With the introduction out of the way, she feels none too happy with the situation.


    Tara always has been a pragmatic person, though even she felt it odd how quickly she adapted.


    Though it all made sense when that wack-job immortal admitted to influencing her.


    Judging by the introduction the immortal has been adapting based on trial and error, using ‘candidates’ like her to change their methods.


    They even made it clear the only way to escape their influence was to grow stronger.


    However, if you persist down that route you indirectly benefit them by doing exactly what the immortal intended.


    It superbly targeted a human desire to rebel against authority.


    Tara thought it described the immortal character perfectly being ruthless and callous. The immortal only cared about results, likely having plenty of ‘candidates’ like her by the way they were utilising them.


    Even knowing she was playing into the immortal''s hands, she still wanted to progress even if it meant utilising the tools they gave her.


    It''s not like she has many other options, though the immortal is not the most trustworthy, she knew they were likely telling the truth about humans in this world''s attitude towards magical beasts.


    That meant she had to be solitary and not trust anyone until she was sufficiently strong.


    With the immortal as an example, she still had hope of returning to Earth since it showed it was possible if you had sufficient strength.


    Deciding to look back at the interface, she realised it had changed.


    With the introduction complete, she was able to select and view a description of her species and traits.


    Having her name remain as ‘Unselected’ bothered her, so she rectified this by selecting Tara.


    Satisfied with her current information she brought up the tab.


    [Name: Tara


    Species: Iron Salamander


    Level: 1 {5/10 EXP to Lvl 2}


    Cultivation: Qi Gathering 1


    Species Traits: Regeneration {1}, Iron Bones {1}, Skin Secretion {1}


    Mutations: None.]


    Finding she could select a description for species, she brought up the information.


    [Iron Salamander: A mutated variation of the Salamander species, it has developed claws, teeth and bones with the strength of iron. Influenced by a high concentration of draconic and saturated Qi they are larger, more territorial and stronger. Genuine magical beasts when fully grown an adult typically reaches a limit of Qi Gathering 6. Usually preferring an aquatic-based environment, they live in swamps usually near the territory of a draconic species.]


    Did that say dragon? Feeling a bit perturbed at the thought of a dragon moving about, she moved on to the trait section.


    [Regeneration {1}: You can regenerate complex limb structures such as your limbs, and tail over time with recovery time increasing based on consuming Qi-saturated items.]


    Feeling relief that the problem of her missing limb would be resolved eventually having such a skill, she moved on.


    [Iron Bones {1}: The durability of your bones has increased. You have developed claws and teeth with the strength of iron. Your bone structure increases your bodily attributes.]


    Finding this trait was likely the one that gave her the edge against the bugs, she continued.


    [Skin Secretion {1}: You can secrete a slimy mucus, membrane keeping your skin moist and more slippery, making it more difficult to be grabbed and grasped by attackers.]


    Feeling the trait was more in line with the Salamanders she knew of on Earth, she tried to see what else she could view, finding mutations currently locked and that cultivation saying it offered a general increase in base attributes, with it being able to be increased with level.


    However, something new to the system was that it offered a feature called {Insight} where she could view basic information, about useful, known spirit fruits that were implanted by the immortal. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    It seemed she could gain improvements to her traits not only from the system but also from actively hunting for resources.


    She could also use {Insight} to peer at the strength of other beings, but it warned that she should avoid using it on more, intelligent stronger beings since it was a form of divination.


    And since it was using her soul she would receive the backlash if she failed to identify them, as all beings can actively resist such a scrying if stronger than the scryer.


    Taking that into account, she decided to vacate her little cave in search of some EXP.


    Though whilst she was at it, she seriously needed to consider something she could eat.


    She had not eaten anything since awakening as a salamander and felt like she was starving.


    Instinctively she also felt going by the itching where her missing limb was, that the skill {Regeneration} likely required fuel from somewhere.


    Moving out of the cave she again followed her instincts, moving her tail side to side as she gently paddled with her webbed feet.


    {Iron Salamanders} were clear natural swimmers in the water, perfectly adapted to such an environment. She had no idea if it was an illusion, but she even felt she was moving far faster than she ever could do as a human on Earth.


