The fish were too fast.
Too brutal.
Even the smallest shimmered with magic under the moonlight, their fins slicing through water like blades. CID crouched beside the riverbank, breath shallow, body aching from his fall, and mind spiraling.
He had no weapon.
But he had intent.
He scanned the ravine floor. Moss-covered stones. Broken branches. Bone—a snapped rib from something big, half-buried in the soil.
CID whispered to himself:
"I don't need steel. It just need to be sharp."
CID clawed at the clay until his fingers met hard marrow. The edge nicked him instantly. Brittle, sharp—perfect. He whispered to himself, "You'll be my fang."
Next came the handle. CID scoured the cliff wall, palms scraped against thorn and gravel until he found a stubborn piece of wood—dry, twisted, and surprisingly dense. He tested the weight and gripped it in both hands. It felt rough, alive. He smiled through bleeding lips.
But binding these would take more than desperation. He searched the roots of the river trees, tugging strands loose one by one. They were slick, tough, and refused to snap. He twisted them into cords, biting them tight between his teeth as he worked, fingers raw from friction.
Then the hard part: fusing bone to wood.
He dug a pit with bruised palms, scooping out wet soil until he hit dry stone. Filling the hollow with gathered moss, he knelt above it and struck two flints together, sparks flying into the night. The flame flickered and coughed—but CID didn't flinch. He fed it slowly. Bark. Dry leaf. Patience.
The bone was pressed to the branch, the vines wrapped tight. As heat seeped into the binding, smoke curled upward, acrid and stinging his eyes. CID held it firm, letting the fire do its work, letting the pain numb everything else.
When it was done, he had a crude spear—ugly, uneven, scorched at the seams.
But it needed a final edge.
He sat beside the river, sharpening the bone tip against flat stone until the weapon could split a reed with ease. He tested it again. And again. And again. Until sweat soaked his brow and his breath came in broken whispers.
CID looked at what he'd built.
Not a weapon of glory. Not a hero's blade.
But proof—proof that survival could be earned.
He rose slowly, spear in hand, and whispered, "Now... let's see who bleeds first."
The sky was pitch black now, stars hidden behind a charcoal blanket. Every muscle in his body begged him to rest. But hunger wouldn't let him. He did not even paid attention to his status window change. He was focused and determined to kill.
He crouched low at the river's edge, eyes narrowed.
The fish glided beneath the surface—silver-scaled and glowing faintly blue, like underwater lightning. Faster than anything he'd ever seen. Level 10. Dangerous.
"I get careless… I die."
So CID thought. No rushing. No lunging. Just… watching and observing...
The fish swam in tight patterns—three circles, then a dart into deeper current It surfaced every few minutes near the same rock, where insects gathered in moonlight Its speed dropped during turns, especially when pivoting against the current It avoided firelight—but was drawn to motion near the surface
CID grinned faintly.
"You have a rhythm. I just need to break it."
CID tore a piece of cloth from his sleeve and pressed it against a cut on his palm, soaking it with blood. He tied the bloodied fabric to a bent reed near the water, letting it sway just above the surface like wounded bait.
Next, he placed sharp stones and twisted roots at the curve of the river—creating a tight trap where the fish would have no space to escape if it came close. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best he could make.
His handmade bone spear rested in his grip—rough, uneven, but his own. It might break. It might miss.
But tonight, it had one job: to survive.
The bait danced.
The river stilled.
Out of the shadows, a flash of blue shot upward—the Riverfang, hungry and fast, lunging straight for the glimmering bait.
🌊 Status Window: [Riverfang]
🐟 Level: 10 🧬 Species: Magic-Infused Predator ⚡ Affinity: Water / Lightning 🧠 Intelligence: Low 🛡️ Traits: Fast, Slippery, Aggressive 🎯 Skills: ⚡ Flash Dart – sudden high-speed burst 🌫️ Mist Cloak – brief invisibility in water 🔊 Ripple Pulse – echoes movement to confuse prey.
Straight into the kill zone.
And that's when CID moved.
Not with elegance.
With violence.
