Being Reborn!

I can't believe how the day turned out. It was supposed to be a day like any others. I was chatting with my classmates when suddenly, I was struck by an intense pain... and then I was in complete darkness. I was scared at first, I didn't know what it meant. Suddenly, I started sensing my body again. I was feeling cramped, pushed and I couldn't move my arms. It felt like I was in a restriction jacket, in a dark, warm and narrow tunnel and pushed toward the exit... But suddenly, I felt some cold air on my head... before my senses being assaulted by a loud screeches!

Oh my gosh... What's is going on! Oh no, wait, I'm sliding down head first into... nothing? I'm gonna fall?!

I wanted to unwrap myself so badly, trying to grab into something, ANYTHING! But the more I struggled... the fastest my whole body was sliding down as I left the warmth of where I was before to fall into this cold abyss. And suddenly, freefall!

I screamed! But my own scream confused and frightened me even more! Not only I couldn't recognize my own voice but that scream suddenly created a weird sensation in my brain. Suddenly, I could see everything around me! But even more pressing, I could see the ground below, rushing to meet me!

Without thinking, I stretched my arms... and the fall slowed down. I suddenly realized that... those weren't my arms! I had wings!

If it wasn't enough, I looked above me. Hanging from what seemed to be a cave ceiling, there was a flock of scary bat monsters! I screamed and started to flap my new wings as fast as I can to leave this place! I flew toward a tunnel and soon, I was far away from the cave. None of those bat monsters followed me.

I found a hole on the walls to rest. It was close to the ground and damp but I didn't care right now. I needed to stop panicking and evaluate what was happening. I looked at my... wings. I thought back of the bats inside the cave. It took me a moment to accept it.

I became a bat. And not a normal looking bat either if I'm the same as those bats inside the cave. The sensation on my body were too real either, this wasn't a dream. The more I thought of what happened in my classroom and the rest that was happening, the more I realized I might have died and being reincarnated. But why I wasn't reincarnated as a human?

I then thought about the theory of reincarnation I heard from Hinduism. Was I such a bad person to have deserve this?

Of course not! I was a good person! Well at least I think I was... Unless dabbing have become a sin?

I shook my head. Since I can't change the situation, maybe should try to enjoy it instead? After all I can fly now! And wait, since I'm a bat, I must have echolocation, right?

I tried to screech again. Every solid surface appeared again in my mind. By curiosity, I tried to go make a soft whistle. Interestingly, now the range was shorter, even if it was still an impressive range.

So the louder I scream, the more I can see ahead. Interesting. But what about my wings? I don't have arms now so maybe I should get used to flying and trying to grab things with my feet? Wait, I also have a prehensile tail now?!

Curious, I tried to fly again. It felt a bit awkward at first since I wasn't used to it. As I was practicing, I suddenly heard a clicking noise ahead in the corridor. Since I couldn't see what it was, I decided to screech to see what it was... Further ahead, there was a giant centipede who decided it might not be a good idea to stay around after hearing my scream. As I was surprised, I suddenly heard a voice!

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Echolocation LV.1 " has become " Echolocation LV.2 "

Oh, neat! But wait... So this world have a videogame like system?! Gosh, that would be awesome! Can I get XP!? OMG, time for some grinding!

I was excited to test this theory, I flew around, chasing after the centipede. Flying proved to be challenging in changing directions but the corridor was a straight line so far. The giant bug tried to climb the wall toward the hole of what was probably a small tunnel. It must have being how he arrived here. Its head had entered the hole but the rest of this foolish creature was exposed. I doubted I could grab it with my foot since I wasn't very good at flying for now. I had to grab it with my mouth. As I bit down to grab it however, I used too much strength. I crushed the centipede's body... and I regretted it immediately!

I only thought of killing it for the sake of testing if there was a XP system! I felt like an idiot, not realizing the consequences of using my mouth to bite off something. The taste was horrible, I had to spit it out!

I wasn't able to spill out everything and to my despair, some still remained in my mouth. As my tongue suddenly felt numb, I suddenly sensed by arms getting stiffer! I managed to land safely on the ground, next to the dead centipede body. The mysterious voice in my head said:

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Paralysis Resistance LV.1 " has become learned.

I couldn't believe it! Not only that but my stomach started to growl... I suddenly realized that, as a monster, cooked food might no longer be an option!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Urk darn it! DARN IT! I have to eat things like THIS?! GRRR!

It took me a moment to accept this, but I finally gave in:

Whatever! But you can bet your legs I'm gonna eat human food again someday! And then you won't be on the menu ever again, you stupid bug!

I growled and decided to endure it as I gobbled down the centipede remains. It was truly awful. It wasn't just the taste, the paralysing poison made it hard to swallow it. I had to eat it slowly, taking small bites. It felt like torture. And even so... I realized a bit too late that the paralysis resistance I gained was not enough for me to fly again. It would take time for my system to shrug it off.

