“Skill: [Float] LV 2/5 → [Float] LV 3/5”

“Status: 8/17 MP → 9/17 MP”

“/F4=?]}3OO*~`§”%L(!”

“Skill: [Float] LV 3/5 → [Float] LV 4/5”

“Status: 10/17 MP → 11/17 MP”

“Condition: – → exhausted”

“Skill: [Cold Resistance (Small)] LV 8/10 → [Cold Resistance (Small)] LV 9/10”

…

I lost track of my hunger, my condition, time

I don´t know at which point, but I entered a state of flow and practiced floating ever since.

The first few attempts ended up in me crashing the ground, but with each jump I could feel my control in the air improving

Eventually I got into a routine:

Climb, jump, float and finally land.

In the beginning I had to land on all fours

Then, probably out of luck, I landed on my feet one time

From this point on I managed to keep landing on my feet, but still had to take a few steps to brake the momentum

And now I´m able to execute a fine landing into a still stance with little to no difficulty.

I exit my state of flow and all the accumulated exhaustion hits me at once

I lean against the “giant” and wipe the sweat from my forehead as I catch my breath

Some skills leveled up, [Float] and [Cold Resistance] are almost maxed out. Will they evolve in another level?

And what´s up with this mingle-mangle? It almost looks like the “general information” on my status

I stand up and do some stretches

Oh, another thing I learned during my practice session is that I apparently can take out and retract my wings at will. So if they were to inconvenience me, I could hide them in an instant

There´s no harm in having them out though, they are neither heavy nor do they hinder my movements in any way despite their size

Rather it somehow feels natural with them on my back so they´ll stay outside for now.

That said, with all my practice done I´ll have to put them to good use

I still want these juicy fruits and I now feel confident enough to try crossing trees again

Even if I were to fall, with my current control in the air I should come out unscathed.

“Alright!” In an attempt of motivation I slap my cheeks and begin climbing, this time beyond the usual practice point

With each branch I ascend my eyes light up more and more as I imagine the taste of the Groosha fruit.

My movements are quicker and more relaxed than last time because there is no consequence in falling anymore, so after a short while I reach the crossing point

I feel a slight, irrational tension building up in my stomach, but manage to ignore it

“Ok. 3… 2… 1… Go!” With these words I run to the tip of the branch and jump with a huge amount of momentum, deeply diving

into the many branches of the Groosha Tree

I manage to grab onto two branches with my hands and support my body with my feet by standing on another few, my heart is pounding

As I ensure I safely managed to cross trees and won´t fall I retract my wings so they won´t be caught in the greenery around me

I look around for a safe and comfortable place and find it at the top of the tree

I couldn´t see it from beneath, but the trunk seems to have a dent there

Some branches, which seem more like roots than branches, grow out from its top. In the center is a huge indentation, as if there is a nest

It feels like there´s another tree growing from the sky towards the ground, but where its leaves should be it meets with the actual

trunk of the Groosha tree and fuses there

What a mysterious tree.

I climb up and seat myself inside the “nest”

It isn´t too deep, but much spacier than I initially thought

Its bottom is a little rough, but the width is comparable to a king-sized bed

I spread out my wings again and use them as a cushion as I lie down on my back

“I did it” I think to myself as I look upwards “I finally managed to get up here”

I look beside me and see an extraordinary amount of fruits hanging there

As I try to pluck one the branch it´s hanging on bends a little

Then, as the fruit is harvested, I hear a * plick * sound and the branch springs back

Unlike last time I generate some water and wash the fruit before eating it

“Status: 11/17 MP → 10/17 MP”

I bite into it and once again feel its sweet aroma spread in my mouth

Usually I don´t like eating the same food multiple days in succession, but I feel like I´ll never get sick of this taste

“Status: 10/17 MP → 13/17 MP”

As I finish eating I stretch out my arm and grab the next one

I wash it again and continue eating

This continues on for a while…

“Status: 13/17 MP → 12/17 MP”

“Status: 12/17 MP → 15/17 MP”

