Chapter 6 of 10

Chapter 6

6 min read1,519 words

While being carried by Saya the bear, I suddenly realized something.

"By the way, Saya, I have a question."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I feel like bears are more suited for the 'Red Crowd,' so why did you choose the 'Gray Crowd'?"

"Oh, that. Well, in this game, my real-life friends and I decided to play together, and if there was a way to be in the same group, we wanted to be in the same one."

"I see. So you're playing with your real-life friends."

"Yeah, during character creation, we weren't sure if external communication would be possible, so we decided to choose the last option from the start."

"So that's why you chose the 'Gray Crowd.' It seems a bit of a waste."

"Maybe not. There are other character slots, so once the conditions are met, I can choose the 'Gray Crowd' for those slots."

"Ah, I see."

You mentioned there are second and third slots. You also said there's a meaning to having three slots. Does that mean more elements are unlocked as the slots increase...? Hmm, this is something that didn't exist in the offline version, so I'm completely clueless.

"...So, where are your real-life friends?"

"...It seems the starting points are scattered."

"You haven't joined up yet, then."

"That's right. I logged out once and contacted them, but we decided to act freely until we bump into each other. When I logged back in, I was knocked down by someone..."

"I'm really sorry about that!"

"Ah, it's fine."

So, there's a possibility that I'll bump into Saya's real-life friends eventually. What should I do when that happens? Well, I'll think about it when the time comes!

Still, it doesn't feel like I've met Saya for the first time. It's kind of fun! But, I attacked at a strange time. Oh, by the way, how much damage did I do when I knocked you down?"

"Speaking of which, how much damage did I do when I knocked you down? Could it be used as an attack?"

"...Well, Kei, you should read the help more carefully. There's no damage to players of the same group."

"Is that so? This game has benefits even if you die, so it's to prevent point farming within the group?"

"Probably. Also, you can only get points for the same content twice in a short period."

"Right. By the way, the help content seems to be quite important, doesn't it?"

I don't think everyone reads the help thoroughly. Yeah, I'm not making excuses!

The fact that I could get points for group formation twice is probably due to this limit. Well, if there were no limit, you could farm points endlessly.

"But I think knocking someone down is effective? Even though there was no damage due to the same group, the impact when I fell was quite significant. It's effective, but it lacks a decisive factor."

"Knocking someone down is all it does... So, if there were sharp stones at your feet, it might be effective...? I want earth magic."

"It's a subtle but nasty tactic."

"I think so too. Is there any skill I can get?"

"I'll check too."

Saya and I opened the skill acquisition list together. Probably not, but we can try. You can acquire skills by consuming various evolution points, but there were no available skills at this point.

What caught my attention was 'Proliferation,' which can be obtained with 10 Fusion Evolution Points. It's a new skill I haven't seen before, but since the offline version had skills like 'Breeding' for animal-type monsters and 'Division' for plant-type monsters, it might be a similar skill.

But 'Breeding' and 'Division' were skills that could be taken by young forms, so they might be completely different. Ah, I don't understand...

"Ah! There's one skill I can get! Let's take it!"

"What skill is it?"

"It's 'Claw Strike' for 3 Enhancement Evolution Points. I only had 'Swing' as an attack, so this is great!"

"'Claw Strike.' It's an attack skill that monsters with claws can get."

It's a very common attack skill in the offline version. It's a representative skill that monsters with claws should take first. It can evolve into different skills as you use it, making it a convenient attack skill.

"By the way, where did you get the Enhancement Evolution Points?"

"At the place with the general organisms. There's a stream ahead."

"Ah, a stream."

Bears and streams... I can imagine a scene where they knock fish out of the water... But, that's not possible, right? But there was such a point farming method in the offline version. It was difficult to catch the fish...

"Probably as you imagined?"

"Really!? You got points by catching fish from the stream!?"

"Really! The first fish gave 2 points, and the second gave 1 point, with a limit. There were more fish, though."

"...How am I supposed to hunt them as moss?"

"...Ah... Well, with determination?"

Saya, who had confidently led me to this point, realized a fatal problem and hung her head. A bear hanging its head is a surreal sight.

Well, the fish in the stream. Let's think of a way to use the skills I have now.

So, we finally arrived. It's the stream!

<Group number decreased by 231> Group number 153/500

Suddenly, the group number decreased drastically!? 'Group Formation' has an effect range. And if you leave the range, the number decreases. Well, it's good to know while in a safe state.

Regaining my composure, I observed the stream. Yes, it's shallow, and there are green cursors indicating fish. Should I try what I thought of just now?

"Saya, can you throw me into the stream with a pebble when I give the signal?"

"Oh, you have an idea?"

"Yeah. I don't know if it will work, but we won't know unless we try."

"Sure. Let's see how it goes."

The plan is this: I have a water absorption skill. I'll be thrown into a spot in the stream where the water flow is low, and I'll absorb the water to immobilize the fish. I don't need to defeat them; just weakening them will give me points! That's how it worked in the offline version!

"Alright, I'm counting on you!"

"Got it!"

Saya threw me into the water, and I dove in! Well, I was a bit nervous, but it seems to be okay underwater. I don't know how long it will last... Let's start the plan!

<Consumed 1 action point to activate 'Water Absorption Lv1'> Action points 9/10

Oh, the absorbed water is stored in the inventory. Is this a new feature in the online version? Alright, let's keep going!

<Consumed 1 action point to activate 'Water Absorption Lv1'> Action points 8/10

Hmm, I can't absorb as much water as I thought. Maybe the skill level is too low? What should I do, continue like this?

Hmm? A fish is approaching. Why is it poking me? ...Hey, what are you trying to do!?

<General organism, stream fish, has been eaten. Group number decreased by 3> Group number 150/500

Hey, wait a minute!? I can be eaten by fish! This is unexpected, so let's stop for now!

Let's use group internal movement to retreat... Wait, it doesn't work!? Maybe it only works if the group formation is within sight!?

<General organism, stream fish, has been eaten. Group number decreased by 3> Group number 147/500

Hey, hold on! How many group members are on this moss? About 10? If the core is eaten while it's here, what happens!? ...I kind of want to try it. Alright, let's try it.

<General organism, stream fish, has been eaten. Group number decreased by 3> Group number 144/500

Oh, this is lucky. The bonus works like this.

<General organism, stream fish, has been eaten. Group number decreased by 3> Group number 141/500

Ah, if the core is eaten and the group number remains, this happens. It was an unexpected turn of events, but there are many things to learn.

Oh, the perspective has changed. It seems I've been forcibly moved to the moss behind Saya, who is peering into the stream. It was a good idea to group up nearby beforehand. I didn't expect to be eaten by fish...

"Saya, the experiment is over."

"Wha!? Why are you behind me, Kei?"

"The plan failed, but I learned a lot."

"Hmm, what did you learn?"

Saya's eyes are full of curiosity, and I feel a bit intimidated. After all, she looks like a real bear. At first glance, it looks like a hungry beast has found its prey!?