With quick and cautious dashes, I managed to approach the Pink Predator without him noticing, and using my Self-Made Dagger, I struck him.
The success of this maneuver was unexpected. I felt my opponent clench sharply, and his health decreased by 20 points.
[ You have taken away - 20 HP]
However, this damage was not enough to stop him. A monster resembling a poodle in size, with a bright pink color, instantly turned to me.
His barbs, sharp as razors, glinted in the dim light. I knew that if he managed to touch me, the consequences could be extremely painful.
—No, you won't succeed!
I exclaimed, trying to regain my composure and focus. My voice sounded confident, but inside, I was growing increasingly anxious. With each step he took towards me, I knew I needed to act quickly and decisively.
I remembered my sessions with my psychologist a year ago, and how important it is to stay calm in a critical situation.
I had to find a way to dodge his attack and prepare for the next one. Determination flooded my veins as I prepared for the next move. This battle was far from over.
Trapped by the aggressive creature, I did everything I could to escape its suffocating grip, which threatened to take away my control and freedom.
Despite the fact that this was my partial success, I was not completely out of danger. A sharp claw or spike had scratched my shoulder, causing my skin to burn with every movement.
[ Damage taken: - 10 XP ]
But the fury that flared up inside me gave me the strength to act without delay: drawing my weapon, I slashed at the red bud, whose shape was unmistakably similar to the creature's head.
—Hssshh!
[ You have taken away – 40 HP]
The creature, named by the system as the "Pink Predator", froze, clearly not expecting an attacking reaction from my side.
Its bud swayed slightly, as if weakened by the blow, and above it, a thin health bar became clearly visible, sharply reduced to an alarming level.
Realizing my temporary victory, I couldn't help but make a bold comment:
—Stop hissing at me, you're not scary, you're just annoying! I think I've found your weakness. Is there a blue core hidden within this red bud, the key to your destruction?
The Pink Predator, provoked by aggression, immediately used all his thorns, trying to harm me. But I did not get confused.
I reacted instantly, jumping high up, avoiding his attack.
His aggressive behavior suddenly reminded me of carefree days in kindergarten, when we played jump rope with girls. In that game, if the jump rope touched your leg, you were considered a loser.
It was almost the same here: as the monster's life decreased, it seemed to start its own game. It was like a jump rope with spikes.
The challenge was to evade its traps as quickly as possible, and then take advantage of its moment of reloading to strike directly at its weak point.
I did just that, dodging the prickly red thorns that seemed capable of easily tearing through any fabric.
With all my strength concentrated, I delivered a finishing blow to the creature's blue core.
At that moment, the Pink Predator hissed, making a sound like metal scraping, and as if in response to my blow, several pink petals flew into the air and gradually disappeared into space.
—It turns out to be so amazing!
I exclaimed, surprised at how simple actions could lead to such spectacular results. The method of taking the lives of aggressive monsters was strikingly similar to the process of cooking in the kitchen, but with some peculiarities.
Cooking requires precision, patience, and an understanding of how ingredients interact. Here, in a world full of danger, everything depends on quick reflexes and the ability to adapt to the environment.
The green system messages that appeared only added to my excitement. They provided information about my experience gains and level increases.
[ Your level has improved 1 → 2 lvl ]
[ Your stats have improved + 10]
Name: Disava
Race: Toadman
Class: Not selected
Level: 2
Experience: 35 / 100
[Attributes]
Health (HP): 120 / 120
Stamina (Stamina): 60 / 60
Mana (MP): 0 / 0 (no magic skills yet)
Strength: 16
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 15
Constitution: 10
Will: 15
Luck: 14
[Combat Parameters]
Damage (base): 4–6
Attack Speed: Medium
Crit. Chance: 2%
Defense: 13
[ Resistances] (none yet)
[ Equipment]
Weapon: Stone Dagger (Damage 2-4)
Armor: Worn Shirt (+1 Defense)
Footwear: Old Sandals (+1 Movement Speed)
Extras: none
•Hint: To see your status again. Mentally say the word "Status"
—Stop! So I can even see my status in this game?! That's great!
[Attention: The ability to track your achievements and progress significantly increases your interest in the gameplay. ]
I always suspected that this game had a leveling system, but I never thought that accessing it would be so convenient.
Just imagine that you can simply think the word "Status" and instantly receive information about your skills, level, and current status.
This allows you to not only monitor your progress but also plan your future actions in the game.
Several times, as I focused and said the word in my thoughts, I happily admired my status.
However, unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy this opportunity for long. During the game, I realized that it could be a distraction during battles.
[ Attention: During the battle, the Pink Predator used the group summoning feature]
So, this gesture of opening the petals, which indicated imminent death, was a signal for the rest of his pack to appear?
This phenomenon highlights the strategic complexity of combat, where one should not get too excited too soon.
Victory may not be so obvious when the enemy is able to call for help at a critical moment.
• Tip: The more monsters you kill, the more experience you gain after a battle.
