When it comes to what changed in my Status, the thing that stands out most is that my Skill Points have shot up like crazy.
They should've only been increasing by 20 per level, but they've jumped by 280 since the last time I checked.
Even if I account for 60 of that from leveling up three times, where did the other 220 come from?
Do you get a bonus when you evolve?
If so, that explains why my Skill Point calculations never added up before.
Well, no complaints if I'm getting more. I've got 500 now, so maybe I'll find some decent Skills to buy.
I'll take a careful look at the list of available Skills later.
Right now, there's something else that's caught my attention.
I first noticed it while peeling the eel's scales — the shape of my body has changed slightly.
The two front legs that used to end in sharp claw-like points now have a thin, scythe-like shape.
And these scythes are ridiculously sharp.
Remember how I struggled so much with scale-peeling when I was a snake? This time it was over in a flash.
I couldn't cut through the scales themselves, but the space between the scales and the skin sliced through like butter.
Is this because my attack power went up, or because these scythes are just that sharp?
My body color has changed too.
I was already kind of dark before, but now I'm completely black.
A black that absorbs every trace of light.
Black. Just pure, pitch black!
I can't check my whole body since I don't have a mirror, but I think those are the biggest changes.
My size doesn't feel like it's changed much either.
Still, I'm probably just unaware of the finer details — there are probably all sorts of small changes I haven't noticed.
Up until now, I'd always been the same Taratect species, so even after evolving, my appearance never changed at all.
But this time, my species actually changed.
If I could compare them side by side, I'm sure there are differences all over.
Times like this really make me wish I had a mirror.
I can't even check what I look like now.
Well, based on how I feel when I move, I haven't noticed any awkwardness or anything.
The overall structure of my parts doesn't seem to have changed that drastically, so I should be able to move around just like before.
I mean, I wasn't even paying attention to physical changes before I evolved.
Honestly, I'm kind of relieved nothing changed too much.
But these scythes — they really are something else.
Like, I feel like if I got into a fighting stance, I'd hear a metallic shing sound effect.
Actually, thinking about it, these scythes scream "Death Reaper" imagery, don't they?
The description mentioned something about being a symbol of misfortune, and I've got Corrosion Attack now, so yeah, that tracks.
My ninja style isn't going anywhere, but if I keep pushing it, I might end up with more of a Death Reaper aesthetic.
Let me check out the Skills that leveled up.
Brute Force and Toughness going up is great.
That means my growth modifiers have improved again.
My Status has gotten a lot stronger, but compared to the eel-level enemies around here, I'm still way behind.
The others that leveled up are Poison Synthesis, Poison Magic, and Shadow Magic.
I can't use magic anyway, so that doesn't matter, but let me check what Poison Synthesis added.
『Attribute Infliction "Paralysis": Adds a paralysis attribute』
Wha—?!
Th-th-this is—!?
I might have just gotten my hands on something absolutely insane!
Poison Synthesis, which has been absolutely carrying me ever since I reached the Middle Layer, has undergone yet another evolution!
Wow.
I have to test this immediately.
So I tried adding the paralysis attribute to my Spider Deadly Poison.
I'll have to wait for the next opportunity to properly test just how effective it is.
Oh wait, Spider Deadly Poison kills most opponents instantly anyway.
Better add the paralysis attribute to the weak poison too. Yeah, that works.
Next time I run into something, I'll hit it with this paralysis-infused weak poison first.
Ah, I'm so excited!
Oh, I should also Appraise the stuff that got added to Shadow Magic and Poison Magic.
『Poison Resistance Enhancement: Temporarily increases poison resistance』
Huh.
A magic that boosts your own Poison Resistance.
Totally useless for me.
Besides, doesn't anyone who uses poison already have high Poison Resistance?
Is there really any point to this spell?
Either way, I can't use it, so it doesn't matter.
Oh, wait though?
Couldn't you theoretically cast this on your allies?
If your whole party used this magic against a poison-using enemy, that alone would swing the fight in your favor.
Ah.
I've been solo for so long that I never even thought about that.
In that case, it's actually a perfectly usable spell.
Depending on the opponent, this could even be a trump card.
I see, I see.
Well, either way, it has nothing to do with me!
Hm?
Wait, hold on a second?
Can I really not use magic?
My Parallel Thinking and Arithmetic Processing have both leveled up quite a bit.
Could I maybe use Detection now?
...
It's been a while, so why not give it a shot?
Su. Ha.
Alright!
Detection on!
Gwah!!
Nnnngh!!
《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Arithmetic Processing LV7』has become『Arithmetic Processing LV8』》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Parallel Thinking LV5』has become『Parallel Thinking LV6』》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Detection LV6』has become『Detection LV7』》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Heretic Resistance LV3』has become『Heretic Resistance LV4』》 Off!
Phew.
That was rough.
But I can endure it better than before.
I'm still at my absolute limit just trying to hold on, but at least I've made one step forward.
Guess my approach wasn't wrong after all.
I still can't use it properly, but maybe there's a glimmer of hope now?
I've updated my Activity Report with a Q&A section.