26 My name is...
[Singing Stone (sand) accepted the name 'Sahra' giving her the title, 'Thy who was named']
'So you will get a title after being named... I wonder what effect it gives Sahra.'
Finishing showering me with affection she looked at me once again, inspecting my new appearance carefully, she gave me an approving nod. But then she did something that almost made my eyes pop out of my sockets.
'How the...'
I could see a blue panel floating in front of her. It was the same blue screen that followed me ever since I was born in this world. Reaching her hand out she taped it once, suddenly her body began to emit steam from her body.
She didn´t look hurt or anything, and only watched it happen with a happy smile plastered on her face. Slowly her featureless face grew two little sharp fangs that poked out of her mouth, her body turned, what I could only describe as, more humanoid than before with more features and details, for the lack of better words. It wasn´t a major change as she already has the form of a human girl, but you could still notice the changes. But the most noticeable change is the small grey symbol on her chest. It looked like a snake that coiled around an apple in an octagon.
Standing there frozen like a statue I fell into deep thoughts, while she was just inspecting her changes, but without a mirror, she couldn´t see the fangs and traced them with her tongue, which looked oddly cute. Letting out a laugh we were both shocked by the change. Before it sounded rougher, but now it was clear and more pleasant to hear. She still couldn´t speak but at least the noises she produced are now even pleasanter than before.
After a few rounds of examination and testing her new voice a familiar blue screen popped up in front of her that was just too familiar to me.
Immediately a million thoughts rushed through my mind.
'Is she a reincarnated person too? Does everyone have a system? What´s going on? Why can I see her status window? Did she always have one? Was naming someone so important? What are her stats?'
A sudden jolt put me out of my thoughts and my eyes refocused themselves.
Kneeling in front of me Sahra pulled me in a tight hug again. I didn´t know why she was in such a good mood despite the predicament we are in right now, but I welcomed the hug with open "arms"... despite lacking a pair.
Breaking the hug she showed me her status window, which showed me just how much stronger she was compared to me.
[Status]
Name: Sahra
Species: Singing Stone (Sand)
Level: 25 --> 29
[Stats:]
Strength: 92 -->118
Agility: 135 --> 171
Intelligence: 70 --> 82
Mentality: 85 --> 97
Hp: 253/400
MP: 98/180
Title:
1. Goblin Hunter (increases damage dealt to goblins)
2. Monster Slicer (10% slice damage, plus 5% bleed effect when dealing damage)
3. Thy who was named (Gives 5% increase in all stats when near the person that named you)
Curse:
1. Gluttony (You will stay hungry and thirsty even if you eat and drink.) [Time: 3d 15h 13min 49sec]
[Skills: Sand Armor lv 8, Sand Cloud lv 6, Conceal lv 8, Poison Bite lv 5, Dagger Mastery lv 8, Scan lv 6, Combat Mode lv 6, Pain Resistance lv 2]
[Racial Skill: Earth Affinity lv 5, Charming Singing lv 2]
[Evolution Path:]
[Flexible Hardened Sand Armor]
[Better Vibration Sensing Sensor]
[Sharp Piercing Regenerating Teeth]
[Flexible Burst Muscles]
[Poison Fang]
(An: He can´t see the progress from level 25 to level 29. It is only for you readers to have a better grasp of leveling.)
Seeing another person's stats for the first time, I could finally compare myself and guess just how strong or weak I am right now.
Her stats were more than double that of mine... well what did I expect from a level 29 monster. She is so close to reaching level 30 and probably evolving again. Knowing how hard it is to level up skills, I couldn´t help but be astonished by the high level. The new title that she gained is op I hope I will get a name soon. All of her titles are useful, especially the Monster Slicer.
But what shocked me the most is her high intelligence stat. I knew she was a clever monster and could be compared to human levels of intelligence, but hers was even higher than mine.
'I know that intelligence made you better at remembering and understanding things and piecing things together, but does it mean she was smarter than a human? Probably I guess...'
Finished looking at her stats I looked up to see her starring intensely at my face.
...
Not knowing her behavior I just tilted my head. 'Why is she staring at me so hard? Did I do something wrong?' Seeing no signs of breaking the eye contact we stared at each other for a few minutes before my stomach growled in protest.
Hearing my grumbling stomach my grey face turned slightly pink, I even heard a slight chuckling noise.
