Flying through the air, I was thinking over the quest I just received.
Looking at it again. Why the hell would killing it decrease the affinity instead of increasing it? Something fishy going on.
Maybe a radar-like skill would be useful. I should also make a bounty hunter identity to gain some information from nobles or employers if there were any. Wait, I'm getting off topic.
For now, my enhanced sight would be enough but what the hell is a Batrian?
...
No sudden window pop up? Oh well, I'll probably know one when I see one. It probably looks like a bat, it does have 'bat' in its name. Okay, I know that was a stupid assumption but it still has a chance of being true.
I gotta say, the Moon Dragon's Forest looks really beautiful. All the purple leaves on the thin trees and the blue grass swaying to the wind. I'd live here if I had a chance but I also don't seem to see any kind of life besides the colorful flora.
Just show up goddamn Batrian! I wanna get my sweet, sweet points.
Maybe I should upgrade myself into Type 3 but I still do not know how it works. Is there like some type of points for it as well? It couldn't be 'upgrade points'. Evolution? I don't thi-
> -------
> [ EVOLUTION ]
> Next Evolution: 1.2% ( Proto 'Type 3' )
> -------
Well, isn't that convenient?
Though, it doesn't really tell me what to do to increase those percentages.
Also, since I am made out of metal. Can I improve my properties? Metal Property? My properties? Properties?
...
No?
I'll leave that for next time, I should worry about something else instead...hehehe
From my point of view, a large worm-like creature was out in the open snacking on a dead corpse of a monster with the features of a panther. The worm had huge brown mandibles that were similar to an ant's but had one on top near where its eye would've been and the other was placed directly below it. Half of its body seems to be underground, so I have to be either quick in killing and devouring it or pull it off the ground.
The latter might be possible if it wasn't so big. Or long. I might also get two transmutations including the dead corpse lying on the floor.
Alright, let's get on with this.
I looked through my skills for a minute before preparing to go against the worm when I realized I had the Identify skill.
How could've I forgotten about that skill? As I Facepalmed with my dragon hands. I guess the Batrian will be easier to find with this.
Okay then, 'Identify'
> [ Species: Muun Scavenger ]
> [ Element: ??? ]
> [ Rarity: Rare ]
> [ Rank: ?? ]
>
> [ Description: A large blind worm with huge mandibles that seem to be an enormous apex predator. Despite its looks, it is more known to be a scavenger that blindly burrows through the ground trying to find a carcass to feast on. It has a thick layer of skin that could even rival 'Argenite' Armor. It is unknown how large these creatures can get due to how nearly impossible it is to catch one alive to its fullest extent as their bodies would disintegrate dust after being killed and are very untamable monsters. ]
This must be my luck!
Though I see some few new additions to identify and the description seems to be longer than before. Does my Type have an effect on this? Last I remembered, I didn't have these before evolving to Type 2.
I guess evolving will be crucial for information gathering as well.
This also explains the changes in the layout of the windows and the addition of the newer ones.
Next on the list is the panther thing.
> [ Species: Muun Hunter ]
> [ Element: ??? ]
> [ Rarity: Rare ]
> [ Rank: ??? ]
>
> [ Description: ??? ]
Goddamnit! I knew this was gonna happen!
I guess identify isn't gonna work on dead creatures or maybe my level is too low for that.
Now. Let's try devouring them...
Activating Hidden, I flew towards my future meals.
As I was approaching the worm, my head transformed into a Gatling gun with the top half of my dragon head attached on top of it.
Having a gun as a head probably looks weird and cool at the same time, especially one that could rapidly fire bullets but it feels heavy as fuck. Doesn't help that I'm flying in the air too.
When I got close to the Scavenger, I stuck my tail through its fleshy body. Its skin that appears to be almost impenetrable from the outside was pierced so easily by my tail.
