The way back to the cave felt long, and full of aphrension with her constantly looking around for danger.


    She was severely injured, fatigued and wanted nothing more than to rest.


    Though until arriving at the relative safety of the cave, that would be suicidal.


    Eventually, she returned safely.


    Relieved to have not been beset by any more magical beasts, she secured the eel corpse in the cave.


    Despite the eel being twice her length it was slim, allowing her to fit it within the cave.


    Tara felt extremely weak and lethargic.


    Staring at the eel corpse with hunger, Tara knew she needed to consume it for energy to heal.


    Hesitating briefly at the thought of consuming a raw eel, she ignored her human impulses, knowing it was impractical to apply human constraints to a salamander.


    Well, here it goes. Tara thought before taking a tentative bite.


    Hmm, not bad. Her first perception was the meat was very plain, likely due to the lack of seasoning. The texture of the eel was chewy, but her teeth made short work of any resistance.


    It was after that she felt a burst of energy feeling reinvigorated.


    Her wounds began to itch, likely the {Regeneration} trait in action.


    Deciding to continue, before long she had eaten over half the eel.


    With her cravings now satisfied. It was time to address the notification she had put aside.


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


    Viewing the notification she decisively selected ‘Yes’.


    [Your cultivation level has increased Qi Gathering 1 > Qi Gathering 2. All basic attributes increased. Qi capacity enhanced. Select two existing traits to improve. Then select your mutation.]


    Tara felt a warmth suddenly wash over her body, briefly glancing around she found everything felt clearer. It was as if all of her bodily functions had improved.


    The itching of her flesh intensified further, making her feel the need to close her eyes even more, yet she still had to look over the traits she wanted to improve.


    [Regeneration {1}: You can regenerate complex limb structures...]


    Seeing the familiar description, she moved on to the upgrade aspect.


    [*NEW* Regeneration is more efficient, less energy costing. Every aspect is improved.


    Trait level: {1} > {2}]


    Tara found it was a more general upgrade to the trait but with the importance of the trait on display against the eel, she was in favour of improving it.


    The next one was {Iron Bones}.


    [Iron Bones {1}: The durability of your bones has increased…]


    Viewing the familiar description, she moved on to the improvements. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    [*NEW* The strength of your bones is enhanced further. Your claws and teeth'' sharpness and hardiness increased. Your improved bone structure further improves your bodily attributes.


    Trait level: {1} > {2}]


    Another trait of high importance, Tara knew she had been relying on the trait since she arrived.


    Lastly, she looked at the final trait listed.


    [Skin Secretion {1}: You can secrete a slimy mucus…]


    Skipping past the familiar description, she saw the potential enhancement.


    [*NEW* Skin secretion is more efficient, and requires less energy. The fluid secreted is thicker and more slippery, making it harder to grasp by attackers. It slightly improves damage resistance.


    Trait level: {1} > {2}]


    Although the trait sounded the most lacklustre of the three, it already demonstrated its effectiveness against the eel, possibly saving her life even and giving her the edge she needed.


    Though she already had a plan with the trait and thought there might be some interesting mutations, after all on Earth some Salamanders secreted poison from their skin.


    Therefore, she decided to enhance the {Regeneration} and {Iron Bone} traits to the second level.


    Confirming her two trait enhancements allowed her to move on to the mutations.


    Moving onto the screen for selecting mutations, Tara found she could evolve an existing trait, or create an entirely new mutation with no base.


    The advantage of this is developing a new species trait that will be unique among her current species or expanding upon an already existing trait.


    Despite not providing her with an additional trait, it expands upon an existing trait to create something stronger.


    Looking through the mutations she found {Iron Scales} that would remain working in tandem with {Skin Secretion}.


    {Iron Scales} would provide her skin with increased durability and resistance against physical and elemental-based attacks whilst also maintaining its smooth and moist texture.


    However, the mutation that caught her eye was one she was hoping for.


    [Poison Secretion {1}]: An evolution of {Skin Secretion} it maintains creating a slippery substance on the skin, yet this substance is now toxic and poisonous. The poison can be discharged at will but can be energy-intensive depending on toxicity and volume.


    Despite the other mutations that will make her stronger, more durable and even offer the creation of wings. She found this one to be the most attractive.


    After all, she found upon killing the Eel the best means of levelling was to defeat enemies above her level.


    And there are few better ways to beat a superior opponent than utilising poison.


    According to the mutation, though more energy-intensive the poison she can create can become so toxic it can transmit from skin-to-skin contact, and it will prove even more effective in water.


    In the future, she may diverge and go another route but at the moment when she was both smaller and weaker than many things here, she decided she would utilise poison.


    Selecting {Poison Secretion} as her mutation, she found that the sleepiness suddenly became even more overwhelming and unwittingly she closed her eyes letting the darkness take over.


    Upon awakening, she felt strange. Remembering she seemed to fall asleep? Seriously, out of all the places. However, it was unusual as if her consciousness slipped away for a moment before she came back with it.


    Must be a mixture of my heavy injuries and my upgrades Tara figured.


    After all, she had no idea if it was a figment of her imagination, though she felt the cave seemed more cramped than before.


    Instinctively she felt her body size had grown noticeably since her perspective seemed different.


    Not only that though but she discovered that the lost appendage bitten off by the insect had seemingly reappeared as if nothing had happened.


    She wanted to find somewhere she could have a good look at her appearance, but with there being nothing around to do such a thing that would have to wait for now.


    It was then she heard a weird scuttling sound.


    Searching around she found a large crab that appeared menacingly at the entrance of the cave, its dark beady eyes searching for something until they landed on the carcass of the eel.


    Eeek. The crab did a little jig as it excitedly approached the half-eaten body.


    Almost lazily Tara instinctively pounced on the crab that seemed to be only a bit smaller than her.


    Surprisingly she found its seemingly hard shell give way to her claws almost instantly, her claws piercing into the soft flesh underneath ending its life swiftly.


    [You have defeated {Swamp Crab} gaining 2 EXP. You are now 2/100 into progressing to Level 3.]


    Huh. Tara thought surprised at the lack of resistance.


    It was only then she realised cultivation level may have more significance than she believed, or perhaps was it the enhancements?


    Looking at the EXP counter she realised the next level may take a while, so now levelled up and healed she decided to venture out and begin to hunt.