Chapter 7: A Thread Snaps
Evolution Complete.
Individual Riku Shiratori's Race has become Black Basilisk.
Skill Proficiency Evolutionary Bonus Acquired.
Skill [Terrain Magic LV9] has become [Terrain Magic LV10].
Skill [Terrain Magic LV10] has progressed to Skill [Seismic Magic LV1].
Skill [Dark Magic LV6] has become [Dark Magic LV7].
Proficiency has reached the required Level. Skill [Energy Attack LV1] Acquired.
Proficiency has reached the required Level. Skill [Magic Energy Attack LV1] Acquired.
Proficency has reached the required Level. Skill [Earth Wyrm LV1] Acquired.
Skill Points Acquired.
Huh…? Did I fall asleep? Actually, no, it felt more like my consciousness got interrupted. Would've been nice for a warning that I'd be forced to pass out before evolving. But now I'm glad I huddled up in a temporary nest. I would've been a sitting duck if I hadn't. It also looks a lot smaller now. Just how much bigger did I get? Peh, I can't check anything like this. I made enough space in the assumption I got a bit bigger, but it seems like I got larger than expected.
Ah, looks like my self-Appraisal also shut off while I was out. Might as well turn that back on while I make some extra room.
Black Basilisk LV1 Riku Shiratori Status: Tired
Huh, so my level reset? Must be a thing with evolution. Now the question is whether experience scales based on tier or if it's the same no matter what. And the status certainly fits. I feel pretty tired, and my red stamina is pretty low. I was totally fresh on HP and MP from the level up. Guess evolving uses a lot of energy. I gotta wonder what my stat increases were too, but I still can't see that, so I'll just have to wait until Appraisal hits the right level.
But as for how I've changed…
As the species name implies, my scales have changed from a stone grey to a jet black with the faintest sheen of blue. My body also got a bit bulkier overall, and my claws look more like knives than rough talons. A quick brush at my head also tells me I've got a fresh set of horns, about six in a pattern. Well, Basilisk does come from a Greek word meaning… what, "little king" or something? Guess it's appropriate I've got a "crown." Now as for that supposed tail blade…
My tail had already been nearly the same size as my body, but now it was a bit longer. And that had to be because at least a third of it was now a solid, obsidian looking blade. Rather than a rapier-like stinger like the Cockatrice, this one was more like a sword meant for cutting. I did also get those new Attack Skills, gonna need to test them out with this thing once I get to hunting.
Good thing I kept some of those lizards around to munch on. But, considering I'm way bigger now it's gotta take more than just a few of these guys to nearly top me off.
Proficiency has reached the required Level. Skill [Poison Resistance LV9] has become [Poison Resistance LV10].
Skill [Poison Resistance LV10] has progressed to Skill [Deadly-Poison Resistance LV1].
Huh, so finally gotten this one up far enough to rank it up, have I? I should think about investing in other Resistances with Skill Points just to shore up my defenses. I guess now at least poison type effects aren't going to be doing much to me. It'll make eating anything on this floor a lot easier to manage. Taste is still crap though. But, just gonna have to deal with that for a while more.
No point in wasting time, not that I don't have plenty of it in these damned caverns. Still barely have a sense of just how long it's been. A couple of weeks, maybe a month? More? This place just messes with any sense of time I have. I miss having a watch. Or a phone. I miss a lot of things about my old life.
And I found my first potential test targets not long into my trek out. One of those weird penguin monsters. Good enough for a test. So now… how do I use Energy Attack? It's just some kind of focus, isn't it?
And then I felt it. Like a heat blooming at my body's core and then moving out through to my tail. It gathered at the blade now topping the limb, the edge gaining a faint glow as I shifted it through the air. Neat.
Keeping my sneak up, I take the penguin from behind. The air whizzed as my newfound blade was swung, aimed for the penguin's thick neck. To my surprise, the edge cut through its pelt and into the muscle without issue. And then the gathered energy flowed out, carrying the swing forward and through the monster's neck. With a bright flash, the penguin's head flew off before it could even realize it had been attacked. Damn that's cool.
Experience has reached the required level. Individual Black Basilisk Riku Shiratori has advanced from Level 1 to Level 2.
