《Aw Cluck》


 Prologue

    ¡°Grover? I know it''s hard man, but we can get through this. You''ve just gotta keep fighting, don''t give up on me¡±


    My best friend Ethan gripped my hand desperately, like he was the one barely holding on to life. I try to slide my unfocused eyes over to him and give him a reassuring smile, but even an action so small I once would''ve done unconsciously now seems to take a herculean effort. He was wrong though. My oncologist had told me yesterday I was terminal. That I had a day or two left, the week if I was lucky.


    26 and I''m dying of cancer. It seemed like a sick joke when I first heard it from my doctor. Stage 3? On my spine? Too large to remove surgically, and in a spot that can''t be safely accessed? I was dumbfounded. Cancer wasn''t supposed to be even a tangential concern until I''m in my 40s, but here we are. I was prescribed radiation therapy and chemo, but as the months passed none of it seemed to help. At the start of the year we discovered the cancer had spread throughout my body.


    Maybe dying wouldn''t be so bad. Maybe everything would stop hurting. Maybe I''d see my dad again. I finally managed to slide my eyes over to Ethan. I focused my eyes, and suddenly noticed he wasn''t the only one here. Beside him were my mother and my sister, all with worried looks on their faces. This¡­...is fine. Surrounded by my loved ones, my pain as dull as it''s ever been, I feel now is the time to say goodbye. I open my mouth to speak, and my voice comes out in a low croak, foreign even to my own ears.


    ¡°I love you guys.¡±


    I see my mother open her mouth to respond, but I don''t hear her, or anything for that matter. My eyes close for the last time, and with that small smile still on my face I pass into the void.


    ***


    I''m falling. My eyes snap open of their own accord, and all I see is a nauseating blur of colors. As my eyes come into focus, I begin to recognize the images before me. The trip to the beach I took with my family when I was 10. Playing video games with my sister while we were snowed in. My father''s funeral. This is my life before me, and I gaze upon it in wonder as the images appear and disappear faster and faster. My high school graduation. Applying to college. My cancer diagnosis. They''re moving so fast now that they''re blurring into one another, and I can no longer tell them apart. Just as I begin to wonder what happens when the images reach the end of my life, everything goes black and I hit the water.


    I resurface sputtering for a breath I don''t even know if I need. Golden motes begin slowly flaking off me, the only light in the inky black sea, and I feel my sense of self begin to fade. I begin to scream for help, then cry for it, but there''s nobody here to help me but me. I''m alone. I didn''t spend years fighting to survive just to be wiped out like this, I won''t go out with a damn whimper. I reach out with one of my faded arms and snatch one of the motes before the ever increasing current can sweep it away. As I come into contact with it, it sinks into my body and I feel more present, more real, if only ever so slightly. It goes on like this for what felt like weeks, with me forcing down and grabbing as many of the spectral lights as I can, trying to hold onto what few images I have of my previous life. My name is Grover. My best friend is Ethan. My sister is Sara. My mom is Elaine. I have a bachelor''s in life science and biology. I will not give up here. I won''t be erased. Over and over I repeated to myself, as the mantra slowly lost its meaning. Just as I thought I could carry on no longer, I saw a massive vortex on the horizon, suckling me in. Even as I feel the last of myself slipping through my fingers, I hold onto the last few orbs that contain the memories that make me me, and for the first time in my life I pray.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


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    Syncing¡­...


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    Error:


    Grover.bin is corrupted. Initiating repair operation


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    </tr>


    </tbody>


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    Recovery partially successful. Assigning Grover.bin to a compatible entity.


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    </tr>


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    <td>


    Grover.bin has been successfully assigned. Rebooting entity...


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    </table>


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    Congratulations!


    By reincarnating with your mind intact, you have received the Reincarnated title.


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    Congratulations!


    Due to a special action, you have received the Spiritual Bulwark title.


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    Intelligence requirement met: Default system interaction method set to ¡°Mental¡±.


    You may think the word "Status" at any time to bring up your menu.


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    </table>


    ¡­...What?

 1. Getting laid

    The blue screens continue hovering before my eyes, oblivious to my confusion. Am¡­. Am I going crazy? I try to look around, but the screens are blocking enough of my vision that I can''t see much of anything. I try to move away from them, but quickly dismiss this as futile. Wherever I am, it''s so small I can barely move, and the few miniscule movements I do manage sees the screens following me around and continuing to block my sight. Let''s see¡­.It says the interface is mental, so maybe that''s what I do? Go away! X button! Close tab! Uhh¡­.dismiss!


    To my relief the screens close at that prompt, and I can finally take stock of my surroundings. I see¡­...a whole lot of nothing. I''m pretty much surrounded by some sort of wall, with a soft pink light filtering in. Well. That doesn¡¯t help at all. I try to give an experimental push with my arms, but to my surprise they don¡¯t move in the way I expect. OK this is all just too freaky. Maybe that menu has some information I can use? Status.


    <table>


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    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


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    </tr>


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    <td>


    Name: Grover


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    <td>


    Age: 0 years


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    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


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    <td>


    Level: 1


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: 0


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: 100


    </td>


    </tr>


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    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>Seals: 1</td>


    <td></td>


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    <td>


    HP: 10/10


    </td>


    <td>


    SP 15/15


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


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    HP Regen: 1/day


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    SP Regen: 2/hour


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    Mana Regen: [Locked]


    </td>


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    Strength - 1


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - 2


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    Constitution - 1


    </td>


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    <td>


    Wisdom - 8You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence - 10


    </td>


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    Charisma - 3


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    Luck - 2


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    <td></td>


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    <td colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


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    <td>


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td>


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td>


    Peck


    </td>


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    <td colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


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    <td>


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td>


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I stare slack-jawed at the screen. Or I suppose slack-beaked? A...A rooster? And HP must be health...Is 10 good? It¡¯s the highest number other than SP, which I assume is stamina¡­..Wait if I¡¯m a bird that means this is an egg right? I try staring at the bits of information given to me by the¡­..menu, and even commanding it mentally to give additional information, but no other screens pop up. What shitty design. Whoever made this must¡¯ve been a real bird brain. I mentally facepalm at the pun. Good thing nobody could actually hear that. I dismiss the status screen in front of me. Well that settles it then. I must be crazy. I¡¯d probably be banging my head against the wall if I had the spare room to even do so. As it was, I ended up just curling up tighter before I drifted off to sleep.


    When I woke up, the cage that was previously snug was now downright tight. At least previously I could wiggle around a bit, and I had the option to curl up tighter. Now I¡¯m forced into that tight position and my face is practically pressed against the walls. I¡¯m not sure how long its been since I first woke up, but there¡¯s been no changes to my status. OK I¡¯ve really gotta get out of here, probably sooner rather than later. How do birds get out of their eggs again? I think they have like, some special thing on their beaks that help them poke a hole in the shell?


    I stare intently at the shell wall in front of me and try to ram my head into it, but I can¡¯t muster the force to even crack it. Didn¡¯t my status mention having skills? How do I use the ¡®peck¡¯ one? As I think the word ¡°peck¡± with the intent to poke through the walls, I instantly feel as my head lurches forward and some¡­.energy seems to leave my body. I pull up my status again and see that my SP has gone down by half a point. Where my face hit the wall there is now a tiny hole, where a small amount of fresh air is already beginning to filter in. Well. That makes things a little easier.


