Looking at the status window with newfound curiosity, I forgot about the tense situation that I was in and started reading the text.
'Looks like I got to level 16. Must have been from all the training and food that I've eaten, considering that over a month has passed that seems about right.'
For normal people it would take a few weeks to just level up once, and she had done it multiple times. She had also missed the fact that three of her skills were ready to level up as well, but because of her negligence she only found out now.
Who knew how much progress she could have made if she had done it sooner.
Scrolling through the information, I eyed some of the new skills that I had gotten and was a bit disappointed that the only useful one was stealth.
'Ugh seriously? I got cooking. Well actually, I do kinda cook soooooooo..'
Thinking to myself with a small grin, I decided to use my skill points to upgrade the ones that were available. As I did this I felt a small shift in my body, like I was getting stronger right now.
Wanting to feel that again, I dumped all of my stat points into strength and felt it rise higher than my looks during puberty back on earth.
[Level 16]
[Status: Healthy]
Exp:145/400
Name:Kristen
Race:Astral Raven
Beast cores: 1
Evolution: Criteria not met
Lineage: Ares Zodiac
Martial Arts:None
Divine Abilities: Astral Gaze
Star Energy: 25
[Stats]
HEALTH:105/105
STRENGTH: 105
STAMINA:84/100
TOUGHNESS:40
[Titles]
Kin killer - Extra 10% damage when attacking family
Star Eater - Gain the option to choose the star evolution path
Flock - Gain 30% boost on all stats when with allies of your own race
[Skills]
Advanced Stab:lvl 1
Sharp Claws:lvl 1
Aerial Flexibility: lvl 1
Stealth:lvl 3
Cooking:lvl 1
Confidence:lvl 2
Pain adaptation:lvl 2
Appraisal:lvl 4
[Skill Points:3]
[Stat Points:0]
'HAHAHAHAAAA! HELL YESSSSSS!!!'
The excitement of the boost quickly faded and soon I was forced to face the reality that me and my friends might die in this creepy forest.
'Ohhohoh NO! NOT HERE.'
A serious expression took over my face as I checked on the condition of the other two birds.
'Its been an hour and a bit since they first got affected and it looks like almost nothing has changed. I ain't waiting that long so its time to try something new.'
Quick and decisive, I grabbed both of the birds by their legs and used my newfound strength to take into the air like a total badass. Rising into the night sky at a fast pace I soon reached the desired height and exhausted my stamina taking them out of the forest.
But before I could even see the edge however I heard movement below and barely managed to swerve to the side before a massive, slimy, purple tentacle shot out from the canopy.
'WHAD THE FUCK?!
WHO OR WHAT IN THE EVERLOVING HELL WAS THAT.'
Horrified from the close encounter, I spied down and saw that only a sticky black slime remained. Heart beating like a hammer in my chest I tightened my grip on Lucia and Olivia and spent my strength flying as fast as I could so as to reach the border of the forest faster.
'Holy crap how freaking big is this thing? It didn't look that big when we were flying to the ocean, but then again I was about to die from the exertion so I don't know.'
Thinking back on it with a funny expression splayed on my face I shook the thought out of my head, the rustling coming back from behind me and gave me some motive to keep going.
I shot through the air like a bullet and for what seemed like forever (it was less than five minutes) until I finally saw the edges of the forest.
'Thank you, whoever's there'
Sending a a silent message of gratitude to the guardian angel who must've been looking down on me I put on a burst of speed and made it out of that nightmare which I had called a forest.
'Now I'm remembering why I stopped going out alone. This is it.'
The fresh air hit my face like a soft pillow, relaxing my insides and calming my mind. Once I finally got a hold of my nerves I remembered that I was currently holding two people and set them down onto the top of a small clearing.
I winced as they flopped around the floor, hitting a few rocks on the way.
Landing just beside them, I took a minute to rest my body before checking up on them. I tried to open their eyes and realised that they were completely unconscious.
'Shit. I hope they're not dead.'
With worry in my eyes, I quickly scouted the area and found no dangers. The wind kicked up from under me as I made my way back to Lucia and Olivia.
As I touched down beside them I saw that a bit of movement was happening, just a tiny bit, but it was enough for her to notice.
'Phew.'
My stamina bar in the corner of my vision blinked angrily.
STAMINA:12/100
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I muttered hoarsely.
Lucia lay on her side, feathers dulled, the faint pearlescent shimmer almost completely gone. Olivia was sprawled half on her back, one wing bent awkwardly beneath her.
Two hours went by like a flash as I fretted and busied myself with random things like preening, inspecting and hunting.
While waiting around for the two to wake up a faint groan escaped Olivia.
Her eyes fluttered weakly.
"…Why," she rasped, "does it feel like I was dragged through hell and back?"
I froze.
Then my entire body sagged in relief.
"You're alive!" I practically yelled.
"Lower your voice."
Olivia winced, then asked quietly. "…What happened?"