Chapter 18: Interrogating Gramps

    A notification had occurred while I slept; my [Sub-Core] had been diligently working throughout the night. I noticed I felt a little less refreshed this morning and a bit sluggish. I rushed to pull up my status menu.

    Mana: Draining

    ''Okay, that definitely doesn''t sound good... Let''s stop the reinforcement for now and let my mana regenerate.''

    I set my [Sub-Core] back to doing tendril curls, stored away my newly created water, and left my home - ready for a new day. Despite the ominous-sounding status, I could still use my mana, so it wasn''t completely empty yet, although I''d refrain from touching it until it regenerated.

    The pond was very tranquil today, and all I did was do a little fishing and then some more target practice at the bugs for the entire morning. I kept checking my status, but it wasn''t until early afternoon that it finally changed.

    Mana: Ebbing

    I was relieved that it didn''t take too long to recover and that it was only a degree worse than when I went overboard with my training the first time I unlocked mana.

    ''[Mana Circulation] increases my regeneration, but I wonder if there is another trait to further increase it or maybe one to work on my capacity.''

    Obviously, I asked for an explanation of the trait.

    Mana Reserve is increased scaling with trait level.

    In addition, a minor mana regeneration effect is added based on total mana capacity.

    Once again, any trait Gramps recommended to me always sounded amazing. The small bonus to mana regeneration on top only sweetened the deal, as it would grow for free with my mana capacity. I had to add this to my shopping list, which I now realized was empty.

    ''I really should explore this helper function more, make a list of traits I want, and stop grabbing traits in the heat of combat. My gut feeling tells me I won''t have this help for much longer...''

    I moved away from the pond, then positioned myself to sit safely on a tree branch and set my primary core to join in doing tendril curls with my two remaining [Pseudopods]. I then started asking leading questions, hoping to get some juicy traits to target.

    I crossed off quite a few easy traits, asking questions about general improvements such as [Enhanced Strength] and found out about the following: [Enhanced Willpower], [Enhanced Intellect], [Enhanced Vitality], [Enhanced Dexterity], [Enhanced Stamina], [Enhanced Charisma]. Dexterity and Stamina were incompatible with my race, requiring a body or some nonsense like Strength, but Vitality was allowed - which I assumed would make my core harder to kill.

    Compatible with other slime traits.

    It sounded useful but not something I''d grab urgently, although I could probably imitate the frog''s tongue by making a super sticky tendril. I could also probably use this to climb any surface by increasing my adhesion or slide around by reducing it - that last one sounded like a fun way to travel. Interestingly, this trait also did not have multiple trait levels, giving me the full effect upfront.

    While pondering my next line of questioning, I noticed a wolf approaching the pond. Since I had seen nothing but deer lately, I was eager to try using my [Mana Reinforcement]. I dropped to the ground and started to sneak towards the wolf.

    My mana flowed into a tendril and then grabbed it from behind while it drank from the pond, lifting it high up into the air. I was surprised by how light it felt, and it tried to squirm and struggle out of my grasp, but the dense mana-strengthened slime was far beyond it. It let out a howl moments before my slimy rapier mana edition, which I had just created, stabbed into its neck.

    ''Again, I''m shocked at how good mana is... Seriously, I wish I had this ages ago.''

    I devoured the wolf except for the fangs and claws, which I stored away, and then trekked to my home. Reaching my familiar tree, I perched up on its branch and resumed trying to find more traits. Midway through my random questioning, trying to dig out a trait, I was interrupted by a notification.

    I was very happy about the improvement of this vital resource, and perhaps I could even leave on reinforcement now without it draining so fast, which reminded me to check my status.

    Mana: Flooding

    Near the end, I was struggling to think of questions to justify Gramps giving me an answer, and the final one I got before bed came from the stray thought of seeing better at night.

    Enhances vision to perceive in conditions with either little or no light.

    Vision distance is 20% per trait level.

    This could be useful if I decided to become nocturnal or move underground. Also, the description made it sound like it would only have five trait levels, further answering my old question.

    Before sleep, I set my [Sub-Core] to use [Mana Reinforcement]; I had big hopes to overcome its consumption with passive regeneration.

    ''Goodnight Gramps, thanks for all the answers.''