    <table>


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    Warning:


    Stamina has fallen below 15%


    </td>


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    </table>


    I¡¯ve pecked a hole nearly big enough to squeeze out of at this point, but every little movement is more exhausting than the last. Maybe I could get some rest before I squeeze out of here. A short nap couldn¡¯t hurt¡­ No. I need to get out of here. I start redouble my efforts, thrashing about in an effort to move into and through the hole. The cracks around the edge spread, splitting the egg into two distinct but connected halves. I push with muscles I didn¡¯t even know I had, extending my...wings...and using them to pull myself across my belly through the opening. Immediately after exiting a bright light hits me, and I¡¯m blinded while my eyes take time to adjust. I try to take in my surroundings, but I immediately collapse into the dirt below me. The last thing I see before slipping into slumber is another blue screen.


    <table>


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    Warning:


    Stamina has reached 0%. Sleep condition is applied until stamina reaches 80%


    </td>


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    </tbody>


    </table>

 2. Feeling Peckish

    <table>


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    SP: 12/15


    </td>


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    </tbody>


    </table>


    It''s dark out when I wake up. Behind me is the remains of the egg I broke out of, as well as several brownish eggs that haven¡¯t hatched yet. Shouldn¡¯t there be a mama hen around here? Who¡¯s keeping these eggs safe? I sure don¡¯t think I can fight anything if just cracking an egg completely drained me. At the thought of eggs, I begin to feel pangs within my belly.


    Ah, right. I¡¯m a newborn. I probably need lots of food and rest. I certainly won¡¯t be eating my unborn siblings though. Not that I could even make an omelet considering how much work it was to break a single egg. What do chickens even eat? I know domestic ones eat corn, and probably grains, but what are the odds I find that out here? Well, worrying isn¡¯t going to help anything, so I¡¯d better start looking around.


    The nest I was born in is hidden in the roots of an absolutely massive tree in an even more massive forest. Or maybe I¡¯m just tiny. I¡¯m not sure which is the better option honestly. Well above me I see long vines draping from the canopy, and near the trees are several large plants that seem to be giant heart-shaped leaves on a stem.


    Out of the corner of my eye I catch a movement. I whip my head around, and see it''s just some sort of bug. It looks vaguely like a grasshopper, except it has 2 horns coming from its tail end. I move to dismiss it, but before I can my instincts practically scream at me that this is food. I¡­.really don¡¯t want to eat a bug, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m in a position to be picky.


    I crouch low to try to stay out of sight of the bug. As I sneak towards it, it pricks up and hops forward. I freeze in place. Did it see me? Should I keep hiding, or should I rush it? Oh, oh it definitely saw me, it''s still moving.


    bah-GAWK!


    I unleash my battle cry and charge towards it! That¡¯s definitely not the sound I was going for, but I¡¯m not gonna get my feathers ruffled, not with a lovely ...bug... dinner at stake! The bug freezes in obvious terror at my mighty roar as I quickly waddle at it! I get right behind it, and peck it! My victory is assured.


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    -2 HP


    </td>


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    Ow. OK. Maybe not. Those horns hurt more than they look, and I really wasn¡¯t expecting the damn thing to wedge them in my mouth. You haven¡¯t won yet! This is a tactical retreat! I¡¯m just regrouping dammit! OK so if I wanna get this, I¡¯ll have to either catch it head on somehow, or attack from the side. I crouch low, and hide underneath one of the heart-leaf plants while I wait for the beetle to lower its guard. I stare intently at it, hoping for some tell that would tell me I could begin to sneak up on it.


    <table>


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    <td>


    You have learned the General Skill ¡°Basic Appraisal¡±


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    </table>


    Well hey. That seems useful. I focus on the beetle again and use my new skill on it.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Illphstra Beetle


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    A species of beetle native to Yushan. This beetle uses the wings on its back to glide short distances aided by its large legs. The horns on its back are used as a defense against sneak attacks.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    </td>


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    Well that told me a whole lot of nothing. I mean its more than I hoped, but none of it is really useful to me now. I suppose I¡¯ll have to wait for it to let its guard down, and find out how to beat it the hard way.


    Is...Is it even awake? Cmon man, I¡¯m really hungry and you haven¡¯t moved in forever! Whatever, I¡¯m going for it. Keeping low, I sneak around the plant so I¡¯ll be able to catch the beetle from its side. Hopefully I¡¯ll be able to get close enough before it sees me that those horns won¡¯t be in the way. I slowly step towards it, and it doesn¡¯t even twitch. Just a couple¡­..more¡­.steps¡­..aaaaaaand¡­.! I jump at it and peck!


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Illphstra Beetle has been defeated!


    +5 XP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    You have learned the General Skill ¡°Sneak¡±


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ugh. This is probably the worst thing I¡¯ve ever eaten. It tastes like salt and vinegar chips, but with some weird funk added on, and its got this nasty slimy texture going down. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, this thing has gotta be like 10% food, 90% shell, and it doesn¡¯t even have the common decency to be small enough to swallow whole. At least I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m starving anymore, but I really hope there''s something better to eat than vinegar bugs 24/7.


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


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    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 0 years


    </td>


    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level: 1


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: 5


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: 95


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: 8/10


    </td>


    <td>


    SP 10/15


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP Regen: 1/day


    </td>


    <td>


    SP Regen: 2/hour


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana Regen: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength - 1


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Constitution - 1


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom - 8


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence - 10


    </td>


    <td>


    Charisma - 3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Luck - 2


    </td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td>


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td>


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl: 1/10)


    </td>


    <td>


    Sneak (Lvl: 1/10)


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td>


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 3. Ruffled Feathers

    After I¡¯ve finished eating, I decide to head back to my nest where I can take a short break and look over the changes to my menu. So I got two new skills out of that encounter? The menu called them General Skills, and these have levels. I wonder what makes them different from the other skills I have without levels? And what happens if I level up? If one beetle gave me 5 XP, surely it won¡¯t be long before I experience it.


    Alright so what are my priorities then? Survive obviously. What I need now is a source of water, and a reliable source of food. The food isn''t as pressing now, but if I do find water there''ll be plenty of food sources either in the area or having to travel to it. The hard part will be avoiding predators. I haven''t seen any yet, but this is a big jungle. I''d have to be stupid to assume it''s just me and some bugs. Those are immediate needs though, what about the long term? I need to know where I am. I don''t think this is Earth anymore, but maybe there''s a way back? I¡¯d also like to level up. If my previous knowledge is worth anything, this can only be good for me. The real question is if it¡¯s worth the risk.


    I look up at the sky. The sun is almost directly overhead, beating down on me. About midday then? I should prioritize water, or I won¡¯t make it long out here. I stand still and listen for the sound of running water, but all I can hear is the dull buzz of insects and the occasional chirp of another bird. Before I can start thinking of another way to start my search, I get a feeling deep in my gut that the correct way to go is my left. I''ve never been one to go with my gut feeling, but at this point any direction is probably as good as any other, so I set off.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Warning: You are dehydrated.


    SP and HP regeneration decreased by 50%


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    OK that''s concerning. I''ve only been walking for about 10 minutes now. I glance at my SP and HP to see what I''ve got to work with.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: 8/10


    </td>


    <td>


    SP: 12/15


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The feeling in my gut is still pointing me strongly in this direction, and there''s no water at the nest, so there''s nothing left but to keep walking.


