CHAPTER 5 — Hunt for the Evolution Seed
I stayed pressed against the tree trunk for a long time, chest heaving, ears twitching at every sound. The snow around me glittered softly under the pale light filtering through the trees. It looked peaceful.
A lie.
The forest wasn't peaceful. It had just tried to kill me.
And it would try again.
But for now, I was breathing. Alive. As alive as a terrified rabbit could be.
Eventually, my legs stopped shaking enough for me to move.
A faint chime echoed.
[Quest: Find a Evolution Seed, and Evolve]
Reward: +10 Free Stats | +1 Free Roulette Spin | +1 Ring of Veiled Anima
I started to laugh.
"...you've gotta be kidding me," I whispered.
I just survived a life and death fight, and the only thing you say is 'find a seed'. Great system. I looked at the previous message:
[Kill Confirmed] Experience Gained: 15
That's it? No reward, no level up? I let out a little exhale as I shake my body like a wet dog dusting off the snow that clung to me after the fall.
I turned back to the quest. This whole system this was still new to new to me but, ten free points, and another free spin? Those were to good of a reward to pass up. I wasn't sure if I could even use the ring—Veiled Anima—whatever that was, but I figure if the system's handing it out, then I'll take it.
[Confirm You Accept Quest: Find a Evolution Seed, and Evolve ]
[Warning! Failure to finish quest in 7 days results in Penalty: ???]
Hmmm, while the rewards are tempting… The fact that the penalty is unknown is... suspicious. Also why is there a timeframe? Does that mean the see is only available for 7 days then after that I can't get the seed? Why?
"Why?" I muttered. "Why now? Why can't you tell me penalty?"
The system, as usual, didn't answer.
I sighed. "Of course."
My breath fogged the cold air.
Well... There was never a chance not for me to take this quest. I mentally agreed and I saw a little Quest Timer now on the bottom of my stat screen. I sighed, feeling the weight of the challenges to come.
The rewards were only a bonus. The moment I saw evolution I knew I would do it. I don't know what 'evolution' would look like in this world... I wasn't an 'electric rodent' who needed a ThunderStone.
Or I didn't so but I am a 'Space Bunny'? so maybe I need a MoonStone? No—no no, I need to find this 'Evolution Seed'.
But first I needed shelter. Not the hollow log again — the wolves knew the forest now. They'd smell and track me, not to mention that I don't even know what direction I ran so it would be hard finding the exact place. Point is, that log was a grave waiting to happen.
I scanned the area. The slope had bought me time, but not safety. I knew wolves were smart. They like to circle, and trap their prey. They can wait.
I needed distance. I needed to get as far away as I can until I'm out of their local territory. Once I'm far enough away they'll give me up and go back, not willing to risk it.
But first, I needed mana.
I checked my status window.
______________________________
Name: Kyree
Species: Snowbound Hare
Level: 1 (15/100)
Physique: 3
Spirit: 2
Mana: 2
Perception: 2
Magic: Space Magic
______________________________
I rubbed my tiny paw over the snow.
So now that I earned 'experience' from the kill it shows me how much to the next level... 85 more huh... that's only like and half more wolfs... yeah... I let out another long sigh.
"Mana," I whispered eventually. "I need mana."
With more mana, I could cut more than once. I could stay alive... longer.
But I couldn't ignore my physical stats either. The wolf nearly killed me in one swipe. If I'd been even slightly slower…
No. Balance. I needed balance.
I started to move. I slow made my way through the snow cover forest. I was looking for something to hid in, while also searching for clues about the 'Evolution Seed', after the system wouldn't tell me find it, it wasn't some what close. After wandering around for what felt like hours I saw the sun start to set.
I still hadn't found any clues about the Seed or a good place for shelter.
Before I could keep looking, my stomach growled. I looked down and realized that I was pretty hungry. I had only eaten a few berried. So I looked around for some food, pausing my search for shelter.
After several minutes of cautious searching, I found another bush with frozen berries. I sniffed them thoroughly. The scent was similar to the previous batch — sweet, cold, crisp.
I ate three. Then two more. Energy warmed my stomach.
A notification flickered.
[You have consumed Frostcap Berries]
Minor Health Regeneration: 10 minutes Mana Regeneration boosted
Good.