As I was depressed about it, I heard the voice again:

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Paralysis Resistance LV.1 " has become " Paralysis Resistance LV.2 "

Hearing that, I tried to move and yes, I was less stiff then before. I couldn't fly yet but I could climb, very slowly, the rugged stone walls. I didn't feel safe on the ground level in this body. Using my sharp talons and claws on my wings, I climbed near the ceiling. The voice sounded again:

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Balance LV.1 " has become learned.

I was glad efforts pay off so quickly in this world. I stayed unmoving for a long while. I had to use my tail occasionally after that to check if it still was paralysed. While I was waiting for the effects to shrug off, I couldn't help but being a little upset:

Darn, so I do not get Exp after all? Maybe that bug was too low level. At least I got this Paralysis resistance now, even if it's only level 2... So you can gain attributes skills by doing specific actions huh? Paralysis is so bad for a flyer like me. Maybe if I eat more of those centipedes, I could eventually get immune to that status effect? At least I wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.

Such thoughts however grossed me out. Would I have to eat disgusting food like that to survive all the time? Would I gain new skills each time I eat something new?

I had so many questions but so few answers... Maybe it would be safer to go back in the cavern with the others bat-like monsters?

Hummm, those bats live as a group... Maybe I can get some new skills by observing them? It might be safer than going on an adventure on my own and getting lost... or worst, stumbling on a stronger monster who think bats are tasty! I don't wanna become a bat burrito, with crunchy wings as the tortilla!

With this logic, I tried returning to the cave he fled from earlier. Inside, there was still bats everywhere and I noticed that they were holding themselves upside down by rolling their tails around stalagmites on the roof.

However, flying up and trying to get a grip on a stalagmite proven more difficult than I thought at first. It took me a while but I finally managed to do it. Once I was finally settled upside down, the mysterious voice was heard again:

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Flight LV.1 " has become " Flight LV.2 "

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " 3D Maneuvering LV1 " has become " 3D Maneuvering LV.2 "

Well, I must say, I was satisfied with myself. I made a mental note to improve those skills in the future. For now however, I tried to study the monster bats. It took a long while but I figured out a few things. First off, the entrance of the cave wasn't guarded as it seem hanging on the far ceiling was enough protection. Also, for those bats, the concept of parenting to them was non-existent. I shivered seeing the corpse of a newborn bat like myself being eaten by another bat monster. If I had fall and killed myself on those sharp rocks below, that would had being my fate!

I had to close my eyes after seeing that. My thought went to my own family, the one I had when I was a human. My heart ached. I missed them. Thinking about how I would probably never see them again was extremely painful.

But such depressing thoughts didn't last forever. I sensed a weird sensation getting hold of me. It's like I sensed someone I cared about returning to me after a long trip. I opened my eyes to see where the sensation came from. I heard them arriving before I spotted them with my eyes. A flock of bat monster came back, carrying pieces of fresh meat with them. It was a hunting group. However, the sensation I had was coming from the bat monster leading them...

The leader was three sizes bigger than the rest and his skin was a darker shade of grey. Light reflected in a shade of red in his eyes. Although his size and those attributes were the only thing that made him stand out, my whole being felt a strange awe as I watched that bat monster. Of course, I realized such thing wasn't natural but I couldn't help it. This sensation slowly calmed down as that bat monster flew deeper inside the cavern, away from my sight. Among the bat ponies inside the cavern, the youngest bats who looked like me flew down to eat some of the piece of meat brought. I was still a bit hungry so I joined them, really hoping it would taste better than the frog I had earlier.

But to be honest... it looked gross. It had already be munched on and I had no idea what it was. I was frustrated at this point.

Man, why couldn't I had a skill that would allow me to identify it? In videogames setting, that would be something like "Identify", "Detect" or "Appraisal" depending if...

A sudden icon popped up in my head! The voice could be heard again:

" You currently have 100 skill. The skill " Appraisal: Lv.1 " cost 100 skill points to learn. Would you like to learn this skill? "

I squeaked from joy, which was fortunately ignored by my "siblings".

Ok ok, calm down. Maybe there is better skills to pick then this one. Should I pick Appraisal for now or...? No, I can make a mental list of the skills I can buy after I ate. If the other bats are eating it, it cannot be that bad, right?

I shrug and pushed my way to one of the piece of meat and took a bite. This one tasted like what I imagined to be: simple raw meat. I tried to think of it as tartar. Once I finished eating, I was no longer hungry. I sighed of relief and returned on the roof. Only then I proceeded to make a mental list of skills I could think off.

