Reincarnated as a Rabbit: Tales of Carrots and Chaos

The voice echoed once more, cold and unyielding.

"To ascend, you must confront the truth that chains you. Step forward and meet what you fear most: yourself."

Before I could react, the floor beneath me dissolved into shadow. The horned rabbit vanished; her presence replaced by suffocating silence. The warmth of the orb in my chest flickered erratically, its steady rhythm disrupted by the chilling void that swallowed me whole.

When my vision cleared, I found myself in a place I hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime: the locker-lined hallways of my old high school.

The world seemed sharper here, crueler, as though the edges of reality had been honed to cut. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed with a grating intensity, their flicker casting unsettling shadows against the cold, sterile walls. The smell of sweat, stale textbooks, and floor cleaner clawed at my senses.

"No," I whispered, my voice cracking.

"Why… why am I here?"

Hands. Human hands. My body was no longer the lean, fur-covered form I'd come to know in this strange world. Instead, I was back in the body I'd left behind—a lanky, fragile frame with scars on my knuckles and bruises hidden beneath long sleeves.

Was I just dreaming?

The hallway stretched endlessly in both directions, a void disguised by dull lockers and flickering lights. I took a shaky step forward, but the echo of my sneakers felt wrong, foreign. Panic clawed at my chest as the oppressive silence grew heavier.

And then I heard it.

Laughter.

Before I could move, the faint hum of distant voices grew louder. Laughter, sharp and cruel, echoed through the hallway. I froze, the sound wrapping around my chest like iron bands.

"Hey, Idiot!"

The words struck me like a physical blow. I turned, my legs stiff with dread, and saw them: the shadows of my tormentors.

They weren't indistinct anymore. They were vivid, grotesquely detailed. One had a cruel grin plastered across his face; his teeth jagged like a predator's. Another had hollow, mocking eyes that glimmered with sadistic glee. A third loomed at the back, his towering form casting a suffocating shadow that stretched across the hallway.

"I thought you wouldn't come to school, today."

The leader sneered, stepping closer. His voice dripped with venom.

"It's a good thing you came, because we're getting really hungry you see."

"I-I don't have any money right now you see, my parents didn't give me any…"

The lackeys jeered at the sides, the one with the sadistic glee walking towards me suddenly, getting a hold of my collar.

"Oi, you idiotic piece of shit, let's get this straight. I don't care if you sell your ass for a dollar or whatever, but our stomach is growling right now."

"I-I don't want any trouble," I stammered, my voice barely audible.

The leader snorted. "Trouble? You think you get a say in this?"

I took a shaky step back, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Where you going, bitch?!" another shadow hissed, cutting off my retreat.

"Don't you want to hang out?" the tallest one said, his voice a mockery of friendliness.

The air grew colder as they closed in, their presence overwhelming. I felt small, insignificant—a trapped animal cornered by predators.

A rough hand shoved me forward, my chest slamming into the edge of a locker. The metal rattled loudly, the sound ricocheting through the hallway.

"Whoops," one sneered. "Didn't see you there, loser."

Laughter erupted, sharp and piercing.

"Look at him," the leader said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Can't even stand up straight without falling over."

I struggled to push myself upright, my hands trembling against the cold metal. But before I could move, another shove sent me sprawling to the ground. My palms scraped against the ground, the sting of the impact sharp and immediate.

The tallest one leaned down, his shadow swallowing me whole. "What's the matter, little rabbit? Scared?"

Another burst of laughter rang out, but this time, something shifted. The room itself seemed to join in, the walls distorting as the echoes grew louder, mocking.

"Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit," they chanted, their voices twisting into something inhuman.

My breath hitched as my surroundings melted into a grotesque parody of the hallway. The lockers warped, their edges curling like gaping mouths, and the floor beneath me rippled like water. The shadows of my tormentors grew longer, darker, their forms merging into one monstrous shape that loomed above me.

