16 13: Snakes and Ladders
Let me remind every onlooker again.
I ate all of the remaining Ferects.
Accidentally that is.
The only food we had left was the humans and I can guarantee Kei would refuse to eat them. Most sane people would. I'm not sure about Kumoko though...
Either way, Kei was probably close to waking up from her evolution and would surely be hungry like me. So the question is, do I hunt? Or force her to eat the humans?
Let's just hunt.
I activated detection once again and was met with a level-up.
"Skill proficiency reached. Skill 『Detection LV5』 has become 『Detection LV6』"
Detection, when raising the level, amplifies the amount of information it provides. Even with a slight Heresy Resistance, it somewhat balances out, making the headache around the same. Since I have a nullification for paralysis and exhaustion, getting one for heresy should be possible.
I have to do my best to achieve that, better sooner than later.
I flew out of the chamber straight ahead of Kumoko's home and was slightly baffled by my speed.
High-Speed Flight is a fitting skill name.
I turned a few corners and was met with that disgusting penguin once again. I swooped downwards, it noticed me before I came in sight due to the wind and noise, and dug my claws into its back.
It went limp and I proceeded to pick it up and moved back to the base with it. After dropping it on the floor, I stabbed it to kill it since it only was rendered immobile from a paralysis attack.
"By the effects of the skill 『Diverge LV4』, skills『Strength LV2』『Piercing Beak LV3』was acquired"
"『Strength LV2』 has unified into 『Herculean Strength LV10』"
"『Herculean Strength LV10』 has become『Fortitude LV1』"
"『Piercing Beak LV3』 has unified into 『Perpetually Piercing Beak LV1』"
"Unable to withdraw 1 skill due to incompatibility"
"Every basic ability rose"
"Unable to withdraw the other 60% of stats"
It seems like Perpetually Piercing Beak failed to level, perhaps it doesn't work with Diverge anymore?
However, Herculean strength evolved into Fortitude which had a similar effect to Ultimate Life, except with the offense stat.
Considering it raised from ten to one, they both still add the same amount of stats. Herculean strength raised offense by 10x the skill level, in other words, 100.
Fortitude raised offense by 100x the skill level, 100 still. However, leveling this would vastly increase it far faster than the previous tier would.
Moving on, I decided to face a tougher opponent, one that was near the Peckatots location. Hopefully, the skills and stats earned will be high...
I left our little base once again as Kumoko poked the peckatot with one of her arms. It's dead you know?
I flew in the same direction, passing where I animal napped the peckatot and a little while later met it.
『Species: Fenegrad
Level: 7
Status:
HP:1107/1107(Green)
MP:565/565(Blue)
SP:1262/1282(Yellow)
SP:1214/1244(Red)
Average Offensive Ability:997
Average Defensive Ability:1366
Average Magic Ability:404
Average Resistance Ability:1293
Average Speed Ability:479
『Skills: SP Recovery Speed LV6, SP Lessened Consumption LV6, Life LV3, Instantaneous LV4, Persistent LV 4, Strength LV1, Solidity LV1, Running, LV4, Earth Enhancement LV2, Spatial Manuervering LV5, Vision Expansion LV1, Earth Nullification, Dragon Scales LV7, Probability Correction LV2, Earth Wyrm LV5』
Skill Points: 60
Titles:
Monster Slayer
Gross Feeder
Lesser Wyrm』
It outclassed me in the majority of stats but I surpassed it in the number of skills, speed, and magic.
It appears Appraisal Level 10 allows me to view all titles and stats of opponents which I welcome.
The most intriguing that I hope to obtain is Earth Enhancement, Earth Nullification, and Earth Wyrm.
Isn't a Wyrm a lesser dragon?
I continued my flight while being cautious and activated Heavy Magic to slow it down even more. Despite it having a third of my speed, my offensive, and defensive ability is nothing to scoff at.
One hit can possibly render me immobile for a little, but even in those few moments, it can attack once again.
The ground around it formed a little crater from the magic and It was clearly on guard, especially after that. I flew past it, scraping it with my claws slightly but only its knees buckled slightly. It had no paralysis resistance skill so I believe the defense was the main cause.
