After a small while, I managed to get out of the dungeon.
'Man.. that's the worst part - getting out.'
I sighed before looking around. I was back out in the dense forest - only now a lot stronger.
Speaking of stronger...
How about I begin by combining a few skills using [Fractured]?
"Open Status."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name; Faofa Shin
Species; Greater Serpentine
Level; 46 — Rank; C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stats:
HP; 34350 — ATK; 4430
MAGEN (MAGICAL ENERGY); 6700
STAMINA; 4090 — INTELLIGENCE; 675
OVERALL POWER; 10800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Skills; [Presence Erase], [Trickster], [Communication], [Translator]
Rare Skills; [Persistent], [Soul Splitter], [Fractured], [Human Mimicry],
[Magic Nullification Barrier], [Black Magic],
[Magic Resistance]
Epic Skills; [Predator], [Venom Control], [Overworld Detection], [Merciless],
[Holy Magic Nullification]
Individual Skills; [Sages' Wisdom](2), [Devourer], [Shadow Manipulation],
[Beasts Will],
[Venom Shocker]
Arc Skills; [Ifrit {Lord of Flames}]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Alright - which skills shall I combine first?'
I thought looking at my arsenal. Currently, it seemed like that the most skills I had were 'Rare' Skills - so maybe thinning out their number could be good.
However, among the 'Common' skills seemed to be the ones that could give the best results.
Closing my eyes, I decided to start by combining my two new Common skills to see what I'd get.
Using the skill [Fractured]...
Success.
Skills [Communication] and [Translator] have been combined into the Rare Skill -
[Language Mastery].
Well would you look at that - I got a skill that sounds like it'll be useful.
What does [Language Mastery] do?
Answer;
[Language Mastery] allows you to understand and speak perfectly any language you wish. This includes Human.
Sweet! So I can finally understand what humans I encounter are saying?
That's going to be game changing most likely! Combine this with my [Human Mimicry] and I'll be able to head into town!
Although - I'm not sure how useful that will be. I suppose we'll see.
Next two skills I'll try to combine... Let's try [Predator] and [Merciless]. I mean, they're some what related - right?
I once again closed my eyes, before using [Fractured].
Using the skill [Fractured]...
Success.
Skills [Predator] and [Merciless] have been combined into the Legendary Skill —
[Warlock].
Hold on!
WHAT?! LEGENDARY? ALREADY?
And it sounds cool as well! I wonder - what does it do?
Answer;
[Warlock] is a Legendary Skill that grants its user the ability to master all types of Dark Magic, as well as increases their connection to Abyss by 50%.
I mean.. it sounds interesting.
So I can now master every type of Dark Magic? What counts as Dark magic? Does my
[Black Magic] count?
...
No answer huh - I figured as much.
Taking one last look at my current skill list, I couldn't find any more skills I wanted to attempt and combine at this time.
Well, I suppose that's that.
Closing my Status Window, I looked around - mainly to check if anything or anyone was nearby.
Luckily, I was all alone.
Sweet! I can test out [Human Mimicry] in peace then!
Kind of nervous to be honest... I've spent such a long time going around as a snake and now was about to go back to a human form.
Maybe I won't use it all the time - I'll just use it when going somewhere where keeping the fact that I'm a snake is a wise move.
Right now - I just wanted to test it out.
'Alright, Sage - activate Human Mimicry!'
Understood.
Command received.
Using the Rare Skill [Human Mimicry]..
As the usage of the skill began, I felt a strange fuzzy feeling inside me.
Then, this strange black mist came from my body, before engulfing be on a spiral. The spiral spun for a few seconds before dissipating, leaving me out in the open in a human look.
Landing onto the grass softly, my eyes widened upon seeing that I had arms and legs again.
'It... Worked..'
I thought, examining my human body. I seemed to be quite young - definitely no where near 28 years of age.
This body seemed to look more towards 19 or so years.
It also seemed to retain the stripes I have on my snake body - which most definitely was going to be a fun thing to try and explain to other humans.
And also, one tiny thing to note..
Why the flying fuck am I naked?!
Answer;
[Human Mimicry] only mimics the human body and basic anatomy to make you appear to be human.
It cannot create clothes or any equipment.
I see.. well, that's rather annoying.
I guess this skill won't be as useful until I can get some kind of clothing..
Suggestion;
I suggest using [Black Magic] to create some temporary clothing made from magic.
