Weal and Woe

The eastern side of the rain forest is devilishly charming. The west side is terrible, but the east is another story.

Every my move is required to be prudently calculated. The east is exceptionally deadly. What looks harmless might be very nasty actually. Anything that looks dangerous is outrageously life-threatening.

Even plants and trees are not what you would expect them to be. A dandelion is harmless, right? I thought like that too, but what a surprise I was given. You turn around, and it turned into a bloodthirsty maw with a huge tongue and sharp fangs.

I firmly believe that my heart has stopped for a second. I could have died of a heart attack. Thank god, it looked only scary. Its fangs couldn't even pierce through my scales. By devouring it, I got quite a substantial amount of qi. Thank you, little dandelion.

Anyway, I have been living this way for a few years already. My opportunity has not come yet. If it doesn't come in another few years, I would need to consider to move in another direction.

I was complaining about my bad luck when I heard a voice inside my head.

"Destroy, devour, evolve!"

What the hell is going on? The noise is going on my nerve, and I don't know how to stop it. While I move forward, the voice is getting stronger. For some unknown reason, my heart is starting to beat faster and faster.

I turned into a maniac. After all, this is the first time I experienced something like that. I firmly believe that I will finally find my destiny.

I am moving faster and faster, and the noise is getting stronger. As long as I arrive at my predetermined destination, I will ultimately obtain what I desire.

I finally arrived after two days. I am exhausted, wounded, but mostly excited. There it is. The fortune I desire. I spend six years crawling aimlessly, but I finally found it.

Before me is standing a flower with red stem and black petals. I don't know the effect of the plant, but I know from the bottom of my heart that I need it. I desire it and I am obligated to devour it, in order to arrive at the next step. The step, I can't accomplish without swallowing that flower.

Without thinking, I moved forward. I was in a trance and had not realised what a fatal move I had made.

"Bam""Urgh"

I shadow flickered before my eyes and kicked me. The force has sent me a few metres away.

"Gah"

My body got slammed against a tree, and I spat some of my blood. It hurts like hell, and my whole body feels like its on fire. It hurts so much that I want to pass out.

"SH, SH, SH!!! (Motherf*cker)"

I can't pass out. My only chance to achieve greatness, and I will not forgive anyone standing in my way. Like hell, I will allow anyone to steal my fortune.

I look in front of me to see the culprit, and I am petrified. A cute small pink rabbit is gnawing the flower. Its blue eyes are giving such an adorable vibe. The lustrous fur looks so fluffy that I would love to dive in. It has such fluffy paws which are begging me to touch them.

The rabbit looks at my direction, and it started to laugh! The freaking rabbit is laughing at me! Not only its making fun of me, but it also looks awfully familiar to me!

That's the rabbit I met during my third week of exploration. Not only has it become much stronger, but it has also gained sentience. I don't have any proof that the rabbit is intelligent, but it has clearly ambushed me.

I can tell from the kick, that it came from my left side. Now that I think about it, I had surely felt some vibrations from that side. Unfortunately, I was in such a trance that I ignored the warning signal.

Now I can only ruefully watch the stupid rabbit eating my flower. I tried to move my body, but I couldn't. I am sure that it broke some of my ribs and tendons. I am bleeding to the point of seeing white.

"SH, SH, SH!! (MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!!)"

While watching the rabbit eating the flower and smirking at me, I lost consciousness.