112 The Metalized Monsters

Communicating with humans is difficult, isn't it?

Even online text exchanges are hard for me.

I’m probably at the lowest level when it comes to social skills.

Ku… I never thought I’d face such a high wall just to reach a good meal!

Still, no need to panic yet.

Talking about aiming for Arachne is still far off.

It won’t matter until I break through the middle tier first.

After eating the fire dragon, I consumed three eels.

Even after evolution, the eel tasted better.

Is this actually regression?

The quantity was too high—my Overeating stock capped out.

I thought 1,000 was the maximum, but apparently it can store up to 1,100.

Capacity increased with evolution.

Now I’m overstocked with SP, so I’m simultaneously activating Qi Combat Technique and Dragon Power, consuming stamina.

Dragon power consumes MP as well, but if MP isn't consumed, it accumulates indefinitely. This balance is optimal.

At the same time, the magic specialist is increasing proficiency in spatial magic.

A green line moves back and forth.

But the level still will not increase.

A spell that consumed five hundred skill points, and growth is slightly slower as a result.

Compared to other magic, the proficiency required for level advancement was significantly higher.

Well, it's accumulating gradually, so I expect it will level up eventually.

Skill points. Deciding which skill to take next. A brief hesitation.

If it's a skill obtainable at level 100, then I'd still prefer the one I haven't taken yet—the cursed eye ability. But if I save a bit longer, there might still be another skill left.

The skills associated with the remaining Seven Deadly Sins' names.

This one feels like it’s broken—just like Pride. I’d really like to take it, but even the lowest-pointed one, Sloth, requires 1,000 points.

Saving up that much will be tough.

Also, I thought Gluttony might’ve been an evolution path earlier, but it’s just… gone.

All the other Seven Deadly Sins’ names are present. Strange.

There are also some virtues—seven in total, I think.

I’m not too familiar with those, but they’re the counterparts to the Seven Deadly Sins, right?

A few of them appear.

But again, only six exist.

Is there a pattern to the missing ones?

Another thing I’m curious about is the Hero skill.

It doesn’t have the cryptic text like the Seven Deadly Sins skills, but it’s clearly high-tier.

Still, even if I’m curious, it requires 15,000 skill points—absurdly high.

Then there’s the Demon King skill as well.

Similar to the hero, but with 5,000 skill points and priced lower than the hero.

Would be better to take this one, but I’d likely receive the title of Demon Lord the moment I do.

A skill point would make this a fairly high-performance ability—worth acquiring as a narrative device, though I’d still want it.

Perhaps it would be safest to take the higher-tier Eye of Evil here.

Several high-tier entities cannot be defeated even with 100 points of Eye of Evil.

Not quite a broken skill, but obtainable with minimal effort—better to take that option instead.

Thus, to acquire skill points, experience gain through defeating monsters is required.

But there have been no monsters at all since just now.

The band led by the fire dragon was annihilated. Yet, despite having moved a considerable distance from that site, no monsters remained.

No, she is here.

Staying hidden within the magma and refusing to come out.

The system detects evasion and concealment attempts instantly.

So why are they fleeing and hiding so desperately? Because they’re running from me.

The cause is likely the title bestowed upon me—Fear Incarnate.

And pressure, of course.

These two effects trigger panic in monsters, driving them to flee.

Their escape speed is comparable to that of the metallic enemy from a certain popular RPG.

They bolt the moment they detect my presence.

Even those hiding—some even acquiring stealth skills mid-escape—refuse to stay concealed.

I want to ask how desperate they really are.

With such consistent evasion, proper hunting becomes impossible.

And unlike that metallic enemy, defeating them yields no significant experience gain.

My current level is fifteen.

I’ve finally surpassed level ten.

Zoa Eire was an upper-tier species. I’d known surpassing level ten was inevitable once I saw the next evolution requirements.

Reaching beyond level ten—yes, that truly marks a significant shift into upper-tier status.

Judging solely by magic-based stats, I now feel capable enough to hold my own even in lower tiers.

My stats have actually reached the level of certain segments of the Earth Dragon Kaguna.

Wait?

When did I become this strong?

Huh. Just realized now.

That’s right—when I last assessed the Earth Dragon Kaguna, I only successfully identified HP and similar metrics. Wasn’t its total around three thousand?

If it’s just magic stats, could I actually compete?

Seriously?

Am I really capable of fighting the Earth Dragon?

No.

Calm down.

It’s the Earth Dragon we’re talking about.

Must be a misjudgment on my part.

Yeah, yeah.

Only the magic stats have caught up.

Hmm. So I’ve actually grown this strong, have I?

Of course the monsters would flee.

Anyone would run from someone that strong, radiating oppression and fear.

I’d run too.

Ah, that was about me.

But this is problematic.

I can’t level up like this.

What should I do?