Rebirth of Calamity

Chapter 3: Rabbit Hunting (2)

Sai and the horned rabbit locked eye to eye. The horned rabbit's fur stood and its bloodshot eyes stared at him.

Right now, Sai was also observing the Horned Rabbit. It had the same fur pattern as the one he had in his hands. It didn't take one to be a genius to figure out that this creature is the parent, and he had just killed its offspring. The problem was, not only was it bigger than the ones he had caught earlier but its horn was also longer and sharper.

It was like a Mexican stand-off as both were standing still, waiting for the other to make the first move.

Thankfully, this horned rabbit was the one who had escaped from the trap. That means it's currently injured and can't be as quick and agile.

But still…

"Tsk."

Sai clicked his tongue. While the horned rabbit was injured, it wasn't like his chances were any good either. His incredibly weak body is already a handicap but now his stamina was also drained from all the trapmaking and hunting he had done earlier. The only thing he had is the Cheap Spear, which isn't a good weapon in the first place.

'Should I make a run for it?'

He thought that but quickly dismissed the idea. While the rabbit was injured, his running speed wasn't good and his stamina was poor. In short, can't escape.

"hah."

A chuckle escaped from his mouth.

Was he, the walking calamity, actually being threatened by a horned rabbit? He was someone who killed demons like insects for Christ's sake. Who would believe that his life would be in actual danger from an encounter with the lowest level creature? It was pitiful no matter how he looked at it.

That was the case, yet

He was excited.

He was still furious from what happened during his past life. Although he had accepted his current situation, he hasn't fully released the frustration in his heart. Right now, this Horned Rabbit seemed like the most suitable punching bag.

"Bring it on."

Sai dropped what he had in his hands and grabbed his spear. He turned around to meet the horned head-on.

He focused his entire being on watching the horned rabbit, anticipating its next move. But the moment the boy did this, the horned rabbit lunged its hind legs then its whole body became a blur.

Shwif

"!"

Sai's eyes shot open.

The next instant, a horn was already inches away from penetrating his chest. The rabbit seemed determined to kill the boy in one go.

But, what it didn't know was this boy was actually waiting for this moment.

This body is weak. Much, much weaker than his body once was when he first came to this world. This body doesn't have any muscularity. Its height not taller than 5'5. Its strength is the same as a dying old man. The reflexes are dull. But this body held potential.

A mild jolt of electricity coursed throughout his nerves.

Ping!

[You have now learned the Skill -Leap-!]

[Leap: A sudden burst of energy gives your legs the power to jump with force.]

The moment this popped up in his vision, Sai moved his body as fast as he could. He jumped to his left and managed to dodge the sharp horn just by the nick of his skin.

Shwif

His Unique Ability [Photographic Reflex] activated just at the right moment. With it, he can copy any skill or ability he focuses his eyes to.

The angry rabbit scuffled on the ground after missing its target. It aimed its horn to the boy once more and then disappeared.

It didn't plan on giving the boy some room to breathe.

Sai knew this would happen so he also used [Leap] the moment the Horned Rabbit became a blur.

Shwif Shwif

What happened was the same as before. The Horned rabbit had attacked and missed its target at the last minute. Unfortunately for the creature, this exchange repeated a few more times.

"Frrrruuuuah!"

The horned rabbit was visibly furious after the boy had dodged its attacks not only once or twice, but 4 times!

However, the rabbit isn't the only one who was frustrated.

"huff huff…"

Sai saw the pattern in the Horned Rabbit's attacks. It would scuffle around first, aim, then disappear. By knowing this, dodging was easier for him.

With that said, he was already exhausted. If this continued, he would surely be the one who'd be dead. Right now, what Sai needed to do was to attack.

With a low huff, the horned rabbit lunged, aimed its horn, and became a blur. Sai, who expected this would happen, also leaped.

Sai inhaled after landing.

"!!"

However, his breather was cut short after seeing what the horned rabbit did next.

After its paws landed on the ground, it disappeared once more.

'Double Leap!!'

Sai didn't believe the Horned Rabbit can activate leap twice in a row. He knew that since the creature was injured, it can't perform as it would originally. It seemed that the horned rabbit's frustration had reached its peak and didn't care anymore about the repercussions on its body.

Sai also tried to activate leap, but his legs didn't listen to him. Unlike the rabbit, his body wasn't built for consecutive leaps.

'f**k!'

With the pressure from the horn coming at him at full speed, Sai grit his teeth. He had no other choice.

Skrrrrch!

Sai's foot dragged on the soil. With his life being actually threatened, he gritted his teeth and decided to face the fearsome rabbit head on.

Sai's hand gripped the cheap spear and did an offensive stance. He aimed the blade spear at the rapidly approaching Horned Rabbit.

"COME!"

He needed to kill this rabbit in one hit.

Exhale. He roused all his remaining mana like it was a blazing fire and directed it all towards the blade of his spear.

For some reason, memories from his past flowed into his brain.

'…a menial task'

And the image of the demon that killed him surfaced on his mind.

"URAAAAAH!"

Sai's eyes glowed red from anger.

FUOM!

Then his spear bursted into flames.

Ping!

[You have now learned the Skill -Weapon Enhance: Ignite-!]

[Weapon Enhance: Ignite: Infuse mana to your weapon to imbue low Fire Damage]

Sai thrusted the burning spear using all his remaining power and stamina.

The moment his spear and the rabbit's horn met -

Clang!

The two sharp weapons clashed with a metallic sound. Sai, being weak, was pushed slightly by the angry Horned Rabbit's attack.

However, that wasn't the end.

Sai, or rather, Surdeis, didn't forget his mastery with the spear. With his experience, he skillfully parried the horn and slid the speartip towards the Rabbit's ears.

