Becoming a leader!

When I arrived at the cavern, I knew something was wrong before I ever got there. Thanks to my " Blindsense " and " Night Vision ", I noticed a few injured bats far away outside of the cavern... injured or unmoving.

I stopped going forward, becoming wary of what was ahead. I try to focus my hearing very hard to maybe hear something unusual. I could hear the bats squeaking but nothing else... until the mysterious voice told me:

" Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Enhanced Hearing LV.1 " has become learned. "

As soon as I got this skill, I heard some of the bat screech and the flap of wings more clearly. I still couldn't identify a threat from either " Blindsense ", " Night Vision " or " Enhanced Hearing ". I did discover that my mental strength had already recovered but I was feeling like resting now and this new development was giving me a headache. I decided to fly stealthy toward the cave, where I could finally asset more clearly what happened...

Humans.

They came here. I'm not sure what they wanted exactly but I could see a broken cage nearby, big enough for even our leading " Sonic Bat " to fit in. There was a weird paper with strange writing on it placed on the cage. There was also a few nets threw in the cavern, each containing cave bats of different strength. It seem like they used this to constraint them. A lot of them had being killed though and a few with arrows still planted in their corpse. A lot of them had a few deep cut on their body. Most of them dead bats were mostly concentrated at the cavern entrance. Just from this, I could guess the bats didn't use the layout to their advantage. The cave entrance was way smaller then the cave itself. They were restrained in movement because of it.

This place reeked of blood too. I knew it would attract other monsters. And indeed, it seem they had fought a group of those giant centipedes as a few of the bats were munching on some of them, with the pincers of those giant bugs (or even the remains of their whole head) still grabbing the bodies of the bats in their death.

As I was wondering what to do next, the bats noticed me. There was a strange reaction from most of them. They stopped whatever they were doing and fixed their gaze on me. It was a bit unnerving and I was wondering why they were acting like that before realizing it might be because I evolved.

Oh true. Only our leader had evolve. So maybe they see the evolved Sonic Bat as superior? I didn't realize it before but that "Blindsense" skill must look like I have a spotlight on me at all time from their point of view.

To test my theory, I flew toward the closest one. It backed away inside the cavern, seemingly unwilling to let me approach it. As it did however, it seem it provoked a chain reaction from some other bats. Some squawked a bit aggressively but didn't dare to come close... at least most of them. One of them from inside the cave had his gaze locked on me and was flying in my direction. Sensing the threat, I used Appraisal on that one:

Bat Cave LV.15 Status Appraisal Failed

I didn't have time to ponder what to do. I started to charge toward him. Although I was lower level then him, I knew I had lots of skills to use to my advantage. Using the combination of " High-speed Flying", " 3D-Manouver ", " Dash " and " Evasion ", I was more agile then any other bats in this colony and I knew it. My foolish opponent tried to bite me in midair but he was moving way slower than me. With a well-timed flap of the wings, I dodged easily, flying above him. Then I used my tail and wrap it around his neck while diving to bite the tail. In this grapple, not only he was being chocked, he also couldn't shake me off with his tail and I was preventing him to fly as well. We crashed heavily on the floor. Unfortunately, I ended up receiving some damage from it but I had no doubt it was way worst for my opponent. He began to struggle but it was in vain. He couldn't reach me from this position and I was choking him hard. This was the difference between human intellect and a beast intellect!

Well, that's what I thought before something else happened. It seem seeing the both of us struggling on the group made us " vulnerable" for the others bats around us. Seeing an opportunity to finish us both, they charged us! A shiver went down my spine but I reacted accordingly: I released my grip on my opponent's tail. This allowed him to slash me with his tail, cutting down my HP. This attack was stronger than expected and it would have made me flinch if I didn't have the " Pain Nullify " skill. However, he only had time for one attack before I unleashed my secret weapon:

WAILING!