“Status: 15/17 MP → 14/17 MP”

“Status: 14/17 MP → 17/17 MP”

“Status: 17/17 MP → 16/17 MP”

“Status: 16/17 MP → 18/17 MP”

“Condition: Exhausted (Small) → Exhausted (Small), Mana Overfill”

“Status: 18/17 MP → 17/17 MP”

“Condition: Exhausted (Small), Mana Overfill → Exhausted (Small)”

“Status: 17/17 MP → 19/17 MP”

“Condition: Exhausted (Small) → Exhausted (Small), Mana Overfill”

“Status: 19/17 MP → 18/17 MP”

“Status: 18/17 MP → 19/17 MP”

“Status: 19/17 MP → 18/17 MP”

“Skill: [Water Element (beginner)] LV 5/100 → [Water Element (beginner)] LV 6/100”

Wow wait, my water magic Leveled up!

“Only a little while passed and my it´s already at Level 6, that´s decent progress” I say while munching on the fruit which is responsible for the Level up

“Status: 18/17 MP → 20/17 MP”

But those are only the beginner Levels, so the advanced levels probably won´t be as easy

With such thoughts swirling my mind I prepare my “portable sleeping bag” and make myself cozy.

For some time I allow my thoughts to swirl around. I slowly but surely feel my mind get dizzy

You know what? I think I´ll just take a nap here. It doesn´t seem like there´s a way to drop out of here.

“Yeah, after achieving my goal I believe I deserved some well earned rest.” I convince myself

I close my eyes, relax my body and rest

Then, the next thing I know, I fall into a deep slumber.

…

…

“Condition: Exhausted (Small), Mana Overfill → Mana Overfill”

…

…

…

…!

Suddenly, I wake up

I bust my eyes open and notice it´s even darker than usual

Is it night? How much time has passed?

I feel nauseous, chills cover my body

A cold sweat wells up, my hands are shaking, something´s terribly wrong…

“What in the hell is going on?”

The next moment I hear a sound, a howl

It reverberates deeply in my skull

“A howl? A wolf? Where did it come from?”

I lean out of the nest and turn my head to all sides

There, on the far left, I see something move

This can´t be… is it really a wolf? Why is it here?

The uneasy feeling intensifies, driving my mind into a whirlpool of panic

No way, were the claw-marks I saw the other day made by wolfs? Am I in their territory?

But if so, how can it be I only now see them for the first time?

Ah, why am I so… so afraid?

While sniffing the ground the wolf approaches the Groosha Tree

Are they following my scent?

I begin sweating, crap!

Wait! My skill! Odorless or something?

I open my Status only to let my eyes hastily run over it

There! [Odor Control]!

Activate now, hide me! I don´t care what the activation costs!

“Status: 20/17 MP → 15/17 MP”

"Condition: Mana overfill → – "

Did it work? I lost some Mana so it should have right?

I sniff on my Arm. There´s nothing, no stench, no odor, no smell at all

But the wolf is still approaching, I can´t erase the odor I already left

“Appraisal!”

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

[Status]: HP: 122/122, MP: 65/65 Condition: Normal

Clothing: Greater Fur (→ cold resistance (small), defense up (small) +5)

Skills: Resistance skills:

[Cold resistance (intermediate)] LV 3/25, [Physical Resistance (Intermediate)] LV 2/25

Still unknown/unsure:

[Body strengthening] LV 5/20, [sense enhancement (intermediate)] LV 19/25, [Agile]

Name: –, Race: Greater Wolf (14/20), Rank: D, Rarity: Normal (N), Age: 9, Age expectancy: 30

General information:

A Greater Wolf belonging to a pack of Wolves.

Wolves are known to be intelligent Monsters. Single individuals usually don´t pose great threats, but the risk exponentially increases by facing multiple Wolves at once. They hunt as groups by coordinating, strengthening their body and exploiting weak points of their prey.

Once they inhabit a territory they will protect it dearly and kill all who trespass, even if said territory is left afterwards. They will definitely see to it that the intruder is eliminated.

