Chapter 10: The Teddy Bear Smacks the Ground 21,000 Times
by fnovelpia
The evolution menu popped up.
Seven species to choose from.
Plenty of options, but not really.
They all led back to being a teddy bear.
Guess I’m stuck in this plush prison forever.
Hmm.
Which one should I pick?
I mulled it over, back and forth.
Making a choice felt impossible.
Jjokkomi!
If you’re watching, give me a sign!
Ugh, what do I do?
Everything except one looks decent.
This is a real head-scratcher.
I must have decision paralysis.
Let’s break it down slowly, one by one.
Self-Destruct Teddy Bear.
No way I’m picking that.
It’s the only one I hate.
Sounds like it’d blow myself up to use its power.
That’s what self-destruct means, right?
Maybe it’s harmless to me.
Could be the explosions don’t hurt me.
But I’m not betting on maybes.
With so many options, why risk it?
So, Self-Destruct Teddy Bear is out!
Six candidates remain.
Next up, Rookie King Teddy Bear.
I like this one.
Rookie King!
The king of scruffy teddy bears!
“Rogue” sounds sketchy, but a king’s a king.
Alright, Rookie King’s on hold.
Then there’s Thief Teddy Bear.
This one’s solid too.
Thief sounds petty, but in English, it’s “Rift”!
Rift Teddy Bear has a cool ring to it.
Plus, stealing skills could help me stay alive.
Nice, Thief Teddy Bear’s on hold.
Next! Gourmet Teddy Bear!
Sounds like my taste buds would go into overdrive.
Probably enhances flavor perception.
On hold.
Sweet-Spicy Punch Teddy Bear.
Feels like a martial artist!
Likely a combat-focused bear.
Maybe a rip-off Kung Fu Panda vibe.
This one’s on hold too.
Venomfang Teddy Bear.
Poison-fanged bear!
Adding venom to my vampiric fangs would be killer.
On hold!
On hold!
Undead Rotten Teddy Bear.
Feels like the natural next step for a Vampire Teddy Bear.
Might supercharge my fangs.
On hold!
I wrapped up my analysis.
Now, let’s see the remaining candidates…
…
…Whoops.
I’m basically back at square one.
Only axed one option.
What was I even doing?
No choice then.
Time for the last resort.
The forbidden technique for when you can’t pick from a list.
Consulting the expert!
Here comes Doctor Ding!
“Coca-Cola tastes great. Taste it, drink more. Drink more, get sick.”
Each syllable picks a candidate.
The sequence shifts with each beat:
‘Ko’ for Rookie King Teddy Bear.
‘Ka’ for Thief Teddy Bear.
‘Col’ for Gourmet Teddy Bear.
‘La’ for Sweet-Spicy Punch Teddy Bear.
And so on.
The final syllable decides.
Where it lands is the ultimate choice, blessed by Doctor Ding.
Doctor Ding, make the call!
Ding-dong daeng-dong… daeng-dong ding-dong daeng!
Sweet-Spicy Punch Teddy Bear wins!
No more waffling!
Pick it now!
I finalized my choice with a professional flair.
【Limit Break in progress.】
The Limit Break kicked off.
Time crawled by endlessly.
My consciousness stayed sharp, no hint of sleep.
【Limit Break in progress.】
Is this supposed to stay awake?
Or is it because I can’t sleep?
No clue.
【Limit Break in progress.】
When will it end?
Oh, right, 12 hours, they said.
Guess I’ll zone out.
【Limit Break in progress.】
【Limit Break in progress.】
·
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【Limit Break in progress.】
【Reconstructing body.】
【Reconfiguring Mana Stone.】
【Limit Break in progress.】
【Detected Vampire Familiarization in progress. Terminating familiarization.】
【Limit Break in progress.】
【Limit Break in progress.】
·
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·
·
·
【Limit Break successful.】
Finally done!
Twelve hours flew by, huh?
Time moves fast.
It was dull, but I managed.
I’m used to sitting still and spacing out.
Anyway…
Limit Break achieved!
Special evolution nailed!
I’m Uncommon rank now!
It felt like a second rebirth.
The protective barrier around me faded away.
“Hup!”
I sprang to my feet.
First, I checked my new look.
Whoa.
My paws are massive now.
Like Doraemon’s fists?
They’re boxing glove-sized.
Other changes…
Are the stitches tighter?
No, same as before.
No other differences I could spot.
Just the giant paws, then.
Appearance check done.
I pulled up my status window.
【Sweet-Spicy Punch Teddy Bear Lv.5】
┗ Power: 10 (+2)
┗ Rank: Uncommon (Limit Break unavailable)
【Skills】
[Helper Lv.1], [Evolution Lv.2], [Action Lv.2], [Consumption Lv.1], [Magical Chef Lv.1], [Teddy Bear Disguise Lv.1], [Bloodsucking Lv.1], [Sweet-Spicy Punch Lv.1]
Limit Break’s off the table again.
My level dropped to match my base Power.
Evolution skill leveled up, probably from hitting Uncommon rank.
Should get at least two evolution options next time.
And as a Sweet-Spicy Punch Teddy Bear, I got a fitting skill.
[Sweet-Spicy Punch Lv.1]
─ Enables Spicy Punch and Sweet Punch.
└ Spicy Punch: Marks a random weak point on the target, visible only to the user.
Hitting the weak point with Spicy Punch has a 1% chance to instantly kill, regardless of level.
Ineffective against Superior rank or higher.
