Chapter 8 - New Trait, Improvements
Approaching the fruit, she detected an irresistible aroma.
Tara knew it would be impossible to bring back to the cave.
The fruit carried a lure that showed its value, and she knew magical beasts must feel the urge to consume it.
Likely, it was worthless to a magical beast on the level of a {Steel Dracrocodile}.
However, plenty of magical beasts like the Earthray were strong enough to pose a significant threat.
She felt it was best to have the fruit now.
The territory seemed marked by the Qi Gathering five Earthray.
It was a good deterrent since she knew magical beasts usually attacked her due to her weak cultivation.
Therefore, hiding and using the former Earthray presence as a safety net would be best.
She approached the tree and used her clawed-webbed limbs to clutch a fruit and detach it.
The fruit seemed even more appetising up close, and she did everything she could to show restraint.
Observing the tree, she found four more strange fruits on its branches.
Deciding to take them all, she retrieved each piece of fruit, leaving it in a bundle on the floor.
Taking the fruit in her claws, she did not understand how you usually consume a natural treasure.
Despite the name, the fruits were strangely pear-shaped and transparent, with a silver-grey-like glow.
They looked mystical, and she was eager to taste them.
Deciding her best option would be to consume them individually, she grasped one of the fruit and brought it towards her mouth.
Swallowing it in one big gulp, she felt the energy of the fruit raging through her instantly.
However, she instinctively knew that one fruit was insufficient to bring about the change she wanted, so she started gulping down each one until none was left.
That was when she felt the change occurring, as the energy started to wash throughout her body. Tara began to feel its nourishing effects, and a newfound strength filled her.
The change the fruit brought was evident even before the notification.
[Iron Dragon Fruit consumed. Attributes and traits enhanced.
Trait: Iron Bones trait level forcibly increased {2} > {3} *NEW* Your bones have advanced once again, enhancing them further. Your teeth and claws are sharper and more durable as a result. Bodily attributes are naturally improved to support your growth. You are one step further to bringing the trait to its natural limit and forcing an evolution beyond your species.]
The system's notification surprised Tara. It made her realise that the levels of her traits may serve another purpose, as if to indicate that, similar to games in her previous world, a trait can be improved to a brand new and improved trait when it reaches its limit.
It made her conclude that perhaps a mutation is not the only way to improve upon existing traits.
She was interested to see {Iron Bones} 's limit and what would become of it when she could force an evolution.
However, surprisingly, this was not the only notification she received.
[*New Trait generated* Your skin and tendons were considerably toughened and strengthened from the nourishment brought by the Iron Dragon Fruits. It has brought about a natural change in your body.
Iron Skin and Tendons {1} > {2}: Your flesh and tendons have the durability of iron. Your skin is more resistant to slashing, piercing and blunt trauma. Stronger tendons allow you to generate more force through your limbs, becoming more agile and explosive. Your movements will be more efficient.]
The new trait was good and paired well with {Iron Bones}. It seemed probable both benefited from something considered a body-refining treasure.
Though {Iron Skin and Tendons} was different to the {Iron Scales} mutation offered, seeming to be more focused on toughening her skin against physical attacks, whereas the {Iron Scales} seemed to protect against elemental damage, something she has yet to see so she had no idea its usefulness.
It also didn't offer an all-around body enhancement like this one, focusing solely on improving her resistance.
Stronger tendons have obvious benefits, as they enhance the whole body.
Satisfied with the improved trait and new one, she thought that was all until another notification sounded.
[Excess vitality from fruit transformed into EXP. Calculating: You have received 25 EXP.
You are now 107/100 EXP into progressing to Level 3.]
Now, that was not something she expected. Though she figured the EXP must be coming from somewhere.
And with that as a hint, she thought it must have to do with maybe the Qi or vitality in the magical beast or, in this case, the fruit she consumed.
Most of the Qi contained in the fruit seemed to be naturally absorbed by her body to enhance her trait and form a new one, yet there was still excess that she could not fully absorb, and the system seemed to suggest it converted this to EXP.
Curiously, she decided to ask the system, and surprisingly, it explained.
[EXP is formed from the absorption of soul, bloodline and vital energy. The immortal has graciously provided a more efficient means to improve yourself.]
Although she received only that brief description, it was enough to show Tara that she was on the right track in her thinking.
She assumed this was all planned by the immortal since he intentionally left it to them to plough their way along.
The system provided little information, leaving her to make most of her decisions without mentorship.
The immortal did not want anything to influence their decisions, so they removed any pre-set paths, giving them little guidance.
She predicted most magical beasts lacked the foundation of humans formed from having a society that shared information, meaning they must rely on themselves.