SkrrrBurn marks were imprinted on the rabbit's fur as the flaming spear accelerated towards the creature's ear. It wanted to move its head so it can dodge, but its forward momentum didn't give it a chance to do so. Rather this even helped the boy with his attack.

"URYAAA!"

Puchik… FUOOOM!

The speartip entered the Horned Rabbit's ear and a flame erupted inside its brain afterwards.

Ping!

[You Have Killed Lvl. 3 Horned Rabbit]

[You Have Earned 28 EXP Points]

Just as a notification popped up, the boy and the rabbit's body collided. Sai, who no longer had any stamina left, dropped to the ground with the dead horned rabbit on top of him.

"*pant pant* All that work for f*****g horned rabbit!"

Ping!

Sai felt the familiar refreshing warm sensation surround his core. The warmth coursed throughout his body. His bones hardened, his muscles contracted, and his eyes shone with a mild blue light.   

[You Have Leveled Up!]

[You Are Now Lvl. 2]

[Do You Want to Check Your Status Now?]

….

Rustle rustle

Sol was sitting at the porch of his home when he noticed something moving from the tall grass. Curious, he leaned in closer to have a better view on what would pop out.

It wasn't long until his brows scrunched after seeing a crown of white hair and stick thin body emerge

'Is that Sai?'

Sol shot out from his seat and ran towards the boy the moment he realized that he and his son where the only people in this village who had white hair.

The closer Sol got to Sai, the more he noticed the boy's condition. His son was swaying side to side, looking visibly exhausted, and was even covered in dirt and bruises.

'What in the world…'

As Sol was thinking this, he noticed that Sai was holding a rope on one of his hands. Sol's eyes followed where it led to and was struck speechless after seeing a large, dead Horned Rabbit. What was even more shocking was that this Horned Rabbit was precisely pierced on its ears.

Unable to comprehend what he was seeing, Sol's mouth froze open.

"*pant* can you help me carry these?"

"-ah."

Just as when he was about to ask what happened, Sol just closed his mouth and took the dead horned rabbit from the boy's hand.

"…thank you…"

After saying that, the boy pupils rolled upwards and his body leaned forward. It seemed Sai had collapsed from fatigue.

Sol arms reached out and caught the boy that was falling to the ground.

…

"Hello hone~y! Is my sweet little Sai back home-"

Julie froze the moment she entered their small home. She saw the boy who was at death's door, one dead burnt rabbit, and her husband, Sol, who looked like he had just finished sleeping.

"SOOL!"

"Julie It's no-"

Julie took heavy steps towards Sol. Veins popped out of her head that did not match her smile.

As the Spartan mother was about to imprint another bulge on Sol's Head, Sai spoke up.

"I *pant* hunted them. Sol - dad, didn't know anything *pant* "

Julie gave Sol an 'Im not done with you' glare before she sat in front of the boy.

"What's gotten into you?"

"I... I'm too weak. I wish to be stronger"

Julie curved her brows. What is this boy talking about? He had just woken up after 4 years of sleeping but the things he does and says afterwards are uncomprehendable.

Julie closed her eyes. She seemed to be in deep thought, nodding to herself after a few minutes later.

"Sigh okay. I understand."(Julie)

"Honey?" (Sol)

"Hm?"(Sai)

Confusion filled the father and son. Even Sai himself was surprised at his mother's reply. He thought she would stop him or at least ask questions about what happened, but Julie's reply was truly unexpected.

The tables have turned. Now Sai was the one frozen and unable to give a reply.

"You did well. The rumors were right huh. Despite her looks I heard Rei's pretty good with magic"

Julie nodded to herself as if she finally understood what happened. Now Sai got even more confused. Why did she mention Rei? She can use magic?

Noticing the look her son gave her she asked:

"Wasn't Rei with you? Then who casted the fire spell on this poor rabbit?"

Julie looked at Sol. Sol just shrugged and gave a 'I dont even know what you guys are talking about' look on his face. Somehow Julie wanted to hit Sol even more.

"I did. I was alone."

"Haah?!" (Sol and Julie)

...

After Sai had rested, he took the Horned Rabbit. With the recent trouble this creature had caused him, he planned to utilize every bit of it as revenge.

Sai took another kitchen knife that was lying around in the kitchen. Rather than slicing the horn off like he did earlier, he decided to dismember the Horned Rabbit first.

Using the knife, Sai skinned the rabbit. He then proceeded to slice the meat and bones like a professional chef.

Ping!

A smile was seen on Sai's face as some notifications popped up in his vision.

[You now have learned the Ability -Dismantling-]

[You now have learned the Ability -Knife Novice-]

Sai's smile grew even thicker when he found a treasure.

While fileting the meat, he had found a small crystal the size of a pea.

It was a [Mana Stone].

[Mana Stones] are a monster's condensed mana essence. They're considered as treasures by Antalunans because of their variety of uses.

For example, Adventurers use them to enhance their equipment. Craftsmen and Blacksmith use them as a material for creating new equipment. Apothecarists can liquify them to create potions. Expert alchemists can even remove the impurities and convert them into raw Exp Points.

Because of these reasons, plus the fact that killing a monster does not guarantee in finding one, Mana Stones are sought after and are bought at a generous price. In some areas Mana Stones are even considered the currency.

Sai took the Mana Stone and hid it along with the pelt and the other parts of the rabbit. He also took the bones in their roof to dry. As for the meat, he gave them to the wide-eyed Sol so he can cook it for dinner.

That wasn't the end of Sai's tasks. Now that he's in a safe environment, it was now the time to remove the horn from the rabbit and create his arsenal.