(Sam's POV)
There's a fine line between confidence and stupidity. I like to think I walk that line pretty well—most days. Today wasn't one of those days.
I had just dealt with that Armored Tortoise, leveling up to 18, when I caught wind of something new. Another predator. Something dangerous. My instincts screamed at me to be careful, but curiosity has a way of overriding common sense. So, naturally, I went to investigate.
Through the trees, I spotted it—a Horned Lizard, skulking around, clearly marking its territory. This one wasn't like the slow-moving tortoise I'd faced before. No, this lizard was built for speed and aggression, with toxic spit that could make my day a whole lot worse. Great.
'Why can't I ever stumble upon something easy? Like, I don't know, a rabbit made of gold that begs to be eaten?'
[Status Inspection Lv 3 activated.]
[Horned Lizard]
[Level: 19]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Poison Spit Lv 2]
– [Horn Charge Lv 3]
[Traits:]
– [Poison Affinity (Basic)]
[Status: Alert]
'Poison Affinity? That sounds both fun and terrifying.' I had a vague idea of what an affinity was, thanks to my old life of reading webnovels. Affinities gave creatures a natural connection to certain elements—fire, water, earth, poison, you name it. Having an affinity meant you were naturally better at using that type of power, and it made your attacks stronger.
In this case, poison. My favorite.
'Oh joy, another day, another fight where the stakes are literally toxic.'
The lizard's Poison Affinity would make it resistant to its own poison-based attacks and probably boost its effectiveness when using skills like Poison Spit. Meanwhile, I had… nothing. Sure, I could bite and slither, but that wouldn't mean squat if the lizard got a good hit in.
[Predator's Intuition activated.]
That familiar pulse hit me, warning me this was no joke. The Horned Lizard wasn't playing around, and if I wasn't careful, I'd end up as its next snack—or worse, rotting from poison. I had to outsmart it.
[Stealth Lv 3 activated.]
I slithered low, using Stealth to remain hidden in the underbrush. The lizard was alert, its tongue flicking out, searching the air for prey. But it wasn't expecting me. Not yet.
Burrowing into the dirt with Burrow Lv 2, I moved closer. This fight was going to be about positioning. The Horned Lizard was fast, so I needed to outmaneuver it, not outmuscle it.
[Burrow Lv 2 activated.]
The ground shifted around me as I tunneled forward, staying out of sight. My plan was simple: hit hard and fast, avoid that toxic spit at all costs, and finish the fight before the lizard knew what hit it. Easy enough, right?
Wrong.
I burst out of the ground, fangs bared, aiming to bite its leg.
[Bite Lv 6 activated.]
But the Horned Lizard was faster than I expected. It twisted around and spat a glob of poison at me—a clear sign it was using Poison Spit. I barely dodged, but some of the fumes reached me, making my body feel weaker.
'Fantastic. Death by stink cloud. A fitting end for a snake with bad luck,' I thought sarcastically.
I could feel my strength fading, the poison seeping into my body. If I didn't finish this fight soon, I'd be in real trouble.
[Predator's Intuition activated.]
I needed to think fast. The Horned Lizard was getting ready to charge. Its legs tensed, the muscles bulging as it prepared to rush at me. From the way it moved, it was definitely going to use Horn Charge.
I acted on instinct.
[Charge Lv 1 activated.]
I shot forward, meeting its charge head-on. Our bodies collided, and the impact was enough to throw the lizard off balance. It staggered, giving me just enough time to attack.
I lunged for its neck, sinking my fangs in deep. The Horned Lizard screeched, thrashing wildly as my venom started to take effect.
[Bite Lv 6 activated.]
[Venom Lv 6 activated.]
It wasn't enough. The lizard's Poison Affinity seemed to dull the effect of my venom. I needed more. I needed a final blow.
The lizard spat more poison, and I barely managed to avoid the worst of it. My body was weakening with each second. I needed to end this now.
I activated Tail Whip, lashing out at its legs to trip it up.
[Tail Whip Lv 1 activated.]
The hit landed, and the Horned Lizard stumbled, giving me a chance. I coiled up and launched myself at its side, aiming for the soft flesh beneath its scales.
[Bite Lv 6 activated.]
This time, the attack landed. My fangs pierced deep, injecting the last of my venom. The Horned Lizard screeched again, but its movements slowed as my venom finally overcame its defenses.
The lizard collapsed, twitching violently before going still. I uncoiled myself, panting heavily, my body shaking from the poison still coursing through me.
[You have defeated Horned Lizard (Lv 19).]
[You have gained 85 XP.]
Finally. The battle had taken more out of me than I'd thought, but I had survived. Barely.
As I devoured the Horned Lizard, I felt a shift inside me. My body tingled, and I knew what was happening.
[Devour Lv 1 activated.]
[You have gained the trait: Poison Resistance(Basic).]
A small smile crept across my face. Poison Resistance. This would definitely help in the future, especially with all the toxic creatures lurking around here. I could already feel the poison in my system weakening, my body starting to recover.
[You have leveled up to 19.]
'Not bad for a snake on the verge of death,' I thought, flicking my tongue with satisfaction.
I checked my status window, eager to see my progress.
[Name: Unnamed]
[Species: Predator Snake]
[Level: 19]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Bite Lv 6]
– [Venom Lv 6]
– [Slither Lv 4]
– [Stealth Lv 3]
– [Status Inspection Lv 3]
– [Devour Lv 1]
– [Harden Lv 2]
– [Burrow Lv 2]
– [Frenzy Lv 1]
– [Fire Breath Lv 1]
– [Tail Whip Lv 1]
– [Charge Lv 1]
[Traits:]
– [Cold-Blooded]
– [Predator's Intuition]
– [Enhanced Sensory (Advanced)]
– [Enhanced Physical Strength (Basic)]
– [Heat Resistance (Basic)]
– [Basic Regeneration]
– [Poison Resistance(Basic)]
[Status: Weakened]
[Hunger: 35%]
I flicked my tongue, tasting the air, and sighed. This fight had nearly killed me, but I was still standing—or slithering. Level 24 was just around the corner, and with it, my next evolution. But first, I needed to rest.
'Well, let's hope the next creature doesn't try to melt my scales off. That'd be great.'
I slithered back into the underbrush, my body still aching from the fight. But at least I had Poison Resistance now. That had to count for something.
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Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for reading up to this point. 😊 If you're enjoying Sam's journey so far, I'd love for you to leave a review or comment on this chapter. Your feedback really helps the story get more exposure and keeps me motivated to bring you the best content possible!
I also have a question for you: What do you think Sam should focus on next?
1️⃣ Leveling up his exciting skills?
2️⃣ Gaining new abilities?
3️⃣ Or should he just focus on leveling up fast?
Feel free to drop your suggestions on what kind of skills you'd like Sam to gain and what kind of development you'd like to see in the upcoming chapters! Your ideas might just shape the future of this story. 😉
Thanks for the support, and I look forward to hearing from you!