Chapter 3

After completing the character creation, the dense forest spread out before my eyes as I was transferred. This area seems to be no different from the offline version, as it appears that the starting point is determined by the characteristics of each race.

＜You have received the Tutorial Quest for the race 'Koke'＞ - Start Tutorial - Skip Tutorial -

A window appears in my field of vision, asking whether I want to start the tutorial. Unlike other VR games, this game features not only monsters with limbs, so menu operations are performed through thought. This is no different from the offline version, and it is noted as a precaution, so there should be no problem.

Since it is recommended to do the tutorial, I select "Start" through thought control.

＜Starting the Tutorial Quest for the race 'Koke'＞

Oh, it's started. Alright, I need to remember the control methods properly.

＜Control Methods＞

Straight into the control methods, huh? Well, you could say this is the most important content. I have no idea how to move around.

＜The race 'Koke' cannot move individually in its initial state. Therefore, the initial skill 'Movement within the Colony' is used.＞

What!? I can't move!? And what's this 'Movement within the Colony'...?

＜The race 'Koke' has a unique skill called 'Colony Formation.' Let's try using it first. Open the status screen from the menu.＞

A unique skill, huh? Well, I'll just follow the instructions for now. I open the menu and select the status.

【Status】

Name: Kei

Race: Koke

Affiliation: Gray Colony

Level 1

Evolution Stage: Larval Form

Colony Count 1/500

Action Points 10/10

Attack 1

Defense 5

Agility 1

Knowledge 1

Dexterity 5

Weak!? And there's no HP!? What's this Colony Count!?

＜The race 'Koke' does not have HP. Instead, it has a colony. It will incorporate non-monsterized Koke and proliferate. Now, let's actually try 'Colony Formation.' Open the skill screen from the menu.＞

I don't really understand, but I'll follow the instructions for now. I open the skill screen.

【Skills】

【Unique Skills】

'Colony Formation Lv1' 'Movement within the Colony Lv1'

【Common Skills】

'Water Absorption Lv1' 'Slip Lv1' 'Photosynthesis Lv1'

【Special Skills】

'Mutation Rate Increase'

These are the only ones I have for now. Ah, 'Water Absorption' and 'Photosynthesis' are skills I've seen in the offline version. The effects might not be exactly the same, though. 'Slip' is new to me, but it seems to be an attack skill. Otherwise, it would be problematic.

The special skill 'Mutation Rate Increase' is also intriguing. This is a bonus from my affiliation. For other affiliations, it would be something like 'Attack Power Increase' or 'Defense Power Increase.'

＜Please select 'Colony Formation.'＞

Sure, 'Colony Formation.' Oh, something has appeared in my field of vision!? The color of the Koke within my field of vision has turned red. Is this it?

＜You can select Koke within your field of vision and incorporate them into your colony. The selected range will be highlighted in red. Do you want to execute 'Colony Formation'?＞

YES. Let's see what happens.

＜You will consume 1 Action Point to activate 'Colony Formation Lv1.'＞

＜Your Colony Count has increased by 300.＞

＜You have gained 2 Fusion Evolution Points.＞

Action Points 9/10

Colony Count 301/500

Fusion Evolution Points 2

Using skills consumes Action Points, just like in the offline version. I wonder how much it consumes. And the Colony Count has increased. The Fusion Evolution Points have also increased. I don't remember this from the offline version. Did they increase because of the fusion...?

＜The amount of Action Points consumed depends on the skill's level. As long as you have Action Points, you can perform continuous actions, but if you run out, you cannot activate skills. Action Points will recover over time.＞

I need to be mindful of my remaining Action Points. If I carelessly level up, it could lead to a bad situation. I'll be careful.

So, the effect of 'Colony Formation' is that it incorporates the Koke within the red range into my colony, increasing it by 300. The maximum I can incorporate is 500. I need to test how significant this is.

The color of the display has also changed. A sparkling effect is added to the normal display. The Koke with the effect is the one that has been incorporated into the colony.

＜Within the range of the colony, you can use 'Movement within the Colony' to move the core of the mental life form. The total number of the colony and the range of 'Movement within the Colony' vary depending on the level. If the colony count reaches 0, you cannot survive, and the mental life form will discard the body and move to 'Reincarnation Evolution.' Do you want to proceed with the 'Evolution' tutorial?＞

There was an 'Evolution' tutorial in the offline version, but it seems the specifications have changed. I'll listen to it. YES.

＜Starting the 'Evolution' tutorial. Please select 'Evolution' from the menu.＞

I follow the instructions and open the evolution screen.

【Evolution】

Enhancement Evolution Points 0P

Fusion Evolution Points 2P

Survival Evolution Points 0P

【Mutation Evolution】

No available evolution paths currently.

【Reincarnation Evolution】

No available evolution paths currently.

Affiliation Bonus: Increase in Survival Evolution Points, slight decrease in Enhancement Evolution Points, slight decrease in Fusion Evolution Points

So, there are three types of evolution points and two methods of evolution. In the offline version, they were all the same, but in the online version, they are more detailed.

＜'Mutation Evolution' occurs during life, and 'Reincarnation Evolution' occurs upon death, when the evolution conditions are met, consuming the respective evolution points. 'Enhancement Evolution Points' are gained by defeating or weakening enemies, 'Fusion Evolution Points' are gained by incorporating non-monsterized Koke, and 'Survival Evolution Points' are gained when you are near death or in a dire situation, depending on the situation.＞

Ah, that's why I got Fusion Evolution Points when I formed the colony. Maybe plant-type Koke are good for fusion? Would carnivorous monsters gain points by eating other carnivorous animals...?

For aggressive monsters, Enhancement Evolution Points would be easier to gain, and for weak monsters, Survival Evolution Points would be easier to gain, I guess.

Maybe I made a mistake by choosing the Gray Colony... I don't even know if Koke are easy to kill.

＜The possible evolution paths, the points required for each evolution, and the evolution conditions are for you to discover. The 'Evolution' tutorial ends here.＞

That's it. Of course, I won't be able to evolve right away.

＜Next, starting the Combat Tutorial for the race 'Koke.'＞

Oh, I've been waiting for this. The combat tutorial! I've already looked at the skill list and have some ideas, but with the initial skills...

＜The initial skill 'Water Absorption' absorbs water from the surroundings. 'Slip' makes the surface of the Koke extremely slippery. 'Photosynthesis' can heal the damage taken by the colony during the day.＞

Simple skill explanations. With the initial skills, that's about it. So, Koke are not aggressive but more of a trap-type race for defending territory. Well, it depends on the skills I get in the future...

＜New skills can be obtained through various means, such as evolution, consuming evolution points, performing specified actions, and as quest rewards. Please try to find many skills.＞

I see. I need to try various things. I'm getting interested in what I can do with Koke. Even if it's a unique type, it seems to be well-developed.

＜The tutorial ends here. For detailed information, refer to the help or verify it yourself. Enjoy your monster life.＞

Huh? The combat tutorial is just an explanation? I guess I have to try it out myself. First, I'll increase the colony count to the maximum. The movement range changes with it... Then, I'll experiment in real combat. There are probably other general creatures around, and I need to test the practicality of the Slip trap.

2018/8/25 Due to inappropriate content in the ongoing serialization, the text "Lv1 consumes 1, Lv2 consumes 2, and so on" and "by using items" has been removed.