Chapter 10

Adam woke with the first light poking its head through the window With a quiet grunt, he swung his legs off the bed and stood, taking a deep breath. His body wasn't yet fully rested, but he felt ready to tackle the day, there were herbs to be gathered. Deciding to skip breakfast and get started He grabbed a small root from his inventory and began chewing on it as he dressed.

After gathering his things and making sure everything was in order he headed downstairs. "Morning, herbalist," the innkeeper called out from behind the counter, offering a gruff but friendly greeting as Adam passed by.

Adam nodded and waved in response, not stopping to chat. He had a busy day ahead. He still needed to pick up and pay for his traveling supplies. As he stepped out into the cool morning air, Adam made his way to the general store. The streets were still quiet, the sun just beginning to rise higher in the sky, and the villagers were only just starting to stir. The shopkeeper had said she'd have everything ready for him. The bell above the door jingled as Adam entered the store, and he found the shopkeeper behind the counter, already busy organizing her wares.

"Ah, you're here early," she said, looking up with a raised eyebrow. "Got everything you need, or are you planning on buying more?"

Adam shook his head with a small grin. "Unless you have some children learning books just what I asked for," he said, pulling out the copper and handing it to her. "The tent, bed, kettle, and fire starter." 

She handed him the carefully packed items, making sure everything was neatly bundled. Adam nodded in thanks, then slung the bundles over his shoulder. With the supplies now in hand, he turned to leave, before she spoke up again. "I have some of my child's old books they arn't for sale but maybe we can discuss trade?" She said grinning. Adam stored the bundle into his inventory and went to negotiate. They negotiated for around half an hour and Adam left with the books feeling dirty but more relaxed muttering. "Women are scary." 

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Negotiation Level 2

Adam was suppressed but that made him feel better. With new books and everything else he thought he needed just missing one Lifebloom Leaf he made his way to the gate waving at the guards started walking to a part of the woods he hadn't been in yet. 

His plan was simple—spend the day in the woods, and if necessary, stay the night. He'd taken the time to prepare and ensure he had the right tools with him. The bed and tent would come in handy, and with his growing skill as a herbalist, he was eager to see what new herbs he could find. While walking he inspected everything the shopkeeper gave him. One item he didn't ask for was a dagger longer then his harvesting tool this one was actually a combat weapon he decided to keep it out so put it in his robes. 

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Weapon Inspected: Dagger

Type: Combat Weapon

Rarity: Common

Damage: 5-10 + STR

Durability: 7/10

Weight: 1.5 lbs

Effect: A standard dagger. Can be used for basic combat. It's quick, lightweight, and ideal for close-range, fast strikes. Can be easily concealed and is commonly used for stealth or self-defense.

With a confident stride, Adam entered the woods, ready to collect all the herbs he could find. After several hours, Adam found himself deeper in the forest the path becoming less clear. Adam had picked a lot of herbs nothing new but still restocking was nice As he moved forward, the forest began to change. The trees became older, with thick trunks and tangled roots. The air had a different feel. Adam felt a strange pull in the air, a subtle but constant energy that seemed to hum through the trees.

He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that began to creep up his spine. This part of the forest felt different. More...wild.

He couldn't explain why, but he felt that the forest had something it wanted to show him.Then, just as he was about to continue on his way, he heard a rustling sound. It was soft at first, like an animal moving through the brush, but it seemed to come from deeper in the forest, beyond the trees.

Instinctively, Adam's hand went to the dagger at his side, his heart rate picking up. Was it an animal? Or something else?

The rustling continued, louder now, and it was accompanied by what sounded like low muttering, though the words were too quiet to understand. Adam stepped back behind a thick tree, trying to stay hidden as he peered into the forest.

Adam's heart raced as he crouched behind the tree, his breath shallow as he waited for whatever was lurking in the forest to appear. His hand was tight on the hilt of his dagger, ready to spring into action. The rustling grew louder, closer. He could hear the soft thud of footsteps, a low muttering that he couldn't quite make out. He focused, narrowing his eyes, prepared to strike.

Suddenly, the creature burst through the underbrush, and Adam's breath caught in his throat.

A large rabbit—at least twice the size of any normal rabbit—leapt into view, its fur sleek and dark as it hopped towards him. The creature had a strange, glimmering horn jutting out from the center of its forehead, and as it moved closer, Adam caught a glimpse of its unnaturally red eyes. It was almost... unnerving.

 Adam stood up, his face flushed with embarrassment. Of course, it was just a rabbit. He couldn't help but laugh at himself, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Well, that was a little dramatic," Adam muttered to himself, shaking his head.

