[Pain resistance (level 1) acquired]

Richard had looked for a chance to test out his body, and the universe had responded accordingly, though Richard hadn’t expected to be smacked into the wall so hard. Even dazed, Richard went high on alert. Thankfully it didn’t hurt that much, but Richard knew there was still more to come. The thing that had caused this was still alive after all.

The thing in question was a giant rat, and although it wasn’t as big as Richard was, the rat was still bigger than your average rat. Three times the size of an average rat, with red glowing eyes, two fangs protruding from its mouth, and a large girthy tail that had a hint of scales on it, Richard knew what this was: a saber tooth rat. Using appraisal on the rat which had just gotten up from it’s own recoil, the result was:

[Species: saber tooth rat]

Level: 15

Health: 400

Straight off the bat Richard felt worried. Most slimes had below 100 health and even the ones above level 10, had around 200 health. Richard had just evolved and had no actual idea of his own stats, and he didn’t dare look. Saber tooth rats were often talked about by experienced adventurers and even c ranked adventurers were wary of them. While they weren’t killing c ranked adventurers or even d ranked adventurers in one on ones, they rarely worked alone. And if a saber tooth rat catches a d ranked off-guard, then it can kill one.

And Richard? He was a hatchling, and unprepared. The rat had already gotten up and charged at him. The dragon quickly dodged to the side and used shock. He felt a jolt of surprise as not only did the charge build up far faster in his body, but he felt twice the amount of mana leave his body. And when the shock left his body, it was far brighter and even bigger from what he could tell as it flew at the rat. The rat, confused for a minute, dodged as fast as it could as it felt a shock pass it by just the edge of its fur. Although Richard had hit it, he only managed to get a light hit on it, only dealing according to the system, 20 damage, leaving the dragon frowning.

He decided to start up charge, as the move implied an increase in power. And he felt it too. The mana pumping through his heart turned into lightning pouring through his veins and his whole body felt stronger for sure, but he felt faster. As if everything was faster. Even as the rat lunged at him fangs bared, the dragon felt like an eternity passed waiting for the tiny rat, He took this opportunity to move in, and grab the rat by the scruff of the neck and shoved it into the ground. He followed up with a shock, which felt far stronger than the first. The rat screeched in extreme pain as this one fried it, leaving it looking like a twitching mess. However, according to the system, it only took 100 health from the rat according to the second appraisal. The rat, while it certainly looked in pain, looked more roasted then dying.

That look of terror in its eyes though… Richard didn’t get a chance to contemplate on this anymore as its fur changed texture, from dirty, oily fur to a smooth marble, which caused Richard to prepare for what’s next.

Although boulder roll was a rare move amongst saber tooth rats, if this mountain really is the hell-hole he thinks it is, then it wouldn’t surprise him if that’s what this is. Richard would be validated when the rat pushed itself off it’s hind legs and curled itself up, propelling itself like a wheel, and charged straight at him. Richard dodged it a few times, knowing that it’d be hard to pry that curled up rat open, especially since he had chosen lightning as his main element.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

What to do, what to do… And then, he started remembering something. The system was helpful sure, but it wasn’t the end all be all. It had introduced itself as additional and essential. So why couldn’t he make a new spell? Thinking this, he focused on the mana in his body. Attempting to remember the sensation mana produced when he breathed fire, he focused till it appeared. The embers of fire appeared in his core.

Instead of letting it travel naturally to his throat, he forcefully changed it’s trajectory into his claws. At the same time he started scratching his claws into the ground. Was it to sharpen his claws? To start a fire flint style? Richard wasn’t sure; he just felt it was natural. His efforts proved fruitful, as just before the stoned rat crashed into him, Richards claws turned molten red and steamed like a volcano ready to erupt.

[The skill (molten claws) is unlocked]

And Richard had just the subject to unleash the raging heat on.

He dug his claws into the stoned rat, stopping it from rolling into him, as the claws traveled into the rat, like a hot knife going through butter, as the steaming hiss erupted from the shell of the rat, and the rat itself screeched in pain. Richard didn’t hold back as he dug into the rat, and by the time he was done, the rat was torn to shreds and what remained was cooked well done. Exhausted Richard slumped over, as he stared at his hands, which were nice and clean with the blood having been steamed over. Nonetheless, he went over to a nearby river to wash his paws off. Richard looked into the river and could not help but admire himself in the river.

His body hadn’t grown tremendously, going from around 3 ft tall to 4 feet tall. His tail, which had once been barren, now had a crystal shard on the end, and his wing tendons had changed, and almost seemed almost thunder-like, striking out in comparison to his plain white wings. The claws on his paws had grown ever so bigger and sharper. He’d also grown two unique spikes protruding in front of where his wings sprouted from his back, disrupting the spine bumps traveling down his back. His neck was surrounded by a few crystals embedded in his skin, each shaped like a small gem, all a shocking yellow like the one on his tail.

The crystals looked like a beautiful necklace, which he found himself pleased, and a bit embarrassed about. They gave him a weirdly elegant, if not feminine vibe. At least he thought so. It reminded him of the stories he heard of noblewoman wearing beautiful necklaces to balls. Richard sadly did not gain any horns yet, and he noted his head grew slenderer and his neck grow a little longer. No horns or whiskers, hair or anything yet. Still, the change was overall good, thought Richard. As he admired his new body, a notification rang off in his head:

[ Saber tooth rat (lvl 15) has been successfully defeated! Lightning dragon hatchling has leveled up to level 2!]

While he was certainly happy for leveling up, Richard was bothered by the fact he had seemingly been sent back to level one, he requested the system show him his new stats, and he was left flabbergasted at his new stats.

Species: Lightning Dragon (Hatchling)

Level 2/25

Health: 302/302

Spd: 54

ATK: 64

Mana: 123/123

Skills: Scratch, Glide, Screech, Appraisal(lvl 2), fireball, rock smash, splash, vine whip, shock, icicle, stealth, heal, wind slash, molten claws, charge, lightning pulse, static

Mana circles: 0

Points: 455

Skill Points: 12

[Inventory]

[Gacha]

[Shop]

Richard was certainly relieved. Despite having been reset to level 1, then 2, he saw his stats had grown greatly in comparison to his max level as a hatchling. Looking back on the fight, Richard recalled the last moment of the fight, a stroke of luck for sure, and a very vital one if the implications rang true. Thinking about the biggest elephant in the room, he prodded the system with an important question: “I can learn skills on my own?”