A/N

So I decided prefacing this chapter with an AN would help so I can answer some questions. For those wondering how far my knowledge goes, I've spent a lot of time wikidiving and reading up on other things like say, TvTropes so I have a general knowledge of the series as a whole. I'm also caught up with the manga and anime, but I'm also reading the LNs to get the full picture, and am almost through volume 1 around this time. When it comes to spoilers, I'm generally fine if someone wants to bring them up, but I'd ask to keep them in PMs, especially if you have some questions, and I'll say whether or not I will depending on what it is.

Anyway, I'm glad ya'll are enjoying this too. Took me a bit when writing the first two chapters to kinda figure how I wanted to write Riku since I don't normally do first person. I appreciate the feedback, helps me smooth out things as I go, though I will say I have a decent frame of what I want to happen during the "Elroe Arc" let's call it. So anyway, on with the show.

Chapter 3: I Have to Fight to Live

Ow, ow, ow.

Waking up did not feel good. My back was still in pain, but I could at least tell that resting a bit had helped heal the injury. But man this is gonna be a pain to deal with. Craning my head back to look at my wound, where opened flesh had been was now a thin scab. And on top of that, I felt hungry as well get out. Just… damn it all! This is all thanks to my own curiosity getting the best of me. Just… dammit. I'm used to games letting me get away with that stupid crap. In a game, if you die doing something stupid to figure a thing out, it's just a slap on the wrist.

But… this isn't a game. No matter how much it seems like one because of these RPG mechanics, it's real. And I need to act like it. It was absolutely stupid of me to appraise "Parent" again when I knew it'd be wary of it, especially when I didn't even get anything out of it. Gagh, the other problem is there isn't any other way for me to level it besides constant use. Alright, that's it, only using it on objects unless I'm actually going to fight a monster, or it attacks me. Playing it safe from now on.

Though… stupid it may have been, maybe it was the better outcome. Because my other option was just staying in that nest and who knows how much longer that would take before me and the "siblings" would be sent out? Ugh… too hungry, need to get something at least…

To abate the hunger I was feeling, I used magic to make some balls of stone and snapped them up. Perks of being a Basilisk, I guess. They taste like, well, rocks, but it's better than nothing at the moment. Sheesh man. But, whatever. It may be a bit harder now, but I don't have any other choice but to actually start exploring this place. Let me just checking something, because I'm getting curious. Appraisal can show me information about things I look at or hold. I'm starting to wonder if it can Appraise thoughts too. Bring up my info again, please.

Elroe Basilisk LV4 Riku Shiratori.

Okay, now, Appraise the first part.

Elroe Basilisk: A lizard-type monster species that lives in the inside the Great Elroe Labyrinth.

That! That right there! That's the main thing I've wanted to know about. It sticks out like some important keyword, so tell me about it will ya?

Great Elroe Labyrinth: The largest labyrinth in the world, connecting the continents of Daztrudia and Kasanagara.

An underground labyrinth that connects two entire continents. Meaning this thing runs under the ocean. Fantastic. And I don't have any clear idea of which way I would need to go to find an exit in the first place. And if these caverns connect two entire continents just wandering around means it could take me freaking years to find either exit! I don't even know how long a Basilisk lives for in this world, and I ain't gonna waste time finding out. SHEESH! Alright, what about the continents themselves?

Daztrudia: A continent populated by many human nations.
Kasanagara: The world's largest continent.

Again I'm wishing I knew more than this basic information but at least I know a bit about this world now. Considering I'm a monster the human continent might not be the best option, but it may also be my best bet, especially if I want to see if I can't possibly find anyone else from my class – if they even reincarnated at all. I'll think about that once it comes around. For now, I need to get moving and find something other than rocks to munch on. And hopefully once Appraisal is a higher level and is showing me more info, I can learn more about these places than the basics.

Now as for moving on. Tenderly, since my back is still searing in pain, I move out from my hole and shove aside the dirt blocking the entrance. Looking around, I don't see much of anything in sight for the time being. So I'm in the clear. First objective: Find something to prey on so I can get some food in me. At this point after making a successful escape from "Parent" I'll welcome just about anything else, so bring it on Elroe Labyrinth! Even if I do have to take it slow because I'm likely low on HP!

