I stood over the defeated lizard, my breaths coming in heavy gasps, my body aching from the blow to my side. I checked my status.
Condition: Bruised (major)
I certainly am feeling major pain right now.
I looked back at the creature, my eyes immediately focusing on the gem that was now lying beside the still creature. It seemed to pulsate with a faint glow.
Picking up the gem, I turned it over in my claw, examining its facets. It was uncommonly shiny, catching the light in a way that made it stand out against the forest's backdrop. Despite its captivating appearance, it felt like just another piece for my growing collection, a shiny object to adorn my lair and nothing more.
"This will do nicely."
I muttered to myself, feeling a sense of satisfaction. As I thought of transporting it back to my lair a stark realization hit me.
How the hell am I going to drag this chonky rock back?
Its weight and unwieldy shape made it impractical to carry in my claws over the distance, especially with my bruised condition. I needed a solution that leveraged my strengths, particularly my Phytomancer abilities.
As I pondered the issue, my gaze fell upon the surrounding tapestry of vines, leaves, and branches, as an idea began to take shape.
"Why not craft a harness from the vines?"
I mused aloud, the idea growing clearer with each passing moment. I could probably fashion a means to transport the gem back to my lair without burdening myself further.
I reached out with my senses, feeling for the vines that would best suit my needs. I selected several thick, supple strands, dragging them gently from their natural positions with my Phytomancer abilities.
I laid the gem on the forest floor, positioning the vines around it in a cradle-like fashion. With careful manipulation, I intertwined the vines, weaving them into a sturdy harness that cupped the gem securely.
Once satisfied with the harness's integrity, I fashioned a set of longer vines into straps, attaching them to the main cradle. These would serve as the means by which I could drag the gem behind me.
The final step was to test the contraption. I braced myself as I gave the vine-straps a tentative tug. To my relief and satisfaction, the harness held firm, the gem nestled securely within the vines, which slid across the forest floor with a surprising ease.
Pride swelled within me for a moment.
I was half-expecting this to not work at all
“Hey System! Do you see this? I’m getting quite good at this whole Phytomancer life, am I not?”
Of course, System didn’t bother to answer, causing the hint of a pout on my face.
With the gem in tow, I began the journey back to my lair, the harness trailing smoothly behind me. My renewed sense of direction made it easy to find my way back.
Thank you kindly, Explorer class.
As I neared my lair, the thought of adding the gem to my hoard filled me with anticipation. I carefully placed it in a designated spot where its luster could be appreciated. It didn't pulsate with mystical energy anymore or alter the ambiance of my cave, but its presence added a touch of elegance and intrigue to my humble abode.
I opened my status.
Dragon’s lair
Current hoard value: Sparse (55%)
Body
+1
Reflexes
+0
Mind
+0
Cool
+0
Mysticism (racial)
+0
As I looked through the lair’s statistics I couldn’t help but let out a cheer of satisfaction.
“I did it, it really worked!”
The gem had increased my hoard value by a whole 50%, which had granted me another point into my Body attribute.
“Status”
Name
Juniper
Race
Dragon
Growth
Cub
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Body
3 (+1)
Classes
Level
Reflexes
3
First
Phytomancer
3
Cool
1
Second
Explorer
1
Mind
4
Third
none
-
Mysticism (racial)
1
Fourth
none
-
It really did work huh… I wonder if I feel any different now.
As the thought crossed my mind I started testing my strength on the walls of my cave until my wounded side gently reminded me that I should have probably taken some rest. The fight with the lizard not only took a toll on my physical body, but also on my mental fatigue. I had never used my Phytomancer abilities so much and I definitely felt the backlash.
With the light outside of my lair beginning to dim, I decided to postpone further experimentation to the next day. I cuddled up in my fluffy purple bed and slowly dozed off.
– -
Waking up the next day, I felt a surge of energy pulsing through my scales. A good night of rest and I felt ready to take on the jungle. I glanced at my side and noticed that the bruise had recovered nicely, although it still felt somewhat sore.
Satisfied, I gobbled up a blazeberry and headed out.
"Let's see what this new body can do."
I declared, stretching out my limbs, which felt more robust than before. The dense foliage around my lair seemed like the perfect testing ground for my newfound strength.
First on my list was a hefty boulder I'd eyed previously, one that I'd struggled to even nudge. I approached it with a mix of determination and caution, not wanting to overestimate my capabilities. Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I took a deep breath and pushed against the rock.
