NOVEL NEXT 2. Weakling
“Host, don’t worry! Low-level monsters are easy to kill. Come on, get up and get going! Just kill any monster, and you’ll survive!” The system’s light orb circled Jiang Mo several times, nearly ready to play a national anthem to motivate her.
However, Jiang Mo remained listlessly sprawled on the ground, without even the slightest intention of moving.
Exhausted in body and spirit, Jiang Mo felt the system was toying with her. She was currently so weak she couldn’t even stand up. Forget about killing monsters; in this quiet forest, she didn’t even have the strength to search for any.
Forget it, she thought. Whatever happens, happens.
Detecting the host’s negative emotions, the system grew anxious. It was a newly minted system, and Jiang Mo was its first bound host, with the binding time not exceeding one day. Unbinding was impossible now, and if Jiang Mo died today, it would certainly be investigated by the main system upon return. At that point, nothing could be hidden. Having committed such a basic error, it would definitely be deemed unqualified and might even be destroyed on the spot…
No way! It had only been operational for a day, still a brand-new baby system. How could it be destroyed just like that?
More concerned for its own survival than its host, the system began incessantly trying to persuade Jiang Mo. The light orb flew back and forth, not only dizzying to look at but also buzzing non-stop, more annoying than a fly.
Jiang Mo didn’t want to deal with it, but unable to tolerate the system’s all-encompassing harassment, she finally mustered enough strength to swat away the light orb in front of her. Then she spoke her mind: “Stop it. With my current tiny body, lying still might let me survive the day. If you make me go kill monsters, I’ll probably end up demonstrating how to die on the spot.”
The system was shocked. After silently scanning the host’s physical data, it was momentarily speechless.
Some time passed, and just as Jiang Mo thought the system had given up, or was being forced to give her some sort of cheat code, she suddenly heard the system’s mechanical voice, filled with excitement.
“Ding! Congratulations, host. Killable target found.”
Jiang Mo’s eyes snapped open, her gaze alertly scanning her surroundings. Sure, she had given up, but couldn’t they just let her die peacefully? Did some fierce beast have to come and eat her to finish things off?
The system was very pleased with her alert reaction and seemed to have heard her internal grumbling. It happily said, “Don’t worry, host. The environment the system selected is very safe. There are no fierce beasts threatening you nearby.” Seeing Jiang Mo’s skeptical look, it continued persuasively, “Host, look down at your feet.”
Jiang Mo heard the system’s words and was just thinking that with no fierce beast threats, what could the killable target be? Then she heard the system speak again, so she instinctively looked where it directed, and all her fur stood on end.
Bug, bug, bug…
Jiang Mo screamed in shock, but what came out was a weak “Aow, aow” sound, full of kitten-like squeakiness.
As mentioned earlier, Jiang Mo was a city kid who had rarely been close to nature growing up. As a result, strangely shaped insects became her greatest fear as an adult. Even when faced with the possibility of being in a car accident and having her body dumped, she could think calmly. But now her face paled, and she used all four limbs, desperate to get as far away from that bug as possible.
The system watched in astonishment as the little white tiger rolled and crawled, struggling to escape, clearly terrified. Looking at the data panel again, it found the host was just one step away from dying on the spot.
Even with its extensive database, the system hadn’t expected a beetle to have such an effect. It hurriedly steadied its nonexistent chin and called out to Jiang Mo, “Host, host, it’s just an ordinary beetle. There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s very weak, you could crush it with one step…”
“Ugh, who wants to step on a bug?” Jiang Mo’s face was green beneath her white fur.
The system paused strangely, then said, “After detection, within a 500-meter radius, there are 67 killable targets. These include one spirit rabbit, three rock mice, seven venomous spiders, twelve beetles, twenty-seven caterpillars…”
“Wait, wait, wait, apart from the spirit rabbit and rock mice, are the rest all insects?” Jiang Mo was initially surprised to hear about 67 killable targets, but as she listened to the system’s list, her face grew even greener. She realized that with her current body, she couldn’t catch up to a rabbit, and mice were probably out of the question too, leaving only insects as an option.
