Chapter 9

The next goal is to acquire an attack skill that can be used solo! However, I couldn't find any common creatures.

Since just throwing me around wasn't a good idea, I was searching on foot, but I couldn't find any at all.

"Can't find them, huh?"

"Yeah... Why can't I find any?"

"Because I'm a bear?"

"Ah, that makes sense."

Of course they would run away... The deer herd I found earlier was outside of Saya's detection range, so I approached them quietly, but generally, prey animals would detect and run away quickly...

"What should we do?"

"It would be great if we had a skill to hide our presence, but can we get one?"

"Hmm, there is something similar, but I don't have enough points. Kei, do you have any useful skills or ways to earn points?"

"I don't have enough points either, so we need to level up to earn points. What should we do?"

"Huh? Did you think of something?"

Ah, I might have a good idea, or rather, a realization! That's right, moss is moss. Even though we talked about it being a special species, there should be a classification for it. Moss is a plant, so it should be classified as a plant-type monster! I can't believe I overlooked this, even though I used a similar method by the river...

"Hey, Saya, do you know how to strengthen plant-type monsters in the early stages?"

"Sure, I know, but why... Oh, moss is a plant-type monster too!?"

"Exactly, so this time, I want to try something more direct. The river water was too difficult."

"Right, the method you used by the river was an advanced version of this, but it failed. I forgot about the moss because it was so impactful."

"Ugh, failure is a fact, so it's hard to argue. Anyway, I'll give it a try."

"Got it. I'll watch."

In the offline version, there was a standard method to strengthen plant-type monsters. Early-stage plant-type monsters can't move, so they earn points by draining the necessary amount of water from nearby trees, causing them to wither. The standard approach is to acquire the species-specific movement skill as soon as possible.

As the number of withered plants decreases, the next step is to extend parts of the plant's body or move the entire body, and then absorb water from the river. However, it was too early to use advanced methods.

However, this method only works for plant-type monsters. Animal-type monsters can't earn points by withering ordinary plants. Moss should be a plant, so it should work, but I need to try it to be sure. So, I'll give it a try.

The target is a tree covered in moss. Normally, it would absorb water from the ground, but that doesn't seem possible with moss. So, I'll try to adapt it to moss.

<Consumed 1 action point to activate 'Colonization Lv1'> Action Points 10/11

First, I'll colonize the moss covering the tree. Next, this one!

<Consumed 1 action point to activate 'Water Absorption Lv1'> Action Points 9/11

<The absorbed sap is stored in the inventory. 1 sap obtained>

...Huh? The result was different from what I expected. I got some sap? Well, that's fine. It's proof that I can absorb water from the tree! One more time!

<Consumed 1 action point to activate 'Water Absorption Lv1'> Action Points 8/11

<The absorbed sap is stored in the inventory. 1 sap obtained>

Yeah, the same result. One more time!

...After repeating this until my action points were exhausted, I obtained 10 saps, but I didn't earn any points, and the tree didn't wither. Why did this happen?

Was it because the water absorption skill was too low? Or is moss different from ordinary plant-type monsters? Or has the system changed?

"It didn't wither, so it's a failure?"

"Seems like it. But I did get some sap."

"Sap? That didn't exist in the offline version. What is it used for?"

"I don't know. But sap is eaten by insects and used as a raw material for natural resins. We also got deer leather, so maybe there are production-type monsters in the online version?"

"Or maybe it's a strengthening item?"

"Strengthening item?"

Saya's casual words gave me a strange feeling. I have no memory of strengthening items, but do they exist?

"Huh, you don't know? Oh, maybe it's because Kei is moss?"

"What do you mean?"

"In my case, bears have a hunger level. I get enhancement evolution points once a day when I eat and when I'm full. The food items are labeled as strengthening items."

"Really? That's unfair! Species discrimination is the opposite!"

What? That's so enviable!? Food items have such effects!? That means there's a good possibility that insect-type monsters have strengthening items...

"But Kei, you got fusion evolution points from colonization, right? I think each species has its own unique point-earning actions, and they reset daily."

"Right, I did get points. They reset daily?"

"Check the help section for species-specific items. Only your species' information is unlocked, so I can't see Kei's."

"Seriously!? The help section has a lot of important information..."

Following Saya's advice, I checked the species-specific section in the help. Wow, there are a lot of items in the help section! Species-specific, species-specific... Ah, here it is.

What does it say? Moss's unique action bonus: Using colonization and reaching the maximum number of colonies. Each action grants 2 fusion evolution points. Points earned from actions with limits reset daily, but they can be increased or decreased by affiliation bonuses.

...Wait, what?

"Points can be increased or decreased by affiliation bonuses!?"

"Hehe, Kei, you too..."

"So, Saya too!? This system is a trap, isn't it?"

"Since they can be increased or decreased, if they align, they can increase more."

"Should we focus on one evolution point or earn them broadly?"

"Still not sure which is better in the end."

The service has only been running for a few hours. It's not fun if you figure it out so early, but I feel like I drew a bad card. But, fish eat me, so I get survival evolution points as a bonus, which I can earn quite a bit. Maybe that's a good thing?

...I'll try to see what happens when all my colonies are eaten by fish when I'm solo. I also have something I want to try by the river.

"Wait, we're completely off-topic!"

"It's because Kei didn't read the help section properly."

"Well, it's a lot of information. Saya, you read the help section thoroughly?"

"Species-specific information was released beforehand, right?"

"..."

"..."

"You didn't know?"

"..."

So, the help section was released beforehand. Yeah, I just found out. Sorry, I don't usually read manuals or explanations beyond basic operations. Since I played the offline version, I assumed the basic operations would be the same, so I didn't even check!

"Well, it's in the past. Anyway, I think the sap might be a species-specific strengthening item for insect-type monsters."

"We can't know for sure without an insect-type monster."

"By the way, does the deer meat Kei has show as a strengthening item?"

"Hmm? Let me check."

To confirm what Saya asked, I opened the inventory list. River water, deer meat... Here it is. Detailed display... Hmm?

"It doesn't show as a strengthening item."

"Maybe it only shows as a strengthening item for those who can use it. It shows for me."

"Really? The display changes so much by species."

"They're really particular about these things. Even in the offline version, the game was different by species."

"Right."

"So, what should we do next?"

"..."

We couldn't find any prey, and the experiment had strange results, so it wasn't a success. While failure can be a learning experience in this game, it's demotivating when the goal keeps failing.

"Alright, let's give up on searching on foot and go back to throwing stones for detection!"

"Throwing stones for detection, that's a straightforward name."

"Clarity is key for these things."

"You're right. Let's go!"

Since I couldn't think of a better plan, I decided to unlock a successful method! I need to increase my evolution points and learn new skills. I can't do more until I have more options!

And I was thrown into the sky again, focusing on finding common creatures.