Wolves are extremely loyal to their packs, so once a fight is picked one can act on the assumption that all other pack-members will get involved.

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

Oh hell no, no no nononononono

What the heck? What´s with these stats?

I have to get out of here before it notices me

But it´s too late for that already, the Greater Wolf raises its head and locks eyes with me

I freeze up as its gaze penetrates my soul. I see anger building up on its face

It raises its snout high into the air and releases a long, ear screeching howl followed by two short ones and another long howl.

What should I do? What should I do? What should I do??!

It´s probably calling for other wolves, I don´t stand a chance against those Monsters!

Calm down, assess the situation!

Even if there are more of them. I don´t think they are able to climb trees so I should be safe up here

I just have to wait for a chance to eventually slip by and make a run for it, I´m definitely not fighting!

That´s what I should do, right?

Right?

As I continue falling into panic I hear something rustle

One more Wolf appears from the shadows of the night, about twice the size of the Greater Wolf

I feel my heart jumping out of my chest. This guy is bad news

Quickly I use appraisal

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

[Status]: HP: 468/468, MP: 246/246 Condition: Normal

Clothing: Fur of the top dog (→ cold resistance (high), defense up (intermediate) +30)

Skills: Magic skills:

[Dark element (high)] LV 39/50

Resistance skills:

[Cold resistance (intermediate)] LV 14/25, [Physical Resistance (Intermediate)]

Still unknown/unsure:

([cross claw],) [finishing fang], [illusion], [dark energy blast], [Curse of the Hunter], [War cry] LV 6/10, [Body strengthening] LV 21/30, [sense enhancement (large)] LV 8/10, [Agile], LV 23/25, [Magic Resistance (Small)] LV 7/10

Name: Lupus α, Race: Leader wolf (32/35), Rank: B, Rarity: Very Rare (VR), Age: 22, Age expectancy: 30

General information:

Leader of a large pack of wolves.

Wolves are known to be intelligent Monsters. Single individuals usually don´t pose great threats, but the risk exponentially increases by facing multiple Wolves at once. They hunt as groups by coordinating, strengthening their body and exploiting weak points of their prey.

Once they inhabit a territory they will protect it dearly and kill all who trespass, even if said territory is left afterwards. They will definitely see to it that the intruder is eliminated.

Wolves are extremely loyal to their packs, so once a fight is picked one can act on the assumption that all other pack-members will get involved.

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

Holy fucking shit!

There´s no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way!!

The Wolf leader stares at me with an appalling look, as if I were an annoying insect

Then, without averting its gaze it opens its mouth. I feel energy concentrating there

The little light that is around us is sucked away

Alarm bells start ringing in my head, without a second thought I jump from the Groosha tree to the “giant”

While I´m in the air the wolf leader fires a jet-black beam into the direction I just was

It grazes my side as well as annihilates the top of the Groosha Tree, piercing it and disappearing far behind it

“Status: 8/8 HP → 4/8 HP”

“AHHHHH!” It hurts!

My left side is completely burned, the pain is so bad I feel like fainting any second now

But I somehow I endure, I can´t let it end here!

“Skill: [Mental exhaustion resistance (small)] LV 6/10 → [Mental exhaustion resistance (small)] LV 8/10”

“Skill: [Magic Resistance (Small)] acquired”

I land on the branches of the “giant” and immediately begin climbing upwards as fast I can

Higher and higher

My arms and legs feel like they´d fall off but the adrenaline keeps me going

“Condition: -- → Exhausted (Intermediate)”

The Wolves on the ground become smaller as I keep increasing our distance

The Wolf leader opens its mouth again

This time, however, it releases an air shaking howl. I feel like puking but don´t stop in my tracks

“Condition: Exhausted (Intermediate) → Exhausted (Intermediate), Curse of the Hunted”

I reach a point where I can´t even see the ground anymore

I spread my wings and float towards an adjacent tree, then to the one besides that one and so on

I continue fleeing, I´m not sure for how long.