Chapter 3: Death

Chapter 3: Death

"String Shot!"

Sticky white threads burst forth from Lu Yun's mouth, shooting into the air. The dark shadow seemed unprepared for such a turn of events. Momentarily stunned, it failed to react, allowing Lu Yun's String Shot to strike squarely. The white threads, almost sentient, thick and elongated, instantly expanded and twisted upon contact with the shadow, coiling around it tightly.

Only then did Lu Yun see the face of his assailant. Its body was twice his size, covered in brown feathers; a pale purple beak glinted ominously in the sunlight, leaving no doubt of its deadly power. Three snowy-white, razor-sharp talons extended beneath it, slicing through the air with a chilling "whoosh" as they struggled to break free from the sticky threads. Its two black, inverted triangle-shaped eyes locked coldly onto Lu Yun. Even while ensnared, those eyes betrayed no panic—only the cruel, emotionless gaze with which a predator regards its prey.

Lu Yun trembled all over, the red Y-shaped antennae atop his head quivering violently.

"What is this...?"

"Pidgey?"

A primal terror filled his heart—the dread one feels before a natural enemy.

"No! Move! I'm going to die!"

Desperately, Lu Yun tried to crawl toward the tree hollow. But the icy gaze of the Pidgey opposite felt like a sharp blade, cold and dark, pressed mercilessly against his throat.

"Why...? Why can't I move?!"

He writhed atop the branch as despair slowly seeped into his mind.

At that moment, Pidgey seemed to realize that brute force alone would not quickly break the sticky threads binding its body. Its eyes narrowed, the cold light within intensifying. A killing intent suffused the air.

Pidgey spread its wings slightly, and visible, translucent air currents began to swirl and gather around its creamy wings. The dark feathers rippled gently.

"Air Slash!"

With a sudden, powerful beat of its wings—once tightly folded, now flaring wide—the gentle currents transformed instantly into blades, slicing outward in all directions. The sticky threads Lu Yun had shot out were shredded to pieces.

With a harsh buzz, the flying blades of air slashed into the nearby tree, their violent wind energy carving a deep gash into the trunk.

Pidgey stared intently at its prey, puzzled. A weak Pokémon like a Caterpie, without a Butterfree to guard it, would normally be paralyzed by its Keen Eye, unable to resist. Yet today, this particular Caterpie managed to react and even cause some trouble—a surprise.

Shaking its head lightly to dispel these thoughts, Pidgey resolved to finish the hunt quickly. This forest was not safe; the longer it tarried, the greater the risk of mishap.

A dazzling white light radiated from the crest atop Pidgey’s head, streaming smoothly behind it as its entire body began to emit a faint, mysterious glow.

"Quick Attack!"

Pidgey spread its wings, feeling the air rush past. Enveloped in that mysterious power, it darted forward, becoming a white blur streaked with afterimages.

Lu Yun, gazing at the unstoppable figure above him, closed his eyes in despair.

Suddenly, a raging bolt of yellow lightning appeared out of nowhere. With a piercing crackle, it crashed down from the canopy. Pidgey, utterly focused on its prey, was caught completely off guard.

With a deafening crash, the thunderbolt struck Pidgey, the violent electric energy instantly scorching its brown feathers and surging into its body, rampaging destructively through every fiber.

The charred corpse, exuding the aroma of roasted bird, fell from the sky and landed softly on a branch.

Lu Yun, drenched in cold sweat, lay motionless on the branch, not daring to make the slightest sound.

The forest was eerily quiet.

Were it not for the faint electric currents crackling from the corpse ahead and the frantic warnings from his antennae, Lu Yun might have believed the events just now were mere hallucinations.

A bizarre figure slowly slid down from the canopy, suspended by a thread laced with yellow electricity. Nearly a meter long and covered in thick yellow fuzz that sparked with tiny bolts of lightning, four auxiliary legs extended from its sides, ending in dark blue tips. Its swollen abdomen, striped with blue, hung by a silk thread as it lowered itself. Six compound eyes on its small head rotated wickedly, while two pincers extended from its mouth, rubbing together in anticipation of the feast to come.

"Galvantula," Lu Yun murmured to himself.

Galvantula descended atop Pidgey’s corpse, releasing tough silk from its abdomen to wrap the prey securely, clearly intending to carry it back to its nest for a leisurely meal.

Of course, it had noticed the foolish little Caterpie ahead as well. Its six compound eyes turned with wicked intent.

"Well... why not... have an extra snack?"

Another flash of yellow lightning shot out.

Lu Yun felt a jolt, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

……………………………………………………………………

In a space of pure white, Lu Yun slowly opened his eyes.

"Where... am I?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes in confusion.

"Wait... my hands? I’m human again?"

Exhilaration overwhelmed him at the sensation of regaining his body.

Ding!

A pleasant chime sounded from the bottom right corner of his vision, and the system interface opened before him.

[Final settlement in progress]

[Summing up attributes...]

[Summing up battle history...]

[Summing up events experienced...]

Beep beep.

[Settlement complete]

[Comprehensive Rating: F-]

[Points earned: 7]

[Newbie Reward: 200 points, Low-Level Attribute Selection]

Lu Yun stared at the data before him, somewhat astonished.

"So... this is my last life’s score settlement?"

Seeing the meager number of points he’d earned, Lu Yun’s lips twitched.

"But what are these points for? And what does 'Attribute Selection' mean?"

As he pondered, he noticed a new option in the system interface.

[Exchange]

Lu Yun’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly tapped it open.