    She was unable to grasp the size of her body yet since she lacked a point of reference to compare to, but she instinctively felt that an {Iron Salamander} despite being the clear hatchling she was, was likely far bigger than full-grown Salamanders on Earth.


    She could only imagine how big they got fully grown, not that she would have to since she would have first-hand experience of that.


    Searching around the water whilst not forgetting to keep an eye out for predators, that large predatory fish being a big reminder she was relieved to find she was not the smallest creature in the water.


    Now having the time to admire it, she found the sight was beautiful.


    She always enjoyed diving as a human since being that close to nature was thrilling, though from the perspective of an underwater creature it was something else.


    The sights were amplified to the extreme where she could make out everything, and the view was magnificent.


    Assortments of fish, amphibians a myriad of colours littered her surroundings. She knew this was a world of pure fantasy, one that had creatures beyond Earth but the sight was magnificent.


    She was so lost in the picturesque view that she almost failed to notice the snake-like fish that approached with bad intentions.


    Staring at the thing she found it was twice her length, yet despite this she felt no sense of crushing danger similar to what she felt from the large fish that tried to eat her previously.


    Feeling it was a good time to try {Insight} a description of the fish came up.


    [Species: Razor-tooth Eel


    Cultivation: Qi Gathering 2]


    The eel gave her a strange look after she used {Insight}, it felt an uncomfortable, irritating feeling from her but it did not have the intelligence to think further.


    Not dissuaded at all the {Razor-tooth Eel} continued its swift approach, a hungry, predatory glint in its eye.


    Going by the eel''s speed she was never going to outrun it, therefore instead of fleeing she decided to meet the eel head-on.


    Having {Regeneration} made her bold, she would use the eel as fuel to recover from the wounds, however, she found her thoughts naive when the eel attacked.


    The {Razor-tooth Eel} was far stronger than the {Winged Nymph} and contrary to where she outclassed the insect, the eel did to her.


    It was far more cunning than the insect, knowing the danger of her claws and teeth it used its speed to dart in and out.


    Before she knew it the eel clamped its powerful jaws around her body, perfectly evading the swipe of her claws using its sleek body to abruptly change direction.


    The amount of pain she felt at that moment was indescribable, yet the adrenaline allowed her to bite down and ignore it.


    Rapidly thinking of a solution the eel started dragging her, trying to initiate its ‘death-roll’.


    At that time she started instinctively secreting thick mucus from her skin in an attempt to dislodge it.


    It was at that moment the eel made a mistake and adventured too close towards her claws as it was partially dislodged allowing her to take a swipe.


    Catching the Eel she felt its flesh give away as rivets of blood erupted from it.


    Eeeekh. The eel made a horrifying sound not before ripping a good deal of flesh from her, its ‘death roll’ a partial success.


    However, despite her losing a great deal of more flesh from the exchange the eel seemed the worse for wear.


    The eel was primarily an ambush predator, excelling in killing its prey in one bite, the only reason it ventured out for her was because it sensed her weaker cultivation and was starving.


    Magical beasts like the eel were always desperate to consume fellow magical beasts since it was one of the means to improve their strength.


    The {Razor-tooth Eel} gave her a hate-filled glare as if it debated if it was worth the risk to finish her off.


    Yet Tara already made up her mind, as completely bloodied and appearing half-dead she charged at the thing with murder in her eyes.


    She had no idea if it was from the innate aggressiveness of {Iron Salamanders} but she became crazed at that moment in time.


    And despite the {Razor-tooth Eel} having higher cultivation, it all proved no use as they erupted into a tangle of limbs exchanging bites, with her digging her claws along its body.


    The eel was agile and its bite was stronger than hers, yet her pride and stubbornness refused her to give in, and in the end, despite the eel''s superiority, she was the victor.


    And she was soon met with a notification to announce that victory.


    [You have defeated {Razor-tooth Eel} gaining 5 EXP. You are now 10/10 into progressing to Level 2.]


    The notification was then quickly followed by.


    [Congratulations you currently have enough experience points to level up. Would you like to progress to level 2?]


    Ignoring the prompt for now, she decided to drag the eel carcass hurriedly back to the cave, deciding to reach the safety of her den before levelling up.