A Humbling Start

Tanuj crouched low in the underbrush, his heart pounding as he watched the Swift Bunny hop innocently through the clearing. It looked so small and harmless, but he knew better than to underestimate it. The system had already warned him that this little creature was more than just a fluffy ball of cuteness. Its level might be low compared to the other monsters in the forest, but it was still two levels higher than his, making it a formidable opponent.

He tightened his grip on the stick he had purchased earlier, trying to steady his nerves. The Lightning Mouse stood beside him, sparks of electricity crackling softly around its tiny body. Tanuj had to admit that, despite its size, the Lightning Mouse was an impressive companion. But he also knew it had its limits, especially with his current low mana reserves.

"Alright, Lightning Mouse," Tanuj whispered, careful to avoid the word that might set his companion off. "This is it. Our first real battle together. Let's take down that bunny."

The Lightning Mouse looked up at him, its beady eyes glinting with determination. Tanuj took a deep breath, trying to channel some of that confidence. The plan was simple: he would use the Lightning Mouse to weaken the Swift Bunny, and then he'd move in with the stick for the finishing blow.

"Okay, here we go. Lightning Mouse, use Dash!" he commanded in a low voice.

The Lightning Mouse responded immediately, dashing forward with a burst of speed that took Tanuj by surprise. It was faster than he had expected, closing the distance between them and the Swift Bunny in an instant. The bunny barely had time to react before the Lightning Mouse slammed into it with a well-aimed Tackle.

The Swift Bunny let out a startled squeak, its cute exterior giving way to the ferocity beneath. It quickly recovered, its eyes narrowing as it assessed the new threat. Without warning, it launched itself at the Lightning Mouse, moving with surprising agility. The two creatures clashed in a flurry of fur and sparks, each one trying to gain the upper hand.

Tanuj watched the battle unfold, his heart racing. The Lightning Mouse was holding its own, but the Swift Bunny's speed and unpredictability were making it a tough opponent. He knew he had to act fast before the situation got out of hand.

"Now's my chance!" Tanuj muttered to himself. He gripped the stick tightly and sprang from his hiding spot, rushing toward the two battling creatures.

As he approached, the Swift Bunny noticed him and immediately shifted its attention. It bared its small, sharp teeth, and before Tanuj could react, it charged at him with lightning speed.

The force of the bunny's tackle sent Tanuj sprawling to the ground, the air knocked out of him. He gasped, trying to regain his footing, but the bunny was already on him, biting and scratching with surprising ferocity.

"Get off! Get off!" Tanuj shouted, swinging the stick wildly, but the bunny was too quick. It easily dodged his clumsy strikes, its movements a blur of fur and teeth.

The Lightning Mouse tried to intervene, sending a weak bolt of electricity toward the bunny, but it was too late. Tanuj was outmatched and outclassed. With a final shove, he managed to push the bunny away and scrambled to his feet, panic surging through him.

"I can't win this… I need to get out of here!" he thought desperately.

Tanuj turned and ran, his heart pounding as he sprinted back toward the safety of the town. The Swift Bunny chased him for a short distance, its squeaks almost mocking, before it finally lost interest and returned to the clearing.

Breathless and bruised, Tanuj stumbled through the town gates, collapsing against a wall. He couldn't believe how badly the fight had gone. He was supposed to be getting stronger, not running for his life from a bunny!

The townspeople, as usual, paid him little mind, going about their business as though nothing unusual had happened. Tanuj sat there for a long moment, catching his breath and nursing his wounded pride.

"Seriously? I'm getting my butt kicked by a bunny? What's next, a squirrel with ninja skills?" he muttered to himself. "This… this isn't going to be easy. But I'm not giving up."

Over the next few days, Tanuj tried again and again to defeat the Swift Bunny. Each time, he would observe its movements, study its attacks, and try to come up with a better strategy. But each time, the bunny outmaneuvered him, leaving him frustrated and beaten.

The bunny seemed to enjoy tormenting him, its squeaks sounding almost like laughter as it easily dodged his attacks. Tanuj could swear the bunny was mocking him, and each failed attempt only made him more determined.

Finally, after what felt like the hundredth attempt, Tanuj sat down in the forest, exhausted and out of ideas. "There has to be a way to beat this thing… I just need a better strategy. Maybe I should bring a carrot next time?"

As he thought about his options, the system chimed in with a notification.

*DING*

**[World Points Earned: +5 | Reason: Persistent Effort in Adversity]**

Tanuj blinked in surprise. "World Points? For not giving up? Well, that's something, at least."

He checked his status screen, noting that his World Points had increased slightly, but it wasn't nearly enough to make a significant difference.