I'm starting to be thankful I acquired Stealth during my first trip out of the nest. Sneaking around is definitely going to be necessary for now, so good thing I've got the Skill to help make it easier. Hmm… hey, System, are there any kind of detection Skills? You know, like presence detection or threat detection? Honestly I want those just to be on the safe side, but if there aren't…

Number of Skill Points Currently in Possession: 29,550. Skill Points required to acquire Skills [Presence Perception] and [Danger Perception]: 200. Acquire Skills?

Ah yeah should probably mention this. I think that Skills have a cost based on how well they'd work with me, so their costs vary. Fire Magic cost me 100 points to buy like Appraisal, but I guess I have less affinity for Shadow Magic, because it cost a lot more at around 500 points. Leveling up had gotten back the initial points I spent on Appraisal, but with that in mind now that brought my total to this. I can only guess Skills I have next to no affinity for or would be outright antithetical to my species would cost a truckload of points.

But, alright, they're cheap so let's do it.

[Presence Perception LV1] and [Danger Perception LV1] Acquired. Remaining Skill Points: 29,350.

Thank you, System. Those should at least prove to be a bit helpful, especially once I actually have them leveled up to a decent state.

Now back to looking for something to hunt down. Listening around for anything, I hear something not that far off. Alright, time to go full stealth. Still in my efforts to take things slowly, I hunker down as I creep past some stalactites. Just past them, I spotted three of those mice monsters. Good, not much, but the things can't be that strong. And besides, they should just be within range… so, petrify!

In a flash, all three mice a rendered to stone, stiffly falling to their sides as their bodies went rigid. Ha! Take that one frickin' rats! Petrification glare wins yet again!

Experience has reached the required level. Individual Elroe Basilisk Riku Shiratori has risen from Level 4 to Level 5.
All basic attributes have increased.
Skill proficiency level-up bonus acquired.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Petrifying Demon Eye LV4] has become [Petrifying Demon Eye LV5].
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Earth Magic LV2] has become [Earth Magic LV3].
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Pain Resistance LV1] has become [Pain Resistance LV2].
Skill Points Acquired.

Hey, my magic Skill leveled up along with the Demon Eye, nice! Also… I feel lighter all of a sudden. Like, the lingering pain from before is completely gone. The scab is gone too! Holy… wait, does this mean I get a full heal when I level up?! Freakin' WAT?! That's kind of cheating isn't it? Is this a thing that applies to monsters or is this some kind of boon due to reincarnation? Appraisal, you're getting more useful by the level but man I wish you leveled up faster so that I could figure this out. Man, soon as I can see my Skill List will be the day I'm happy about this. Whatever, time to munch on these rats and get something mildly decent into my stomach.

Chomp, crunch… bitterrr…

Yep, still poisonous. But, with Acid Resistance at the level it is, at least it's not so bad anymore. Though not even being able to resist the literal acid in this meat, it won't change the fact these things taste freaking terrible. What I wouldn't give for something decent like fish or beef. Ahh man I miss modern life by the moment. I promise if I manage to find a way outta this labyrinth I won't take any comfort I can find for granted again!

Conditions have been satisfied. Acquired Title [Foul Feeder].
Acquired Skills [Poison Resistance LV1] and [Rot Resistance LV1].
Skill [Poison Resistance LV1] has been integrated into Skill [Poison Resistance LV1].

Eh? So I had Poison Resistance already? And integrated? Title? Okay look, System, don't just bombard me with things out of nowhere. Or drop something on me when I clearly have no other options. I've had near nothing but poisonous animals to eat for the past week! It feels kind of unfair to get slapped with a title like that for something I can't control! But… it did give me new Skills so I guess it's a bonus on its own. No idea what Rot is but I'll probably learn soon enough. As for the integration part, does that mean the skills merged? So, my Poison Resistance is level 2 now, right?

So now that establishes some more things for me. This world, still nameless, is one that functions like an RPG. Within this System are Skills and Titles that confer various benefits and abilities to the ones who hold them. And I've been reincarnated into that System. I'm not sure why but something about this just feels… weird. Should something like that really exist in the real world? I mean, RPGs themselves never acknowledge their systems unless they're trying to be some kind of meta commentary. Ugh, whatever. If I want to worry about an existential crisis, I can do it when I have time to think. Survival comes first. And right now, I'll use anything I can to survive, natural or not.