—Now that's interesting! It's time to gain more experience!
I smirked, even though my heart was already beating faster.
The rustling in the bushes didn't bode well. As if on cue, three silhouettes emerged from the dense foliage.
The Pink Predators, their green bodies resembling stems, seemed to glow in the sun, and their buds sparkled with a hungry red light.
The first thing that caught my eye was the levels above their heads. The number "3" was pulsating, as if mocking me. These creatures were significantly stronger than the one I had fought before.
—Three against one? Seriously?...
I muttered, clutching my dagger.
Once again, I had to turn the fight into a strange game of jump rope. I jumped to the side, rolled on the ground, and made short bursts of forward and backward movement. Anything to prevent these creatures from wrapping their roots around my neck.
Their behavior seemed abnormal. One would expect a pack to charge together in order to tear their prey to shreds. But no, they moved differently.
The predators formed an arc, waiting and attacking in strict succession, like in old pixelated battle games.
Each of their leaps was swift, precise, and equally deadly. One would charge, I would dodge, and the other would take its place, leaving me with only seconds to breathe.
My chest was filled with tension, knowing that one wrong move would turn me into a meal. Yet, deep down, I felt a sense of excitement. The more risk, the more experience. This battle could be my chance to rise above.
Using my wits, I darted between them like a hare surrounded by hunting dogs. My heart was pounding in my chest, but my legs were moving on their own: a step to the side, a sudden lunge forward, and I was already between two Pink Predators.
One of them, unable to withstand the pressure, opened its bud and unleashed a barrage of blood-red thorns. They cut through the air with a whistle, leaving behind thin trails of smoke.
I ducked, and was surprised to see several thorns pierce his companion's side. The man shrieked, jumped back, and glared at his "ally" in fury.
— Wait...
I froze for a second, feeling the puzzle pieces fall into place in my head.
— So they can hurt each other?
A smile spread across my face.
— Perhaps I have a quick plan to sit on two chairs at once…
I darted to the side again, forcing them to close the circle around me. The second predator launched an attack, its claws whistling a centimeter from my shoulder.
I jumped to the side and immediately heard a distinctive whistle: the first one was shooting spikes again, and half of them hit the second one.
The second one, howling in pain, turned to its "brother" and growled menacingly, as if forgetting about my existence.
"That's it... bite each other, and I'll watch from the sidelines."
I thought, feeling how the fear inside me gradually gave way to excitement.
They began to get confused in their attacks. I turned every shot, every sharp lunge, into a trap. As soon as I shifted, the claws of one would slide across the skin of the other.
Another second and the two Pink Predators were already grappling, screeching and tearing at each other with their teeth.
I took a step back, breathing heavily, and gripped my dagger tighter. The plan had worked. Now all I had to do was wait for them to do half the work for me and deliver the final blow.
[ You have used the tactic: Cunning ]
[ You have been awarded + 50 experience points.]
Thank you, system. Now that I had relaxed and taken a break from the battle, I was ready to deliver the final blow to their blue-glowing core.
Jumping up and taking aim, I struck the two mobs directly in the target. They screamed and disappeared, sending a few petals to summon their kin.
—No, you won't be able to summon another group. I must be careful.
With a quick swing of my dagger, I cut through the rose petals. Killing the two Pink Predators earned me additional experience points.
[ Received + 10 experience points]
[ Received + 10 experience points ]
[ Your level cannot be increased to level 3 ]
[Warning: since you have reached the maximum level limit in this area, you will no longer receive experience]
—So there is a limit to how high you can level up in a location?
I frowned, trying to make sense of the new lines. It seemed that the system was deliberately limiting my progress.
Each area had its own level cap, and no matter how many monsters I defeated, I couldn't level up beyond a certain point.
This meant that my experience would stop increasing even if I killed a lot of enemies.
The meaning became clear: the game was preventing me from outgrowing the content too quickly.
To continue growing, I needed to explore new territories, face stronger opponents, and undertake more challenging quests.
— Clever...
I muttered, clutching the hilt of the Gem Dagger.
— So, if I want to get stronger, I'll have to get out of here and go to other locations. But first, I need to deal with you!
In front of me stood the last Pink Predator. Its body was torn by the claws of its own kind, but its bud still burned with a wild, predatory aura.
It hissed, arching its flexible, spiked stem, and dug its claws into the ground, ready to pounce.
The air seemed to thicken, filled with a bitter, metallic smell reminiscent of rust.
I straightened my shoulders, clutched my dagger, and, like a true hero, assumed a stance that I would have called ridiculous under different circumstances.
But right now, I needed that smirk, that mask of self-confidence, to suppress my own fear.
— So, it's a final dance?
I whispered, surprised by the calmness of my own voice.
My legs propelled me forward. I ran straight towards him, feeling my heart pounding with each step.
The Pink Predator howled and leaped at me, spreading its claws and opening its red-spiked flower, ready to shoot at close range.