Shell 3 was out cold for half a sun cycle, and there was only one reason he was not in someone's stomach, monsters don't eat things that look dead.
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Far far away in a lab deep underground, a three-eyed Two Legger let out a cry of success as a notification from the System popped into his vision.
Your Race specialization orb has found a suitable subject to specialize
The Two Legger rapidly pounded a message into a System communicator as he cackled in a Texan accent, as earthlings called it, "I have created the best pupil known to the world. Take that, Jormungandr!"
Another System message popped into his vision. Joy turned to anger as he read the message, " Why, System, why have you cursed me with the worst creature in the world to have as a pupil? Why!"
Current Race of First Pupil of Thoth: Acupuncture Sheller
Previous Races of First Pupil of Thoth: Sheller
Thoth looked up at his cave's dark, dank ceiling and screamed, "System, you could have given me anything other than a farm animal, and then you specialized it to be a noncombatant! Why oh why did you do this great System!"
Thoth's words echoed around the cave as nobody answered his question. A grim smile covered Thoth's face as he muttered, " I cannot have this mark my immaculate record. I must get rid of it. I must!"
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Shell 3 felt like someone had hit him repeatedly with a stone until every part of his body was crushed into a fine paste.
Maybe he had eaten one of those fermented berries that gave fantastic dreams and awful headaches. Shell 3 got up onto his four paws and kept on going up. He rose from his standard four feet as his spine straightened, pulling him up to stand on two feet.
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What was happening was not expected. He always walked on four stubby legs and never stood up on two. Why was this happening, and why did it feel natural?
Maybe he had now become like the Two Leggers? Shell 3 did not want to be a Two Legger. All the creatures he had known thought that Two Leggers were monsters who killed everything, even things they didn't need to kill. Was he now like other Two Leggers, a ruthless killer? No, that was nonsense. Just because his body had changed didn't mean his fundamentals had changed, right? But that thought was quickly crushed by another voice in his head, "Wrong young padawan! You shall kill all!" Shell 3 was very confused at this point. Was he a Two Legger or not?
Then Shell 3 remembered the 'System' thing had done this! It had been the one that had changed his Race or somthing like that. Where did the 'System' thing go? Had he imagined that? Maybe he had eaten too many of those berries.
As those thoughts trickled through his mind, a screen popped up in front of him.
Status:
Race: Acupuncture Sheller: Level 1
Stamina: 90, Health: 180
Tough: 18, Speed: 2, Control: 7, Power: 12
Skills: Summon Soulbound Needle Level 1, Acupuncture Level 1
Shell 3 scrambled back, closed his eyes, and curled into a ball as the screen materialized in front of him. When he opened one eye, he saw that the screen had followed him to his hiding place.
After waiting to ensure that the screen had no hostile intentions, he poked it. His finger struck the screen and kept going as though there was no screen!
Shell 3 once again scrambled back and curled up in a fetal position on the ground. This screen was scary, it had first followed him around, and it also seemed nonexistent, but for some reason, he could see it.
Curiosity and fright clashed in his brain to gain dominance. Somehow curiosity won, and he wondered whether that voice in his head played a part in that. He again opened his eyes to see the screen and what it showed him.
Once again, the screen had squiggles that seemed to convey something, and once again, he understood what those squiggles meant.
Did this screen represent him? The race section read Acupuncture Sheller, which the System had called him before falling unconscious. It also said that the subject was tough and slow, which described him, though he wasn't sure whether they meant slow physically or mentally.
If this screen did represent him, what did the Skill section mean? He was sure he was not skilled in Acupuncture, whatever it was.
Now all he had to do was get rid of this screen in front of his face. As soon as the thought passed through his head, the screen disappeared. Once again, Shell 3 jumped back in surprise as the screen vanished.
This screen was too weird for Shell 3. First, it appeared out of nowhere, became untouchable, and then disappeared! So by his scientific reasoning, if he thought about the screen opening up, Gah! The screen opened up right in front of his face. Shell 3 screamed in his mind, "Screen, go away!" The screen vanished.
Shell 3 had enough of this disappearing screen nonsense, he was going to go to sleep, and after waking up, he would think about what to do next.
Shell closed his eyes and truly fell asleep for the first time in many sun cycles.