Dawn spilled through the canopy in streams of molten gold, turning the dew on each leaf into tiny mirrors of the sun. A thin mist clung to the roots, breathing with the forest. Beneath one sprawling oak, Ria stirred.
Her first sunrise as a living soul warmed her fur. She blinked, yawned, and stretched until her small frame quivered. The ache in her limbs reminded her that this body was real—fragile and new—but also hers.
> System Notification — Daily Quest: Hunt to Survive.
Objective: Secure food and strengthen instincts.
The glowing words faded like morning vapor. "Hunt to survive," she thought, amused by how simple it sounded. In her old life she had starved for meaning; now survival itself was purpose.
The forest of Tenrou surrounded her—an ancient realm where roots tangled with streams of spirit energy. Somewhere beyond these woods lay kingdoms and shrines, cities of mortals bound by the same unseen system, but here the world still belonged to the wild.
She moved carefully through fern and moss. Every sound was crisp: water dripping from branches, the skitter of lizards, the wind sighing through bamboo. Her new senses painted everything with startling clarity. Scents layered upon scents—sap, pollen, fur, rain.
A soft rustle ahead drew her attention. Through a veil of leaves, a small hare nibbled clover, oblivious. Her body tensed, tail flicking for balance. Breath in. Silence. Then she sprang.
For one glorious heartbeat she was nothing but instinct and motion—silver flash, breathless leap, the thrill of the chase. The hare darted aside at the last instant. She landed awkwardly, rolling through the grass. The prey vanished into the underbrush, leaving only the echo of her heartbeat.
> Skill Update — Fox's Agility + 1 (Level 2).
She shook herself, panting, and laughed inwardly. "So, that's how it works. Learn by doing."
She spent the next hours testing that theory—pouncing on shadows, climbing a fallen trunk, sniffing out hidden berries. The System chimed softly each time, noting minuscule gains in strength and balance. Progress felt tangible, exhilarating.
As the sun rose higher, she paused to drink from a brook that wound through the forest like a ribbon of glass. Her reflection blinked back—bright eyes, white fur tipped in silver. "Ria," she whispered in thought, tasting the name. "A kitsune."
The forest responded with a faint shiver of wind, almost approving.
---
The rhythm broke at noon.
Birdsong faltered, then stopped. The air thickened, heavy with the scent of iron and smoke. Even the insects fell silent. Ria froze mid-step, ears pricked. Something was wrong.
> System Warning — Predator Zone Detected. Proceed with Caution.
Ahead, a clearing stretched open like a wound. Claw marks raked the stones; patches of grass were scorched black. The very light seemed dimmer here.
She crept forward. The silence pressed on her chest until it felt hard to breathe.
A shape detached itself from the shadows—taller than a horse, sinew and darkness woven together. Its fur shimmered like oil; its eyes burned with red light.
A Shadow Wolf.
> Species: Shadow Wolf (Lesser Spirit Beast, Tier 2).
Danger Level: High.
Fear hit her like cold water. The beast lowered its head, lips curling back from obsidian teeth. It moved with the soundless grace of a nightmare.
The urge to run was overwhelming. But another part of her—a spark of something stubborn and human—held her ground.
Then the wolf lunged.
---
The world erupted.
Ria spun aside, claws tearing into soil. The creature's strike carved a furrow where she had stood, sending dust into the air. She fled between trees, heart hammering.
> Combat Engaged — Fox's Agility activated.
The forest became a blur of motion: trunks flashing by, vines whipping at her sides. She vaulted fallen logs, skidded beneath branches. Each time she dodged, the System pulsed in her vision.
> Evasion + 1 … Agility + 1 …
It wasn't enough. The wolf closed the distance in seconds, a shadow made of hunger. Pain ripped through her flank as claws grazed her. She tumbled across the ground, crimson staining silver fur.
> Critical State Detected.
The world narrowed to heartbeat and breath. The wolf prowled closer, jaws dripping smoke.
"No," she thought fiercely. "Not again. Not this life too."
She forced her legs beneath her. The air vibrated with power—the same hum she'd felt when she was reborn. A voice, ancient and metallic, rang in her skull.
> Hidden Trait Activating … Soul-Bound Link Detected …
Light flooded her vision. Instinct eclipsed thought. She inhaled deeply; the air tasted of ozone. When she exhaled, flame followed.
Blue-white fire burst from her paws, spiralling upward. Heat rolled through the clearing, turning mist to steam. The wolf leapt—and the flames met it midair.
A roar split the forest. The spirit beast crashed to the ground, its form unraveling into black smoke that writhed and burned away.
> Skill Unlocked — Spirit Flame (Lv 1).
Ria stood shaking amid a circle of glowing embers. The fire licked her fur but did not burn; it obeyed her heartbeat. For the first time since awakening, she felt powerful.
The Shadow Wolf snarled weakly, half-melted shadow dripping from its flanks. It stared at her through crimson haze, then turned and fled into the deeper dark.
> Battle Complete — Experience + 40.
Her knees gave out. The flames guttered and died. Darkness closed around her as she collapsed beside the stream's edge.
---
When awareness returned, the world smelled of ash and rain. Mist curled through the ravaged clearing, softening the scorched earth. The pain in her side was a dull ache now, not agony.
> Status: Stable. Passive Regeneration Initiated.
Threads of faint blue light wove through her wounds, sealing them. The sight mesmerized her. Even here, life repaired itself.
Above, twin moons sank toward the horizon. Their silver glow painted her fur gold. She stood unsteadily, muscles trembling, and looked at the devastation she had caused. The once-green clearing was charred, yet shoots of grass already pushed through black soil.
> Skill Established — Spirit Flame (Lv 1).
Attributes + 1 Intelligence, + 2 Vitality.
Trait Upgrade — Spirit Affinity (Minor → Standard).
The System's calm voice felt almost proud. "I did that," she whispered inwardly, astonished. The idea filled her with warmth—and dread. That power had come from instinct, not control. Next time, she might not survive the backlash.
She limped toward the stream. Water reflected the fading stars, the twin moons, and her own golden eyes. Blood swirled away as she drank.
> Quest Complete — Hunt to Survive.
Reward Granted.
Energy coursed through her limbs, steadying her breathing. A flicker of blue-white light teased the tip of her tail before vanishing. Control would come with time.
The forest slowly came alive again—birds calling tentatively, insects resuming their hum. Somewhere far off, the Shadow Wolf howled, not in hatred but in acknowledgment.
Ria turned her face toward the sound. "We'll meet again," she thought. "And next time I won't run."
She returned to the oak that had sheltered her the night before and curled beneath its roots. Fatigue weighed heavy but sweet. The forest's breath surrounded her, warm with smoke and dawn.
Before sleep claimed her, the System spoke once more, voice softer than wind:
> Milestone Achieved — First Victory.
New Title — Ember of Tenrou.
Light shimmered over her fur, fading into her chest like a heartbeat. The title felt right—an ember waiting to grow.
As the sun broke over the horizon, golden rays pierced the trees, turning mist to silver fire. Ria's eyes drifted closed. In her dreams, she ran again—through endless forests and fields of starlight, the Spirit Flame trailing behind her like a comet's tail.
Tomorrow, she would hunt once more.
But today, the forest knew her name.