(Sam's POV)
The next morning, I slithered out of my cozy little cave, feeling more rested than I had in a while. Yesterday's boost from absorbing the Poisonous Essence and the Shard of Mana Core was still buzzing through me, but I wasn't about to get lazy. There was no time to sit around when Level 24 was creeping closer by the day.
'Time to see what these magic skills can really do.'
I flicked my tongue and tasted the air. The area around the cave was quiet—no hostile monsters, no creepy crawlies ready to take a chunk out of me. Perfect. This was the best spot for some good old-fashioned target practice.
'Okay, first things first. Let's see if I can finally do more than a glorified fire hiccup.'
I braced myself and inhaled deeply. I could feel the fire stirring inside me, waiting to be unleashed. And then, in one quick burst, I let it rip.
[Fire Breath Lv 1 activated.]
A small, yet surprisingly intense stream of fire shot out from my mouth, setting a nearby bush on fire. It crackled and burned, filling the air with the scent of charred leaves.
I watched the flames flicker out.
'Well, that was... better? Still not the world-ending inferno I was hoping for, but at least I'm not coughing out sparks anymore.'
I spent the next half-hour burning bushes, rocks, and anything else that wasn't alive. My fire breath was getting more consistent, but it still felt like I wasn't tapping into its full potential. After a while, I started to feel the drain on my Magic Power.
'Great, just when I'm getting the hang of it, my magic decides to tap out.'
I slithered over to a nearby tree and coiled up, deciding to give myself a breather. I needed to recover some Magic Power before I could keep going. While I rested, my mind wandered back to my other skills. Magic was great and all, but I couldn't forget about the physical side of things.
'It's nice to throw fire around, but what about when I'm up close and personal with some clawed freak? I can't just breathe on them.'
I stretched out, testing my flexibility and range. Tail Whip, Charge, Bite—those skills could definitely use a little polishing. Maybe I could come up with some combo moves, something that would let me mix magic with my physical skills.
'Yeah, fire breath followed by a good tail smack to the face. That'll teach them not to mess with a venomous fire-spitting snake.'
Feeling my Magic Power slowly replenish, I got back to work. This time, I decided to test out my other magical skills. Wind Slash and Water Jet were still pretty underdeveloped, and I wasn't about to let them gather dust while Fire Breath hogged all the attention. I focused on my next target—a sturdy rock a few feet away.
I unleashed Wind Slash, watching as the sharp gust of wind sliced through the air, chipping away at the rock.
'Nice! Not bad at all.'
Next, I tried Water Jet, aiming at the same rock. A strong stream of water blasted from my mouth, striking the rock with enough force to leave a dent.
[Wind Slash Lv 1 activated.]
[Water Jet Lv 1 activated.]
'Alright, these magic skills are starting to shape up. I'm gonna be a walking element factory at this rate.'
But the drain on my Magic Power was still noticeable. After a few more blasts, I had to pause again, letting myself recover.
'Man, magic's great, but it's a serious energy hog. No wonder wizards are always tired in those books.'
I repeated the process—Fire Breath, Wind Slash, Water Jet—over and over, slowly but surely working my way through them. And with every activation, I could feel them getting sharper, stronger. Magic Power was being drained like crazy, but it was worth it.
After what felt like hours of practice, I finally got the notification I'd been waiting for.
[Fire Breath has leveled up to Lv 2.]
[Wind Slash has leveled up to Lv 2.]
[Water Jet has leveled up to Lv 2.]
I hissed in satisfaction. 'Finally! Fire Breath Lv 2, baby! I might actually be able to roast something for real now.'
I grinned—or, well, whatever the snake equivalent of grinning is—and took a moment to appreciate the progress I'd made. It wasn't just Fire Breath; both Wind Slash and Water Jet had leveled up too. I could feel the difference already—the magic felt easier to control, more potent.
'Look at me, leveling up like a pro. Watch out, world, this snake's got some serious bite now. No, wait… fire bite. Yeah, that's more like it.'
By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but satisfied. My magical skills had all leveled up, and I'd gained a decent amount of control over them. Sure, I still had a long way to go, but this was a good start. I pulled up my status window one more time to check on my progress.
[Status Inspection Lv 3 Activated]
[Name: Unnamed]
[Species: Predator Snake]
[Level: 22]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Bite Lv 9]
– [Venom Lv 9]
– [Slither Lv 4]
– [Stealth Lv 5]
– [Status Inspection Lv 3]
– [Devour Lv 1]
– [Harden Lv 2]
– [Burrow Lv 4]
– [Frenzy Lv 1]
– [Fire Breath Lv 2]
– [Tail Whip Lv 4]
– [Charge Lv 1]
– [Enhanced Fangs Lv 1]
– [Quick Dash Lv 2]
– [Water Jet Lv 2]
– [Wind Slash Lv 2]
– [Dive Lv 1]
– [Breath Holding Lv 1]
[Traits:]
– [Cold-Blooded]
– [Predator's Intuition]
– [Enhanced Sensory (Advanced)]
– [Enhanced Physical Strength (Basic)]
– [Heat Resistance (Basic)]
– [Basic Regeneration]
– [Pain Resistance]
– [Water Affinity (Basic)]
– [Night Vision]
– [Wind Affinity (Basic)]
– [Enhanced Endurance (Basic)]
– [Poison Affinity (Intermediate)]
[Status: Fatigued]
'Not too shabby. Fire Breath hit Level 2, and the other magic skills are finally catching up. Looks like today wasn't a total waste after all.'
As the day faded and my magic ran low, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. I was growing stronger, evolving in more ways than one. Sure, I had a long way to go, but at this rate, I was going to become a real force to be reckoned with.
'Note to self: Next time I evolve, I'm hoping for Laser Eyes. Because why not?'
With a tired, but satisfied hiss, I curled up under a tree and closed my eyes. Tomorrow would bring more training, more challenges, and probably more sarcastic thoughts. But for now, I was happy with my progress.