Chapter Text
The last thing that I remembered was sitting in my Classical Literature class as a bright flash of white before the pain completely overtook my senses, and I blacked out; even though I am conscious, the only thing I see is black. Reaching my arm out, I feel something hard, but that isn't the only thing I noticed. I can't feel my finger. No, it is less like I can't feel them and more like I don't have any. Though since my vision is completely blackened, I can't tell. Plus, my arm feels different. As if they are structured differently. Sensing my rising anxiety, I decided it would probably be best to get out of the container. Unfortunately, that led to me acting without putting that much thought into it, so I slammed my head against it. Why hitting my head against whatever that thing is, was the first thing I thought of doing. I have no idea. At least I didn't until I saw my arms. Or at least what I thought were my arms, but it would be more accurate to call them wings. After all, that is what they appear to be. It didn't take me long to find out that the rest of my body is a bird, as well. If I were to guess, I would say that I am around the size of an adult eagle, but without any point of reference, I can't tell how accurate my guess is. Also, my feathers are a bright red, though I look more like a fledgling than a fully grown bird.
Many thoughts quickly filled my head as I stared dumbly at my 'body'. I was so distracted that I didn't notice the fireball soaring straight at me until I felt the impact of it hitting me. Strangely it didn't feel too hot to me, nor did it seem to do any damage either. However, the force of the impact did cause me to flop down on the ground.
Since I am not used to my current body, it took me a while to get back up before I turned to face the source of the fireball.
Towering over me is a red seahorse with an orange underbelly and limbs. About half of its fins are some shade of blue, the same with its snout. Need I also mention that it is currently on land, and while I am not 100% certain, I am sure that seahorses can't survive on land. I also noticed that said seahorse was trying to crush me with its body. Luckily my instincts took over, and I managed to fly to the right, dodging its attempt at squishing me and causing it to just crash into the ground instead, which is surprising since I have never once flown in my life. However, I quickly put those thoughts aside as my instinct-guided body flew in to attack the downed seahorse. Diving down, I swiped at the spot where I thought it would be weakest, namely the back of its head. I could hear its pained whining as my talons successively clawed the back of its head.
Crack
Unfortunately, I was thinking about human skeletons while aiming my strike, so when it did hit, I felt something sturdy, most likely a bone, block my strike. Going by the cracking sound, then I must have done some damage.
Now that I am looking at it, it doesn't appear to be moving at all. Did I damage the nerves that allows it to move its body? I know that I damaged the bone, but I doubt I could cause that much damage. Then again, I doubt that it would just lay there while I'm flying around.
Mhm, what should I do? I mean, it did attack me first; it would be just self-defense. And besides, even if I do leave it here, I do not doubt that something else would kill it as soon as it spots it. Plus, I doubt that having one's neck snapped would be painless, so it would probably be better if I just put it out of its misery. Sorry, but you reap what you sow.
And with that, I stopped flying right above its head. Letting my momentum do its work, I land on top of the seahorse's head with a splat.
<Experience has reached the required level. Individual Phoenix Fenikkusu Umarekawari has increased from Level 1 to Level 2.>
<Experience has reached the required level. Individual Phoenix Fenikkusu Umarekawari has increased from Level 2 to Level 3.>
What? However, I did not get any time to think about it, as my body began to glow and my feathers began to molt.
<All basic attributes have increased.>
<Skill proficiency level-up bonus acquired.>
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Fly LV1] has become [Fly LV2].>
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Concentration LV1] has become [Concentration LV2].>
<Skill Points Acquired.>
It took a while till my mind could sort through the information dump. First off, let's start with the skills. According to the voice, it said that [Concentration], [Fly], and [Phoenix] are all level two. I'm guessing that unique species can get a skill based on said species. After all, I doubt that it would say that I have a [Phoenix] skill while putting the word phoenix before my name. And I'm going to guess that I got the [Concentration] skill while I was distracted with my 'body'. Speaking of skills, considering my habit of spacing out, I should probably get some that allow me to sense danger or others' presence. As well as a skill that will let me see how strong any opponents that I come across are.
<Number of Skill Points Currently in Possession: 37,000. Skill Points required to acquire Skills [Presence Perception LV 1], [Danger Perception LV1], and [Appraisal LV 1]: 750. Acquire Skills?>
Yes.
<[Presence Perception LV1], [Danger Perception LV1], and [Appraisal LV1] Acquired. Remaining Skill Points: 36,250.>
Hopefully, I won't get ambushed with these skills, but I better be careful anyways. After all, they are still level one, might as well see what [Appraisal] can do. Let's start with the seahorse.
<Corpse>
Uhm, okay, I knew that it wouldn't be good since it is at level one, but come on. Welp, no use beating a dead horse. Plus, it might be better when used on a living thing, right? I am not very hopeful but might as well see.
