The forest had changed again. Luo Feng could sense it even before the sun climbed over the horizon. The morning air felt heavier, thicker with the scent of moisture and the faint musk of unseen beasts. The fallen tree he called home was now a nest of quiet life. Threads of roots hung from the splintered bark, and insects crawled freely in the cracks, unaware that a silent hunter lived among them.
He had grown used to the rhythm of this place. Hunt, rest, observe, improve. Each day brought its own lesson. Yet lately, the forest seemed more alive than before. There were new tracks in the mud, unfamiliar calls echoing through the undergrowth, and scents that prickled the edges of his instincts.
Luo Feng's eyes narrowed as he climbed higher onto the log. His scales glistened faintly in the weak light, blending perfectly with the moss-covered bark. The night's rain had left everything slick, and every step he took came with a faint squelch. It was small details like this that made survival harder here. In his old territory, the soil had been firm, and sound could be controlled. Here, even breathing too sharply might give away his position.
He paused, flicking his tongue. The air was rich with the taste of life. Something small moved nearby.
The first hunt of the day came quickly. Between two rotting roots, a creature twitched—something he had never seen before. It was shaped like a rat but covered in rough, pebble-like scales that gleamed with moisture. Its claws were long, made for digging. When it moved, it scraped against the dirt with a faint rasping sound. Luo Feng recognized the sound before the sight, and his muscles coiled.
He waited. Patience was the first rule of hunting.
The creature sniffed at the air, its whiskers twitching. Luo Feng shifted slightly, inching closer until his belly almost brushed the ground. Then, when the moment felt right, he lunged forward with terrifying speed.
Crack.
His jaws closed around the creature's neck. It thrashed wildly, tail whipping against the roots, but Luo Feng bit down harder, venom seeping into its flesh. Within moments, the struggle weakened. He waited until the twitching stopped before pulling back.
Ring.
"Target: Shellback Gnawer. Bioenergy gained, 0.75 points."
He swallowed the prey whole, feeling the faint warmth spread through his body. The notification faded, leaving him in silence again. Luo Feng did not feel stronger, but his hunger eased. A small victory, one of many he had learned to value.
He cleaned his mouth on the damp bark before retreating to the hollow. Inside, he checked his nest—still dry, lined with shed leaves and fragments of moss. It was no longer just a shelter. Over the past few days, he had shaped it into something that suited him. The floor was smooth from constant movement, the corners widened to fit his body comfortably. A few large leaves acted as cover, reducing visibility from outside.
Every night, he adjusted something moving debris, testing sound, learning how to make this fallen tree into his fortress.
When noon came, the forest shifted again. A deep hum rolled across the air. Luo Feng looked up sharply. Above the canopy, something moved, it's large wings beating once, then disappearing into the mist. It was not close enough to see clearly, but the noise alone made his scales bristle.
A flying predator.
He stayed still until the sound faded. Only then did he leave the hollow again.
The second hunt took him deeper into the damp section of the tree, where small pools of stagnant water collected under broken wood. The smell of decay was strong here, and the hum of insects filled the air.
Luo Feng crept forward, moving with practiced grace. His tongue flicked, tasting the faint bitterness of frog skin. He followed the scent until he saw it, a frog-like creature resting on a wet branch. It was covered in pale green spots that pulsed faintly, almost as if it glowed. Its throat inflated slowly, making a low, rhythmic croak.
He had hunted frogs before, but this one was different. It was larger, and its eyes followed movement far more sharply. When Luo Feng shifted, it froze, waiting. The two predators stared at each other. Then, the frog's throat swelled again, and a spray of mist shot out.
Luo Feng jerked aside. The mist hissed where it touched the wood, leaving a faint burn mark. Acid.
He didn't hesitate. He circled around, keeping low and silent, using the uneven bark as cover. The frog turned its body, trying to keep him in sight, but its movements were too slow. Luo Feng darted forward, his jaws flashing open, and bit down just behind the creature's eyes.
Ring.
"Target: Acid-Blood Frog. Bioenergy gained, 1.25 points."
The system's voice was calm as ever. Luo Feng licked the residue off his tongue and immediately spat it out, tasting the faint sourness. Even venomous or acidic prey could be handled with care if one learned the right angles.
By the time he dragged the remains away, the sun had dipped behind the trees. The forest grew quieter, replaced by the heavy hum of nocturnal life. Luo Feng stayed alert. This was when the real predators came out.
He returned to his shelter, resting his body against the inner wall. For a while, he simply listened to the calls of insects, the rustle of something large moving in the distance, the occasional drip of water from above. The quiet had its own rhythm now, one he could almost read.
On the fourth day since his last major hunt, he noticed something strange.
Tracks near his hollow.
They were shallow, but distinct. Too small to belong to large beasts, too organized to be random. He studied them for a long time before moving closer. A faint scent lingered there, it was something very familiar, reptilian.
Another lizard.
He followed it only for a short distance before stopping. The other had passed by, not approaching directly. Perhaps it had noticed his scent and avoided confrontation. That was fine. Territory disputes could wait.
Instead, he turned his attention to another sound. A faint rustling above, steady and slow. He tilted his head. On the bark overhead, a shadow clung to the wood, it was a small lizard, almost translucent, with eyes like tiny beads. It froze when their gazes met.
Luo Feng's tail twitched.
He leapt.
The smaller lizard tried to flee but slipped on the slick surface. Luo Feng's jaws closed around its midsection, ending the struggle in seconds.
Ring.
"Target: Clear-Scaled Gecko. Bioenergy gained, 1 point."
The number was small, but it was consistent. He could feel the faint warmth again, the subtle rhythm of energy settling inside him. When he finally checked his status, the numbers told a quiet story.
---
Host Property List
Level 3
Bioenergy 25/30
Skill Points 0
Body Length 35cm
Diameter 1.2cm
Strength 0.2
Defense 0.1
Speed 0.4
Agility 0.7
Spirit 1.5
Physical Strength 1.0
Skills: Venomous Saliva (1/5)
Reputation Value 0/10000000
---
Progress. Slow, deliberate progress.
He rested that night without moving much, the dim glow of the moon spilling faintly through cracks in the wood. The wind outside whispered through the branches, carrying the scent of rain and smoke.
Smoke.
He stirred, blinking slowly. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it was there. He climbed higher, moving toward an opening on the side of the tree. When he reached the top, he looked out into the distance.
Far beyond the forest line, a thin, wavering trail of gray rose into the air. It was too far to see the source, but unmistakable. It was definitely closer than before.
He watched it for a long while, unmoving.
Then he turned back toward the hollow and resumed his quiet adjustments. His shelter still needed work. There were gaps to fill, roots to smooth, and sounds to study.
Luo Feng was very curious on what caused the smoke and why it was getting closer but he knew if he tried to check it out, he would be courting death so he decided to finish his shelter before anything else