She vanished into the Green, white braid flashing once between the trunks before the forest swallowed her whole.
For a long while I just… stood there, staring at where she'd been, waiting for something else absurd to happen.
Nothing did.
Just me, a mildly traumatized rabbit, marinating in awkward holiness.
The breeze ruffled my fur like it was trying to comfort me. It didn't help.
Okay, I finally thought toward the general direction of up, System, what in the actual forest fire was that?
[Clarification requested.]
Uh-uh, we're not doing that. You know exactly what I'm talking about.
[…]
That thing with the princess! Why did she bow like I'm the Pope of Flufftown? Why do I have an aura that makes people… worship me? If it's screwing with their heads, why give it to me at all? And while we're at it—what was that last notification about? What aren't you and the old man telling me!?
A pause. The leaves whispered like they were gossiping.
[Response: Unique Presence is a passive attached to your Title: Guardian. It does not compel worship. It amplifies how others perceive you when their hearts are open—guiding that perception through their own ideals.]
So you're saying what I'm actually giving off is main-character vibes now?
[Correct.]
And that it was Nyx's own personal stuff, compounded by the little show I put on, that made things… weird—and it had nothing to do with you? That's what we're going with here?
[Correct. Now that you unde—]
Then what were those… notifications about, hmm?
[…]
Oh~ what's that? Crickets? What is it, System—lesser horned rabbit got your proverbial tongue? Why do I feel like this wasn't supposed to happen? Like you and Dumbledore are keeping something from me?
[There is a plausible explanation for this.]
Oh, there is. Well, I think now might be a good time to share it, don't you think, System? Because I sure do!
[You are correct. The unforeseen events within the Green have… advanced your progression beyond expected parameters.]
By 'unforeseen,' you wouldn't be talking about me almost getting one-shot by a fox-themed boogeyman who, by the way, I have yet to thank for the nifty tribal tattoo and the apparent backdoor access to my mind. Oh, and let's not forget the princess—who clearly has a whole thing going on—and is now a follower of mine. All of this in the supposed tutorial area, within a matter of days. Is that the kind of 'unforeseen' you're talking about?
[…Yes.]
Okay, good. Just clarifying. Please continue.
[Your role and true powers require recognition.]
Recognition? Like… from people?
[Yes. Earth's Overseer, the one you call 'Old Man,' felt that your previous life had not prepared you to perform this function. Therefore, mention of this truth was to be withheld until you demonstrated readiness.]
Of course he had something to do with it. And I'm just going to go out on a paw here and say I'm not ready?
[Correct. In fact, you have displayed none of the qualities required to fulfill this aspect of your duties as Guardian. Your disposition suggests pronounced social withdrawal, excessive sarcasm, and—]
Okay, okay! I get it. Introverted as a man, introverted as a bunny monster. Where are we going with this?
[Circumstances have changed. The threats posed by the Green are far more severe than anticipated, and the way events have unfolded has resulted in the near-statistical impossibility of you acquiring a follower this soon.]
…Statistical impossibility, he says…
[Under these new conditions, I believe it acceptable to disregard the Overseer's directive. You cannot avoid what is to come; you can only adapt.]
Right. Let's not—ugh—okay, sounding cool doesn't make what you say sound any less hop-for-the-hills terrifying. You're telling me this little freak coincidence with Nyx—where I accidentally got her thinking I'm the fluffy pope—just set something big in motion?
[Correct. The Guardian Points (GP) subsystem unlocked when Nyx freely chose to align herself with your purpose.]
We're talking about the notification that I got after our little sermon, so what is this GP thing anyway?
[GP serves as a premium currency that unlocks Guardian-only functions no other monster or human can acquire via normal means.]
I could feel my tail defiantly wiggling in excitement at the System's words, but I forced myself to play it cool. I was still upset with it for all the secrecy.
Really? Okay, well, what kind of special functions are we talking about here?
I tried to sound casual, but my ears twitched on their own. I even turned my head away, like that would somehow hide the way my tail was flicking. Still, I couldn't help peeking out of the corner of one eye, pretending not to care while absolutely caring.
