Chapter 9: Two snails with one tree

The new root chamber is far bigger than my previous one. I can stretch my body out fully and still have lots of room. It is so large that probably three humans can fit in here with some room to spare.

For me, a mandrake that’s barely forty centimetres tall, it’s almost luxurious. And comparing this to my previous home, this is just so good.

But as fun as having a new bigger home is, I need to hurry up. I need two more levels to reach the cap and evolve. And I need to get them with having my Health sitting at 14. It just refuses to go up until my leaves have regenerated. And I don’t have the time to wait around for them to regrow.

So here I am, walking to the very outside of the forest as the morning sun shines down at me.

Just a few days ago there were barely a few clouds in the sky. Now it’s filled with them, each one a puffy white. All of them are fleeing towards the east, running away from something in the west.

The sun flickers out and along with it, the birds stop singing in the trees. It looks as if the entire forest can feel that a storm is coming. And a big one at that.

My entire body is tense. Sairal’s anxiousness and the strange shift in the forest has been making my nerves go haywire. Though, quite a bit of that stress leaves me as I enter the edge of the forest.

There isn’t much that can hurt me in these parts anymore. I still need to be careful of the packs of (I) grades and the rare lone (H) grade. But beyond that? It’s free real estate.

My claws itch for something to cut up. Sadly for them, the first monster I find is one of the yellow snails. Having figured out how to deal with them, I rake my claw over its shell, making the monster retreat into it.

I lift it up and throw the creature against the closest tree. The shell cracks and I finish it off with only taking minimal damage from the acid.

I grin at the notification and move on. This isn’t as rewarding as a real fight, however, with enough kills I should be able to make up for the difference. Besides, if I find something else good to hunt, I’ll take it on.

Not half an hour of wandering the forest I decide to take a break. Before it used to be packed with creatures but now most of them have left, going who knows where. The only monsters that remain are the snails, though they too are getting scarce.

After the short break, I continue my search. I find a few more snails that all seem to be heading in the direction of the inner forest. Others are going up the trunks of trees. Maybe they are going to breed or something?

Anyway, I make quick work of the ones that I find. Almost around midday, I spot one snail going up the trunk of a tree. Nearby there is another one, trying its best to flee from me.

I never was a person who took delight in harming something. Nonetheless, I do find satisfaction in making things more efficient.

So as I pick up the snail and aim at the one going up the tree, I grin thinking of the combo kill I’m about to receive.

The crunch when both snails crash into each other is a bit sickening. But it is nothing when you compare it to how I took care of the infant deer.

*You have slain [Segriad Specked Snail] lvl 3/5 (I).

*You have slain [Segriad specked Snail] lvl 4/5 (I).

*Congratulations. You have gained a level. You are now level 4.

+2 HP +1 SP +1 Strength +1 Constitution.

So that leaves one more level. I can probably grind this one too by continuing to throw snails at trees. However, there is no risk and therefore no reward.

So isn’t it better to take on a challenge? Naturally, I want to evolve but I also want a good evolution. And if I take down something difficult it’s an achievement that might unlock more evolutions.

I begin combing through the forest for something else than snails.

To be frank, I didn’t live the ordinary life of a mandrake up till now, so I must already be getting some pretty good options. But I want to take it further. I need every advantage I can get my hands on.

From what I know, mandrakes aren’t made for fighting. I need extra strength to overcome that. I need sharper claws and better skills.

A bit later I find my target.

[Blue Stinger Scorpion] lvl 2/5 (I)

There are three of them moving in a tight formation. This is just what I was searching for; a good challenge.

If I just attack from the sides they can’t do anything. The stinger can only move forwards as far as I know, and their pincers aren’t a threat when you stay away from them.

Monsters in my grade don’t have a lot of skills since they can’t be gained yet. Sairal said that skills begin to become important in the next grade and that they don’t matter that much currently.

Speaking about skills, I plan to finally use Mandrake Screech.

I pull up the description of the skill, reading it once again.

Mandrake screech (C) lvl 1/20: A mandrake’s scream is its only method of defence. Damages enemies slightly and has a chance to stun an opponent.

This skill is a bit different from the few I have. Body of Roots has a mental trigger, but this is more physical.

With my eyes on the scorpions that still haven’t noticed me, I take in a deep gulp of air. I focus on activating the skill and I begin to feel a heat build in my throat.

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The air presses itself together in my lungs as I ready myself. It all feels slightly painful as the pressure continues to build. My mouth stretches open as wide as I can and I scream.

*Mandrake Screech (C) lvl 1/20 -> Mandrake Screech (C) lvl 2/20.

The sound is terrifying yet cute at the same time. A high-pitched squeak that sounds like a battle cry yelled by a squirrel makes the scorpions flinch. The one on the left even looks stunned.

Wasting no time, I get close and push my fingers into its carapace. The carapace can’t hold up against my claws and the chitin of the scorpion cracks and green blood oozes out. I continue to push my claw into its insides. I suppress a shiver as I feel its insides slip between my fingers.

I close in for the kill, not realising that the third scorpion has moved into action and is speeding towards me.

My claw cuts through more of the insides, making the scorpion chitter in pain. Gooey insides leak out as it slowly dies, but before it dies it somehow manages to stretch its pincer and clip at my hand.

I howl as it cuts roots apart.

I pull my hand back out of the scorpion. The monster, naturally, doesn’t let go of my hand, instead doubling down and crushing my roots.

I jump backwards out of the way of the third scorpion that reaches me from behind. I drag the scorpion that is holding onto me over the ground as I flee from the other two. I dodge to the left as the monster tries to sting me. My other hand slams down on its face, finally killing it.

