I'm trapped in the crimson bear's maw with no possibility of escape. His mouth releases scorching air with every breath and his saliva is burning hot. The section of my body that was caught between his teeth feels like it is simultaneously being microwaved and crushed.
In a last-ditch effort, I go for his eyes but fail miserably. He immediately looks through my intentions and starts to wildly shake his head. I'm swung around like a rag doll with my head being smashed into multiple hard objects I can't identify due to the constant shaking.
The bear stops shaking his head and looks at me triumphantly. My head is spinning and I can't tell where the ground is but the bear's head is somehow clear in my view. The mocking look ticks me of badly but my body is in no condition to continue fighting. And even if it was I can't control my body at the moment anyway.
Therefore my only option is to watch the bear's smug expression and feel how he opens his mouth and winds it up like a guillotine. Once it has reached as high as it can go, the jaw descends with full force and with a crunch my body is severed in the middle.
The pain is excruciating but my sanguine boost combined with my stronger vitality keep me alive to continue suffering. On the bright side, I'm not in the bear's scorching maw anymore. Instead, I'm on the ground, gravely wounded, in front of said bear... Maybe not so bright after all.
The crimson bear stands on his hind legs. I know what's about happen but have no way of stopping it. The bear smashes down his front paws onto my head with his claws glinting in the sunlight. My head is like a watermelon under the bear's mighty stomp and my vision turns black.
I wake up covered in cold sweat. A quick scan of the room calms my nerves since the fighting looks to have been contained to the dream. I would feel bad if I had wrecked my new room since this one was actually meant for me to stay in.
What was that dream anyway? Did I fail to level up my sanguine boost? I gotta check my status.
Status Jade Lv. 5 sanguine snake
Mp 10+14+10
Strength 3+14+5
Constitution 3+14+3
Speed 6+14+7
Magic ability 5+14+2
Skills:
universal humanoid language, universal monster language, dungeon map, thermal detection
Sanguine bite lv. 3; blood-stealing constriction lv. 2; weak sanguine venom lv. 2; enhanced stamina lv. 5; sanguine boost lv. 2; stealth lv.1; energy fang lv.1; hardened scales lv.2; tail whip lv.2; heat resistance 1
What in the...?
I got a new skill and heat resistance is definitely related to the crimson bear I fought in that dream. The bear was clearly using heat or specifically sun-related abilities. Fighting it under the influence of the sun must have sped up the acquisition of the resistance skill.
But I shouldn't be able to learn skills while dreaming, right?
I need to report this to the lab, maybe they can explain what happened to me. When I was there last time Navi was running all the tests remotely so I saw none of the researchers that work there but Navi mentioned that they would usually be there.
I make my way through the halls and find the laboratory after a solid hour. Navi isn't with me at the moment so I'm unsure of how to proceed.
"Hello, someone here?"
After a few seconds of silence, something made of glass is dropped onto the floor and breaks. A timid, low shriek sounded from further in.
"Who's there?"
"I'm Jade, a new employee here, I came by yesterday to do the evolution procedure."
"Ah, you are the sanguine snake that mutated. What do you want?"
Everything was said by a timid voice and I felt like I was being watched. What kind of researcher was that?
"First of all, I want to see your face! I don't like talking to an empty lab."
"Do I have to? I prefer to stay where I am."
"This is your job so man up and show yourself. I have questions and I need answers!"
"I can answer any questions you have from over here."
"I can tell Navi that you're not doing your job."
"I'll come out, I'll be there in a minute."
The voice is panicky and rushed now. From behind a white bookcase, a pale, black-haired boy in a researcher's coat comes running out.
"So, who are you?"
"I'm Shin, the researcher for this laboratory. I'll answer all your questions so please be quick about it."
"I had a dream-"
"Dreaming is normal for you since you have a human soul, nothing special."
"In the dream, I fought monsters-"
"Dreaming of fighting is completely normal since it's an essential part of your current lifestyle. Nothing to worry about."
"One of the monsters was special. It was stronger than me and killed me-"
"You've died many times during your last mission so getting killed in your dreams is perfectly normal. It's a coping mechanism."
"Will you shut up and let me finish already! I swear I will murder you if you interrupt me one more time!"
"You are experiencing unnatural amounts of rage. Please calm down."
"I AM CALM! Now shut up and listen to me all the way to the end! Got it?!"
"Sure, whatever floats your boat."
"Okay. So, I had a dream where I fought a lot of monsters but I had no control over my body. I think it was a test to make me level up my skill, sanguine boost, but I failed in the end. Most importantly, I gained the heat resistance skill during the dream."
"You did WHAT?"
"I gained a skill..."
"That's impossible! At least by all known standards in our database. I have to tell Navi... No, she will get mad. What do I do?"