NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: Chapter 4 - Small Oasis
Boing.
Two days. It's been two full days since I touched that glowing orb deep within this ancient forest. And if I'm being honest, I'm still not sure if it was the best decision of my life… or the worst.
Sure, I'm stronger now—faster, sharper, deadlier. But that power came with side effects. My head feels heavier, my thoughts sharper, and my senses… heightened. Every snap of a twig sounds like a thunderclap, every shadow seems to stretch further than it should, and every breeze carries whispers that I can't quite hear. It's like the orb opened a door in my mind, one I can't close.
Worse, there are the visions. Flashes of things I shouldn't be able to see things like glowing runes flickering like dying embers, strange creatures prowling the forest long before I got here, and a shadowy figure watching me from just out of sight. It's like I'm connected to the forest now—tied to its past and its secrets in ways I don't understand, and perhaps I will never be able to.
And then there's [Danger Sense]. Before the orb, it was just a vague tingling, a feeling that something was off. But now? It's more than a warning. It's like an extra layer of awareness, a radar that hums constantly in the back of my mind. When danger gets close, it flares to life, sharp and insistent, pushing me to move before my brain can catch up. Ignoring it makes my fight or flight response go haywire so it's really not advisable for me to do it. Well, it's an essential part of my survival skills so I guess it's fine.
The orb didn't just make me stronger—it changed me.
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Still, life as a rabbit isn't all existential crises and creepy visions. Most of my time is spent grinding for EXP, and let me tell you, caterpillars make the perfect punching bags.
[Level Progress: 6/20 EXP to Level 7.]
The system finally gave me a progress bar, which is great because now I know exactly how many of these little squish-bags I need to crush. Twenty EXP to level up, and each caterpillar is worth 1 EXP.
Squelch.
Another one down.
[Obtained 1 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 7/20 EXP.]
"Yes! Fear me, worms! Bow down before me! You do not have the right to look at my fluffy visage!" I shouted, puffing out my chest.
The caterpillars have been getting smarter over the past two days. They've started traveling in groups, clustering together near feeding grounds. It's like they think numbers will save them.
Spoiler: They won't.
Squelch.
[Obtained 1 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 8/20 EXP.]
Recently, I've noticed that they started to fight back. Those low lives deserved to be exterminated for their heresy!
"Bow before me, rebels! Your uprising is futile!"
I hopped toward the next caterpillar, activating [Bounce] to launch myself high into the air before slamming down with all my might.
Thud.
The caterpillar narrowly dodged me sideways. After landing on the ground, the caterpillar bit me on my sides.
FUCK
After I was bitten by that caterpillar, I tried kicking it with all my might like I was a spartan warrior and to my surprise, learned a new skill.
[Obtained [Skill] Kick Level 1]
[Obtained 1 EXP.]
[Level Progress: 9/20 EXP.]
"Hah! Another one bites the dust!" I cheered, doing a little victory spin. "At this rate, I'll hit Level 7 in no time."
A new skill is a nice addition to my repertoire, I wonder how it differs from the normal kicks that I do. Maybe if I kick normally, I consume mana too? Maybe?
Now that the caterpillars have been fighting back, I have a newfound motivation to kill more caterpillars! It is time to conduct a caterpillar genocide!
"Fear me, worms! Don't show your faces around these parts or else I'll kill you and all your ancestors combined!"
It is now time to quell the rebellion from my great empire! Death to the rebels!
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As satisfying as it is to crush caterpillars, the effects of the orb are never far from my mind. My senses are sharper than ever, which is great for spotting enemies but terrible for my nerves. Every rustle of leaves, every shift of shadow sets me on the edge.
[Danger Sense] hums constantly now, like an itch I can't scratch. It's always there, even when there's no immediate threat. Sometimes it spikes for no reason at all, leaving me wide-eyed and jittery as I scan the forest for enemies that aren't there.
Then there are the headaches. They come and go, but when they hit, it feels like my skull is going to split open.
