered instantly, far too cheerfully.
[You survived that attack. And more importantly, you entertained me.
So I rewarded you a little.]
Arin didn't know whether he should feel honoured or offended.
Probably both.
He shook off the thought and quickly bought two healing potions and five pieces of rotten meat. Hunger gnawed at him, and survival came first.
His heart thumped as he prepared to test the technique.
The Eight-Coil Killing Technique.
His first real skill.
He coiled tightly—his body moving almost by instinct—and began the second step…
And immediately felt something tear.
CRACK.
A sharp bolt of agony shot up his side. A muscle tore. A joint popped out of place.
He collapsed, hissing in pain.
Embarrassed and furious at himself, he forced a potion into his mouth from the inventory. Warmth surged through him as the damage began stitching itself back together.
He hadn't even known snakes had bones there.
Apparently, he did now.
The system didn't let the opportunity go.
[Tip]
Congratulations. You've discovered anatomy by breaking yourself.
Truly, peak cultivation talent.
Arin pretended he didn't see it.
Just as he finished healing, his stomach twisted violently.
A primal hunger took over—sharp, overwhelming, instinctual.
His eyes narrowed.
His breath quickened.
His mind fogged.
He wasn't thinking—he was starving.
His gaze shot toward the pile of rotten meat.
His jaw lunged before his thoughts could catch up.
It tasted horrible, smelled even worse, but instinct devoured every piece.
By the time he regained control, his mind reeled in fear.
This… wasn't normal hunger.
At this rate, his Karma wouldn't even last a day.
Then—
Cold.
A strange, instinctive pull tugged at his mind, directing him deeper into the cave, toward something… living.
His body reacted before he could refuse.
Panicking, he quickly bought more meat just to slow the craving.
Something inside him was changing.
Not replacing—reshaping him.
Shaken, Arin pulled up his status window.
Angel's words echoed faintly.
"Sometimes… it's better to look at yourself."
He muttered, "I guess… now's the time."
---
Name: Arin
Species: Lesser Cave Serpent (…idiotic)
Cultivation: Body Tempering (Stage 1)
Status: Still Extremely Pathetic
Stats:
• Strength: 1.1 – (A toddler will beat you.)
• Agility: 2.2 – (Can you even run? Oh wait… no legs. Just slither faster?)
• Endurance: 0.9 – (Try not to move, okay?)
• HP: 5/5
• cultivation speed– 0(You would still wish.)
Evolution Potential: 1/10 – (It increased a little, don't get ahead of yourself.)
Bloodline: 0.1% (???)
Skills:
Pathetic Bite (Lv. 5) – Yep… still pathetic.
Fear Sense (Lv. 3) – Your species' gift to panic and survive by running away.
Newbie Slither (Lv. 7) – Wiggle. Just wiggle.
Quests:
1. Win a fight.
2. Use the Eight-Coil Killing Technique in a fight.
3.devour it
...
Arin exhaled slowly.
"…It improved a lot, I guess."
His heartbeat slowed.
The hunger faded just enough for a clear thought to slip in.
Should I start cultivating?
The moment the idea formed, something deep within him responded—
a faint hum in his blood,
a pull toward evolution,
a promise of strength.
It terrified him.
But it tempted him even more...