Chapter 03: The Skill System

What?! I gained skills?! So... the mushrooms were poisonous after all... hmm... and this other skill; <Observation>

Does that mean I can get more information while observing my environment as well as objects and creatures in it?

Thinking about it too long doesn't do me any good. Let's try it out for now. I looked intensely at the mushrooms that I had eaten a little while ago.

Suddenly a name popped up above the mushroom.

Hmm... not much information just yet... maybe I should try observing other things, it seems to activate on its own if I want it too.

Giving it another shot I stared at the water when again a name popped up.

<Water>

Haha... what did I expect?

But while I'm at it I'll try it on everything.

Next, I looked at the moss and the rocks when suddenly both names popped up.

<Moss>

<Rocks>

I don't know what I was hoping for... wait...

Wasn't that mushroom sort off poisonous?

It even gave me <Poison Resistance> right?

Would my observation skill work on me as well?

Thinking hard about it, suddenly a window popped up in front of me revealing something interesting.

Nameless

Hmm... so it appears It doesn't give me much information.

Right after I closed the window a voice sounded in my head. Enough experience has been accumulated.

<Observation lv01> advances into <Observation lv02>

Oh... it leveled up? Does this mean I get more information? Quickly I turned around and looked at the mushrooms I had eaten once more.

[May be poisonous for those who eat too much of them.]

Hmm... more information appears after leveling up, it seems now it has some flavor text giving me more information.

It could prove to be useful in the future. Hmm...

What would happen if I observe the water, moss, and rocks again?

[Water commonly found in dungeons and caves,

tends to seep from ceilings if upper levels have an abundance of water.]

<Moss>

[Plantlife that grows where there is an abundance of water or a moisture enough surface. Filters the impurities of the water so it can spread better.]

<Rocks>

[Ordinary rocks who can be found laying around literally everywhere, caves, dungeons even mountains and plain grounds could contain them.]

Hmm... The flavor text seems to be useful in a way.

Now I know that ponds with moss would provide perfect drinking water. Does it also seem that it is now certain that I am residing inside a dungeon?

Along the way I should try and observe other things, maybe it would help me find out more...

I need more information...

<Wall>

[A regular stone wall]

[Rocks that secrete a luminescent glow, filling their habitat with wonderous light and colors]

Continuing on my journey I found that the area would go down, following the path nothing much out of the ordinary could be seen, still not knowing how big or small I was or where I was for that matter I wandered around aimlessly.

When suddenly I stumbled upon something that I would recognize without having to observe it!

Footprints!

But what kind of footprints?

Quickly I walked towards the prints.

Getting closer there was no doubt in my mind,

But to be certain I used my observation skill.

Footprints are made by the average foot size of a human being. I was right!!

These are actual human footprints!

Standing next to them it was clear just how small I was. Being only as big as the footprints themselves I roughly amounted to 30 centimeters or so.

Extremely small if you ask me...

Man... The beast from before would have been at least 5 meters tall! Holy Shit!

But... isn't the most important factor that they exist? Human beings exist in this world! Then... does this mean I am still on earth?

Deciding to follow the path I hoped to find what I was looking for, but for some reason, I expected to at least come across some other species while following the footprints. Instead, there was nothing...

Nothing but those footprints...

Odd... seeing as where I came from,

at least some other species should have been there, Right? Thinking back...

I unlocked a few skills, Then...

What would happen if I shout out the name?

"Skills!"

I shouted out the name in all my might,

but nothing happened. Disappointed I looked away... But then...

*Ping*

Surprised I looked up and there it was...

An actual skill window Oh My GOD!!!

Using my observation skill I took my time to look into what everything meant.

Skills:

Name: Nameless

Species: Lesser Scalius

Spendable skill points: 02

Lv: 01

STR: 3

DEX: 4

VIT: 3

INT: 3

WIS: 2

LUK: 5

Spendable attribute points: 03

Oh Boy! I can see a list of skills that I've required in my short lifespan. Upon closing, I made my way along the path of footsteps. Along the way, I kept thinking about my stats and points. I mean... I know I had just been born... but really? My stats were way too low...

Thinking about my future I had to find a way to enable fighting capabilities. <Tail Swipe> seems to do the trick, but I need more options...

Something like a typical bite, scratch, or tackle.

You know, basic attacks like in pocket monsters.

Thinking in that logic, wouldn't tail swipe be rather strong? Then again... it requires my entire body to turn around, leaving me vulnerable for an attack if it misses... Hmm... it seems I'm not yet there...

Can't I learn some kind of acid spit attack to melt away my enemies? This would give me the advantage of attacking from a distance.

"Want to learn Acid Spit? 5 skill points required."

Wow!! So... isn't this system amazing?!

It even allows me to learn the suggested skills!

Thinking about the usefulness of the skill it seems fair to ask for the number of skill points.

Would I be able to learn Scratch, Bite, and Tackle?

Suddenly a window popped up.

"Basic attack request has been heard,

Want to learn <Bite> this will require 01 skill point."

[YES] / [NO]

Hmm... I don't know just yet... wouldn't I be able to learn the basic skills just by executing them often enough?

Thinking about it that way, it would be better to save my points for more important skills.

No.

The window closed and I went on my way.

Haha, time to find a way to acquire them.

Thinking about this all, doesn't it feel like a videogame?

Having Skills, Stats, and even points to spend?

My Observation skill did go up to lv 2,

Maybe it has more to say about my species now?

Why observing myself a window popped up.

Nameless

[The weakest of the lizard kind,

being a newborn venturing out into the open world. A lot of perils will be waiting for the little one.]

Wait... wait... wait... WAIT!!!

I AM THE LOWEST TIER OF THE LIZARD KIND?!

AND WHAT'S THIS ABOUT PERILS?!

AM I IN DANGER?!

Oh man... oh man... oh man...

This isn't good right? I did survive an onslaught of the huge beast... but I think it's important to get as much experience as possible.

And... why don't I have a name here?

I had one in my previous life.

Being called Mira, my mother chose that name.

Hehe, I liked it!

"Would you like to insert Mira as your current name?"

Yes!! Yes, please!

"Mira has been inserted and accepted.

Nice to meet you, Mira."

So... it appears I do have a name now,

But does it matter? There is no one to talk to either way... hmm... getting my hopes up for nothing.

In any case, I'm getting hungry again.

I heard reptiles can go without food for a long time, but honestly, I have just been born so I can use all the food I can find.

Even so, going without food for so long might only apply for the big guys or it could be it doesn't apply here in this world.

I should make finding a food source my number one priority. How would my sibling have tasted? Would it have been better if I too had eaten one of them?

The only reasonable information I have are these footprints, even if I'm not entirely sure it is human footprints, they would lead to more information.

Following them would let me find out who they were from. Another certainty is that I wouldn't run into any creatures they couldn't handle. It would be best to find a way out,

it would help to also find some leftovers which they could have left behind.

What would I do when I find them?

Wouldn't they start attacking me a lizard out of the blue? Although ideally, I wish to come to an understanding I do doubt this would be possible any time soon...

Wouldn't they amount as prey either?

Aarrrgghh no... the idea alone makes me shudder... Being a former human and all...

Oh...?

The footprints... they stopped, right here at the entrance of the cave.

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