As expected, I run into one dew drop slime after another on the way back. The surprising thing was that after the third fight I got a second prompt after what I have dubbed the 'victory notification'. Surprising because at some point I guess I had quit keeping track of how many experience points I needed to level up.

Congratulations On Reaching Level 2 It Has Been Detected That The Host Has A Skill Please Choose Whether To Receive A Random Skill Or Skill Points Equal To Your Level [please note that unassigned skill points will not be retained]

Without hesitating I chose to receive a random skill. I have no doubt that I should upgrade my regeneration skill as soon as possible but I desperately need an attack skill.

Selection Acknowledged, Beginning Skill Roulette New Skill Acquired, Water Manipulation (grants telepathic control over open sources of water) New Talent Awarded Based On Previous Actions Taken Stone Shell (A Permanant Plus 5 To Defense) Attribute Points Awarded Please Assign Them As Soon As Possible

I quickly assigned the two additional attribute points to speed. Not that I plan to continue doing this, but I do want my speed to at least be on par with my attack and defense. After the points have been assigned, I pull up my stats.

Name Thomas Race Micro Turtle Size 6cm Level 2 Experience 0/30 Health 160/160 Attack 5 Defense 14 Speed 6 Skill Regeneration Level 1 (Passive) 0/10 Water Manipulation Level 1 (Active) 0/10 Talent Stone Shell

Thanks to the new stone shell talent my defense is almost triple my attack and speed, even with the additional attribute points added to speed. My size has also increased by a whole 2cm, which means I am now officially twice as big as when I first arrived in this world. One thing I didn't see that surprised me even more was any kind of magic or mana indicator. I really wanted to test the new water manipulation skill but the only open source of water I could think of was the puddle that I slept beside that one night. That said I debate whether I should head there now or wait and rest setting out in the morning. It is well into the afternoon after all and even with my increased speed it will still take some time to get there.

After going over the pros and cons a few times in my head I decide to set out. The dew drop slimes don't pose any threat but they already didn't give many experience points. One can only image the amount hasn't exactly increased since the level up. Especially if past experience is any indication. So, with that in mind I set off to test my water manipulation and hopefully find some enemies that will give decent experience. I'm a little worried about the goblins, if that's even what they are, but I can't just stay where it's safe all the time. Well, I could but my progress would be slow at best.

By the time I get to the water source, I'm still not sure if it's technically large enough to count as a pond, it's already well into the evening and the sun is beginning to set. I look around quickly hoping to have one good encounter before calling it a night. It doesn't take long to notice something that piques my interest. It was a copper frog and bringing up the stats put a smile on my face.

Name Copper Frog Level 3 Attack 8 Defense 5 Speed 5

Oh, I can't pass this up. I still remember how terrified I was the first time I encountered one. At the time I hadn't even reached level 1 yet. Looking at it now I Didn't even hesitate. Just ran over immediately and attacked with my Beak. My attack power still isn't strong enough to easily slice through the frog's flesh, but I am able to do damage. The frog valiantly tries to fight back but I have grown too large to swallow, not that it did the first frog any good anyway. His claws are also even more pointless than they were back then. This time they can't even break through my 'soft' tissue meaning I don't even need to rely on my shell for protection. The attack lasted more than a single instant only because my attack power is now my weakest attribute. Finally, though the battle ended, and a familiar screen appeared.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Defeated Copper Frog Received Experience 2

Just as I expected Level 3 creatures now only gave two experience points. A far cry from the six I received the first time but then it was a much easier fight this time.

With that now taken care of and with no other threats in the area I decide to practice water manipulation. At first nothing sems to happen. gradually though I can see a water tentacle, for lack of a better term, rising out of the water. The total length of the water tentacle is about 4 cm and I'm not sure if that limit is due to my size or the level of the skill. Still, I can imagine using it to cause a distraction or maybe tie up an enemy's foot. I can even crack it like a whip, though I'm unsure how much damage that will actually do. I even tried lifting it up out of the water it was formed in and while I can it isn't easy. It takes way more concentration because now I'm having to control the entire thing not just the sides. Not only that but it doesn't last very long because try as I might, I can't keep it from dripping. Perhaps when the skill is upgraded it will be easier but for now it seems the skill is best used in or very near water.

