Chapter 13: Reptilian Category

As the realization sunk in I took long deep breaths to calm myself down, at the same time as I gazed upon the dancing lights they were now once again shining brightly in the dark.

Damn... Thank whomever I have to thank for the system... Say... God? Is that you?

Hoping to get some kind of sign I gazed into the darkness trying to pick up the faintest of signals... And just when I thought nothing would happen,

a sound similar to that of a frustrated chicken echoed throughout the wide area.

"Pokhaaa, pok, pok, pok, pokhaaa!!"

Not sure what to think of it I sighed... and chuckled at the thought.

*sigh* *ppftt*

Thankful that it wasn't me I began planning out what had to be done if I wanted to have a sure-fire way to survive. My top priority for me was to find any way to navigate in this eternal darkness... Quickly I opened my attribute and skill window as I had now the chance to carefully distribute most of the point, which I had earned.

First, my attribute window as I carefully examined it, something crucial came to mind.

[Species: Baby Scalus lv 9

Name: Mira, Weight: 2KG

Carriage weight: 1,5/3,8

Attributes:

HP: 150

MP: 100

SP: 85

Armor: 15 (effectively blocks 6% damage)

Physical ATK: 18 – 18

Physical DEF: 1,8

Magical ATK: 5,5

Magical DEF: 5,5

STR: 12 (+6)

DEX: 12 (+6)

VIT: 10 (+20)

INT: 5 (+6)

WIS: 5 (+6)

LUK: 12 (+15)

Attribute Points to spend: 34]

Wanting to prepare for difficult situations I had to increase the efficiency of my newly unlocked mechanic "Armor". If I remembered correctly the amount of armor was solely based on the amount of vitality. As I observed my "armor points" notice popped up unlocking the armor point bar under my already visible health, mana, and stamina bars.

Now a grey bar underneath my health bar formed showing me I had an effective amount of 15 armor points, would this also mean that there was an effective 6% of total damage that would be blocked until my armor had depleted?

As I realized I truly had armor, my hard skin only felt more durable. Proud of my survivability skills I began thinking hard about where to put my points in next...

It was a fact that my elemental attacks could use quite a boost, at the same time my resistance and defense on that front could use some work...

Then again... if I might encounter more monstrosities I first and foremost need to be able to fight on my own... so, more "Physical ATK" and "DEX" are both crucial!

Thanking this into account I began spending two-third of my attribute points.

[Species: Baby Scalus lv 9

Name: Mira, Weight: 2KG

Carriable Weight: 2/4,6

Attributes:

HP: 160

MP: 160

SP: 110

Armor: 20 (effectively block 8% DMG)

Physical ATK: 22 – 26

Physical DEF: 2,6

Magical ATK: 8

Magical DEF: 8

STR: 20 (+6)

DEX: 16 (+6)

VIT: 12 (+20)

INT: 10 (+6)

WIS: 10 (+6)

LUK: 12 (+15)

Attribute Points to spend: 10]

With the increase in most attributes, I felt reborn!

The total amount of armor was now 20 and it would block an effectively incoming 8% instead of 6% Content with the way my stats had turned out I lay down on a smooth rock which lay in the area. As I rolled on my back, I closed my attribute window and turned towards my skill window.

Knowing I had saved all my points for necessary skills, I began intensely scrolling through the available skills on the list. Hoping to find anything similar to "night-vision" or "Heat-vision" I skipped all that did not resemble either of those... after searching endlessly I found a category which intrigued me.

"Reptilian Category"

Wanting to know more about it I tried further observing it with my skill.

As I did, a notice popped up.

[Reptilian Category Unlocked!

Yes, you are a lizard in essence, yet never thought to look for fundamental elements of the species. As now is your first time, allow the system to show you skills worthy of the "Reptilian Species".]

The moment the notice faded away a window opened, showing all skills I had previously acquired. As I looked further I began finding skills which weren't unlocked yet... such as , , and finally both skills I had been looking for.

and .

As my eyes scrolled over the skills I had not unlocked yet a noticed popped up asking me to invest points. I sighed as I looked at it a 2nd time...

*sigh*

Moaaaa! They are so damn expansive... At least give me the option to think about it...

Damn system...

As I looked at the skills again the number of skill points needed amounted around the 100 to 250 for a single skill... and the ones I wanted most both cost 250 points each, but I only have 55, damnit!!! I jumped off the rock and put up a tantrum as the cost passed me off...

After a while, I started to calm down and something from my past life popped up in my head. Like a fuzzy cloud that instant, I thought back at a game from my past... one I enjoyed. Wondering if I remembered correctly the system in that game allowed me to acquire experience of skills that you had not learned yet.

Focusing on the aspects of the skill and trying to work with what you knew rewarded the player experience in the skill if done correctly.

At the same time, putting a small number of points allowed the player to gain knowledge on how to train on these specific skills. As I clearly remembered the way things played out in the game of the past I urged myself to try if this hypothesis would play out the same way with this system.

First I inserted 5 points into hoping the system would react…

When nothing happened after a while I suspected the worst and inserted another 20 points into the skill, hoping it would change something… but, still… nothing changed…

I sighed disappointedly at myself as I should have known better than to invest points into skills I couldn't afford…

*sigh*

I closed the window as now I had to find a way around the complete darkness…

But when I wanted to move I something approach me from behind.

I had to know how close by they were, even if it meant giving away my position.

As I lid myself on fire a small goblin-like creature screeched as it got burned by the flames that surrounded me.

*Screech*

It began trampling around, as it tried to put out the flames. While it did, I got a clear view of what it looked like. Its body, scarlet… almost like dried blood attached were small thin limbs

with small sharp claws. As it turned towards me it opened its eyes which didn't look like normal eyes to me, instead… they made me think about jewels, sapphires?

No… Amethysts to be exact… slowly the screams of the creature got muffled by the flames which it failed to extinguish.

All the stress had made me grow tired and hungry, knowing there probably wouldn't be such a good opportunity to present itself sooner or later I had to eat what got presented in front of me.

At first, I got disgusted by the thought but soon after my hunger took over making me reason with the fact that it had been burned to a crisp. Quickly I turned towards the burned-up body as its carcass lay lifeless on the ground… flames slowly began to extinguish as it had covered its entire body.

The moment I put my teeth on the body I realized it wouldn't be wise to eat the burned shell of its body, but instead to break the creature open and eat its perfectly steamed intestines. As I took my first bite, it was still unbearably disgusting, yet the heat had made it crispy and hot, which allowed me to enjoy it somewhat…

My energy got replenished by the meat soon a notice popped up.

[Thanks to replenished energy levels, the user is now able to acquire knowledge and experience to unlock the skill.]

I read the notice, which made me choke on the final piece of meat. I couldn't believe what the system was telling me, was I able to learn skills without investing a ton of skill points?!