    Not even 5 minutes later and I hear the soft burbling of a stream. I instantly feel my thirst, which had previously been a dull need in the back of my mind sharpen at the sound. I try to lick my lips, but my tongue doesn''t move the way I expect. Oh yeah. Small hard tongue. Beak, not lips. Oops. Wary for any potential predators, I stick to the underbrush to stay out of sight, and creep up on the spot the sound originates from.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Sneak Skill has leveled up to 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Well that''s not a good sign. If I''m considered to be actually sneaking, there must be something I''m hiding from. Even more warily now, I creep through the brush as the creek comes into view.


    The creek isn''t particularly large, if I laid down it''d probably be about 5 of me in width. The water in it is perfectly clear, and there''s several small stones paving the bottom of the river. Lining the river are even what appears to be a natural grain of some sort. It looks kind of like the cattail reeds that you might see around a river on earth, but instead of the dark brown tube at the top there are several small seed pods.


    I step towards the river to sake my thirst, when I all of the sudden my instincts scream at me not to move. I freeze in place, still partially covered by those large plants, and look around. There''s nothing around me though. The canopy above me breaks at the river, so there can''t be anything hiding in the trees, and there''s nothing standing around the creek. The creek itself isn''t even large enough to house more than a couple tiny minnows.


    I dismiss my gut feeling as irrational and continue towards the creek, and start to drink.


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    <td>


    Dehydrated condition removed. HP and SP regeneration restored.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This is amazing. I don''t think I''ve ever tasted water this good in either of my lives. I didn''t even know water could taste this good. Just as I begin to get lost in the sensation of slacking my thirst, my instincts scream at me to run! Before I can even think, I''ve jumped back several steps. Where I was previously standing there is now¡­..one of the river rocks?The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I walk up to it, and look around. There''s definitely nobody around that could''ve thrown it. Did it move on its own? I focus on it and use my peck skill.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    0 damage dealt to River Mimic


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    What the cluck? Basic Appraisal.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    River Mimic (Juvenile)


    An uncommon species of mimic native to rivers flowing from the Malentic Grove. This variant tends to wait until an unsuspecting creature drinks from the river they occupy, before crushing it with its weight and feeding on the remains.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Basic Appraisal skill has leveled up to 2.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I dismiss the notifications before I can even finish reading them, as the mimic is¡­...rolling? towards me and quickly picking up speed. How do I even fight a rock? I run from it, but I glance behind me and see it gaining on me, and fast. It''s faster than me so I can''t even run from it. I whip my head back in front of me. Shit! I jump to the side as I nearly run into a tree, but the mimic chasing me wasn''t able to change direction so fast. It rams into the tree at full speed!


    CRACK!


    I''m not sure if the sound came from the mimic, the tree, or both, but as I turn to see I notice a small Crack running through the mimic, and it hasn''t moved yet. This could be my only chance.


    buh-GAAAAWK!


    I loose my war cry and charge the prone creature! Prepare to feel the business end of my beak! I''ve cracked tougher eggs than you! I jump on top of it and ready my Peck Skill again.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    2 damage dealt to River Mimic


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Cluck yeah! A piercing squeal comes from the mimic, but it still doesn''t move and I don''t let up. Peck! Peck! Peck! Peck! Peck!


    ....


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    River Mimic has been defeated!


    +100 XP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level Up!


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 0 years


    </td>


    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level: 2


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: 5


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: 120


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: 8/??


    </td>


    <td>


    SP 9/??


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP Regen: ?/day


    </td>


    <td>


    SP Regen: ?/hour


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana Regen: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength - ?


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - ?


    </td>


    <td>


    Constitution - ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom - ?


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence -??


    </td>


    <td>


    Charisma - ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Luck - ?


    </td>


    <td>


    Free Stats - ?


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td>


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td>


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


    </td>


    <td>


    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td>


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 Excerpt #1: The Growth and Usage of Skills

    ¡°...what is important to understand about Skills before you worry about mid-life concerns such as merging and advancing, is the types and tiers of skills. Skills are widely understood to come in three tiers, each with the types passive and active. Passive refers to Skills that are always working, even if you are not conscious of it or intending to activate it. Active Skills tend to be stronger, but requires an energy cost and must be intentionally activated. A weapon mastery Skill would be a good example of a passive Skill, whereas a Skill such as ¡°Hawkshot¡± or ¡°Trick Shot¡± would be a common example of an active Skill.


    The first and most common type of skill is known as Racial. Occasionally referred to as ¡°basic¡± Skills, these refer to abilities native to your race and are present at the time of birth. These Skills do not level, however they have been documented to both advance and evolve in some of the longer-lived races such as the gnomes and elves. While the amount and strength of Racial Skills granted at birth varies from race to race, it is commonly understood that these abilities are a gift to the Enlightened Races from the God of Balance, and as such rarely show up among the monster races, and never amongst the true monsters.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The second tier of Skills is known as General Skills. These abilities are not native to any one race, and can in fact be learned by anyone. Unlike Racial Skills, these abilities do level with use, up to a maximum of 10. After that point they become eligible for the various methods of advancement, detailed in the next chapter. The most common example of a General Skill is ¡°Basic Appraisal¡± which provides basic information about everything except your own status and items imbued with magical abilities. Leveling up the Skill does eventually grant the ability to appraise these things, and is renamed ¡°Appraisal¡± upon reaching level 10.


    The third and final tier of Skills is known only as Advanced Skills. These abilities are very elusive, and many people who possess them wish to keep the details to themselves. What is known is that they have the ability to level much higher than General Skills, and typically require a Profession to unlock. Whether this means they are eligible for further advancement or not is, at this time, unknown. The most commonly known Advanced Skill would likely be the elemental affinity skills, used by the most powerful mages to transmute their mana into the elements.¡±


    -An excerpt from ¡°The Growth and Usage of Skills¡± by Elicia Manawetz

 4. Getting Cocky

    A wave of energy washes over me as I get the status message about leveling up. It feels...pleasant. Like a warm breeze blowing over me on a nice spring day. As it passes over aches and pains I hadn¡¯t even noticed fade away, and the small cuts in my mouth stop hurting as well.


    Status


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Table:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 0 years


    </td>


    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level: 2(+1)


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: 5


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: 120


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: 12/12


    </td>


    <td>


    SP 19/19


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP Regen: 2/day(+1)


    </td>


    <td>


    SP Regen: 4/hour(+2)


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana Regen: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength - 2(+1) [+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - 4(+2) [+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Constitution - 2(+1) [+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom - 8 [+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence - 10 [+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Charisma - 4(+1) [+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Luck - 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Stat Points - 4


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td>


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td>


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


    </td>


    <td>


    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td>


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Huh. So leveling refilled my HP and SP, and there were a few minor increases to all my stats. It says I¡¯ve got 4 stat points though, and there¡¯s little plusses next to all the scores except the regens and luck. I¡¯ll worry about where to put those a little later though, for now a feast is before me, and I¡¯d have to be a bird-brain not to at least try it while I¡¯ve got the chance.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I look around the clearing in front of me, and decide that no other danger is present before dragging the mimic corpse into the shelter of the foliage behind me.


    Not a pleasant smell. Kind of like a fish that''s been sitting in the sun a little too long.


    I close my eyes as I use my beak to tear a small amount of flesh from the cracked shell, and tilt my head back slightly to help it go down.