It regained its stance shortly after though, and spun around, managing to snap its jaw, catching one of my legs. Since I proceeded flying forward, I suppose it only makes sense it eventually tore off.
"Skill proficiency reached. Skill 『Pain Mitigation LV4』 has become 『Pain Mitigation LV5』"
Was this an error on my part?
No. Just a simple test.
If a creature consumes something highly poisonous and paralyzing, would the creature inevitably fall after time?
This creature lacked intelligence but made up for it in stats. Even if I was a leg short, I still believe I can come triumphant.
I activated a healing spell on myself, and my leg wound slowly close off with that and Auto Recovery. It seems neither can grow a new limb yet so I have to suffice with this for now.
My HP dropped 200 points from that one attack but as I circled back around, I activated heavy magic once again.
Disappointingly, it did not multiply the effect, just increased the length of time it was activated initially.
I sent multiple lightning spells at it and tested a stone bullet spell. The lightning halted its movement but the stone hit it and crumbled on the spot, almost like sand being thrown at a wall.
Earth Nullification works extremely well.
Not missing a beat, I jumped on the middle of its back, stabbed with my beak, then ran it along without taking it out. Even with my skill level, it felt like I was ripping wood with a dull blade. This creature lacked movement the most, and the skills to prevent what I did just now.
Due to its Tyrannosaurus Rex build it struggled to reach me, similar to the Randanels I first fought.
At this point, it collapsed due to paralysis and its HP decreased at a rapid rate. It was stuck in place so the outcome of this battle was set in stone.
I killed it immediately after, impatient to let it die on its own. Was this contradictory to my normal self? It completely drained the reason why I purposely let it consume one of my legs in the beginning.
Wasn't I too hasty and why did I feel the pull to absorb its stats this instant...
Either way, I still got some information since it slowed down slightly. On cue, the level-up sound cut into my head, disturbing my previous thought process.
"Experience points have reached a certain point. Individual, Majicken LV1 has become LV3"
"Every basic ability rose"
"『Skill Proficiency Level Up Bonus』acquired "
My leg grew back unsurprisingly. I need to upgrade my healing magic so it does it without the level-up. Injuring myself purposefully and then healing from it should work...
"Skill proficiency reached. Skill 『Pain Resistance L8』 has become 『Pain Resistance LV9』"
"Skill proficiency reached. Skill 『Lightning Magic LV3』 has become 『Lightning Magic LV4』"
"Skill proficiency reached. Skill 『Heavy Magic LV1』 has become 『Heavy Magic LV2』"
"Skill proficiency reached. Skill 『Healing Magic LV1』 has become 『Healing Magic LV2』"
"Skill proficiency reached. Skill 『Detection LV6』 has become 『Detection LV7』"
I think whatever levels up usually is something to do with the battle along with maybe a bonus like Detection here.
"By the effects of the skill 『Diverge LV4』, skills『SP Recovery Speed LV6, Life LV3, Instantaneous LV4, Persistent LV 4, Strength LV1, Solidity LV1, Earth Enhancement LV2, Spatial Manuervering LV5, Vision Expansion LV1, Earth Nullification, Dragon Scales LV7, Probability Correction LV2』was acquired"
(WROTE IT BEFOREHAND, TAKE THAT BITCHES >//<, now onto the high amount of unifications 💀 )
"『SP Recovery Speed LV6』 has unified into 『SP Recovery Speed LV8』"
"『Life LV3』 has unified into 『Ultimate Life LV2』"
"『Instantaneous LV4』 has unified into 『Ultimate Movement LV3』"
"『Persistant LV4』 has unified into 『Fortune LV3』"
"『Strength LV1』 has unified into 『Fortitude LV1』"
"『Solidity LV1』 has unified into 『Stronghold LV2』"
As I thought, it takes multiple low-level versions to evolve the higher-level ones, evident from both strength and solidity.
"『Vision Expansion LV1』 has unified into 『Perception Expansion LV6』"
"『Dragon Scales LV7』 has unified into 『Dragon Scales LV10』"
"『Probability Correction LV2』 has unified into 『Probability Correction LV7』"
"Unable to withdraw 1 skill due to incompatibility and 2 skills due to quantity"
Quantity?