"Pathetic," the shadow growled, its voice a distorted amalgamation of the bullies' jeers.

"You're nothing. You've always been nothing."

The orb in my chest flickered weakly, its faint warmth barely holding back the icy dread that gripped me.

"You think running away made you strong?" the shadow hissed.

"You're still the same scared little boy."

The words cut deeper than any blade, tearing open wounds I thought had healed. The shadow stepped closer, its form shifting into something horrifyingly familiar.

It was me.

Not the rabbit I had become, but the person I used to be. He was smaller, weaker, his face pale and streaked with tears. He wore the same torn clothes I had hidden in during those dark days, and his eyes—sunken and hollow—reflected every ounce of pain and fear I had tried so hard to forget.

"You abandoned me," he said, his voice trembling with raw pain.

"You left me to suffer."

"I… I didn't have a choice," I whispered, my voice cracking.

"You ran!" the boy shouted, his voice rising.

"You left everything behind—your life, your family, me. And now you think you're better? Stronger?"

His form shifted, growing larger, darker, until he towered over me like a living shadow.

"You're still weak," he snarled, his voice dripping with malice.

"You'll always be weak."

"No!" I screamed, the sound ripping from my throat.

"I'm not that person anymore!"

The boy's face smirked.

"Is that so? Then why do you feel so insecure around the horned rabbit then? I can see it in your eyes. You want to be like her don't you? Someone strong?"

"No, I'm not that person anymore, let me show it to you, in this life."

The boy's face twisted into a mask of rage.

"Is that so? Then why does it feel like you're projecting on her?""

Sigh

"Seeing her going headfirst into the enemy while I was just someone that has been running away almost every fight, in my past life, and in this life. I was a coward. I felt uncomfortable seeing her be someone that I want to be. But not anymore, I'm tired of that life"

"Prove it," he hissed, lunging toward me.

The orb flared in my chest, its light cutting through the suffocating darkness. But it wasn't enough to hold him back. His shadowy form loomed closer, his hands—my hands—reaching for my throat.

I closed my eyes, my breath hitching as panic threatened to consume me. Memories of the torment, the pain, the nights spent wondering if I should even keep going, surged to the forefront of my mind. But with them came something else.

I remembered the forest—the predators I'd faced, the strength I had found. I remembered the horned rabbit, her unwavering determination as she stood beside me. I wasn't that boy anymore.

The orb's warmth surged, its light burning brighter.

"I'm not running anymore!" I shouted, my eyes snapping open.

The light exploded outward, engulfing the shadow. The boy's form writhed and twisted, his screams echoing through the void.

"I'm not weak," I said, my voice steady.

"Not anymore, anyone who gets in my way, I'll kill them. Anyone who plans to oppress me, I'll kill them. I promise you, in this life, I—no, we will never be the one getting abused by anyone again."

The shadow dissolved into nothingness, its screams fading into silence. The oppressive weight lifted, and the hallway dissolved into the familiar stone walls of the chamber.

I fell to my knees, my chest heaving as the orb's light dimmed to a steady glow. My claws scraped against the cold stone as I struggled to steady myself.

The horned rabbit was nearby, her blue eyes meeting mine. She looked shaken, her fur matted, but there was a quiet strength in her gaze.

We had both faced something that could have broken us. But we had emerged whole.

I wonder what the horned rabbit saw in the trial. Well, none of my business.

The voice returned, softer this time.

"You have faced your truths and emerged whole. The path opens."

A doorway appeared at the far end of the chamber, its glyphs pulsing faintly. I staggered to my feet, my claws scraping against the stone.

"Let's keep going," I said, my voice hoarse but resolute.

The horned rabbit nodded, and together, we stepped forward into the unknown.

The air shifted as the horned rabbit and I stepped through the shimmering doorway, leaving behind the darkness of our fears. My chest still burned with the aftershocks of the second trial, but the weight in my mind had lifted. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't feel small or insignificant. I felt capable.

