Chapter 39: Bribed With Fruit

Chapter 39: Bribed With Fruit

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[Day 23]
Day 23 and I am still kicking, baby!
Oh yeah…
Yeah…
Ungh.
Yesterday's fight was just as horrendous.
I barely survived, with my body all wounded.
I healed now, yes, but I really want to take a break now.
How about a whole month?
I wish I could, but I need food!
And I also want to get out of this damn forest.
I swear to God, it is so filled with monsters that this thing seems more like a bloody dungeon!
Can't I get to some monster town where we all live in harmony or something?
No? Okay, okay…
Today I woke up without evolving again, by the way.
And I have eaten most of the Rat-Gorilla by now, just to recover completely.
His Mana Core gave me a nice boost, but I have been slacking off and only sleeping after it, instead of training and cultivating.
It was quite an awful fight… this guy's punches and kicks were like some Dragon Ball character or something, I was on the border between life and death…
But my winds gave me the victory.
Really, I never expected that I would become so good at winds.
I guess I am a Wind Dragon in Ice Dragon clothes, huh.
The power of winds seems pretty amazing though, it can target a lot of foes at the same time and create big and explosive tornado-like projectiles.
And if I practice enough, I could even fly with it.
Actually, it would awesome if I could fly so I can go away from all the problems on the surface.
But if I use magic for that, my MP will go down incredibly quickly.
I will not even be able to fly for a minute and my entire MP would be gone.
I really need actual wings I suppose…
Maybe when I become Rank 2 I can get the classic dragon wings?
One can only hope…
Anyways, time to check my Status.
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Name:?
Race: Adolescent Ice Dragon.
Titles: Merciless.
Mana Core Cultivation: Rank 1 (Peak Stage).
Status: Hungry.
Vitality: 587/587
Mana: 728/728
Strength: 221
Dexterity: 131
Magic: 361
Abilities:
Unique Skill: [Immortal Body]
Unique Skill: [Winter Magic]
Unique Skill: [System]
Unique Skill: [Ice Absorption]
Unique Skill: [God] (Sealed)
[Camouflage: Level 3]
[High-speed Thought Processing: Level 4]
[Parallel Thought Processing: Level 2]
[Wind Magic: Level 4]
[Mana Control: Level 4]
[Telepathy: Level 2]
[Berserk Mode: Level 2]
[Fear-Inducing Aura: Level 1] (New!)
Ice Dragon Natural Skills:
[Ice Dragon Bloodline]
[Ice Dragon Breath: Level 4]
[Ice Dragon Scales: Level 4]
[Lesser Self-Regeneration: Level 5]
[Freezing Slash: Level 4]
[Freezing Bite: Level 4]
[Ore Body: Level 4]
Resistance:
[Cold Immunity]
[Hunger Resistance: Level 1]
[Fear Resistance: Level 2]
[Pain Resistance: Level 2] (New!)
Ice Dragon Natural Resistances:
[Physical Attack Damage Resistance: Level 5]
[Fire Resistance: Level 2]
[Wind Resistance: Level 3]
[Thunder Resistance: Level 2]
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My stats have indeed increased quite a bit more.
I even got a few new skills, such as my new Fear-Inducing Aura!
Wait, WHAT?!
Fear-Inducing Aura? Me?
Finally!
Now no one will get close to me, and I can live peacefully.
Wait, that's bad too, if no one gets close to me, I won't have prey to eat.
What a dilemma…
Good thing it is a Skill I can choose to not activate if I don't want to.
Also, my Pain Resistance skill is already Level 2.
And my stats increased too, 700+ in MP is very nice.
Oh, and would you look at that… Wind Magic is at level 4!
I guess using so much wind was the way to go then.
My other stats also increased by the amount of exercise in the fight, alongside eating the flesh and the mana core.
Well, mostly the Mana Core.
Though why did I even got this Aura of Fear Skill or whatever?
It's weird indeed.
Maybe I can get Skills from the Mana Cores?!
Is this why I got Berserk Mode too?!
Wait… maybe that's it?
Or not?
Well, other monsters don't have a system so the abilities I see are their inner abilities, nothing related to the game-like power I have.
But I guess I can convert such abilities into Skills.
Although the Rat-Gorilla had a Fear-Inducing Roar Ability, it became a Fear-Inducing Aura for me.
Interesting.
Well, the stronger I get the better, right?
The stronger I am, the closer I get to live my life peacefully and without threats.
After all, the true path to freedom is to become strong, stronger than anyone.
No, wait, maybe I am exaggerating things a bit…
Maybe not stronger than anyone, okay.
But strong, nonetheless.
But in this world of Mana Cores, there is a lot of Ranks of power…
Even if I become Rank 2, there are Ranks 3 to 10!
Ugh…
Maybe if I hide beneath a rock I should be okay?
But I don't want to do that! I want to explore the world and find a purpose in this miserable life.
What a pain.
I quickly devour what remains of the carcass of the Rat-Gorilla, until absolutely nothing remains, not even his fur.
Filled with calories and energy, I quickly walk out of my hole, and I am suddenly greeted by a pile of blue-colored pears…
Eh?
Above the pears there is a small Rat-Monkey, raising his arms.
"Kyuuu! Kyuuu!"
Eh?! YOU!
I am going to eat you right now you- Wait.
Is this for me?
As if it could understand me lightly, the Rat-Monkey nods happily.
Really?
Is this your way to apologize?
"Kyuu! Kyuu!" It nods again.
Aww, you little rascal, so this was your plan!
Now I am greeted with this feast of sweet fruits.
Ugh, okay!
I guess I am forgiving you only for this once!
The Rat-Monkey, as if understanding my intentions, jumps into my neck and rests over my back while eating two pears in each hand.
Meanwhile, I devour this feast to accumulate even more energy!
Uwah, so sweet!
Man, if this guy can bring me more, then I guess he's not really that useless.
Wait, can't I get them myself by blowing off a tree and taking the pears out?
But that would be way too terrible for the environment, and the loud sounds may alert a strong and territorial beast!
So I better not do that.
After eating for a while, I decide to continue my journey through the snow ad this never-ending pine tree forest.
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