Chapter 5: The First KillThe 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 unched itself at me again—but this time, I was ready.

  At the st second, I sidestepped, feeling the rush of air as its massive body soared past me. It nded 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 colpsed.

  I stood there, panting.

  "Is it… dead?"

  Ding!

  The status window fshed 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 KurosawaRace: HumanAge: 16Level: 5HP: 150MP: 100Strength: 25Agility: 26Intelligence: 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."