[With only a single follower you have unlocked the most basic functions: Evolution, Follower, and Inventory management.]
W-whaaat!?
Like a kid on Christmas morning, I quickly opened up the new Guardian Points subsystem. Right there I saw the three options laid out.
See, papa, Santa is real…
[Query: What was that?]
N-nothing. So umm, what exactly can I do with these menus?
[Starting with Inventory.]
[This function allows you to store items within a stabilized pocket dimension. Current capacity: ten slots.]
Eek—it's an item box! An item box!!
[Followers Menu. Displays those who have pledged loyalty to you, their current trust levels, and GP output.]
I could feel my excitement drop hard... followers. This was like getting a cool new toy but without batteries.
I had trouble getting people to even notice me back in my old life—how was I expected to get them to follow me in this new one? Was that aura alone going to be enough?
System, could we like, forget about the whole making-friends-with-people thing? Isn't there some other way to fuel the GP system?
Like, maybe, I don't know… kicking monster butt? We could do the whole secret hero routine—a hidden hopping masked avenger, protecting the people from afar. Very, very afar. Needing absolutely no recognition, and I mean none, not even a gentlemanly nod.
Well? Sounds pretty good, don't you think?
[Impossible.]
Gah–!
Felt like I got punched right in the introvert.
[The Guardian Points subsystem was specifically designed so that your unique access to its powerful support is directly proportional to your performance as Guardian.]
Double gah–!
[It is, in simpler terms, a reward. The subsystem's reliance on followers is to ensure you do not abuse its gifts. This was agreed upon by Earth's Overseer and this world's Overseer when granting you access to it.]
So now the madman up in the sky tries to act responsible—after dumping me in monster central as a friggin' bunny!
…Well, I kind of got it, I suppose. I mean, what was to stop me from using the thing however I liked?
Not that he gets a pass though! You hear me, Dumbledore? When I'm done here, you and I are talking!!!
Alright then, System—last one. Evolution. What's that about?
[This interface lists your available evolutionary paths, their requirements, and your current readiness.]
[Eligible forms may be selected for immediate transformation once criteria are met and sufficient GP is available.]
Ho-ly broken.
I dropped to my knees and clasped my paws together, closing my eyes and raising my head high. A single ray of light came down on me.
Thank you, crazy old man way, way up high in the sky. Now I only want to half kill you.
[Query: Does 'half kill' still not result in death?]
I said what I said.
[Bu—]
I said. what I said.
[…]
I was excited beyond words. The ability to see what I could become—to guide my own progress—this was more than I could have thought possible. And you're telling me I only had partial access to this thing? Yeah, I could see why they locked it behind job performance.
I swiped to [Evolutions]—a list opened up.
[Evolutions]
Current Form: Lesser Horned Rabbit (Lv. 8 / 10)
Classification: Low Tier Beast
Detected Evolution Paths: 4
→ Horned Rabbit(Low Tier)
Requirements:
Level 5
• Agility – E–
• Strength – F+
• Endurance – F+
Status: Met – Ready for evolution.
GP Cost: 5
Description: The standard adult form of the species. Larger frame, hardened hide, and improved horn growth. A balanced evolution favoring mobility and straightforward survival.
→ Horned Jackalope(Low Tier)
Requirements:
Level 5
• Strength – E
• Endurance – E–
• Vitality – F+
Status: Met – Ready for evolution.
GP Cost: 10
Description: A heavier, more aggressive variant. Trades speed and subtlety for raw power and size. Its horns and forelimbs develop for charging and close-quarters combat.
→ Lesser Cottontailed(Lower-Middle Tier)
Requirements:
Level 8
• Intelligence – E+
• Wisdom – E+
Status: Partially Met – Level confirmed; Intelligence confirmed; Wisdom below threshold.
GP Cost: 30
Description: A small-bodied, mana-active variant. Physically weaker but capable of channeling magical mana. Favored for adaptability and its ability to use skills requiring mana.
