[Dark Needle
Effect: Shoot a thin needle made of darkness towards the enemy.
Cost: 2 MP]
Looking at the effect of his new spell, Adrian felt something close to satisfaction. It was not excitement in the way a human might experience it, nor was it pride. It was a quiet sense of approval. The spell was simple, direct, and efficient. More importantly, it filled a gap in his arsenal.
Until now, all of his attacks required proximity. Venom meant biting. Constrict required physical contact. Even Shadow Bind worked best when the target was within reach. But Dark Needle changed that. It allowed him to strike from a distance. It allowed him to weaken or wound prey before committing himself fully.
Range meant options.
Options meant survival.
After reviewing the spell one final time, Adrian settled deeper into his cave. Testing it immediately would be reckless. He preferred to be well-rested and clear-headed when experimenting with a new ability. There was no reason to rush.
With that decision made, he coiled loosely and allowed the remainder of the day to fade into evening. The last streaks of sunlight disappeared beyond the treeline, and darkness gradually claimed the forest. The cave grew cooler as night settled in.
Time passed quietly
When morning finally arrived, Adrian awoke as he usually did. He uncoiled and slid toward the entrance of his cave. The early light filtering through the trees painted the forest floor in pale gold.
He climbed onto his usual sunbathing stone and stretched his body across its surface. The rock still held some warmth from the previous day, and as the sun rose higher, it began heating once again. The warmth seeped into his scales, loosening his muscles and sharpening his reactions.
After several minutes, he felt sufficiently warmed
He slid down from the stone and moved into a nearby bush to avoid unnecessary exposure. Today, he intended to do two things: inspect the human settlement and hunt for prey along the way.
He had not forgotten about the humans.
Though primitive, they possessed intelligence, tools, and numbers. Unlike most creatures in the forest, they could adapt quickly. That made them dangerous.
Moving through the undergrowth, Adrian noticed that his slightly increased size allowed him to travel a bit quicker than before. His movements felt smoother, more efficient. The distance to the human village did not seem as long as it had previously.
Despite actively searching for prey during his journey, he had little luck. A few insects crossed his path. Several worms shifted beneath loose soil. None were worth the effort or the time it would take to capture and consume them. He ignored them, prioritizing reconnaissance.
Eventually, he reached the same concealed vantage point he had used before.
Carefully positioning himself beneath a thick patch of foliage, Adrian looked toward the human village.
What he saw made him pause.
Unlike before, the settlement was not empty of adult males. Several men were present, moving between structures. Some were carrying wooden planks. Others appeared to be repairing sections of the outer fence. A few were constructing what looked like new huts.
The fence itself seemed sturdier than before.
They were improving.
That meant they were settling in rather than preparing to leave.
Adrian remained perfectly still as he observed. There was no visible sign of immediate threat to the forest, but their continued activity confirmed something important: they were not temporary visitors. They were establishing themselves.
After committing the scene to memory, Adrian slowly withdrew.
He would return every few days to monitor their progress. If they expanded too far or began hunting deeper into the forest, he would need to adjust his territory accordingly.
For now, they remained at a distance.
As he slithered back into the forest, his focus shifted entirely to hunting. Now that reconnaissance was complete, food became the priority.
This time, it did not take long.
A scent carried on the air caught his attention, it smelled similar to the bird he hunted yesterday. He followed it carefully, tongue flicking in measured intervals.
Soon, he spotted his target.
It was another small bird, similar in size to the previous one. However, something about it was unusual. When sunlight struck its wings, a sharp glint reflected back toward him. Upon closer inspection, Adrian realized that the feathers along the edges of its wings appeared metallic. They shimmered faintly, like thin blades layered together.
Interesting.
This prey might not be as simple to consume.
Nevertheless, it was still manageable.
Adrian activated [Conceal].
The shadows around him shifted and draped themselves over his body, blending him seamlessly into the darker patches beneath the trees. Hidden from sight, he advanced slowly.
When he was approximately five meters away, he stopped.
This distance would serve as a proper test for Dark Needle.
Focusing inward, Adrian gathered his mana and willed the spell to form.
A thin, needle-like construct of darkness materialized at the tip of his mouth. It was sleek and narrow, its surface absorbing light rather than reflecting it. There was no sound as it formed, only the faint sensation of mana leaving his reserves.
He aimed carefully.
Then he released it.
The Dark Needle shot forward at high speed, slicing through the air in a straight line. In less than a second, it struck the bird's side. With little resistance, it pierced through feathers and flesh, leaving a small but clean hole in its body.
The bird let out a sharp cry.
Instinct took over as it spread its wings and attempted to take flight. Blood began spilling from the wound, droplets scattering across the forest floor.
Despite the injury, the metallic-edged feathers caught the sunlight as the bird flapped violently. It still had enough strength to escape if given even a few seconds.
Adrian reacted immediately.
[Shadow Bind]
The bird's shadow darkened unnaturally. From it, pitch-black chains erupted upward, wrapping tightly around the bird's legs and torso. The sudden restraint forced it back to the ground.
The creature struggled desperately, wings beating. The metallic feathers scraped against the chains with a faint, grating sound. But the bindings held.
With the bird immobilized, Adrian approached cautiously. Even restrained, those metallic feather edges could pose a risk if he was careless.
He struck quickly, sinking his fangs into the bird's flesh multiple times. Venom flowed steadily into its bloodstream. Though Dark Needle had wounded it, venom would ensure it did not recover.
The bird's struggles weakened within moments.
Its wings slowed.
Its body trembled.
Then it went still.
[+11 Evolution Points]
The notification appeared before him.
Eleven points from this single prey. Slightly more than the previous bird. Perhaps the unusual traits contributed to the increased reward.
Adrian dismissed the notification and turned his attention to the corpse.
Just as he prepared to swallow it whole, he hesitated.
The metallic feathers along the edges of its wings were sharp. He nudged one experimentally with the side of his mouth and immediately felt the edge scrape against his scales.
If he swallowed the bird as it was, those feathers could tear his insides during digestion.
That would be disastrous.
Reluctantly, Adrian began the tedious task of removing them.
Using only his mouth, he grasped each metallic-edged feather near its base and pulled. Some came free easily. Others resisted, forcing him to tug repeatedly. A few sliced lightly against his gums and lips during the process, leaving small, stinging cuts.
He ignored the discomfort.
One by one, he plucked them out.
The pile beside the bird's body gradually grew. The metallic feathers glinted faintly in the filtered sunlight.
It took time, far longer than simply swallowing the prey whole, but eventually, he removed approximately thirty of the dangerous feathers. Only once he was certain that the edges were no longer a threat did he pause.
Minor cuts lined parts of his mouth, but none were serious.
The effort had been worth it.