Weeks pass after that encounter. I continue my journey towards the mountain, looking for a new home. I also keep an eye out in the areas I pass through, just in case I find someplace suitable that will take less effort to get to. I don’t end up finding anything. During that time, I hunt to feed myself, and increase my level.
I never ended up fighting something stronger than me, even though I did kill a great variety of creatures. I fought more of those deer, a couple more squirrels, and a plant monster. The plant monster was pretty easy, as all I had to do was burn it with [Spark] while dodging its attacks. After that battle, I also leveled up to level 9.
Defeated [Lily of the Valley - Level 9] Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy.
1 skill level gained. advanced Spark to level 4
1 level gained. advanced from 8 --> 9
Finally! I'm so close to level 10. I feel like something special will happen when I get there. I feel the typical boost in power from leveling up, and stand still for a second. It only takes me a minute to grow accustomed to the increase in speed, strength, control, and clarity of mind.
I look up to the mountain, to gauge the approximate distance I still have to travel. It doesn't look like it will be much longer before I get there. I wonder if I will reach level 10 before I do? Probably not. It's been taking more and more time and battles to get to the next level. I wonder how my status has changed after this new level? [Status]
Razag
Level: 9
Species: Dragon Hatchling
General Skills:
[Passive - Dragon Scales] lvl 2
[Passive - Danger Sense] lvl 1
Skills:
[Spark] lvl 4
[Slash] lvl 2
Unused skill slots x 3
Stats:
STR: 26
END: 26
VIT: 38
WIS: 33
INT: 33
Wow! My status has changed a lot since the last time I checked. Even though it's only been a couple of days, all the levels have increased my stats by a large amount. Although... something seems a bit off with my stats. Why is vitality so high? It used to just barely be above wisdom and intelligence, but now it is significantly higher. ... Well, I guess it doesn't matter too much. Anyways, I should start traveling again. Maybe I can even make it there today! Probably not, but I can still dream, damnit!
I stop focusing on my status, and it disappears, like when a thought or memory is put out of mind. I look back up to the mountain, and then orient myself to face it. I only pay attention to danger sense for a second, hear nothing, and then continue my journey.
It's not long after that I notice something. I hear a faint beeping sound in my ear, interrupting the silence of the forest. I pay attention to the sound, and quickly realize that it is my danger sense. Why is my danger sense warning me? It hasn't done that once since I've gotten the skill. I shrug, and then continue walking, albeit while paying more attention to my surroundings. I also pay more attention to danger sense, in case it saves me like it did last time.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
It only takes me a few minutes to realize something important. The more I move forward, the more danger sense warns me. I think there might be something hostile and malicious in the direction I'm going. But I can't just stop, or I won't make any more progress. Still, it's better to be cautious, and maybe wait until whatever's in front of me leaves. I abruptly stop moving, and narrow my eyes, focusing on the stretch of ground in front of me.
But it looks exactly the same as everything else does. I then glance above, and see the leaves rustling in the wind. After that, I look at the area around me, and the ground in front of me. I'd rather be prepared if something suddenly decides to attack me. It’s only then that I see bushes rustling, more than the wind would allow. I narrow my eyes at the disturbance, and tense up my muscles, ready to jump to the side. I start moving slowly to my right, away from the rustling bush. My danger sense suddenly beeps loudly.
I fling myself to the right, and land right next to some especially dense underbrush. Based on what I've seen so far, the underbrush is especially dense when it's surrounding a clearing. A clearing would allow me the freedom of movement to do whatever I need to. I charge through the dense underbrush, and, like I predicted, I enter a clearing. I'm quickly followed by a white blur shooting through the heavy underbrush behind me. I have to jump to the side to dodge it. The creature quickly halts its momentum, and turns around to face me, looking ready to leap and attack once again. However, the brief pause in its movement allows me to get a good view of the creature. It is a small fox.
It has sleek white fur, and is very thin. Its muscles seem to be small, yet the speed it was moving at earlier dissuades me from the idea that it is weak. That more likely means that it just has a small frame, which is an advantage to it. Less area for me to hit. Why is it white, though? There isn't anywhere nearby that I know of that would make that be an advantageous trait.
After I finish my quick analysis, I feel my danger sense go off again. I jump to the left, and narrowly avoid being hit by the fox. I quickly turn around, and then jump to the right, only narrowly dodging the fox again. How is it so fast?! I turn a bit to the right again, and this time leap forward. I feel a slight whoosh of air as the fox shoots toward where I was a moment before. However, it pivots this time, jumping off of the ground, and straight onto my back. I feel my scales crack, and I tumble forward. What? I feel a sharp pain as my cracked scales dig into my back.
I'm momentarily paralyzed by the pain, and the fox uses that delay to attack again. I feel another, stronger bash crack some more scales that are on my back. The force also knocks me forward. This time, I use my claws to stop myself from sliding, and hastily stand up. I turn back around to the fox, and hear my danger sense blast once again. I try to run to the right, but I stumble. Somehow, my stumble turned what would've been another crushing blow into a mere nick.
I feel another small bit of pain, but I'm able to quickly activate [Slash]. Three small blades shoot out from my claws and dig into the fox's shoulders, It stumbles, likely not expecting to be hit by something as slow as me. I use the chance to shoot out [Spark], and set the fox aflame. It shrieks in pain, and I stumble towards it, and then slash it again, with my claws this time. Luckily it isn't able to avoid my hit, probably since it is on fire. When my claw connects with its head, it drops down. It struggles, trying to get back on its feet. However, one last claw strike puts an end to it, and I get the notification a few seconds later.
Defeated [Albino Fox - Level 11] More experience awarded for defeating an enemy of a higher evolution
3 skill levels gained. advanced [Slash] to level 3. advanced [Dragon Scales] to level 3. advanced [Danger Sense] to level 2.
1 level gained. advanced from 9 --> 10
{EVOLUTION AVAILABLE}
What's that? What's evolution? Wait, I'm still injured. I should go somewhere to heal. Maybe I should bring the corpse with me? I mean, the fox will probably make good food. I pick the fox up by its neck, and then look around the clearing for a place that's large enough for me to sleep in, and have the fox nearby.
It only takes me a couple of seconds to find a suitable hollow relatively close to me, and that has an entrance that is on the ground. It's a fallen tree that is quite large, which makes it an easy place to move around in. I start dragging the fox's corpse to the log when the adrenaline from the fight starts fading. I stagger, the full weight of my injuries starting to catch up to me. I have to get to the log, then I can pass out.
I start dragging the corpse again, making slower progress because I'm beginning to feel my injuries. After a minute of dragging the corpse, I stand right in front of the log. I quickly stumble in, dragging the corpse in as well. I go a bit deeper into the log, making sure that no part of me or the fox is visible from the outside. After finally letting go of the fox, the last of my adrenaline fades away, and I promptly collapse.