''...''
GRRRR
Hmm... I wonder if there's a smarter way to do this.
Obviously, I'm not going to risk myself going down there to fight close quarters with the wolf, never. I don't think I have any chance of beating it, even with my makeshift spear here. Not with my teenage girl body.
I've tried to throw the spear at it a few times in the last ten minutes or so, but every time I've tried to throw, it dodged very quickly to the side, so now we're having a staring contest.
GRRRRR
The wolf growls angrily and paces around, drool from its mouth already forming small puddles below.
Yeah, keep trying. I'm not going down there. I just woke up, and I can wait here with you all day.
Okay, maybe not all day, I need to eat and drink as well. But how can I kill the wolf...
Would [Domination] work?
Let's just try it.
I raise my hand with the spear up, assuming a throwing position. The wolf immediately lowers its body, preparing to jump aside as well. Now then, I just need to-
Know fear, mortals!
The line pops up unexpectedly, yet naturally in my head.
The wolf friend below freezes, its legs shaking profusely.
SWISH
I use all my strength to bring my arm forward, launching the spear. And even though it's the first time I've ever thrown something like this, it hits the paralyzed wolf right in the head.
crack
The spear pierces its skull with a dull cracking sound, killing it almost instantly.
[You have defeated a Lv.5 Zircon Wolf]
[Proficiency achieved a certain level]
[Being: Aurora Lv.3 has become Lv.4]
[1 skill point acquired]
This one is also named 'Zircon', maybe this region is called 'Zircon'?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Aurora
Race: Owl-kin Title: Brute Force
Level: 4
HP: 17/17 MP: 19/19
STR: 2.4 INT: 8.2
AGI: 2.9 STA: 2.3
Skill: [Sharp Claw Lv.2], [Domination Lv.1],
[Night Vision Lv.1], [Stealth Lv.1],
[Enhanced Hearing Lv.1].
State: Hungry, thirsty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the experience anyway.
Now, I really want to go down there because I'm both hungry and thirsty, but considering that wolves often hunt in packs, there might be a lot more of them around here.
I'm not sure if this one just wanted me all to himself or if this particular variant of wolves hunts independently, but I have to be careful anyway.
Let's make some more spears while I'm waiting. I really should have stockpiled spears before leveling up earlier, it's such a waste of MP.
----------------------------------------
Okay, there goes the third spear.
Hmm... Now that I think about it, I wonder if Chloe got teleported here just like me. No rule says only one person can be transported to another world.
''...''
gulp
I really hope she wasn't in one of those eggs... I pray for you, Chloe. I know you would survive no matter what if you ever got here. It's your favorite genre after all.
Fourth spear, done. I should probably make five for now.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
...And actually, how do I know if there are owl girls inside those eggs or not? And what about the mother? Where'd it go? Maybe I should go back to that place sometime in the futur-
-wait, I can hear something. It's very faint, but something is moving through the bushes in the distance. The little rustling sounds... It's coming here.
Okay, let's activate [Stealth].
I grab one of the spears and hold my stance, just in case this 'something' has acute senses and can somehow detect my position, then I'll be able to react instantly.
''...''
GRRRRR
There it is.
From the left, I can see another three-eyed wolf moving cautiously toward the body of its kin. It sniffs and paces around for a bit, then goes straight for the corpse, biting and eating like there's no tomorrow.
Ugh... That's gross.
SWISH
AUF
Another headshot. Maybe I should have joined the baseball team back in high school.
[You have defeated a Lv.5 Zircon Wolf]
Hmm... From this dead guy and the previous dead guy, I can probably assume that these Zircon wolves hunt independently, so I don't have to worry about getting surrounded, probably.
But I still want to camp here a bit more. I can endure this level of hunger and thirst just fine.
rustle
Oh, there's another one, lucky me. Active [Stealth] again, and then wait...
[Skill proficiency achieved a certain level]
[Skill: Stealth Lv.1 has become Lv.2]
Okay, good, but not now. I need to focus.
After a few dozen seconds, another wolf comes out of the bushes. However, this one is a bit different from the last one, it has a huge horn attached to its forehead. It stands still in silence before the two corpses for some reason.