Seeing that she understood, the system felt a bit of pity but still said enthusiastically, “Come on, host. Crush that beetle, and you’ll have a chance at rebirth!”
With her guess confirmed, Jiang Mo faced a choice: to crush or not to crush; rebirth or death.
Was there even a need to consider such a choice? Even though Jiang Mo had previously decided to give up and wait for death, now that she discovered she could live by crushing a bug, there was no way she would give up. So, while cursing the system for its inhumanity and blaming it for her current predicament, she still slowly inched back, then closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and stomped down on the ugly beetle.
Seeing this, the system’s light orb flickered excitedly, cheering her on: “Go, host! Use your strength! You’re the best…”
Jiang Mo, crushing the bug: “…” Thanks, but I don’t need your encouragement just to crush a bug.
However, reality proved that the system’s encouragement wasn’t superfluous, as Jiang Mo’s first stomp didn’t kill the beetle. Under her tender paw, she could feel the beetle still struggling beneath her paw pad, seemingly much more lively than she was.
The system seemed to have anticipated this and continued, “Host, you’ve got it pinned. Don’t let it escape.” After this advice, it suggested, “Host, try to see if you can stand up. If you can stand, you should be able to crush it with your body weight!”
Jiang Mo was speechless, Jiang Mo was desolate, Jiang Mo used all her strength to stand up…
Finally, after an almost inaudible “pop” sound, the beetle under her paw was crushed. In her ears was the system’s jubilant announcement, while Jiang Mo just wanted to find a place to wash her paw.
“Ding! Congratulations, host, on your first kill. First kill reward: Experience x10, Points x10. Final gain: 1 Experience point, 0 Points.”
As the announcement ended, Jiang Mo felt a warmth suddenly sweep through her body, as comfortable as being immersed in warm water. However, this sensation lasted only a moment before fading away. Then she felt strength gradually filling her weakened body. Her previously heavy body became light, and her powerless paws gained strength. With a push, she finally stood up.
The little white tiger shook out her fur, still not quite used to walking on four legs. She carefully lifted a paw and took a step forward. Her soft paw pads touched the thick fallen leaves, and the real feeling of being alive nearly moved her to tears.
The system was also happy to see her take her first step. The light orb transformed into virtual fireworks, continuously exploding in front of Jiang Mo.
It was just crushing a bug, but the system’s grand display nearly gave Jiang Mo secondhand embarrassment. As she felt awkward, she suddenly remembered the earlier announcement and became serious.
The system quickly noticed her change and stopped the fireworks to ask, “Host, what’s wrong?”
Jiang Mo now had some energy and was sure she could survive, so she became interested in exploring the system: “System, since you’ve loaded a game system, is there a game panel?”
“Ding, activating game panel…”
In just a moment, a floating, semi-transparent game panel appeared, looking similar to the online games Jiang Mo had played before. She didn’t rush to explore the game functions but first clicked on the character panel:
[Host: Jiang Mo
Race: White Tiger
Class: Divine Beast
Level: 1
Combat Power: 5
Experience: 0/5
Points: 0
Potential: ∞
Skills: Bloodline Inheritance (Not Activated)]
The other data was fine, and Jiang Mo had a general idea, but apart from the bloodline inheritance not being activated, there was also a conspicuous congenital weakness debuff, which she didn’t know when it would be removed.
She mentally frowned and checked the history messages, where she saw her “heroic” first kill:
[Year 75891 of the Xuantian Continent, July 21, 13:55:27
Host killed one “Beetle”, rewarded 0.1 Experience point, 0 Points.
Congratulations to the host for completing the system’s first kill. Reward: Experience x10, Points x10. Total gain: 1 Experience point, 0 Points.
Congratulations to the host for meeting the experience requirements. Congratulations on reaching Level 1.]
Jiang Mo had never heard of a game character starting at Level 0, but looking at her Level 1 panel, especially the glaring Combat Power of 5, she didn’t want to know what her previous combat power had been.
Bah, she couldn’t even crush a beetle.