Chapter 4: Breakthrough! Quasi Mortal Stage!
A wretched sensation consumed the humming bunny, making it flinch instinctively as it dodges the stone arrow just a millimeter from its eye. Even though it had only been few seconds, the arrow killed it.
In a desperate move, the bunny consumed its demonic qi at an extreme rate which fuel his speed and reflex by much. It narrowly avoided the arrow piercing its eye, but a long, bloody scar was carved across its face.
The cut wasn't deep, but to the mutated bunny, it was humiliating.
Zorai, on the other hand, had initially felt bloated after ingesting the pill and his body getting hotter. His body shook, his muscles tensed and untensed like they were trying to tear themselves apart. But once he moved once he attacked something inside him aligned. A strange rhythm formed between the foreign energy and his instincts. He moved again, this time shifting to the side in a flash, and his body didn't explode.
The qi from the pill flowed through him like water from a faucet pouring into a tub. But every time a drop was added, his body seemed to force a drop out. Like breathing. In. Out. Just enough to keep balance. That strange, unconscious rhythm kept him alive.
While attacking, Zorai also remained sharply aware of his body. It was like watching two things at once the rabbit in front of him, and the unfamiliar qi movement inside him. He memorized the shifts. The warmth. The speed of flow. If he lived, he would copy this. He would make it his foundation.
Drip.
A loud, echoing sound rang through Zorai's body.
He almost froze mid fight. He hadn't been hit, and there was no sound in the forest. The noise came from within.
Drip.
The sound returned, and this time it brought a pressure, a weight that settled deep within his lower belly. It felt like something small, but dense. Like a hot drop of blood falling into cold water.
His eyes widened.
A single drop of qi had entered his dantian. His actual dantian.
It wasn't stable. It wasn't refined. But it was there. His body was finally building a part to open his meridian. Not in some fantasy way in a real, painful, physical way. His bones ached. His muscles itched. His skin crawled.
Then.
Thud.
The bunny moved. A blur of white and red shot toward him, claws extended slamming onto him and sending him crashing into a tree. Quickly he stood up as he stopped trying to split his attention and observe what was happening in his body as the bunny shot towards him again.
Zorai reacted on instinct. He twisted sideways, but not fast enough. The bunny slammed into his ribs again. But this time, his body didn't fly. Instead, his feet skidded across the ground, digging a small trench. His hands clenched. His teeth gritted.
The energy inside him had moved on its own.
It had surged to his chest, coating it in something soft but firm. His ribs still ached, but they didn't break, meaning no blood this time.
He coughed but stayed upright.
The rabbit landed a few steps away and looked at him differently now. Less like prey. More like a rival.
Zorai narrowed his eyes.
So I've entered a quasi mortal stage? That explains it. The bunny's attack didn't work because I've crossed the barrier. Not fully... but enough. It still hurts, but the qi is moving fast enough to protect me although not very fast since I don't control it well.
Humming bunnies aren't known for attack anyway. Strong legs, yes. But no offensive skills. They're usually pets or scouts. Not fighters. So this one is relying on its speed and mutation. But even that's not enough now.
With the qi in me? My battle power might be somewhere near mis mortal stage. Maybe peak, briefly. My recovery rate feels like same. Not perfect most of the pill's energy is still being wasted but the little that's going into my dantian… it's worth it. This thing's not going to live long.
Zorai exhaled and crouched low.
The bunny moved again.
Fast.
It vanished for a moment — then reappeared on Zorai's right.
Zorai twisted and swung one of his stone arrows like a knife.
The bunny dodged, but not by much.
Zorai followed up with a lunge. He didn't aim for the kill on neck or any part of the body. He aimed for the eyes which was it's weakness.
The bunny leaned back as it felt danger, claws scratching at Zorai's arm, but Zorai ignored the pain and slashed upward. His stone arrow scraped fur. Not a cut, but a warning.
They broke apart again.
Zorai's breath came fast. His arms shook. His heartbeat was pounding. But he didn't back down.
The bunny sniffed, glaring with one bloody eye.
It knew now. This human child was not normal.
And Zorai understood too.
This beast had intelligence. It could have killed him earlier. But it had played. Mocked. Waited.
Now that it was injured, it would not play anymore.
But it wouldn't retreat either.
Mutated beasts were known to carry stronger traits of their original species. This one was a rabbit. Normally timid. Affectionate. Obsessive with grooming.
But this one?
This one was vain. It believed itself beautiful. Untouchable.
Zorai had scarred that beauty.
He didn't just become a threat.
He became an insult.
This was no longer a fight for survival it was a grudge or I say revenge.