└ Sweet Punch: Hitting the target has a 3% chance to induce sweet slumber, regardless of level.
Ineffective against Rare rank or higher.
─ Spicy Punch is left-handed only.
─ 50,000 left-hand punches charge one Spicy Punch.
Uses are consumed even if instant kill fails.
─ Sweet Punch is right-handed only.
─ 10,000 right-hand punches charge one Sweet Punch.
Uses are consumed even if slumber fails.
─ Spicy Punch limited to 1 charge.
─ Sweet Punch limited to 3 charges.
Wooow!
Instant kill!
Sleep inducer!
I wanted to cheer, but… it felt iffy.
Is this skill actually good?
The odds are brutal.
No negative thoughts!
Shake, shake!
I wagged my head side to side.
Think positive.
I’ve got game-breaking powers now.
My left hand’s Spicy Punch—death dealer!
My right hand’s Sweet Punch—sleep spell!
Heh!
With luck, I’m practically the ultimate teddy bear!
Oh, it says I need to rack up regular punches to charge them.
Would punching the air count?
Jab!
Jab!
I threw some test punches.
Nothing happened.
Helper didn’t react, so air punches don’t count.
Gotta hit something, huh?
Doesn’t have to be alive, right?
I tapped the ground.
Teddy Punch!
Thump!
【Left-hand punch accumulated: 1.】
Oh, hell yeah!
It works!
Hitting non-living things counts!
Alright, it’s settled.
Today’s opponent is you, ground!
【Right-hand punch accumulated: 1.】
【Left-hand punch accumulated: 1,024.】
【Right-hand punch accumulated: 1,024.】
Over a thousand punches already.
I wasn’t tired.
I’m a doll, not a living thing.
As long as I had mana, I was in top shape.
【Left-hand punch accumulated: 1,025.】
【Right-hand punch accumulated: 1,025.】
Lost in a trance, I kept swinging.
Then—
Rustle.
A noise snapped me out of it.
I froze mid-punch and turned toward the sound.
【Blood Rabbit Lv.15】
┗ Power: 30
┗ Rank: Uncommon
Why are you here?
It was that rabbit from before.
Definitely the same one.
Same level, same big spot on its ear.
Unless that spot’s a Blood Rabbit trait, but still.
“Wooong.”
The Blood Rabbit stared at me.
Out of nowhere, it held out a carrot.
What’s that supposed to mean?
A peace offering?
Like, “Take this carrot, let’s be friendly neighbors”?
“Wooong, wooong!”
It wiggled the carrot, urging me to take it.
Hmm.
Doesn’t seem hostile…
Or is it luring me with food to ambush me?
I couldn’t help but be suspicious.
This is the brutal wild, after all.
As I stayed wary, the Blood Rabbit tossed the carrot.
It landed right in front of me.
“Woong-woong!”
“…”
Fine, I’ll eat it for the gesture.
Poison wouldn’t faze me anyway.
The Blood Rabbit kept its distance.
It just stood there, staring.
What’s your deal?
Got more business?
Why aren’t you leaving?
I’m busy fighting the ground here.
At least it’s not attacking.
We’re the same rank now, but its level and Power dwarf mine.
I’d lose in a fight.
Whatever.
I’ll ignore it.
Back to work.
I resumed my epic battle with the ground.
Thump-thump-thump!
Bang-bang-bang?
Huh?
What’s that sound?
Bang-bang-bang?
I looked up.
The Blood Rabbit was crouched, smacking the ground with its paws.
I tested it, hitting the ground again.
Thump-thump-thump!
Bang-bang-bang!
The Blood Rabbit copied me, pounding away.
…Why are you fighting the ground?
Got a Sweet-Spicy Punch skill too?
Nah, no way.
Just mimicking me, huh?
Must think it’s fun.
【Left-hand punch accumulated: 10,000.】
【Right-hand punch accumulated: 10,000.】
【Sweet Punch charged: 1 use.】
【You may use Sweet Punch with your right hand.】
Phew!
Finally charged one Sweet Punch.
Took forever.
I stopped and stood up.
“Wooong?”
The Blood Rabbit paused too.
While I was pummeling the ground, it kept at it without a break.
You’re one tenacious bunny.
Thanks to you, I didn’t feel alone.
Doing this solo would’ve been boring.
Maybe because we’d been at it together so long, I felt a tiny bond with the Blood Rabbit.
“Wooong.”
Hey, Bunny.
Don’t just stand there staring.
Come over here for a sec.
I beckoned with a paw.
I wasn’t wary anymore.
The Blood Rabbit tilted its head.
“Woo-wooong?”
Hop, hop!
It got the hint and bounced over.
“Wooong.”
It stopped in front of me and offered another carrot.
Must think I called it over for food.
Thanks, but I’m good.
You eat those carrots.
I had another reason for calling it.
I wanted to test my newly charged Sweet Punch.
Success or failure, I needed to see if it worked.
“Wooong?”
Don’t worry.
You won’t die.
Either nothing happens, or you take a nap.
I focused my intent to use Sweet Punch and gently tapped the Blood Rabbit with my right paw.
Doesn’t matter where I hit, right?
Tap.
【Sweet Punch activated successfully.】
Thud.
The Blood Rabbit collapsed limply.
What the—?
It worked?
A 3% miracle just happened.
Is 3% secretly a high chance?
Snore, snore.
The Blood Rabbit was out cold.
I stared, dumbfounded.
Wow.
Rabbit meat.
…Kidding!
In return for the carrot, I’ll let you live.
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