He sprang from hiding, muscles screaming, plunging the spear downward with every ounce of fury and precision. The bone tip tore into scale and meat just behind the gills. The Riverfang thrashed wildly—its magic pulsing through the water, striking CID's leg with a jolt like ice and flame.
He didn't flinch.
He drove the spear deeper, slamming the fish against the river rock again. And again. Until it lay still. Blood mingled with river mist. CID collapsed beside the carcass, half-submerged, panting, trembling—but victorious.
Then came the soft chime.
✨ CID – Character Interface Display
🧍 Name: CID 💠 Level: 2 ⚡ EXP: 100 / 100 ➜ Level Up! 🧩 Skill Slot: Unlocked 🔥 Condition: Soaked, bleeding, tired.
He didn't smile. He didn't celebrate.
He just stared at the spear in his hand.
Cracked. Bent. Bloodied.
And whispered:
"I am no longer prey."
He finally looked at the status window. He was now at level 2 . His skill slot unlocked .
🎁 Loot Received:
🍖 Riverfang Flesh (Edible) — rich in mana and nutrients
💧 River Essence Fragment — contains trace magical energy
❤️ Full Recovery Bonus — HP and stamina fully restored
🎲 Experience Surge — bonus EXP applied for clever tactics.
CID used his full recovery bonus....
CID's body relaxed. The pain in his legs vanished. The cuts on his arms sealed up with a tingling warmth. He flexed his fingers slowly, almost in disbelief.
Then another window appeared—clean, cold, glowing violet.
✨ Skill Proficiency Update
🛠️ Weapon Crafting → Level 1
CID's practice, precision, and innovation have elevated his understanding of basic weapon creation.
New crafts unlocked: Reinforced Spear, Barbed Blade (Tier 0)
🎯 Hunting → Level 1
Efficient observation, bait setting, and tactical ambush recognized.
Bonuses: Increased detection radius for prey, slight boost to critical strike chance
ANOTHER CHIME.....
💠 CID – Character Interface Display
🧍 Name: CID 💠 Level: 2 🏷️ Class: None ⚡ EXP: 10 / 200 🛠️ Crafting: Level 1 🎯 Hunting: Level 1 🧩 Skill Points: 2 Available 🧬 Species: Human 🧠 Affinity: Unknown 🎖️ Titles: None 🕳️ Passive Skills: None
CID exhaled slowly, then grinned for the first time since he arrived.
He wasn't strong yet. But now—he had choices.
⚙️ Attribute Guide:
💪 Strength – Increases physical power and melee damage
🛡️ Vitality – Boosts health and resistance to injury 🏃♂️ Agility – Improves speed, reflexes, and evasion 🧠 Intelligence – Raises magical understanding and skill efficiency
👁️ Perception – Enhances awareness of enemies and traps
🔮 Mana – Expands magical energy pool and spell usages
Now that CID has made his choice:
🌀 CID allocated 2 Skill Points to Agility
💠 CID – Character Interface Display
🧍 Name: CID 💠 Level: 2 ⚡ EXP: 10 / 200 🏷️ Class: None 🧬 Species: Human 🧠 Affinity: Unknown 🏃♂️ Agility: +2 (Enhanced speed and reflexes) 🔩 Skill Points Remaining: 0 🛠️ Crafting: Level 1 🎯 Hunting: Level 1 🧩 Skill Slot: Unlocked 🎖️ Title: None 🕳️ Passive Skills: None
With improved agility, CID now moves quicker, thinks faster in battle, and can dodge with sharper timing. That next fight won't be equal—it'll be tactical.
As sunrise casts warm light across the ravine, CID finishes cooking the Riverfang meat over his handmade fire. Exhausted but alive, he eats—tough flesh filled with residual magic. Strength seeps into him with every bite. He stands, grip firm on his battered spear, and stares into the horizon.
"I survived the night. I won't stay weak. I'll become strong."
The world doesn't answer.
But it feels quieter—like it knows CID just took his first real step.
PREVIEW FOR NEXT CHAPTER...
CID LEVELS UP AND ENCOUNTER BEAST OF THE RIVER CAN HE SURVIVE ?