One dead. Two remain.

With a quick look at my menu, I see that I have 11 points of health remaining.

I push the system windows and notifications to the back of my mind, focusing on my enemies. Their stingers are raised high in the air, ready to lash out like vipers.

I back away from them. I uh, underestimated them. These aren’t ordinary scorpions from Earth. They have skills like I do.

The scorpion in the front lases its pincer forwards, oddly stretching it to the side I was going to move.

This is bad. I didn’t know that these scorpions went to yoga class every day.

I back away further scanning my surroundings for something that can aid me.

Wait, couldn’t scorpions only see movement?

I tug on the grass and my hand comes back with a handful of blades. I throw them to the wind, and just as expected the scorpions lash out at them.

A new plan hatches in my mind and a big smile forms on my face.

I collect more grass while I back away further. Then, having gathered everything I shake my entire body, moving as much as I can. In a split second, I have their undivided attention. They rush towards me, trying to get revenge for their fallen comrade.

Before they reach me, I freeze up, not moving an inch.

This night I had to stay unmoving to survive. Now? I use it to lay a trap and to gain my last level.

I hold my breath as they scurry forwards, pincers and stinger raised. Both of them are clearly mad.

Unable to find me, they split up to cover more ground. When both are far enough, I move towards scorpion number two. It’s searching the hilly grassland for me. There are no trees around, giving the slight breeze full reign.

I let go of the blades of grass and they scatter with the wind. The scorpion goes berserk and attacks the sky. It’s so caught up in its revenge that it doesn’t sense me approaching.

It keeps attacking the grass that is flying along with the wind. With a smirk on my face, it receives a claw to its side, cutting through the chitin and drawing blood.

Even more enraged, it looks around, yet it can’t find me since its senses are overwhelmed

I sneak up behind it, this time going for the finishing blow. With a bit of daring, I grab the monster just below its stinger. It tries to snap at me with its claws but it can’t reach me.

Just like with the snails, a heavy blow is all that’s needed. I heave the monster up in the air and slam it back into the ground, making the chitin crack in several places. I repeat the motion two more times before I’m rewarded with the kill notification.

But it seems that two scorpion kills aren’t enough to gain my last level.

I backtrack to the place where the scorpions split up. On the way, I gather some more grass to repeat the tactic.

The last scorpion is standing right at the spot where they split up. It seems that it has given up on finding me and has shifted its focus to finding its remaining friends. Too bad that they are all dead.

I repeat the same tactic as before, making the scorpion go splat.

With a job well done, I pull up my menu again and go over everything.

*You have killed [Blue Stinger Scorpion] lvl 2/5 (I).

…

*You have killed [Blue Stinger Scorpion] lvl 4/5 (I).

*Congratulations. You have gained a level. You are now level 5.

+2 HP +1 SP +1 Perception + 1 Endurance.

*Congratulations. You have reached the maximum level. You have gained access to the evolution menu.

With my level cap reached, I head back to my new home. I hurry back on the way, filled with excitement. However, I still dart from bush to bush.

The air in the forest has become electric. Tension is almost tangible. Is this why there were almost no monsters on the plains? Did the snails leave not for reproduction but for safety?

The uneasiness sets in again, pushing my happiness for reaching the level cap away. I feel strange. It’s like the extra energy that pulses through my roots as I claim the energy of the sun as mine, but this feels more direct.

I hurry past the stream and notice that it’s almost dried up. Momentarily I look upstream. Sairal is there, isn’t he? It has been almost a day since he left and he still hasn’t returned. He said that the beavers were a pest, but maybe they are more than he let on. Maybe they are an actual threat and he just didn’t want to show it. Still, what can actually kill him? Another E grade? A dozen F grades? I don’t know, I still don’t know the difference between the grades and how much stronger a monster becomes when it evolves.

For what it is worth I consider him a friend. It hurts when you can’t help your friends when they need it.

Above the sun gets hidden away by the clouds again. I look up and see that more than half of the sky is obscured by clouds. Some of them already a moody grey, spelling rain.

I head into my root chamber and look at the entrance which is pretty obscured by bits of moss that hang over it like a curtain. Just to be sure, I start to pile dirt in the entrance. Old habits die hard.

I settle down in the middle of the room and close my eyes. I open my full status and look at it once again.

Species: Lesser Mandrake lvl 5/5 (I)

HP: 14/25

SP: 11/15

Strength: 5

Agility: 3

Perception: 3

Constitution: 6

Endurance: 5

Mind: 2

Skills: 5/17 skill slots in use

Photosynthesis (C) lvl 2/20: Stand still in the light of the sun to catch its energy and make it yours. Increases Stamina and Health regeneration slightly.

Mandrake Screech (C) lvl 2/20: A mandrake’s scream is its only method of defence. Damages enemies slightly and has a chance to stun an opponent.

Identify (C) lvl 2/20: See through opponents and enemies alike. Allows the user to see basic information and gives access to the most commonly known knowledge.

Nature Affinity (Un) lvl 1/20: Born in a place of nature, you have gained the favour of it.

Body of Roots (C) lvl 3/20: Allows the user to make small changes to their body.

I can also just stay at this level for a while, practising my skills for some much-needed levels. Not even one of my skills has reached the halfway point to the level cap. Certainly, it would be the smarter choice. But something is coming. The electric energy in the air is only a warning and just that feels dangerous. Perhaps it is an instinct I have developed over the past week.

I look at the evolution menu.

*Warning. You can only leave the evolution menu when an evolution has been chosen. Proceed?

I take one deep breath and take the next step in this world. I proceed and the world around me is consumed by darkness. I topple into a bottomless void as I scream bloody murder.