I screamed at the top of my lunges. The disorientation and headache sensation was strong since the skill was at level 3 but so was my " Heresy Resistance" skill. Fortunately, I was already on the ground, laying down on my opponent body. The other bats however weren't as lucky. All the bats around me ended up falling on the ground, unable to move. My grasp on my opponent throat at relaxed a bit but since he was the closest to me, he was hit the hardest by the effect actually and actually puked. Rethinking about the fight later, I would be surprised he didn't faint from the attack. Because of " Heresy Resistance ", I was still the one who regained his senses faster and returned to what I was doing: choking the hell out of the bat below me while grabbing his tail. The resistance was now getting weaker but it was still here.

Stop struggling and submit to me! You can't fight me in this position! You want to die?!

I don't know exactly why or how but as I was thinking this, I felt my own desire for his submission overwhelming the bat below me who finally stopped struggling. It was a strange sensation. When the sensation stopped, I released him from my grasp and used my talon to jump away from him. When he did, I received several blessing at once!

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

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

" Conditions met. Title [ Commander ] received. " Cooperation LV.1 " and " Danger Perception LV.1 " has being gained."

I couldn't help but laugh loudly at everything I had gained from this fight. As a bat, it must have sound weird for others but I didn't care. Man, was I awesome or what?! I moved away from the bat I submitted, who rose up and looked at me with a neutral look.

I'm surprised I didn't get a level from that but whatever. I got a new title that sound way more awesome then the one I had before and four new skills from that fight alone! They sound promising too, let's see what " Appraisal" have... Wait, what's happening now?

It seem the bats had already recovered from my " Wailing " skill but now, a lot of them were flying next to me, releasing strange squeaking sound. I wasn't detecting any hostile intention from them, thx to my new " Danger Perception" skill but I was perplexed at their following actions. I had heard those sound before from the back of the cavern we were in but never dared to get close to the leader to find out what was happening. Not only that but because I was on the ground, some even landed next to me... showing me their butt?

Then it hit me like a truck: those were female bats in heat. A shiver went down my spine. My body was one of a bat and the basic instincts of this body of mine were suddenly urging me to procreate... I resisted it with all my might, I flapped my wings to get some distance. As I did, I received ANOTHER skill:

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

Urg, seriously?! Ah man, this is going to be a problem. That "urge" have lessened a bit... but I can't concentrate like this either. Man, I'm a SMALL Sonic bat. Shouldn't you go for the adult bats around here? Darn it, it's probably because I became the new alpha now. And from this stupid body reaction, I could do it if I really wanted. Man, what a pain! To think I came back here because I just wanted to sleep too!

Those bats wouldn't leave me alone though so I had to fly to the ceiling and choose a spot next to wall. Even with my face turned against the wall, their presence around me and their particular squeaking was a constant torture for my mind and the only thing I could do was to resist it. My only consolation about all of this was that I hoped I would reach " Charm Immunity " eventually. The skill " Charm Resistance had being rising as fast my " Pain Resistance " and I could only grind my teeth and grasp for that hope.

Although I did consider leaving the cave, I felt it would bad if other monsters showed up. Since the humans seem to have leave recently, it would take a while before they would coming back. As for the monsters of this level, I was confident I could take them on with my higher status but I wasn't sure for the rest of the colony. Not only that but since I became the new leader, I had the feeling they would follow me everywhere anyway.

Since I was stuck here, I decided to concentrate my mind elsewhere. I started to look at my new skills thought Appraisal:

" Taming: The skill to make monsters submit to the user. "

" Taijutsu: " The skill level is added to the attack and movement skills as correction."

" Cooperation: The skill level is added as a correction to the actions made as a group. "

" Danger Perception: The perception skill to detect threats and imminent danger. "

" Thought Acceleration: Make the mouvements look slower around the user of the skill "

" High Speed Calculation Processing: The skill is added as correction for mental calculation purpose "

Wow, all of those skills are awesome! Well except maybe Calculation Processing... Still not useful for a bat. Wow I have so many skills to train now that I probably would not have time to train magic if I had it... Well, no, that's a lie. I would surely find the time to train it if I knew how.