I can do that?
Then again, I suppose that when it comes to magic, there is very little limitations..
I sighed before shifting back to my usual snake form. It was great to know that I could use
[Black Magic] to create some temporary clothing, however until I figure out how to do that, I suppose using my human form is kind of useless.
Now then- I suppose that takes care of all of that. I've tested what I wanted and created two new skills for myself - not too bad? I guess?
'What should my next course of action be though..?'
I thought before sighing.
I had to figure out what to do next, otherwise I'll just end up wandering this forest aimlessly forever.
While I could start working really hard on fulfilling my promise to Arabor in getting him a suitable host - that would take a lot of time and effort.
Not to mention - I don't think I possess the strength to just go full throttle and spend all my time looking.
Even with me being annoyed by my ridiculous stats, they were sort of a essential part to my promise.
I sighed again before looking around.
'Guess I'll just head in a random direction..'
I thought before slithering off into the forest again.
...
Around a week later...
I was currently resting underneath a tree - why?
Mainly because I had spent... 2? 3? I don't know-
Let's just say - several hours, hunting down and killing random monsters.
So naturally, I just wanted a break - even if I didn't feel exhausted.
'Man... Can't believe its been a little over a week since I fought that girl..'
I thought, sighing afterwards.
That one battle had managed to scare me quite a bit - to the point of being quite vary of my surroundings and what I encountered in the forest.
I did not want another battle where I was barely managing to hold my ground.
'My stats have increased quite a lot.. and I've managed to gain 3 new skills.'
I thought, before looking down a bit.
"Open Status."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name; Faofa Shin
Species; Greater Serpentine
Level; 58 — Rank; C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stats:
HP; 46800 — ATK; 5980
MAGEN (MAGICAL ENERGY); 8340
STAMINA; 5460 — INTELLIGENCE; 680
OVERALL POWER; 13780
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Skills; [Presence Erase], [Trickster]
Rare Skills; [Persistent], [Soul Splitter], [Fractured], [Human Mimicry],
[Magic Nullification Barrier], [Black Magic],
[Magic Resistance], [Language Mastery],
[Thread Manipulation]
Epic Skills; [Venom Control], [Overworld Detection], [Holy Magic Nullification],
[Greater Physical Resistance]
Individual Skills; [Sages' Wisdom](2), [Devourer], [Shadow Manipulation], [Beasts Will],
[Venom Shocker], [Serpents Wrath]
Legendary Skills; [Warlock]
Arc Skills; [Ifrit {Lord of Flames}]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Gotta say... I'm slowly getting used to my ridiculous power and stats..'
I thought before sighing.
I wasn't quite sure whether this was a good or bad thing.
Another thing I had managed to learn during the week, was the use of my skill [Black Magic].
And before you ask, yes - I had successfully created some magical clothing for my human form using this skill.
Which meant that I would finally be able to move into the human towns!
Yay..!
....
Yeah I'm not very excited.
Mainly - because I'm a monster now. And the stress of being one didn't help with my slight desire to see what the humans of this world are like.
Sure I had [Human Mimicry] but that was not going to hide my magical power or stats if I went into town.
'Maybe I should get a skill that conceals my stats..'
I thought.
Attention;
That won't be necessary.
Wait what? How come?
I have the passive ability to block any Appraisal skills thanks to my mastery of appraisal.
However it should be noted that there are some Appraisal skills I cannot block.
Well that's convenient..
I guess there isn't any need for a concealment skill.
Well.. I suppose that isn't entirely true.
After all, [Sages' Wisdom] did say that it couldn't block some appraising skills.. I wonder what kind of it was talking about.
But anyways- This means I can head into town without worrying about a thing, right?
That is correct.
Leave the protection of your stat information to me.
Sweet!
I have a reliable helper in my head now!
That's... Really like Great Sage for Rimuru...
Yeah, more and more this feels like a knock-off story of the Slime Isekai.
Sighing I quickly propelled myself into the air, before landing softly moments after.
If I was going to head into town, I first had to find some humans to follow.
'Perhaps I'll try to see if those adventurers I saw the other day are still around..'
I thought.
'Well- No need to waste anymore of my time.'
I noted before leaping into some nearby bushes, beginning to retrace my own... Path, to hopefully find the adventurers I saw the other day.
Oh yeah- I'll remain as a snake for now as well.
It makes getting around this dense forest easier.