    It¡¯s¡­..surprisingly not that bad. Reminds me of crab a bit, but with a spicy aftertaste. If there were more I definitely wouldn¡¯t mind eating it, but I definitely got lucky with that last one. It basically stood still and let me kill it, and I don¡¯t know if I can rely on that strategy.


    As I eat I pull my status back up and contemplate where to assign my points.


    If intelligence and wisdom are doing anything for me, I haven¡¯t really noticed it. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re useful, but if it¡¯s life or death I don¡¯t know that I could rely on it. Charisma might be useful if I could talk to anyone, but last I checked I can¡¯t any more. So that leaves agility strength and constitution. If I had to guess strength will make my peck skill stronger since it does use my muscles, and constitution will increase my HP, but I don¡¯t think those should be priorities. Agility sounds like it¡¯s either how fast I run or how quick I can move in general. Maybe a little of both?


    I think at the end of the day, the only real option is agility. I¡¯m very small, and I don¡¯t think I can count on being a little extra healthy or being a little physically stronger to keep me alive. The only reason I survived that mimic barreling me down was because I was just barely fast enough to stay ahead of it, and the thing was a baby like me. The most important thing is that I survive, and if I can outrun anything that wants to eat me that seems like my best chance. I didn¡¯t get the chance to really enjoy my last life and I¡¯ll be damned if I die before I find a way to enjoy this one.


    With that settled and my impromptu meal finished, I put my 4 free stats into agility and make my way back to my nest. As the roots hiding my unborn brethren just start to come into view, every fiber of my body screams at me to freeze.


    crunch crunch


    That wasn¡¯t me. Something is making noise inside there. Maybe mama hen came back? Or one of the eggs is hatching? I dismiss my gut feeling and take a step forward.


    CRACK


    I stepped on a twig. It wasn¡¯t even loud, but in the quiet of the clearing, it¡¯s practically deafening.


    Wait.


    The quiet?


    It wasn¡¯t quiet here earlier. There was the droning buzz of bugs in the brush, birdsong from above, the scratching sounds of small creatures climbing through the canopy.


    Why is it so quiet?


    I listen to my instincts, but I need to know what¡¯s going on. I carefully sneak forward, watching for anything that would make even the slightest noise.


    CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH


    The crumpling sound is louder now. I know what I¡¯m going to find, but I¡¯m scared to look. I know I should turn and run, but I¡¯m scared that whatever is chewing inside there will hear me. I step forward.


    CRUNCH CRACKLE CRUNCH


    Oh. It''s a lizard. A lizard, with mottled black and cream skin, and a pure black tongue. A large lizard with claws as long as I am tall. A very large lizard that¡¯s crunching on the eggs that were in my nest.


    A lizard that¡¯s looking directly at me.


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Table:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 0 years


    </td>


    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level: 2


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: 5


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: 120


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: 12/12


    </td>


    <td>


    SP 19/19


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP Regen: 2/day


    </td>


    <td>


    SP Regen: 4/hour


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana Regen: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength - 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - 8(+4)


    </td>


    <td>


    Constitution - 2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom - 8


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence - 10


    </td>


    <td>


    Charisma - 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Luck - 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Stat Points - 0


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td>


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td>


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


    </td>


    <td>


    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td>


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 5. Winging it

    I barely move a muscle as I stand down the behemoth before me. I¡¯m several feet away from it, and while it feels like a great distance I know the lizard could close the gap in a moment. If this body were capable of it, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d have peed myself. I count it as a small blessing that I haven¡¯t.


    The reptile stares me down languidly, seemingly content with the buffet before it, confident in my inability to pose even the slightest threat. I only hope at this point it¡¯s so relaxed because it has no intent to fight me, not that it knows I couldn¡¯t win even if it did. Each tooth in the creature¡¯s mouth is as long as my body, and every time its maw opens I catch a glimpse of a gaping hole that could consume three of me whole.


    Basic Appraisal


    I use the skill almost reflexively, and quickly scan the window it reveals for any scrap of information that could help me.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Yushuan Monitor lvl ??


    A medium sized lizard often found in the forests of Yushuan, this lizard uses its claws and long neck to steal eggs from nests hidden within the roots and branches of the Illphstrana trees. Its main weapons are its large claws and powerful legs.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The level is new I think, I don¡¯t remember seeing it before. Maybe it has to do with the skill leveling. Two question marks doesn¡¯t tell me much though.


    Without breaking eye contact I slowly take a step back, but the previously lax monitor quickly locks its full attention onto me. I freeze in place in the hopes that its attention will return to the easier meal it has already stolen, and within a few heart-pounding moments that seem to last for hours, it does.


    For the first time since I initially locked eyes with the beast, I glance down at the clutch I was born with to see how much of the time they had bought me I have left. One egg left, plus the one it¡¯s swallowing now. I don¡¯t have time to sneak away over the next hour. I put those point into agility, let¡¯s make it count.


    I turn away and plant a foot in front of me to bolt. I make it exactly 3 steps.


    SNAP!


    The lizard closes its jaws around me. I didn¡¯t even see it move. The last thing I see before blackness overcomes me is one last blue screen.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Critical damage taken!


    -9 HP


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ***************


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    -0.5 HP due to acid


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Warning!


    HP has fallen below 15%


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A few moments later I groggily come to in a small warm cave that reeks of bile and blood. I try to look around, and while I feel liquid squelching through my downy feathers, and a small amount of stale air above me, I can¡¯t see anything. Did ...Did that really just happen? Was I...swallowed...whole? That means this is its stomach? After all that effort, and I don¡¯t even last a day in my second life. Heh, maybe next time I can be something cool. Like a manatee.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    -0.5 HP due to acid


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Warning!


    HP has fallen below 10%


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    No. Fuck that. I¡¯m gonna get out of here and I¡¯m gonna kick some ass and I¡¯m gonna live dammit. I just gotta hatch a plan, and I gotta do it fast. Status says I¡¯ve got 1 health left, so I¡¯ve got maybe a minute or two. I don¡¯t have enough space to use Peck, but my feet have talons now right?


    I drag my clawed feet against the fleshy lining holding me in place, and I feel the meat part as my talons shred the organ containing me into ribbons.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Critical hit!


    5 damage dealt to Yushuan Monitor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The walls around me begin to convulse as I continue pedaling my feet in an attempt to turn my prison into mincemeat. The acids that have been destroying my body rush through the holes into the rest of the lizard¡¯s body as dark blood pumps into the reptile¡¯s stomach around me.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Critical Hit!


    9 damage dealt to Yushuan Monitor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    -0.5 HP due to acid


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Warning!


    HP has fallen below 5%


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I don¡¯t even spare the notifications a glance, dismissing them as soon as they pop up. I focus solely on digging. Unpleasant images of a certain alien pass through my mind, but I ignore that too. I will survive.


    The thrashing around me begins to weaken and slow.


    I don¡¯t let up.


    I feel a jarring thud. Blood stops pouring into the cavity I occupy.


    I don¡¯t let up.


    A small breath of nearly fresh air passes over me.


    I don¡¯t let up.


    In retrospect I know I couldn¡¯t have been in there for more than a minute or two, but in the moment I was so consumed by my drive to escape that it could¡¯ve been years or seconds that passed, and I wouldn¡¯t have known the difference.


