The forest clearing reeked of blood and victory, the ground littered with the aftermath of Zhu Hao's clash with the soul-hunting team. The golden-furred pig bear, barely a foot tall, stood triumphant, his chubby form belying the ferocious power that had just dispatched seven foes.
With the Light of the Pig God system fueling his ascent, Zhu Hao was ready to move on—but not before cleaning up his spoils.
"Killing and looting—now that's the path to riches!" he chuckled, his big eyes glinting as he rummaged through the fallen hunters' belongings. His tiny claws clutched two shiny gold soul coins, their surfaces catching the dappled sunlight.
"Gold soul coins, huh? Made of actual gold?" He flipped them playfully, more curious than covetous. Money wasn't much use to a pig bear in the wild, but an exquisite dagger caught his eye—small, sharp, and perfect for his size. "
This'll do," he muttered, tucking it into his fur.
His gaze fell on the massive Three-tailed Rooster he'd slain earlier, its human-sized body a tempting prize.
"Can't leave that behind. Lord Pig's starving!"
His stomach growled in agreement, the intense battles having drained his energy. The scent of blood hung heavy, a beacon for any nearby soul beasts or predators.
"Gotta move fast," Zhu Hao decided, hefting the rooster over his shoulder and scurrying away from the battlefield.
He soon found a clear stream winding through an open glade, the terrain offering a good view of any approaching threats. Dropping the rooster, Zhu Hao set to work like a seasoned survivalist.
He gathered dry branches, sparked a fire with a flint from the hunters' gear, and rigged a roasting spit. Plucking feathers, gutting, and washing the carcass, he prepared his meal with surprising finesse for a former college student turned pig bear.
"Phew, all set!" Zhu Hao plopped onto a smooth rock, rubbing his round belly as the fire crackled. The rooster's pale flesh slowly turned golden, fat dripping onto the flames with a sizzle.
A mouthwatering aroma filled the air, making Zhu Hao's mouth water. "If only I had some salt and cumin," he sighed, licking his lips. "Oh well, wilderness dining it is."
The rooster cooked to perfection, its skin crisp and glistening. Zhu Hao grabbed the dagger, slicing off a massive drumstick with a practiced swing.
Sizzle! He took a huge bite, grease coating his muzzle as he moaned in delight.
"So good!" The meat was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, far better than any chicken he'd eaten back on Planet Aqua Blue.
"Energy +0.001"
Zhu Hao's eyes lit up. "Energy from eating? Score!" His appetite surged, and he tore into the drumstick with gusto. Crack, crack! Each bite added tiny bursts of energy, the notifications piling up:
"Energy +0.001"
"Energy +0.001"
"Energy +0.001"
He didn't stop at one drumstick. Slicing off the other, he devoured the entire hundred-jin rooster, leaving only a pile of bones.
"Oh, man, that hit the spot," Zhu Hao groaned, patting his bulging belly. He wiped his mouth with a paw, grinning. "Full belly and a bit of extra energy? Lord Pig's living the dream!"
Sha sha sha! A rustling in the bushes snapped him out of his food coma. Zhu Hao sprang to his feet, his sharp eyes scanning the undergrowth.
A faint, fishy scent wafted through the air, tinged with an oddly sweet fragrance. A dark green, triangular head emerged, its ruby-red eyes locking onto him with predatory intent.
Zhu Hao's heart raced, but he held his ground, meeting the creature's gaze. The air crackled with tension, hunter and prey sizing each other up—though who was which remained unclear.
"A Mandala Snake?" Zhu Hao muttered, recognizing the beast from his Douluo knowledge. Its venom was legendary, capable of paralyzing and destroying nerves, its scales nearly impervious to normal weapons.
Only its mouth and eyes were vulnerable—unless you had overwhelming power, which Zhu Hao was starting to believe he did.
The snake fully revealed itself, its six-meter-long body coiling menacingly. "Six meters means six hundred years of cultivation," Zhu Hao calculated.
"I'm Level 2 with five Magical Powers. I can take it!" The promise of energy and experience—and maybe a new ability—sparked his ambition. "Wealth comes from danger. Let's do this!"
"Infinite Strength!" Zhu Hao activated his ability, his body surging to human height, his golden fur bristling with power as his attributes multiplied tenfold. "Ink Soul Spear!" A three-meter-long black spear materialized in his paw, its tip gleaming with a cold, deadly light.
Hiss! The Mandala Snake struck, its tail lashing like a steel whip, scales glowing with yellow light. The air cracked as the strike tore toward Zhu Hao, the force enough to shatter stone.
He flipped sideways, rolling across the ground with agility that belied his chubby form. Springing up, he swung the Ink Soul Spear down with ferocious force.
Bang! The spear clashed with the snake's tail, sending a shockwave through the glade. Dirt and rocks flew, bushes were uprooted, and small trees snapped like twigs. Zhu Hao's paw trembled from the impact.
"What strength!" he grunted, his body launched backward like a golden ball. But he wasn't done. Kicking off a tree, he shot forward like an arrow, spear aimed at the snake's head.
The Mandala Snake's eyes flashed with shock. This chubby creature was fast—too fast! It arched its body, dodging the spear, and whipped its head around, jaws wide to bite Zhu Hao mid-air.
Trapped with no leverage, Zhu Hao didn't flinch. "Spider Web!" he shouted, spitting a venomous web that enveloped the snake's head.
Si si! The snake thrashed, its head scraping the ground to tear off the sticky, corrosive web. Smoke rose as the venom burned its scales, eliciting pained hisses.
Zhu Hao seized the moment. "Die!" His spear thrust toward the snake's open mouth, aiming for its weak point.
Bang! The snake twisted desperately, dodging the fatal strike. The spear pierced its neck instead, blood spraying as it roared in agony. The Mandala Snake flailed, shaking Zhu Hao off, and slithered away in a frantic bid for escape.
"Defeated Mandala Snake, Experience +10, Magical Power: Poison Fang"
Zhu Hao paused, surprised. "Experience and a new ability without killing it? Nice!" He was learning the Light of the Pig God's rules: defeating an opponent, even without a kill, granted experience and possibly abilities. Energy, however, came from killing or consuming. "Good to know," he muttered, gripping his spear. "But you're not getting away!"
The snake's speed was formidable, its venom resistance keeping it strong despite the wound. Zhu Hao chased, his Level 2 strength letting him keep pace, though barely.
Blood trailed from the snake's neck, a sign it would weaken soon. "Just a matter of time," Zhu Hao grinned, determined to claim those 10 energy points.
The chase led to a field of vibrant Blue Silver Grass, its light blue blades swaying gently. The snake slowed, carefully avoiding crushing the grass, as if it held some significance.
Zhu Hao's eyes narrowed. "Blue Silver Grass? What's it doing here?" Curiosity piqued, he slowed his pursuit, trailing at a distance to see what the snake was up to.
The forest grew quieter, the grass denser and more lush. Zhu Hao's instincts tingled. Something was off. Was the snake leading him to safety—or into a trap? Whatever it was, Lord Pig wasn't backing down.
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What secrets does the Blue Silver Grass hold? Will Zhu Hao catch the Mandala Snake, or is he chasing his own doom?