Ugh! It's a flying snake!
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
There's a way to eat food deliciously.
It's putting a large amount in your mouth at once.
Think of a lettuce wrap that fills your mouth.
After chewing and swallowing a wrap so big it's slightly difficult to chew, and then gulping down cola while your throat is slightly blocked, you can't feel more fulfilled.
Even now as a snake, it's the same.
I could tear meat with my teeth, but it's better to swallow it in one bite.
It might be an instinct because I'm a snake.
Moreover, in this wilderness, it's safer to swallow prey in one bite and move rather than leisurely tearing at meat.
After swallowing the rabbit in one bite, I rested in the bushes.
It wasn't just for digestion.
Ah, I'm dizzy.
I've certainly gotten the hang of it after using Billy's Horn a few times.
I didn't really feel it with other skills, but this skill definitely consumes something.
At first, it felt like all my energy was draining.
Borrowing skills from other magical beasts, it's a skill with infinite potential, but you have to pay the price.
I'm not sure if it consumes mental energy or the magical power I might have.
To replenish whatever it is, all I could do was eat other magical beasts and rest.
But while the level of Billy's Horn has increased, my level still hasn't risen.
Could it be that even that dangerous rabbit wasn't a worthy opponent for me?
It seems too harsh, considering how terrifying its front teeth were.
Well, I guess it's time to aim for something stronger than a rabbit.
I crawled slowly.
While hunting, I gained an important skill.
「Stealth proficiency has increased.」
This was a skill that the centipede couple also had.
A skill that a cool snake like me must master.
It was essential for quietly approaching prey.
The sound of me moving through the bushes definitely became quieter.
After advancing like that for a while, I suddenly stopped.
There was a sunny spot ahead.
Sunlight was pouring down from the blue sky unobstructed by leaves.
It seems like it would feel good to bask in.
I wasn't the only one who thought so; there was already a guest.
It was a lizard about the same size as me.
I focused my eyes to analyze it.
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[Long-tail Gecko lv7]
[Traits]
[Scales]
[Skills]
[Biting lv7], [Wall Climbing lv2], [Tail Whip lv10]
[Status]
[Temperature Control]
──────────────
Tail Whip!
It's a level 10 skill. It was a skill rarely seen in weak creatures.
True to its name, it had a long tail.
And at the end of that tail was something spiky like a mace.
It seemed to fight by swinging that.
Indeed, it seemed to be one of the stronger creatures I've encountered.
Worth fighting.
It was adjusting its body temperature while basking in the sunlight.
With its eyes tightly closed, it looks very comfortable.
...Hmm, that Tail Whip is tempting
I have a tail too. It would be pretty good if I could fight by swinging my tail around.
The skill I'm currently borrowing is 'Leap' from the rabbit.
Should I borrow that Tail Whip?
From what I've figured out, it's advantageous to borrow higher level skills.
From a level 3 skill, you can get a level 1 skill, and if you borrow a level 6 skill, you can get a level 2 skill.
And that Tail Whip is a delicious-looking level 10.
After pondering for a moment, I made up my mind.
Let's not borrow it unnecessarily.
I'm low on magical power. It probably won't fully recover just by resting a bit.
It might not be insufficient, but it's better to calculate conservatively since there's no accurate way to check.
And for an ambush, Leap is more convenient than Tail Whip.
I'll just hide like this, coil my body, then suddenly spring out, bite its side once, and run away.
I coiled my whole body.
Then I stretched out and leaped into the air.
Whoosh!
Truly a flying snake.
The Long-tail Gecko basking in the sunlight didn't even notice my leap.
And just as I was about to bite it.
Something fell from the sky.
That's the only way I can describe it.
Bang!
A thunderous sound like a gunshot rang out.
And where the Long-tail Gecko had been, nothing remained.
I landed in vain.
Looking around, the lizard was nowhere to be seen.
Only bloodstains remained where it had been.
And a moment later.
The Long-tail Gecko fell from the sky.