I'll take that! No complaints here. I laughed
I heard a deep sounding whimper coming from the oversized worm. Sticking my head directly into its mouth that was between the two large mandibles, I began rapidly firing bullets into its body. My claws firmly attached to the sides of the scavenger, penetrating its flesh in the process.
It did try crunching my head several times but was fortunately unsuccessful.
I then started transitioning into a slime, wrapping myself around the worm's upper half before going underground to devour the whole thing.
The whole process took a really long time, hell, I don't even know how time works in this world. One thing to take note is how long that worm was. Its head was already as big as a school bus from my previous world. Imagine the length on that thing...
[ Muun Scavenger registered! ]
[ Discover new Muun Scavenger knowledge! ]
[ You have gained new skills and few of its attributes ]
Hmm, so devour also helps me in knowledge too. I don't remember seeing that in the skill screen before...
Oh well, it was probably because of the high level it has now.
Now, time fo-
I was cut off when six colorful creatures similar to the Scavenger appeared from the ground and surrounded me.
This would've been much more threatening if they were as big as it. These guys were small as a normal house cat from my world. I wouldn't have thought much about them if they didn't take my second meal though.
One of the six dragged the corpse into the ground while the others rushed at me with their small mandibles, ready to 'crunch' me.
Well, aren't these a scary bunch~
Identify.
> [ Muun Striker ]
> [ Element: ??? ]
> [ Rarity: Common ]
> [ Rank: ?? ]
>
> [ Description: A relative to the Muun Scavenger, these creatures are similar in looks to it as well. However, that's where the similarities stop. Strikers are pack hunters and are very small compared to a Scavenger. They travel the Muun Grounds in groups searching for prey weaker or stronger than them. They are also found in several different colors instead of only being stuck in a single color. They are also known to be tameable creatures, widely used in determining ranks for the people in the Muungarr Empire. ]
>
> The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
[ 'Identify' has reached lv 2 ]
Ooh, I'll really need to level that up more.
Back to the smaller Scavengers, I don't really find them interesting to transform into. I can act as a pet or whatever those people use these guys for information but I rather not be a small worm. Though, I could act as a Tameable Scavenger. People would want a giant worm to be their guardian to increase their status rather than using some small weaker worms. Now, one question...
Can I change my color? That would be useful in the whole Tameable Scavenger scheme.
Hehehe... I'm gonna have lots of fun.
I looked at the surrounding enemies with my gun for a head.
"Make sure to stay quiet fellow wormies. I'll gun down all of you first." As the barrel of my head began spinning, ready to fire the bullets into the surrounding Strikers.
[====]
( Krav's Pov )
It had been days outside of my village. It was entirely due to the glowing plants of the Muun Forest I was able to spot it so easily at night.
Those scums. I'll kill them when I'm done with the Moon Plants. I gritted my teeth.
I hung my head as I recollected the faces of my family and the times we spent with each other.
Especially my wife. Zera. God damn it, I miss her. I had so little time with her that I finally made a decision to spend months just to be with her. It went really well until those bastards came along.
Taking whatever they wanted just because they were rich enough to hire those guys...
I groaned while clenching my furry hands after remembering what they did.
Bringing my hand near my face, tears rained down my eyes. My heart, unbalanced between the anger and sadness I was enduring.
Using my clenched paw, I punched a nearby tree for it to only do a scratch. I instead broke fragments of my hand as blood spilled out of it.
These thin trees were abnormally hard compared to their appearance. Such a lie.
I shouldn't let my feelings get me off my goal... I tried convincing myself.
I need to get stronger. The Moon Plant will do just that. I might probably become an unwanted variant but I wouldn't care as long as I'm able to get my family back.
Filled with my new profound determination, I continued walking through the silent forest. When the ground around me shook violently, as a blue creature rushed out of the ground while giving out an earsplitting screech towards me.
Identify.
A damned Muun Striker. I've heard of em.
Didn't know these ground parrots even lived here. Sucks for it to be alone though, as I grinned showing my white fangs.
