"Writer's note from Rednek: This work has been translated into English, so there may be some typos. Sorry for any mistakes, I hope you enjoy the story."
"— Raillers are all the monsters that, for some reason, end up descending floors. These monsters unbalance the world they invade, becoming the top of the food chain."
The teacher's voice echoed through the school auditorium. Melina took notes seriously, while her classmates whispered to each other. The memory shifted...
"— They say there are eight Earths, and every three floors it's possible to meet humans from other lands… Is that true, Melina?"
She laughed at her friend's question.
Then why has no one ever come back with proof?
Melina woke up.
Her body ached. Her right arm was bandaged with pieces of her own clothes, and the left side of her abdomen throbbed with a constant pain. Broken ribs made breathing heavy. She was lying on something that looked like a nest. Dry branches, tangled roots, and feathers… huge feathers.
Where am I…?
She tried to get up, leaning on her good arm. She felt dizzy. Looking around, she saw a sky with two suns—one bigger than the other—and the heat was suffocating.
— This must be… Atreus — she murmured, convinced, yet uncertain. — I need to go back…
The idea of finding a descent portal comforted her. According to the theory, even if the group had gone up, there should still be ways to return. She walked. Wandered for hours, the sun slowly circling above twisted trees with red leaves. No sign of a portal. No sign of humans.
Hunger grew. Her stomach had been growling since the day before, and her dry mouth made her tongue sticky. In the distance, she saw something move. As she approached, she realized it was a larva the size of a frog, crawling in the shadow of a rock.
— Finally… food. — She murmured, activating her ability: — Evaluate.
[Read Error]
The level difference prevents complete evaluation.
— Even an insect is stronger than me? — she shouted, frustrated. — That's not fair!
Without thinking, she stomped on the creature with all the strength she could muster. Disgusted, she grabbed part of the soft body and swallowed it quickly, trying not to vomit.
[You gained +1 Experience Point]
[Skill Acquired: Mana Gain from Eating Plants - Level 1]
Description: For every 1kg of plant consumed, 1 mana point is restored.
Her eyes widened.
— What…? I gain skills from killing and eating…?
She thought for a moment. I've always eaten vegetables, fruits, meat. I've never gained anything. So maybe…
— I need to kill to gain…
With that thought, she started hunting more larvae. She found a nest with several, and within a few hours, she had crushed and devoured dozens.
[Skill Evolved: Mana Gain from Eating Plants → Mana Eater]
New Description: For every 200g of plant consumed, 80% of total mana is restored.
[Skill Evolved: Evaluate → Advanced Evaluation Unlocked]
Now it is possible to determine the target's subcategory.
Evaluate
Crawling Insect
Type: Common — Low Level
Melina collapsed into a sitting position, exhausted, but smiling. She was leveling up. Slowly, but she was.
Later, while searching for more larvae, she heard something crawling. A red centipede, over two meters long, slithered out from the shadows. Its eyes glowed, and a black goo dripped from its fangs.
Melina swallowed hard. She approached cautiously and activated her skill.
Scarlet Centipede
Type: Common — Mid Level
— Common mid-tier, huh… I can do it… if I think it through.
The creature charged. Melina dodged to the side, grabbed a rock, and aimed at its eye. She missed but hit the side of its jaw. The centipede shrieked with a high-pitched sound.
She ran, weaving between twisted trunks, forcing the beast to follow. She knew she wouldn't win by strength. She had to use her head.
There… she saw a root stuck on a high rock. She climbed with difficulty. When the centipede tried to follow, she jumped and used her body's weight to pull the root at its base, dropping rocks on the monster's body.
The impact cracked part of its shell.
She grabbed a sharp branch and stabbed it into the exposed spot. The creature thrashed. Hot slime splashed on Melina's face. She screamed, but kept pressing, driving the branch deeper until she heard a sharp crack.
[You gained +18 Experience Points]
Gasping, lying on her back, Melina looked up at the sky. The two suns seemed to mock her pain… but she smiled.
— I… survived.
With her hands covered in blood and goo, she approached the centipede's body.
— It's this… or die.
Then, with disgust and determination, she took the first bite.
[Skill Acquired: Accelerated Digestion - Level 1]
Description: Reduces side effects from consuming unknown creatures. Improves ability absorption when devouring.
In the distance, something watched from the trees.
Something… that wasn't a centipede.