→ ???(Tier Unknown)
Requirements:
Level 10
• All Attributes – Maxed (E+ cap)
• Title: [Fractured]
Status: Partially Met – Title confirmed; attributes and level below threshold.
GP Cost: 100
Description: Data restricted. Classification, form, and function unavailable. Anomalous path detected; further analysis requires all requirements being met.
Mary, mother of bunnies, so this is what the future holds for me?
Horned Rabbit was basically everything I could do now but better, I suppose. The Jackalope one was like a tankier version then?
Neither of the two really interested me, but the third option…
I squinted. Am I reading this right? Magic?... Magic!!!
It took a second for my thoughts to lock in—the MP section in my status, which always had a line through it—with this form I could actually use it.
The infinite possibilities of my magical bunny future flew through my head, but the enthusiasm quickly died as I zeroed in on the "physically weaker" part.
What was physically weaker than I was now? I mean, I'm already in one-shot range. What's lower than one shot? Already dead!?
…Hey, System.
[Yes.]
If I evolve into the Lesser Cottontailed, how bad are we talking when you say 'physically weaker'?
[Relative to your current form, your body mass would half, muscles would soften, and bone structure would become more fragile.]
So basically, I turn into a slightly magical pillow.
[Approximate comparison accepted.]
…Think happy thoughts, Oliver, happy thoughts…
Screw that! You're telling me my options are between dead, deader, and deadest!?
How am I supposed to survive outside the Green, let alone kill the Demon King, when every one of my forms screams "run and hide"!? Was I destined to stay as some low-tier prey animal??
And to think, I could've been a garden gnome—a peaceful, solitary life. Bit of dog wee from time to time, sure, but nothing a little rain couldn't clean up, right… Right!?
I slumped against a tree. It never occurred to me how much hope I was really holding on to. I don't think I can—
Hold on. What's this?
I pointed at some mystery option.
[Unique evolutions exist outside standard trees. When hidden conditions are met, they surface.]
I leaned closer at the requirements.
One was already met—the [Fractured] title. That's the ghost radar thing—I got it when Foxy tore into my soul and I didn't die because of [Death Ward], right? That was a requirement for an evolution? What a crazy coincidence.
And it wasn't just that. Whatever this mystery form was, it required level and attribute caps, even all my current GP.
I could feel my gamer instincts coming alive. This was it. Whatever it was.
A unique, hidden option that actually needed me to be my best self? I know it was a gamble, but looking at my other choices, this gamble was all I had.
Okay, System, we're going for it.
[Query: Are you referring to the hidden evolution? If so, I advise aga—]
Nope. Not hearing it.
I know evolving now would make sense—all the present dangers here are basically begging me to do it. Easy stats, quick bump.
But we hold.
Whatever threats we'd encountered so far, I was willing to bet they were nothing compared to what's coming.
And I don't know about you, but I'd like to be more than low-tier prey when it comes knocking.
Tutorial's over system, we need to get ready.
[Accepted.]
Glad we're on the same page.
I needed level 10 and E+ across the board. End, Agi, Int, Str, Luck—already there. Vitality and Wisdom were lagging at E. Two levels to go both ways. Perfect.
Now I just needed an easy place to get that experience.
Okay, System. Where to? I can't go back to the clearing in case a certain one-eyed bear is there waiting for me, and the monster-eating lake is also a hard pass.
[Suggestion: Grubnest.]
Grubnest, I repeated. Sounds beautiful.
[A low, muddy pocket of the Green where grubs swarm beneath the surface. Boars and rats gather to feed, their awareness reduced while foraging. Messy, odorous, formerly designated as a hunting ground.]
So… a buffet for pigs and rats. Which means… a buffet for me.
Next stop: Grubnest. Then we come back and open the mystery gift bag.
Hey, System—what do you think the hidden form is? I'm betting dragon. Please say dragon. Actually, don't say anything, I want it to be a surprise. No, say it. Wait—don't. Say—don't—say—