Thud!
It must have fallen from a high place, its head was bent.
The Long-tail Gecko was a mess.
I think it would taste delicious.
I heard the sound of a bird.
When I looked up, there was a bird sitting on a large tree in front of me.
It's one I hadn't seen just before.
An animal is most vulnerable when it's hunting another creature.
Knowing this, I thoroughly scanned the surroundings before leaping.
Where did that bird come from?
The bird was large enough to grab and fly off with the Long-tail Gecko.
Its eyes were fierce, and its feathers were bright red.
Its large, yellow beak was sharply curved at the tip, indicating it was a carnivorous bird of prey.
──────────────
[Galloper Hawk lv9]
[Traits]
[Bird of Prey]
[Skills]
[Flight lv7], [Acceleration lv5], [Pecking lv4], [Talons lv3], [Silence lv2]
[Status]
[Curious]
──────────────
You're my real opponent.
It's common knowledge that birds of prey are natural predators of snakes.
It seems this one is dangerous.
A flying bird and a ground-crawling snake don't match up well.
It stole my prey, but I'll let it go just this once.
I slowly backed away.
It would have been good if it had just let it go.
But the arrogant creature seemed to show curiosity towards me.
It spreads its wings wide and slowly rises.
This is dangerous.
My survival instinct warns me, and I quickly crawl towards the bushes.
Then a powerful pain struck my back
Bang!
I figured out how that gunshot-like sound was made.
Its flying speed is extraordinary.
It suddenly accelerates and strikes its prey with its talons.
My vision spun.
Is it going to drop me from a high place like the poor lizard?
No, that wasn't the case.
I was thrown off by the impact, but I landed on the ground again.
When I turned my head, the Galloper Hawk was sitting quietly on the tree with its wings folded.
Blood was streaming from my back where its talons had struck and passed.
What's this, surely it could have dealt a fatal blow, why did it retreat?
Did it realize the terror of my venomous fangs?
It took off again.
I won't fall for it this time.
I used the Leap I borrowed from the rabbit.
Damn, I can't dodge.
Bang!
This time, a terrible pain swept across my belly.
It was an attack so fast that it would be difficult to dodge even in perfect condition, but with a whole rabbit in my stomach, my body is even heavier.
If I had known this...
No, it's too late for regrets.
In the first place, I didn't notice the existence of that bird despite carefully scanning the surroundings.
I thought I was going to die this time for sure, but it perched on a branch again.
What should I do?
If I could bite it just once, I could poison it and win.
But there was no such opportunity while crawling on the ground.
Thwack!
It struck me and passed by once more.
No major wound, but at this rate, I'll die.
Why does that bastard keep repeating this?
I soon realized the reason.
Because it started laughing, flapping its wings.
"Kak-ka-kak, kak-kak!"
──────────────
[Galloper Hawk lv9]
...
[Status]
[Enjoyment]
──────────────
That son of a bitch!
It was playing with me.
Intense anger welled up.
So you're looking down on me, huh?
Let's see if you can still cackle like that in my stomach.
Wasn't it said that beasts are most off guard when hunting their prey?
No, they're most off guard when playing with their toys.
This guy was completely underestimating me.
This was precisely the opportunity.
With the borrowed Leap lv1, I can't jump that high.
But I have an ace up my sleeve.
The Flight lv7 that it possesses, I'll borrow that.
Am I a genius?
I'm trembling at the flexibility of my own idea.
「This skill cannot be borrowed due to species characteristics.」
Nope~ Not possible~
I could borrow Leap because snakes can also jump.
I could also borrow Carapace because I have scales.
But not Flight.
How can I, without wings or even limbs, possibly fly?
...Damn, I had hoped, but it seems there are limits to skills too.
But I'm not stupid.
If I can't borrow the Flight skill, I'll borrow Acceleration lv5.
That bird's incredibly fast flying speed seems to be the effect of Acceleration.
If I combine it with my Quick Crawling, I should be able to hide under the tree shade.
