I didn't exactly end the fight unscathed. The frogs stomach acid, at least I'm guessing that's what it was, had already started eating through my shell. As soon as I got the notification that the frog had died, I climbed out of its mouth. It was honestly more to escape the acid than anything else. While I had at first hoped that this might be one of those worlds where you could heal by eating that I used to read about when I was human, that does not seem to be the case. Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage. The choice now is whether to try and level up hoping that I can get healed that way or wait until I'm at least partly healed before trying to level up.
Thinking of this I decide to bring up my stats.
Name Thomas Race Micro Turtle Size 3cm Level 0 Experience 8/10 Health 58/100 Attack 3 Defense 7 speed 1 Skills None Talents None
Just as I thought, my health isn't good. It is much better than I had feared however. Reluctantly, I decided to not actively seek conflict for the next few days and see if my health would improve on its own. Immediately upon saying that though I remember the caterpillar I was originally targeting, and after a little searching quickly locate it.
Name Farmer's Bane Caterpillar Level 2 Attack 5 Defense 3 Speed 2
Should be an easy enough fight even as injured as I am. It could have run away if it had noticed me but fortunately it seemed to be fixated on a nearby flower and failed to sense my approach. As soon as I went to take a bite the caterpillar stopped and began to wrap itself around me. It feels like it's trying to pry my shell open. If my defense had been a little lower, it might have succeeded too. That's not to say it didn't hurt like heck though. I uh ... I don't believe it. It was only pretending to not notice me to lure me closer! I'll have to keep that little trick in mind for the future. Fool me once, and all that. Unfortunately, the Caterpillar does have some experience and so is keeping his neck well away from my mouth and claws. He's also arrogant and overestimates his own defense. Leaving his nonvital areas exposed. A mistake that will soon prove fatal. It takes a while but eventually after countless bits and claw slashes to nonvital areas he succumbs to his injuries and dies.
Defeated Farmer's bane Caterpillar Received Experience 4
No sooner had I dismissed that blue box than another blue box appeared.
CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING LEVEL 1 Initiating Skill Roulette Skill Acquired Regeneration Level 1 Passive Skill Regenerates 1 Health Per Hour Attribute Points Received 1 Please Assign Attribute Point As Soon As Possible
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Instantly I can feel my whole body changing, getting stronger and ... Larger!? Well, I guess that explains why size is listed as one of my stats. As for the attribute point there is logically only one place I can assign it that makes any sense. Without any hesitation I assign the single attribute point to speed. This effectively doubles the speed gains I got from the level up. Speaking of which I mentally pull up my stats.
Name Thomas Race Micro Turtle Size 4cm Level 1 Experience 2/20 Health 58/120 Attack 4 Defense 8 Speed 3 Skill Regeneration Level 1 (Passive) 0/10 Talent None
I would have preferred an attack skill. Although at least this way I can recover given enough time, so I guess it could have been worse. At least it wasn't a completely useless skill. One health per hour isn't great. At this rate it's going to take me just over two and a half days to fully recover. It does looks like the skill can be upgraded in the future. I just need to figure out how. One pleasant surprise was that it feels like speed increased more than just my physical body. It feels like both my perception and reaction speed have increased, or to put it another way it feels as if the entire world slowed down. Not by much but enough to be noticeable. Things that were just a blur before I can now almost make out. Enough to know that it's some kind of flying creature. Most likely an insect given its size.
After waiting around for a few minutes to eat and get used to my new body I start back following the stone path again. Still being careful to stay hidden as much as I can with very few large plants in what appears to be a grass area. At this point I'm determined to see where it leads. Unbeknownst to me, several meters ahead are two young ladies hurrying to the forest. Well, one is hurrying and trying in vain to hurry the other one who looks as if she's never been in a hurry to do anything. Not that she's lazy exactly but that she's never felt the need to rush things. "Hurry up Yuna, I want to get this done already!" "What's the rush Vivi this is our first actual job we should take our time and savor it." "No, what we should do is get it done so we can move on to higher paying jobs!" Vivi exclaimed. "But what if the next job is too dangerous?" asked Yuna. "Oh, come on." replied Vivi nonchalantly. "They got us picking flowers now, they're not going to suddenly have us fighting dragons tomorrow." "Herbs" Yuna retorted "but I get your point."
Meanwhile I was continuing along the stone path when there were suddenly two titans approaching. Ok, so maybe not titans exactly but at my size they might as well have been. "Ah, look" I heard one of them exclaim. "Have you ever seen such a teeny tiny turtle?" As I was suddenly scooped up, I noticed that they were both women. The one holding me was around a half a meter shorter than the other one by the look of it. Although at my size it's hard to tell. They both have similar facial features. With one having dark brown eyes while the one holding me had eyes that were a deep green color. Both had dark black straight hair that goes down to the small of their back. Both women had extremely fair complexions. The only other obvious difference was that the one holding me had ample 'assets' while the other woman was almost flat.
"No, absolutely not you do not need another pet." said the taller woman seeming to sense what the other woman was thinking. "But, but, but" the one holding me began almost starting to pout. "No" said the other sternly. After a brief staring contest, the one holding me finally relented. "Fine but can I at least heal it. It looks injured?" she asked almost pleading. "Fine" said the other woman. Her features starting to soften. Moments later I felt a warm tingly sensation and was placed back on the ground.