Chapter 2: I Got Kicked Out

Y'know I never thought about it until now, but time keeping is a really wonderful thing, isn't it? Sure in a nihilistic sense one can say time is some ephemeral concept made by man to bring order to chaos, but y'know what, knowing what time it is and how to schedule your life just a bit is actually really nice. If even older civilizations did it and understood the value of such a thing, I think it's safe to say there's a dang good reason they did it.

Well, when you're stuck in a cave, guess what you can't do?

At this point I wasn't even sure how long it had actually been since I hatched. My time had just become a repetitive cycle of sleep, eat whatever my "parent" drags back to the nest, work on leveling up Appraisal, repeat once I fall asleep. I wasn't about to head back out into the caves yet, not when I still felt my abilities were under par for just exploring that dang place. Though I guess as a Basilisk I have a certain edge in my ability to petrify things.

But that isn't really the issue. It's the fact I don't wanna be stuck here.

I mean, after all, not like I was originally a Basilisk. I'm a human dangit, one with the mentality and desires to match. Being stuck in a cave where all I do is wander around, kill, eat, and sleep; It isn't the kind of life I enjoy. I'll stick to it out of necessity, but like hell I want it to be the only thing I do in this other world! I want to know where I am dangit!

But, right now there's not much I can do as a - and this is a rough guess - meter long lizard who's only real abilities are petrifying eyes and claws, and guessing by everything else in this damn cave, likely poison as well.

Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Acid Resistance LV2] has become [Acid Resistance LV3].

Ah really? Thanks for that one System, totally didn't expect that since I've spent all my time eating nothing but poisonous animals! Seriously whoever decided this was what the dungeon needed to be stocked with is cruel. All I've been able to eat for… what, the past two, three days? Maybe? Whatever, it's all been these dang poisonous animals.

I think the only thing that hasn't been poisonous was that wolf. And even then, I'm not so sure I just didn't notice.

This rounds meal consisted of more frogs and geckos, plus one of those deer with the sharp antlers. Considering how big I turned out to be, and how many "siblings" I have, that being about ten others, it's surprisingly enough to go around. I usually just take a bit from each animal while the "siblings" swarm one and stick to it until it's nothing but bone. Do what you will. It all tastes bad anyway.

Well, the deer isn't that terrible actually. Definitely not as good as the actual venison my grandpa would make, but least I'm not gagging from the flavor. Still stings though, but maybe that's just the lingering taste from the frog in my mouth.

And once the meal was over and the prey was reduced to bones, that was when the next part of my new routine started up. Since Appraisal was useless to getting actual information at level one, all I could do was increase its level to improve it. I wasn't going to buy any more skills until I could get actual information from it, so it was also why I was sticking to the nest for now. Time to spam the bones again!

Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone.

Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Appraisal LV1] has become [Appraisal LV2].

Already?! Well, alright I've done nothing but spam it repeatedly until it gave me a headache every waking moment so that was definitely helping me out. So of course, that would help me get the skill up faster. Plus, now that I know monsters can tell when I use it on them, I want to be cautious about just what I'm even using to grind it up on. Don't want to start picking unnecessary fights once I'm actually exploring for a way out of this place all because I checked some stats. That'd be bad.

Anyway, if it's leveled up now, time to test it out. I myself will be the willing test subject to this experiment. Let's go!

Elroe Basilisk Riku Shiratori

It's not much but at least it's something. So, yeah nice to know I still have my old name. Kinda like it, so would've hated to lose it. And this does at least confirm I'm a Basilisk. But, Elroe? That has to be the name of this place, doesn't it? So, I guess that makes me a species unique to this cavern. Hmm, what about the deer skull? Will you at least tell me what the thing is called now?

Skull of Elroe Mowajitz.

You were calling it a deer last time, but now you're telling me it's got some weird fantasy name? Alright, guess that's how it is. Not gonna argue what the system tells me about. It is what it is, no use stressing over it for the time being. I'll keep appraising things as I go, will at least make my life a bit easier. So as for the other creatures.