I might not be able to get revenge, but as long as I survive...
That's when it happened.
「Due to the trait 'Perseverance', you are not restricted in development.」
What?
「Borrowing Flight lv7. Temporarily acquired Flight lv2.」
What's going on?
Potential 20, I believed in you!
Perseverance, obtained by setting the Potential stat to 20.
Unlike 'Indomitable' which I had roughly figured out, I didn't know the effect of 'Perseverance', but now I could understand its true value.
If we're talking about potential, it's the possibility to develop.
I could learn even what I originally couldn't learn.
「Using Flight lv2.」
In other words, I've really become a flying snake.
My body lifted off.
And it started flying at quite a fast speed.
The ground quickly receded.
This is terrifyingly scary.
The direction I headed was towards the Galloper Hawk perched on the tree.
The bird that was laughing "kak-kak" seemed shocked at the situation unfolding now.
It flapped its wings belatedly, but even in that moment, I was advancing towards it.
I was flying, but I have no wings.
I couldn't control direction or speed.
I was just flying in the direction I initially went.
It flapped its wings in panic, but I stretched out my coiled body.
Chomp!
I bit it!
I could clearly feel my venomous fangs digging into its wing joint.
With the sensation of my venom glands squeezing tightly, it flapped frantically.
I coiled my body around its torso.
It's useless to try to escape.
I squeezed it with all my strength.
Even if it's a bird, with its wings bound, there's no way it could fly.
I fell to the ground with it.
Boom!
Stars flashed before my eyes.
I almost lost strength in my body from hitting my head on the ground, but I forcibly held onto my consciousness.
The strength of its flapping gradually weakened.
It cackled, and finally perished.
「Level has increased.」
Successful hunt.
Hehe, it hurts like hell.
This time, I didn't let my guard down and scanned the surroundings.
Fortunately, no other magical beasts trying to butt in were visible.
I sighed.
The feeling of flying in the sky was really... terrible.
It's called flight, but it was no different from being swept away by the wind.
I couldn't control the direction at all.
If I hadn't managed to cling to it, I might have crashed to death flying alone and falling.
It seems snakes are more suited to crawling on the ground than flying around after all.
I don't know. Maybe someday when I get used to it, I might be able to use it.
Since I can only borrow one skill at a time with Billy's Horn, it seems like it will take a long time for that to be possible.
I looked at the two dinners in front of me.
Either one would make for a hearty meal.
The sun seems to be setting soon, shall we head back?
==
I swallowed the Long-tail Gecko in one bite.
It felt like I wouldn't need to eat for a few days.
Then what about the Galloper Hawk?
I carried it all the way to my den in my mouth.
It would be nice if I had something like a bag. It's fortunate that the bird is light.
It wasn't to store it like a lunchbox.
It was to share the food with the kind-hearted centipede couple.
I did rip open its belly to check for a magic stone, but they would be happy enough.
I brought it with such warm intentions, but...
I was shocked by the horrific scene.
The centipede couple was together under the sunset light.
They weren't leisurely enjoying the sunset. They were embracing each other.
Completely entangled and squirming, it was clear what they were doing.
This is X-rated!
Shamelessly outdoors!
I thought they were good neighbors, but this is too much.
The Galloper Hawk fell with a thud because I opened my mouth wide in shock.
Startled by that sound, the centipede couple jumped apart.
Yeah, it's natural to be embarrassed. That's how it should be.
But it seems it was all my misunderstanding.
They weren't making love.
They were holding something.
An egg?
No, it doesn't seem like an egg.
It was a round, pitch-black, shiny lump.
The husband carefully cradled the round object in his arms.
Something suddenly occurred to me.
In martial arts novels, spiritual beasts like centipedes usually nurture something.
Inner Dan?
Is it an Inner Dan?
Is it one of those things that increase the protagonist's realm when eaten?
I focused my eyes to use Insight.
[Inner Dan: In Production]
It really is an Inner Dan.