I find that staying hidden comes naturally to me as I stick close to the walls and sink into the deep shadows, not that there are many. It isn't like I want to be seen, anything but that. I'm just intrigued by how easy it is for me. Although, dodging homeless people on the street asking for money might have helped some with this muscle memory. Oh, right, no time for reminiscing; stealth mode time.
I stalk along the shadows as I make my way to a small tunnel I can see. It isn't a huge tunnel. The entrance is maybe five feet in diameter, but It's good enough to where if these monsters spot me, I can funnel them. Not that I could handle many that come at me. I still don't have much venom saved from that launch, and I'm not sure how well I'll do in a close-quarters fight. From what I can tell, my venom replenishes fully after about an hour. I'd say I have about a fourth of that right now, so Stealth and sneak attacks are the way for me! At least for now.
Still, I need to find or make a den for myself. All this excitement is getting to me, and I'm starting to feel worn out. I'm also not convinced this isn't some drug-induced dream I'm going through, and I'm locked up in a clinic or something.
I continued to slink the small tunnel unnoticed, and I was able to get inside while the battle raged on.
I explore the offshoot as I walk. Much like the larger one I was just in, this is just a dirt and stone tunnel covered in blue veins. A few pillars here and there, but besides that, it's pretty plain. It gently slopes upwards as I continue. I follow it for about twenty minutes before I think it's safe to stop. Since monsters can simply pop out of the walls, I doubt anywhere is truly safe, but this is as good as I'm going to get.
I pull one of my paws closer to my face and flex the five digits on it. Sharp claws tip each one. While It may not be the same as a human hand, I'm still capable of forming a scoop for digging, so I'm thankful for that. It should help my progress.
Before I start digging myself a little den, I open my skill menu to see if I have unlocked any new skills. As the page unfolds in my mind, I notice something irritating. Unlike what you'd expect, there's no order to the list. No filters or anything like that. It isn't even in alphabetical order!
Despite the stupid ordering in the interface, I can see I have unlocked some new skills.
[Skill Points:] 2
[Skills available to purchase:]
• Tunnel Sense: (1 SP) Provides a basic map of the surroundings while underground.
• Venom Proficiency: (1 SP) Improves the ability to use venom in attacks, enhancing potency and deliverance.
• Dig: (1 SP) Improves the ability to dig with care and speed, reducing cave-ins.
And what excellent skills they are.
Each one of these skills is going to be good to pick up. Tunnel Sense will help with my logistics, something I'm desperately lacking. I don't have much knowledge about where I am, and if I continue to go out hunting away from my den, it will help if I know I'm on the right path. I'll purchase this one for sure.
Venom Proficiency and Dig will probably provide better effects later down the line. Even so, I think I'll choose Dig. As much as I would love to improve the strength of my venom, Dig has more practical applications. And my venom is potent enough for now.
[Would you like to purchase Tunnel Sense and Dig for two skill points?]
Yes, I would! As I confirm my selections, the cool trickle of water begins again over my brain. It's quite an interesting experience, almost like your brain is in a bath or shower. I can feel the skills soak into my mind, carving out their spots in my memory to build upon. It is remarkably relaxing.
I would settle my mutations here and now, but I'd like to do it somewhere safer than a random ass tunnel.
I close out of my skill menu and hear the light patter of paws on stone. Something followed me. Immediately I try to sink close to the wall to hide, but there aren't enough shadows in this small tunnel to cover me entirely.
Shit.
I flex my ears to the best of their abilities, my Hearing skill amplifying my already great hearing to unbelievable clarity. There are two of them, and they're breathing hard. Either they're smelling out my scent, or they're injured. I hope it's the former.
The smell of blood floats into my nose as the monsters get closer, and I catch myself from sighing in relief. As much as this leans the battle in my favor against the two monsters, I'm not confident in what is coming. I sink as far into the shadow as possible as the two monsters crest the incline.
Two wolf cubs come into view, flanking each other. Their bodies are battered, their fur is matted with dried blood, theirs and their victims, and open wounds fester; one is even missing an eye. Despite all this, they look lively. They almost bounce in anticipation as they follow my scent, no doubt ready to kill again. Unfortunately for them, it won't go how they want.
My stinger smacks into the closest wolf cub, the one missing an eye, directly in its temple. It doesn't even have time to scream before its brain is flooded with venom, melting it. Gross.
[You have slain Level 2 Lupus Draco Cub!]
[You have gained experience!]
[Precision Shooting is now Level 2!]
Not now!
