Well, that was certainly something. Just waiting for your opponent to bleed out might seem cheap, but if it works it works. One thing is certain. I have got to increase my speed. I don't need to be a supersonic turtle, but some speed would be nice. Even launching my counterattack at the perfect time, I just barely made contact. The fact that I just happened to nick a major artery was a fluke and I'll not pretend otherwise! Still a victory is a victory, and it does bring me one step closer to a level up.
I so engrossed in my thoughts replaying the battle in my head trying to see if I could have done anything better that I didn't notice the ground start to curve downward. It's only when I start sliding that I realize how steep the terrain has gotten. In a panic I retreat into my shell. A few moments later I feel my shell starting to tumble downhill like a runaway cheese wheel. Fortunately, I'm small enough that the grass acts like a cushion. Unfortunately, there isn't always a blade of grass to land on. Eventually I do come to a stop.
By some miracle I seem to have landed right side up. Looking around I find that I'm no longer in the forest. As I look back at where I was, I see a forest extending all the way up a huge cliffside. Ok so maybe it's only a hill between 3 and 4 meters high. At my size it might as well be a cliffside. Looking towards the path I was following I see a set of stairs that I probably would have noticed sooner if I was paying attention like I should be. It seems the hill is too steep for even human sized creatures. I would just say human, but this is a world with levels, skills, talents, and presumably magic. How arrogant would it be to assume humans are the only intelligent creatures here.
Before continuing my journey, I decide to check my stats really quick. One because I can feel that I'm probably not at full health, and two because I should learn to call up my stats at will anyway. After a few seconds of mentally flailing around I finally succeed.
Name Thomas Race Micro Turtle Size 3cm Level 0 Experience 2/10 Health 87/100 Attack 3 Defense 7 Speed 1 Skill
None
Talent
None
I was right my health is down. No better time than now to figure out how to fix that. Unfortunately, I can't think of anything. It's not like I have a health potion. I would go seek out a healer of some kind be it magical or mundane if I had any idea where I could find one. Eh, they'd probably just think I was a normal turtle anyway. After several more minutes of standing around I decide that just standing here is accomplishing nothing and since I can't think of anything to increase my health I might as well continue my journey.
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As the sun begins to set, I suddenly realize That I'm extremely hungry. I have no idea what normal turtles eat but I suddenly find myself looking back at that nano-chameleon wondering what it tastes like. Just then I see a caterpillar scooting on by. Far from being repulsed at the thought of eating it I actually find myself practically drooling at the prospect. It hasn't noticed me yet, but I can't get careless. I may be bigger than it, though not by much, but it's out in the open and at my size I'm little more than a snack to almost everything else. Eventually hunger wins out over common sense and I just go for it. As I draw closer, I'm able to get a better look at it. It's green with little dark green bands every so often that almost makes it look like a part of some kind of plant.
Name Farmers Bane Caterpillar Level 2 Attack 5 Defense 3 Speed 2
The stats seem kind of low for it being level 2. Then again you wouldn't really expect a caterpillar to get too strong regardless of what level it is. It Seems like this world does obey some natural laws. I guess there would have to be a pretty huge level difference for ... say ... a rabbit to have any hope of defeating a bear. Things like that. As I'm musing about the meaning of the caterpillar's low stats, I almost miss the fact that something else is also eyeing the caterpillar. A little brown frog that looks like it's trying to blend in with the dirt between the blades of grass.
Name Copper Frog Level 3 Attack 8 Defense 5 Speed 5
Looking at the stats I slowly start to back away. I don't like retreating but bravery can only get you so far when your opponent has higher attack than your defense and stronger defense than your attack. To say nothing of the huge difference is speed. Before I can get too far though a huge tongue comes out and instead of going for the caterpillar heads straight for me. The next thing I know I'm flying straight towards the frog. "Not cool man! Just cause I don't want to fight you doesn't mean I'm on the menu!" I have no idea if the frog can hear me, and I doubt it understands. At this point bravado is all I got left though. As I enter the frog's mouth, I decide to do the only thing I can think of. I start eating it right back. Luckily for me the frog's insides aren't as tough as it's outside and I'm able to pierce the skin. At the same time, I used my four feet to claw at anything I could reach. Soon enough it realizes what is happening and tries to spit me back out. I don't let it, and just keep clawing and biting. By the time the frog finally dies its insides look like it tried to swallow a bag of nails.
Defeated Copper Frog Received Experience 6