{DING! Warning! Energy pressure from a fierce battle detected tens of meters to the right of your position. High risk of random attack.}
Rayne had not yet finished dealing with the crippling side effects, and soon an even greater danger might come.
He clenched his fists, staring at his blood-covered body and his clothes that were now only partially left—torn, dirty, and soaked with sweat.
Without hesitation, he rolled the remaining cloth and put it into his mouth, biting it hard. At least, the pain could be slightly diverted—and his mind could stay focused.
With heavy breaths, he thrust a two-meter-long spear into the ground, using it as support to stand.
Even though the pain throughout his body was unbearable, and his eyes would not stop leaking blood and tears, Rayne could still move.
He chose the opposite path—toward the east—trying his best not to be seen by the group of small monsters currently claiming new territory.
BOOM!
The deafening sound of an explosion roared. Rayne instinctively turned around. For the first time, the darkness around him was lit by light—bright enough to illuminate his face, before being swallowed again by thick shadows.
Bwaaakkk!...
Something shot past just a few centimeters to his left, carrying heavy wind, smashing several trees until they collapsed—or rather, were obliterated, nearly dragging and crushing him along.
The boy froze in place, mouth agape—not because of what had just flown past and destroyed several trees behind him, but because of what was in front of him.
There, a monster stood with burning eyes filled with hatred.
Rayne was not surprised by its terrifying appearance, nor its dreadful aura, nor even its size beyond reason.
The creature's body—was very similar to a fox, or perhaps it truly was one, with white fur now partially stained black (from blood).
Even from that distance, Rayne could see multiple fatal wounds across the monster's body, and logically, with such injuries, it shouldn't even be standing.
Though the condition of the monster that had darted past earlier was even more miserable, that one was already dead—confirmed by the system's inability to analyze its abilities, meaning it was lifeless.
"Analysis," he uttered in his mind, eyes sharp with caution.
{DING!
Monster level 9
Abilities: Violet Voice (controls the target's mind through sound), wind manipulation, high-level illusion.
Weakness: weak against fire element.}
(The system didn't actually provide full information; only the most essential ability and the most fatal weakness were mentioned.)
Dashhh!... The monster lunged suddenly!
Rayne swiftly coated his body with armor, replacing his spear with two blades.
He took a step forward, preparing to use his eye's power to deceive.
Slashh... just as the claws nearly reached him—
Clingg...
He vanished instantly, reappearing a step back, exactly at his position one second ago.
As both blades were about to slash the monster—
Thud!...?
Before the blades touched, the monster collapsed face-first and stopped moving.
Rayne thought it might be dead, and upon closer inspection, his assumption proved true.
Two high-level monsters lay dead nearby, without him needing to shed more blood.
At that moment, one thought crossed Rayne's mind: "JACKPOT" {something obtained unexpectedly in a very large amount.)
For the first time in his life, he felt slightly happy, even while his half-broken body still suffered from the side effects.
Crrtt... Blood oozed from both his eyes; he had just forced himself to use his eye ability again, and his body felt even more destroyed.
When using skills, they did not require mana or anything similar, but they produced effects—fatigue, pain, and permanent wounds. The stronger the skill, the greater the side effect. So, Rayne actually had to bet his life whenever he used one.
Even so, he kept pushing. He had to survive.
Rayne crouched down, starting to cut the flesh and extract the monster cores.
The fox monster possessed a milky white core—signifying pure energy—and its flesh was bright red, sharp in scent but strangely appetizing.
Afterward, he moved to the other monster that had died earlier.
Its body was crushed; it had the head of a serpent but the body of a dog.
Rayne took whatever he could—meat and core—unlike the fox monster.
If that one had a milky white core and alluring red meat, this one had a black monster core and dark meat with a foul stench. Yet Rayne still took it all.
Just as he finished, the pain and side effects throughout his body began to fade.
At that moment, Rayne felt a strange pleasure, like being freed from something.
He pulled out the cloth from his mouth, staring intently at the pieces of meat that looked far from edible.
"System, can you analyze non-living objects?"
{DING! Yes, Master, but not all.}
"What about this meat?"
{DING! Analysis complete.
Meat of Hyenorp monster level 10.
Benefit: grants large amounts of mana and enhances vitality.
Danger: contains low-level poison.}
Without hesitation, he ate some of the meat. The bitter taste and odor filled his mouth, but he swallowed anyway.
Perhaps it seemed odd that someone could eat something so vile with such calm, but it wasn't strange for Rayne—he was used to it.
Yes, he truly was a young master of a noble family, yet—had anyone ever truly cared for him, besides the old servant he considered his grandfather?
No one.
Since childhood, he was often left hungry, even fed leftovers, sometimes food unfit even for a pet.
After filling his stomach, Rayne gazed toward the battlefield where the monsters had fought. He knew it was risky—more monsters might come, drawn by the chaos—but his curiosity won. Maybe something valuable had been left behind, he thought.
After weighing it over, he finally walked carefully, following the trail of blood.
It didn't take long for Rayne to reach the site of their battle.
Peeking through the bushes, he saw the area utterly devastated—cracks everywhere, trees toppled, craters from explosions still smoking.
As Rayne tried to piece together what had happened, his gaze froze at a rustling bush.
He drew his bow, aiming at whatever might emerge.
"Kyakk!" A small shriek echoed.
MONSTER!!!
But—Rayne didn't release the arrow. Instead, he dispelled it.
What did he actually see? A fox monster, but very small, looking young and tiny.
Seeing it, Rayne understood—one of the monsters earlier hadn't been fighting to devour or out of brutality, but to protect something it had to protect.
"System, analysis."
{DING!
Monster level 1.
Abilities: Violet Voice, low-level manipulation, extremely high intelligence, can transform into adult form within limited time.
Weakness: physically very fragile.}
Rayne stepped out from hiding, slowly approaching while extending his hand.
The little monster seemed ready to attack at first sight of Rayne, but sensing no hostility—and catching a faint scent of its mother from him—it calmed down. It even walked toward Rayne.
Monsters were highly sensitive to intent.
When they met, Rayne knelt and stroked its soft fur. Unlike any other monster, this was the first time he felt no danger from one.
"Hey, little friend."
"Kyakk~" It licked Rayne's hand as he petted it.
"Haha... do you want to be my friend?"
"Kyakk! Kyakk!"
The little fox jumped around happily, its tail wagging with joy, as if it truly understood and agreed.
Rayne chuckled softly, looking at the tiny creature with an expression long absent from his face.
"Ahaha... finally, I have a friend."
He let out a relieved sigh, then gazed at the soft fur that seemed to emit a faint glow in the darkness.
"Ah, I should give you a name, huh?" he said while thinking hard. He lifted his chin, eyes wandering as if considering something.
"Hmm... with fur that soft and beautiful... how about—"
"Veluna, your name is now Velu—" As he looked back at the creature, the cute little monster was gone, replaced by a massive leg with sharp claws.
Swoshhh..