"Every basic ability rose"
"Unable to withdraw the other 60% of stats"
"By the effects of the skill 『Greed』, skill『Earth Wyrm LV1』was acquired"
It seems it chose the skill I wanted but didn't obtain luckily. While the HP, offense, or defense would be amazing, that's welcome too I suppose.
I also could tell it can acquire incompatible skills but it sets them to level one. This was Level 5 before after all.
I lifted the large creature and carried it back with more effort than usual while peeking at my status. This went up rather smoothly...
Arriving back, I dropped it on the floor and noticed Kei bitterly eating the Peckatot.
Her evolution finished and apparently, her stats were now:
『Species: Greater Greym Status: Disgusted
Level: 3
Stats:
HP:220/220(Green)
MP:100/100(Blue)
SP:300/300(Yellow)
SP:120/300(Red)
Average Offensive Ability:75
Average Defensive Ability:65
Average Magic Ability:45
Average Resistance Ability:45
Average Speed Ability:150
『Skills: Sharing Is Caring LV5, Telepathy LV4, Poison Attack LV 9, Cooperation LV10, Poison Synthesis LV2, Poison Resistance LV4, Acid Resistance LV2, Paralysis Resistance LV1, Corrosion Resistance LV1, Life LV2, Strength LV1, Instaneous LV1, Persistent LV2, Solidity LV1, Running LV5, Magic Power Perception LV1, Magic Power Operation LV1, Lightning Magic LV1, Posions Magic LV1, Breeding LV10』
Skill Points: 49,400
Titles:
Gross Feeder』
Kei gained the Gross Feeder title at some point and her stats raised a lot from this evolution. Her skill points are a sight to behold and not only that, she somehow gained the stat amplifier skills. Were some from this evolution?
I saw the max-level breeding skill but decided to ignore it. It was strange seeing a past classmate with a skill called that but it only makes sense considering her race is rats. They fight in high numbers so...
Let's just say it was probably for the best that she ran away from her pack.
Moving on to appearance-wise, she doubled in stature and had her fur change yellow as previously mentioned. Maybe it was associated with the lightning magic skill she had.
I failed to notice this earlier but it appears she gained a skill called Posion synthesis. She can make poison in that case? How is it much different from magic? I tried appraising that but it didn't provide much information.
Anyways, her face was a lot more expressive than before, for a rat that is, so when she turned to me, I saw a smile then a look of bafflement. I think so because she's still a rat.
It's hard to decipher her emotions if it weren't for her status.
My stats were higher than before but even though they grew, my magic didn't grow so much in proportion. Kei grew rather nicely from her evolution but she has almost a striking similarity to a character I've seen before, but less cute...
Talking about cuteness and skills...
{Hi Kei, killed this, you can eat it too.}
[What do you think I am a pig? Thanks though]
She had her face stuffed, and cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk so her refuting her ability to eat felt like a lie.
{Oh, Kei. There are some useful skills you can probably purchase. You have 49,400 skill points so you should be able to buy a large quantity.}
[It doesn't show a list or anything though?]
{Get to Appraisal Level 8 for that. I have the list so I'll inform you which I believe to be the best.
Before acquiring, let me know the cost though.}
[Ok then...]
Looking through it, I think this Telekinesis might be suiting for her.
{Try asking about Telekinesis.}
A short while after, she replied,
[Erm, it costs 300 points]
200-point difference? Well, she has quite a number so it's fine.
{Acquire it.}
[Got it! I can move stuff with my mind now!]
She spun on the spot and seemingly wanted such a skill.
{Try Piercing Enhancement.}
[150]
{Acquire}
{Try Corrosion Attack.}
[250]
{Acquire}
{Try Silence.}
[100]
{Acquire}
{Try Odorless.}
[50]
{Acquire}
{Try Heatless.}
[100]
{Acquire}
{Try Miracle Magic.}
[250]
{Acquire}
{Try Immortality.}
[Huh?!?]
{Might be too much, but still try.}
[Uh, how many zeroes? One, two, three...]