I suddenly had a flash of inspiration:

Wait... Blindsense gave me several Perception related skills and now I even have Danger Perception. There should be a Magic Perception skill right? "

The mysterious voice answered my call:

" You have 200 skills. Magic Perception cost 100 skill points. Do you want to purchase Magic Perception? "

I shivered with excitement! By using Appraisal on the Magic Perception skill, I discovered it was the skill to sense magic energy.

Oooh... this MUST be a reason why I cannot use magic yet! If I want to use magic, I must have this skill first!

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

YEEES! Thank you Predicting skill, I love you! That answer my question! Yes, I'm buying this skill!

" You have bought Magic Perception. You have 100 skill points remaining "

After I bought the skill, I finally noticed the magic energy within myself. It was a new awesome feeling, a feeling of invigoration. I finally realized it was being able to sense my own mana. I wondered what I could do with this new energy within me. After several hours, I managed to circulate it around my body. It was difficult but I knew it was only at the very first level. I didn't want to try casting Shadow Magic yet because I felt my control was still sluggish. As I was training this skill, another skill appeared!

" Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Magic Manipulation LV.1 " has become learned. "

OH YEAH BABY! I really need to train those skills! Ok, let's set up a goal. Once they are level 5, let's try to cast Shadow Magic!

I returned my thoughts to the colony and those stupid bats in heat behind me. In the hours I being focusing on my new skills, my " Charm Resistance" had risen quite a bit. I was wondering if I should try to use my " Taming " skill on them to make them go away when they suddenly did it on their own. Before I could turn around to see what was going on, my "Danger Perception" skill warned me of an imminent treath!

I used my talon to jump downward and flapped my wings to avoid the incoming bat that was charging me. It almost hit the spot where I was, before growling and charging at me again. If I had being human, I would have frown. I had though acquiring my newest title would have prevent such rebellion...

However, the other bats of the colony couldn't match my speed. By doing hit and run tactics with my talons, this bat decided to give up and fly away. I hesitated but decided to follow it in the end. I was almost sure it was the same bat as before. As he realized I was going after him, he went for the exit. I chased it out of the cavern. Once we were outside, I could use Appraisal on it without risking a headache:

Cave Bat LV. 15 No Name

HP: 382 MP: 122 SP: 280 - 180/280

Attack: 190 Defense: 190 Resistance: 140

Magic: 100 Speed: 88

Loyalty: 10/100

Skills: Flying LV. 7, Diamond Teeth LV.6, Echolocation 6, Night Vision LV. 5, Heresy Magic LV.1, Cooperation LV. 1, Direction LV.1, Taboo Lv.1

Titles: Kin Eater, Guider

OH?! It show even the skills and titles now! Wait don't fly away, I need to study you!

I intercepted the beast who was getting scared of this restless pursuit. But since it wasn't calming down, I grabbed him and fallen to the ground with it. He stopped struggling but was trembling as I was grappling his neck this time.

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

Darn, their NEED to be a better way to make them understand what I want! Urg, I need to be nice to it, so it understand I didn't want to kill it.

For now, I decided to use " Divine Medicine Skill " on this minion of mine. It was surprised at first and then let a strange pleased squeak. I used it again and again until he healed completely. It was using MP but it was so little that I could probably a bathtub before I ran out of mana. The bat even started to roll on the ground in the puddle of medicine. Once I didn't see any visible wounds on him, I used Appraisal on him again.

WOW! His Loyalty increased to 40! Well at least that's a effective way to increase it's loyalty. And wow, my medicine actually increased its SP! WHAT?! It's a small amount but it's there! Does that mean I no longer need to eat awful stuff if I increase the level of that skill?! AWESOME !

The bat was now just waiting for me to be finish. As I looked at his skills and his new titles, I discovered the " Taboo" skill was VERY bad. A skill to never have, probably given when you did something very wrong. I came to the conclusion that it was because of that critter two titles. If I was correct, " Kin Eater " gave him "Heresy Magic " and " Taboo " while the title " Guider " gave him the " Cooperation " and " Direction " skill. I figured I would need to guide a hunting team back to the cavern without getting lost a few times.

