CHAPTER 5: The First Kill

The beast crouched, muscles tensing, ready to pounce again.

I scanned my surroundings desperately. Then—I saw it.

A fallen tree branch.

It was lying right where the rabbit had crashed into the tree after missing its first attack.

"If I can just time this right…"

The Wild Fang Rabbit launched itself at me again—but this time, I was ready.

At the last second, I sidestepped, feeling the rush of air as its massive body soared past me. It landed with a thud, momentarily stunned.

"Now!"

I sprinted toward the fallen branch, fingers closing around its rough surface. Got it!

Then—

That same tingling sensation shot through me.

[Insight] has been activated.

"It’s coming!"

Without turning around, I swung the branch with all my strength.

WHACK!

A sickening crack echoed through the forest.

The rabbit collapsed.

I stood there, panting.

"Is it… dead?"

Ding!

The status window flashed before me.

"You have killed a Wild Fang Rabbit! +100 EXP gained!
You have reached Level 5!"

But that wasn’t all.

"Intuition has evolved into Insight."

"Now viewing stats."

Name: Shiro Kurosawa
Race: Human
Age: 16
Level: 5
HP: 150
MP: 100
Strength: 25
Agility: 26
Intelligence: 43

Skill: [Insight] (Lv.1)
A step above Intuition. Instead of vague feelings, Shiro gains sharper instincts, allowing him to recognize patterns in combat, sense people's emotions, and react faster.

Passive: (Insight)

I stared at the new skill description, my hands still trembling from the fight.

"I actually did it… I won."

But as I looked at the lifeless body of the creature, a heavy thought settled in my chest.

"This world… it’s not a game."