“You’re looking pretty dapper, little buddy, where is your shovel?” Rob just finished his evolution to a [Shovel Skeleton] but his shovel is missing. Rob sticks his hand out and a shovel made of bones grows out of his palm. The shovel head looks strangely metallic.

I check his [Status]

Name: Rob

Nickname: Little Buddy

Species: Shovel Skeleton (Uncommon Undead)

Level 11 0/1000

Health Points 25/25

Mana Points: 40/40

Armor Points: 0

Evolution Requirements Not Met

~

Might: 18 > 23

Agility: 24 > 29

Vigor: 5 > 10

Mind: 8 > 13

Spirit: 8 > 13

~

Traits:

Reassembling Skeleton Unique:

As long as the skeleton has available bones, it can reassemble itself from any amount of damage. If no bones are available, mana can be used as a substitute.

Undead Fortitude F:

The user does not need to eat, drink, sleep, or breathe.

The user is classified as undead and is subjected to their weaknesses and limitations,

~

Skills:

Sense Life D

The user can sense the life of those around them, the skill persists through the earth.

Range 45 feet.

Cuteness E

If the user is deemed to not be a threat, creatures will be compelled not to attack it.

Shovel Mastery D lv1 (New)

Deal 25 percent more damage with shovels.

+5 percent per level

Move Dirt C (New)

Dirt is 100% easier for the user to move.

Create Tool C (New)

Uses 5 mana to create a mundane Tool

Shovels Only.

Damn, little buddy got three whole new skills that exceed his rank, and a bump in his stat points. He is way faster than me now, I check my phone for the time, I should invest in a watch once I get the money. I have a few hours before I want to head to the Institute and get that snake. Speaking of which.

[Companion E lv2 (2/3)

A creature can be designated as a companion with their consent, or if they cannot resist. A companion is necessary for other Tamer skills to work.

Companions cannot have a higher Spirit stat than the Designator

Registered Companions: Flash Gordon. Rob.

I wonder when I’ll get new tamer-focused skills, I put the thought aside and decide that hunting snails until I need to go Is the best way to spend my time. I grab Flash Gordon and head deeper into the crag.

~

…

I’m lost. It wasn’t my fault.

Before I could start hunting, I spotted a particularly weird snail far off into the distance, zipping between rocks and divots in the ground. When I got closer to it, It crawled away ludicrously fast, not even Rob who is faster than me could think about catching up to the snail.

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[Golden Snail Lv25]

I’ve never heard of a ‘Golden’ version of any creature, but my instincts were screaming that I wanted that snail to be mine. I could always level [Companion] again in time for me to get that Feathered Boa, but for now, that snail is my priority.

The snail was too quick for me to be able to run up to it and pin it down, but I believed that I had the advantage in other ways.

I just kept it in my sights, my theory was that since it’s so fast it will probably run out of stamina before I do. I was betting on the fact that If I can’t outpace it, I will just wait for it to give in naturally, but for me to even be able to keep up I will need a certain amount of speed.

[Agility 20 > 30]

My mind and my body feel like they are perfectly in sync, my Mind, Might, and Agility are all 30. A sense of stifling that I never realized was lifted. My body can move to my Mind’s commands a lot easier now, and my body’s agility is perfectly utilized by my body’s strength. I start running after this snail before I lose it entirely.

[Run E lv2 > 3

You run faster and for longer periods.

Running speed is 15 percent faster and Running stamina is consumed 15 percent slower

5% increase per skill level]

Nice, I was wondering when [Run] would level up, the increase isn’t that substantial, but it boosts my confidence in the plan succeeding.

I chased it out of the craggy hills and into a more lush region. Trees scatter the light that passes through the foliage, and multiple [Forest Snails] line the vegetation, they are not high enough level where it’s worth giving up chasing this golden snail.