" Skill Proficiency reached. Skill " Predicting LV.3 " has become Predicting LV.4. "

Less surprisingly, " Appraisal " told me the " Direction" skill was pretty straightforward. It just to avoid getting loss, calculating distance and knowing where the north is. But I figured that combined with " Space Manoeuver " and " Balance" could only be good for me to learn as a flyer. Beside, a free skill IS a free skill. It should raise on its own anyway, I didn't plan to especially train it.

But first thing first... I needed a way to communicate with the bats. After a lot a lot of experimentation, I discovered what I needed: the "Telepathy" skill. Although it would probably be crude or short ranged at first, I was hoping they would allow my newest minion to be able to recognize one word commands. I had trained a dog before and to be honest, the perspective of training monsters to listen to me was a heartwarming thought. I always wished that once I would settle down on my own, I would own a dog or two. And besides, I naively thought that if I crossed humans again, we could avoid a confrontation if we could communicate properly. Considering all that, I bought the skill with my remaining points.

So now, I could hunt with the pack, heal the injured to increase my position as their leader and train a few skills all in the same time. But there was one thing I wanted to be sure: the pack safety. I studied the broken cage near our cavern, it seem to me they capture the past leader of the pack. I didn't want my pack to be raid like that before we could stand off to the humans if things were doing poorly. I wanted to find a new place to live... After a week, I finally found it!

I passed by it before but didn't enter it too deeply. Only because my memory skill evolved to the "Record" skill that I could I remember this place or the fact there was something beyond it. It was a large entrance to a steamy cavern. With my "Blindsense", I could see this was the place where the frogs monster established their home. I was curious to what was beyond so I leaded the pack in there. We flew high, close to the ceiling. If we flew too low, the frogs would throw acid at us. The steam itself felt acidic, not very pleasant for the skin. Fortunately, I had my " Acid Resistance" but the rest of the bat were not as lucky.

We finally reached the other side of the cavern which ended in a vertical tunnel. There was some hot air coming down from below. Above, it seem it was actually leading to a cavern. I leaded the group above... and was astonished!

The cavern was way bigger then I though. It seem it opened up on the north side in the past but that path have collapsed. There was a small gap it seem between the ceiling and the rocks in the way. It seemed just large enough for a bat to fly. The only other way to fly here was the one below where we came from. There was stalagmites all above but the ones in the middle couldn't be touched because of the hot air and bit of vapor coming from the hole. But was only a small flaw. I decided to move all the colony here.

They would gain "Acid Resistance" more easily here as well as well as " Heat Resistance". The cavern itself was must hotter because of the hot air rising up from the pit had almost nowhere to go. Like this, they would grow stronger by adapting to this new environment. I could help them too with my " Divine Medicine " skill!

It took a few days to move every bats here and a few of them died. Not a lot however thanks to my " Divine Medicine " skill but still... Turns out I was right and after a day or two, all bats got "Heat Resistance" and " Acid Resistance". My first and only minion loyalty was at the max now and he could obey some simple mental command. Speaking of which, I received the " Command " skill after my minion managed to do a few tricks like " Guard" or " Attack ". It seem it was to be used in pair with the " Taming " skill? It was kind of neat that I got it for free.

Then again... I was naive in thinking the colony safety was assured. One day... the world decided to show me how weak I was.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I did several changes/edit in the story since I posted it. The reason for that was that I discovered the light novel thanks to a kind reviewer. I had to make a few changes you might not even notice in the earlier chapters to remain truthful to that world original lore. But also, in short and without any spoilers, my OC probably will never become as strong as the MC of that novel. Because of that, I will probably have to stop my fanfic before reaching her level in strength. I'm not even sure I'll make it a good or bad ending. Please comments about it if you want, I'll take it in consideration.