I sat back on the snow for a moment, letting myself rest. Snowflakes clung to my fur like tiny crystals. My breath puffed into the cold air rhythmically.
Then a thought crossed my mind.
The reward listed a Ring.
But rings don't fit rabbits. So where would it go?
I pulled up the quest window again, and focused on the Ring.
Reward: Ring of Veiled Anima
Item Type: Bound Artifact
Slot: Spiritual Core
"Spiritual core?" I repeated. "What—do I swallow it? Or do I need to put stats in my Spirit stat?"
No answer.
"Great."
I closed the window and focused on my surroundings again. The forest wasn't just beautiful — it was enormous, ancient, layered in mana I only barely sensed.
And that new Quest…It didn't just say "evolve."
Find the Evolution Seed.
Which implied:
The seed was something real and tangible. Something I had to look for and... Eat? I wasn't sure but I needed to find it, but I didn't even know what I looked like.
It was somewhere near me, but the time limit also implied that something else might want it.
My stomach tightened at the thought.
Then there were the wolfs, maybe not just wolves in the forest. But it's not like can do anything in an actual fight against a dragon or something, so I can't over think this.
I shook the thought away and continued deeper into the forest.
Minutes passed. Maybe an hour. Hard to tell.
Mana regenerated slowly.
[Mana: 2/2]
Perfect.
I tested a small ripple—just enough to feel the terrain.
A soft pulse expanded.
Warmth touched my mind as space unfolded again. I sensed:
A cluster of stones
A snow-covered fallen log
The faint tunnel of a burrow
Small animals scurrying underground
A frozen stream several meters ahead
Useful. But nothing special.
I pushed farther.
The ripple brushed something odd.
Something that didn't match earth, wood, ice, or life.
A distortion? It wasn't natural, but this didn't feel random either.
It almost felt like a knot in space.
"What… is that?"
I hopped closer, following the memory of the ripple's feedback.
The forest darkened slightly as the trees grew thicker. Shadows stretched long across the snow. The cold air felt… heavier.
My whiskers twitched.
I pushed out another ripple — just a tiny one.
There it was again.
I felt it cleaner this time, a distortion. A tear in space. No— not a tear. A concentration.
Like something was bending reality inward.
I moved slowly, cautiously.
Maybe this was the Seed?
I mean it was something dangerous, for sure, but no risk ment no reward right?
My ears perked as I approached a large cluster of exposed roots. Something glowed faintly beneath them — a soft blue shimmer, pulsing gently, in rhythm with the world in a way nothing else did.
I swallowed hard.
I pushed out one more ripple, this time I gently probed the spatial bundle.
The distortion sharpened, then unraveled, like a flower. Light, multicolored, spilled out from the pocket of bundled space.
This was it!
The light seemed almost tangible, like a physical object, suspended in the air. It felt almost divine in its light. Shifting from a deep gold, to a bright blue, to sharp red, with flashes of vibrant purples.
The Evolution Seed.
A chime rang inside my head.
[You have discovered an Evolution Node]
Warning: Evolution Seeds may be guarded Proceed with caution
Wait this was a 'node'? What do you mean guarded?
"Well that's… encouraging," I muttered darkly.
I inched forward, nose twitching rapidly, as I looked around once more.
Nothing lunged at me. I didn't hear any growling, or movement. No wolves, no monsters, or— anything. I smiled let a out a breath "Well I'll be quick then, before some big bad boss-"
A faint crackle sounded above me, as snow fell off a branch from the tree above me.
My heart froze.
I looked up.
A massive shadow draped across the tree branches overhead.
Not a wolf.
Not a bird.
Something else.
A pair of eyes blinked down at me — enormous, reflective, cold.
Something big was perched above the tree that held the Evolution Seed.
It was watching, seeming like it was waiting.
No it was protecting.
My entire body stiffened. Of course I jinxed myself.
Every instinct screamed in unison: Do. Not. Move.
The creature shifted, its weight cracking frost from the branch.
I didn't know what it was. But it wasn't friendly.
My breath hitched.
"Might have been easier to die to the wolf," I whispered, thinking back at how life had been better then.
The creature leaned forward.
The branch creaked.
My heart thumped once.
Twice.
Then—
The creature dropped from the tree.
Straight toward me.