CHALLENGER MODE!
'Status Window.'
[Name: Samael
Titles:
Bringer Of The End[Mythical]
Embodiment Of Chaos[Mythical]
Species: Venomous Snake
Level: Lv1 (0/10EXP)
Bodily Alterations: (None)
Current Health Points: 10/10
Current Endurance Points: 20/20
Stats:
Strength: 1
Agility: 2
Sense: 1
Vigor: 1
Endurance: 2
Magic Skills:
-Dark Magic Production[SSS]
-Dark Magic Manipulation[SSS]
-Cataclysmic Dark Magic Control[SSS]
Passive Skills:
-Sublime Health Point Regeneration[A]
-Sublime Endurance Point Regeneration[A]
-Sublime Mana Point Regeneration[A]
]
'Samael... Still can't get used to that. But I like it. Anyways, my Stats increased like crazy. I'm way faster than before, though it's not as obvious as it should be because of the difference in size. Between one and three... How come no Stat is at 3?'
[The average Venomous Snake has Stat hovering between 1 and 3.]
'The average... Doesn't necessarily mean a Level 1 Venomous Snake. I get it, I think. Now... Bodily Alterations.'
[You have Cleared your First Quest!]
[Congratulations!]
[As a Reward, you can undergo both available Bodily Alterations.]
'The fuck... You said there would be no Reward though?'
The System didn't answer. It only took a couple of seconds for the Venomous Snake to realize.
'It's not for Clearing the Quest, but for Clearing the First Quest. That's interesting. So I might not be Rewarded for Quests two through nine, but I could be Rewarded for the Tenth Cleared Quest. I see... How sly.'
The fact that he was rewarded, of course, was a happy occurrence.
Still, it did plant a seed of doubt.
The System was on his side. The System wouldn't act against him. The System wouldn't lie to him. But it wouldn't always tell the whole truth. At least, not until asked or until it becomes relevant.
'It would have been relevant though... Knowing that there was an extra Reward... Anyways. I'll take you up on your offer then.'
[Initializing the Bodily Alteration "Sharp Fangs".]
Immediately, the Venomous Snake felt its mouth and jaws twitch.
Its fangs trembled, cracked, and eventually fell.
Aghh-
It didn't hurt much, but the taste of its own blood surprised the Venomous Snake.
The new fangs, much sharper than the previous ones, had pierced their way out.
[Initializing the Bodily Alteration "Increased Venom Potency".]
The Venomous Snake's eyes started twitching.
'What...?'
Its head? Its throat?
The Venomous Snake had trouble locating where the twitching was taking place exactly.
'Below... And behind my eyes? One of them? I can't tell.'
The twitching seized.
'I expected venom glands to be in the throat or something. In the first place... Where does a Snake's throat even end?' The Venomous Snake chuckled. 'You saved from having to make a tough choice. Venom is the primary weapon. Stealthily attacking to inject that potent venom is the most logical and natural way of fighting for a Snake. But that venom can only act if the fangs can pierce into the prey's body.'
The Venomous Snake nodded internally.
'I didn't have to choose now, but I'm sure there will be similar situations where I will have to choose. Gotta keep that in mind.'
The Venomous Snake slithered away from the pit and somewhat aimlessly on the sand.
It turned to its right.
'Ocean...'
It turned to its left.
'Exotic forest...'
The Venomous Snake thought for a bit.
'Is the ocean off limits?'
[A certain distance can be crossed.]
'Then what? Some kind of invisible wall will stop me?'
[It is something similar to that.]
'I see. Three days before the Humans have access to this place. The Island is the Dungeon, not the waters around it. Of course, there needs to be a limit. And I'm confined by that limit too... I'd still like to go into the water. Feeding on a variety of Monster is important, isn't it?'
[It is.]
The Venomous Snake chuckled internally.
'It's peaceful now, but it won't be for long. I'm not even sure I'm the kind of Snake that can actually swim. Maybe I'll enter and sink right away, or get kidnapped by the waves...'
It stared at the ocean for a bit.
'The waters will be a bonus. I'll only go there if I'm confident enough... If I'm strong enough...' The Venomous Snake started slithering towards the forest. 'If I've Evolved enough.'
[Issueing new Quest...]
'Make sure it has Rewards like the previous one, haha!'
[Calculating...]
'What...?'
[The System has taken your demand into consideration.]
'It wasn't a demand! Just a suggestion! Not even that, a joke!'
[Quest:
Clear Condition: Enter the Exotic Forest in the next twenty minutes.
Difficulty: Medium.
Reward: 5 Unallocated Stat Points.
Failure Penalty: Revert to Snakelet Form.
]
'WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?'
[The Quest has been judged fair by the System.]
'I DIDN'T DEMAND IT! DON'T START PLAYING THOSE TYPES OF GAMES! CMON!'
[The System has deemed that you enjoy those types of games.]
'I do but...! Oh, come on! I can see the fairness, six Unallocated Stat Points... That I guess I allocated however I want, versus reverting to Snakelet! The Evolution did basically increase my Stats by 6 Stat Points but come on! Don't push this on me like that!'
[Would you like to accept the Quest?]
'Oh... Oh for fuck's sake. Thought I didn't have a choice. Okay, that's fair. So... Wait. I can either have simple Quests with no extra Rewards, or tougher ones with extra Rewards?'
[That is partly true.]
'Only partly...? Then... Aha! These Quests are Mega Quests, aren't they? Like if this was the Quests with no extra Rewards, this Quest would be the fifth or something. Is that right? 'So now the mini-Quests are mine to figure out...? Something like that?'
[Partly.]
[The Quest Option has two different Modes.]
[One offers guidance and a safer approach.]
[The other offers challenges and Rewards.]
'I see. Risks and Rewards or safe and easy. Mmmh. Five Stat Points does sound really good but... Twenty minutes. I can't stay on the beach forever anyway. How far into the Forest counts as -entering- it? How long do I have to stay in there?'
[Ten meters beyond the first tree you pass by is enough.]
[There is no time constraint.]
[You will be notified the instant the necessary distance is crossed.]
'Then I can turn around and run right away?'
[Correct.]
'Can I switch between the two Modes of the Quest Option?'
[Analyzing...]
[Calculating...]
[After Clearing three Quests from a given Mode, you can switch to the other.]
'So right now...'
[Quest #1 (CHALLENGER MODE):
Clear Condition: Enter the Exotic Forest in the next twenty minutes.
Difficulty: Medium.
Reward: 5 Unallocated Stat Points.
Failure Penalty: Revert to Snakelet Form.
]
[Do you accept?]
The Venomous Snake's eyes narrowed as it stared at the Exotic Forest in the distance.
'I get twenty minutes to enter it, so I can take my time and move stealthily.'
[You have thirty seconds to decide.]
Right away, the Venomous Snake started slithering as fast as it could.