    I collapsed into the remains of my next, slick with gore and covered by the cooling corpse of the lizard that had nearly led me into the grave without a second thought. I had received notifications, I knew, but I don¡¯t have the energy to check them. Without the energy to even think, my eyes close and I surrender to the sleep that is so desperately trying to claim them, bringing a violent end to my first day.


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 1 day


    </td>


    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level: ?


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: ?


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: ?/?


    </td>


    <td>


    SP ?/?


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP Regen: ?/day


    </td>


    <td>


    SP Regen: ?/hour


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana Regen: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength - ?


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - ?


    </td>


    <td>


    Constitution - ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom - 8


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence - 10


    </td>


    <td>


    Charisma - ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Luck - 2


    </td>


    <td>


    Stat Points - ?


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td>


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td>


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


    </td>


    <td>


    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


    </td>


    <td>?</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td>


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td>


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 6. Chickened but Curious

    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level Up!


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level Up!


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level Up!


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Claw skill has leveled to 4


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Congratulations!


    Due to surviving a fight at less than 5% of your health, you have earned the Survivor title.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Warning!


    Level cap for your species met. Additional menu options have been unlocked. Experience gains deferred. Select an evolution option to continue obtaining experience.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I awoke hours later to a slew of blue screens all demanding my immediate attention. I half-heartedly dismissed them all beforelooking around myself.


    The sun is well on its way across the sky. Considering it was early evening when I first saw the lizard, I must¡¯ve been out for quite some time. I look down and realize I¡¯m covered in gore. Dried blood has matted my feathers and practically glued me to the corpse of the monitor lizard. I¡¯m honestly lucky no other predators or scavengers have come along. It seems these guys are the only things that could fit through the roots. In my current condition, I don¡¯t think I could even fight off one of those beetles.


    Don¡¯t get me wrong, I feel the increases from levelling, and my body definitely doesn¡¯t look half-dissolved any more, but I guess HP and SP aren¡¯t a perfect representation because I feel like absolute shit right about now. According to my status my pools are full, sure, but I can barely move. My everything feels sore, and my if I didn¡¯t know better I¡¯d swear my bones were solid lead, not hollow ¡­..calcium? Collagen? Whatever chicken bones are made of in a world with mimics and magic systems.


    Speaking of the system, I get the feeling these evolution options aren¡¯t the darwinian kind.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Rooster ?


    Adult male chicken.


    Unlocked due to reaching level cap as a juvenile male chicken


    Grants additional bonuses to Charisma and Agility


    Grants ability Headless Chicken (un)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Red Junglefowl (Juvenile) (un)


    A relative of the chicken well adapted for jungle life.


    Unlocked due to reaching level cap as a chicken with the Survivor title


    Grants additional bonuses to Strength, Constitution, and AgilityThis book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    This evolution may cause a skill advancement in 1 or more skills.


    Grants ability Flight (lesser) (un)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Monster Core (un)


    Unlocked due to Wisdom and Intelligence stats of 10 or greater


    Unlocks mana.


    Grants ability Mana Manipulation (Beginner) (un)


    This choice may unlock further evolutions down the line.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    It¡¯s a tough decision honestly. On the one hand, Adult rooster is probably going to give me the biggest immediate boost. If I¡¯ve learned anything in the 24 hours I¡¯ve been alive, its that I¡¯m weak and I¡¯m only surviving due to a basic ability to plan and a fuckton of luck. I need to get stronger and I need it now if I want any chance of surviving the next 24 hours. On the other hand, the Red Junglefowl probably won¡¯t be as big in the short term since it¡¯s still juvenile, but if I¡¯m understanding it right, it¡¯ll be a better investment over time.


    But then theres the monster core. Definitely the most vague option, with little to no clear benefits in the short term, and uncertain benefits in the long term.


    But its magic.


    Who wouldn¡¯t want magic?


    Honestly it might be worth the extra risk, just for the possibility I get something cool. I could be a fire breathing chicken! Like a phoenix, but mightier obviously. Or maybe like a sun monk phoenix, since I¡¯ve already put a bit in agility and obviously a rooster worships the sun, why else would we crow at dawn.


    I remember when I was 11 always waiting, wishing I¡¯d get that letter in the mail that tells me I¡¯m actually special, and that I have magical abilities I couldn¡¯t comprehend.


    Sure this isn¡¯t that, but it¡¯s certainly the next best thing.


    I¡¯ll have to think about it.


    In the meantime, I really need a bath and something to wash the acid taste out of my mouth. Time for another trip to the river.


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 1 day


    </td>


    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level: 5(+3)


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: N/A


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: 18/18


    </td>


    <td>


    SP 29/29


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP Regen: 4/day(+2)


    </td>


    <td>


    SP Regen: 8/hour(+4)


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana Regen: [Locked]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength - 3(+1)[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - 8(+4)[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Constitution - 5(+3)[+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom - 10(+2)[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence - 12(+2)[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Charisma - 5(+1)[+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Luck - 4(+2)


    </td>


    <td>


    Stat Points - 12


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td>


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td>


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


    </td>


    <td>


    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


    </td>


    <td>


    Claw (Lvl: 4/10)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td>


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td>


    Survivor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">Evolutions Available:</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Rooster (Adult) ?</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Red Junglefowl (juvenile) (un)</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Monster Core (un)</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 7. Hatching A Plan

    I continue to ponder my options as I walk to the river. I briefly consider investing all my free stats now to see if it unlocks more options, since monster core was unlocked due to my mental stats, but I decide against it for now. I wouldn¡¯t know which stat to pick, there¡¯s no reason to assume there¡¯ll be a tangible benefit, and it¡¯s really just a risky move. I think my best bet with the scant information I have would be to choose one of the options I see already, and invest my stats after evolving based on what my choice needs. The evolution options certainly provided more useful info than any of the other boxes, but there¡¯s no way it¡¯s everything I could need considering how condensed it is.


    With my decision not to decide decided, I find myself at the creek I discovered yesterday. Something carted off the mimic remains I didn¡¯t eat, but I can still see a few traces of our battle. Wary of a surprise, I grab a small twig and prod the larger pebbles in a shallow area before stepping in myself.


    As bits of dried red blood flake off of me, I glance down and notice my reflection. Huh. I haven¡¯t really looked at myself since I was reborn here.


    My feathers are still downy, but are a light golden, with my eyes quickly drawing my attention with their startling orange coloring. A comb has started to poke out from my head, and a small bit of red is showing where wattles will be later. I¡¯m certainly much larger and more developed than I¡¯d expect a 1 day old anything to be. A quirk of this world as a whole maybe, or a side effect of levelling?


    I consider how I¡¯d look with the different evolution options. I¡¯d certainly be much larger if I was a Rooster, considering it¡¯s the only adult option. Being super large would be a disadvantage, sure, but being as small as I am now is a disadvantage too. It seems a safe assumption the Red Junglefowl would be, well, red. Past that, it¡¯s still a juvenile, so not much different.


    Fuck, I¡¯m gonna choose magic aren¡¯t I.


    It¡¯s the dumbest choice.


    It gives me no way to survive in the short term.


    It only gives me mana manipulation, no spells, no elements. There¡¯s no way to know if there¡¯s any real use for it at all.


    I¡¯d have to be a bird-brain to pick literally the only choice that doesn¡¯t promise any useability ever.


    ...But I said already I¡¯m not going to just survive. I¡¯m going to live, and I¡¯m going to enjoy myself. Rooster is the safe pick, sure, but it¡¯s the boring one. Red Junglefowl is the best investment, but that won¡¯t make me happy.


