Rue awoke, it had been many days since she had been injured and a slow diet of rats and insects had led to her recovery. The reason she had been blind, was a mixture of puss, blood and sleet in her eye. It had gummed up her eyelids and it had taken vigorous licking to remove the blockage.

Now though she was nearly mobile. Over the first few days of slumber, her body had entered hibernation mode, to save resources while it slowly tried to heal her wounds.

The only thing that had awoken her were the small creatures trying to eat her. Luckily nothing larger had been drawn to the cave. The burnt hellscape around the cave entrance was probably the reason for this. That and the scent of death and decay that wafted out of the cave.

Although Rue had successfully healed, she had not really had a proper meal since the incident. The rats and insects had kept her body fed, and sustained the new power granted by her levels, but without the surprise food source….Perhaps she would have perished.

It took her another day of lying still to attract Rats before she felt full and strong enough to explore the near vicinity. Much of her strength had returned but she was still somewhat unsteady.

Rue stood and walked out of the cave, breathing deep from the fresh air. Although she had become desensitized to the smell over the weeks it still felt unpleasant. She made her way down to the river that flowed not too far from the clearing and bathed, drinking deep from the water. This restored much of her energy and made her feel much better. She walked over to a rock on the riverbank and lay down on its warm surface.

This was much better than the struggle for survival she had just participated in. She just lay, half awake and half asleep on the rock for hours. It was only when the sun began to set and the temperature dropped that she noticed how much time had passed. She absentmindedly checked her status finding a lot of xp since last time. She huffed in dissatisfaction, she had killed nearly a hundred rats or more.

Ding! For Slaying [Rat Lv1] In Combat +7xp

Ding! For Slaying a Foe [15] Levels Below Your Own [-15%] xp -1xp

…….

Ding! For Slaying a Foe 15x Below Your Level [-150%] xp -11xp

………

………

………

Total Xp Earned From Combat Encounters +0xp

That was frustrating, despite the critters threat on her life and significant annoyance they provided no xp, she had dozens of messages saying she got 0 xp from an encounter. She currently had 35 stat points to spend. This would be a difficult choice to make. She needed another 10 in intelligence at least, so it didn't fall behind.

Race

Level

XP/Growth

Stat Points

Dragon [Red Dragon]

16

59/298 [+1 /pd]

0

Strength

Vitality

Dexterity

Intelligence

90 [+9]

78 [+1]

50 [+9]

49 [+16]

Ability

Effects

Roar

You have learned to let out a mighty roar from your throat, you will find it easier to intimidate opponents and prey. Increased effectiveness against opponents below your level. When combined with fire increases trauma.

Identify

Tells you the basic [Species] and [Level] of targets. Can appraise targets up to [30] Levels higher than you.

Dragon Breath

Racial ability, allows expulsions of biologically created [Ethanol] from glands near the stomach. This can be ignited via [Fire Magic]. Expending Mana the fire can be enhanced to have Magical properties. You gain Further resistance to [Heat] and [Flame] attacks and damage.

Den Sense

You have an instinctual sense for the direction of your primary [Den] and [Territory]

Scaly Skin

Your scales have reached the point where it can turn even the most fearsome natural weapons. The higher your [Vitality] the tougher your scales. Your scales become highly resistant to [Fire].

She had decided to round out most stats and then dump the rest in intelligence. With the massive increase, she became hungry again but found like a relaxing muscle the inner force which she used to empower her fire seemed to expand. Or perhaps the container for it. Mana, this was what it was called, it said so in her ability description. She had reason to believe this was some sort of magical resource. How did it take her so long when it was written so simply, she just had not linked the strange energy to the skill description.

Deciding that she had done enough reading and pondering for today she raised her snout and sniffed. She switched into hunter mode, her sleek shiny red body crouching low to the ground. She had grown only a bit with her food deprived nap in the cave and now sat at a healthy 6 feet long from head to tail. Her actual body being only a few inches over 3 feet long. Her wingspan was now just over 3 meters and they flapped powerfully when she tried them. It would not be long before she could take to the skies, hopefully.

But for now, she set off prowling the forest floor, off to hunt.

She covered the ground fast, the undergrowth rushing beneath her feet as she leapt over fallen trees and dips in the ground. She continuously followed the scent. She was following the scent of fresh blood. It took her almost no effort to smell the delectable scent, so powerful. Fragrant and enticing. She drooled as she thought of what could make such a delicious scent.

As she travelled longer she passed out of what she considered her territory and slowed, this was a new area a bit of caution would not be a bad idea. Just as she was beginning to slow she heard a roar, familiar. It was a dragon's roar.

She paused then resumed her chase. Five minutes later she entered the edge of a clearing and saw a brown dragon. It was only 4 feet long, small compared to her but large compared to the brown dragon she had fought previously. It had obviously found the source of the smell and just as Rue was about to declare her challenge, she realised the brown dragon was circling another creature. She had taken it for a large boulder at first, it was huge. Over 5 meters long and nearly as high it was practically round.

The delicious scent rolled off it like a wave and now closer she felt a tinge of something else in the smell. Mana. This was a magical skill the beast was using, but for what purpose. It was luring dragons towards itself, as well as many other predators. Rue would happily eat this meal. She got up from her concealed position and pranced into the clearing.

She would have kept walking straight up to the creature had it not been for the brown dragon's fearful cries. It was hurt, what could have done that? Was there something dangerous in the area? Rue went on guard and scanned the surroundings, not finding anything dangerous she nearly relaxed.

It was only when the large boulder-like creature stepped forward and bit the brown dragon in half that her brain finally processed what was happening. With the irrefutable evidence in front of her, the magic snapped like a stressed vine. The cloud of superiority faded from her mind and Rue froze.

[Bugbear {Magic} Lv 39]

The second she inspected it she knew it was not an opponent she could face. She looked towards the bear's head and saw it looking in her direction. Dragon blood on its fangs and a ripped appeared carcase of the dragon in front of her. It growled and Rue felt mana flow from the beast, it seemed to flow in her vision. A soft pale blue light that she could see almost unobstructed, like a second vision.

The mana seeped into the beast and its flesh glowed a very soft blue. Then it moved, with each step the forest floor tore up around its claws. It moved at a ponderous pace almost expecting her to jump into its mouth. More mana came from its core and flowed towards Rue, she tried to dodge it but it moved fast. Homing in on her. As the mana pervaded her body she felt comfort safety, the lure of a fresh meal. She fought against the effects, using one thought to break free.

Fire....

This though was like an anchor and her body and mind latched onto it. Her throat swelled and she released a gigantic plume of fire in the direction of the beast. She magically enhanced it using 90% of her reserves to turn the fire into a magical inferno. It burned a crimson white that engulfed the beast. There were a ponderous roar and the burning smell of flesh. The magical impulse to sacrifice herself was lost in an instant and Rue turned around to flee.

She heard an earth-shaking roar behind her and a huge scraping. Looking behind her she saw a huge raging ball of fire, ambling towards her. The beast, although on fire, had not slowed and was making its steady way towards her. She chose to flee, quickly leaping across the forest until the roars faded in the distance.