All Basic Attributes have increased.
Skill Proficiency Level Up bonus acquired.
Skill [Energy Attack LV1] has become [Energy Attack LV2].
Skill [Expel LV5] has become [Expel LV6].
Skill Points Acquired.
A level up already? Isn't my level still technically about 21? Hmm… this must mean experience gain doesn't scale based on evolution stage. Meaning I'll be gaining as much as when I was an Elroe Basilisk even if my stats and Skills are for a monster at a much higher level. Is this a system flaw or an intentional design? If everything is running on the same relative experience bracket what the hell does that mean? I mean for one it means things born with higher stats have an unfair as hell advantage, evolved monsters like me especially.
Most of the monsters in this region barely break level 10 and I can bet most of them are either first or second stage evolutions like I am now. Monsters like the Cockatrice have got to be rare, either because they live deeper into the caves than the explorers are willing to travel regularly or because they live in lower regions of the dungeon.
I guess it's just my luck I was reborn as a Basilisk. I would've preferred to be a human again, but I wouldn't count my chicks before they hatch. Probably would've just been some commoner out in the countryside. No way in hell I'd get the isekai standard of being born into nobility for no damned reason. Or hell if not that then not even the seemingly obligatory reincarnation bonus.
But then again I may also be shoving my foot in my mouth. Until I can actually see my Skill List with Appraisal I won't know if I do have some special skill aside from that level up restoration. And I'm not even sure if that is one. It likely is. Gahh, this would be so much easier to deal with if System didn't seem to be automated! Come on, isn't this kind of shit usually overseen by a god or spirit who can conveniently exposit shit to the reincarnation and make their life easier?! If there is a god running this, just know I think you're an asshole!
I felt a sudden shiver go up my back as I thought that remark. Like something had just glared at me. I looked around for a source but couldn't find anything even when I tried using my detection skills to do it. Okay… either I just got paranoid, or someone is listening and didn't take kindly to that remark. I mean, it's true though.
Another chill.
Fine fine! I'll shut up. I assume talking to me is too much though. I'm not even expecting an answer to that. Instead, I let out the best equivalent to a sigh I can give and chomp up the penguin.
You know, speaking of changes and reincarnation related things, I wonder if that odd spider is still around. I mean it could have survived having its nest burned. But by this point I'm not even sure if I'll be able to find it again. I spent a while following those explorers back to the entrance I found, and without some kind of map I have no damn clue where it even is. Man one of those would be convenient as hell to get my hands on… if I'd even be able to read it. Eh, things for later.
For now, I'm just going to focus on filling my belly and leveling up a bit. And maybe seeing if I can't find the path that goes deeper into this place, if there even is one.
So I came across something while wandering around and hunting.
A pit. A deep pit. It goes so far down even with my night vision it turns into a complete void once it goes so far down. Air is howling up from it and I swear there's some echoing buzzes too. Either this is just one giant hole in the dungeon made by who knows what, or it's a passage. Though the latter idea doesn't seem true, since there isn't a clear pathway or even footholds. So theory one, that something made this pit and now things just happen to occupy it's deeper parts. I mean it could lead to other floors but that might just be a consequence of whatever the hell blasted it out.
Still, a hole this big could let some pretty huge monsters move between floors if they can scale walls. And if the dungeon does really go deeper, who in the hell knows what's down there. I mean I can certainly imagine what kind of monsters you'd find deep in a "final dungeon" place like this.
Possibly dragons, maybe some freaky Lovecraft type stuff. Kaiju tier monsters of who knows what make and breed. Basically, just final bosses. Lots of them. Heck for all I know the deepest point of this dungeon hides some secret and nobody is meant to get to it. What a riot would that be huh? I feel like I'm wondering things at this point I probably shouldn't be. If someone is listening in on me, I don't want to give them a reason to smite me outta existence for prying into things too much. For now.
I still want answers. Getting out of this labyrinth and learning about the world I'm in now is just part of that. If I'm lucky and say, evolve into something that has or can take on a human form, that'll be one hell of a boon. Of course, then I'll need to get past the whole language barrier issue, but one step at a time for now. Well then, back to the hunting. Hopefully I can get a few more levels in before getting some rest.
