This was my only chance to level up fast and complete one of the three tasks given by the system with minimal risk.
My eyes scanned the herd of goats stretching across the plains, hundreds of them grazing lazily, their heads dipping and swaying with each bite of grass.
Individually, none of them posed a serious threat.
One goat could barely scratch me, but if the entire herd stampeded, I'd be crushed before I could even think of swinging my sword.
The very thought made my stomach tighten with tension— but I also felt a thrill run through me.
This was what survival demanded: calculation, patience, and a willingness to take risks when the odds favored me, even slightly.
Goats were, without a doubt, the easiest feral beasts I'd faced so far.
They were wild, unpredictable, but weak— perfect targets for experience farming.
My mind raced as I counted: I had killed five feral beasts so far, including the bear from the day before and the four goats I had taken out earlier.
That meant five more remained to complete the system's objective.
The prospect made my pulse quicken.
If I played this right, I could finish the task while staying relatively safe. Unlike feral wolves or bears, these goats wouldn't anticipate a precise, well-timed strike. Their instincts were sharp enough to notice danger in small groups, but they lacked coordination when in a large herd.
One by one, I could isolate them, pick them off, and accumulate experience with minimal risk to myself.
And that experience mattered more than anything. Every time I leveled up, the requirements for the next level would double. I couldn't afford to waste days fighting bears or wolves for marginal gains.
Now was the perfect time to farm points, to build a foundation strong enough to handle the feral threats that lurked deeper in the forest.
Steeling my nerves, I shifted lower into the grass, moving with calculated steps. My katana rested in my hand, the familiar weight grounding me.
My eyes scanned the herd for stragglers, the young or old ones that had drifted a little too far from their kin. Those would be my first targets.
Patience was key. One wrong move and the herd could scatter, or worse, stampede toward me. But if I timed it right, if I leveraged their spacing and my speed, I could harvest experience with efficiency.
I let my breathing slow, matching it to the sway of the grass and the rhythm of the herd. Every movement mattered, every breath could betray me.
The sun climbed higher, golden light streaming across the plains and glinting off the blades of grass. The heat wasn't intense, but the glare made it easier for me to watch their movements without them seeing mine.
I inched forward, each step precise, careful not to rustle leaves or snap a twig.
Even now, despite my cautious approach, I felt my heart hammering in my chest. Each beat was a reminder of the stakes, of the feral world I had been thrown into.
My mind replayed the last few days— fighting the wolf, surviving the bear, the sleepless night, and the brutal labor of catching fish and maintaining my cave.
Everything had led to this moment. This was the next test.
I crouched lower, eyes narrowing on a young buck slightly away from the main herd. Its ears twitched, and it nibbled the grass, oblivious to the predator in the shadows.
The perfect target. My hand tightened around the hilt, and a twisted grin spread across my face.
This was it. Time to strike.
Steeling myself, I returned to my hunting ground. Determination burned through me. My strength was the only reliable ally in this deadly world, and I would push it to its limits to ensure my survival.
Opportunities like this didn't come often. I wouldn't miss it.
Slich!
The same sickening, visceral sound echoed through as my katana sliced cleanly through the neck of the young buck.
Blood sprayed in a fine arc, and the creature collapsed with a soft thud onto the grass.
[You killed a Feral Goat. +15 EXP gained.]
But the satisfaction I expected to feel faltered almost instantly. My eyes flicked to the system interface, and a small pang of disappointment hit me— the experience points gained were lower than I had anticipated.
It didn't take long to figure out why. The goat was young, weak, and far less powerful than its fully grown kin. My strike had been perfect, but the reward was meager.
A small groan escaped my lips. "What a shame," I muttered, frustration mingling with determination.
Even the weakest kill would have to do for now— there was no room for hesitation if I wanted to farm enough points to level up.
Making my way toward their kin, I realized we were much closer to the river now. That meant the herd would likely slow down to drink, making them easier targets.
I spotted two goats straying farther from the rest of their brethren. Quietly, I crept closer, careful not to snap a twig or rustle the grass beneath me.
They were close to each other but far enough from the main herd. Hiding just a meter away, I steadied my breathing, every nerve on alert.
Without wasting another second, I struck.
Slich!
The first goat collapsed instantly. The sudden movement spooked the second, its ears twitching as it sensed danger. But before it could sound any alarm, I lunged.
Slich!
A strangled, pained bleat escaped its lips as its leg gave out, and it toppled to the ground.
The rest of the herd remained oblivious, busy grazing and drinking, giving me the perfect window to finish my small strike.
[You killed a Feral Goat. +25 EXP gained.]
[You killed a Feral Goat. +25 EXP gained.]
The familiar chime of victory echoed in my mind, each kill bringing me closer to completing the task— and claiming the reward waiting at the end.
A reward of fucking two hundred experience points and one extra stat point.
Two more goats, and it would all be within my grasp.