Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part One]

CHAPTER 36: The Breath of Wind

"Not surprisingly, your skills are pretty over the top too," Daisuke remarked, acknowledging the impressive abilities of his furry companion. The hidden passive skill has me curious, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. "What do you say we put your skills to the test?"

"Arf~"

Daisuke grinned darkly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he appraised the weapon he received from the raid. "I'm pretty psyched to see what I'm capable of too."

[Crude Bonepick]

[Rank: Normal

Type: Dagger

Melee Attack Power: 16~20 | Durability: 8/46

A crude weapon resembling a dagger, crafted from the bones of an ill-fated goblin. Although not designed for slashing attacks, it excels at piercing strikes and carries a chance of inflicting the «Bleed» Status on the target.

▪︎ Chance of triggering Bleed 15%

Conditions of Use: Lvl 1+ | Strength 1+ | Stamina 1+]

[Bleed Status]

[The target's health will decline by 0.5% per second for 30 seconds. Duration can also be dependent on the level and grade of the weapon or skill used to apply the status effect, as well as the target's level of resistance.]

***

[Horned Rabbit | Lvl 1 | General]

Daisuke's fingers clenched firmly around the hilt of his new weapon as he crouched amidst the dense shrubbery. Through blades of grass, he watched his vigilant prey. The crimson eyes of a Horned Rabbit swept across its surroundings as it grazed in an open field.

Disregarding the blue and yellow hues representing Mana and Stamina, Daisuke's gaze fixed upon the red horizontal line at the top left corner of his field of vision. The thin strip of graphics was his «HP bar»—a visual representation of his life force.

He hadn't rested until it was entirely full, so there was roughly fifteen percent missing. Or, to be more specific, he was eighty-five percent closer to a grim fate.

He had always feared death, but a visual rendering that was constantly reminding him of how close he stood to the precipice was very unnerving.

"Rawrwu."

Zephyr's soft chime stirred him from his thoughts, and in an instant, Daisuke's world transformed, butterscotch eyes blazing with intensity. His eyes locked onto the Horned Rabbit, and in that electrifying moment, his muscles tightened and coiled like springs. He inhaled deeply, each breath filling his veins with a surge of oxygen.

With an explosive burst of power, he propelled himself forward, closing the distance to his prey in the blink of an eye. The Horned Rabbit, sensing impending doom, desperately tried to evade, but it was no match for the relentless predator closing in.

Daisuke's bone icepick traced a deadly arc through the air, carving a long, ivory line into the creature's torso as it attempted to leap to safety.

[Critical]

[98 damage dealt.]

A pained squeak escaped the beast, but Daisuke's determination was unyielding. With impressive dexterity—a reflection of his enhanced Stats—he deftly altered the course of his weapon mid-strike, driving the monster forcefully into the unforgiving ground.

WHAM!

[12 damage dealt.]

The impact resonated through the earth, a testament to Daisuke's newfound strength and skill. And the monster stilled beneath his weapon, its white coat stained crimson with blood.

DING!

[You have slain a «Horned Rabbit»!]

[22.3 Experience Points gained.]

[Horned Rabbit Hide x2 has been acquired.]

[Zephyr gained 7.8 Experience Points.]

[Zephyr's level has risen!]

[Zephyr has learnt the skill «Ember».]

Daisuke's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto yet another Horned Rabbit lurking in the distance. The earth dented as he kicked off the ground, his weapon raised and poised, glinting with an aura of deadly purpose.

Levels one, two, five—Daisuke's relentless hunt unfolded as he pursued the Horned Rabbit, Malevocroak, and Forest Imp. However, instead of a reenactment of his previous encounters where traps were used to incapacitate the monsters, this time he hurled himself into the fray with the ferocity of a true warrior.

PLOW!

Shrill cries, crimson tides, lifeless eyes—Daisuke maneuvered around the monsters in a blur, his weapon slicing through the air, staving through skin and flesh, plunging the fiends into oblivion.

"Arf~"

As Daisuke slowly pulled his weapon from the neck of a Forest Imp, Zephyr leaped from the confines of his clothes. No sooner had he noted the canine's telling expression than he heard the heavy footsteps of a nearby beast.

DUUM! DUUM! DUUM!

Just a few hours ago, his first impulse would have been to flee or find cover. But now, everything was different; now, he was a player. Unlocking his Status Window had emancipated him from a life of guaranteed powerlessness and sorrow.

Now, he hungered for power—enough power to safeguard himself and his loved ones. To achieve that goal, he couldn't afford to shrink from every threat. While others saw peril, Daisuke saw potential.

Concealed within the dense thicket, Daisuke moved stealthily, keeping close to the earth as he inched closer to the source of the footsteps.

There, through the curtain of foliage, he caught sight of a familiar monster trudging through the forest. And his eyes narrowed, gleaning with purpose.

"Looks like we've located the first target of our revenge."

"Rawrwu~"