<Bird Fenikkusu Umarekawari>
Hopefully, it will get better at a higher level. Hypothetically speaking, if [Appraisal] does get better at a higher level, I will need something else to serve as a substitute until it does. Let's see here; if I remember correctly, I also got the skills [Presence Perception] and [Danger Pereception]. While [Presence Perception] probably would not work as a substitute, [Danger Perception] is another story. After all, if the name of the skill implies what it does, I am willing to bet that all it does is raise my ability to perceive danger. Meaning that while it would let me sense an attack that isn't in my vision, it would also probably allow me to feel how dangerous a creature is, which should help me gauge its strength. It probably won't give me as much info as a high-level [Appraisal], but it should be good enough as a substitute.
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Acquired Skill [Prediction LV1].>
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Concentration LV2] has become [Concentration LV3].>
Just as the voice finished talking, I heard a growling sound. At first, I thought it was a monster of some kind till I noticed that there isn't anything close enough to have caused it unless they have a skill that can hide them from my [Presence Perception]. Considering how low my [Presence Perception] skill is, that could have been the case.
However, that wouldn't explain the hunger that I am just noticing. It makes sense as I have only hatched and participated in a tiny skirmish. So, it would make sense if I am hungry. However, there is only one thing in the general area that I can eat, welp, no use being picky. If I had to pick between eating that or possibly starving for eternity, then I would eat it. It was easy to rip off some of the seahorse's flesh with my beak. Considering that birds don't have any teeth, I immediately swallow it. Hmm, while the flavor could use some work, the texture is just awful. Honestly, it feels like I am eating a tire. Maybe it is because my body is a bird, but I feel like I am eating this a lot easier than I would have when I was a human.
Somehow, I managed to eat the seahorse, that's several times bigger than me, down to the bones. And without any more distractions, I finally took a look around me. Only to be shocked at what I see. Hell. That is the only word I can use to describe it. Around me is a bunch of rocks and lakes of magma. If I were to say I believe there is about as much magma as there is land. Honestly, I wouldn't be too surprised if I was in the middle of a volcano.
What?! Am I in hell? I mean I wouldn’t say that I was the greatest person alive but I doubt that I did anything worthy of being sent to hell. And besides if I am in hell, then why am I a phoenix? I mean, wouldn’t I still have a human form despite being a ghost?
Hmm, know that I think about it I don’t have any known offensive skills. Should I see if I can get one. I mean really the only thing that I can do is fly around and either peck or scratch. Not a lot of versatility and it is always good to have a trump card just in case. So, voice any suggestions?
… Nothing huh, well let's think here what would be a good skill to get? Since I already have some close ranged attacks, it would probably be a good idea to get some ranged ones. Maybe a magic skill. And considering what I am I would bet that I have a high affinity with fire magic, but would that even work? After all I am in a place filled with magma so I doubt fire would do much to them. Hmm, maybe wind magic then.
<Number of Skill Points Currently in Possession: 36,250. Skill Points required to acquire Skill [Wind Magic LV 1]: 300. Acquire Skills?>
Why not.
<[Wind Magic LV1] Acquired. Remaining Skill Points: 35,950.>
Now let's see here. How do I use this? Actually, can I even use it? After all there was a skill for flying so it wouldn’t be too surprising if there was a skill for using magic.
<Number of Skill Points Currently in Possession: 35,950. Skill Points required to acquire Skills [Magic Power Perception LV 1] and [Magic Power Operation LV 1]: 750. Acquire Skills?>
So, there are skills for using magic. And yes, of course I am going to get the skills required to use magic.
<[Magic Power Perception LV1] and [Magic Power Operation LV1] Acquired. Remaining Skill Points: 35,200.>
As soon as I acquired the skills, I could feel a sudden and faint breeze, like a light gust of wind had come. Could that be magic power? If it is then I should be able to use wind magic now! But what should I use it on? Well, if I were to guess then I am underground so maybe the walls? Once I was facing the wall, I closed my eyes and focused. Trying to focus on the faint traces of magical power that I can pick up, then I imagine the magic power infuse itself with the air before condensing it into a sphere right in front of me. Finally, I imagine a ball of condensed air shooting forward.
Hearing a loud crash, I open my eyes, I looked at the wall to see a hole that I could probably fit my entire head in. I could feel my excitement rising but it made since after all I just performed magic. However, that was to exhausting. My body feels so sluggish while I feel like I am about to faint. As much as I would like to just take a nap, I can’t since I am in the open with a bunch of monsters that won’t think twice about attacking me. But where would I find... oh that could work.
Closing my eyes, I try to make another ball of condensed air however this one is a bit bigger than the last one. I imagine it going straight into the hole that I just made. Now then voice are there any stealth skills.
<Number of Skill Points Currently in Possession: 35,200. Skill Points required to acquire Skill [Stealth LV 1]: 300. Acquire Skill?>
Yesh
<[Stealth LV1] Acquired. Remaining Skill Points: 34,900.>
Making certain that [Stealth] is active I crawled into the enlarged hole. Luckily it is big enough to fit my body, as I doubt that I could fire another air bullet. As soon as I relaxed my body, my consciousness drifted away.