Episode 5: Big Pinch! ○
After defeating the Rabito and significantly leveling up, I immediately resumed skill training. Normally, one would need a break, but since I can’t move on my own, this body that doesn’t need rest is convenient for skill training.
However, I’ve decided to change my skill training method slightly from this point on. Specifically, I plan to reduce water magic practice a bit and increase light magic practice. The reason is that water magic, which I use more often in practice, is leveling up faster, creating a slight gap with light magic. I thought I’d adjust this gap by changing the amount of practice.
Also, since the only light magic I can use right now is Light, I decided to focus on light magic practice during the day and not use water magic. The reason for this is that using Light at night would likely attract animals and monsters.
Now that I’ve decided on the direction of my skill training, I immediately resume practice. With my level up, my mana capacity has increased, and the duration of Light has also significantly extended. Of course, the light intensity has also increased. Furthermore, I realized that I can change the intensity of the light by focusing, so I decided to practice that as well.
As I imagined it, a ball of light immediately floated in front of me. I tried to suppress the amount of light as much as possible, and conversely, make it shine as brightly as possible. I even tried making it blink and creating multiple light orbs. Blinking was easy to master, but creating multiple orbs was difficult and required several attempts. Still, I could see myself steadily improving, so magic practice is really fun!
At first, I wondered what would happen after reincarnating as moss, but this place has fewer enemies than I expected, and now I’m enjoying my life. In fact, it’s even more fulfilling than when I was living on Earth. Now, I want to thank the Goddess for giving me a second chance.
With that in mind, I focused on light magic during the day and water magic at night. About a week has passed since I defeated the Rabito, and no animals have appeared during that time. It seems this place is more secluded than I thought. I’ve leveled up twice through photosynthesis, but it’s becoming harder to level up as I reach higher levels. Well, it’s unintentionally turned into a slow life, but…
As I was thinking about this, suddenly, my “Detection” caught the approach of a living creature. And at the worst possible time.
(Oh no! Why does it appear just when I’ve used up all my mana!)
While complaining, I “Appraise” the creature caught by “Detection.”
Species: Iguana
Name: None
Rank: F
Level: 15
HP: 33/33
MP: 10/10
Attack Power: 21
Defense Power: 35
Magic Attack Power: 10
Magic Defense Power: 10
Agility: 22
Skills:
Intimidation Lv1
Tail Attack Lv3
(Hmm. If I remember correctly, Iguanas are herbivores, right?)
As per my knowledge from my previous life, the Iguana is approaching while munching on the weeds in front of it. It doesn’t seem to be choosing the type of leaves at all. At this rate, it might eat me without realizing I’m a poisonous grass.
(This might be bad…)
The Iguana is heading straight towards me. My “Mana Auto-Recovery” is at Lv4, so I recover 4 mana per minute. In a minute and a half, I’ll have enough mana for one “Poison Edge,” but one shot is unreliable against an Iguana with higher magic defense than the Rabito. I want to be able to shoot at least twice, but I don’t have that kind of time.
(I have no choice!)
In a moment of desperation, I used the little mana I had recovered to create a Light with maximum intensity and zero duration right in front of the Iguana’s eyes.
The Iguana, startled by the sudden light, recoiled. Furthermore, the intense light seems to be taking time for its eyes to recover.
(Alright, just as planned! Stay still for a while!)
About 30 seconds passed, not enough time for my mana, which had dropped to zero, to recover.
(Damn! Its eyes have already recovered. I need to buy more time…)
It recovered faster than I thought. I need to buy another minute. But, of course, I can’t think of any good ideas at a time like this.
(This is bad, I might actually die. Please, don’t come here!)
With no choice but to wait for my mana to recover, I stared at the Iguana with a prayerful heart. Even though I don’t have eyes.
As if my wish was granted, the Iguana didn’t move, looking around as if it was wary of something. It’s probably looking for the one who used magic, since it wouldn’t think a mere leaf could use magic. It seems to think that someone who can use magic is hiding somewhere.
(Phew, that was close. This is the end.)
Two minutes and fifteen seconds later, I created two “Poison Cutters” directly above the Iguana and dropped them straight down, aiming for the moment it stopped moving.
Shash!
The two “Poison Cutters” each sliced through the base of the Iguana’s neck and its back. As expected, due to its high magic defense, I couldn’t cut it in half, but I managed to inflict some deep wounds. It’s also in a poisoned state, and can only slowly hide under the leaves. If it had been just one Poison Edge, it would still have had the strength to fight back. That was close.
The Iguana, which had dived under the leaves in front of me, gradually slowed down and died just as it reached my front.
(That was close this time. From now on, I’ll make sure to leave a little mana instead of using it all up.)
Having overcome the biggest pinch since coming to this world, I decided to make good use of this lesson in my future life.
Species: Poisonous Grass
Name: None
Rank: G
Level: 15
HP: 21/21
MP: 20/40
Attack Power: 15
Defense Power: 22
Magic Attack Power: 43
Magic Defense Power: 43
Agility: 0
Skills:
Special Evolution
Language Comprehension
Chant Annulment
Item Box Lv6
Appraisal Lv5
Thought Acceleration Lv5
Life Detection Lv6
Magic Detection Lv5
Hostile Sense Lv5
Auto HP Recovery Lv2
Mana Auto-Recovery Lv5
Light Magic Lv6
Water Magic Lv7
Space-Time Magic Lv2
Gravity Magic Lv2
Photosynthesis Lv6
Poison Generation Lv4
Titles:
Reincarnator
Skill Collector
Evolver
Giant Killer
While putting the Iguana into my Item Box, I checked my status. I had leveled up once. As expected, you get a lot of experience points when you defeat a higher-ranked opponent. I only leveled up twice in a week, but I leveled up once in a single battle. I don’t want to be in a pinch like this again, but it would be nice if more creatures came. Thinking about this, I returned to skill training once more.