5 What Do You Mean I’m Not Human?

'Status!'

'Status Screen

Name: Connor Wolfe

Race: Shapeshifter

Age: 25

System Type: Shapeshifter

Level: 0

Ethereal: 2/25

Health: 25

Mana: 25

Status Points Available: 0

Ability Points Available: 0

Skill Points Available: 0

Status Points:

Strength: 1.5

Agility: 1.5

Intellect: 1

Constitution: 1

Abilities:

Shapeshift Lvl 1 Stealth Lvl 1 Bow Mastery Lvl 1

Skills:

None'

I stared at the line that showed my race as something other than human in disbelief. I remember it having a race line when I first saw it but with everything going on I didn't give it much attention because how could I be anything other than human? That's all I've ever known to exist on Treth! I mean the country I live in is massive and the planet itself is far larger but still to have never heard of other races existing? Impossible!

"Is this some kind of joke? How would I even confirm this? And if it isn't a joke and it is true, how would I learn about my race and learn if there are others like me? Did this happen after the so called Awakening or was I like this my whole life?" I asked myself, unable to keep my questions in my head due to the shock.

I sat there for a few more minutes trying to overcome the shock that had gripped my body from this revelation. Finally, I stood up and moved almost automatically back to the front door of the cabin.

'I can't let this throw me, I need to make it to town to met up with my friends and make sure they're alright. That and if the behavior of the wolf was anything to go off of I can't afford to be distracted during the five mile trek either. Especially since at a certain point I'll be over two miles from any shelters or locking doors, meaning my only chance at safety would be up a tree hoping whatever it is can't or won't follow me.'

I went into the cabin and grabbed my hiking back pack and packed a couple of changes of clothes, a few water bottles, some canned food and jerky, an extra quiver of arrows and a blanket. Given the size of the hiking pack was pretty large since it was designed for a week or longer hiking and camping trips I still had a little room left over, but I didn't plan on not being able to come back and their should be plenty of resources in town. Ordinarily I would have driven my truck, but I had to take it to the mechanic a couple of days ago and I hadn't gotten the call to come pick it up yet.

"I'll have to make sure and kick that no good mechanics ass after I get to town. Now I have to walk five miles with all this shit going on."

Once my back pack was packed I checked the time. It was just after noon and since I missed my race apparently being different than what I expected it to be after the first time of looking at the status screen I decided to look over everything closely and get details of what I could.

Everything before my Abilities list was just as I expected, besides the race of course, though I was pleasantly surprised to see my strength and agility were half again better at their starting point than the average adult on the planet.

Next I focused on the Shapeshift ability since it would be the quickest as I had already gotten the introduction.

'Shapeshift Lvl 1:

Forms to next Lvl: 1/10

Shapeshifts to next Lvl: 0/20

Shapeshifts Per Day: 3

Shapeshift duration: 20 minutes

Forms: 1

Max Rank of Forms: F

Stored Blood Essence: 0'

'So if I shapeshift three times a day every day it will take me seven days to accomplish that part of the level up requirements. I will also need to hunt creatures and if their Blood Essence requirements are the same as the Wolf's then I will need to hunt 27 more creatures at a minimum in order to level up that ability as well. Hopefully the rewards for leveling it up are worth the effort put into meeting the requirements. I guess let's look at stealth now.'

I focused on stealth thinking 'details' and got a similar but much shorter introduction compared to when I first got the introduction to the Shapeshift ability.

'Stealth Lvl 1: The Stealth ability helps you to remain unnoticed from enemies and allies alike. Allowing you to move quietly at faster speeds and practically silently when moving slowly, allowing you to blend in with your surroundings better particularly when you are in environments such as crowds or the forest or in shadows, however, the darker it is the better this effect will work and helping to mask your scent from creatures that would try to sniff you out. The higher the level the stronger the effects of this ability and the less concentration it takes to maintain the effects.

Kills from Stealth to next Lvl: 1/15'

'At least this one seems more straight forward as far as effects and level up requirements. Well, time for the last one.'

'Bow Mastery Lvl 1: Increases proficiency and familiarity with all bow type weapons.

Bow Kills to next Lvl: 1/250

On Target Shots to next Lvl 1/200

On Target Long Shots to next Lvl: 0/100'

'That didn't give much information into what the ability does, not to mention the ridiculous level up requirements! 250 Kills with a bow? I don't even have enough arrows to get to half of that! I'll just have to figure it out. I'll get it eventually either way, I guess the only other question is what does it consider a long shot? Apparently I'm just going to have to figure it out for myself through experimentation. Also, it would be great if I could travel in creature form but how am I supposed to carry all this stuff with me? Obviously I could travel faster as a wolf and if I get a creature form that could fly even better but then wouldn't I have to leave all of my supplies and weapons behind?'

To my surprise I saw a row of text appear in the top right corner of my vision-

'The clothing you are wearing, the weapons you have equipped, and up to one backpack with supplies that you have on will stay with you while in alternative forms and will act as fur, scales, feathers, etc.'

'So it would be best to avoid fights even in creature form without first finding a safe place for my gear. Interesting.'

With that figured out I decided to set out on the road, getting all of my equipment on I decided now would be a good time to test out my new form, after all I wasn't planning on getting in any fights and it would help me travel to town much faster. After deciding that I focused on the only form I had, the Unranked Wolf, and thought-

'Shapeshift!'