In the heart of the primeval forest, where sunlight barely pierced the dense canopy of ancient trees, Zhu Hao, the golden-furred pig bear, stood poised for battle. His tiny, round body thrummed with newfound energy, his fur glinting like polished gold under the dappled light.
The Light of the Pig God system had just granted him a level-up, transforming his despair into a fiery determination to conquer this strange, perilous world of Douluo Dalu. But the forest wasn't done testing him yet.
A fist-sized, Five-Colored Demonic Spider lunged at him, its vibrant body glowing with a menacing white light, its green eyes blazing with bloodlust.
Zhu Hao's heart raced, but his pride as "Lord Pig" refused to back down. "Think you can scare me? I'm no sick cat—I'm the mighty Lord Pig!" he roared, gripping his two-foot-long wooden stick like a warrior wielding a legendary staff.
"Take this! Heaven-Raising Rod!" Zhu Hao swung with all his might, the stick whistling through the air. Crack! The spider soared like a baseball, crashing into a nearby tree.
Zhu Hao smirked, slinging the stick over his shoulder with a swagger. "Pfft, that's what you get for messing with Lord Pig. Who's next?"
But the spider wasn't done. A furious chi chi echoed as its white glow intensified, its eyes now wild with rage. Zhu Hao's bravado faltered. "Still kicking? What kind of demon are you?"
Before he could process, the spider transformed into a white blur, one of its colorful legs slashing toward his head like an iron hook. Zhu Hao dove to the side, his chubby body rolling with surprising agility.
Springing to his feet, he gripped the stick with both paws and swung downward with a mighty whoosh, channeling every ounce of his pig bear strength. The strike was a perfect hit, aimed at the spider's head as it landed, too slow to dodge.
Clang! The stick connected, splintering into two as the ground trembled. Zhu Hao's eyes widened. "Still not dead?!"
No notification from the Light of the Pig God meant the spider was clinging to life. Without hesitation, he grabbed a nearby rock and charged, determined to finish the job. "Take this!"
But the spider, sensing its doom, spat a glowing green web, a meter wide, straight at Zhu Hao. "Oh, crap!" he cursed, too close to dodge after his roll.
The web loomed, promising a painful, poisonous end. But Zhu Hao wasn't about to go down without a fight. "If I'm dying, you're coming with me!"
With a ferocious yell, he smashed the rock down with all his strength. Clang! The stone shattered against the spider's head, fragments flying as the web enveloped Zhu Hao. Sizzling smoke rose from his golden fur as the poison seeped in. Pain seared through him, but then—
"Killed one Five-Colored Demonic Spider. Energy +1, Experience +1, Superpower: Spider Web"
Relief flooded Zhu Hao as he tore through the web, collapsing onto the ground, panting. Stars danced in his vision, his body weak from the poison.
"Lord Pig… just got here… and I'm already toast?" he wheezed, clutching his round belly. His big eyes stared at the sky, dreams of riches and glory fading. "No way I'm done before I even start!"
Desperate, he summoned the Light of the Pig God interface:
Light of the Pig God
Name: Zhu Hao
Race: Little Pig Bear
Level: 0 (Energy 0/1, Experience 0/1)
Energy: 1.0051
Experience: 1.0020
Superpower: None
Backpack: Infinite Strength (Energy 0/1, Experience 0/1), Spider Web (Energy 0/1, Experience 0/1)
"Whoa!" Zhu Hao's eyes lit up. "This spider was worth ten thousand Vigor Ants? Jackpot!" The massive energy and experience boost snapped him out of his despair. "Level up, now!"
Buzz! A warm, green light enveloped him, like sinking into a hot spring or basking in a mother's embrace. Energy surged through his limbs, washing away the poison.
His fur grew shinier, his claws sharper, his body stronger—by at least tenfold! He felt like he could punch a hole through a mountain.
Light of the Pig God
Name: Zhu Hao
Race: Little Pig Bear
Level: 1 (Energy 0/10, Experience 0/10)
Energy: 0.0051
Experience: 0.0020
Special Abilities: None
Backpack: Infinite Strength (Energy 0/1, Experience 0/1), Spider Web (Energy 0/1, Experience 0/1)
"Haha, Lord Pig's back, baby!" Zhu Hao bounced to his feet, rolling joyfully on the ground. "Full health, full power—let's go!"
His fighting spirit blazed as he scanned the forest for his next target. With Infinite Strength and Spider Web in his arsenal, he was ready to trap and smash his enemies. "Perfect combo. Watch out, Douluo Dalu!"
Smack! A Vigor Ant met its end under his paw. "Energy +0.0001, Experience +0.00002" Zhu Hao scoffed. "Pathetic. Barely worth my time."
Still, he wasn't above squashing ants as he passed. His new Level 1 body pulsed with golden energy, shielding him from their puny bites.
Suddenly, a palm-sized praying mantis buzzed out of the bushes, wings flapping in a panic. Zhu Hao's eyes gleamed. "Snack time!" His claws glowed with golden light as he swatted the insect down. Smack!
"Green-eyed Praying Mantis killed. Energy +0.1, Experience +0.1, Special Ability: Double Scythe!"
"Pfft, all flash and no substance," Zhu Hao said, retracting his claws. "Not even close to that spider." Size didn't matter—strength did. He was learning fast.
Cluck, cluck! The bushes rustled, and a massive, earthy-yellow rooster emerged, as tall as a human, with three long feathers trailing from its tail. Its sharp eyes locked onto Zhu Hao, wary but aggressive.
"A rooster chasing that mantis? Oh, you're mine!" Zhu Hao grinned, sensing a worthy opponent. It wasn't as terrifying as the spider, but it radiated power. "Time to feast, big bird!"
He charged, his round body bouncing like a golden cannonball. His claws glowed as he aimed for the rooster's head. Cluck! The rooster squawked, its wings glowing white as it swung them like blades. Boom! The clash sent shockwaves through the forest, uprooting bushes and scattering rocks.
Zhu Hao skidded back, but his eyes sparkled with excitement. "Now that's a fight!" The rooster was stronger than the spider, but within his reach. If he could take it down, the rewards would be massive—maybe enough to unlock a special ability.
Using the trees for leverage, Zhu Hao launched himself again, his body a blur of golden fur. The rooster raised its wings to block, but Zhu Hao's momentum was unstoppable.
Boom! The impact sent the rooster crashing into a tree, leaves raining down. Blood dripped from its beak, one wing hanging limply, bones shattered.
"Gotcha!" Zhu Hao crowed, ready to finish it. But a new sound froze him in place—human voices.
"What a powerful fluctuation! It might be a hundred-year soul beast. Let's surround it!"
Three hundred meters away, a group of seven soul hunters, their eyes gleaming with greed, closed in on the commotion. Zhu Hao's ears twitched. "Humans? In this forest?" His heart raced. Friend or foe, their presence spelled trouble.
The rooster, sensing its chance, struggled to its feet, ready to fight or flee. Zhu Hao tightened his grip on his stick, his mind racing. "Soul hunters, a half-dead rooster, and me, Lord Pig, stuck in the middle. This just got interesting."
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Will Zhu Hao take down the rooster before the soul hunters arrive? Or will he find himself caught in a deadly trap?