    With my mind made up, I begin to trek back to my nest to find a safe place while I figure out how this works, when I realize my nest may not be the safest place anymore, considering the monitor lizard managed to squeeze in, and its corpse is far too large for me to move somewhere it won¡¯t attract others. The only other place I know exists is this creek here, but I don¡¯t fancy living out in the open if the fucking rocks can kill me, and I don¡¯t see anywhere I¡¯d be comfortable sleeping.


    So I¡¯ve got 3 options then. Go back to my old nest and suck it up, go exploring and hope for the best, or follow the river downstream and hope it leads somewhere safer. Worst case scenario maybe a large body of water, best case scenario there¡¯s a town or something? I remember hearing if you¡¯re lost in the woods you should follow rivers downstream, but that advice was proooobably tailored on the assumption you¡¯ve got a human body. Even so, I¡¯d hazard a guess it¡¯s the least likely to lead to my inevitable demise, and it guarantees a source of water, and probably food too since other things need water as bad as I do.


    Plan hatched, I start my trek downstream.


    ¡­


    ¡­.


    ¡­..


    This may have been not the best plan. I don¡¯t have an accurate way to tell time, but the sun is almost sitting right above me, and it was only a little past sunrise when I left my nest, and the walk from my nest to the creek isn¡¯t all that long. Despite how long I¡¯ve been walking, the forest seems to never end. A few feet of loose soil on either side of the river, then a bunch of trees that seem impossibly tall compared to me. Those large heart-shaped plants at the bases of the trees providing shade to green mice that almost blend in with the foliage. Small lizards like the large monitor that nearly ate me yesterday, that send me running lest a larger one show up to guard them. A creature I thought was a rabbit at first, then it turned to me revealing a bill and webbed feet.


    I use my appraise ability on everything new I see to keep from getting bored.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ixageaf


    A type of shrub known for its uses in lesser potions, its large heart-shaped leaves can be refined as a stable base for weak potions.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Yushuan Monitor (Juvenile) lvl 2


    A medium sized lizard often found in the forests of Yushuan, this lizard uses its claws and long neck to steal eggs from nests hidden within the roots and branches of the Illphstrana trees. Its main weapons are its large claws and powerful legs. The adults of the species tend to care for their young until they reach adulthood, at which point they will often depart to form their own colony.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Choelledine (Adult) lvl 6


    A distant relative to the field mouse, this creature has a natural connection to nature magic allowing small plants such as mosses to cling to their fur. This provides the Choelledine camouflage, and in rare cases the plants may have additional effects. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Duckbunny (Adult) lvl 3


    A species created by the Archmagus Izin Ohban, this species originated during a failed experiment to create a powerful chimera. Released into the wild, this species has managed to survive due to their high base luck more than any real skill.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A few were interesting, I suppose, but nothing really useful. I still know nothing about this world, and my appraise ability doesn¡¯t provide any real context.


    A small puff of air I intended to be a sigh passes through my beak. Nothing left to do but keep walking.


    ¡­


    The sun is threatening to set by the time I find a place that could pass as suitable shelter. A single tree is particularly close to the river I¡¯ve been following, and there¡¯s just barely enough space between the roots and the ground where the river has pulled the dirt away when the water was higher for me to slip in. It¡¯s a tight fit, but I manage to get far enough in that I don¡¯t think anything truly threatening can reach me, and I can retreat to pretty much any side in a pinch. I use my wings to push aside any pokey bits, before curling up on the ground.


    Evolution.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Evolution options are available. Please select one to continue gaining experience.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Rooster (adult) ?


    </td>


    <td>


    Red Junglefowl (Juvenile) (un)


    </td>


    <td>


    Monster Core (un)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Welp, here goes nothing. I¡¯ve had all day to talk myself out of it, no use worrying about it now.


    Monster Core.


    A small itching feeling starts to develop somewhere deep inside me. At first it¡¯s easy to ignore, but it quickly grows unbearable as the itching gets worse and I feel a small hard thing growing next to my heart. I can feel as it grows, and as it pushes against my insides. I can feel it as my organs protest at the intrusion, but it doesn¡¯t hurt. I writhe on the ground as a strange, painful-feeling-that-isn¡¯t-quite-pain, slowly consumes my being. Just when I think I can¡¯t bear another second, it vanishes.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Congratulations!


    You have developed a Monster Core!


    This new organ allows you to refine and store mana within your body, which can then be used for various abilities. Mana unlocked. Mana Regeneration unlocked. Skill Mana Manipulation (beginner) has been granted to you.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Mana Manipulation (beginner)


    The first step on the path of a magician is to recognize and manipulate the fundamental energies of the world.


    Allows the user to shape and manipulate mana within the body, which can then be pushed outside the body to influence the world, or kept within the body to temporarily modify it in some way.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Congratulations!


    Due to an evolution, level cap has been increased to 25! Deferred experience has been awarded:


    +708 XP!


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level up!


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Before I can even read over the stream of notifications now clogging my view, a wave of exhaustion overtakes me. My head hasn''t even hit the ground inches below it, and I have already slipped into a blissful sleep.


    Spoiler: Status<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td>


    Age: 2 days


    </td>


    <td>


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level: 6(+1)


    </td>


    <td>


    XP: 328


    </td>


    <td>


    XP to next level: 147


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td>


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP: 20/20


    </td>


    <td>


    SP 34/34


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana: 18/18


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    HP Regen: 5/day


    </td>


    <td>


    SP Regen: 10/hour


    </td>


    <td>


    Mana Regen: 6/hour


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength - 4(+1)[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Agility - 10(+2)[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Constitution - 6(+1)[+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom - 10[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Intelligence - 12[+]


    </td>


    <td>


    Charisma - 6(+1)[+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Luck - 4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Stat Points - 16


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Claw (Lvl: 4/10)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Mana Manipulation (Beginner) (Lvl: 1/10)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Survivor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 8. Chicks of the Trade

    Ow.


    Owwwwwww.


    As I slowly regain consciousness, a dull ache in my chest makes sure it is known. I open both my inner and outer eyelids-


    Wait.


    Ew.


    I have inner eyelids? They¡¯re clear, and I¡¯ve kinds tried not to focus on the weird and potentially gross differences in this body, not that I pay too much attention to the stuff my body does automatically anyways. I don¡¯t really know what to do with this information, so I¡¯m gonna settle for pretending I never learned it.


    Ah, blissful ignorance.


    Moving on. I focus on my surroundings, but I can¡¯t really see much of anything. Maybe it¡¯s just because I¡¯m under this tree or something? I crawl my way out from under the roots, and ruffle my fledgeling feathers to dislodge any rocks or dirt caught in them.


    Yeah no it¡¯s definitely night. How long was I out? It couldn¡¯t have been later than noon or so when I selected my evolution. I need to get myself an alarm cluck or something.


    At the thought of the evolution I selected, the dull ache in my chest picks up again. It feels like someone took a small rock or something, and just kinda, pushed it into me without concern for the organs already occupying the space, or the limited amount of room in my tiny body. If I had to guess, I¡¯d say it originates from somewhere in the center of me, but towards the front. Maybe between where my lungs would be if I was still human? Near my heart at least.


