Programmer Within a Cultivation World

It was something Abel had seen before—no, it was the very thing that had nearly killed him. 

A rabbit. 

Its fur was as white as snow, and its eyes gleamed like rubies. Its delicate appearance could charm anyone into believing it was a docile, harmless creature. But beneath that mask lurked a predator. 

It was the rabbit that had fed on Abel while he slept. 

His heart surged with rage. His expression twisted as he clenched his teeth. 

"You little—" 

Without thinking, he summoned fire and hurled it straight at the rabbit. The flames roared through the air, fast and lethal, but perhaps blinded by fury, his aim wavered. The fireball missed. 

The ground exploded upon impact, sending embers scattering like molten lava. The rabbit flinched, but in the next second, it reacted—nimble and quick, it dodged effortlessly, darting away in a blur of movement. 

Abel didn't hesitate. He chased after it. 

Sensing danger, the rabbit suddenly stopped, its small body convulsing. Then— 

Shlkt! 

It spat out two razor-sharp fangs like projectiles. 

Abel barely had time to react. He dodged, but one of the fangs grazed his arm, slicing through flesh. Blood trickled down his skin. He cursed, clutching the wound as the rabbit disappeared into the undergrowth. 

Left with no choice, Abel activated his life force. The gash on his arm healed instantly, but the familiar exhaustion hit him—his life essence was being drained in exchange. He gritted his teeth. 

Then he raised his hand, fingers moving as if typing. 

But nothing happened. 

Confused, he tried again. 

No response. 

"Why… why can't I summon it?" His voice wavered. 

No matter how hard he willed it, the ability that had let him manipulate fire like a coded program refused to appear. His only weapon—gone. 

He sat down, chest heaving, mind reeling. 

"Come on!" he shouted, but the strange 'interface' never materialized. He slammed his fist into the ground. 

BANG! 

Cracks spread beneath his knuckles. 

Then—drip. 

A droplet of crimson hit the earth, shimmering under the dim light. 

Blood. 

Abel frowned and wiped his lips, only to feel something warm and wet. 

His stomach twisted. Then— 

"Gahh—!" 

He vomited blood. 

His vision swayed. His limbs felt heavy. His breath turned ragged. 

He forced his gaze toward the rabbit. 

It was waiting. 

Its crimson eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as it crouched in the shadows, watching him struggle. Mocking him. 

KIKIKI~ 

"You...!" Abel's fury burned hotter. 

It had poisoned him. The wound from the fang—it wasn't just an injury. 

His eyelids grew heavier. His vision blurred. His body was failing. 

But even as his strength faded, something inside him refused to surrender. 

Rage. 

Abel clenched his fists. 

"AGHHHH!" 

Summoning the last of his strength, he roared and hurled another fireball at the rabbit. 

But the creature danced through the flames with ease. 

Again. He attacked. Again. And again. Fire raged across the trees, consuming everything in its path. But no matter how much he attacked, the rabbit remained untouched. 

It grinned—its mouth stretching unnaturally wide, ear to ear. Its beady eyes filled with amusement. 

Abel panted, his knees trembling. His body deteriorated with each reckless use of his life energy. His flames flickered weaker, his breath shallower. 

Something was wrong. 

This wasn't him. 

He wasn't someone who lost himself to rage. He had endured worse—hours debugging stubborn code, dealing with last-minute client demands, years of cultivating patience and discipline. He wasn't a man who acted without thought. 

So why was this fire inside him refusing to die down? 

No. 

This isn't normal. 

He forced himself to stop. 

Taking a deep breath, Abel focused. He needed to rid himself of the poison first. 

The rabbit, sensing the change, stopped hopping. It tilted its head, intrigued, waiting. 

Abel summoned his life essence and wrapped it around his body. The pain intensified, but he clenched his jaw, willing the poison out. 

Three seconds. 

Six seconds. 

His fingers twitched. His vision steadied. 

But then— 

BLEGH—! 

He coughed up more blood. His complexion turned pale. A streak of silver laced his hair. His skin grew rough and brittle. His body was withering. 

'The poison… it can't be healed by life essence…' 

His heart sank. 

'I failed…' 

His body slumped forward. Motionless. 

The rabbit's eyes gleamed. 

KEKEKE~ 

It stomped its feet in excitement, hopping forward eagerly. 

Its fangs had regrown—long, sharp, glistening with venom. 

Without hesitation, it lunged for Abel's neck. 

Then— 

SPLASH. 

!