The immortal desired them to create unique paths, making it redundant if they intervened too much; at the same time, doing something like this meant many would suffer greatly.
Yet the immortal seemed to care little about this, having ample 'willing' candidates to send until one of them achieves something. Helping them too much would hinder their plans of creating new paths without their influence.
Moving on, she decided to level up here since her surroundings seemed clear. After the levelling process, she knew it was uncomplicated and would not take too long.
Tara knew the more she progressed, the safer she would be out there, so it was best to take the opportunity to improve.
Therefore, she brought up the notification she expected.
[Congratulations, you currently have enough experience points to level up. Would you like to progress to level 3?]
Decisively, she selected 'Yes'.
The menu again revealed a similar message.
[Your cultivation level has increased Qi Gathering 2 > Qi Gathering 3. All essential attributes increased. Qi capacity enhanced. Select two existing traits to improve. Then select your mutation.]
Tara again felt that familiar warmth brought about by the increase in her cultivation level. All aspects of her seemed to improve; it was as if the quality of her lifeform had improved as a whole.
The itching of her flesh came abruptly, and she once again felt a need to slumber as her body wanted to undergo some changes and growth.
Her earlier injuries were already rapidly healing from the influx of energy brought about by the fruits, but she felt even more charged with her improved cultivation level.
She had no idea about using Qi capacity yet but realised it had some influence on utilising her traits such as {Regeneration}. She assumed she may discover its full use later the more she develops.
Moving on she decided to ignore her freshly enhanced trait {Iron Bones} and newly formed trait {Iron Skin and Tendons} since from consuming a body refining fruit, she realised there may be more of them around here and did not want to waste her valuable point on something she can improve this way.
The upgrade was similar to the general ones she previously received anyway.
Additionally, since it did not offer a limit that could force evolution, she decided to enhance the traits for which she had no idea if there was a natural treasure similar to an {Iron Dragon Fruit}.
Therefore, she decided to enhance {Regeneration} and her reliable {Poison Secretion} traits that had improved their usefulness repeatedly.
[Regeneration {2}: You can regenerate complex limb structures...
*NEW* Regeneration improves further, becoming more efficient and less energy-consuming.
You heal even faster and improve immunity to toxins.
Trait level: {2} > {3}]
Considering the amount of poison she's been utilising lately, the next level seems ironic. Still, again, that highlights how necessary an upgrade is with the effect her poison has on far stronger creatures.
Satisfied with upgrading her most utilised trait, she moved on to {Poison Secretion}.
[Poison Secretion {1}]: An evolution of {Skin Secretion}…
*NEW* Your poison becomes even deadlier and more toxic; it gains the additional effect of slightly absorbing an opponent's Qi to strengthen and propagate itself. This effect will grow more potent the further the trait improves.
Trait level: {2} > {3}]
The new effect on the trait seemed ridiculous. Yet Tara noticed the impact mentioned was slight, which meant it must not be too overpowered. However, it was a good change, and her poison was already strong, and now it would be even stronger.
After finalising both upgrades, she moved on to the mutation.
She found the mutation more tricky this time, with her plan of upgrading her defence changed since the {Iron Dragon Fruit} brought about this naturally. However, she saw an interesting trait that may have finally led her to utilise Qi.
[Metal Manipulation {1}: You gain a rudimentary control of metal, developing unique pathways in your body. Rare among Qi-gathering beasts, you form a foundation of a bloodline ability that may evolve and grow with you as this trait levels and will continue to go beyond your species' constraints.]
Tara found the mutation extremely interesting. In the first mutation, it was not on offer, though maybe this was because of her limitations regarding Qi. However, the rudimentary description suggested it would not be too powerful, yet its potential seemed limitless.
It seemed the very mutation allowed her to do what a usual {Iron Salamander} would likely never be able to. However, based on her traits, her species likely possessed a natural affinity with metal; only the mutation finally allowed her to harness it.
Eager to imagine what she could do if she could manipulate metal, Tara selected the mutation. Her mind went blank for a period before she once again underwent tremendous growth.
When she awoke, the area was still clear, and the Earthray's carcass remained untouched.
Instantly, she felt the differences brought upon by the enhancements and mutation; she found she had a new instinctive understanding of metal and could now feel the Qi that roamed her body.
The biggest change, however, was that the Earthray carcass felt many times smaller than before—even the large tree did. She knew that meant once again she had undergone a growth spurt.
A few Iron Dragon Fruits invigorated her thoughts of exploring. She now has a new goal: to find as many of these treasures as possible while continuously improving herself.
Suddenly, everything did not seem so bleak; she would carve a place for herself in this world and eventually find her way home.