    Speaking of the core, I can sense a sort of¡­ energy inside me. It¡¯s warm, and I can feel it all over my body, like how after a major exertion you can feel your blood pumping through your veins. It¡¯s not unpleasant, and it doesn¡¯t feel abnormal unless I stop and really think about it. If anything, it¡¯s more like it was always there and I just couldn¡¯t see it, feel it until now.


    Is¡­ That mana? Does that mean I can really do magic now?


    Going by how the other skills have worked, I should just¡­ Mana Manipulation


    ¡­


    ¡­.


    Nothing?


    Well, I suppose not all skills work like that? Or maybe none of them do and I¡¯m just not the brightest¡­.egg¡­.in the coop? Ah, that one got away from me. I should really refine my punmanship before I talk to anyone. If I can talk to anyone. If I can find anyone. Anyways, I didn¡¯t need to say the skills for Sneak, or for Claw, so maybe I just have to find the right action? I¡¯m not going anywhere when I¡¯m effectively blind, so now would be the best chance to practice.


    I focus in on that warm feeling inside me. I can feel it pumping through my body, starting from my chest, then going to my head, traveling down my spine to my tail, into my feet, and back up into my chest. Maybe I can...pause it? Or at least slow it a little, so it pools. I focus on causing the mana to do just that in my head. At first, it seems like nothing is happening, but then I feel a pressure building up behind my eyes as my head starts feeling warm. I get worried for a second, but the pressure isn¡¯t painful, not yet at least. It actually feels almost pleasant.


    Snap


    The small sound echoes through the dark, and I whip my head around to search for it before remembering that I literally can¡¯t see anything. I briefly feel irritation at my inability to see, when I feel that pressure slip from in my head as a whole to just into my eyes


    I can¡­ see? Sort of? It¡¯s not sight per se, not as I¡¯d normally think of it. The world is painted in broad colors, like a wet painting in the rain. The ground is a vast smudge of light brown, with specks of green and more concentrated areas of brown throughout. The tree I¡¯m hiding under is largely still invisible to me, but veins of green pulse through it illuminating the shape of the trunk and the path of the roots. Even the air around me has a thin, whitish tint that I almost didn¡¯t notice. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Spell Learned: Mana Sight


    Cost: 2 mana, 0.5 mana/second.


    Allows the user to perceive ambient mana in a small radius around them.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    So the colors I can see are ambient mana? And the different colors must be tied to the elements somehow. Noticing that the spell can only last around half a minute, I release the mana I had allowed to pool in my eyes, and my sight winks out.


    I spend the next hour or so trying to find other spells by pooling mana in other parts of my body, but nothing else interesting happens. The most promising attempt was when I pooled it in my mouth in an attempt to breathe fire definitely something that is not breathing fire while sheltering under a flammable object. It didn¡¯t work anyways though, but I did manage to get a puff of mana to actually pass out of my body. Every other attempt wouldn¡¯t let it leave my body.


    <table width="673">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Mana Manipulation (Beginner) has leveled to 2.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Warning:


    Mana has fallen below 10%


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Oof. This is¡­ really exhausting. It¡¯s still dark out, and I didn¡¯t die when I slept here earlier¡­ I can probably sleep here till morning right..? Yeah that¡¯ll be fine..


    Content with the encouragement I gave myself, I brush aside the dirt below me to create a comfy pocket, and quickly slip back into slumber.


    Spoiler: Status<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">


    Status Menu


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Name: Grover


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Age: 2 days


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Level: 6


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    XP: 328


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    XP to next level: 147


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Profession: N/A


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Seals: 1


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    HP: 20/20


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    SP 34/34


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Mana: 18/18


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    HP Regen: 5/day


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    SP Regen: 10/hour


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Mana Regen: 6/hour


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Strength - 4[+]


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Agility - 10[+]


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Constitution - 6[+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Wisdom - 10[+]


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Intelligence - 12[+]


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Charisma - 6[+]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Luck - 4


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Stat Points - 16


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">


    Skills:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Instincts (Chicken)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Chirp


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Peck


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Claw (Lvl: 4/10)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Mana Manipulation (Beginner) (Lvl: 2/10)(+1)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">


    Spells


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Mana Sight (Lvl: 1/10)


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">


    Titles:


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Spiritual Bulwark


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Survivor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 9. Eggsplorer

    Screeeeee!


    Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck


    I stumble over my own feet as the talons of the massive bird score lines down my back.


    <table>


    <tbody>


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    <td>


    -4 HP


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    The bird pulls ahead of me as it finishes its dive, and I quickly duck under an Ixagaef bush to buy some cover and time. As it circles around to dive at me again, I pull up my status and throw as much of my free points into agility as I can in about 2 seconds, before darting forward again, my wounds stinging as I run.


    This...is not how I saw my first official day with magic going. The morning started OK, nothing had found my hidey-hole despite how awful it was. I know I was tired last night, but it''s honestly a miracle I didn¡¯t wake up in something¡¯s stomach. My luck didn¡¯t last though, because I didn¡¯t even follow the river for 5 minutes before I heard-


    Screeeeeeeeeeee!


    Yeah, that. A dark shadow engulfs me, and I duck down without even thinking as the razor-sharp talons barely miss me, taking a few of my feathers in the process.


    This morning started so well too. I was healthy, well-rested, and I had just discovered I could do magic! Sorta anyway. One step out from under the tree I slept under and all the hot singles wanted to know my location. Lucky me.


    I cower down beneath the next bush for a few moments, then peek out from under the giant leaves. Coast looks clear. I¡¯d rather bunker down, but I don¡¯t see any good hiding spots. I lost the river as I ran, and now I¡¯m in a thinner part of the forest. I look around one more time before bolting to the nearest bush, about 10 feet away. It doesn¡¯t sound far thinking about it, but in my panic it felt like it took hours to cross that distance.


    So far so good, no sign of...whatever that was. I didn¡¯t get a very good look at it.


    I spend the next few minutes carefully darting between bushes, steadily making progress out of the area in short bursts of just a few feet, before I arrive in a clearing and make my first mistake. I got cocky, thinking maybe the bird might¡¯ve gone for some easier prey, and I decided in the interest of actually getting somewhere before nightfall, decided to cross the 30 feet from one edge of the clearing to the other in one burst instead of going the long way around the edge.


    Screee!


    Dammit! That was dumb. I knew that was dumb, fuck! I¡¯m already putting that extra little bit of agility to work, as I lose a few feathers instead of my head. As it passes overhead, I get my first decent look.


    I don¡¯t even know what to relate it to. Its body is long and lanky, reminding me of a monkey almost, but instead of arms, it has powerful wings that are many times longer than even it is. The feathers on its wings are black at the base, but fade into a vibrant green at their tips, and the beast¡¯s elongated legs are tipped with 3 talons each as large as I am tall.


    I...really wish I hadn¡¯t looked. I pour all my focus into just running, not even focusing on where I¡¯m going.


    ???! ??? ?? ??????????


    <table>


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    Reincarnator language set to: Aessiyan


    </td>


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    </tbody>


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    <table>


    <tbody>


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    <td>


    Congratulations!


    You have been granted the Aessiyan Language


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I dimly process that I heard a voice, and steer myself towards it. I burst into a clearing and try to process what¡¯s in front of me. A man on the other edge of the clearing. Hasn¡¯t noticed me. A woman, sitting by a fire. A bedroll. Promising, but too far. A sack, closer, open. Jackpot! I dive into the sack and pull the flap on top of me just in time.


