Strength. If I wanted to survive in this world, I needed strength. My mother had proven that in an instant when she tore apart that horned snake. But I refused to keep relying on her. I had to become stronger on my own.
And that meant hunting.
I scanned the forest below, perched on the edge of my nest. My wings weren't strong enough to fly, so I'd have to glide down. I had no choice—I couldn't get stronger sitting here. Taking a deep breath, I spread my wings and leaped.
I fell faster than expected but managed to slow myself before hitting the ground. Not graceful, but at least I didn't break anything.
Now… what should I hunt?
The forest was alive with movement. Insects crawled over fallen leaves, lizards darted between rocks, and birds flitted through the branches above. I could probably handle a bug or two, but that wouldn't be enough to grow stronger.
Then, I spotted it.
A horned rabbit.
It looked… harmless. Fluffy, small, with little brown fur-covered ears—except for the single curved horn protruding from its forehead. But that couldn't be too dangerous, right? It was just a rabbit. A prey animal.
This would be my first kill.
I crept closer, careful to stay out of its line of sight. My plan was simple: get close, then strike before it could react. If I could land a hit on its head, maybe I'd pierce something vital.
I leaped.
The moment I moved, the rabbit reacted. It was fast. In an instant, it spun around and lunged at me—not away.
I barely managed to twist my body midair as its horn grazed my wing, sending a sharp pain through me. I crashed into the dirt, flapping to steady myself. The rabbit didn't run. It stared at me, muscles tensed, ready to charge again.
This thing isn't prey. It's a predator.
Panic surged through me. I was not winning this fight. I had to get out of here.
The rabbit lunged again. I dodged, barely avoiding another hit, and then bolted toward the nearest bush. My small body let me slip through gaps in the branches that the rabbit couldn't. It snarled—actually snarled—before hopping away.
I collapsed, heart pounding. I had nearly died. From a rabbit.
I gritted my beak. I was weak. Too weak. But I had learned something important—appearances meant nothing. If I wanted to survive, I had to be smarter.
I couldn't face monsters head-on. I had to use ambush tactics.
.
.
.
After catching my breath, I crept through the underbrush, searching for another target. This time, I was more careful. I needed something weaker.
Then, I saw it. A moss lizard sunbathing on a rock. It was small, barely bigger than me, and sluggish from the heat. Perfect.
I climbed a tree branch above it, positioning myself directly overhead. This time, no charging in blindly. I waited. Watched.
When the lizard finally shifted position—exposing its neck—I struck.
I dove beak-first, piercing its throat. The lizard let out a gurgled hiss, thrashing, but I clamped onto it with my talons, refusing to let go. Blood filled my mouth. It struggled for a moment longer… then stilled.
[Ding! You have slain a Moss Lizard. +50 XP]
I panted, heart still racing. I had done it. I had actually killed something.
I quickly pecked at the lizard's body, eating what I could before anything else came to steal my meal. The taste was… well, disgusting, but I needed the nutrients.
I continued hunting using the same method—perching in trees, waiting, and ambushing. I took down a few more moss lizards and even a large insect.
Finally—
[Ding! You have leveled up!]
[You have reached Level 5!]
[New Skill Unlocked: Analysis]
A new skill?
I focused, and information about my surroundings flooded my mind—like a sixth sense. I looked at a nearby lizard, and text appeared before my eyes.
[Moss Lizard – Level 2]
A grin formed in my mind. Now we're talking.
No more guessing. No more underestimating my enemies.
Next time, when I faced that horned rabbit again… I'd be the predator.
.
.
.
Callum took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling in the quiet stillness of the forest. The Analysis skill hovered in his mind like a quiet whisper, ready to be used.
He scouted the area, his eyes scanning the underbrush, looking for his next target. He didn't need to be told that his current strategy wasn't sustainable. While his ambush tactics had kept him alive, it wasn't enough for him to truly grow stronger. He needed more. The horned rabbit had been too much for him—faster, stronger, and more aggressive than he'd anticipated. It was a humbling reminder that appearances could be deceiving.
A rustle nearby caught his attention. His sharp eyes locked onto the movement, and he crouched instinctively. Through the dense foliage, he saw a creature—a boar-like beast, dark fur glistening with sweat as it moved cautiously. He could tell by its scent, its size, and the way it paced that it was near his level range.
Perfect.
Callum steadied himself, gripping the dirt beneath his talons. He needed to do this right. The Analysis skill would give him the advantage he had lacked before.
Analysis.
[Name: Forest Boar
Level: 3
HP: 50/50
Strength: 7
Endurance: 5
Agility: 4
Skills: [Charge] [Tusk]
Weakness: None detected]
Level 3… Callum's heart raced. He had faced creatures far weaker, and yet, this boar had potential. But its lack of agility was a weakness. His tactic remained the same—he would need to use the element of surprise.
He crept through the underbrush, keeping his breathing shallow. The boar was distracted, sniffing at the ground for roots. His body was poised to spring. This was his moment.
With a burst of energy, Callum shot forward, using his momentum to leap at the boar's side. He aimed for its exposed flank, his talons reaching for its skin.
The boar, startled, turned quickly, tusks glinting dangerously. Callum barely managed to twist in the air, but the boar's tusk grazed his side, leaving a deep cut. He flinched, pain radiating through his body, but he pushed through it. This was the risk.
The boar charged, forcing Callum to jump to the side. His legs were shaky, his body aching from the impact, but he was relentless. He couldn't afford to make another mistake. Not after everything.
He circled around, waiting for the next opening. The boar was slower now, its tusks swinging with less precision. Callum seized the moment. He darted in again, aiming for the back of its legs. His talons sunk into the boar's hide, and this time, he didn't relent. He dug in deeper, feeling the animal buck and thrash beneath him.
His claws found purchase, and with a desperate pull, he brought the creature down. The boar let out a final, guttural snort before collapsing, defeated.
Panting, blood staining his feathers and fur, Callum stepped back, eyes never leaving his fallen prey.
[You have defeated Level 3 Forest Boar!
Experience gained: 20 XP]
He winced as the familiar wave of exhaustion washed over him. His wounds stung, but he couldn't rest yet. He had to keep moving. He had to keep getting stronger.
As he moved to claim his prize, the Analysis skill flashed in his mind once again, a reminder of his limitations.
Callum spent the next few hours dragging the boar back to his nest. He had sustained injuries, but the feeling of growth, of power, was undeniable. It was small, incremental, but it was progress.
Still, a nagging thought hung in the back of his mind: Was it enough?
He knew that he had just faced something on the edge of his current strength. It wasn't enough to get him through what lay ahead. He needed more. He needed to get stronger faster, and that meant continuing this brutal hunt.
By the time he returned to his nest, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the forest floor. He watched his mother from a distance as she surveyed their surroundings. There was no pride in her gaze, no recognition of his efforts. She was simply doing what needed to be done.
Callum's body was exhausted. He had barely enough energy to eat the boar, but he did it anyway, driven by his hunger—not just for food, but for power. He could feel his body healing, his muscles slowly mending from the wounds he'd suffered.
When he finished, he collapsed back into the nest, his body barely able to keep him conscious.
Level 5
[HP: 9/10
MP: 0/0
Stamina: 45/100
Stat Points: 3
Ability Points: 1
Strength: 7
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 10
Dexterity: 5
Agility: 4
Charisma: 0
Skills: [Peck] [Pierce] [Inspect] [Communicate] [Analysis]
I can't stop yet…
He clenched his beak, determination hardening his chest. He had reached Level 5. It was a start. But it was far from enough.
It was just the beginning. And there were still more monsters to kill.