However, despite the initial embarrassment, Naib remains satisfied deep within.
It could be said that, although his physical strength didn't reach his desired expectations, the sensation of the elevation in his overall strength can't be denied!
With the basic sword style's intermediate mastery, he might even pose a significant threat to those within the mid-stage of the mortal realm.
"Killing them is even within my reach."
Nodding his head with satisfaction, Naib, with sweat pouring down his back, decided to go toward the stream tens of meters away from his current location, wanting to use the opportunity to remove the slight odor his body emanating when he had his breakthrough and also to clean himself up.
It's worth mentioning that in his 5 days of transmigrating in this place, Naib hadn't bothered cleaning himself even once.
It's not because he didn't have time, but instead, he's afraid to go outside — afraid of being preyed upon by a random beast that he will encounter — hence, throughout the span of days, he accumulated a lot of scent, especially the smell of earth and sweat throughout his body.
But now, with basic means to protect himself, the fear he had been experiencing in these past few days somewhat lessened... Heck, to the point that he even wanted to encounter a beast at the early stage of the mortal realm just to see the improvement he had made!
...
Splash!
Huff~
"How refreshing; the grime and sweat I've accumulated these few days finally wear off. Tsk, tsk, I never thought that taking a bath could be satisfying.'
Looking at his average appearance in the reflection of water — beholding the lean, yet becoming prominent muscles that unknowingly appear all over his body upon breaking through a certain limit of his skill and his black spirited eyes that were tainted with a bizarre aura that can't be explained — Naib's lips couldn't help but curl upward, feeling that he is slowly becoming handsome as time passes by.
Well, although it sounds a little bit narcissistic, his appearance indeed becomes more defined, especially when he is slowly gaining weight, slowly unfolding his ancestral genetics that came from who knows.
Moreover, he also remembered that the higher a person's realm was, the lower the impurities present within their body were, hence enhancing their appearance and attractiveness in the process... Giving them an aura akin to that of an immortal.
Of course, appearance isn't important to the current him; the only thing that matters to him right now is how he can complete the system quest and get out of this hellhole as soon as possible.
Splash~
"I'm already tired of the meat in my hideout; moreover, after a couple of days, they had already developed a strange aftertaste of decay upon consumption. Hayst, I should try and see if I can catch a fish today.'
Upon cleaning himself thoroughly, Naib then wears the tattered clothes he had tossed on the clearing beside the stream earlier.
Gripping his only weapon, Naib, with saliva flowing through the corner of his mouth, then started walking downstream, eyes glinting with a bizarre aura as he looked for aquatic animals to consume.
...
Ding!
[ Demon Cat Fish
Realm: Early Stage of the Mortal Realm
Bloodline: Average (mid)
Talent: Water Gun (Uncommon), Harden Skin (Common), Surface Illusion (Normal).
Life Span: 0.9/10
...
Overall Potential: 8.4
Luck: 8
Comprehension: 8
Physical Potential: 10
Talent: 9
Destiny: 7 ]
...
Sure enough, never been disappointed by the talent bestowed by the system...
Naib, after wandering for a couple of minutes, finally sighted a lifeform in the short distance.
In the corner of the stream where water unceasingly gushes, a small hole covered with mud and grass, seemingly serving as a way to mask the hole hidden beyond, appeared in Naib's retina...
Followed by sets of information that greatly disappointed him.
"Not bad, a fish with no future prospects; better to be my dinner than exist further."
"Wait, why do I suddenly sound like a jerk? Hmm, nevermind, my stomach is much more important than my thoughts right now.'
Shaking his head, removing the unnecessary thoughts swirling within his mind, Naib then gripped the rusty sword with his left hand before slowly approaching the location where the blob of notification appeared.
Then, after pinpointing the location of the beast with the help of potential seeing, Naib swiftly utilizes the newly upgraded skill of his. Directly fed 8% of his star force toward the sword in his hand before slashing it toward the muddy water with precise speed!
Slash!
In an instant, with a slash, followed by the faint sound of airwaves, the muddy water a meter away from Naib's location abruptly parted, unfolding the sight half a meter beneath, as the separated body of the catfish could be seen twitching with intensity despite missing half of its body.
Ding!
[ +2 fate points ]
Soon, seeing the familiar notification appear in front of him — a testament that the beast is finally dead — Naib can't help but unfold a haughty smile on his face, further fueling the courage within his being upon noticing how he can now easily slay an early-stage mortal realm beast.
Although aquatic-type beasts were generally weaker in terms of physical strength and defense compared to most of the land beasts, killing one with a single strike can be said to be quite impressive, especially when Naib is in the same realm; hence, he can't help but feel that he was some sort of genius.
At least, based on the predecessor's memory, he hadn't remembered or heard a similar situation unfold within the destroyed village; at most, those youngsters can only fight a beast at the same realm without falling into disadvantage.
"Success, I easily acquired my sustenance for today."
Deactivating the potential seeing eyes, Naib was about to take the dismembered corpse of the aquatic beast he had just slain when suddenly, not far away from him, a faint sound of water splashing abruptly entered his ears.
Then, followed by that, from out of nowhere, a silhouette of a fish flashed by in the corner of his eyes, only for it to vanish afterward, making Naib feel confused and uneasy at the same time.
"Huff~ I thought it would attack me. Sigh, how dangerous; I really can't relax even for a second."