    Screeee-This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    I hear the rasping sound of metal on cloth, followed by a wet thump as the bird¡¯s call gets cut off prematurely. I¡¯m cautiously optimistic that this means one problem has been dealt with, but I¡¯m now realizing I¡¯m in a complete stranger¡¯s camp, inside one of their bags. There''s not even anything in here I can use, just a few of some kind of purple fruit and a small knife. I strain my ears against the canvas as I hear the lilting voice of the man pick up.


    ¡°The hell? What do you think that was that about Kass?¡± The man states to his companion, who I assume is named Kass.


    I feel the sack I¡¯m in shift as the woman responds, an odd rasp to her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not certain, but I think it was chasing something. I saw a creature run by just before that thing attacked.¡±


    ¡°Should we be worried?¡±


    ¡°I doubt it. If it was running from a foulwing, it¡¯s probably not a threat¡±


    Well, that''s rude. I won''t complain if it means you won''t look for me, but be more considerate!


    The two fall silent after that, and the bag I¡¯m in starts moving shortly after. Yeah, I¡¯m not sticking around to find out if you¡¯re friendly towards chickens or not. Sorry about the party fowl leading that other bird brain to ya, but it doesn¡¯t seem like it caused you much trouble anyways. Thanks for the help!


    I poke my head out of the bag to prepare for my escape, and immediately collapse backward. Ohhhhh jeez. I am very high up, and they are moving very fast. Objectively I know I¡¯m probably only a few feet high, but when you¡¯re only about 8 inches tall yourself that''s really high up! I guess I¡¯m sticking around until they rest again...It¡¯ll probably be easier to slip away unnoticed once they¡¯re going to sleep anyways. With nothing else to do, I start pecking at one of the fruits. Nothing amazing, but certainly better than anything I''ve been eating.


    <hr>


    I startle awake as my noble steed slows down. I steel my nerves, and poke my head out to figure out what¡¯s going on.


    I may have misjudged what their plans are.


    Instead of a convenient clearing, or a small town, or anywhere that looks even remotely hospitable to campers, what I see before me is a large temple. The walls are made of a green stone, with statues set into gaps that curve inwards at regular intervals. This by itself wouldn¡¯t be so bad, but the spook factor goes up a few notches when you notice how several of the walls seem to have been knocked over by something very big, and the place is overrun with vegetation and creatures. Nobody has lived here in a long time, and my unwary companions are heading right for the front door.


    Spoiler:Status<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


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    Status Menu


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    Name: Grover


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    Age: 2 days


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    Race: Rooster (Juvenile)


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    Level: 6


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    XP: 328


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    XP to next level: 147


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    Profession: N/A


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    Seals: 1


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    HP: 18/20


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    SP 48/48


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    Mana: 18/18


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    HP Regen: 5/day


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    SP Regen: 10/hour


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    Mana Regen: 6/hour


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    Strength - 4[+]


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    Agility - 17[+](+7)


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    Constitution - 6[+]


    </td>


    </tr>


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    Wisdom - 10[+]


    </td>


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    Intelligence - 12[+]


    </td>


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    Charisma - 6[+]


    </td>


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    Luck - 4


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    Stat Points - 9(-7)


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    <td style="text-align: center">


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    Skills:


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    Instincts (Chicken)


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    <td style="text-align: center">


    Chirp


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    Peck


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    Basic Appraisal (Lvl:2/10)


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    Sneak (Lvl: 2/10)


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    Claw (Lvl: 4/10)


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    Mana Manipulation (Beginner) (Lvl: 1/10)


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    Spells


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    Mana Sight (Lvl: 1/10)


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    Titles:


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    Reincarnated


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Spiritual Bulwark


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    Survivor


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 10. Through Chick and Thin Part 1

    Kass POV:


    ¡°Once we go in, we won''t be able to leave without the relic powering the sanctuary''s defenses. Are you certain we should do this? Grandmother doesn¡¯t even know we¡¯ve left, Kass! We should simply wait for the hunters.¡± My brother Firram tries to plead his case once more as I walk towards the entrance to the collapsed sanctuary. I do not bother responding to him: He knows why I am here, and why we can¡¯t turn back. He was not invited to join me, and he must decide for himself now if he will continue on as he has or fall now to his cowardice.


    As I approach the doors, they slide open for me with a horrible grating noise that sets my teeth on edge. Vines and plant matter that had likely been resting there for decades shrieked in protest as it was ripped from its perch. A good sign. Perhaps the stories grandmother told us about the relics here are true. I can only hope for the best now, or my tribe shall perish.


    ¡°Kassakein, please! We found the sanctuary, we have done our duty. Let us return so the warriors may search it!¡±


    ¡°Hush, Firram! You know as well as I that Eswesh will be sending their armies within the week. It will take us days to return and report. We enter now or not at all.¡± I soften my voice as I continue ¡°Besides, it is a sanctuary, not a place of war. There shall be no need for the warriors to search, and this is the only way we could make it back to the tribe before the first wave of troops attacks. I have made my decision Fir, but perhaps you should return home. If I do not make it back, it is best if at least you do.¡±


    I look into Fir¡¯s eyes and see the fear in them get replaced with determination. His drooping ears stand up slightly as he gives me a nod.


    ¡°I understand. I shall return and prepare the tribe, but please, be safe¡±


    My only response is a nod to the affirmative as I step through the inky black doorway. The doors close behind me as I step forward, and I know they won¡¯t open from this side while the temple is still active. I pull out my torch and snap my fingers to produce a small spark to ignite it. The flickering light it provides reveals what was once the entrance hall to a temple, but time and the local fauna have caused the direct path forwards to have collapsed in on itself. Initially, I only see a door to my right but as I raise the torch to spread the light, a second door to my left partially covered by rotten wood makes itself known to me. The long way it is then. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    I circulate my mana so a thin string of it links to the ring on my finger, and an illusory image of the temple as seen from above appears before me outlined with threads of mana. I study the formation for a brief moment and decide to proceed left. I push the rotting wood barricade to the side, and pull the door open-


    ~~~~~~~~


    My danger sense skill alerts me to...something and without the time to think I toss my bag forwards and drop to my knees. My eyes widen as a crossbow bolt passes overhead, and I hear a soft thunk followed by a strange choked...squawk...? from the same area. This place shouldn¡¯t be trapped. Squatters maybe?


    ''Who goes there!" I demand of the room. "This is a holy place of my tribe, squatters are not permitted!" but I receive no response in return.


    I pick up my torch from where I dropped it and reignite it. With light returning to the room, I can see where attached to the door I opened is a small wire, which I trace to the far side of the room. An unloaded crossbow sits pointed at the door, the string still quivering slightly. I look around, but can¡¯t find the source of the sound I heard. More cautiously now, I bend over to pick up my bag and shove my scattered items back inside before proceeding forward.


    *****


    Grover POV:


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    -2 HP


    </td>


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    Owww¡­.


    I blink my eyes rapidly as I roll to a stop. You had fragile things in there lady, be more careful! As the thought of my unwary companion crosses my mind, I look around for her just in time to see a light passing through into the next room. I quickly stand up to chase after her, but before I can take so much as two steps I trip in the darkness. I whirl my head around to see what I tripped over and find myself face to face with another creature, hiding from the light. Oh. I suppose this is the ¡®squatter¡¯ she mentioned¡­ Fuck.