Skull of Elroe Frog. Skull of Elroe Randanel.

Hold it hold it! Why does the frog not have a unique name while the gecko does?! That's a party foul is what that is! You can't just give me two monster-sounding names for the deer and gecko and then throw "frog" at me for something that feels like it should have a unique name too! Not cool, System, not cool!

Eh, whatever. Now that I have Appraisal at a higher level, let's test something else out while I wait for "Parent" to get here. I wanna make sure it's actually a cockatrice, so in the meantime… magic! I've been wanting to see if I can even use it, since hey, if the "parent" can do it, so too can the offspring, right? It's how I found out I've got that petrification power. So while the "siblings" are all nodding off after eating, let's clear a space aside.

So, now it begs the question, what kind of magic would I be able to use? Assuming "Parent" made this cave to begin with, that would probably mean earth magic, right? The other question is if I'm even able to use magic as I am. I've got no idea if this System will let me do it innately or if I need some particular Skills to make it work. And since I cannot review my own status at all right now, I've got no idea if I have them or not. So, the simple solution is to just go at this wall with a hammer and see if I can or can't the old fashioned way. If not, well then I'll get the appropriate Skills since I've still got all those Skill Points to use.

Time to start the experiment. Earth, move!

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting to happen. But something did happen. It wasn't much, but some of the dirt making up the floor of the nest lifted and shot into the wall. I flinched when the impact of the small bundle was enough to make the bone wall at that side shudder a bit, some of the secured bones falling to the floor. Whoops.

However, it's a success! Even if it's not much, that means I can use magic! It's weak right now but, hey, same deal with Appraisal, I just have to use it more. And magic is a proficiency-based skill by all accounts, so I wonder if that means it can rank up when I level up like my Demon Eye and petrification resistance did. At the least, this covers some basics I'd need. So now I have an idea of what my basic skill set is: Petrification, earth magic, and my claws and fangs, which might also be poisonous. It's a starting block, that's for sure. Better than absolutely nothing.

Besides, I've done my fair share of Level 1 Minimalist runs in a certain series of difficult as hell games. I've managed worse. Of course, the only caveat here is this isn't exactly a game and screwing up will actually get me killed so… yeah.

Thum, thum, thum…

And look who's back right on time! At this point I'm starting to wonder if I've already met both "parents" and they just take shifts checking the nest and hunting. It's hard to tell but I think over the past few days – probably – I've been picking up on some differences every now and again. Sometimes when "Parent" shows up they're notably a bit bulkier or slimmer at times. It's not much of a difference but I think it's there. So in this case there's definitely a "Father and Mother" wandering around. Wish both would show up at once to confirm my suspicion. But, now's my chance.

It's risky, since I've already confirmed monsters can tell when they're being Appraised, but let's see just what "Parent" is. Are you a higher form of Basilisk, or a Cockatrice like I've been suspecting? Appraisal, have it at!

Elroe Cockatrice.

I knew it! But also, as expected, the second I did, "Parent's" gaze turned right towards me. And it wasn't just a glance. Their tail rose, and some scales bristled as a hiss came from their jaws. They were ready to attack if need be. So now that confirms another thing I was worried about. Monsters don't just notice when they're being Appraised. I'd wondered it since I tested this out on the wolf, but now this just confirms it. Using Appraisal on monsters is seen as a prelude to a fight. Relax big fella, I was just testing something out. Put the giant ass needle down and carry on, not like I can do anything to you.

It took a few seconds, but my passivity brought "Parent" to stop being ready to spear me with their tail. I still felt like they were looking at me warily, but since I wasn't making any moves to attack, it seems for now they decided I wasn't actively threatening them. And so instead they just tossed whatever prey they'd brought back into the nest. And this one's a bit heftier. A couple of those wolves and deer this time. Well hey at least it's not the poisonous stuff this but.