Turning away out of embarrassment, I wanted to feast on the dead wolves only to see them being dragged into the earth by big roots.
'No no no no!'
"Raaaahh~!"
Seeing the food being cocooned and dragged down I couldn´t help but cry out.
Falling to the side and laying on the ground I silently wept. 'So that is what it meant by the dungeon will starve us...'
My self-pity session was quickly stopped by a notification.
*Ding*
[Sahra want to name you 'Raas', do you accept?]
[Yes!] [No!]
My slit-like pupils widened so much that it turned round at the sight.
'Did she want to name me Raas by my outcry just now?!'
Pushing my body up I turned towards Sahra who was fidgeting and twirling her hands in anticipation and nervousness.
Each second that passed she became more and more anxious while her mood dropped at a rapid speed.
*Sigh*
Letting out a defeated sigh I clicked on yes while thinking, 'Guess I will become a damn Pokémon then...'
Immediately after pressing on 'Yes' another screen popped up.
[Choose one of the following skills:]
[Dagger Mastery]
[Conceal]
[Combat Mode]
'Hmm interesting, so Sahra chose the skill "Venom Fang" from me... I wonder what her other choices were... but never mind that for now. First things first, Dagger Mastery is out of the picture, I don´t even have hands to hold them... BUT WAIT! Sahra did grow some fangs by choosing the skill Venom Fang, maybe I would gain hands too!'
While I was mentally fighting myself Sahra is just joyfully squirming and squealing around like a schoolgirl that was meeting their idol.
After a long debate between my desire of having hands again and my logical thinking, I decided to not choose Dagger Mastery as the possibility of not growing hands was too big... So that only leaves us with Conceal and Combat Mode.
Tapping my chin with my tail I thought hard on what skill to choose, 'So Conceal reduces one's presence and is good for hiding and avoiding battles. Combat Mode, hmm I didn´t even know Sahra had that skill. But I remember her face turning into an upside-down triangle when going into fights. Well, but what does it do? She did use Conceal more often than Combat Mode when looking at the levels of the two skills. Hmmm, I already have enough offensive capabilities, time for some escape skills.'
Making up my mind I pressed on Conceal.
Just like what happened to Sahra my body began to release steam, but an itchy feeling creeped up.
The feeling got stronger and stronger till I felt my scales slip off.
'Agh, I think I am shedding again!'
After only a few minutes the skin slowly peeled off of me leaving only the husk of me behind. What should have been an act over several days for normal snakes took me only a few short minutes, for what I´m extremely thankful for, as the process was extremely itchy and uncomfortable. But afterward, you will feel refreshed and clean, as if you were detoxified and rejuvenated.
What was revealed under the formally grey scales are now shiny whitish-grey scales that had a tiny tinge of yellow in them, but it couldn´t be noticed at first glance. I am already liking what I am seeing as I despise the color grey. Additionally, a yellow mark appeared over where my heart should be. The symbol was a yellow hourglass with a crown on top and a mountain range in the background.
The symbol looked cool and aesthetic for me and I always wanted to have a tattoo so I didn´t mind it. Satisfied I slithered towards Sahra who was still fussing around. I bobbed her leg a few times to get her attention, before being suddenly assaulted by her.
'Gah~ Sahra what are you doing!?'
With sparkly eyes, she touched my whole body and was overjoyed by my new appearance. Trying to slither away only made my situation worse as she sat on me and pinned me down.
With glazed eyes I turned on my back and looked at her face pleading for mercy, but she was just smiling down on me. I could swear she had a devilish grin on her face.
So for the next few minutes, I was being molested by a human-looking monster girl while being next to a glowing tree inside what I presume to be a dungeon... Never in my life would I thought that I would end up in a situation like this.
Finally finished being touched all over she got off me and let out a satisfied sigh before wiping away the non-existing sweat on her forehead.
Covering my eyes with my tail I sniffed 'Now I can´t get married anymore...'
Slowly getting up I grumpily slithered towards Sahra who was leaning on the tree in a meditating position and laid my head back on her thighs.
'You better take responsibility you molester…' mumbled I in my head jokingly with a fake pout as we tried to recover as much health and mana as we can before the next wave hit us.
Seemingly knowing what I just thought about she gently stroked my back while letting out a chuckle.
Shuddering a little bit I thought 'A woman's intuition is scary!'
