I stood there, chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. The air around me was thick with tension—and blood. My fingers were still glowing faintly from the last use of [Flame Claws], but I knew the fight wasn't over. Not yet.
Then I heard it again.
The whooshing.
That sharp, cutting sound of something slicing through the air at terrifying speed—times three.
They were coming back.
But this time, I didn't immediately dodge. Instead, I took a risk. I deactivated [Flame Claws – Level 1] and called upon something stronger. [Flame Coat – Level 6] surged to life, and in an instant, fire exploded around my upper body. My arms, shoulders, and chest were engulfed in roaring flames that radiated intense heat.
Just in time.
The first bird came at me from the left. I twisted, dodging it cleanly as it shot past with a screech. But the other two were too fast—one from the front and one from behind. I couldn't avoid them both.
Their beaks slammed into me.
White-hot pain shot through my body as their razor-like tips pierced several inches deep into my torso. I gritted my teeth to keep from screaming. Blood poured out instantly—but so did fire.
Their mistake.
The moment they made contact, my Flame Coat ignited them. Their feathers blackened and curled as fire consumed them, their screeches drowned out by the roar of the flames.
[You have killed a Dart Sparrow x2]
The system message popped up, but I barely registered it. My legs were shaking. Every breath hurt. Their beaks had done real damage—even if they died, I wasn't walking away from this unscathed.
Still, I forced myself to stay standing.
Now, there was only one left.
I turned my head slowly, scanning the treetops. The final Dart Sparrow was circling above, cautious now. It had seen what happened to the others. It wasn't diving recklessly this time. No—this one was planning its strike.
And I had to be ready.
Blood dripped from my wounds, mixing with the smouldering heat of my flames. My arms trembled, but I raised them anyway, fire still dancing across my skin.
"Come on," I muttered under my breath, eyes locking onto the final bird.
"Let's finish this."
The last Dart Sparrow circled above, silent and watchful. Unlike the others, it didn't dive recklessly. It had seen what happened to its flock—how each one fell, burned alive by the flames that now flickered weakly across my body. I was bleeding, my body battered and bruised, but I was still standing. Barely.
Flames continued to ripple across my arms and chest from [Flame Coat – Level 6], though the skill was beginning to fade. My breathing was heavy, uneven. The holes in my torso from the last attack still throbbed with pain, and every second that passed drained more of my strength.
But I wasn't done. Not yet.
The Sparrow made its move.
With a sharp cry, it tucked its wings and dove like a spear—faster than any of the others. The air hissed as it cut through it, beak aimed straight for my heart. I stood my ground, eyes locked onto it, waiting until the very last moment.
Then, I moved.
I lunged forward, raising one arm coated in fire and slamming it directly into the bird's chest mid-flight. The impact was like hitting a rock. Sparks exploded, fire flared violently, and the bird let out a twisted, screeching cry.
The flames consumed it almost instantly.
Its charred body crashed to the forest floor behind me, trailing smoke as it hit the dirt with a dull thud.
[You have killed a Dart Sparrow]
The system message echoed in my mind, but I barely noticed it. My knees trembled beneath me, and I dropped to one knee, panting. The world swam in and out of focus for a moment. Blood was still leaking from the puncture wounds in my chest and side, staining the forest floor beneath me.
But it was over.
The silence returned, but this time it wasn't eerie or unsettling. It was peaceful. Earned.
Around me lay the scorched, blackened corpses of five Dart Sparrows. Creatures that had turned a silent forest into a death trap. I forced myself to stand again, pain flaring with every movement, and took a long, shaky breath.
If creatures like this existed here—fast, deadly, intelligent—then I had a feeling this forest held more than just prey.
It held danger and opportunity, but most importantly, it was fun; it was so much fun risking my life in a fight.
Using what little strength I had left, I dragged myself across the forest floor toward one of the burnt bird corpses. My arms trembled, blood dripping steadily from my wounds. Every inch forward sent waves of pain through my chest, but I didn't stop.
I needed to heal.
And I knew exactly how.
Devour.
I collapsed beside the Dart Sparrow's charred body. Its feathers were still smoking slightly, the stench of burnt meat rising into the air. I didn't care. I wasn't in the mood to be picky. Without hesitation, I leaned forward and bit into it.
I didn't bother plucking feathers or finding the best spot to start. With a mouth full of ash and meat, I tore into the bird with complete disregard for elegance. First, I bit off its head. Crunch. Bone shattered between my teeth. Then I devoured the rest of the body—four more savage bites, and it was gone.
Just like that.
As soon as I swallowed the last piece, I felt it.
A warmth spread through my chest, cutting through the pain like a wave of relief. My wounds—deep, raw, and still bleeding—began to knit together. Muscle pulled tight, skin reformed, and the bleeding slowed to a stop. I took a shaky breath and looked down at my torso. The damage wasn't gone completely, but it was fading fast.
And then it came.
[You have devoured a Dart Sparrow. AGI +3]
That familiar pulse of energy rushed through me, and I couldn't help but smile. The Dart Sparrows didn't give as many raw stat points as the Flame Hounds, sure—but the gains were focused.
Agility.
Exactly what I needed to fight things that struck fast and without warning.
I turned my head slowly, eyes scanning the other corpses. Four more.
If I ate them all…
I could become faster. Sharper. Deadlier.
Despite the pain still lingering in my body, I forced myself to crawl to the next bird, my hunger only growing. I wasn't just surviving anymore.
I was growing stronger.
One bite at a time.