"Still… it's a start," Tanuj said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But what I really need is an edge… something that can turn the tide in my favor. Maybe I should start selling tickets to this bunny fight—entertainment and survival all in one."

Determined, Tanuj spent the next few days refining his strategy. He focused on using the Lightning Mouse's agility and electricity to wear down the bunny while he tried to anticipate its movements better. Every failed attempt taught him something new, and slowly but surely, he began to close the gap between him and the Swift Bunny.

One morning, Tanuj approached the clearing with renewed confidence. The Swift Bunny was there, as usual, its ears twitching as it sensed his approach. But this time, something was different. Tanuj wasn't just rushing in blindly—he had a plan.

"Lightning Mouse," he whispered, "we're going to hit it hard and fast. No holding back."

The Lightning Mouse squeaked in agreement, sparks dancing around it as it prepared to attack.

"Dash, then Tackle!" Tanuj commanded.

The Lightning Mouse shot forward, moving even faster than before. It struck the Swift Bunny with a powerful tackle, sending the creature skidding across the clearing. Before the bunny could recover, Tanuj was already closing in, stick raised high.

The Swift Bunny sprang to its feet, its eyes narrowing as it prepared to counterattack, but Tanuj was ready. He anticipated the bunny's movements, sidestepping its charge at the last second and delivering a well-aimed blow to its side.

"Lightning Mouse, now!" Tanuj shouted.

The Lightning Mouse unleashed a surge of electricity, the bolt striking the Swift Bunny dead-on. The bunny squealed, its movements becoming erratic as the electricity coursed through its body. Tanuj didn't hesitate. He swung the stick again, landing another blow on the bunny's head.

This time, the creature didn't get up. It twitched once, then lay still.

For a moment, there was silence. Tanuj stood there, panting heavily, his heart pounding in his ears. He couldn't believe it. He had actually done it. He had taken down his first real monster.

"Ha… hahaha!" Tanuj let out a laugh, a mix of relief and exhilaration washing over him. He looked down at the fallen bunny, then over at the Lightning Mouse, who was standing proudly by his side. "We did it, Lightning Mouse! We actually did it! Who's the bunny now, huh?"

The Lightning Mouse squeaked happily, sparks dancing around it in celebration. Tanuj couldn't help but grin. This victory, though small, felt monumental. It was proof that he could survive in this world, that he could grow stronger.

*DING*

The system's familiar chime echoed in his mind, and a new notification appeared before his eyes.

**[Congratulations! You have defeated a Level 4 Swift Bunny.]**

**[Experience Gained: 150 EXP.]**

**[World Points Earned: +20 | Reason: Successful Defeat of a Higher-Level Monster]**

Certainly! Let's continue from where Tanuj felt the surge of energy from gaining experience:

---

Tanuj felt a surge of energy as the experience points flowed into him, boosting his level progress. He wasn't there yet, but he could feel himself getting closer to his next level.

**[Congratulations! You have earned 5000 World Points for defeating your first monster in this world.]**

Tanuj's eyes widened as the notification appeared. "5000 points?! That's… wow, I guess persistence pays off after all." He quickly did the mental math, realizing that after all the points he had spent over the past few days on fruits and water to heal his minor injuries, he was now sitting at around 5501 points.

For a moment, Tanuj felt a swell of pride. "Not bad, Tanuj. Not bad at all. But now… now I have to be smart about this. I can't keep spending all my points on snacks and band-aids. I need something that will really help me out."

He quickly opened the system interface, scanning his options. It didn't take long before he made his decision.

"Alright, System, unlock the Dismantling Function. I'm not about to start a career as a butcher," he said with a grin.

**[World Points -5,000 | Dismantling Function Level 1 Unlocked]**

Tanuj felt a pang of regret as he saw his World Points drop, but it was too late to turn back now.

**[Dismantling Function is now active. To use it, transfer the defeated creature to your inventory, and the system will handle the rest.]**

With a deep breath, Tanuj carefully transferred the Swift Bunny into his inventory. The system worked quickly, and within moments, a new notification appeared.

**[Dismantling complete. Items acquired: Swift Bunny Fur * 2, Swift Bunny Meat * 1, Low Rank Power Stone * 5]**

"Now that's more like it," Tanuj said with a grin as he checked the loot. "Alright, this will definitely come in handy. The fur and meat can be traded in town, and the power stones… well, I need all the stones I can get."

He looked out at the forest, a renewed determination burning in his chest.

"Alright, Lightning Mouse, let's keep going. We've got a long way to go, but I'm not stopping now."

The Lightning Mouse squeaked in agreement, and the two of them set off deeper into the forest, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.