And that was when my danger sense went off. Glad I nabbed that skill! Shooting to the side, a ball of inky liquid splashed where I'd been earlier, pooling at what was left of my prey from earlier, searing away at the bones and remains of flesh. Poison. Wheeling around showed me the exact cause of the poison puddle, a frog. Trying to sneak up on me huh? Well, sucks for you I'm back to full!

Elroe Frog LV5.

So we're even in terms of level, huh? Fine by me. Need to test myself in a fight anyway. The frog spat more globs of poison as I ran up to it, dodging them quick as I could, but one got through and splashed across my back. OW! When I was halfway to it from where I started, the slimy beast lashed its tongue out at me. I was able to duck under the swing and felt the immediate sense of not wanting to be hit by it. It's long and looks tough as hell, so not a good idea. But, let's see how you like having the damn thing be petrified!

With a glare, the lashing tongue became stone as the frog was reeling it back in. It seemed almost surprised as the tongue failed to finish retracting and instead smacked it right in the face, heck I would say the sight of it was kinda comical. But, no time to stand and laugh! Thing's pretty much been shut down, so I've got room to go for the kill. Rushing in as the frog flailed, I rammed my claws into its belly and ripped them through – poison tipped for added effect – moving away from the blood spray as the frog stumbled forward and died in a heap. This one was self-defense, nice try buster. But, before I eat this thing, I need to think about things. Just wandering around all the time won't help me much, I need a place I can hunker down now that I'm no longer welcome in that nest.

So I'll just make one of my own! Rolling my neck and grabbing the frog with my jaws, I drag it off to the nearest wall. Once there, a bit of Earth Magic is all it takes to start moving the stone and making a new path. I'll go deep enough to make a sort of hallway like the nest, and like when I hid away, shift some of the wall back into place to hide the entrance. I've still got no idea how much MP I have in total, but I'll just work until I start feeling woozy. By the time I do start feeling a drain on me, I can say I'm satisfied with what I managed. The short "hall" leads into a room wide enough and tall enough for extra space. Some softened ground for something like bedding, and another space that I shoved the frog into. It's not much of a living space, but I'll take what I can get for now.

And with that done, time to dig in and get some rest. I'm gonna be busy from here on.

Allll righty, time for another Grinding Update with Riku the Basilisk! Because… well that's been the past few days for me yet again.

My little hole in the wall has been expanded so now I have a little room for storage where I keep things in, mostly extra bones as I use them to fortify the walling of the nest. Which because I realized how that looks really damn creepy, I've started covering the walls in wolf furs to make them look a bit nicer and be cozier too. Like for real those wolf pelts are surprisingly nice. Using fire magic to basically leather the lower side out after skinning the wolf has turned out to be surprisingly workable. Stinks for a while but hey, gotta deal with that much. Not like this entire cave doesn't stink.

I've also settled on making use of the ever-wonderful combination of Stealth and Petrification. Not much the monsters I run into can do when I sneak up behind 'em and petrify them dead or incapacitated if I want to work on another Skill. Part of me wonders why it is this floor hasn't been taken over by Basilisks, but then again, I'm not sure many of them are smart enough to pull the same trick. Saw another one that just spammed its Petrification until it got tired, and then it got mobbed by the wolves it was fighting. Yeesh, sorry fellow Basilisk, I hope you weren't one of my "siblings." Then again at this point, I'm not sure I care a whole lot.

Though it's not like it's all been easy goings for me even with this winning combination of stealth and status ailments. Because sometimes you don't get the entire group, or maybe as you're dragging back some prey you get attacked by something else hoping to get your haul. Like frogs. I have begun to develop a disdain for the Elroe Frog. Freakin things are everywhere and they are persistent as hell. The first one I fought for real may not have been a problem aside from the poison shot it got in, but lemme tell ya actually getting hit by that tongue is freaking painful! I had a dent in my back for a while until I managed to hit another level thanks to one of those damn things.