[1,000,000]
{Don't Acquire obviously, can't do so in the first place}
{Try Magic Power Conferment.}
[400]
{Acquire}
{Try Magic Conferment.}
[400]
{Acquire}
{Try Energy Conferment.}
[400]
{Acquire}
{Try Ability Conferment.}
[500]
{Acquire}
{Try Demon Lord.}
[Do demon lords exist here? Scary... oh, it's 50,000 points]
{Can't acquire then.}
{Try Detection.}
[1,000]
{Acquire}
{Try HP Auto Recovery.}
[200]
{Acquire}
{Try MP Recovery Speed.}
[200]
{Acquire}
{Ok, last one. Try Humanfication}
[I can become human again?! Please be cheap!]
[It's 10,000! Should I acquire it?!]
{Acquire}
[Thanks, Kiyotaka!]
It's your skill points...
I appraised her and skimmed past the stats and looked at the skills and skill points.
『『Skills: n%w=I, Sharing Is Caring LV5, Telepathy LV4, Appraisal LV4, Poison Attack LV 9, Cooperation LV10, Poison Synthesis LV2, Poison Resistance LV4, Acid Resistance LV2, Paralysis Resistance LV1, Corrosion Resistance LV1, Life LV2, Strength LV1, Instaneous LV1, Persistent LV2, Solidity LV1, Running LV5, Magic Power Perception LV1, Magic Power Operation LV1, Lightning Magic LV1, Poison Magic LV1, Breeding LV10, Telekinesis LV1, Piercing Enhancement LV 1, Corrosion Attack LV1, Silence LV1, Odorless LV1, Heatless LV1, Miracle Magic LV1, Magic Power Conferment LV1, Magic Conferment LV1, Energy Conferment LV1, Ability Conferment LV1, Detection LV1, HP Auto Recovery LV1, MP Recovery Speed LV1, Humanification』
Skill Points: 34,900』
She still has a ridiculously high number of skill points. I avoided the Ruler Skills for now as I am unsure of how they can be utilized. Not only that but the unknown drawbacks and taboo gained with it. The skills are way too good to have nothing happen or need to be required in return.
As I was analyzing her skills, her mana suddenly depleted by 50 and I saw a cloud of smoke come from her.
There stood a girl, with the same face as she used to have. Her blonde hair flowed down, and it appears her humanification skill was successful.
There was a striking difference though. She has two little ears and a yellow tail protruding from her rear.
Her tail was shaking with excitement and moving her mouth, which she hasn't had the chance to do in a while, she asked me with a smug smile, hands on her hips and closed eyes, "How do I look Kiyotaka?"
She spoke Japanese and since I still am unable to speak, I spoke through her telepathy skill.
{Naked.}
She flinched for a second, removed her hands from her hips, batted her eyes open, and stared down with a straight face.
Near moments later, Kei's face flushed and she let out a girlish, "Kya!" and hastily covered herself, hand over her crotch, arm over chest.
"Tell me that sooner pervert!"
{I don't think that classifies me as a pervert but understood.}
Kumoko, who was inside her house, peeked out probably from the noise, and smiled(?) upon retreating back inside while covering her 2 larger eyes.
Wait. Come back.
Never mind, she probably cannot make something as intricate as clothes currently.
Let's see, let's see...
Ah, this should work.
『Magical Clothes: Costs MP initially but instantly dresses users in clothes they imagine. The higher the surface area and quality of the fabric, the higher the cost.』
{Kei, buy Magical Clothes.}
"Eh? O-okay!"
A short while after, the skill popped up in her list and her skill points decreased by 200. A slight glow enveloped her body again and I was left even more dumbfounded. It's used to make clothes and she did such... but she only created lingerie for herself, and her mana hit 0.
{Uh, Kei. You ran out of MP. You can't do any more for the moment}
She started breaking down slightly tearing up, and she murmured, "I can't? I guess my whole life is over anyways..."
She walked over to me after a slight pause and stared straight at my face while crying more so than before.
"Kiyotaka... Take Responsibility!"
{You know I'm a chicken, right?}
As I said that she snapped back to reality, much as my attention snapped elsewhere in that moment.
Using Detection, I got a huge sense of danger coming from one of the tunnels toward us. Almost at the same time, the web began to catch aflame.
Humans.
Not only that, there were eight of them but one, in particular, stood out. I appraised them all but his status alone was possibly enough to defeat me alone.