After Practicing my water manipulation, I definitely was not just playing in the water, for a while. I decided that it was time for bed. Well, technically the fact that the sun had already set made the decision for me. Either way I picked out a secluded looking spot and dug out a nice sleeping hole before retracting into my shell and dozing off.

The next morning, I woke up and thankfully didn't see any goblins. After getting a drink I take a moment to look around and notice a familiar duo coming down the path. Apparently at some point they had made it back and were now heading off again. I'd love to talk to them, if only to thank them for healing me. Alas, until I get some kind of communication skill, if that's even a thing, it will have to remain an impossible dream. Still, I decide to follow them back towards the woods. While I'd love to say that I'm doing this to try and help them, that would be a lie. Don't get me wrong, I do plan to return the favor some day and I absolutely will help them if I'm able. The main reason I am returning to the woods right now though is because I am much stronger now than I was a few days ago. Not to mention much bigger.

I vividly remember my first time in the forest. After just hatching I spent a lot of time hiding or sneaking past creatures. It is precisely because of this that I know I'll be able to find a lot of worthy opponents. Of course, even with my current speed it will still take over a third of a day to even reach the forest. Therefore, it is also possible to encounter tough opponents before I even get to the woods.

Sure enough, after only traveling for a few hours, I come across my first opponent.

Name Root Snake Level 5 Attack 10 Defense 6 Speed 12 Skill Burst Of Speed Level 1 (Active) Temporarily Doubles Speed

I almost didn't See it laying there laying in the mud. It looks like a twig laying there. In fact, if we were closer to a tree I'd say it looked like a root, especially with the tip of its tail covered by mud. I'm guessing that's where it gets its name. Just As I'm getting close it suddenly launches itself towards me so fast I don't even have time to react. Fortunately, it used all of its speed to wrap me up. This tactic has likely worked hundreds of times and were it not for my stone shell talent probably would have worked this time as well. Unfortunately for the root snake this appears to be it's only move. Not that it's ever needed another.

The problem is now we are in a stalemate. It's much too fast for me to bite it, not that I'm confident I could even break the skin. It's right about now that I realize this might have been a bad idea. As the stalemate continues, I'm franticly racking my brain for a solution. After a while something occurs to me that makes me want to facepalm. The part of the root snake directly in front of my face might be too fast but the part that is wrapping me up can't move. At least it can't move much and certainly not fast. Not without risking Its prey escaping. As if I had any intentions of fleeing.

As soon as the idea comes to me, I turn my head and bite down on the snake. As expected, I don't have much luck. A few more failed attempts and I realize that I need to come up with something else. Instead of trying to take a huge chunk out of the snakes hide I focus the power of my bite onto a single point using the tip of my beak. To my surprise that actually works and I'm able to break the skin. It's not a huge wound, more of a pin prick really, but it's a start. After that I slowly work to widen the wound and make it deeper. Eventually the root snake does realize that something is wrong and readjusts, but I just start the whole process over again while It's still bleeding from the first wound.

This goes on for a while until eventually it can't hide all of the wounds from me anymore without letting me go completely. Eventually it just bleeds out. Kind of anticlimactic but at this point I'll take it.

Defeated Root Snake Received Experience 7

I almost close the text box without reading it. I've already figure out how the leveling system works. Why do I need to be told I gained 7 exper.... wait ... 7 ... not 6? Just when I thought I had it all figured out they go and throw me a curve ball. Whoever 'they' are. Thinking about it logically though it must be because the snake had a skill thus the system judged it to be a slightly tougher fight. Either that or it's because the root snake was significantly larger than me. At least in terms of body length. I have no idea which of these two ideas is right, but they are the only two explanations that makes sense given the information available. As I continue along the path to the forest, I make a mental note to test these two hypotheses as soon as possible.