Silas wiped the sweat off his brow and focused on the meadow hopper trying to escape him. “Just a couple more of these hoppers, and I can finally evolve.”
The rabbit gave him a sidelong glance before leaping toward a nearby bush.
“Oh, damn.”
Silas grumbled, stomped the ground heavily, and bounced into the bush.
Bam!
A poor guy could be seen struggling to untangle himself from the bush, twigs and leaves caught in his hair. Yet, a small smile lit up his face as he muttered, “Finally.” He was holding a rabbit in each hand by their ears.
“Luckily, I found another one next to it,” Silas muttered.
With light steps, he jogged a dozen meters to a tree, where a bag hung from a branch. Retrieving it, he pulled out a large expandable cage, opened it, and carefully placed the rabbits inside, latching it securely.
Silas then pulled out a map, checking the marked location. “Time to head back,” he murmured.
Navigating through the map, he walked for nearly an hour. Along the way, he passed more than a dozen people around his age. Most looked exhausted. Although the rabbits were low-level monsters, they were quick, making them tricky to catch for mortals like them. It was a time-consuming but manageable task.
Soon, a massive gate came into view. Behind it swirled a pitch-black vortex, an eerie sight that could instill fear in newcomers unfamiliar with its strangeness. Silas quickened his pace. As he reached the gate, he was sucked into the vortex, his vision blurring for a moment.
When his sight cleared, he found himself in a bustling area with massive monitors displaying various data. Silas scanned his surroundings until he spotted Room No. 58. Following the instructions given to him before entering the gate, he headed toward the room.
Inside, he found his designated table. Placing the cage on a circular disc on the table, he watched as the rabbits, which had been struggling to escape moments ago, froze under the effects of an illusion. Unlocking the cage, Silas grabbed a rabbit by its ear. Pressing the large round button on the table a holographic screen popped up.
Scrolling through the menu, he selected “Meadow Hopper.”
A short introduction about the Meadow Hopper appeared:
The Meadow Hopper is a creature that dwells in sunlit meadows and grassy fields. With its vibrant green eyes and a uni-horn adorned with intricate patterns resembling the meadows, it seamlessly blends into its surroundings. Known for its nimble and agile movements, this low-level monster navigates the lush terrain with ease, using its powerful hind legs to execute impressive leaps and sudden bursts of speed.
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Despite its average size, the Meadow Hopper possesses a strong horn used for self-defense. Primarily herbivorous, it sustains itself on tender shoots and foliage found in its natural habitat. While generally docile, it can exhibit territorial behavior, especially during mating season when males engage in a nest-making contest to attract potential mates. Adventurers traversing meadows should handle the Meadow Hopper carefully to avoid danger.
Silas skimmed through the information—he already knew the basics. His eyes sparkled as the screen shifted to a menu showcasing dishes made from Meadow Hoppers.
- Crispy Hopper Skewers: Roast seasoned Meadow Hoppers on skewers until crispy and serve with zesty dipping sauce.
- Meadow Hopper Salad: Toss sautéed Meadow Hopper meat with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and vinaigrette, garnished with toasted seeds.
- Meadow Hopper Pilaf: Pan-fry Meadow Hoppers until golden brown and mix into fragrant rice pilaf.
- Herb-Infused Meadow Hopper Broth: Simmer Meadow Hopper meat with herbs and vegetables for a comforting soup.
- Meadow Hopper Parfait: Create a dessert parfait with yogurt, granola, honey, and candied Meadow Hoppers.
Silas took a deep breath. A century ago, people with a passion for hunting might have found this scene unbelievable due to strict wildlife conservation laws. However, everything changed when the mysterious gates appeared.
Instead of monster outbreaks or apocalyptic disasters, the first gates brought massive earthquakes, wiping out 80% of the world’s population. Coastal areas were destroyed by tsunamis, and metropolitan regions suffered near-total annihilation. Amid the devastation, the gates offered an unexpected boon: treasures not of worldly wealth but of evolutionary value.
Initially, people feared the gates. But desperation caused by dwindling resources drove them forward, marking the birth of the hunter era. Those who survived the catastrophic events saw a population resurgence, akin to a forest recovering from wildfire. New resources and technologies, far ahead of humanity’s timeline, emerged from the gates.
The gates were categorized by difficulty, with novices restricted to wooden gates. These transported them to grasslands inhabited by creatures several times larger than their earthly counterparts. Research revealed that consuming the flesh of these creatures enhanced human genes, leading to evolution.
Once a person evolved, they could no longer access wooden gates and had to progress to iron gates. Thus, a power system was established:
- Wooden Gate – Novice
- Iron Gate – Apprentice
- Bronze Gate – Voyager
- Silver Gate – Luminary
(Back to the present…)
Silas took out the Meadow Hoppers and, following the tutorial, skillfully slit their throats, draining their blood. Cooking was a basic skill in this era—raw meat was a last resort.
Using the provided utensils, Silas roasted the hoppers on skewers. After a dozen minutes, he closed his eyes, savoring the first bite. The flavor was rich and meaty, far exceeding expectations.
As he swallowed, a warm sensation spread through his body. He felt his muscles ache slightly as they strengthened. Sitting cross-legged, he meditated through the changes. His height increased slightly, and his muscles became more defined.
Opening his eyes, Silas exited the room while marveling at his transformation. Around him, others looked disappointed. Only 15% of the people can successfully evolve. Those who did were had to choose different careers.
Silas emerged from the facility with a badge on his chest and a bag of supplies in hand. As others around him murmured softly envying his success, he walked away with pride—this was his first step toward a life of adventure.