『Level: 44
Status:
HP:2040/2040(Green)
MP:1350/1400(Blue)
SP:1380/1405(Yellow)
SP:1358/1405(Red)
Average Offensive Ability: 1235
Average Defensive Ability: 1123
Average Magic Ability: 1453
Average Resistance Ability: 1354
Average Speed Ability: 1895
Skills:
HP Auto-Recovery LV8 • MP Recovery Speed LV8 • MP Lessened Consumption LV8 • SP Recovery Speed LV7 • SP Lessened Consumption LV7 • Ultimate Life LV10 • Magic Hoard LV2 • Instantaneous LV5 • Endurance LV5 • Herculean Strength LV8 • Sturdy LV4 • Technique User LV6 • Protection LV2 • Running LV9 • Magic Power Attack LV1 • Energy Attack LV5 • Destruction Enhancement LV4 • Cutting Enhancement LV4 • Status Condition Nullification • Heresy Resistance LV4 • Pain Resistance LV7 • Impact Enhancement LV2 • Piercing Enhancement LV1 • Shock Enhancement LV1 • Magic Divinity LV4 • Magic Power Conferment LV3 • Battle Divinity LV2 • Energy Conferment LV2 • Spatial Manoeuvring LV2 • Cooperation LV5 • Leadership LV8 • Magic Power Perception LV3 • Concentration LV10 • Thought Acceleration LV5 • Prediction LV1 • Arithmetic Processing LV8』
The number of skills and stats I can gain from this ma-
No, that's suicidal.
{Kei, we have to go. A large group of humans is coming and I can't fight them all, tell Kumoko. We're running straight down the middle.}
"Got it! Kumoko, we have to run!"
Kumoko ran out of the house in an instant, ready to do so.
{Kei, hop on.}
"Eh?!"
{You're too slow even if you transform back, they'll catch you.}
"Fine! Don't pay attention to me against your back! You're the first thing I've ridden and we're going to fly too!"
Kumoko, who was by our sides, had her face slightly wrinkled presumably at what Kei said.
Why?
{Got it. Let Kumoko know she might have to shoot a web at me so I can pick her up. She might be slightly slower despite her fast speed. There's a rather swift human in the bunch.}
"Got it!"
This time, instead of saying it aloud, Kei switched to telepathy, probably due to the nearing humans. Kei jumped on my back, and we took off, Kumoko getting a head start.
A few moments after we started, I could tell the humans broke through the last wall of thread separating us and began running out of direction.
Sorry dragon egg reincarnation, I couldn't take you with us. Hopefully, you'll end up in good care, I raised your resistance skills so you have a better chance. If you're wondering how I know this, It was the status of the egg.
Through various tests on it in my free time, it gained piercing, heat, impact, cutting, fire, earth, ice, water, lightning, heavy, wind, and petrification resistance. Some at varying levels.
However, it had a skill much like Kei, Kumoko, and I, n%w=l.
All three reincarnations have it so I drew the conclusion the egg was a reincarnation as well. Anyways, It should end up in good hands, perhaps loyalty or something else. The initial human who died accidentally dropped it here so the others will probably take it back with them.
We were nearing a split in the tunnel, one left to a Baladorado, or other words a giant snake, and the other to the Randanels. Deciding to impede the speed of the following humans, I activated 3 levels of heresy magic on each and heavy on all of them as well.
During that, I shot fire and lightning backward as well since killing even one would be mission accomplished.
Kumoko ran straight and climbed the walk and skid down the other side to avoid the raptors.
I used heavy magic, making them stumble slightly and flew by normally. I then canceled it allowing them full movement again. The raptors will be the shields delaying the humans back further.
On second thought, I decided to activate Earth spears multiple times attempting to use Earth enhancement and its corresponding magic in sync.
While I'm not sure what the original really without it would be, the pillars successfully skewered the randanels, creating a wall that should be tougher to deal with them the monsters.
«By the effects of the skill [Diverge LV4], skills [Poison Claw LV3] [Poison Resistance LV3] were acquired X3»
« [Poison Resistance LV3] has unified into [Super Poison Resistance LV10] »
« [Super Poison Resistance LV10] has become [Poison Nullification]»
«[Poison Claw LV3] has unified into [Poison Attack LV5]»
«Unable to withdraw 1 skill due to incompatibility»
«Every basic ability rose»
«Unable to withdraw the other 60% of stats»
«By the effects of the skill Greed], Red SP, MP, and Average Overall Resistance were absorbed.»
