For the next few days, Kyle spent his entire time scouting. With his improved health, stamina, vitality, and speed, he no longer feared encountering wild rabbits, but he still made sure to stay hidden at all times. He focused on exploring the western part of the forest, not in search of prey, but to observe the terrain. He wanted to know where animals gathered, when they gathered, and why they gathered. If he could identify these perfect spots and set his traps there, he could gain bountiful harvests.
During this time, he had Tu'ka gather wood and other materials needed for his traps.
Kyle had attempted to get his other brothers and sisters involved, but he was simply ignored. He soon realized why the system described his achievement as his first major milestone. Gaining recognition as "big brother" didn't necessarily make him their leader. Without incentives in place, they were unlikely to pay attention to him. Tu'ka was the only exception, probably because he had submitted to Kyle since they were only a few months old.
Three days later, Kyle approached the final wall of trees. Fierce sun rays pierced through the gaps, preventing him from seeing what lay ahead. Upon reaching the end of the thick forest, he was greeted by a strong, flavorful gust of wind carrying a blended scent from what felt like an endless garden of flowers.
The flowers were so tall they easily towered over Kyle, yet there were several tiger bunny prints on the ground, proving they came this way. Intrigued, he climbed a tree to get a better view and was stunned by the breathtaking sight. It was an endless flowerbed of rainbow colors, the very epitome of nature's beauty. However, just above this garden raged a fierce war between birds and bugs of various sizes. It was so brutal that Kyle couldn't help but wonder what was happening beneath the flowerbed.
'This would be a good training spot. It's like going to grind spots in RPG games,' Kyle muttered.
{Location: Evergreen Forest}
{Sub-region discovered: Bed of Reeds}
{Information: A flowerbird region home to low-quality mana crystals, precious herbs, and stones.}
{Danger Level: Low}
{Exploration Level Recommendation: Level 20}
{Recommendation varies according to race}
"Location information is locked, but I get sub-regions? I'll take that." Kyle was genuinely surprised by the system's generosity.
He was about to shower the system with more compliments when he saw the final message, {Recommendation varies according to race}, and nearly spat out blood in anger.
"Isn't this racism?" He rubbed his eyes to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
How could the system be racist to its own kind?
"What the hell does it mean that recommendations vary according to race?" Kyle's face flushed red with anger.
He wished the system had a physical form. He would have demanded they settle things like men once and for all. There was no need for these cryptic insults and abuse. Kyle even began suspecting the system wasn't sent by the Greater Kobold, but by someone who wanted to make a mockery of the race through him.
If the scenery ahead hadn't been so alluring, he would have wasted more time arguing with the system. Kyle's gaze dropped to the ground, his eyes narrowing. From above, he could clearly see snake tracks and various predator footprints leading into this location. Realizing he would never have noticed this from ground level, a cold sweat ran down his spine.
"A place that attracts prey will surely become a hunting ground for predators."
Kyle finally understood why he had walked around with a corpse earlier without encountering a single predator. Why hunt elsewhere when they could simply wait here and ambush whatever entered the flower garden?
Attempting to set traps here would be extremely risky, especially with his current level of strength. In fact, Kyle was almost certain he would die if he even entertained the idea.
"I'll come back when I have my bloodline skills," he concluded after careful thought.
Considering how stingy the system was, he would likely be well past level twenty before accumulating enough talent points to unlock them.
With that, Kyle begrudgingly abandoned his dream of exploring the Bed of Reeds and began making his way back, keeping an eye out for other locations suitable for trap placement. By the time he returned three days later, Kyle had selected three spots not too far from home. He wanted to be able to retreat to safety if something went wrong, even if that meant his hunting yields would be lower.
The thought of spending another six days traveling east or north crossed his mind, but if he did that, his brothers and sisters would either starve or another sibling would rise up and gain their recognition. Kyle knew that to earn their respect, trust, and loyalty, he had to stay close and prioritize the group over personal gains.
And so what if it took longer to level up?
He had waited a year just to reach level one. Surely, he could wait another year to reach level twenty if it meant securing his people's loyalty.
'Think many over a few,' he repeated to himself throughout the journey.
On his way back, Kyle encountered another wild tiger bunny. This time, with his improved speed and prior experience, he fought calmly. He skillfully evaded the deadly horn charge and then beat the beast to death with his bone club. He ate his fill and carried the rest home, only to discover that one of his brothers, Sl'k—pronounced Sleek—had taken the initiative to gather bugs and fruits for the others every day during the six days Kyle had been gone, earning recognition as big brother as well.
Compared to Kyle and the rest of their siblings, Sl'k was noticeably larger and physically stronger, with deep green scales. When they were younger, Sl'k received no shortage of praise. While Kyle was admired for his intelligence and willingness to learn, Sl'k was praised for his physical strength.
He began crawling in his second week and walking by his first month, around the time Kyle and the others were just starting to crawl. By five months, he was already strong enough to assist in trap construction by moving heavy materials like wood. Ever since the adults died, activity within the colony had dwindled, everyone becoming quiet and withdrawn. That was why Kyle had nearly forgotten about him.
Kyle hadn't expected his simple act of feeding his siblings to reignite this rivalry.
"Sl'k trying to be sleek… If you want to win their hearts, berries and bugs won't cut it. Meat is the real currency around here," Kyle gloated as his siblings cheered and devoured the tiger bunny.
Sl'k sat off to the side, annoyance etched across his rough but youthful face, which only amused Kyle further.