To my amazement, it budged. Not much, but enough to send a ripple of excitement through me.
Feeling emboldened, I decided to take things up a notch. Grasping it firmly, I hoisted myself up with a newfound ease, my muscles flexing powerfully under my scales.
I really did become quite strong.
The real test came when I eyed a large, fallen tree trunk that had been a formidable obstacle on my path. Previously, I'd had to detour around it, but now, a mischievous idea took hold. Positioning myself carefully, I lowered my head, my tiny but mighty horns pointing forward like the lance of a knight.
With a running start, I charged at the trunk, expecting a jarring stop or, at best, a small dent. Instead, the impact shattered the rotting wood, sending splinters flying in all directions. I emerged on the other side, slightly dazed but exhilarated.
"Oops."
I muttered, glancing back at the wreckage with a sheepish grin.
"Did I just ram through a log?"
I giggled as I continued with a series of tests and trials, each one pushing the limits of my strength and agility. I leaped from rock to rock, scaled the tallest trees, and even attempted to carve my initial into a particularly stubborn trunk. The latter proved more challenging, resulting in a series of scratchy marks that vaguely resembled my name if one squinted hard enough.
The sun was now bright into the sky as I thought of differentiating my activities.
Now that I think about it, I haven’t really tested the full extent of my Phytomancer prowess in a while.
Feeling adventurous, I decided to start small, focusing on a single leaf. I willed it to twist and turn in the air, performing an intricate dance at my command. It was a simple task, yet watching the leaf pirouette on an unseen breeze made me strangely happy.
Encouraged by this small success, I turned my attention to a nearby bush, coaxing it to grow and reshape itself. Under my guidance, the bush slowly transformed, its branches weaving together to form a crude but recognizable sculpture of a... well, it was supposed to be a dragon. From a certain angle, and with a generous amount of imagination, it almost looked the part.
"I guess I won't be taking up topiary as a profession anytime soon," I chuckled to myself, admiring my handiwork.
Flushed with the thrill of these minor victories, I set my sights on a more ambitious challenge—a giant root from one of the towering sequoias that dotted the forest. The root lay partially exposed, thick and gnarled, a testament to the tree's ancient strength.
"This might be a bit much, but let's see what happens," I mused, my voice tinged with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
I reached out with my Phytomancer abilities, feeling the immense life force of the sequoia pulsing through the root. I had moved small roots before, but this was like touching a live wire, the raw energy of the tree both exhilarating and daunting. I focused my will, attempting to coax the root to move, even just a little.
At first, there was nothing. The root remained stubbornly still, as immovable as the mountain itself. I pushed harder, my mental muscles straining against the unyielding force of nature.
Then, ever so slightly, the root twitched.
Emboldened by this tiny sign of progress, I redoubled my efforts, pouring all my concentration into the task. The root shuddered, then began to lift, the earth around it cracking and shifting.
"I'm doing it!" I exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across my face.
But my triumph was short-lived. The strain of manipulating something so vast and deeply connected to the forest's life force quickly became apparent. A sharp pain lanced through my head and I realized that I was pushing myself too far.
I reluctantly released my hold on the root.
"Okay, okay, lesson learned,"
I groaned, massaging my temples.
"No messing with giant sequoia roots."
Phytomancer - Experience +25
Well at least there’s that…
As I made my way back to the comfort of my lair, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Despite the headache, I felt a sense of satisfaction.
“I’m definitely improving, although I wonder how much of that is because of me being a dragon…”
I gloomed a little and settled down.
What if I’m supposed to be stronger? What kind of dragon struggles to kill a big lizard.
Clarification. User’s progress is quite remarkable, regardless of their race.
“System, are you actually reassuring me? I didn’t know about your kind side, do you want to talk?”
I waited a few moments without getting a reply.
Conversing is still a no-go huh…
While that cheered me up a little I couldn’t help but feel a hint of loneliness.
I guess you don’t meet a lot of people being a dragon in a fantasy jungle.
I settled into my bed of purple grass, the events of the day replaying in my mind, I knew that each challenge, each failure, and each small victory was shaping me into the dragon I was meant to be. With a contented sigh, I drifted off to sleep, my dreams filled with leaves dancing on unseen breezes and bushes shaped like dragons, if only in the eye of the beholder.