Turning from the pit and making my way back into the winding tunnels, I start taking in what's around me to stay on alert. Finding traces of fights between other monsters or passing through explorers is a common thing, so it's always good to keep an eye for anything. I've started to assume that, generally, the explorers who come through here must be the competent types since I've never really found a dead one. Well, the odds are they're also not the types to leave a companion and his or her gear behind if they do bite it. So maybe it's just I've never had the chance to find any.
Huh… that person I killed after I was blinded. I wonder if their pals found them and at least took something back. No way they were recovering the body but, well… even if I don't feel bad about it, I can at least understand how they'd feel, can't I? This whole thing is still troubling. Is it really because I'm a monster now? Is it causing me to stop thinking like a human even if I was one before? Or do I just exist in some weird mental limbo because I have a human mind in a monster's body? Man, this is confusing.
Once again, my ambling thoughts are interrupted once my detection Skills pick up some presences.
I can see the flicker of torches as I duck behind a set of stalagmites and kick Stealth on. A group of five comes into view, and these guys look armed to the teeth. Stern faces like they're searching for something. Are they on a hunt? Have to be. Considering how dangerous a place this is, if you're intending to hunt something you'd have to be well prepped. Standard dungeon rules. Of course in an MMO it's… a bit different.
But even then, I can tell a party comp when I see one. A guy with a shield and a mace at the front, a swordsman just behind him paired with another carrying a kama of all weapons, while behind those two is a bow user and lastly, a staff holder. So, we got the tank, the three DPSes, and the mage or healer. Looks a bit… mixed up. Aren't you guys leaning a bit too hard on the DPS angle with that setup? Hope your shield is sturdy, cause some of the monsters here hit pretty dang hard.
Another presence clicking pulls my gaze from the adventurers and behind me. Another frog? When are you slimy little weasels going to learn? Haven't I killed enough of you by now to… actually y'know what, no, of course they wouldn't learn when each one or two I kill is always on their own. Most of the monsters aren't that smart.
Stealth obviously isn't helpful if say, the monster can see in the dark and is coming up right behind me. As the frog lunges, I take my tail and whip it back, spearing its chest with the blade. The frog's own momentum carries it to the base of the blade… and it also gave a very loud shriek of pain as blood spurted from the new wound. Shit… did those explorers hear that? I quickly petrify the frog and toss it from my tail. Just in time for a fireball to smash through my cover. They totally noticed.
I dodge back as the kama flies for me, the weapon clanging against the stone floor where I was. As its reeled back, I get a moment to at least watch the group. I still can't gather much from what they're saying, but like I need to understand the language to catch the context of what they're getting across. Planning. Organizing how to take me on.
But… I don't feel like it. So instead of bother with a fight, I close off the passage between me and the explorers by raising an earth wall. Their surprised yells get cut off from the sudden closing of the path. I know it could probably net me a ton of EXP but I'm not in the mood to fight some adventurers right now. Go off and hunt whatever you're actually here for and carry on with your lives. I got dungeon investigating to do.
They're tracking me. Those stubborn idiots are actually tracking me!
I thought that after cutting them off I'd be left alone, but leave it to me to not know better than to flash powerful magic in front of a bunch of adventurers, I GUESS. You'd think after seeing a large black lizard close off a goddamn cave passage they'd decide "Nah, this ain't worth it" and leave but no! What, did I tip them off to something instead?
Wait…
I've been thinking it for a while now. I've spent a lot of time hovering around that entrance. I knew I'd been seen at least a few times. Mostly I just kept away from the adventurer parties and carried on with my business. But of course they'd be taking notes of monster sightings and what they came across. Who wouldn't start finding it suspicious to see a Basilisk sticking oddly close to an entrance to the damn labyrinth? Any right minded person would go and investigate that as soon as they took note of it. And on top of that… I've already killed someone. But, there's no way they could've known it was me… could they? I don't know if anyone else was even around when that happened. That person must've been scouting ahead… did I get spotted when I was leaving?