And then there's the poison they lob. God damn. I'm glad I'm quick because those things aren't the best shots, but it's not laughable either. And my own poison isn't that helpful because everything else is poisonous in this god-forsaken cave. Compared to the other Skills I've been working on, Poison Fang and Poison Claw have barely gained a level thanks to how ineffective they are. At the least, I can say magic is always going to be useful. Not a lot of these creatures can do much when they get dirt bullets and fire bolts tossed into their faces, and even without poison my claws and fangs are plenty good enough weapons.

But as of this time, since I haven't had another level up yet, I'm nursing a wound from a fight with some frogs. Got hit with some globs of poison so now I got burn marks on one of my sides and on top of my head. Glad I didn't get hit in the eyes, yeesh that would have sucked.

And thanks to the System I've gotten a bit of an idea of what my current skillset actually looks like. Currently from my best assumptions, it looks as such: Petrifying Demon Eye LV7, Earth Magic LV4, Fire Magic LV3, Shadow Magic LV2, Petrification Resistance LV5, Acid Resistance LV5, Poison Resistance LV3 (recently leveled after that last frog fight), Fear Resistance LV3, Rot Resistance LV1, Running LV2, Pain Resistance Lv3, Stealth LV3, Persistent LV2, Presence Perception LV1, Danger Perception LV1, Magic Power Perception LV3, Magic Power Operation LV3, and Appraisal LV3.

I have to wonder just what kind of place on the scale a Level 6 Basilisk like me has. Not like I have many other ways to level Petrification Resistance since I haven't fought any other Basilisks personally. My Demon Eye has been used enough to get an extra level ahead of my proficiency bonuses. Man, I can only imagine what I can do with it once it hits level ten. Heck this Skill list is also probably incomplete. For all I know there are Skills I have innately due to being a Basilisk I just haven't seen rank up yet. So c'mon Appraisal, start being able to show me all the deets ASAP!

Still, from what I can guess a Level 6 Basilisk has to be pretty strong for this area. Some of my fights are hilariously easy since I can just petrify most things and I can use magic. Most other monsters near my level range are easy enough for me to take down so long as I think about doing more than just "glare and hope it works." Honestly now I really want to know if this world has adventurers, because then I could probably find out how the hell they rate monsters. Not exactly a lot of ways to use a workably measuring system without a good reference point.

Well… there is "Parent", who's definitely really dang strong by comparison. I wonder what a Cockatrice in this world does when it doesn't have young ones to manage. Does it even stay in this area of the labyrinth? Or does it go somewhere else? Heck, what's here that could be stronger? This place is supposedly the largest labyrinth in the world, so I can only imagine what other monsters live in it where I haven't explored yet.

Hell for all I know this place goes down. And you know the rules in RPG dungeons: The lower/higher you go, the tougher everything starts to get. For all I know, the areas below this one – if there are any – have dragons prowling around them. And that is both equally cool and terrifying for me to think about. But considering my goal is to get out of this place so I don't know if I'll even be going far down enough to run into any if they do exist down there.

Well, I guess if I cross that bridge at some point, I'll cross it, and that'll be that.

Anyway, as for non-updated related talks, my goal with today's exploration is to see if I can't find traces of humans wandering the caves. Since this place connects to continents I can only imagine it gets used for travel pretty regularly, so there has to be something. Well, something not so close to the monster-infested areas anyway. And for now, I'm trying not to keep too far away from my nest. I've been making sure to mark the wall every now and again with earth magic, make some signposts y'know? Still, you'd think after a few days of exploring I'd have found something by now. Footprints, hell the glow of a torch, something!

Maybe I'm just unlucky when it comes to this searching around for things, who knows? That or I just wounds up in a location people won't go to very much. Ahh, come on people! Be a bit braver so I can follow you to where the damn exit is! I wanna see some daylight! Being stuck in a cave all the time is so dang boring! All I do is wander, kill, eat, and sleep! I don't have the lack of intelligence or willpower needed to be alright with that lifestyle!

Whatever, perseverance, perseverance! I'll find something eventually, it can't be that hard to go searching around for people, c'mon!

And as I continued wandering with a surprising amount of peace, I started to hear the tell-tale sounds of fighting from around the corner. It happened often enough when I did so, I usually sat it out to see who won before swooping in to finish off the winner. I expected much the same as usual when I crept around, but what I saw became… interesting.

