The pain tore through his nascent scales. The Level 2 Stone Rat, its fangs caked with mud, lunged again. Kai couldn't retreat further. His back was already pressed against a cold slab of rock. The dim light of the cave reflected in his amber dragon whelp eyes, revealing raw fear. But deep inside, the will of a seasoned gamer refused to yield.
There has to be a way! The system... it says I'm a dragon, so a dragon must have a dragon's way of fighting!
Instinct screamed at Kai to twist, channeling all his strength into his tiny tail. "Keen Senses" granted him a split-second to react. Just as the Stone Rat lunged for his throat, Kai swung his tail, not to attack, but to flick up the damp earth and pebbles beneath him.
"THWACK!"
A spray of mud and grit splattered onto the Stone Rat's face. It screeched in annoyance, its crimson eyes blinking rapidly to clear the obstruction. Mere seconds, but for Kai, it was a golden opportunity.
"You want to eat me? Let's see you chew on a rock!" Kai growled, his voice still reedy but laced with fierce determination. He rolled, hastily clamping onto a small pebble lying at his feet. His tiny dragon teeth couldn't crush it, but they were enough to hold it firm. With all his might, Kai used his tail to push off, his frail body transforming into a moving, scaly projectile, hurtling straight towards the Stone Rat's leg!
[-2 HP!]
[Skill 'Surprise Charge' (Level 1) activated! Deals an additional 1 damage when attacking via collision!]
The Stone Rat roared in pain, stumbling back a step. It hadn't expected its tiny prey to retaliate in such a way. Its eyes widened with enraged fury.
Kai felt a small surge of energy course through his body. He had dealt damage! Only 2 HP, but it was a start. The system even reported a new skill!
That's right! I'm a dragon, but I'm also a gamer! I need to use my brain!
Kai didn't stop. He continued to roll, this time not to attack but to maintain distance, rapidly assessing the surrounding terrain. The cave was riddled with jagged rock formations and slippery patches of moss.
"ROAR!" The Stone Rat, with the experience of an instinctive predator, quickly regained its footing and charged again. But this time, Kai was ready. As the rat leaped to deliver a finishing blow, Kai curled into a tight, scaly ball, then rolled gently into a rock crevice.
The Stone Rat slammed into the cavern wall, its head hitting a sharp outcropping.
[-5 HP!]
[HP: 23/30]
It reeled, staggering. Kai quickly seized the chance. He rolled out again, aiming directly for its injured leg, using all his fledgling might to snap down. His new teeth couldn't pierce the thick hide, but the bite combined with his body weight caused the rat excruciating pain.
"Squeak! Squeak!" The Stone Rat shrieked, growing more frantic. It lunged to bite Kai wildly, but "Keen Senses" and "Indomitable Will" helped Kai evade the lethal blows, though he couldn't avoid every scratch.
[-1 HP! HP: 7/10]
[-1 HP! HP: 6/10]
Kai's HP plummeted to critical levels. But the rat was also noticeably weakening. The mild venom from "Poisonous Leaf Spit" (a skill absorbed from nearby venomous snakes earlier) was slowly chipping away at its vitality.
Just one more hit!
Kai, eyes blazing, clenched another stone. This time, he aimed directly for the Stone Rat's disoriented head as it overshot another lunge and hit the cave wall again.
"CRUNCH!"
The sound of impact echoed. The Stone Rat froze. Its crimson eyes slowly glazed over, and then its body collapsed, motionless.
[You have defeated Stone Rat Level 2!]
[Received 20 experience points!]
[Experience Points: 20/100]
[Quest 'Survive!' completed! Received an additional 10 experience points!]
[Experience Points: 30/100]
[You have absorbed skill 'Rending Bite' (Level 1) from Stone Rat!]
A surge of exhilarating triumph washed over Kai. He had won! His first life-or-death battle, and he had survived! Only 6 HP remained, but it was a resounding victory.
"Ha... ha... I... I did it!" Kai panted, his dragon whelp body exhausted but his spirit soaring.
He looked at the system panel. A new skill, "Rending Bite," had appeared. It simply increased his bite damage, but for Kai right now, it was invaluable.
[Evolution Tip: Upon reaching sufficient level and conditions, you may choose an evolution path based on absorbed experience and skills. Choose wisely, for it will shape your future!]
A brilliant ray of hope ignited in Kai's mind. This system wasn't just a survival tool; it was a gateway to limitless power! From a helpless dragon egg, he could become a mighty dragon, perhaps even the Dragon Emperor!
But first, he needed to recover and find a safer place. The scent of blood from the Stone Rat would surely attract other predators. Kai took a deep breath, sensing the aroma of the forest beyond the cave mouth.
Aethel... do you think you can defeat me? A hardcore gamer like me won't fall so easily!
With renewed determination and a fierce will to survive, the young dragon Kai began to crawl, heading towards the faint light at the end of the cave, where his true adventure had just begun.