Reincarnated as a Rabbit: Tales of Carrots and Chaos

The sun shined through my burrow waking me up from a nice sleep after a long time.

After stretching out all the tension within my body I hopped towards a nearby puddle, looking at my reflection.

"Yep, I look more handsome than ever."

"How can I say I'm a handsome rabbit? Simple. Just look at me. My visage is unmatched—magnificent. Let's see if you don't feel ashamed of your ugly face you peasant pig! Admit it. Hmph!"

But today the forest felt different, it felt like I'd been transported to a new forest, one that wasn't the same as the one that I had been living in before.

The forest stretched endlessly before me, its canopy of green leaves filtering the sunlight into golden patches that danced across the ground. It wasn't just a backdrop anymore; it breathed with life, every shimmer of light and every rustle of leaves a reminder that I was part of it now. My newfound clarity from evolving brought the world into focus like never before. Each rustling leaf, each faint chirp of a bird, each distant growl of a predator—it all felt vivid and alive as if the forest were breathing around me.

It wasn't just alive—it was charged with something unnatural. The leaves shimmered faintly, their edges tinged with an iridescent glow, while veins of golden light pulsed through the bark of nearby trees, as though the forest itself carried a heartbeat. I feel like…I'm in a different world altogether.

The air felt heavier today, charged with something I couldn't quite place. Maybe it was my heightened senses, or maybe it was the shift in how the forest seemed to treat me.

I drew in a deep breath.

"I don't feel like an intruder anymore," I muttered.

This place, once hostile and foreign, now felt strangely connected to me.

One thing was clear—I needed to explore more. This forest wasn't just a backdrop; it was a world of its own, and I was officially part of its ecosystem now.

Why haven't I explored the forest after all these times you asked? Well, if you actually used your brain then you would have already come to a conclusion that a rabbit exploring a forest full of wolves, lynx, wolves, bears, wolves, and other magical creatures like maybe magical wolves.

Was that explanation enough? If it wasn't then maybe you're a fast runner. So fast that when wisdom and intellect kept chasing you, they weren't able to catch you because you're too fast for them.

I started then started hopping towards the opposite side of the river, if the river is to the east, then I guess I'm now going to the west. How would I know the direction? Well, it's about looking at the position of the sun overhead. I don't have the energy to explain it but let's just say that I'm going in the direction of the huge mountain deep in the forest.

I set my sights on the mountain rising from the heart of the forest, its peak shrouded in mist. It was a place I'd only ever seen from a distance, a place that had always felt suffocating. But now… now it called to me.

The trail twisted through the forest's depths, the trees crowding in as though determined to block out the sunlight. Overhead, their towering forms reached skyward, their branches tangled together like the ribs of some colossal creature. The silence was unsettling to the point that the crack of a twig beneath my paw exploded like a thunderclap. Shadowy trunks stood tall like watchful sentinels, while the swaying canopy groaned with an eerie creak as if urging me to retreat.

The further I went, the stranger the forest became. Flowers glowed softly along the path, some casting fiery light that flickered like embers. Their faint warmth brushed against my fur as I passed. A few even shifted subtly, as though following my movements.

It just gives off a weird atmosphere, quite different from where I was staying before with the squirrels. If I have to describe it, I will say that in that area, aside from the place where I got the orb. Everything feels like it was just back on earth minus the game-like feel that I get from the status and such.

I crouched low, moving carefully as [Danger Sense] hummed faintly at the edge of my awareness. The forest was alive—not just with life but with subtle noises: the faint hum of insects, distant bird cries, and the rustle of unseen creatures in the underbrush.

My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, bathing my vision in its familiar crimson haze. Ahead, a faint glow pulsed—small, quick, and erratic. It flitted through the bushes, its movements sharp and fluttering like a candle in the wind.

A perfect first target.

I crouched, my muscles coiling as I locked onto the glowing thread.

Stay calm. Observe. Strike.

The rabbit-like creature froze briefly, its ears perking up, but it was too late. I launched forward with [Bounce], closing the distance in a single leap.

The creature bolted, its panic lighting up the web of life force in my vision. I was faster, and more agile now, and it wasn't long before I twisted midair, cutting it off. It froze, trembling, its wide eyes locking onto mine.

I activated [Hypnotic Gaze]. My red eyes flared, and the rabbit creature stiffened, its body seizing under my control. For a moment, I felt an odd connection, as though my will had completely overtaken its instincts.