But uh… yeah they're still alive. This is becoming increasingly common. I'm starting to wonder if "Parent" is somewhat aware of the System, so it brings back live prey so me and the other hatchlings can kill them ourselves and grow stronger. I mean, look, I won't argue this right now. Considering I leveled up from killing that wolf I'll take what I can get until I decide to leave this darn nest. Of course though it isn't just me, there's the other hatchlings and they can be quick to act.

Screw it. Since my Demon Eye had leveled up I'm curious what it does now. Looking at the first of the wolves tossed into this pit of hell, I went with that one. Unlike the first time I'd aimed to petrify something, this one got much further along. But this time, I'd aimed. I kept my gaze locked on it's head, so when the thing was partially petrified, the head was what went. And, yeah, that was definitely enough to kill it. No level up though huh? Guess I've got a bit more to go before I get another one.

Not like I'd know what the level difference between me and that wolf was. Now let's see what your name is. Please be something unique and not a cop-out.

Elroe Wolf.

BULLSHIT! Come on System, gimme a bone with this one! Don't just cop out with the frogs and wolves! It ain't cool to build up my expectations and then slap me in the face like that! Ah whatever. I'll let the rowdy siblings take the wolf first, let's me focus on the remaining ones. Next up, a deer, and testing out if I'm poisonous or not. Sorry about this fella, but it's for my knowledge and survival.

Driving my claws into the deer's neck, I was a bit thankfully it was paralyzed. Now focus it… poison, if you're in there, get to work! And now I could even see it. The blood that was pooling around my claws started going from red to a rather nasty looking shade of purple. The paralyzed beast tried to fight against it but all it accomplished was some slight twitching and wheezing. While it was slow, the poison did kill it. Uh… yeah, sorry you had to die painfully pal. But the results are worth it. Besides I'm sure most of your HP value was shorn off from getting stabbed by that giant needle my "parent" has.

Experience has reached the required level. Individual Elroe Basilisk Riku Shiratori has risen from Level 2 to Level 3.

Whoa, seriously? Already? What the heck kinda level difference is there between me and these things?

All basic attributes have increased.
Skill proficiency level-up bonus acquired.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Petrifying Demon Eye LV2] has become [Petrifying Demon Eye LV3].
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Petrification Resistance LV2] has become [Petrification Resistance LV3].
Skill Points Acquired.

And yet again only those basic Skills are what increased on a level up. I guess it makes sense, they're my innate Skills as a Basilisk, but I'd like a few more next time, just so we're clear System. Because I'm gonna be grinding up that magic and this poison ability. But, this also feels like a pretty decent place to be at now. Still wish Appraisal was high enough for me to view my stats in detail but, eh, I'll get there eventually.

Looking back up as I began to munch on the deer, "Parent" was leaving yet again. I had half a mind to follow them out like last time, but I think the best option for now is to stay in the nest for a bit longer. It'll be easy for me to stick with it for now and just grind up Appraisal on anything nearby while practicing other Skills on the monsters brought back here. It'll be boring as sin but it'll also be better than nothing.

And once I'm strong enough… well, then I can work on finding a way out of this place.

So let me save ya' the boring details of what might have been another few days of me chilling out in this blasted nest. Again I don't have a good idea of passing time when in a cave so bear with me, I'm making assumptions about how much time is actually passing for me.

As has been my routine, I've been using Appraisal across the nest incessantly. The walls are entirely made out of monster bones so I'm also learning more about what kind of monsters inhabit this section I'm in aside from the ones I've already seen before. Turns out there's a lot going on around this cave I haven't had a chance to see yet, so once I have the time to explore it'll be worth the effort. Maybe leveling Stealth will be a good idea since I know monsters can tell when I'm Appraising them.

As for my Skill practice, that's also been going well. I wonder if it's a perk of reincarnation, but they seem to level up rather quickly as well, at least in a seeming respect. Earth Magic is a skill in itself, and that's risen from level 1 to 2 during my practice times, and I've nailed a few applications for it. Earth bullets, spikes, making pits, so on and so forth. I'm wondering if my level determines what I can use it for period, or if there's a way around that. More experimentation as it increases needed.

