"Dammit!" Riva kicked a tree in anger.
"I-am-power-less!" She kicked once with every syllable.
"I thought I made some progress. I must have been delusional! What does an undead body and a weapon change?!"
"Turns out - Nothing!" Her final kick caused a creaking sound and a shower of dead leaves.
The exchange with Rao frightened her. She had started running, as soon as she had been sure that he couldn't see her any longer.
"System, when will you update the evolution quest?"
[Updates can not be predicted]
"Then how do I level my skills? By repeatedly using them or comprehending them at a deeper level, right?"
[Affirmative]
"Show me my status, while you're at it." She commandeered.
┌─────────────────────────────── ─ ─
│ Name: Riva
│ Race: Human Undead [Evolution currently not possible (50Le)]
│ Evolution Stage: Newly Risen
├─────────────────────────────── ─ ─
│ Health: Le
│ Mana: Unavailable
│ Life Energy (Le): 77
├─────────────────────────────── ─ ─
│ Strength: Lower Average
│ Endurance: Le
│ Speed: Average
│ Physical Defense: Above Average
│ Magic: Unavailable
├─────────────────────────────── ─ ─
│ Skills:
│ Physical: Haste[2 Le],
│ Mind: Self Control(Level(1)), Predator Aura[1 Le]
│ Special: Taming(Level(1)) [? Le]
│ Racial: Craving for Life, Devourer of Life(Level(1)
└─────────────────────────────── ─ ─
"I could easily pay for the evolution if only the quest was available!" Riva grumbled.
"I need something to actually boost my stats. The skills are helpful, but they're no use when I am outclassed by my opponent."
"Right. System, can you notify me the next time, when I'm targeted by a spell or magic-related effect?"
[Affirmative, adding custom notification successful]
"You should also have a tracker for status ailments, after all, you asked me if I wanted to add boredom to the status ailments. Can you add a display for the status ailments on my status?"
[Does user want to write a suggestion for it?]
"No, no suggestion writing! Stop asking me that until the next update arrives!"
[Affirmative]
"Next, I need to find a way to boost my stats without relying on evolution… I need to get lucky and achieve the conditions to unlock one of the stat-boosting skills that the system mentioned..."
"Wait, how do other monsters evolve? They have no system! This shows that a quest isn't strictly necessary!" Riva excitedly concluded.
"Usually a monster evolves when it comes into contact with foreign energy or accumulates enough for itself. I heard that some species also need something equal to genetic code to fulfill the requirements. This code will influence how they evolve." Riva grew hopeful.
"The most commonly seen evolution is one caused by dungeon mana! It is a form of energy that carries the dungeon's information! The drawback is that it will make the evolved being dependent on the dungeon."
"Now I have an independent part of a dungeon right here!"
"System, I want to attempt evolution with the 'item'!"
[Insufficient Life Energy]
Riva couldn't help but grin. "Not enough energy! Ha, So it is possible once I have the required amount, system?!"
[Affirmative]
"Yes! Who needs updates! Not me!" Riva raised her fist in triumph.
"I'll head to the city, get myself a dungeon pass for the nearest easy dungeon, and then it's time to grind!" Riva's mood had improved by leaps and bounds.
She readjusted her path to avoid Rao's group and was now walking towards Marinon while whistling happily.
"Looks like my plans will advance a lot faster," Riva said happily when she spotted a limping group of humans in front of her.
They were in conversation and had yet to notice her.
"Why the fuck is that bastard so strong?! Who the hell is he?" the man in the lead complained.
"Maybe he's the one from the rumors. You know, the one that helped with the extermination raid." a girl in a ruffled mage's robe speculated.
"No way, that's supposed to be a surpasser. That's like… uh… you know…" a guy in armor who was being half-carried by another man attempted to describe.
"..like a god!" a bulky woman wearing heavy armor helped.
"You dare blaspheme the gods! God can not be compared to anyone! He is merciful, powerful, and know...." the guy in a light blue robe said but was interrupted.
"We get it, you like your god. Yes! But a surpasser is unimaginably powerful!"
"Fact is, that he was toying with us. So don't even think about revenge." said the man in the front.
"You decided to attack. We're all beaten up because you couldn't pick your targets!" the second mage spoke up in complaint.
"You didn't disagree with me!" The leader turned around to face the one who complained to him.
That's when he saw Riva who had approached the group from behind.
"Who are you!" he asked in surprise.
"Just an adventurer in training. If you don't mind me asking, but what danger did your party encounter to be beaten this badly?" Riva smiled innocently at the group of adventurers that had fought with Rao's group.
You bandit scum! Riva cursed them in thought.
She didn't trust Rao's word about their reason for the attack, but from what she heard just now, it was true that they had intentionally picked a fight with him, and it looked like this wasn't their first time attacking others either.
"We were attacked by a pack of dire wolves and barely got away!" the archer of the group lied with a straight face.
"You're training all alone?" he added.
"Yes, I was going to. The last extermination was so thorough, I didn't find a single monster. Do tell, where I can find those wolves?" Riva wore her most naive and innocent smile.
"He meant to say scorpion. We were hunting in the scorpion dungeon!" the healer attempted to correct the archer's mistake.
"Wolves, scorpions, it's all the same!" The archer supplemented the healer's correction.
"Interesting. I'm new here, I had considered attempting a dungeon myself. The scorpion dungeon is a mid-tier dungeon I take it?" Riva followed up.
Glad to have her believe his excuse the healer elaborated "No, it's a low-tier dungeon. It's pretty easy as long as you don't let down your guard or get yourself cornered. The annoying thing is it's reset time. The dungeon is big and it only takes two hours to re-spawn monsters and reset rooms. We weren't quick enough and the re-spawned monsters cornered us."
"You're going to attempt the dungeon by yourself? You must be strong!" One of the tanks praised.
"I wish I was, but I'm weak. I'll have my friend's party help to protect me." Riva replied.
"And your friend? Why isn't he protecting you right now?" The archer asked.
"He'll be arriving in Marinon in a week. The forest has been safer than ever. Traveling alone isn't that dangerous." Riva answered while shrugging as though unconcerned.
She observed how the party leader nodded towards his party meaningfully. His face was filled with both greed and lust. They were about to stealthily ready their weapons.
Yep, thought so! These guys are bad news. Now I won't have any regrets when I enjoy their sweet life energy!
She plunged her knife straight into the heart of the ranger who was standing the closest to her.