Hop!
Hop!
Hop!
If there were an award for the most pathetic creature in this world, Alzam was certain he would be in first place.
A huge monster was chasing him.
He had no weapon.
No magic.
No legs.
And his only way to escape was—
Hop!
Jumping.
Why did I have to reincarnate as something that wasn't even designed to run away from predators?!
THUD!
Something slammed into the ground behind him.
Alzam's tiny body was sent flying.
He rolled through several blades of grass before crashing into a rock.
Tok!
THAT HURTS!
[Minor damage detected.]
I know! You don't have to announce it!
[User condition remains stable.]
If you want to help, give me a way to escape!
Silence for half a second.
[Suggestion: Move away from the threat.]
...
Alzam almost wanted to stop.
Not because he was giving up against the monster.
He just wanted five seconds to yell at KIA.
Unfortunately—
GRAAAH!
A growl sounded right behind him.
No time!
Alzam jumped again.
Hop!
One meter.
Hop!
Another meter.
His old human self might have laughed at how short that distance was.
Now, one meter felt like a miracle.
The red dot on the Map kept chasing him.
Only seven meters separated them.
Then six.
Five.
KIA! Observ that monster!
[Running Observ.]
A display appeared.
Horned Rat
Level: 3
Category: Monster
Condition: Hungry
Core: Detected
Element: —
Threat to User: High
Alzam almost tripped—if a seed could even trip.
THAT'S A RAT?!
The dog-sized creature with two horns was apparently called a rat.
What kind of world has rats that big?!
[The question cannot be answered due to insufficient world data.]
That was a rhetorical question!
GRAH!
The Horned Rat leaped.
Alzam saw its shadow growing larger on the ground.
I'M DEAD!
He jumped to the side.
CRASH!
Two horns slammed into the ground exactly where he had been a moment earlier.
Dirt and small stones flew everywhere.
Alzam was thrown aside again.
But this time, he noticed something.
The monster's horns were stuck.
The Horned Rat shook its head.
Once.
Twice.
Its horns still wouldn't come free.
Alzam stopped.
...
An idea appeared in his mind.
KIA.
[Yes.]
Is this monster smart?
[Intelligence level: Low. Behavior is primarily driven by instinct.]
Alzam's imaginary eyes seemed to narrow.
If he couldn't win with strength...
then he shouldn't fight with strength.
KIA. Show me the Map.
The map appeared.
Alzam studied the area around him.
Trees.
Rocks.
Roots.
Uneven ground.
Then he found something.
About thirty meters to his right was a symbol showing a drop in elevation.
What's that?
[A natural pit.]
How deep?
[Observ cannot reach the entire structure.]
How wide?
[Estimated width: 2.7 meters.]
Alzam looked at the Horned Rat.
Then at the pit.
Then back at the Horned Rat.
If he still had a mouth, he would probably be smiling right now.
All right.
If you want to eat me...
The Horned Rat finally pulled its horns free.
GRAAAH!
...then come and catch me.
Alzam jumped.
Not away from the pit.
Straight toward it.
Hop!
The Horned Rat chased him.
Hop!
Twenty-five meters.
Hop!
Twenty.
Alzam was beginning to understand the rhythm of his new body.
He didn't need to move muscles.
He only had to imagine the direction, gather strength at the bottom of his body, and then—
Hop!
His body launched forward.
KIA! Can I jump higher?
[Possible through the use of Mana Surge.]
Alzam almost stopped again.
Mana what?!
[Mana Surge. A basic skill belonging to the user.]
SINCE WHEN DO I HAVE A SKILL?!
[Since the initial synchronization.]
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!
[The user did not ask.]
...Once I survive this, we're going to have a very long talk.
[Understood.]
The pit was only ten meters away.
The Horned Rat was getting closer.
Alzam could feel the vibrations from its footsteps.
KIA. How do I use it?
[Direct mana toward the part of the body you wish to enhance.]
Part of my body?! I only have one body part!
[That may simplify the process.]
Alzam had no idea whether KIA was joking or completely serious.
He chose not to think about it.
He tried to feel something inside himself.
There.
Very small.
Like warmth gathering at the center of his body.
Is this mana?
[Correct.]
Alzam directed it toward the bottom of his body.