It also definitely means there's Skills for other magic elements, of course. So, I picked a couple of those up with my Skill points: Fire Magic and Shadow Magic. Might as well broaden my horizons with magical usage, so those are going to be worked on. With Fire Magic all it lets me do is make small flames, but hey that works out. Shadow Magic is… not worth much right now. All it lets me do currently is make shadows bigger but hopefully with leveling I can go full on Dark Mage. Man, that would be a sight huh? A Basilisk slinging fireballs and darkness bullets at people, hah! Ain't that a form of comedy?

For the poison skills, turns out I've got two: Poison Claw and Poison Fang. They're pretty much exactly what they are, letting me use my claws and fangs to poison targets. Which is handy, because it means getting in close to something means I can do added damage by poisoning them at the same time. That is never not handy. Status effects for the win! And speaking of status effects…

The Demon Eye of Petrification. The bread-and-butter skill of the Basilisk, and my main weapon. The "siblings" have also picked up on using theirs and since then meals have basically all become me and them petrifying what "parent" throws into the nest before eating it – Acid Resistance has gone up another level of course – and at the least I know I can somehow eat stone. So, hey, at least I know I won't grow hungry any time soon since I basically have food all around me when in this cave. Not like stone tastes like anything though, but hey, survival. Gotta do what ya gotta do.

Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Appraisal LV2] has become [Appraisal LV3].

And as I was busy grinding Appraisal on the remains of this day's meal, the message I'd been waiting to hear finally dinged in my head. Thank you, System! Please tell me I can see more than I did before, at least let me see stats this time! I leveled up again in the meanwhile so lemme see those growths.

Elroe Basilisk LV4 Riku Shiratori

Eh? Just my level? That's it?! Come onnnn! I mean okay that's useful since now I can track power differences but are you kidding me? Last time we made the jump from type to species, and this level up only adds the level to the information I get? That's barely anything new! Ahh come on! I went and got my hopes up again only to be disappointed in the result. God dangit, that's what I get I suppose.

Whatever, it just means I need to keep grinding away at it! If each level is just an aggregate part of more information, then I just have to keep at it until I can see all the information I want.

And speaking of things I could Appraise, "parents" back again, though this time absent of any prey. Then again we did just eat so not like it needs to bring anything back with it. Hmm… alright Appraisal, let's see it, just how powerful is this Cockatrice?

Elroe Cockatrice LV25

Ooookay… yeah I definitely expected something like that. It's not as high level as I expected but I guess that's expected. It's a Cockatrice, not some dragon or the like. But… hmm, something about that also seems odd at the same time. Should it only be in the twenties? I feel like it should be a higher level. And heck I still don't know how monster growth works anyway. Is it like a 'mon series where we evolve over time but keep our level the entire way, or is it the type where you gain a new form and your level resets, but you keep all your abilities?

If it's the latter then it means "Parent" could have a higher total level than what I'm seeing, and I still can't see its stats, so I don't have an idea just how strong it really is anyway. I know it can take on a pack of wolves like nothing, and the prey it brings back are definitely things that'd be troublesome to fight. This thing is definitely a "boss" monster if that's the case.

Proficiency has reached the required Level. Acquired Skill [Fear Resistance LV1].

Say what? Why did I acquire a new resistance out of nowhere?

And that's when I realized the odd weight I was feeling. Looking around, the "siblings" were all shuddering in fear. And glancing back to "Parent", I was starting to realize why. "Parent" was glaring down at us, at me. It must have been through a Skill. Because whatever it was doing, that glare was starting to make Fear crawl up my back.

Proficiency has reached the required Level. Skill [Fear Resistance LV1] has become [Fear Resistance LV2].

Nice to know that System, really nice to know that!

Instinct made me act quickly. Using earth magic, a wall of dirt quickly rose in front of me. And in the next instant, it turned into rigid stone. It tried to petrify me! The dang parent just tried to petrify me all over a stupid Appraisal! I was already skittering away when that thing's needle tail came piercing through the stone and right where I had been. You're actually trying to kill me! Seriously?! What happened to "three strikes, you're out"?! This is attempted filicide!

