My mind blanked out for a moment after hearing that last skill I just created.
'What the hell is Tongue Enhancement? I was only trying to enhance my 5 basic senses with mana. How did it turn out with such a weird skill name? It sounds like something that should be combined with the Body Enhancement skill.'
I started to grow frustrated at this skill system, not just because of the weird names it creates for skills, but also because I can't even see what skills I have or their descriptions. I sigh inwardly at the un-user friendly system that this world has.
'If I ever meet the creator of this world or whatever, I'm gonna file a complaint.'
After some grumbling, I resumed my skill creation process.
[Skill Sensitivity Adjustment created.]
Manipulating mana to flow around the outer layer of my "skin" I was able to create this skill.
'Originally I was aiming for enhancing my sense of touch but wow this is better than what I expected.'
Using the Sensitivity Adjustment skill, I started to sense a weird form of energy in the air. At first I thought it was the subtle winds that were circulating within this cave system but then I realized that maybe it's the mana in the environment. What led me to think so was because after coming into contact with this energy, it started to follow the flow of mana that I was controlling on the outer layer of my body. Thinking of this I tried to manipulate my mana outwards from my body.
However, it wasn't as easy as manipulating the mana inside my body. After trying to circulate the mana outside of my body, my control over it greatly reduced. The further it got from me, the harder it was to maintain control.
[Skill Mana Release created.]
After practicing this method of controlling mana outside my body, I was able to normally control the mana up to 5 cm outside my body. When I tried to "eject" mana from a specific point of my control, I got the skill Mana Release. Although it sounds cool, the most it can do is generate a small breeze towards where I released the mana.
'Although I'm having a fun time creating skills, I should start working on my essentials now. But for some reason, I haven't been getting hungry ever since I became half-mud. Which is weird considering that I threw up most of my breakfast a long while ago.'
Although it felt like weeks since I first woke up here, I can't really tell how much time has passed. There's no sun here or it's not visible while I'm in this cave. My phone is dead so I can't use it anymore.
'What can I even eat in this cave? Monsters evaporate on death so no roasted monster meat for me. The only thing they leave behind is a crystal.'
When I was about to try and get the crystal that I got from killing those two cockroaches earlier out of my pocket I made a huge realization.
'… Shit I can't believe I'm actually this dumb.'
I immediately jogged back to the fork where I almost died. Soon, I reached my destination. Putting mana in my eyes I scan my surroundings.
'There it is!'
I dashed to a spot near my marking. There, I bent down to pick up an item.
It was my pantsu.
'I can't believe I forgot to put on my clothes after my "resurrection"! If anybody I knew had seen me butt-naked I would rather have stayed dead! …Well it's not like there's anything down there right now except mud.'
Thinking that I couldn't be bothered to delicately control the mud to recreate my embarrassing parts, I put on my pantsu. I quickly found my skirt, socks, and shoes and immediately wore them as well. Of course they were worn over my mud parts.
To my defense, all my concentration was put into controlling the mud at that time so I couldn't really notice what I was and was not wearing. Now that I can control the mud as if it were my original body, I started to remember basic human etiquette.
'Hmm. Since I don't have a mirror or light I can't really see my current appearance… Or can I?'
Using Sensitivity Adjustment I controlled the mana outside my body to try and "scan" myself so that I can see how I would look. Like a certain blind superhero who can see in the rain, I used the mana to get an image of myself.
'My hair and clothes are ruffled up and probably really dirty due to the mud. My neck, chest, and shoulders look like they have a bunch of craters or burns due to the dissolving. Aside from that I pretty much look like my normal self.'
I controlled the mud to form a layer over my entire body aside from my head to cover up my disfigured skin.
'Hopefully healing magic exists in this world…'
If I were a character from a certain pirate anime, I would have eaten a mud logia type fruit.
'I suddenly have the urge to watch anime and read some novels.'
Feeling slightly homesick, I finish touching up myself and did one final "scan" only this time not just my outer appearance but also my insides. I wanted to see how I can still function with more than half of my organs gone. Quickly doing this I was met with a pleasant surprise.
[Skill Self-Analysis created.]
'?! Is this what I think it is?!'
Moving the mana in conjunction with this skill I immediately try it out. Words started forming in my head which I try to visualize in my sight.
Name: Ruby Sen
Age: 17
Race: Half-Human?
Physical Stats: Above Average
Mental Stats: Far Above Average
Mana Reserves: 72/100
Skills:
Assimilate
Mana Manipulation
Physical Resistance
Sight Enhancement
Dissolve
Morph
Weaponized Limbs
Body Enhancement
Mind Enhancement
Hearing Enhancement
Olfactory Enhancement
Tongue Enhancement
Sensitivity Adjustment
Mana Release
Self-Analysis
'Okay there are so many things to comment on. But first. Yatta~! I can finally see my status! I am now like a video game character!'
I jumped in joy and did a little celebration. Afterwards, I returned to my starting point which I consider as my base.
I used Self-Analysis again so that I can scrutinize my status.
'Name and Age are normal. But my race is half-human? It even has a question mark on the end too… Well after becoming a half-mud girl I can accept being called a half-human. At least it still has human in it. What is up with this physical and mental stats though? Can't it show stat points like STR and INT normally? Why did they have to be combined into one ambiguous stat? At least the Mana Reserves look normal.'
Right off the bat, I have many things to criticize about this skill.
'Maybe I can try creating other skills to combine with this so that it gets better. Something for me to do later I guess. For the skills, I can see all of the skills I recently created and combined but there are a bunch of additions. Assimilate, Mana Manipulation, Physical Resistance, Sight Enhancement, Dissolve, and Morph.'
I think Assimilate is the skill I got before almost dying. Not sure though. It probably has something to do with how I became able to use the mud as part of me. But how do I use this skill? Is it a passive type skill? Also did I get the other skills from the mud monster? Mana Manipulation, Sight Enhancement, Physical Resistance, and Morph weren't things I could do before the incident. I kind of know how they work based on the name but Dissolve and Assimilate are a mystery to me. One thing for sure is that they require me to use mana in some way just like all the other skills I have.
'I guess experimentation is the only way to figure this out.'