...This one feels odd somehow, let's just-
''!!''
It suddenly turns its head ninety degrees toward me, three hungry eyes staring straight into my soul.
GRRRR
After a short growl, it leaps at my position with unbelievable momentum, its jaws filled with crooked teeth gaping.
Tch! Let's just throw.
SWISH
The spear flies straight at the open mouth, but before it can lodge into the creature's throat, something appears in front of the wolf.
keng
Wait, it has a barrier?! It got so close already, what do I do...!
Ugh, [Domination]!
The wolf's body flinches, eyes wide, but keeps going, or rather it can't stop anymore. Luckily for me, its momentum has decreased a bit, therefore it just misses my arm by a little bit instead of biting my whole arm off.
I immediately grab another spear as the wolf falls. Using a large branch nearby as a support to lean on, I throw the spear down with all my meager strength.
SWISH
AUF
The spear lodges right in its side, causing it to quiver in pain.
Not letting the opportunity go, I grab another spear.
SWISH
Tch, I missed its head again. Forget about the baseball team, I'll need to go to physical therapy at this point.
Despite having two spears stuck in its side, the wolf rises to its feet, shakily but determinedly walking away.
As if I'll let you run!
SWISH
keng
Tch, the armor again. That was the last spear, and I don't think there's enough time to make another one.
Do I risk myself and jump down for the experience? That one surely would have a lot...
The wolf is already near the thick bushes at this point, if he goes in there, I won't have a chance to follow him.
Reluctantly, I jump in the direction of the wolf, wings spread wide to reduce my falling speed as much as possible.
[Sharp Claw]!
I land on top of the wolf, both hands on its neck, pinning it to the ground.
''Know fear, mortal.'' I whisper.
Despite its struggle, my fingers gradually dig into its flesh, slowly but surely tearing apart the entire neck.
''Agh!''
Not content to rest, the wolf makes one last stand and turns around with its mouth open, its sharp and uneven teeth sinking deep into my forearm.
''Just... Die already!''
AUFF
It hurts so much. I've never felt this much pain before.
sob
No, don't cry here. You have to be strong in order to survive...
My fingers continue digging even deeper into its neck, its teeth continue digging even deeper into my flesh, and after God knows how long, I can finally feel its bite weakening.
[You have defeated a Lv.7 Zircon Commander Wolf]
[Proficiency achieved a certain level]
[Being: Aurora Lv.4 has become Lv.5]
[1 skill point acquired]
[Skill proficiency achieved a certain level]
[Skill: Sharp Claw Lv.2 has become Lv.3]
[Skill proficiency achieved a certain level]
[Skill: Domination Lv.1 has become Lv.2]
''Hah...''
I immediately release my hands and yank the wolf's head away. To my surprise, the gaping and bleeding holes on my forearm close with a magical speed, and after just a few seconds, all the pain and the holes are gone, as if nothing ever happened.
''It really is magical, huh.'' I mutter, wiping my tears away.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Aurora
Race: Owl-kin Title: Brute Force
Level: 5
HP: 19/19 MP: 23/23
STR: 2.5 INT: 8.2
AGI: 3.0 STA: 2.4
Skill: [Sharp Claw Lv.3], [Domination Lv.2],
[Stealth Lv.2], [Night Vision Lv.1],
[Enhanced Hearing Lv.1].
State: Normal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
[State: Normal]
Hm? Does leveling up also remove hunger and thirst? Wait, I really don't feel anything anymore... I'm sure when I leveled up earlier, I was still hungry and thirsty... Maybe every five levels? What a strange system, but it's something to keep track of.
For now, let's climb the tree again, I need to plan my next actions first.
----------------------------------------
''Hu...''
I've gotten better at climbing trees, it seems.
...Now that I think about it, can't I just fly? No, what am I thinking, there's no way these wings are enough to keep my body afloat. Maybe I need a skill or meet a stat requirement.
Whatever, now that I have four skill points...
[Inspect: Enable the user to inspect the status of others] [Rare]
Tap the message again.
[Would you like to buy 'Inspect'? Cost: 4 skill points] [Yes] [No]
I trust you, Chloe.
[Yes]
[Skill: Inspect Lv.1 acquired]