The visions are the worst, though. They come without warning: flashes of glowing runes, strange creatures I've never seen before, and always, always that shadowy figure. It never speaks, never moves, just watches, like it's just an observer, someone that knows the past and the future.
I don't know what the orb did to me, but it's like I'm carrying a piece of this forest inside me now. And I don't know if that's a good thing or a curse.
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After a long day of grinding, I hopped back to my puddle—a small, crystal-clear oasis I've claimed as my own. It's fed by a nearby river, and though it's technically just a glorified splash zone, I like to think of it as my private swimming pool.
You can say that the puddle is my own private swimming pool. I claim ownership of this property, but I will permit the squirrels to drink because they gave me some nuts.
They didn't bribe me okay! They are just my friendly neighbors living on top of the trees. Speaking of my neighbors. The squirrels were already there when I arrived. Hello neighbors, nice to see you today! I gave them a nod.
My neighbors. A family of four—Papa Squirrel, Mama Squirrel, and their two little ones. Papa Squirrel greeted me with a shiny nut, which I accepted with a nod.
"Thanks, buddy. You're alright for a tree rat," I muttered, tucking the nut under my paw.
I washed off the day's grime in the puddle, letting the cool water soothe my aching paws. Life wasn't perfect, but I was making progress.
[Level Progress: 17/20 EXP.]
Just three more, and I'd hit Level 7. Tomorrow, I told myself. Tomorrow, I'll finish this grind.
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When the dawn came, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to hunt, planning to cause terror for the rebels in my kingdom! But as soon as I stepped out of my burrow, [Danger Sense] flared sharply in my mind.
Something was wrong.
I froze, my ears twitching as I scanned the forest. That's when I heard it—a faint rustling sound, followed by the wet squelch of something being devoured.
I crept toward the noise, my heart pounding. As I got closer, the buzzing of [Danger Sense] grew louder, more insistent.
And then I saw it.
A ferret.
It was sleek, dark-furred, and reeked of smugness. Worse, it was feasting on MY caterpillars—four of them, gone in an instant.
"Hey! Get away from them, you thieving weasel!" I shouted, thumping my foot in anger. That's my EXP—I mean citizens!
The ferret glanced at me, its green eyes gleaming with amusement. Then it went right back to eating.
"Oh, you wanna play it like that, huh?"
I activated [Bounce], launching myself toward the ferret with all the force I could muster, gaining momentum with each hop that I took.
Thud!
My feet slammed into its belly, and with all the momentum gained from using [Bounce] it got knocked over, forcing it to spit out its half-chewed meal.
"Hah! Take that, you peasant!" I shouted, puffing out my chest.
The ferret hissed, its body coiling like a spring. Its eyes locked onto mine, and [Danger Sense] screamed in my head.
The ferret lunged.
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The ferret was fast—faster than anything I'd fought before. Its claws slashed through the air, and I barely dodged in time.
I countered with a [Kick], landing a solid blow to its snout.
[Ferret]
[HP: 21/25.]
The ferret stumbled but recovered quickly. It lunged again, its teeth flashing, and I felt [Danger Sense] guide me to sidestep just before its jaws snapped shut. \
This guy is really cunning!
I activated [Bounce] to gain some distance, but the ferret was relentless. It zigzagged through the undergrowth, closing the gap with terrifying agility.
The ferret, seeing that I was gaining more distance focused on rushing towards me then suddenly he turned swiftly and to my surprise, he is now just beside me.
"Damn it!" I growled, panting as I dodged another swipe.
The ferret struck again, sinking its teeth into my back.
[No Name]
[HP: 13/17.]
I suddenly felt something wet trickle down my back, my body growing hotter as each moment passed by.
FUCK!
I yelped, kicking it off with all my strength.
[Ferret]
[HP: 18/25.]
The ferret crashed into a tree and was slightly stunned by the sudden kick.
The fight was brutal. Every time I dodged, [Danger Sense] buzzed sharply, warning me of the ferret's next move. But I was running out of stamina—and HP.