I'd been joking about having a reputation for a while now, but could that really be it? Did I attract enough attention to have the adventurers that come through here take actual notice of what I was doing? And if that is the case… it means that group wouldn't be the only one aware of me either. But how much do they even know? Did I just blow whatever bit of knowledge they didn't have by doing that back there?
Dammit why has this just gotten more complicated? Am I seriously going to have to start dealing with adventurer's coming after me?
Worst. Reincarnation. Ever.
A fireball and arrow come sailing for me from down the way. Dodging both, I respond in kind by firing a black spear down the path, hearing yells from the charging adventurers as it slams into the wall. This is only going to end one of two ways: Either I keep running away long enough for these guys to head back, which will mean they'll just come back with more, because they're definitely trying to learn what they can about me. Or, I stand my ground and fight. I still don't know my overall strength but at this point, something tells me five ordinary looking adventurers aren't that concerning. It's the idea more could come for me, knowing what I can do, that's concerning.
One of the men shouts, pulling something from his belt. A rudimentary looking grenade. Are you seriously about to use an explosive in a cave?! Wait… no, they're covering their eyes, is it a…?!
FLASH
White. A second after the grenade was sent flying my vision was filled with pure white. My ears are left ringing as my eyes burn, the white fading to near black as it hits me. A flashbang. Of course… if they knew I was a type of Basilisk they'd want to restrict my Demon Eye.
Blind… blind… can't see… like hell. Not this again. Screw off with this crap!
I hear voices rushing towards me. "It's open!" "Get it while it's blind!" Is probably what they're saying. Just fuck off for a few seconds! Spikes of earth shoot up around me. I hear metal hit the ground; one must have stumbled back. Another sound is there too, one that's… wetter. A scream lets out but cuts off just as quickly.
Experience has reached the required threshold. Individual Black Basilisk Riku Shiratori has risen from Level 2 to Level 3.
All Basic Attributes have Increased.
Skill Proficiency Level up Bonus acquired.
Skill [Earth Wyrm LV1] has become [Earth Wyrm LV2].
Skill [Energy Attack LV2] has become [Energy Attack LV3].
Skill Points Acquired.
Experience has reached the required threshold. Individual Black Basilisk Riku Shiratori has risen from Level 3 to Level 4…
You'll have to save the level up notifications for later System! Kinda busy here!
I'll take the quick refresh though, always a handy thing to get. Creeping up the earth spikes I'd produced, I take the situation in. The tank had moved back, but there was quite the bloody cut on his cheek. On one of the spikes however was the swordsman, impaled right through the chest with blood oozing everywhere. His companions are staring at what's left of him in mixtures of anger and horror. Oh what? Just now realizing ticking me off was a bad move?
Well sorry, but after that stunt with the flashbang I think my merciful mood is about dried up! I wanted to let you off, wanted to just run away and leave it be. I thought, hey, if I just stay clear, maybe people will leave me alone! I'll hunt Monsters and evolve in peace until I can take down the Cockatrice for good and then leave this damned place! But no! I don't feel like playing the mercy card anymore!
You want a fight? Well you fucking got one!
Staring at the tank, my eyes flash. His shield turns to stone as he raises it, and his arm with it. I lunge down from my perch with my tail blade ebbing with energy. The man swings his sword to meet it, the metal screaming as the magical burst slams it. His sword arm flies back, and as he's shifting back, my claws shoot forward with dark energy shooting from them, the dark blade meeting the bottom of his chin and piercing right through. The body goes limp the second it slams to the ground from the motion.
The remaining kama user and mage yell at me. Rage, terror… the mix of emotions that tends to make people do really crazy things when push comes to shove. Yeah, I get how you might feel. From your guys' perspective that's two friends dead from some stupid monster. If this is a job then you probably took it thinking you could manage it. "It's just a dumb Basilisk. We can manage that if we're smart." Right? I suppose what I can do is just that unexpected for you.
Well unfortunately that unexpectedness is gonna bite you guys in the ass.
The kama user spins the weighted end of his chain and throws is. Trying to snare me are you? Well thank the tail blade again for deflecting that! As he tries to reel the chain back, a dark spear rushes along my limb and down the length of the chain. The man's chest is blown through by the spear, falling to the ground with an oozing hole through his heart. All that's left is the mage and bow user. And they're looking as worried as I'd expect the last two standing.
