Capítulo 119: Lesser salamander (3)
The swordsmen are quickly decimated and the dungeon lizards start to tear into them. Do they need food or is that more of a behavioral pattern to increase encounter chances?
And is that an evolving dungeon lizard I spy over there? I strut over with absolute confidence and place my hand upon its back.
"Kill them with fire."
Nothing happens...
The lizards are all looking at me like I'm a complete idiot. This is for science you know? I need to test if I can reproduce this guided evolution!
<If you had wanted to just test it none of that overconfident strutting would have been necessary.>
You all don't understand. When doing something like this you need to keep the dignity of a monster of your position.
<You mean the dignity you just trampled into the ground by putting on that act with nothing to show for it? Rather embarrassing if you ask me.>
Stop talking about it! Make yourself useful instead and tell me how long the dungeon lizard needs to evolve.
<A few minutes at most. Low-level evolutions like this don't take much energy or time.>
What's he going to evolve into?
<Most likely a rock lizard.>
Ah, rock lizards. I remember those, they're a pain in the neck. Barely any more offense than a dungeon lizard but scales made of thick rock. They are tanky as shit, a waste of fighting time, and a nightmare to dismantle.
I didn't know they were the evolutions of dungeon lizards. We always thought they were a mutation that got increased defense.
<That happens often due to the rock lizards' poor offense and similar size to their former shape. Although, humans still know very little about the evolutionary stages of monsters and they aren't exactly trying to change that.>
The dungeon lizard finishes evolving and indeed, it's become a rock lizard.
<Not quite. Look at the spikes along its spine. It must have mutated since normal rock lizards have flat backs.>
Navi's right, the spikes along its back aren't common for rock lizards. And when I look at those spikes I'm sure they can be launched. It must be my instructor's assessment skill that allows me to see the spikes function and tells me that it has a skill to shoot them.
<It might have been inspired by your constant use of earth magic causing it to mutate. I'm already curious what the others will evolve into.>
Hah, so I did influence its evolution after all. Who's the one who embarrassed himself now!
<Still you. You talked about fire and yet its mutation went towards rock spikes instead. It's kind of pathetic.>
Next group of adventurers, let's go.
We traverse the second and third floors to reach the fourth. The group here is a bit smaller but based on their progress they are stronger than the last two.
Spying on them around a bend in the tunnel reveals a very diverse team with good coordination. Two shield-bearers walk upfront with a swordsman right behind them to boost their offense. In the middle are two healers and two mages guarded by two swordsmen with one of the mages being the instructor. Bringing up the rear are two scouts and another shield-bearer.
The scouts are constantly surveying the tunnel behind the group so approaching unnoticed is impossible. Just when I am thinking about how to attack them their instructor suddenly raises her staff and starts chanting in a low voice. The cave echoes and I'm too far away to hear what she's saying but once I see a blue pulse expand around her I know things are going to turn bad.
The pulse washes over us and the mage immediately turns on her heel looking at me in the darkness. She can't see me but she definitely knows I'm here.
"A group of monsters is hiding around the bend of that tunnel. Switch positions, I want all shield-bearers facing them. Scouts, make sure to watch our rear."
They instantly shuffle around and take up the formation their instructor advised. Three shield-bearers in front backed by the swordsmen and the scout looking out for a pincer attack.
Well darn. They are newbies no mistake there. Their grip isn't steady, they are nervous and they needed to be told what to do but they performed really well so far.
I don't think I can take them as long as they have their instructor. As they slowly advance towards the bend I look at the mage leading them and see that she's a level 50 mage. I get the feeling that I can't beat her in a fair fight and that would be assuming all the others stayed out of it.
Turning back would be the best option but the lesser salamander looks past me with unbridled violence. I can tell that it won't back down. Any chance for reinforcements, Navi?
<You're stuck with what you have.>
Great, just great.
Status!
Status Guy Lv.26 Goblin instructor
Mp 10+45+5
Strength 5+45+11
Constitution 5+45+13
Speed 5+45+8
Magic ability 0+45+1
Skills:
universal humanoid language, universal monster language, dungeon map
throwing lv. 5; enhanced stamina lv. 3; breathing technique lv. 3; stealth lv.3; soul vision lv.1; enhanced stomach capacity lv.1;
instructing lv.2; instructor's assessment lv.1;
dagger use lv. 4; backstab lv.2; energy dagger lv.1;
trap making lv. 5; camp construction lv.2; make-shift crafting lv.1;
dismantling lv. 5; cleaning lv. 1;
Earth magic lv.1;
A quick overview. Throwing leveled up to 5, stealth reached level 3, and backstab is now at level 2. Except for throwing the other level-ups don't seem useful at the moment. What I'm really grateful for are those three levels I gained since last time. Every little bit that can bring me to equal grounds with that mage helps.
No more time for hesitation. I spin around the bend in the tunnel and launch four rock needles in quick succession.
Estado de energía semanal
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