The stone chamber ahead was vast, its walls carved with intricate patterns that pulsed faintly like veins under skin. The glow lit the room in hues of gold and crimson, casting long shadows across the floor. At its center, a massive circular platform floated above an abyss, connected to the ground by a narrow bridge. Glyphs spiraled outward from the platform, their shapes alien and imposing.

A low rumble shook the air as the doorway vanished behind us, sealing us inside.

This is it, I thought. The final trial.

The orb in my chest pulsed steadily, its warmth syncing with my own heartbeat. I glanced at the horned rabbit beside me. Her fur was ruffled, her blue eyes sharp and determined. She met my gaze with a slight tilt of her head, as if to say,

"We've got this."

I nodded, my claws tapping lightly against the stone as we approached the bridge. Each step sent a shiver of anticipation through me, the energy in the air thick and crackling like a storm about to break.

As we stepped onto the platform, the glyphs beneath our feet flared to life. The chamber shook violently, and from the far end of the platform, something began to rise.

It was enormous—a creature unlike anything I had ever faced. Its body was serpentine, composed of jagged obsidian plates that shifted and scraped against one another with every movement. Glowing veins of molten energy coursed through its form, and six massive wings of translucent, crackling energy sprouted from its back. Its head was draconic, with jagged horns that arched back like a crown.

The creature's eyes locked onto us, burning with an intensity that made my fur stand on end. A voice boomed, not spoken aloud but echoing directly in my mind.

"You who seek to ascend," it said, its tone cold and unyielding.

"Prove your worth. Surpass the limits of your existence or be consumed by failure."

The orb in my chest flared brightly, and a system notification flashed before my eyes.

[Trial of Ascendance Initiated: Defeat the Guardian of Wings.]

The platform quaked as the Guardian of Wings loomed above us, its massive obsidian form crackling with molten energy. Its six wings beat with a terrifying rhythm, each flap sending shockwaves that fractured the already unstable ground.

Every strike against it felt like chipping away at a mountain. The serpent's fractured eyes glowed like twin suns, and its molten veins pulsed erratically, spilling fiery energy that hissed and sizzled against the glyphs etched into the platform.

The horned rabbit crouched beside me, her bloodied fur matted but her sharp blue eyes unwavering. Her horn caught the glow of the molten glyphs, gleaming with an almost ethereal light. She had taken a few hits but remained steadfast, her gaze burning with the same determination I felt swelling within me.

We couldn't back down now.

The Guardian roared, a guttural sound that sent tremors rippling through the platform. It lashed out with its tail, the jagged edge carving through the air with devastating speed.

"Move!" I yelled, leaping to the side as the tail smashed into the ground, leaving a crater in its wake. The force of the impact sent shards of stone flying, one grazing my side and leaving a stinging cut.

[HP: 28 → 25.]

The horned rabbit darted forward, her small frame weaving through the chaos. Her horn glowed faintly as she aimed for one of the exposed veins along the Guardian's underbelly. She struck true, her horn piercing the molten vein and sending a spray of fiery energy spilling out.

The Guardian screeched, twisting violently as cracks spread along its jagged plates. It retaliated immediately, its tail sweeping in a wide arc. The horned rabbit leapt high, narrowly avoiding the strike as she landed gracefully on a chunk of floating stone.

I used [Blood Sight], my vision shifting to reveal the glowing veins beneath its obsidian plates. There—a weak point at the base of its right wing.

"Cover me!" I shouted, activating [Bounce].

The horned rabbit darted left, drawing the Guardian's attention with a flurry of feints. I launched myself into the air, aiming for the weak point with everything I had. My [Kick] connected, the force shattering the vein and causing molten energy to spray outward.

[Guardian HP: 85% → 75%.]

The platform trembled violently as the Guardian reared back, its molten veins glowing brighter than ever. The air around it grew heavier, the oppressive heat suffocating.