The mage raises his staff and starts shouting what have to be spell incantations. Balls of flame, spikes of ice, and gusts of wind fly for me. They slam into a layered barrier of earth. Once the barrage ceases, I peer around and see the two bolting down the passage. Don't think so. With an adjustment of my gaze, the mage's legs petrify, and he collapses to the ground. I send out a flame spear after the archer, and like with the kama user he falls to the ground instantly dead as it shoots through his chest. Walking over, the mage is tearing at his frozen legs trying to do something. He looks at me as I step over, and the look in his eyes… fear. I also don't really care. You'd kill me just as easily if I was vulnerable. Sorry. No mercy from me.
My tail flashes through the air, sending the blade right into his skull. The man gurgles for a moment and his eyes roll back. I rip the blade free from his skull. Once again, I don't feel anything remotely close to remorse. Hell, this time I feel outright justified. I didn't choose this fight, they did.
Experience has reached the required threshold. Individual Black Basilisk Riku Shiratori has risen from Level 6 to Level 7.
All Basic Attributes have Increased.
Skill Proficiency Level up Bonus acquired.
Skill [Earth Wyrm LV3] has become [Earth Wyrm LV4].
Skill [Dragon Scales LV1] has become Skill [Dragon Scales LV2].
Skill [Energy Attack LV4] has become [Energy Attack LV5].
Skill Points Acquired.
Condition satisfied. Acquired title [Merciless].
Acquired Skills [Heretic Magic LV1] and [Heresy Resistance LV1] as a result of title [Merciless].
Ah, right, System had been giving me level up alerts the entire time. Humans really must give out a ton of EXP if just five adventurers shot me up to level seven. And a new title along with it. Merciless, huh? I guess that one works out. Not like I believe I can even afford to be merciful anymore. Also a new Magic type and Resistance from it to boot. I'll take those.
And now there's another thing to check. Each of these guys had a backpack with them. It only makes sense to carry supplies around if you're delving into a place like this. Meaning at least one of them has to have a map. So let's see what I can gather.
I've got enough respect not to eat the bodies. But I'm not against some looting. RPG rules. You kill it, now it's yours.
Having taken whatever was undamaged from the fighting that I could, I'd taken the looted knapsacks from the adventurers into a nest so I wouldn't be bothered while rifling through their supplies.
It was about as standard fare as I expected it to be. Supplies for scaling walls if need be, some salves for healing wounds and bandages in each pack. And it was in the mage's pack I found what I was looking for: A map. Also what looked like a job leaflet. But I can't read the written language so it's basically useless. I can at least assume it's got to be about me. But, the map is the more pressing issue for me right now.
Like with the leaflet I can't read any of the scripting written on it, but I can at least read the topographical parts of it. There's a lot of marks made on it too. Maybe spots where they thought they'd find me? Or just monster sightings in general. Maybe the folks who come through the dungeon update individual maps for information's sake. Hmm, actually… is it possible for me to use Appraisal on the text so I can read it? Let's try that with the text at the top…
Great Elroe Labyrinth, Upper Stratum: Possible sightings of the "Shadow of the Labyrinth."
Holy shit it worked?! So they really were marking things down following me. So these marks must be places they assumed I could be at. I hadn't found that pit until recently, but it looks like they'd checked other places near it before running into me in that area. So then over there must be the entrance I was around. Which one is it anyway?
Kasanagara Elroe entrance, Ohts County.
Ah. So that's the place I'm near. Alright, so that tells me where my end point is at the least. Hm… what else stands out that I should take note of. There's this passage around there…
Path to Middle Stratum
There are more layers to this place! I knew it! Middle Stratum, eh? I can't guess what the environment would be like until I get there. But looking at it… it'll be a bit of a trek, but I can get there no problem. Everything in this layer is starting to shore out in terms of power as it is. If I want to keep getting stronger and quickly, moving further into the dungeon is necessary.
So what if I got one of those Deadly Sin Skills?
