Chapter 16: Hunger Crossbow
Yukeli walked slowly, each step heavy, feeling the resistance of his muscles still aching from the fall and his previous exertion. Every stone beneath his feet seemed to want to drag him back; every breath demanded more strength than it should. He kept his mind alert, analyzing every sound and every reflection of light on the walls of the mini-grove he had just discovered.
The place was surreal. Trees and shrubs with strange-colored leaves: some a translucent blue, others with shades of violet and pale gold that seemed to pulse softly under the light of the crystals. The air was charged with a subtle static electricity, and the glow of the mineral formations created an atmosphere of an alien sanctuary.
As he moved forward, a movement caught his attention.
A rabbit the size of a wolf moved across the uneven terrain. Its body was partially covered in crystalline formations that refracted light in shades of silver and violet. On its forehead, a long, sharp, pulsing horn rose, filled with condensed energy—looking more like a sword than a simple biological structure.
Yukeli crouched instinctively. In front of the rabbit stood its opponent.
A grotesque creature, resembling a toad but the size of a lion. Its body was supported by four sturdy legs, thick as young tree trunks, and its skin showed crystalline irregularities and deformed protuberances. Its tongue extended like a whip, long and flexible, ending in a tip that dripped a black, viscous poison.
It stood protectively in front of a tree whose fruits glowed with their own light—a seductive, almost hypnotic glow. Yukeli watched in silence, his heart racing. He couldn't interfere. He was too weak. But that... that was a lesson.
The rabbit attacked first. Its body vanished in a blur of motion, leaping with absurd speed. The toad reacted instantly, its tongue darting like lightning, cutting the air with a dry crack. The rabbit dodged at the last moment, its horn leaving a trail of crystalline energy in the air. Every movement was precise. Every attack, calculated.
Yukeli noticed something crucial: the horn wasn't normal. It seemed to concentrate Primordial Essence somehow and release it in deadly attacks.
'Maybe it's a skill.'
The toad counterattacked with brutality. Its paws crushed the ground, kicking up shards of crystal and dirt. Its tongue lashed out again, this time grazing the rabbit's flank and tearing away part of the crystalline structure protecting its body. The rabbit retreated—but only for a moment. Then, it lunged again. This time, its speed was even greater. Its horn glowed.
Energy began to accumulate. Yukeli felt it. It was as if the essence in the air was being drained to a single point. Then, the final blow came. The rabbit leaped and pierced the toad's chest. At the moment of impact, the accumulated energy was released. A beam of crystalline light tore through the toad's body and came out the other side, vaporizing everything in its path.
The toad convulsed. Its tongue fell limp. Its body collapsed. Silence.
The rabbit remained still for a few seconds, accepting the primordial essence it had claimed from the toad, breathing heavily, until it finally leaned down and began to devour the toad, tearing off pieces with almost surgical precision. Yukeli watched with a mixture of disgust and fascination. A fierce animal. No hesitation. No emotion. Only necessity.
He swallowed hard, feeling hunger tighten its grip more intensely. But he knew he was too weak to attempt any kind of contact. He knew it would be suicide. Instead, he took a few steps back, hiding behind a tree with a crystallized trunk. His mind worked quickly, reflecting on what he had just witnessed.
'These creatures seem more powerful than the snakes from before, but maybe this is a chance to replenish my primordial essence.'
The brutality of the fight and the rabbit's horn ability gave him ideas.
But first, he needed a weapon. He was too weak to use a sword; although his stone sword was light, in his current state, it was an unnecessary burden for his trembling muscles. He needed to be strategic. He couldn't throw himself into direct combat; this time he had to use his skills with precision.
As he watched, Yukeli began to plan. He needed a long-range weapon, something that would allow him to kill without exposing himself. Something that wouldn't require much physical effort.
His thoughts focused on his innate skill.
His eyes scanned the environment. Crystals were everywhere. On the ground, in the trees, on the walls, on the ceiling glowing like large lamps that brought light to the small grove. Even the creatures had crystal in their bodies. That was no coincidence. It was a resource. Something special, and luckily he had an incredible skill that could take great advantage of the material.
[Hollow Forge.]
Yukeli slowly approached a crystalline formation emerging from the ground. He could feel the energy contained there—stable, powerful, malleable.
But he had little primordial essence left; he couldn't waste it.
'It can't be something too complex… or the cost will be too high.'
He considered a bow, but lacked confidence in his accuracy. Then, he remembered: a crossbow. More stable. Deadlier. Easier to use with precision. More suitable for someone weak… but intelligent.
Yukeli thought of a crossbow and a series of arrows with sharp tips capable of piercing any creature, a set that would not only allow him to attack from afar but also grant him greater versatility. Something he could hold in one hand while using the other to hold his sword if the situation demanded.
Placing his hand on the crystal, he activated his skill. He imagined every detail of the structure and form. He tried to move exactly twenty units for the creation. A high cost, but strategic... However, theory did not meet practice.
"Argee," a groan escaped his lips. He felt a violent drain, as if something were tearing energy directly from his soul, pulling much more than intended. The skill was voracious.
'Ding'
[14/500]
'Dammit… it drank thirty units…'
His vision darkened momentarily. His body weakened even further. But the system continued: [You have created an artifact]. Yukeli raised his eyes and saw it. It floated before him. And it was beautiful.
Yukeli forgot the pain and grabbed the weapon. His eyes remained fixed on it.
The Crossbow had the compact shape of a modern one-handed weapon, with an ergonomic grip and an elongated body, allowing for stable use even in mobile combat.
However, there is no metal.
There is no wood.
There is no string.
Its entire body is forged from crystal, with internal veins glowing in shades of violet and silver. The structure resembles a mechanical weapon. The front limbs—equivalent to the crossbow's arms—curve forward like crystalline fangs. Between them, there is no physical string. But Yukeli could faintly feel primordial essence in the area where it should be.
Perhaps physical loading wasn't necessary.
The upper rail is formed by a polished crystal channel. The grip is solid and cold to the touch, but as Yukeli held it, it responded with a slight pulse, adjusting to his hand as if recognizing its creator.
Yukeli accessed the weapon's status.
Artifact: [ Hunger Crossbow ]
Artifact Rank: [ First Order ]
Artifact Level: [ Uncommon ]
Artifact Type: [ Weapon ]
Artifact Description: [ Forged from Crysalith to satiate its wielder's hunger, the Hunger Crossbow was born incomplete due to its creator's inexperience. Deprived of will and its true potential, it still retained the ability to absorb essence. Now, it exists to absorb, accumulate, and satiate hunger through the power it consumes. ]
Skill 1: [ Breath of Crysalith ]
Description: [ Crysalith is a mineral capable of absorbing and amplifying Primordial Essence. Through this property, the Hunger Crossbow can drain its user's essence and amplify it, condensing it into the form of a deadly arrow. The higher the amount of essence invested, the greater the projectile's destructive power. ]
Skill 2: [ Mark of Hunger ]
Description: [ When a target is hit by a bolt fired by the Hunger Crossbow, a bond is established between the weapon and the projectile embedded in the target. While the link is active, the Crossbow can absorb Primordial Essence through this bond, using it to regenerate the consumed bolt or strengthen subsequent shots, In addition to feeding its user.
The bond remains until the bolt is destroyed or the connection is severed. ]
Yukeli smiled faintly. He didn't need to run anymore.
Now… he could hunt.