Another Basilisk, this time, one I did recognize. That mottled grey set of scales tells all, it's one of the "siblings"! Seems "Parent" decided it was about time for the rest of them to leave the nest after kicking me out. And right now its… well I can't tell what it is fighting. But there's a big ass egg right in front of it, and its covered in webs for some reason. What the…? Okay, I'm watching this one to see just where the hell it goes.

The Basilisk attempts to use its Demon Eye, and surprisingly while it petrified the webs the egg was totally unharmed. Just what the hell kind of egg is that if it can resist petrification? Should be safe to appraise it, right? System!

Earth Wyrm Egg.

For real?! So that means there are dragons in this world! Or at least wyrms? Nah, wyrms likely become dragons here, maybe. I'm assuming things since my "parent" is a Cockatrice. Wait, the Cockatrice is considered a wyrm. Eh? Whatever, whatever, back to the "fighting." Well… can't really call it that can I?

The other Basilisk just keeps using its Demon Eye over and over again. C'mon "sibling", you saw how I did things in the nest. You got way more to use than just that. Don't tire yourself out like that. But not like I have telepathy, so my thoughts went unheard. I also swore I caught something poke out from behind the egg for a moment. But, instead of attempting anything else, the poor Basilisk just spammed the Demon Eye until it couldn't anymore. If I had to guess, using it takes MP. Okay, so now do something else. Magic is gonna be out, so how about going around and clawing the thing you're hunting?

But that's not what happened next. Instead, I saw something shoot out from behind the egg and latch a web onto the egg and then to one of the stalagmites above. The egg was raised right up and slammed down onto the Basilisk's head. I winced as I saw said head splatter beneath the egg, but not like much more could be done. Sorry "sibling", but I have a non-interference policy about fights I don't start. MMO etiquette. A shame.

So instead I kept my eyes focused to see what did it. Because whatever it was, it was smart enough to know how to use a flipping egg as a bludgeon. And I did see it. A spider, its body mainly white but accented in black. One of its front legs was petrified, which explains why it was using the egg as cover. It skittered around for a bit, looking over the smashed Basilisk as one leg shifted the egg about. Weird. That's weird… its almost like its…

It couldn't be, could it? I mean… maybe? What would be the odds anyway? I don't know. Lets check. System!

Small Lesser Taratect LV5 Nameless

Nameless? Weird tag if it's just another monster. C'mon System, you must've seen it too! The dang spider did something I'd reasonably assume only something with a human level of intelligence would think to do! Either spiders in this world are as intelligent as humans, which is a really scary thought, or I'm looking at another reincarnation like me. I'm worried the first option is the likely one, but I really want to hope the other one is correct.

I shifted back a bit when I caught the spider looking around. Gotta remember, monsters know when they're being appraised. It may not have known much but it definitely knew something checked it out. Now the question is, would it be possible to establish some kind of contact if its as intelligent as it looks? Well… for one, I can't talk. I'm a Basilisk, and lizards don't exactly have vocal chords. And neither do spiders. So talking isn't an option. Telepathy? That's probably a Skill I can buy but I've got no idea how much it costs. System, is it?

Number of Skill Points currently in possession: 29,450. Skill Points required to acquire Skill [Telepathy]: 100. Acquire Skill?

I mean if its gonna be that cheap then sure. But… well unfortunately the spider has already left along with the egg and what was left of the Basilisk while I was thinking this over. I could follow it, but then I risk being seen as a threat if I do anything else. So, let's play it safe for now. But, yeah, get Telepathy for now.

Skill [Telepathy LV1] Acquired. Remaining Skill Points: 29,350.

And back to where I was in terms of points from two levels ago. For now this can work out. And I guess I can add another goal onto my list of things to do while searching for human traces: Finding that spider and seeing if it really is another reincarnation. If it is… well, maybe I won't have to be alone when looking for a way out of this place.

After that interesting encounter with the mysterious spider, it was back to wandering the tunnels for me, and back to looking for human traces where I could. The question of just how big this dungeon actually is also just grows by the hour as I prowl around. I don't have a clue how much I've actually explored these past few days, if that was even how long it's actually been. For all I know I'm only sleeping a few hours between exploration and hunting trips and it's actually only been a couple of days when it feels like its been longer. A lot's been going on since I popped out of that egg and damn I wish I had a better internal clock than I do.