Even without seeing stats the level difference alone made it clear I didn't have a chance at fighting "Parent". So the only option I had was simple: Run, and run like hell!

I took off as quickly as I was able to. The problem is the fact there's only one route to escape from, but it's my best shot so I've gotta take it. Good thing I'm smaller than this blasted Cockatrice, that's an advantage I have at the very least!

Making a platform out of earth, I launched myself from the nest and to the lip above it. "Parent" turned towards me, raking one of its feet along the ground. Following that line, earthen spikes flew out from the gash and towards me. I raised another earth wall to block them, but the difference in our magic was as apparent as the difference in size. One of the spikes broke through, and I felt pain sear through me as it's point cut through my upper back. That's way worse than eating damn poison!

But that wasn't going to stop me! Rushing through the broken dirt wall despite the pain, I dashed to the side when the stinger tail shot for me again. When it was stuck in the ground, I sped up. It was just a moment but "Parent" would have to pull that thing back. And when that glare turned back towards me, a swipe of my claws flung shards of stone right into its eyes. Try to petrify me with dirt in your eyes! I ran under "parent" and right into the tunnel as it roared and thrashed.

My back was searing, and I could feel the blood ebbing from the wound as I ran. But I wouldn't stop, I couldn't stop. If I did, I'd be killed, and that would be the end of it. Like hell, like hell, like hell! I decided I'd escape this place and I will! It may not be the best start but for cryin' out loud, I got reincarnated after a freak accident, I'm not going to die again a few days into this new life for absolutely nothing! Not to some monster in a cave! Not when I still don't know why this is even happening!

So I ran, and ran, and ran. Out into the main cave and away from the nest's entrance. I ran until my legs finally got to sore too move and forced me to stop running. Unaware of where I even was, I didn't care. But I also couldn't just let myself be exposed. I used what magic I could to carve out a hole in the wall and limped my way into it, using my tail to swish some of the moved dirt back in front of the entrance. My back was throbbing, my legs were sore, and I was starting to feel weak. I let myself collapse onto the floor of the cave, letting out the best attempt at a groan I could.

Great… just great. There goes my cozy place to grind things up. Way to go, Riku, a week into your reincarnation, and you've already become the victim of attempted filicide. That's gotta be an achievement of its own, hasn't it?

Proficiency has reached the required Level. Acquired Skill [Running LV1].
Proficiency has reached the required Level. Acquired Skill [Pain Resistance LV1].
Proficiency has reached the required Level. Skill [Fear Resistance LV2] has become Skill [Fear Resistance LV3].
Proficiency has reached the required Level. Skill [Earth Magic LV1] has become Skill [Earth Magic LV2].
Proficiency has reached the required Level. Acquired Skill [Persistent LV1].

Thanks for chiming in to tell me all that System, totally helps me when I have a fucking gash in my back! This is great, this is fantastic! Talk about a benefit! Almost got killed by my own "parent", but at least I get some new skills and rank ups out of it! BULL! I can handle a rough start, but dammit this isn't a game even if it works like one! This pain, this exhaustion, its real. And it sucks! And now I'm gonna have to worry about evading "parent" once I'm able to move again. Great, just great. That's going to make getting out of this place even more complicated.

But… dammit, now I'm just tired. I'll worry about what I need to do from here after I rest. Just… dammit.

In my old life, I wasn't really anybody special.

Just an ordinary high school student whose only real notable trait was his slanted eyes. I'd been stuck with the unfortunate "Hitogorishi-me" nickname since elementary school. Didn't matter if anyone in class had known me before or not, it spread around so much pretty much everyone knew it from then on. So, I stuck to myself. If people were so worried about interacting with me all because I was born with a natural glare, that's on them. I didn't feel a need to interact with them anyway, so I didn't. Instead I just immersed myself in novels, manga, and games. At least in the latter nobody had to know who I was and I could just do what I wanted to without being looked at all because of my eyes.