It took way longer than I initially thought it would, but eventually the golden snail tires out in exhaustion, It looks like it's limping to a more open area. Rob fell behind a little, but I won't let that stand in my way of catching this new companion. I’m tired too, but I still have Vigor to burn

Looking closer, the snail is smaller than other snails similar to Its level. The dazzling shell is about as big as my head. Out of haste I made a mistake in going up to the snail, I was confident that my Spirit was higher, and in its exhausted state would have difficulty shrugging off my companion skill.

I didn't realize that the snail was over a massive hole that was being obscured naturally by dead vegetation. The snail wasn't heavy enough to collapse the cover, but with my combined weight, the forest floor gave away underneath me.

I quickly grabbed the golden snail and clutched it in my arms as we fell into this deep, dark hole.

~

SNAP CRACKLE CRUNCH

Good news, I manage to break my fall with my legs. Bad news, I broke both my legs.

The worst news is that my [Golden Snail] died on impact. I might have used it to cushion the fall. I will remember its noble sacrifice.

[Golden Creature Killed]

[+1 Luck]

My eyes widen, and I quickly look at my status to confirm.

Name: Ellis Vincere. Race: Human

Nickname: The Last Winner.

Level: 17 2100/2500

Class: Tamer (Rank D)

Titles: Proud Owner of a Rock, Fell the Mighty E, On the Edge B

Health Points 100/340 (29%)

Mana Points 150/150

Armor Points: 10

~

Might: 30

Agility: 30 - 15 (Broken Legs)

Vigor: 24 + 10

Mind: 30

Spirit: 42

Luck: 1 > 2

Unused: 5

~

Resistance:

Fire: 4

Slashing 5

Blunt: 4 (new)

~

YES, my shitty luck is turning for the better, I knew this snail was important somehow. I start to heal my legs, but even if I dump all my mana into my health, It still won't be enough to bring me up to full. A chill runs down my spine. I quickly pull out my lighter and flicked it on. The small flame illuminates a small portion of the hole I fell.

Dozens of [Giant Snails] appear at the border of my light. They are way bigger than me, around the size of a small car. They start gunning for me. Not wanting to be eaten alive by snails, I crawl away from the snails.

My legs have barely healed and I didn’t want to dump all my mana, running out would give me a debilitating headache. I try to dump my mana into [Heal Anything] and focus on only healing one leg instead of my whole body.

-75 mana

+112 health

The mana I used was more than enough to heal one leg perfectly. Directing the rest of the healing to my other leg, I drag myself up onto my good leg and start limping away from the snails. Their average level is around 25, but they seem noticeably weaker than the Champion. I wonder how exactly ranks play into strength.

I reach a dirt wall, There are multiple entrances to tunnels that lead farther down. I look up and barely see where I fell down from. I probably won't be able to climb out of the hole before the Snails get to me.

I decided to test my new luck and decide to go into a random tunnel in front of me. At least the snails will have to come at me one at a time. Before I’m able to enter, I am forced to quickly dodge a spray attack from a [Giant Snail] that I didn’t notice. The mucus spray coats the wall. I don't want to be pinned down by that disgusting attack, so I hurriedly limp deeper into snail territory.

~

The tunnels are winding and a spiraling mess. Multiple tunnels connect at random intersections and drive me mad.

“Another fucking T-intersection! Gods damn it!”

I figured out that the snails can't hear me, and that their eyesight is very poor. Another snail appears from the left, I decide to go to the right. I can't waste stamina getting into fights if I don't know where to go next. The snails can probably smell me, so I caked myself in the damp dirt that makes up the underground.

I don't know where Rob is, he didn’t fall down the hole with me, so I hope he’s okay all alone. At least I have Flash Gordon to keep me company. He is my rock in this hard time.

The only snails I’ve come across are [Giant Snails], this must be their nest. Do snails even have nests? I wish I researched some more before heading into the fracture, I would’ve brought a bag of road salt with me If I knew that all these mollusks were going to give me such a hard time.

“Should I go all out? At least I would die with some dignity.” I ask Flash Gordon, but he doesn't respond.

My legs are all better, for the most part, the only issue is that my mana Is pretty low now. I keep heading deeper into the tunnels, confident that eventually, my luck will turn out for the better.