There are countless entrances to the dungeons below us. Even a small country will have hundreds of them. And with the abundance of unique resources that they offer cities towns and even villages will be built around the entrance. Of course, this all depends on the size of the entrance and what lives there.

Cities, for example, are built around entrances large enough to fit a small army inside standing side by side. Or allow a large high tier monster to emerge. Because of this, there will be a defense that fits the scale of the danger. Cities usually have their monster subjugation corps keep a small army of thousands on hand at the entrance at all times. Towns will have a large militia of hundreds ready for battle. Villages, however, will only have a few dozen strong militia to guard the entrance. All this is in accordance with the scale of danger the dungeon entrance poses to the populace.

-Excerpt from the monster encyclopedia written by Xander freerider

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On my way back to the dryad's territory I caught a couple more fanged frogs. Why? Because it's the start of me paying rent of course! They will be watching over me while I level up and I'd rather start getting on their good side with these frogs. That and Its, my way of apologizing to them for my outburst when I insulted them.

I'm not sure why but strangely enough ever since I ended up in this world, I've been more emotional, and my mind has become rather easily distracted. It's a bit concerning since it could lead to me dying one of these over a stupid reason like calling a tree firewood. Perhaps something happened to my mind during the process of having my soul/mind/memories/fluctlight whatever you wanted to all it transported to a new body in an entirely new world. It would make sense. After all, it's the transference of your entire ego. It would be rather shocking if there were no side effects.

It took me several times longer to get back to the dryad's grove when I was carrying the three fanged frogs. They struggled the entire way and while they were weak when you had to concentrate on walking and holding all three of them with the roots you usually used as feet it gets a bit complicated. Another thing I'm surprised about. Why was it only this hard? I use over half a dozen roots to walk and have countless other smaller roots branching off from those ones.

And yet I'm able to walk rather naturally without having to adjust to my new limbs. The mysteries that's been happening to me are numerous and confusing. Not to mention the ones that surround me. But now the time for my inner musings on this world is over for the day. At least until I level up but first its time for giving my prize to the dryads and level up.

When I walked into the grove there was a visible reaction as several of the tree's branches shook briefly. I suppose they still have some reluctance towards being hospitable towards a prideful flower such as myself. Amelia, however, responded much kindlier as she…. Wait did she actually just wave to me with a branch? Seriously are they really trees with how they can bend those branches of theirs?

{Back so soon? I see you have brought several of the fanged frogs. Pesky things they are always eating the seedlings.}

{Yeah, I'm back Amelia. I brought these frogs as the first serving of my… "rent" to you guys. I'm going to be leveling up soon so I can't continue my hunting.}

{You're already leveling up? What level are you?} A high pitched (No idea how this pheromone communication told me the pitch of voices… Must be an advanced skill) asked me. It was a birch tree who spoke this time.

{Level 2. I'll be level 3 after this.}

{Your level is that low? Since you had the intelligence to talk to us in comprehensible language, I assumed you were at least level 10.} The birch tree exclaimed in surprise.

{Whys that?} I had an idea why she (I'm pretty sure it's a she since she sounds like one and dryads in fantasy are usually female) was surprised but I wanted to know anyways just in case there was something I didn't know about.

{Usually, cave roses only speck into their physical capabilities and their thorns. Only a few ever-put points into their intelligence and that's at least level 10 at the very earliest. That's why it is surprising that your so intelligent despite being such a low level.} Amelia intervened explaining it to me.

{I see. Well, here you go. I'm going to go level up now.} I replied while offering the frogs to the dryads. Amelia's branches stretched over and snatched up the three fanged frogs who promptly croaked in fear at the sight of such a massive tree grabbing them. Sorry, little fellas, it's you or me. And I'd prefer staying alive. With that, I went near the mushroom circle before planting my roots to keep myself up and opened my stat page. Before reading over what I had I glanced at the mushroom circle one last time. Amelia said that there were fairies there, but it really didn't look like there were any. Maybe she's only pulling my roots. Best get back to leveling up I suppose.

[Level: 2 -> 3

XP: 23/20

Species: Monster cave rose

Perks: Messy eater

Intelligence: 47

Will: 15

Strength: 10

Toughness: 6

Agility: 5

Perception: 8

Endurance: 15

Charisma: 7

HP: 20/20

MP: 18/18]

[10 stat points available for use. 23 additional stat points available for usage. 5 points of HP will be added to your health pool.]

Yes! 33 stat points all for my usage! I'll put 3 points into my intelligence so that way next time I get 35 points. As for the rest of the points that will take some thinking. I should probably put 10 points into agility and then 10 into toughness. That way I can fix my glass cannon problem. Become I don't know a dirt cannon? Next, I'll put 10 points into perception. Being able to spot my enemies before they spot me is very appealing. It'll give me the ability to use some ambush tactics more often.

[Skill points and mutation points detected. The system advises using them now before evolution.]

Well… The system isn't wrong about the idea of using the stat points now. Wait. Perhaps if I do it now right before my level up, I'll be able to sleep through the pain!? Yes! Bring up my stats! I shall defeat you pain and uncomfortable tingly feeling!

[Current skills: Universal plant language (Common) level 2; Thorny defense (Common) level 1; Photosynthesis (Common) level 1; basic mana sense (Uncommon) level 3; Stealth (Common) level 2; Climbing (Common) level 2; drowsy pollen (Common) level 3; Feather fall (Common) level 1; Tunnel sense (Common) level 1

Available skills: No skills available. Complete requirements to unlock skills.

Available skill points: 6

Current mutations: Petals level 1; Stem level 1; Thorns level 1; leaf level 1; thorny teeth level 1; Enhanced root strength level 1; Toxic thorns (Common weak) level 1; Serrated thorns (Common) level 1

Available mutations: Thorn vines (Uncommon)

Available mutation points: 4]

Huh…. No skills? How do I unlock them if I don't even know what the requirements are!? Jeez, this system was poorly designed. Whatever. I still have goodies to upgrade first. I'll level up photosynthesis to level three. The physical buff it gives when in the presence of sunlight really is handy and with the bonus, it gives me my enhanced physical capabilities will possibly be enough to take on more powerful prey.

Now that I did my skills lets do mutation goodies. At least this one had a mutation but what's thorn vines? Maybe I get some vines with thorns covering them? That would be nice. Let's get it and upgrade it to level 2. Then I can go ahead and test it when done with my lev- GAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

WHAT THE FUCKING HELL ALFRED!?! I'M ON FIIIIIREE! MY PLAN! WHY ISN'T IT WORKING!? YOU CHEATED ME AGAIN YOU BASTARD SYSTEM! SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP NOT HURT!

The burn was greater than before as every bit of my body felt like it was being incinerated from the inside out. The pain was most intense in my petals and leaves. Not only that my mind had that pins and needle feeling once again. This time though it was like the disturb meter was ranked up from 4 all the way to 11. Was this a punishment for trying to skirt my way around this process by using the level up? No idea but It hurt like hell!

YOU ARE THE WORST SYSTEM EVER!

After that one last pained mental screaming my awareness began to fade until my mind sunk into the deep abyss lurking in my head.