But hindsight is 20/20, and with that in mind it probably wasn't the best way for me to respond to people. Being the recluse, rebuffing people all because they assumed things about me. If anything all I did was paint myself as the grumpy, dour sort they all assumed someone with my "expression" had to be. I never tried to actively be a jerk, but I never had any patience for being assumed to just be a certain way for a trait I was born with. When high school came around, it wasn't any different. It was a situation I'd been through a lot: new school, new class, new people, same old nickname and assumptions.

I may not have really known anyone in that class, but they sure as hell knew me since some of them had gone to the same elementary and middle school I had. So, yet again, I found myself stuck with the old rumors of "Hitorogishi-me" and his deadly glare. It was stupid, really stupid. But I had my ways to ignore it, so I often did.

And I wasn't the only person in class with that kind of shitty nickname applied to them. There was a girl, one I was, sort of, friends with. Everyone called her "Rihoko" – short for "Real Horror Girl" – because of how she looked. Thin, pale, with long black hair that hid her face more often than not, which was always stuck in a dour expression that could put my glare to shame. I guess as a fellow "outcast" I felt a bit of kinship towards her, so I had taken the actual effort to talk with her every now and again. Not that I got much, but sometimes, here and there I could tell she appreciated it. I think anyway, and I certainly hoped that was the case. I'm also sure I was one of the only people aside from our teacher who used her actual name, Shouko Negishi.

The day of that flash of light, it had been like any other. By the time Classical Literature had rolled around and Oka-sensei was giving her lecture, I was beginning to doze off. Shouko had taken care of that one pretty much as soon as class had begun. She tended to do that anyway, much to Oka-sensei's consternation. But we were lucky to have a kind teacher, because even when frustrated Oka-sensei always tried her best to be helpful. So she never bothered us if we dozed off, always saying "Naps every now and again help out, so don't worry too much." Even if she found it bothersome if we did so during a lesson.

Attempting to fight off the drowsiness, my eyes browsed around the classroom and to other students of note. There was our "classroom king" a few desks off to my right, Kengo Natsume, a haughty guy who let you know what he thought about himself, and the prime source of keeping nicknames "Hitogorishi-me" and "Rihoko" around. A trio a boys I was at least familiar with due to playing the same MMO sat behind me. Shunsuke Yamada, Kanata Ooshima, and Kyouya Sasajima. If there was a bunch to point at and say "those guys are always together", it's that lot. Part of the reason I was up late and drowsy now was because we'd been up late partying in the same game, me and Yamada especially, since we'd stuck around to team with a player called Bald-san, who made us look like newbies by comparison.

And chattering off to another side caught my ear. Of course, it was led by the queen bee, Mirei Shinohara, who's as typical a popular high school girl you can get. Pretty, always wanting to be the center of attention, and the type so proud guys like me who had bad reps got scoffed at just for looking in her direction. Yet ironically, she wasn't the class "queen" she wanted to be. That spot would be reserved for a girl named Wakaba Hiiro. A mystery to everybody who'd moved into town at the beginning of the year, quiet yet strikingly beautiful. She never spoke to anybody more than she needed to, and always came to school and left it before everyone else. And seeing as nobody knew much about her, all kinds of rumors about Hiiro circulated around. Mostly just people assuming whatever sounded the best and fit the idea of "the mysterious new beauty."

Shinohara sure as hell hated it, and often got sideways looks for her attempts at bullying Hiiro. Her latest go at it today had involved dumping water on the book Hiiro was still reading, but it hadn't earned her anything more than a passive glance. Which of course just ticked Shinohara off more. In a way it was kind of amusing to watch the girl who'd normally be the class queen get ousted by someone who rarely even spoke. Still, it did make our class an interesting one for having three people who were considered "different", plus a teacher who did her best to relate to us as much as she could.

Just an ordinary, regular day, same as usual.

Where it went wrong, was when a crack suddenly appeared in the ceiling. And following that, nothing but blinding, searing white and a flash of pain through my entire body. After that… well, you know the rest.