I don’t intend to explore this forest as Amelia suggests. However, I don’t intend to stay hidden in a cave either.

I understand that in this world, the strong survive while the weak perish. This is even more true now that I have become ‘a beast’.

I must quickly find a way to become stronger... I already died once, and I don’t plan to die a second time.

Speaking of survival, if time in this world flows in the same way as on Earth, it will be dark in a few hours.

I must quickly find a shelter with preferably food and water nearby. Although I became a dragon, I still have the same needs as a human...

If I don’t find any satisfactory place nearby, I could always go back to the cave in which I am ‘born’, or ‘reborn’ I should say.

I have no map, no compass, no GPS, I can only walk in a direction chosen at random, hoping that I do not meet magical beasts too powerful for me.

Magical beasts... I would never have imagined that one day I should worry about the presence of monsters while wandering in a forest.

“Kyle, be careful!” Exclaimed Amelia.

Crash!

Lost in my thoughts, I did not notice that a rock was in my path and knock my head against it. Ouch!! I take a few steps back, and suddenly hear a groan.

I examine my surroundings... There is nothing.

Except this big rock in front of me... Wait, something is wrong! Since when does a rock have paws and... A head?

I take my distance and immediately use the skill [Appraisal].

The skill [Appraisal] is now level 2.

Torock (magical beast) – level 1 – HP: 40/40

Description: Magical beast born from a rock. Very resistant to physical damage.

Oh, I now have a description of my target thanks to [Appraisal]. This will be very useful.

“This magical beast is rather weak, we don’t need to attack it.” Said Amelia.

It seems that this monster doesn’t think the same thing as Amelia.

The torock turns in my direction, and stares at me with its perfectly round eyes.

It is about to attack!

The torock opens its mouth wide...

Stones suddenly come out of its mouth.

I don’t have time to dodge!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several stones hit me hard. It hurts!

The stones continue to hit me... It looks like this monster can spit an unlimited amount of them!

“Kyle, we… We must find a way to stop it…” Said Amelia.

I know!

I have an idea, with [Fire breath] these stones should melt.

I tell my strategy to Amelia. We then both use [Fire breath].

The stones melt instantly, and the flames go towards the torock.

However, it rushes straight into the flames to charge me...

BANG!

The torock crashed into me.

Ahhhhh!

I’m thrown back by the impact and landed on the ground. I am temporarily unable to move because of the pain...

I only have 31 HP left!

I get up after a few seconds and look for the location of the torock. I wonder why it did not take advantage of the fact that I was down to attack me.

Finally, I find it a little further... It seems to suffer, probably because it could not escape the flames just before our impact.

I’m walking over to it...

Sorry, I don’t intend to wait until you get back to your senses!

Fire breath...

You have killed a Torock : XP + 10.

Bonus XP from title « Baby dragon » +50%: XP + 5.

The skill [Fire breath] is now level 2.

Congratulations! You are now level 3.

1 attribute point available.

All this pain for only ten experience points...

“Kyle, did you notice? It seems that level up heal us completely!” Amelia said.

Indeed, I'm not feeling any pain anymore.

I inspect my status. It shows me: ‘HP: 65/65, MP: 60/60, END: 55/55’. So, in addition to healing us, level up also restores our MP and END.

“Sorry Amelia, I should have been more careful... It's my fault if this monster attacked us.” I said.

I'm the one who blamed Amelia for being distracted...

“It doesn’t matter, the important thing is that we are still alive, aren’t we?” She answered.

I guess she's right, but still...

I decide to resume my way through the forest, seeking primarily a stream. I don’t take the time to admire the landscape. I am rather on my guard now, to avoid being attacked by surprise.

I still mark the trees on my way with my claws to be sure not to go around in circles.

“What are you doing?” Amelia asked.

“I mark the trees so that we do not lose our way”

“Oh, so you know how to survive in the wilderness!”.

“I'm not an expert, but I've already camped in a forest many times.” I said.

“For me, this is the first time seeing a forest, in real life, I mean. I've already seen one in movies!”

“I see…”

--------------------

I have been walking for over an hour now. Well, I think so. I don’t have a watch, but I can estimate the time approximately.

I continue to walk straight ahead with caution. I don’t feel tired even after walking for a while, advantage of being a dragon…

Strangely, I haven’t met any magical beasts since the torock. It can mean two things: either there are none of them in this part of the forest, or they hide themselves and wait for me to lower my guard to attack.

