BrrrrrrRRLLLRRRRRRRRRPLASHPLASH~ ! (loud sound of water crashing around)

The gigantic incoming wave, carrying terrifying dead tree leaves the size of a truck, brushwood and moss with her, incarnated hope and despair at the same time. Hope to not die suffocating. Despair to instead die smashed on a rock, or with a wood shard impaled in the stomach. Or another random part, I don't really know how a tadpole body work.

The only thing able to swept away all these concerns was my pure stubbornness to stay alive. Since I said I will go back to the pond alive, I will do it, whatever it take !

The tsunami was coming closer with each second, but I was prepared. Lowering my head to the ground level, stiffening my tail, I'm ready to enter the wave with minimal water resistance. The first contact with the liquid wall will definitely be the most dangerous, since most of the wood debris are dragged in front. I have to evade everything when I will be inside, while swimming my all to the big plant location, and take cover behind her until the situation calm down... Ok, that's the plan, I can do it !... It's coming !

Three...

Two...

You breathed a harmful substance. HP -1

... You really have the worst tim-*BLUBLUBLUB °¤*

I'm luckily able to escape from the first fragments, and proceed to instantly speed up to the plant-refuge direction. In this critical moment, I can finally see the might of the special swimming skill : even with the full strength of the water currents against me, I can swim without encountering much resistance. Alas, the real problem are all the shards coming at me at full speed ! It's a pain in the ass to evade all of them, because even if in can swim like no others, it don't mean i have the capacity to avoid what can be considered as deathly attacks ! And it's coming from everywhere !

I'm able to evade a bunch of wood shards coming at me by turning to the right, then dive to escape from a big slimy dead algae who would surely have dragged me back with her if touched ; but camouflaged by that, a giant-looking tree leaf was now blocking my path !

The only way out is a tiny hole in the side of the leaf, but it's hard as hell to go here, since the leaf is starting to curl up and the hole will soon be blocked ! Shit, this leaf want to ensnare me or what ? And the water will surely go down after some time, trapping me inside ! Holy crap, I have to get out before it's too late !

Yes ! Almost here !

Yes ! I have been able to-

You have been moderately wounded. HP -2

Argghh, I have a wooden shard in my tail ! It hurt like hell !

A fine wooden shard just pierced the leaf the instant i was reaching the hole, empaling my tail in the same way. The shard broke just after, leaving me with a foreign object in the wound !

Raaah, with a last effort I'm able to pass the leaf's hole, and now... Almost here... The plant is in my reach !

But now swimming hurt !

And another leaf is coming !

I quickly dive, making myself tiny and glued to the ground, in hope of the incoming threat going a bit higher than me. It pay, but the leaf almost scrape me of my last HP !

After that, less debris were in view, so I quickly made my way to the vegetal shelter. The water was clearly deeper here, so it will be safe even after the water go down. Finally able to breathe a sigh of relief... After a quick inspection, i find myself a good secured spot, between a root and a rock.

And, surely, the water level diminished quickly after that. I think something in the area act like a barrage until a certain amount of water got in, and after that, the excess water is released, until the same shit happens after some time. I would like to ascertain my theory, but sadly, I'm more concerned about my tail. Part of the wood shard is still embedded in here, and it really, really hurt. I was never fond of piercing in my last life, and this one is clearly over the top !

And to make fun of me again, I've no mean to extract it. Remember ? No hands.

I stop moving and stay behind the plant, in fear of any movement aggravating the wound and shaving me off my last HP at the same time. And since all this strain made me quite hungry, I started to munch on a tiny algae near the root of the plant, hoping it would help me regenerate faster. Like that, twenty minute passed.

Congratulations !

You have been able to escape from a death-inducing situation.

You gain 20% EXP.

Hey ! Good !

Warning !

You have a wound who can't close withouth a special treatment.

Maximum HP reduced by 1 until it's done.

Less good. And what the heck about a special treatment needed ? You just need to pluck it out...

"Status !"

Status : Injured (wounded) (half a day old) Name : [no name yet] EXP : 31 % Level : 1 Specie : Tadpole stade 1 (common frog specie)

HP : 2

MP : 5

Sta : 2

Titles : [Ancient soul] [swimming in the Nether] [Against everything, i still persist] [Tadpole]

Strength

Stamina

Dexterity

Speed

Intelligence

Charisma

Soul

Magic

1

2

1

1

50

2

550

5

Skills Tiny 1 - - Growing 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Special skills : Innate swimming*, Soul pouch*, Immuable* Equipment :

Hum, I have more than the 20% XP added. Because i was eating the plant just now ? In that case, it will be absolutely better to graze peacefully from now on... Fuck the 20% XP, i will not redo that anytime soon. Also, it's only four meals. FOUR ! It's absolutely counterproductive ! Tranquillity and lunch are definitely the best way to level up !

I decide to wait another moment until my HP go back to 3 before moving from behind the plant.

And surely, the sight who greet me after that is not the part of the pond i know. The rocky sand is clearly redder than before, and the water is clearly deeper here. The plant are bigger too. Also, more of these red trees roots are protubering from the side, making this zone look like a natural cistern.

I can see only a few of my bethreen here, probably the one i've seen dragged up by the current before. I'm sorry for mocking you before, alright ? On the contrary, I dont spot many water insects here, and it worry me. No fish either, but they can perfectly hide inside these roots all around us. This zone in not safe...

I go back to the safety of my plant-fortress for the time being. Time to devise a plan.