We moved probably 20 meters until we heard something behind us crumble, and I had ice magic set on the floor below causing the majority of the lead to slip.
I quickly followed up with an array of earth spikes with both piercing and earth enhancement. I managed to impale 2 out of 8 but they have yet to die.
However, this accomplished their pursuit being shaken as they stopped to regroup. The impaled one seemed to be quickly removed and was healed by a priest-like human.
We were approaching a cliff ledge but Kumoko showed no signs of deaccelerating. From her angle, she probably couldn't see the ledge.
As I thought our struggles were mostly done, a snake that I happened to see with detection surprisingly broke through a relatively thin wall.
Kumoko then accelerated her speed more and at this point even if she tried to halt immediately, she would still inevitably fall.
Moments later, she skittered along the floor but plummeted down the chasm while spinning in circles.
She should be able to catch herself with her webs but I swooped down nonetheless.
Exactly as planned.
I scanned the wall as we fell.
«Chasm to the Elroe Lower Labyrinth.»
«Elroe Lower Labyrinth: Part of the Elroe labyrinth where stronger monsters inhabit.»
This should help me progress faster...
KIYOS INFO!
Species: Magicken
Level: 3
Status:
HP:1558(UP 543)(Green)
MP:979(UP 226)(Blue)
SP:1564(UP 613)(Yellow)
SP:1413(UP 597)(Red)
Average Offensive Ability:1079(UP 399)
Average Defensive Ability:1340(UP 554)
Average Magic Ability:696(UP 160)
Average Resistance Ability:957(UP 517)
Average Speed Ability:2031(UP 191)
『Skills: Appraisal LV10, Editable Eggs LV6, High Speed Processing LV1, Memory LV6, Perpetually Penetrating Beak LV1, Super Thought Acceleration LV5, Parallel Thinking LV9, High Speed Flight LV1, Relentless Grip LV1, Diverge LV4, Perception Expansion LV5(UP 1), Super Poison Resistance LV8, Corrosion Nullification LV3, Heresy Magic LV4, Taboo LV6, Stealth LV1, Overeating LV 4, Pain Mitigation LV5(UP 1), Acid Resistance LV4, Accelerated Growth LV5, n%w=l, Petrifying Demon Eye LV3, Magic Power Perception LV6, Magic Power Operation LV7, Petrification Resistance LV2, Detection LV7(UP 2), Super Heresy Resistance LV 2, Poison Attack LV 1, Cooperation LV 10, Dragon Scales LV10(UP 7), Rock Hardening LV3, Ultimate Life LV 2(UP 1), Fortitude LV 1(UP 1), Stronghold LV1, Fire Magic LV3, Magic Consumption Down LV 5, Knowledge LV 10, Water Magic LV4, Earth Magic LV5, Wind Magic LV2, Plant Magic LV1, Lightning Magic LV4(UP 1), Poison Magic LV1, Ice Magic LV1, Shadow Magic LV1, Light Magic LV1, Healing Magic LV2(UP 1), Heavy Magic LV2(UP 1), Space Magic LV1, Ultra Paralysis Attack LV10, Paralysis Nullification, Exhaustion Nullification, Pain Resistance LV 9(UP 1), Heat Resistance LV 3, Acceleration LV10, Fortune LV3(UP 1), Magic Hoard LV6, HP Auto-Recovery LV9, MP Recovery Speed LV8, Super SP Recovery Speed LV2(UP 6), MP Consumption Minimized LV1, SP Consumption Down LV10, Fire Resistance LV5, Probability Correction LV7(UP 2), Foresight LV1, Ultimate Movement LV 3(UP 1), Cutting Resistance LV10, Destruction Resistance LV2, Impact Resistance LV5, Olfactory Enhancement LV8, Taste Enhacement LV4, Tactile Enhacement LV6, Shield Dome LV 4, Kin-Control, Conquest, Greed』
Skill Points: 0
Titles:
Super Computer Brain
Gross Feeder
Kin Eater
First Evolved Chicken
Monster Slayer
Sage
Merciless
Ruler of Greed
~Authors Note~
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