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The sound of rattling tools echoed with each step, her hope clinging to the idea that she might be growing stronger. She observed her surroundings: a barren, cold wasteland with no sign of civilization. Is there even a settlement nearby? she wondered. If not, why was she still following him?
As they trudged along the winding, snow-covered road, a sudden streak of blood ran from her nose, the metallic tang of iron filling the air. She couldn't tell from where it came—only knowing it was close. Since her rebirth in this new form, her senses had sharpened beyond any human's. In comparison, this newfound ability was a blessing, but it came with its downside. The slightest bad odor made her nauseous, even when she wasn't near its source.
The hunter seemed to sense something too. His eyes narrowed, and his pace quickened as they approached a slope. At the base, a gruesome sight unfolded: bloodied wreckage and human remains. They must've gone over the slope too quickly, she thought as she glanced at the scattered bones and half-eaten body. The sight almost made her lose her composure, but she quickly calmed herself and looked at the faces of the dead.
There wasn't much left, but she could make a guess. Were these the ones who kidnapped me? Or perhaps they were just traders. But why would they have a dragon egg? The thought lingered in her mind. Her best guess was that wolves had attacked them. The bodies were frozen, their faces locked in expressions of terror, almost nightmarish.
Amid the carnage, a bloodstained necklace caught her eye. It was woven from white wool, and the hunter approached it, taking note of a dead horse nearby, its flesh almost entirely torn away.
"They deserved this," she thought bitterly, remembering how they had thrown her off the carriage. The hunter snapped the necklace from the body's neck and placed it in his bag, next to her. She inspected the symbol engraved on it—similar to the rune on her lantern, with a diamond shape and intricate markings. Magic must be common here, she mused, though she still couldn't decipher its meaning.
Sadly, her mana was still at zero, meaning she couldn't use magic. She imagined herself casting fireballs like in the cartoons she used to watch as a kid, and a wistful smile tugged at her lips. Those memories of watching shows with her parents felt so distant now.
The sun had begun its descent, and the hunter remained unfazed by the cold or the journey's fatigue. Meanwhile, she felt the weight of exhaustion creeping in.
Ding
Skill: Inspect 1 → 2
Her attention snapped back to him as a panel materialized in front of her:
Species: Human - North Joureafla
Health: 265/265
Status: Normal - Calm
Stamina: 108/160 + 15
Mana: 200/200
Strength: 80
Agility: 44
Physical Resistance: 60
Elemental Resistance: 26
Magical Resistance: 24
Ability: ???
"Wow," she muttered, taken aback by his impressive stats, which outmatched hers in every category. His magical resistance is close to mine, she thought. Why didn't he get affected by the corruption? Looking at her own stats, she realized that despite her size—barely a foot and a half tall, including her tail—her health was still higher than expected. The hunter, towering over her at about six feet five inches, seemed like an entirely different species.
As they continued their trek, they stopped to rest several times. The hunter tried to start a fire, and she seized the opportunity to sneak off. She needed to level up. Though she was weak, she knew finding something she could beat wouldn't be easy. Fortunately, the area was home to hares and wolves. After some searching, she spotted a white-furred adult hare, about the same size as her. With careful movements, she crept behind it, preparing to pounce.
Her instincts sharpened her focus, and her slit-like eyes honed in on the hare's movements. She gauged the right distance for her jump, waiting for it to step into the perfect spot. Rustle. With a quick leap, she aimed for its neck—but the hare was quicker. It dodged to the side, and she buried her face in the snow. Embarrassing, she thought, but she wasn't about to give up. The rabbit was fast, but she was faster on all fours. Her claws dug into the snow, and she leaped again, this time landing on its foot. Injured and unable to escape, the hare struggled helplessly. She bit down hard on its neck, ending its life with a final breath.
Ding
+2 XP
Passive Skill Gain:
"Forest Hunter 1" - Passively gains movement speed while inside the forest.
"Predator 1" - Slows and confuses the target after a successful hit.
Letting go of the hare, her teeth stained with blood, she quickly checked her status.
LEVEL: 1 4/5 EXP
Status: Hatchling
Species: Young Ancient Elemental Dragon
Health: 120/120
Stamina: 4/40
Mana: 0/0
Strength: 8.9
Agility: 4 + 2
Physical Resistance: 2
Elemental Resistance: 4
Magical Resistance: 16
Ability: ???
Her speed had increased slightly, and she felt lighter on her feet. Dragging the rabbit's carcass, she headed back to the camp, where the hunter was now cooking by the fire. As the sun set, casting a red glow across the landscape, she finally returned, proudly dropping the hare near him. He looked at her with disbelief. I can't believe you managed to catch one, his expression seemed to say.
With a smile, she watched him skin the hare and prepare the meal. The surrounding woods darkened, and the smoke from the fire swirled into the night air. They ate together—grilled rabbit, a far cry from the tasteless jerky and vegetable soup she'd had before.
As the warmth of the meal settled in, she remembered her last night's sleep, hoping this time would be different. She crept closer to him, not wanting to be alone. When the fire finally burned down to embers, the lantern flared to life once more, its light casting eerie shadows. Something appeared in the darkness—but this time, it was different.