Chapter 7

Saya approached, slightly excited. "Do you really want to know so much!?"

"So, how was it?"

"Well, well, calm down, Saya. You're making me a bit nervous with that look."

"That's rude! Isn't that what you signed up for in this game?"

"Well, yeah, but—"

Realistic battles between animals are a selling point of both the online and offline versions of the game. However, there's also a filter function for those who are squeamish or have specific animal phobias. But when real emotions are involved, the sense of presence increases more than expected. Yeah, I really felt it.

Unable to resist Saya's impatient gaze, I gave in. If a dog or a cat had looked at me with those eyes, I might have wanted to take them home as a pet. ...But it's a bear.

"Are you thinking something rude?"

"N-no, I'm not!"

"Hmm?"

Crap, her intuition is sharp! How did she read my emotions when I have no expression at all? ...Alright, let's change the subject.

"Anyway, did the experiment go well?"

"Let's just drop it. You said it failed, but what was the original plan?"

"Phew, thanks for letting it go. It seems you saw through my plan."

"I was going to use the initial skill 'Water Absorption' to dry up a shallow part of the river and weaken the fish."

"That's a strategy from the offline version! Using plant-type monsters to weaken regular plants! An application of that, huh?"

Indeed, this strategy is a modified version of the standard method for earning points in the early stages of the offline version with plant-type monsters. Yeah, I didn't come up with it from scratch.

"But it was a big failure."

"Huh? It didn't work? Why?"

"First, the 'Water Absorption' skill was too low level! At Lv1, it didn't reduce the river water at all!"

"Ah, that makes sense with the initial skill level..."

Yeah, I didn't completely overlook that possibility.

"But that's not the main issue. The problem was that I got eaten by fish!"

"...Huh? Oh, there are actually fish that eat algae? They're that realistic?"

"I don't know which fish eat which algae, but the fish here definitely eat me. I got eaten, so it's certain!"

"Ahaha, that's true."

Honestly, I never thought I'd get eaten by fish. The game developers wouldn't make algae an invincible monster that can't be defeated. But this is important information.

"But it's not all bad. Thanks to being eaten, I learned about the survival evolution points and the faction bonuses."

"Oh, that's good info!"

"When part of the colony is eaten, it's 1 point, and when the core is eaten, it's 3 points. The faction bonus increased the maximum number of times to gain survival evolution points from 2 to 3."

"Wow, that's great info! The increase in the maximum number of times is good! ...Wait, you said the core was eaten?"

"Yeah, I did."

"But the number of colony members in the PT list didn't go to zero, right?"

If it showed up in the PT list, then it's probably confirmed. Maybe forming a party was a good idea. I think I would have overlooked this if I played solo.

"That seems to be a drawback of being a colony. If the colony can't see each other, they can't move within the colony. And if they're too far apart, the colony dissolves."

"Quite a restriction. Is this permanent, or due to a level deficiency?"

"Probably a level deficiency. The movement distance changes with level, so I think the conditions will change as the level increases."

Otherwise, it would be problematic. The visibility range isn't that far.

"If it's a level deficiency, then we should level up normally?"

"Yeah. In the online version, skill levels increase through use and practice?"

"There's no mention of changes, so I think it's the same. We can do it while leveling up the main body?"

"Leveling up the colony itself can be done alone, but leveling up the main body seems impossible on my own, so I might need help."

"Alright, then it's decided!"

However, I don't want to be a parasite in a party. I now have 6 survival evolution points. Is there any skill I can get?

Let's check the skill list. ...Hmm? Oh, found a good one! This is a skill I used in the offline version.

'Mild Toxin Generation' - Required Points: 5 Survival Evolution Points

Generates a weak toxin and applies it to oneself. Touching an opponent has a chance to cause a mild toxin status effect. The power and success rate increase with level.

Mild Toxin: The toxicity is weak, and the continuous damage is low, but it causes fatigue and irregular weakness.

By activating this, I can cause a mild toxin just by touching. If someone steps on me without knowing I'm there, I can deal a small amount of poison damage, and the fatigue effect in a VR game is subtle but effective! Alright, I have enough points, so let's get it!

"Hey, Saya! I got a good skill!"

"Really? What is it?"

"'Mild Toxin Generation.' When I activate it, touching me has a chance to cause a mild toxin!"

"Ah, that's a common skill for plant-type monsters! It's troublesome because it causes fatigue and reduces concentration."

"Well, the success rate is low at low levels."

"That's true for any skill. Ah!"

Saya clapped her hands as if she had an idea and then gave an evil smile. Stop it, that's not funny with a bear's face!

"I had a good idea, Kei!"

"What did you think of?"

"Hehehe, I need a bit of preparation, but if it goes well, I'll tell you. So, can you move to the algae on another pebble?"

"...Sure, but I have a bad feeling..."

Despite the ominous atmosphere, I moved to the algae on another pebble as Saya requested. What is she planning?

"Make sure the skill works. Ready, go!"

"Whoa!? Hey, why are you winding up!? Wait, wait!?"

"Go for it!"

Saya's voice gradually faded away. ...In other words, I was thrown along with the pebble. Up into the air...

"Whoa!? Fast, fast, fast!? High, high, high!? Ah, it stopped. Now I'm falling!?"

Have you ever been thrown into the air? Have you ever fallen from the sky without a parachute? I am experiencing that right now. It's scary when it happens suddenly without any preparation!

The ground is approaching rapidly. I probably won't die, but I don't want to crash into the ground! Alright, the algae colony is in my field of vision! I'll move within the colony immediately!

"Huff, huff, huff, that was scary... Saya! What the heck was that!?"

"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I got carried away more than I thought?"

Hey, stop the bear's "hehe" face. It's creepy...

"So, what were you aiming for?"

"I thought I might get 'Throwing'?"

"What would you use 'Throwing' for with a bear?"

"That's to throw you, Kei!"

"...What?"

What is Saya thinking... No, wait a minute? Ah, I see. I understand Saya's plan. Indeed, if it works, it could be effective. In that case, 'Throwing' with its accuracy bonus is essential.

"I see, I understand your plan."

"Wow, you catch on fast!"

"Did you get 'Throwing'?"

"Yep, got it perfectly!"

Hehehe, I see, I see. This will complete our combo. While we don't know the full effect until we use it, it's not completely useless. Plus, this way, I won't just be a parasite.

Well, let's go find some prey and put it into practice!

Still, I wonder how long it will take to unlock the map... I think I've already moved enough to meet the unlock conditions in the offline version. Have the unlock conditions changed?