After another long walk, I suddenly hear the sound of running water. Finally!

I head quickly to where the noise comes from…

I finally see a long stream... But not only that...

I can also see a magical beast that seems terrifying in the process of drinking!

I then rush behind the nearest tree to hide and pray that this monster didn’t detect me.

After a good minute... nothing.

It looks like it didn’t notice me. Phew!

I go slowly out of my hiding place, making myself as discreet as possible, and try to spy on this monster. It looks like a lion, three times bigger of course, but what is strange is that it is entirely black. In addition, a black smoke seems to emanate from its body.

I decide to inspect it, hoping I'm not too far away to use the [Appraisal] skill.

King Dalak’zur (magical beast – unique) – level 30 – HP: 2875/2875

Description: Powerful king of the Dalakhon family.

My heart races seeing the [Appraisal] screen. If this monster had spotted me, I would have died, no doubt!

“It looks strong!” Amelia said.

Strong? I think she doesn’t realize the situation in which we are...

I keep spying on him. No way I lose sight of this beast, I don’t want it to attack me by surprise.

After a long moment that seemed like an eternity, he finally leaves, jumping over the stream, then disappears in the distance.

Phew... I can finally breathe. I now understand why I haven’t met any magical beast for a while, I must be in the territory of this King Dalak'zur.

“It left! Do you think we'll ever be strong enough to face it?” Asked Amelia

“I... I guess so, at least I hope so.” I said.

Anyway, I must leave quickly this place. When it gets dark, I'll have no chance to notice it approach, because this monster is completely black.

I don’t know how big King Dalak'zur’s territory is, so I turn back following the marks I left on the trees.

--------------------

It's finally dark and I'm back to where I started... At the place where I killed the torock.

At night, the flowers emit an even more intense light. The entire forest is illuminated.

The combination of red and blue lights everywhere, makes the landscape quite... Weird.

It looks like the forest is decorated with Christmas garlands...

“It’s so beautiful!” Said Amelia.

“...”

“I'm hungry! Let's find something to eat before going to sleep.” She continued.

She only thinks about her stomach…

We share the same stomach, but I don’t feel hungry...

“All right...” I said.

There are no wild animals in this area. I am therefore looking in the bushes and shrubs for berries that could be edible...

Nothing. No berries seem to grow. Maybe they don’t even exist in this world.

I’m now looking for edible mushrooms at the foot of trees...

Found it!

I found several bolete mushrooms. Their ‘hats’ are covered with luminous green dots. These green dots are very small, in broad daylight they would be indistinguishable.

I don’t know if these mushrooms are poisoned or not.

I intend to use [Appraisal], with a little luck the skill will give me an indication about it.

Mushoinve

Nature: Mushroom (common).

Description: Very toxic mushroom, commonly used as poison.

Effect: Slow and painful death if swallowed.

Wow!! I did well to check... I quickly move away from these toxic mushrooms and continue my research...

I notice, with difficulty, mushrooms of a different type. Well, I think so, because they are in all aspects similar to the mushoinves, except that they have no green dot.

I use [Appraisal], without much hope that they will be edible.

Mushuffe

Nature: Mushroom (uncommon).

Description: Delicious but rare mushroom because it grows among toxic mushrooms.

Effect: After swallowing, provides a feeling of fullness and satiety.

“Lucky us! We will be able to eat something tonight!” Said Amelia.

I approach my mouth, tear the mushroom with my teeth and begin to taste it.

It really tastes good, in addition to being juicy, which quenches my thirst.

I take another one...

“Hey, don’t eat everything!” Said Amelia

“We share the same stomach...”

“But I want to know if they are really delicious...”

Amelia then put a mushroom in her mouth and start to eat it.

“Yummy!”

We are now full. So, it’s time to find a place to sleep.

“We are going back to the cave to spend the night there.” I said.

“OK!”

-------------------

Back in the cave, I sit in a corner, as far as possible from the entrance.

I try to find a comfortable position in which to lie down. This dragon body is really not practical for that.

“Good night Kyle” said Amelia.

“Good night”

Well, I don’t really intend to sleep, I must stand guard in case magical beasts come during the night...

…

----------

“…Wake up! Hey, Kyle wake up! Do you hear me?”

I hear a voice calling me...

I recognize this voice...

Amelia?

I wake up abruptly and realize with relief that everything is alright.

I... I slept like a baby...

I could have died without even realizing it...