Pride is an immediate buff to overall growth, but then there's Greed. It's one thing to level up quickly, but what about just… taking stats and skills outright? Hmm… I'll start with one and get the other. System, remind me about Greed again.
[Greed]: n% of the power to reach godhood. When the user kills a target, randomly steals either status values, Skills, or Skill Points from the target. In addition, the user will gain the ability to surpass the W system and interfere with the MA Field.
Some of that vernacular still makes no damn sense, but thanks for the refresher. Now, as for purchasing it…
Number of Skill Points currently in possession: 27,200. Number of Skill Points to acquired Skill [Greed], 100. Acquire Skill?
Yes.
[Greed] acquired. Remaining Skill Points: 27,100.
Nice.
Proficiency has reached the required level. Acquired Skill [Taboo LV2].
Wait, what?
Condition satisfied. Acquired title [Ruler of Greed].
Acquired Skills [Appraisal LV10] and [Conquest] as a result of title [Ruler of Greed].
Skill [Appraisal LV5] has been integrated into Skill [Appraisal LV10].
Hey hey hey slow down for a hot minute there! What was that Skill that popped up before? Taboo?! What the hell is that?!
Taboo: A Skill given to those who commit a taboo. Must never be raised.
You just gave it to me at level two though! What does it even do? Is that seriously all you're going to tell me?! And what's this about just handing me Appraisal at level 10? Do you know how long I've been grinding that one up?! And now I just have it at max! There's a principle to these things dammit! Well… alright, let's see what it does. Maybe I'll finally be able to see my damn stats…
Black Basilisk LV7 Riku Shiratori
Status: HP: 846 (green)
MP: 850 (blue)
SP: 578 (yellow) 708 (red)
Offense: 799
Defense: 768
Magic: 581
Resistance: 421
Speed: 573
Skill:
[HP Auto-Recovery LV7] [MP Recovery Speed LV4] [Strength LV9] [Solidity LV9] [Persistent LV5] [Running LV8]
[Energy Attack LV4] [Magic Energy Attack LV3] [Poison Attack LV4] [Flame Attack LV1] [Dark Attack LV3] [Terrain Attack LV5]
[Petrifying Demon Eye LV10] [Expel LV8]
[Telepathy LV1]
[Appraisal LV10] [Magic Power Perception LV9] [Spatial Perception LV5] [Motion Perception LV5] [Heat Perception LV5] [Presence Perception LV4] [Concentration LV6] [Parallel Thinking LV4] [Arithmetic Processing LV4]
[Precise Magic Power Operation LV6] [Petrifying Demon Eye LV10] [Seismic Magic LV5] [Dark Magic LV9] [Flame Magic LV6] [Heretic Magic LV1]
[Petrification Resistance LV6] [Heresy Resistance LV1] [Deadly Poison Resistance LV3] [Fear Resistance LV8]
[Expel LV8] [Stealth LV9] [Night Vision LV10] [Vision Expansion LV5] [Auditory EnhancementLV7] [Olfactory EnhancementLV6] [Tactile Enhancement LV5] [Dragon Scales LV2]
[Earth Wyrm LV4] [Greed] [Conquest] [Anger LV2] [Taboo LV2] [n % = IW] [Relentless Willpower]
Skill Points: 27,100
Titles:
Foul Feeder, Monster Slayer, Assassin, Merciless, Ruler of Greed
Isn't that a bit too much all at once?! I know I wanted to see my stats but holy crap! The entire stat block and then some?! I knew I had a good deal of skills but man that list is long! But… well, now this gives me a much fuller idea of just what it is I've got going for me. And I can definitely get more from there. I'll just need to experiment around a bit when I feel the need to.
But, for now, I've got a new goal set: Head for the Middle Stratum. It probably won't go well, but let's see what happens!
A/N
I am screaming after this one. Assembling the full Skill list was a pain and a half since I made the HORRIBLE mistake of not keeping an active one on hand. But at least it'll be way easier from this point on to do again! Yay for modern technology that is the copy paste function!
EDIT: Some little bits I missed. Also a note about a CERTAIN skill. FFN's formatting HATES certain symbols so trying to get it to work is... complicated.