Chapter 3: Horned Rabbits

Keiran sat quietly on a large, moss-covered boulder in the middle of the forest. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, and the faint chirping of birds echoed through the trees.

The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. It was a peaceful scene, but Keiran's mind was far from calm. He was focused on the task at hand—allocating his stat points.

He opened his status screen, a translucent interface that only he could see.

The numbers and options floated before him, waiting for his decision. After a moment of thought, he decided to distribute his points carefully.

He added 4 points each to Constitution, Dexterity, and Agility, and 6 points each to Intelligence and Strength.

As soon as he confirmed his choices, he felt a strange sensation ripple through his body.

His once skinny frame began to change. Muscles grew and tightened, giving him a lean, athletic build. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the newfound strength coursing through him.

"Neat," he said softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

But there was more to check. He looked down at his hands, noting that his skin was still human.

That meant his new passive skill, Stone Armor, hadn't activated yet. He closed his eyes and focused, letting his instincts guide him.

Slowly, his skin began to change. It hardened and transformed, becoming jagged and rough like stone. Within moments, his entire body was covered in a layer of natural stone armor.

It wasn't smooth or polished—it was rugged and uneven, as if it had been ripped straight from the earth itself.

Keiran examined his new form, turning his arms over and running his fingers along the rough surface. "A little gross," he muttered in his usual monotone voice, "but cool."

With his transformation complete, Keiran stood and began walking deeper into the forest. The ground beneath his feet was soft and yielding, covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves.

The forest grew denser as he ventured further, the trees towering above him like silent sentinels. He moved cautiously, his stone-covered body blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

The jagged edges of his armor made him look like a walking boulder, and he used this to his advantage, staying low and quiet.

It wasn't long before he spotted movement ahead. A group of Horned Rabbits was grazing in a small clearing.

These creatures were about a foot tall, with soft fur and a single sharp horn protruding from their foreheads. They looked harmless at first glance, but Keiran knew better.

He counted five of them—four at level 1 and one at level 2. The level 2 Horned Rabbit was noticeably larger than the others, its horn gleaming in the sunlight.

[Common: Horned Rabbit: Level 2.]

Keiran crouched behind a bush, his stone armor making him nearly invisible against the forest backdrop.

He focused his gaze on the level 2 Horned Rabbit, the leader of the group. His plan was simple: take out the strongest one first. The others would likely scatter once their leader was down.

He waited patiently, his body completely still. The Horned Rabbits hopped closer, unaware of the danger lurking nearby. When they were within range, Keiran acted.

He opened his mouth and activated his Mud Spit skill. A thick glob of mud shot out, hitting the level 2 Horned Rabbit square in the face. The creature let out a startled squeak, its movements slowing as the mud clung to its fur.

The other Horned Rabbits froze for a moment, their ears twitching in alarm. But before they could react, Keiran fired another barrage of Mud Spit.

The mud splattered across the level 2 Horned Rabbit, further immobilizing it. Keiran wrinkled his nose at the smell—it was unpleasant, to say the least—but he couldn't deny the effectiveness of the skill.

The other Horned Rabbits finally realized what was happening and charged at Keiran, their horns aimed at his stone-covered body.

But their attacks were useless. The sharp horns scraped harmlessly against his armor, leaving no damage.

Keiran didn't even flinch. He stepped forward, his stone fists clenched, and activated his Iron Fist skill. With a powerful punch, he struck the level 2 Horned Rabbit in the face. The force of the blow sent the creature tumbling to the ground.

It tried to get up, but Keiran didn't give it a chance. He punched it again, and then once more for good measure. The Horned Rabbit let out a final, pitiful squeak before going still. The moment it died, the other four Horned Rabbits turned and fled, disappearing into the underbrush.

Keiran watched them go, then shrugged. "I only needed one," he said to himself.

He turned his attention to the fallen Horned Rabbit. Kneeling beside it, he activated his Divine Inheritance skill. A soft, white essence began to rise from the creature's body, swirling in the air before flowing into Keiran.

[You have received 3 Skills.]

[Horn Thrust (Active) The Horned Rabbit lunges forward with surprising speed, aiming to pierce its target with its small but sharp horn. Deals minor physical damage and has a low chance to stagger smaller enemies. Mana cost 1]

[Rapid Hop (Active) Utilizing its strong hind legs, the Horned Rabbit quickly hops in any direction to evade an attack or reposition itself. Grants a brief burst of speed and slight evasion against incoming attacks. Mana Cost 1]

[Skittish Nature (Passive) The Horned Rabbit is naturally alert and quick to flee. When its health drops below a certain threshold, it gains a temporary speed boost and a slight increase in evasion, making it harder to catch. Mana Cost 1]

[For acquiring three unique skills, you have received experience points.]

[You leveled up.]

[You have received 12 Stat points.]

[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]

Keiran felt a surge of energy as his body absorbed the new skills and experience. He opened his status screen once again, ready to allocate his newly acquired stat points.

After a moment of consideration, he added 2 points each to Constitution, Dexterity, and Agility, and 3 points each to Intelligence and Strength.

The changes were subtle but noticeable—his muscles felt more defined, his movements smoother, and his mind sharper.

As he stood there, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the forest, Keiran couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He was growing stronger, more capable.

The forest, once intimidating, now felt like a place of opportunity. There were more creatures to fight, more skills to acquire, and more secrets to uncover.

With a determined look in his eyes, Keiran turned and continued deeper into the forest.

•••••

NAME: Keiran Graywood

CLASS: Hero

SUBCLASS: Skillmancer

LEVEL: 4

HP: 90

MP: 130

SP: 130

[STATS]

CONSTITUTION: 9

INTELLIGENCE: 13

STRENGTH: 13

DEXTERITY: 9

AGILITY: 9

AVAILABLE STAT POINTS: 0

[SKILLS]

DIVINE BLESSINGS: Divine Inheritance, Sacred Elevation, Arcane Creation, Blessing of Bequeathal.

COMMON: Iron Fist, Quick Step, Enduring Spirit, Mud Spit, Tremor Wiggle, Stone Skin, Horn Thrust, Rapid Hop, Skittish Nature.

•••••