I roared at the monster, boosting my physical body while my claws brought a faint orange glow and now ready to tear apart the blue bastard.
I rushed towards it, thinking the others were probably hiding. When a much larger creature came out of the ground, directly under the blue worm which was now devoured in an instant.
The aura around it caused me to stop my actions immediately. I was already paralyzed due to the creature's appearance alone.
It was identical to the blue striker but was extremely large compared to it. Silver in color, it had red eyes that were lined through the sides of its long body that were currently looking directly at me. It had a pair of large black mandibles that could probably cut through Staerk steel.
Turning its head towards me, it produced a thundering roar that blew me away in a matter of seconds and made me crash onto the hard but thin trees behind me. I heard my bones cracking from the impact.
As I laid there, my consciousness started waning away and darkness began to take over my vision.
Memories and images of my life flashed through me. I saw my family with smiles on there faces. I saw my children running around playing and sparring with each other. And, Zera sitting on a chair brightly smiling at me, a beautiful smile I'll never forget.
I guess I'll die here...sorry...
...
"Shit....Don't. Die" said a mysterious deep voice as my mind finally faded away.
[====]
( Mc's POV )
Was that roar too powerful?
Nah! It should've only pushed him away though. Well, unless if there were harmful obstacles behind him. Are these trees harmful? Venomous perhaps?
Ah whatever, at least the guy's still alive. Identify is truly a godsend.
Though, I don't have any healing skills that could work on others.
I guess waiting for em to wake up will be the only way. Are there healing herbs or potions here? There's probably an alchemist skill. Ah, I just thought of a new identity for my list.
I'll try finding some herbs while I'm hunting.
Now, time to hunt for more of these delicious worms...
I began digging through the ground as the giant silver worm.
This action may or may not caused the grounds of the lands near my area to shake vigorously as well as producing mini-earthquakes everywhere else. Unknowingly becoming a myth in legends for years.
The Imperial Ground Serpent, Death Lurker.
...
Come here you damn rascals!
Using my huge body, I smacked the tiny worms' bodies that were trying to run from me. Crushing all of them in the process.
[ You have gained 100 Exp ]
[ You have gained 100 Exp ]
[ You have gained 100 Exp ]
...
[ You have gained 100 Exp ]
[ You have reached Lv.3 ]
[ 5 Statpoints added ]
[ Extra points on STR due to Muun Strikers ]
[ 'Iron Rush' has reached Lv.7 ]
[ 'Hardened State' has reached Lv.4 ]
I'm having too much fun slamming into these small fries. I thought grinding experiences would be boring but this is hella fun. Though, I probably just look like a psycho right now.
While hunting for more of these worms, I detected three life forces slowly nearing me in the forest.
More Batrians? Should I scare them?
I should give them a fake warning of some sort, hehehehe
I directed all of my eyes towards the direction of the three which instantly stunned them. It was like a signal for territorial monsters, I've seen lots doing the same thing to me in the forest before but nothing was left of them especially if they were the first ones to attack.
Turning my head, I moved to where I can look at them directly. However, I was surprised as it wasn't something I actually expected.
Humans?!
A group consisted of a man and two children, a boy and a girl. All three had widened eyes and sweat was visibly dripping down their faces especially the shaking man who was covered with mediocre-looking armor. He was probably tasked in protecting these guys but ran into me instead. The boy seems to be only seven while the girl looks older than him by two years or so. Both had blonde hair, the boy had them shorter while the girl had long hair that surpassed her shoulders.
Well, isn't that just bad luck.
It was a silent staring contest between a giant worm with multiple eyes and the man. It went for a long time until I broke the silence...
"Humans.....Why? Here?" I asked the man through a deep voice. Due to the origins of the Muun Scavenger, my way of communication wasn't particularly that good.
This made the three humans jump in an instant looking frightfully at me.
Hey! I'm not that scary. I'm just a giant worm anyway... Well, I guess it is a little bit creepy.
