Sophia woke with her mind hazy. Trees surrounded her, each one eerie, and the sounds around her could scare even a grown man.
She tried to push herself up, but the hands that held her weight were small and soft. Confused, she looked down. Her hands had turned into the paws of a bunny.
"WHAT THE HELL?! What happened to my hands?!" she shouted in frustration and anger.
I was turned into a bunny. If a predator attacks me, I won't stand a chance. She took a breath. Calm down. Think about how to survive first.
"Sigh..."
"Shaped by what your soul wanted most." That stupid Being could have just said "bunny"! She shook her head. Well, they did say this world has magic, so maybe I can use it. And they said I'd get an innate talent. Where do I check it?
"AWAKEN, TALENT! Ughhh, how do I see it...?"
Shouting things she'd picked up from social media got her nowhere. Then she remembered a catchphrase from a certain novel.
"Status?"
A mechanical voice sounded inside her head.
[System Awakened]
Name: Sophia Age: ?? Gender: Female Species: Gentle Bunny Level: 1 (0/100) Talent: (hidden)
(Innate Skills)
Dash (Active): The user dashes toward a target, inflicting physical damage on impact. It can also be used to escape.Hopping (Passive/Active): When active, the user can leap up to 15 meters in a single hop, closing the distance to an enemy or escaping from one. When passive, the user can hop short distances with ease.Bash (Active): The user bashes whatever is in front of them with their head, dealing piercing and physical damage on impact.Nibble (Passive): The user can nibble on anything, organic or inorganic.
(Unique Skills)
Enraged (Active): In an enraged state, the user perceives everyone and everything as enemies. Physical and magical stats increase by 50%.Magic Manipulation (Passive): The user can feel the flow of mana and control it. Mana-based skills used by the user are 15% more efficient.
"That's a lot of skills, and most of them are for fighting," she murmured, pleased. At least I can fight back. Then she noticed something else. Enraged treats everyone as an enemy? That sounds dangerous. I'd better be careful with that one.
"Why is my talent hidden? Is it dangerous?"
[Host, the Talent section is hidden due to your current level. It will unlock once you reach a certain level.]
"Oh, I see. So I need to kill some monsters to level up. Wait... you're alive, System?!"
[Correction: I was modeled to imitate human interaction, so I can answer your questions, but I have no consciousness of my own.]
"Ah, that's why you can answer me."
Now that she had figured out how to use the system, she asked it about the world and how to survive in it.
"So, System, what world have I been reincarnated into?"
[Host, you have been transferred to Serifarius, the World of Magical Beasts.]
"Serifarius. That's a nice name."
With her questions answered, she began to hop in whatever direction felt safest, hoping to avoid predators. Everywhere she looked she saw only withered trees, and it made her uneasy. Still, she kept hopping, hoping to find something weak enough to defeat so she could level up.
"Why is it all dead trees? And why isn't there anyone here?"
[Answer: The host is currently in the Forest of Perpetual Nightmare. The forest is withered and inhabited by dangerous beasts and monsters.]
"The Forest of Perpetual Nightmare? That name gives me the creeps. System, are the monsters here strong? Will I die if I meet one?"
As she asked, the thought of a monster tearing into her body froze her. She steeled her resolve anyway.
[Answer: Yes and no. Many monsters here are strong, and you could die within seconds if you are careless. Weaker monsters are mixed in, and you can defeat some of them.]
She relaxed a little, though not so much that she forgot her surroundings.
[Host, I have detected a group of four lifeforms within 10 meters. Individually, each is within your ability to defeat. Fighting them together is not recommended.]
Four... but if I take them out one at a time, it should be doable. And I need the EXP. "Show me the way, System."
[Affirmative. Routing path.]
Following its directions, she saw what they were: a small pack of wolves, three males and one female.
A pack is hard to beat, but I only need to pick them off one by one.
She hopped toward them slowly and quietly, but she stepped on a branch. The crack alerted the wolves and ruined her stealth approach.
Ah, crap. She readied herself for battle.