The rabbit froze mid-hop and turned its head sharply to look at him. Its blood-red eyes glowed ominously as its playful demeanor shifted to something far more predatory. Adam's laughter died in his throat as he suddenly realized something wasn't right. The rabbit's eyes were wild, its mouth dripping with saliva, and in an instant, it lunged forward, a low growl rumbling from its throat.

Adam's instincts kicked in. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the rabbit's sharp claws, which scraped against the dirt where he had been standing. His heart pounded as he rolled to his feet, dagger in hand. The rabbit was faster than he'd expected, its movements a blur of fur and sharp teeth.

He barely had time to think. The creature's claws flashed as it swiped again, and this time, Adam wasn't quick enough. One of the claws grazed his arm, leaving a sharp sting as the rabbit's momentum carried it past him. Adam gritted his teeth, his arm throbbing with pain.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

You've been hit!

Damage Taken: 8 HP

Infected with Bleeding: You lose 1hp per second until the wound is bandaged.

Current Health: HP: 242/250

The rabbit hissed, its eyes narrowing as it circled him. Adam's hand shook slightly, but he kept his focus. It wasn't going to be an easy fight. He needed to be smart. He could tell from the way it moved, how it avoided his attacks, that it was a much higher level than him.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Rabbit Beast (Level 12)

Health: ???/???

Patron: Nemain

Description: A carnivorous creature with an insatiable hunger. While typically harmless, this rabbit has evolved because of its patron to become a dangerous predator, capable of using its sharp claws and speed to overwhelm foes. The horn on its head is not just for show; it can ram into enemies with powerful force.

Adam swallowed hard. He couldn't see its health but a patron? Confused but he will save it for later. He steadied his breath, positioning himself for the next attack. The rabbit darted toward him again, its claws flashing like daggers. Adam was ready. At the last moment, he sidestepped, his dagger slashing through the air and narrowly missing the rabbit's hide. The creature spun on its heels, faster than Adam could react, and lashed out with its claws once more.

This time, Adam was ready. He rolled forward, ducking under the rabbit's attack, and brought his dagger up, aiming for the creature's underbelly. The blade sank into the soft fur, but it barely made a dent.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Critical Hit!

Damage Dealt: 50 HP

The rabbit screeched in pain, but it didn't retreat. Instead, it twisted its body and attempted to ram into Adam with its horn. He barely dodged to the side, but the force of the blow still grazed his shoulder.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

You've been hit!

Damage Taken: 15 HP

Bleeding upgraded Bleeding II: You lose 2hp per second until the wound is bandaged.

Wound Infected: Your wound has been infected by something that will not heal naturally. 

Current Health: HP: 213/250

Adam's breathing became labored as he stood up, his legs shaking from the force of the impact. He couldn't keep this up much longer. The rabbit was relentless.He had the HP but for how long? How close was he to killing this rabbit? The wolf wasn't this hard. He glanced around, eyes darting for anything he could use to his advantage. His gaze landed on a thick branch lying nearby. Without hesitation, he rushed toward it, scooping it up in his hands. If he couldn't defeat it head-on, he'd have to outsmart it. 

The rabbit growled, its eyes flashing with fury as it charged once more. Adam gritted his teeth, raising the branch above his head, and just as the rabbit leapt toward him, he swung it with all his strength. It wasn't a homerun but it did the trick.

The branch collided with the rabbit's side with a sickening thud, knocking it off balance. The beast screeched in fury, but Adam didn't give it a chance to recover. He launched himself forward, dagger in hand.

This time, when he struck it he kept stabbing and stabbing. The blade sank deep into the rabbit's side, and after what felt like a full minute it let out a final, pitiful screech before collapsing to the ground.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Rabbit Beast Defeated!

Experience Gained: +150 XP

Nemain sees you.

Item Dropped: Rabbit Beast's Horn (Rare)

Item Dropped: Carnivorous Rabbit Meat (Uncommon)

He took a moment to catch his breath, wiping his brow with the back of his hand before inspecting his injuries. He started applying healing salves to his wounds and chewing on a healing herb before wrapping some cloth he had traded with a villager for one of his teas. 

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Bleeding II downgraded Bleeding: You lose 1hp per second until the wound is bandaged.

Bleeding stopped. 

Wound infection cleaned. 

Current Status:

HP: 131/250 (3.3/min) temp (7.3 min)

MP: 190/190 (3.6/min)

Stamina: 42/140 (4.7/min)

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Small blades Level 3

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Inspect Level 2

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Skill Learned: Battle Instincts (Passive) Level 1

Effect: Your ability to sense danger and react in combat has improved. You gain a heightened awareness of your surroundings, allowing you to react faster to incoming attacks and anticipate your opponent's moves. This skill will grow stronger with experience.

New skills always made Adam feel better but he was tired, chewing on Dullroot to help his stamina he decided to hit down and just rest for a bit he still had the whole day ahead of him.