After a while, I came out with a few options. I ignored the social skills since they would be useless in a survival environment like this one:

" Appraisal "

" Concentration "

" Stealth "

" Evasion "

I thought about it real hard. If I could make my flight skill improve by practicing, I could probably get most of these skills by practicing them. I tried this theory by flying outside the cavern and try to find a track nearby to follow. I went back to where I found the centipede and tried to look for its footprints. Sure enough, I spotted some in the mud. Looking around, I finally spotted a rock large enough on the ceiling that I could hang upside down.

Perfect, I had the stage. Now, first, the rehearsal:

I tried to first hang upside down from the ceiling. I hid myself behind the rock formation so I would be unseen from one side off the corridor. Then I tried to open my wings and let myself fall toward the ground without making a sound.

My effort took a long while but I wasn't disappointed. Soon, the voice sounded:

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Stealth LV.1 " has become learned

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " 3D Maneuvering LV.1 " has become " 3D Maneuvering LV.2 "

I couldn't help but smile creepily, happy with myself. It seem gliding is included in the skill "3D Manoeuver" and practicing this ambush manoeuver gave me the " Stealth" skill. Now I was confident I would succeed the ambush if I needed to try again.

I went back on the ceiling and waited patiently. Since I was there for a while, I thought about the skills I should get. Since Appraisal was the only one I couldn't figure out how to practice, I decide to buy that one. After paying with my skill points, I tried to use my new skill on a piece of moss on the ceiling:

" Moss "

OH DARN IT! Urk, maybe it's because it's still at LV.1?

I tried to use it on myself but all info I got was " Bat ". I sighed and tried to use it on different things around me while waiting. It didn't upgrade but at least I was still hoping it would eventually.

At some point, I heard some noise that gave me hope... but that was a group of three lizard. I didn't have the confidence to go against a group yet so I let them pass. The appraisal skill only described them as "lizard" too so I was getting a bit frustrated. I stopped using the skill for now.

It took a long while before I heard a noise that made my heart leap. It was the clicking noise those centipedes were making! There was two of them coming from the hole this time.

I frowned. I didn't want to attack a group but one of those centipedes was lagging behind. That one of them had about one-third of its body who had turned grey. Although it was lagging behind, its speed was still acceptable. I was still reluctant in eating that one however, even if it mean it would be an easier target:

Urk, that one might be sick with something. I hope the first one isn't.

I concentrated on the timing of my ambush. They were so fast that I didn't have much time to decide. Fortunately, I planned it well and crushed the head of the leading one before it even realized what was going on.

As I suspected, the one behind it didn't stop and tried to attack me. I turned around and presented one of my wings, like a matador facing a charging bull. I planned to drop my wing on its head and then bite at its body but it didn't go as I planned. It actually lifted his long body in an attempt to bite my head or my neck. As it dropped its body, it was clear it was hoping to body slam me in the same time. However, it proven to be a foolish decision as I received it with my mouth open and chopped its head off. I took a sidestep and spitted the head quickly and left the twitching body fall down. As I did so, I had another message:

Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Diamond Teeth LV.1 " has become " Diamond Teeth LV.2 "

Oh, so I have diamond teeth? Interesting! Maybe I should try to crush stones, just to see if it works!

I went back to the corpse of the first one, grabbed it and tried to bring it above the ground. I found a cavity above where I could it safely eat it.

Ok now, what does Appraisal say about those two centipedes...

And of course, the answer disappointed me:

"Corpse"

" Petrified Corpse "

I shrugged and started to eat my meal. After a few bites though, I realized that I had skipped one important detail:

" Wait, petrification?! You mean it started to change into stone?! Might it happen to me?"

I hesitated a moment but decided there was no use to worry in the end. Besides, the one I was eating seemed fine and I already started eating it. The paralysis effect it gave me isn't as bad this time but I wish I could say the same for the taste. At least the numbing sensation of my tongue makes it easier to not feel disgusted.

Soon, " Paralysis resistance LV.2 " became " Paralysis Resistance Lv.3 "... I was hoping for such thing so I was glad I didn't eat that thing for no reason.

Suddenly, a new message popped up!

From what it said, I got the title " Gross Feeder ". It gave me "Poison Resistance LV. 1" and " Corrosion Resistance LV.1". Although I didn't like this title, I guessed it would allow me to eat raw meat without getting sick... or at least I hoped it would.

I suddenly heard a rustle below... The paralysis was still taking effect so I decided to just stay where I was and hide. I took a peek and noticed a large lizard coming of the hole where the centipedes came from. It was bigger than the one who was always traveling in a group of three, definitely a specie I never met before. It spotted the corpse of the petrified centipede on the ground and began chewing... on the petrified part?!

When I tried to use "Appraisal " on the creature, the skill leveled up!

I was excited at first but when I saw the creature name... a shiver went down my spine!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I had so much fun writing this because I wanted to test playing with different formatting! It's a lot of work however. I'll try to make the character funny as well, it will be a good practice for that. For those who did read the manga, you'll notice my first chapter have a lot of similarities. I plan to branch out of the path the main character took however.