Chapter: The Hunter and the Prey
"Ha ha ha! Ha!!"
Mike laughed as hundreds of massive, broken eggshells flew through the air.
The workers scrambled, catching them and loading everything into a massive truck. Hope burned in their eyes for the first time since the famine began.
Suddenly
Mike felt it.
Something enormous was approaching.
He bent down instinctively.
A colossal shadow swept past him, wind pressure ripping through the forest as a giant bird screamed overhead.
Mike straightened slowly.
He looked up.
No fear.
Only calculation.
The giant bird turned midair and dove again, its beak aimed straight for him.
Mike sidestepped calmly, pulling out a thick leather strip from his waist.
"Good quality," he muttered.
"It's been a long time since I last ate meat."
SYSTEM
[Mentality: 1000]
[New Option Unlocked]
→ Distribute Points
→ Create Skill
Mike chose distribution.
Points flooded into his body.
•Force.
•Agility.
•Speed.
•Stamina.
SYSTEM
[Level Up ×8]
All base stats surged to 25
except Magic, which remained at zero.
The bird attacked again.
This time, Mike caught it.
His hands locked around its neck mid-charge.
The giant bird's eyes widened in terror.
"How… can a human be this strong?" the creature cried in disbelief.
Mike licked his lips.
He wasn't thinking about power.
Only meat.
SYSTEM ERROR
[Body Too Weak to Support Current Power]
[Stats Reset Initiated]
Pain tore through him.
SYSTEM
[Stats Reset]
Health: 8
Force: 8
Agility: 8
Stamina: 8
Speed: 8
Class: Farmer
Mentality: 200
Mike cooked the meat carefully.
He ate until his stomach was full.
Then he noticed them.
More birds.
Dozens.
Hungry.
He ran.
Within seconds, they were on him.
Mike grabbed several birds and dragged them beneath himself as he leapt off the hill, using their bodies as shock absorbers.
Impact.
Bones shattered.
Blood splashed.
Still, more birds came.
Neva arrived.
She inhaled
Then gagged.
The stench of blood and mana flooded her senses.
Her eyes snapped open.
For a single second, the world froze.
Then
She moved.
Blinding speed.
Multiple strikes.
Not a single bird left alive.
"Hey," she said coldly. "You."
Mike lay on the ground.
Slowly, he lifted his head and smiled.
"You bastard!"
Her fist slammed into his jaw.
Mike was sent flying, crashing into the hillside.
SYSTEM
-18 HP
Potential Wife: 1
Name: Neva
Emotion: -100 (Extreme Rage)
SYSTEM
HP: 0.01 / 8
Blood streamed down Mike's face.
He stood.
Step by step, he walked toward her.
Neva lashed out with her rope.
In that instant
SYSTEM
[Unique Skill Activated]
[Duration: 30 Seconds]
Neva's instincts screamed.
Danger.
Mike spoke calmly.
"I have something important to say."
He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"So stop provoking me."
He leaned closer.
"BE MY WIFE."
Silence.
"…What?"
Her mana exploded.
Multiple attacks followed.
Mike dodged every single one.
SYSTEM
[Mentality +1] ×5