Something changed.
His tiny body suddenly felt lighter.
[Mana Surge activated.]
Now!
BOING!
Alzam flew.
Not one meter.
Not two meters.
His body shot almost five meters forward.
WOOOOO—!
For a fraction of a second, he felt amazing.
Then he realized he had no way to brake.
...Oh.
TOK!
His body slammed into a tree trunk.
[Minor damage detected.]
SHUT UP!
Alzam fell to the ground.
But his plan had worked.
The pit was now only a few meters ahead of him.
The Horned Rat was still chasing him.
KIA. How much mana do I have left?
[41%.]
Enough.
Alzam jumped closer to the pit.
One meter.
Two meters.
The edge came into view.
Dark.
Deep enough.
I hope this works.
The Horned Rat growled.
Three meters.
Alzam stopped right in front of the pit.
The monster charged straight toward him.
Two meters.
One.
KIA.
[Yes.]
Mana Surge!
Energy gathered again.
The Horned Rat lowered its head.
Its two horns pointed directly at Alzam's body.
NOW!
BOING!
Alzam's tiny body shot upward.
The Horned Rat charged through the spot where he had been.
The monster's red eyes widened.
Too late.
There was no ground in front of it.
Its huge body plunged downward.
GRAAA—!
THUD!
A heavy impact echoed from the bottom of the pit.
Alzam was still in the air.
YES!
Then—
...Wait.
Gravity took over again.
Oh, no.
He fell.
Straight toward the same pit.
KIAAAAA!
[Resin Guard available.]
WHAT IS THAT NOW?!
[A defensive skill.]
ACTIVATE IT!
[Resin Guard activated.]
A clear golden liquid suddenly seeped from the surface of Alzam's body.
The resin quickly wrapped around his seed coat and hardened into an elastic layer.
Thump!
Alzam hit the ground.
The resin layer absorbed most of the impact before slowly sinking back into his body.
Silence.
Alzam didn't move.
...
KIA.
[Yes.]
Later.
[?]
We seriously need to talk about your habit of hiding information from me.
[Understood.]
Alzam slowly approached the edge of the pit.
Down below, the Horned Rat lay on the ground.
One of its horns was broken.
Its body was still moving.
It's not dead?
[Correct. Condition: Critical.]
Alzam fell silent.
Until now, he had only been thinking about how to escape.
But seeing the creature lying at the bottom of the pit...
he felt strange.
He wasn't a fighter.
Even in his previous life, he had never killed anything larger than an insect.
And now?
A living creature was dying because of his plan.
If I leave... it'll die anyway, won't it?
[Probability is very high.]
Alzam remained silent for a moment.
Then the Horned Rat raised its head.
Its red eyes found Alzam.
And—
GRAH!
It was still trying to get back up.
...
All right, then.
It still wants to eat me.
Alzam's guilt decreased considerably.
KIA. What happens when a monster dies?
[Its Core can be taken.]
Core?
[A crystallization of biological and magical energy and information possessed by living beings.]
Alzam went silent.
Biological information.
Skills.
Core.
A possibility immediately appeared in his mind.
If I obtain its Core...
[User enhancement may be possible.]
Alzam felt something change.
For the first time since awakening as a seed, this world had shown him a path.
Not a path home.
Not an answer to why he was here.
But a way to become stronger.
He looked down at the Horned Rat.
Then at his own tiny body.
If every monster in this forest is like that...
Alzam remembered how easily he had almost died.
No.
If he wanted to survive, running away wouldn't be enough.
He had to learn.
Adapt.
And become stronger.
KIA.
[Yes.]
Teach me how to take its Core.
◆ ◆ ◆
Some time later, in a place very far away—
a leaf on a gigantic tree moved.
There was no wind.
Yet the same small voice could be heard again.
"Hmm?"
The voice sounded curious.
"Already started hunting?"
A brief silence followed.
Then came a small laugh.
"No."
"Not hunting."
The enormous roots slowly shifted beneath the earth.
As if something were turning the page of a book.
"He's learning."
The voice sounded even more pleased.
"Good."
"Then show me..."
Another leaf began to grow.
"...what kind of story you'll write, my Successor."
— CHAPTER 2 END —