I hesitated. The trembling creature looked so much like… me, before all of this. Helpless. Weak. Back when the world felt too big, too cruel, and survival was a desperate gamble. Was this what I was becoming? The thing I used to fear?

My claws twitched, instincts screaming at me to strike, to end this. But I hesitated. The creature's wide, trembling eyes reminded me too much of my own reflection, back when the world was all teeth and shadows. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest—no, in the orb. Its pulse felt heavier now, resonating with something I couldn't name.

The connection snapped, and the creature bolted, its glow fading into the shadows. I let it go, my claws sinking into the dirt where it had been.

I sat back on my haunches, my breath heavy.

"Well," I muttered,

"That was pathetic."

Alas, the forest didn't give the time to dwell.

While hopping through the bushes, [Danger Sense] buzzed sharply, and I spun just in time to see a streak of dark fur hurtling toward me. A lynx-like predator, its glowing red life force blazing in my vision, pounced from a nearby tree.

I leaped back with [Bounce], barely avoiding its outstretched claws. The ground where I'd stood exploded in a flurry of leaves and dirt. Its amber eyes narrowing.

The lynx stalked closer, its body low to the ground, muscles rippling with each step. It was bigger than me, faster than the wolf from last night. My heart raced as I realized I'd strayed too far from my burrow, too deep into its territory.

Run.

The thought flashed through my mind, but I shoved it aside. No. If I wanted to survive, I had to stop running.

I activated [Hypnotic Gaze], pouring everything I had into my glowing red eyes. The lynx hesitated, its body trembling as it locked onto my gaze. For a moment, I thought it might work—its steps faltered, and its muscles stiffened.

Then, with a furious snarl, it shook off the effect and lunged.

I darted to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. My instincts screamed at me to flee, but instead, I turned and lashed out with [Kick], my hind legs slamming into its ribs. The impact sent it sprawling, a surprised yowl escaping its throat.

I didn't stop. I couldn't. Before it could recover, I leaped onto its back, claws digging into its fur.

"Not so fun when the prey grows claws, is it?" I growled through gritted teeth, my breaths coming fast and shallow. My hind legs ached, but adrenaline pushed me forward, keeping me on my feet.

It thrashed, throwing me off, but I landed on my feet, ready for its next move.

The lynx stared at me, its amber eyes blazing with frustration. Blood matted its side where my claws had grazed it. For a moment, we circled each other, each waiting for the other to strike.

Then, with a low growl, the lynx turned and slunk back into the shadows, its body tense with unspent aggression.

I stood there, panting, my chest heaving as the adrenaline faded.

[Skill Proficiency Increased: Kick Lv. 4 → Lv. 5.]

"Well," I muttered, wiping a streak of dirt from my fur,

"I'd say that went better than expected."

After catching my breath, I continued hopping on and pressed deeper into the forest. During my travels, I saw a creature that resembles a slime that you commonly encounter in JRPGs and stuff. They are actually quite cute with their body just being one big blob. I am not sure if they have consciousness or not.

When I tapped the Slime with my paw, my paw just went boing boing on its body, the slime didn't even mind my presence.

Its gelatinous body rippled with each poke of my paw, a satisfying boing-boing that made me laugh despite myself. Maybe it wasn't a predator or prey. Just… existing. Like me, in a way.

Well did you know that Slimes eat grass just like rabbits do? This gentleman understands the sophisticated taste of organic wild grass. A true connoisseur of fine dining, am I right Mr. Slime?

After playing around with the slimes for a bit I got back on my way deeper into the forest.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the forest seemed to hold its breath. Shadows stretched long and thin, and the air turned heavier with each step. The clearing emerged like a secret unearthed, like the forest itself had stepped aside, revealing something it had kept hidden for centuries. The cavern's entrance yawned before me, its jagged edges glowing faintly with crimson hues. The air here was thick, suffocating, as though the forest was holding its breath. The air grew heavy, pressing against my fur and lungs, as though the forest wanted me to hesitate—to turn back. But the orb in my chest had other plans, its rhythmic thrum syncing with the eerie energy that seemed to seep from the cavern's depths.

My [Blood Sight] flickered to life, illuminating faint red traces near the entrance—humanoid, but smaller. The orb in my chest pulsed rhythmically, its silent thrum syncing with the cavern's strange energy. It wasn't just curiosity pulling me forward; it was something deeper, something I didn't yet understand.