That's what I get for having been a hardcore gamer who'd be up till the wee hours of the morning grinding in MMOs and hardcore runs of certain games. Though I guess in some senses I have it kind of easy either way. I'm a Basilisk for crying out loud, and in most games, they're usually middle or even upper-tier monsters. Though compared to humans I'm probably still not anything special. Not that I would know. Then again, considering how effective my Demon Eye is, it's likely Basilisks are considered pretty dangerous. Sheesh, I can only imagine how troublesome that Cockatrice must be for humans to fight. I'd know a bit at least, I almost got killed by it!

As I let these thoughts run around, I noticed one of my front feet get stuck on something. I lifted it up and saw the pad covered in a globe of white webbing. You know what, considering I saw one spider it makes sense there'd be more of them. But, I doubt this web belongs to the one I saw. We went off in completely opposite directions. And now that worried sensation rose back up as I cut my foot loose and used a bit of fire to burn the webbing off. If every spider is really that smart, then even if they're not that strong they'll still be troublesome if I have to fight them.

Looking around the walls, webbing goes all across them, mostly forming bridges but I can see some small passages down the way that are blocked off. You know, when I think about it, animals have gotta be really frickin dumb to run into obvious traps like that. Though I've also got no idea how strong these webs even are. Much less if the obvious trap is a fake-out. Good thing I have fire magic. The mystery of nature and why spider traps worked so well pervades me even in this world. Huh… if Oka-sensei were here she'd probably gush about it, say things like how spiders are cute, and that their webs are cool. Never understood why she liked them so much, much less why she made one the classroom pet.

I ducked back to a corner when I picked up on some scuttling. Looking above, I caught a spider moving about the webs. It was the exact same type I'd seen earlier but something about it came off as… different. The other one had moved, frankly, in ways that were odd for a spider at all. Like it was expressing its own mannerisms. This one just scuttled around the webs like a machine. Alright… let's check.

Small Lesser Taratect LV2.

Wait, it doesn't have the nameless tag? So, does that mean that other spider was unique? It had to be, right? I'm not about to go and make any assumptions but… still. Well, whatever. If I run into the "Nameless" tagged one again I'll see if I can't talk to it with telepathy. Maybe I'm right… maybe it is another reincarnation. For now, back to the nest I go. But as I took a step, my foot planted right onto another thread coming from the webs. And the second it did, the spider wandering around shot right back towards me. It must have ignored the Appraisal, but now that something had gone right up its web it was paying attention. Oh come the hell on…

I cut myself free of the web right as another line was shot my way. The thing may be objectively weaker than me but I'm still unsure if it's as smart as the Nameless one. So I'm not going to take risks with it. As soon as the fresh line of webbing hits where I was, I light my claws on fire and swipe at it, sending the silk up in flames and rushing right up to the spider. The spider seemed to catch onto the danger as the flames rushed toward it and cut the line, but by then the rest of the webbing in the passage was catching on fire even faster than it was getting away. I'd feel kinda bad if it burned to death so, well… petrify.

The now stone spider drops from the wall and right onto the floor as the webs it had made burn away. The body cracked a bit from the impact, and while I did wince, I knew it had to already be dead. And now getting an actual closer look at it… goddamn these things are the same size I am! I mean it only makes sense, fantasy world and all. But it is also a "Small Lesser" so that begs the question of how big a normal Taratect is. Ugh, how about I don't think about that for now yeah?

Experience has reached the required level. Individual Elroe Basilisk Riku Shiratori has risen from Level 6 to Level 7.
All basic attributes have increased.
Skill proficiency level-up bonus acquired.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Fire Magic LV3] has become [Fire Magic LV4].
Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Shadow Magic LV2] has become [Shadow Magic LV3].
Skill Points Acquired.

Eh? Was I seriously so close to a level up that this spider was enough to bump me up? I mean, I guess I can't complain since it means I'm back to full and those dang poison injuries are gone. And this time my Fire and Shadow magics leveled. Fire at least is caught up with Earth so that'll be handy. And, uh… yeah I should get out of here before this burning web nest catches me in the mess. Sorry spider corpse, but I'm gonna leave you here so I can go faster!

So once I'm rested up… the hunt for the way out as I fight to survive will continue. And hopefully, I'll learn more about that spider I saw.