I pulled my hand back from the rabbit, its soft fur still lingering against my fingertips. The little guy leaned into my touch. Maybe it felt a connection, like I did.

Am I imagining things, or does its eyes show a hint of recognition? Just as I get into this moment, something catches my eye. The familiar luminous overlay flickers to life, displaying the Status Sight. It is brimming with details about the creature.

Hold on a second, what’s this? This little creature has some hidden traits, and man, I am in for a surprise.

***

Horny Rabbit (Kiiroi)

Level: 1

Title: None

Description: An edible Kiiroi Ikimono. Its meat is tender when roasted or made into a stew. But be careful of its horn if it’s a male.

***

Hold up. This lovable fluffball is considered food? I shook my head. “Don’t worry, little buddy. You are safe with me,” I murmured, giving the rabbit another reassuring smile, if only to calm my own nerves as much as his.

How could anyone think of eating something so cute?

Wait a minute. Where is its horn? According to the Status Sight, this little guy should have a horn, especially if he is a male. But after a quick once-over, I see nothing. Nada. It should be right there on his forehead or somewhere obvious.

Am I missing something?

I squinted at the creature, trying to make sense of it. My brow furrowed as I examined the rabbit more closely. His white fur shone oddly in the indefinite light. Just as I was about to dismiss my concerns, his eyes, previously gentle and curious, flared bright crimson. I am talking full-on demonic red. It is like watching an innocent bunny transform into a predator right before my eyes.

“What the heck is wrong with this bunny?” I took a step back. That warm connection we had moments ago? Yeah, it feels like static now. A disconcerting suspicion took its place, and my mind struggled to process what was happening.

Is this some kind of sick joke?

Then it came so suddenly. With a powerful leap, the rabbit jumped toward me. And guys, you won’t believe this, but I finally noticed its horn protruding out from his groin. Yep, you read that right. It was longer than anything I could have imagined. My jaw dropped, and I stumbled back, the absurdity of the situation hitting me like a truck. It was like a twisted scene from a dark comedy, but trust me, the urgency was all too real.

This has to be a nightmare, right?

My initial shock morphed into a frantic scramble as I tried to evade the airborne rabbit, his surprising appendage darting straight at me. With a desperate roll, I narrowly avoided the thrust, feeling the rush of air as it missed. I crashed into a disheveled heap a few feet away. My chest tightened at the close call.

What kind of world have I stumbled into? The line between whimsical and horrifying has officially blurred. I caught my breath, trying to wrap my head around this insane situation.

As I got to my feet, I assumed a defensive stance. My body was ready for whatever this creature had next. The rabbit landed, his eyes still glowing with that red light, now reflecting a voracious intensity that screamed, “run.” He turned to face me again, muscles coiled like a spring ready to unleash.

“Not today, buddy!” I declared, as my courage began to take hold. “If there is someone doing the screwing here, it is going to be me!” And as soon as I said that, I couldn’t help but wonder, Did I really just say that?

The rabbit was gearing up for another pounce, and I braced myself, ready to defend against this weird and unexpected threat. What a twist this little guy turned out to be. Cute doesn’t always mean harmless.

So here I am, in a sick showdown with a horny rabbit from hell. What else does this gaming world have in store for me?

A struggle ensued as the rabbit and I grappled on the ground. Now the scene looked like a wrestling match on TV I used to watch, but with way more fur and a lot less grace. It was a dance of limbs, and at one point, the little guy latched onto me from behind. And let me tell you, his horn was dangerously close to… well, you get the idea. Let’s just say it was a compromising position.

“Stop poking your ‘dick’ at my butt, you bastard!” I yelled at the ludicrousness of it all while trying to regain control. The rabbit bounced off me and launched itself at my face. I twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding its assault, and in a moment of pure instinct, I grabbed its hind legs, spun it around like a toy, and flung it away. It sailed through the air like a demented boomerang, only to smack into a tree and bounce back.

I sprinted after it, seizing it by the throat. “Die, you perverted bunny!” I shouted, slamming it to the ground. Seriously, what kind of game was I in? It was clearly full of surprises and dangerous, absurd surprises at every turn. And I was pretty sure I was going to need a crash course in survival.

But just as I thought I’d scored a solid victory, I glanced sideways. Oh no. Five more rabbits appeared. This time I didn’t feel charmed by their cuteness but rather unnerved by a menacing vibe they exuded. They stared at their fallen friend, their eyes dull and mournful, before shifting their attention to me. Great. Just what I needed.

“What am I supposed to do?” I exclaimed angrily at them. “Your friend tried to dick me!”

One of them hopped forward and gave a loud shriek, most likely some kind of war cry. And just like that, it hit me that these were the creatures that made the howling sound earlier.

The rabbits advanced, their once-lovable appearances switching into something far more threatening. I was now facing a pack of these creatures, each ready to avenge their fallen comrade.

I steeled myself for the incoming assault. My focus sharpened, and I was ready for them. “Bring it on, you little devils.” I refused to let them catch me off guard.

The lead rabbit, larger than the rest, lunged forward. I sidestepped at the last moment, watching as it soared past me. I quickly pivoted to face the group, ready for their next strike.

The remaining rabbits followed suit, their hops almost choreographed as they surrounded me. The muscles in their hind legs coiled like springs, ready to unleash their fury at any moment. Each creature’s red eyes reflected fiercely, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were more than just mindless beasts. They were a united front.

I still can’t believe I’m doing this.

The lead rabbit made another attempt to attack me. I threw a marble-sized rock with all my might, watching as it sailed through the air and struck it squarely in the side, causing it to stumble.

Seeing their leader falter, the rest sprang into action. I hurled my projectiles at the group as they charged at me. “Sōten! Sōten! Sōten! Groin Kick! Sōten! Sōten! Sōten!”

One rabbit was struck mid-leap, its course disrupted into a flop. Another charged directly at me, and I dodged to the side, delivering a precise kick that sent it tumbling through the underbrush. The battle escalated as more rabbits closed in, their grit matched only by my own resolve to endure in this tutorial part of the game a bit longer.

Fists flew, legs kicked, and rocks hurtled through the air in a bout of combat. The rabbits, though small, proved to be surprisingly tenacious. Their claws scratched, and their teeth snapped. But I maintained my focus, countering their every move with quick strikes and evasive maneuvers. I even surprised myself with my agility and guessed it was probably due to the player stats features assigned to me.

Thank goodness for those stats.

Second after second, my assault gradually began to overwhelm them. One by one, the rabbits faltered under my attack until finally, the last one lay still, defeated.

Panting heavily, I took a moment to rest. My eyes skimmed over the familiar blue screen, detailing the outcome of the battle.

***

Kill Counts: 6

Level Up: +1

Gold: 6

Points: 2

***

So, the rabbit counted as one gold each. That is good to know. But I didn’t want to dawdle here any longer. Too much commotion could attract other hostile creatures.

I gathered the remaining marble-like rocks, storing them in my Ammo inventory. My gaze shifted to the defeated rabbits. They could provide not just food but a foothold in this strange world.

Stooping down, I realized I could stash the rabbits in my Tool/Items inventory. I reached out and carefully tapped the rabbits, their soft bodies vanishing with a glow of light, confirming their secure storage.

With the rabbits safely tucked away, I started to move away from the spot, my senses heightened as I scanned the surrounding forest for any signs of danger. How much time do I have before night falls? I pressed on. Finding a safe place to hide and spend my first night in this fantasy world was my first priority. I wove through the underbrush. The thick foliage offered a sense of concealment, but it also sharpened my alertness to the likely dangers lurking within.