"A-are you t-t-the one that's c-causing the earthquakes?" The man cried. He was shaking vigorously from fear and probably my aura too. The boy was crying while the girl tried comforting him, well, isn't that sweet. They're probably siblings?
He said some about earthquakes...Well, I have been digging through the ground for some quite of time but other Muun Scavengers do the same. I may be a little bit larger than a normal one but would that really cause earthquakes?
Did it give some effects or something? A passive ability maybe?
I should check the effects first then. Effects.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Effects:
>
> Enhanced Awareness, Enhanced Survival Instincts, Enhanced Adaptability, Enhanced Sight, Enhanced Hearing, Enhanced Body Hardness, Underground Maneuver, Underground Sense, Life Force Detection
>
> Effects ( Death Lurker ):
>
> Tremoring Earth, Territorial Aura, King Of Muun
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah, yea, that answers the question. Wait, I'm also the king of Muun!? When have I been one anyway? I'll look at that later, for now, I have others to focus on.
"Yes...." I answered the man who was still shaking. Though, my answer didn't really help them in this situation. They jumped once again from my answer but now more so.
The man immediately bowed at me and with a respectful tone told me.
"Please. T-take these children as a sacrifice from our villages, i-if this is not sufficient. Do please tell us. We do not wish for your wrath, almighty one. These earthquakes have been affecting our resources and structures of our villages. This message is from all nine sector leaders from the south of the Moon Dragon's Forest including other villages who also experienced the same phenomena."
With this, the two children from before came forward with hesitant steps. They were holding each other's hands while looking down at the ground. I can feel the sadness emitted from them and how scared they were as they continued their steps towards me.
I must say they're quite brave but why use these two? Plus, why would I want sacrifices?!
These kids got more balls than me from my previous world, maybe a gift should be fine. Now, can I perhaps manipulate my own metal? It should be possible. This is such a last minute thought. No wonder I was bad with homeworks.
"Children....I do not need. Sacrifices....but. Because of your actions...I'll instead. Bestow you a gift that...you shall. Never forget..." I declared towards the scared children. A chunk of my metal flew out of my enormous serpentine body, slowly drifting itself towards the two small figures and soon split it into two weapons that only they can hold. A black Halberd and a white Greatsword.
[ You've gained the 'High Metal Manipulation' Skill ]
My action made the man looked at me with a wide opened jaw while the children had tears on their widened eyes. The small boy who held the black Halberd that was thrice his height continued crying while kneeling down on the ground in front of me. The girl who easily took hold of the heavy white sword gazed at me with starry blue eyes as tears flowed down her rosy cheeks. As the other two were awed, the blonde girl was grinning widely as she continued to look at me.
To be honest. Please stop looking at me. This feels too embarrassing.
As I turned my head away to look at another direction trying to hide my blushed face.
...
They continued speaking to me about how thankful they were and how they would repay me in the future, especially the two kids. Those things didn't really matter to me but I'm glad I could help them. I was also able to learn their names, Syde was the man who apparently works as an elite guard for one of the lower villages while Farlan and Iana Gold who were siblings resided in that said village. This small information actually gave me some clues on how their villages worked. Well, I don't really mind the hierarchical system but sometimes you really feel bad for those people that you know who are below in the hierarchy.
Soon I saw them off as they went back through the path they came in. Though, I'm still questioning over something the Iana did before leaving.
"W-will I ever meet you again? If we do. C-can I show you my skills with this s-sword?" She asked me with a blush on her face while she fiddled with her fingers. She had put the Greatsword on her back since the weight meant nothing for her.
To be honest, I don't really get why she's blushing like this if she only wants to show me her sword skills. Well, It's probable that she is actually just shy but I would love to see some sword action with my own eyes. I only nodded at her question which immediately made a smile on her reddened face.
How did me hunting for monsters go to meeting with some humans anyway?
I should check on the Batrian, it should've already woken up by now.
[====]