BXBX NOVEL Chapter 4: New skills
Chapter 4: New skills
"Oh, look at those show-offs zipping around like they own the place," Ben grumbled, observing his siblings with a mixture of envy and determination. "Well, if they can do it, so can I!"
He closely studied their movements and wing flaps, attempting to mimic them. Awkwardly hopping around, he tried to find the right rhythm. But no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn\'t get the hang of it.
"Well, close enough. Let\'s focus on finding a blood source for now," he decided, flying erratically and narrowly, avoiding collisions with the surrounding trees.
"I seem to be in some sort of forest or something, and it\'s night-time. There is next to no chance that I will even find a human here. In other words, I will have to go for animals.," he thought, scanning the area until he heard cheering sounds coming from somewhere nearby.
"By the way, system. I was just wondering, from when did male mosquitoes start drinking blood?" Ben asked, looking at his mouth, where two fangs were present instead of needles that mosquitos usually have.
?{I would like to remind you host that you are a mutant mosquito in a magical world. So try not to apply your previous world logic in it}?
"Ya, right..."
Within a minute of flying and searching, Ben spotted an open area where people dressed in metallic amor wandered around a campfire.
"Wait, are they humans inside the jungle? Oh, soldiers are camping out in the jungle. That\'s my key" he thought, rubbing his mosquito hands together before heading towards his targets.
After a few minutes of planning and consideration, Ben decided to sneak behind a human and find the perfect moment to launch his attack.
However, every time Ben approached a potential victim, they swiftly swatted him away with a flick of their hand, leaving him buzzing in frustration. "Come on, people! I\'m just a little mosquito trying to save the universe here! Can\'t you spare a drop of blood?"
Undeterred, he resolved to find a more vulnerable target. He followed the scent of freshly baked cookies, leading him to a backyard barbecue party.
"There\'s no way they can resist the irresistible combo of barbecue and blood," Ben thought, rubbing his tiny mosquito hands together.
He landed on a juicy-looking steak, ready to feast, when suddenly, a woman with lightning-fast reflexes swatted him away, narrowly evading his proboscis. "Not today, mosquito!"
Ben flew off, nursing his bruised ego. "Okay, note to self: steer clear of angry barbecue ladies with impeccable reflexes. Lesson learned."
Ben skulked about looking for more blood, but forgot about getting a sip—he was barely even avoiding the hands that were clapping on his tiny little life.
"I must be the unluckiest mosquito in the universe. This is like a comedy of errors, and I\'m the punchline," Ben lamented, rubbing his mosquito temples.
After numerous failed attempts, Ben decided to approach things differently. He flew a bit farther from the campfire and stumbled upon a rowdy group of partygoers clinking glasses and having a grand old time.
"Ah, a party! This is my chance!" Ben exclaimed, rubbing his tiny mosquito hands together with anticipation.
He stealthily made his way to the bar counter, eyeing the colorful cocktails and alcoholic beverages. "I guess mosquitoes aren\'t too choosy about the source of their blood, right?"
With a mischievous grin, Ben plunged into the most inebriated human, his proboscis poised for action. He took a deep sip, or rather, a deep slurp, and savored the taste of the rich, velvety liquid.
╬═?Quest Update?═╬
[Drink blood (0.05 or 0.20 mL)]
"Hmm, not bad! It\'s like a mosquito wine-tasting experience. I can already imagine the reviews: \'A delicate blend of human hemoglobin with hints of oak and desperation\'," Ben chuckled to himself, feeling rather proud of his unorthodox approach.
Throughout the night, he continued his escapades, buzzing from one glass to another, sampling various beverages. Each sip brought him closer to completing the quest and saving the universe, one drop of blood at a time.
╬═?Quest Update?═╬
[Drink blood (0.15/0.20 ml)]
As the clock ticked away, Ben realized he was cutting it close. He needed just a little more blood to reach the target. That\'s when he spotted a slumbering individual dozing off in a secluded corner booth, seemingly undisturbed by the lively atmosphere.
"Perfect!" Ben exclaimed, buzzing over to the unsuspecting sleeper. With the precision of a bloodsucking ninja, he delicately landed on their arm and took his final sip, completing the quest.
╬═?Quest Update?═╬
[Drink blood (0.20/0.20 ml) completed]
[Rewards: instant level-up]
"Mission accomplished! I did it!" Ben cheered, pumping his tiny mosquito fists in the air. "Who knew being a mosquito could be so fulfilling?"
Suddenly, the glitchy screen appeared once again, this time displaying his updated status.
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Mutant mosquito
Evolution: 0 Level: 2
Exp: 0/5
Strength: 0.1 (+0.2)
Agility: 0.2 (+0.2)
Stamina: 0.1 (+0.2)
Level-up reward: 1 free stat point
Active skill: Mosquito\'s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz) [NEW]
Passive skill: Blood Tracker (Enhanced ability to detect blood sources) [NEW]
Ben couldn\'t help but feel a sense of accomplishment, despite the bizarre circumstances. He had taken his first step towards becoming the unlikely hero the universe needed, one tiny sip at a time.
"What the hell? Active skill? Passive skill? and evolution? "Am I playing an RPG game or something? " Ben asked, flying spirally in disbelief.
?{Host! The system is designed based on the previous methods of the host to find the most convenient way to become stronger.}?
"Soka!!"
"That explains why the system looks like the MMORPG games I used to play back in my world," Ben exclaimed, clapping his front two mosquito legs.
"Well, if that\'s the case, it means I can complete quests or kill monsters to gain experience points and level up into a stronger mosquito. Am I in the right system?"
?{Yes host. You can complete the daily quest or kill other living beings to level up yourself. [By leveling up, you can constantly increase a significant amount of your agility, stamina, or strength.}?
?{Also, if you level up constantly, you can reach a certain requirement to evolve into a better body.}?
"Oh! That sounds quite easy. But what about active and passive skills?" Ben asked, rubbing his mosquito temples while sitting on a tree leaf nearby.
?{Well, active skills are special abilities that you can use actively during your adventures.}?
?{For example, your \'Mosquito\'s Buzz\' skill allows you to confuse enemies with an annoying buzz. It can be quite handy when you need to distract or disorient your foes.}?
Ben grinned, buzzing his wings in excitement. "Hehehehehe... it\'s the kind of skill I can imagine a mosquito will possess."