The creature twisted and contorted, its obsidian plates grinding as they reconfigured into jagged spikes. Streams of molten energy erupted from its veins, spilling onto the platform and creating pools of fiery liquid that spread like lava.

The Guardian lashed out with its serrated wings, the molten tips carving through the air in deadly arcs. I ducked under one strike, the force buffeting me backward.

[HP: 25 → 18.]

The horned rabbit wasn't as fortunate. One of the wings clipped her hind leg, sending her skidding across the platform. She struggled to her feet, her blue eyes narrowing with determination despite the injury.

"Damn it," I muttered, activating [Bounce] to close the distance.

I struck at its exposed underbelly, my claws raking against the molten veins. The attack landed, but the Guardian retaliated immediately, its tail slamming into my side and sending me sprawling across the platform.

[HP: 18 → 10.]

The orb in my chest flared, its heat dulling the edges of the pain but leaving me breathless. The horned rabbit charged forward, her horn slicing through one of the Guardian's veins with precision.

[Guardian HP: 75% → 60%.]

The Guardian roared; its fractured eyes glowing brighter as it released a barrage of molten bolts from its wings. They rained down like falling stars, each one detonating on impact.

I dodged one bolt, the heat searing my fur as another struck dangerously close to my side.

[HP: 10 → 6.]

The horned rabbit wasn't spared either. A bolt grazed her shoulder, leaving a charred mark on her fur as she stumbled backward.

The Guardian seized the moment, its massive tail lashing out with terrifying speed. The jagged edge struck me directly, the force slamming me into the ground.

[HP: 6 → 2.]

The world blurred around me, the pain radiating through every fiber of my body. My limbs felt like lead, my vision dimming as exhaustion threatened to overtake me.

Then it happened.

The orb in my chest flared violently, its heat spreading through my veins like wildfire. My vision sharpened, the pain in my body fading into the background as a system notification appeared before me.

[Unique Skill Activated: Challenger.]

Power surged through me, my movements suddenly fluid and precise. The orb's warmth filled me with a newfound confidence, a certainty that I could overcome anything.

The horned rabbit glanced at me, her blue eyes widening as if sensing the change. Without a word, we moved together, our attacks synchronized.

I lunged at the Guardian's right wing, my claws striking with explosive force. The wing shattered, molten energy spilling out as the Guardian screeched in agony.

[Guardian HP: 60% → 40%.]

The horned rabbit darted toward its exposed underbelly, her horn slicing through one of the glowing veins. The Guardian convulsed, its movements growing erratic as the damage took its toll.

[Guardian HP: 40% → 25%.]

The platform trembled as the Guardian unleashed one final, desperate attack. Streams of molten energy spiraled outward, carving glowing fissures into the stone.

"Now!" I shouted, my voice steady despite the chaos.

The horned rabbit moved first, her horn glowing brightly as she darted toward the creature's core. I followed, the power of [Challenger] pushing me beyond my limits.

Her horn struck true, piercing the Guardian's molten core. The creature convulsed violently, its body writhing as the cracks spread across its obsidian plates.

I leapt high, the orb in my chest flaring as I delivered a devastating [Kick] to its core.

[Guardian HP: 25% → 0%.]

The Guardian let out one final, earth-shaking roar before its body crumbled, its molten core imploding in a burst of fiery energy. The platform steadied, the oppressive heat lifting as the glyphs dimmed into darkness.

[You have defeated the Guardian of Wings. Obtained 1500 EXP.]

[Level Up! Level 9 → Level 13. EXP to next level: 600.]

I dropped to the ground, my chest heaving as exhaustion overtook me. The orb's warmth steadied me, its rhythm syncing with my heartbeat as I turned to the horned rabbit.

"We did it," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded, her bloodied but unyielding gaze meeting mine. At the far end of the platform, a golden doorway shimmered into existence, its light spilling into the darkness.

Together, we moved forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.