The second wolf stares at its companion who suddenly collapses, its brain and spinal fluid bubbling out of its nose as the venom takes effect. I use the stunned silence to charge the wolf, startling it as I emerge from my hiding place. I leap at the wolf, slashing down toward the beast.
The wolf tilts just in time to reduce the damage of my attack, my claws raking across its face instead of piercing its eye. It immediately counterattacks, slamming me in the side with its scaled club of a tail. I smack into the tunnel wall, my side throbbing. That attack no doubt broke a few ribs.
Before I can breathe, my attacker rushes me, forcing me to lash out with my tail to keep it at bay for a few seconds longer. A pained yelp rewards me as my stinger hits the wolf in the side. I wasn't able to inject much of anything, but I'm hoping it slows the monster down, at the very least. The wolf retreats as I continue striking out with my tail. Guess it doesn't want to be stabbed again.
Both of us are breathing hard as we circle one another. I quickly open my status and see that I've lost around a third of my health to that one strike. If it had hit me in the head...
A chill runs down my spine as I realize what has almost happened. The pain is real. The fear is real. This isn't some dream. If I don't win this, I'll die. All this time, I had a vague hope I would wake up from this. That maybe I would wake up and be able to see Sebastian again.
But I can't.
And it's infuriating.
A reptilian growl escapes my throat as I face down my enemy. The wolf is bleeding from multiple punctures and the gouge across its face. Labored breaths escape its muzzle as it tries to look tough, but It's on death's door. The beast stops circling and charges me in one last attempt to kill the lowly reptile that ambushed it. But it's too slow, and even I can read its moves easily.
I dodge to the right as it tries to bite me; it stumbles as it tries to correct its position and fails. I leap onto it, pinning it to the ground with my front legs. The beast can hardly struggle before I sink my teeth into its throat and rip out its jugular. It's over as soon as it starts.
[You have slain Level 4 Lupus Draco Cub!]
[You have gained experience!]
[You are now Level 5! Congratulations, you may now access the evolution menu!]
[Bite is now Level 2!]
[Tail Attack is now Level 2!]
[Rake is...]
The notifications sound in my mind as I look over the corpse of my enemy. Lifeblood drips from my maw as feelings churn inside me.
The fear of death battles against the anger of being ripped from my home and thrown into this world. Pride bubbles up within me from my hard-fought victory, and joy bounds alongside, happy that I made it out with my life. They all fight to break out first, but all that comes out is a laugh. A chuff escapes me as I begin to crack up, the cavern filling with all my stress and worries as I laugh.
Tears stream down my face as I continue to chuckle. I sit there for a while and cry over the corpse of the wolf cub. The stress of this life and my time as a human poured out of me. I'm not sure when it stopped, but once it did, I felt more clarity than ever before. Like someone came along and wiped my consciousness clean.
I'll be okay. In this world, I can get strong enough to protect myself. And I'll do more than just survive; I'll make sure I thrive.
With renewed enthusiasm, I tear into the wolf cub and eat everything I can. To grow stronger, I need as many mutations as possible. Though, that doesn't mean it doesn't need to taste good. The hearts were a particular delicacy, in my opinion. After around an hour of eating, I finish off the first cub and earn four Biomass for my efforts. I'm still a little hungry, so I turn to start feasting on the second cub. Except, it isn't there anymore. I watch as the last vestiges of my dinner turn to blue light and fade into the floor.
What the hell?! I was going to eat that!
I rush over to the spot and try to dig into the dirt and stone, but to no avail. I can't believe it. My food was just stolen from me by the ground, of all things. What a little bitch.
I smack the ground once for its brazen actions before sighing and opening up my status page. Despite losing my second meal, I got a lot of gains from that battle, mentally and physically, and I'm excited to see the spoils.
[Status:]
Name: Aria
Level: 5
• Might: 25
• Toughness: 18
• Cunning: 25
• Will: 15
• Health: 29/40
• Mana: 0
[Skills:]
• Bite: Level 2; Hearing: Level 2; Tail Attack: Level 2; Rake: Level 2; Stealth: Level 3; Tunnel Sense: Level 1; Dig: Level 1
[Mutations:]
• Skin; Teeth; Claws; Decay Stinger +1; Ears; Tail
[Skill Points: 1]
[Biomass: 7]
Looking over my status, I can't help but feel proud of myself. It's been a struggle to get here, and I know this is just the first step on my journey. Even more exciting is the prompt that's waiting for me.
[You have reached the maximum level for your species. Would you like to open the evolution menu?]
[Warning! Evolving will make biomass harder to obtain.]
I can't wait to see what this implies.