The First King of Beasts

'I can't even see 5 feet away.' Dustin thought, as he turned his head in all directions.

At this moment, Dustin was at the highest point of disgust. He hated snakes, and now the very creatures he hated kept wrapping around his body and letting go, giving him a creeping feeling over and over again.

Dustin then used the snakes to push himself out of the river, and unto the surface. From above the river, one couldn't notice anything strange with the waters, but as soon as one descended, they would be welcomed by an entire battalion of snakes.

'Is this some kind of magic? The whole place looks so normal from above.' Dustin thought as he turned his gaze towards himself.

The snakes within the river were all normal sized snakes, just like on earth. To get out of the water, Dustin had actually used the snakes to form a sort of mountain beneath him. From his waist up remained exposed, while rest of his lower body was submerged in the mountain of snakes, a mountain that kept moving.

Just then, the huge snake from earlier that he had seen only in shadow swam passed where he was. At close distance, he could see just how monstrous the creature was. Because the entire radar map was covered in red, it was impossible to notice the dots individually, but that didn't mean he couldn't sense it.

'Didn't they say only low levelled beasts would be present? There's no way this monstrosity is an F rank beast.' Dustin said in his mind, as another thought protruded his mind.

What if he tamed this monster, it would be a huge boost to his army. But at the same time, it was a snake. Dustin was familiar with this kind of thing. There had been a few games where some powerful monsters and beasts get forcibly reduced from their original strength, just so it fit a particular scenario the producers wanted to play out.

If this was a similar thing that happened, then Dustin had just struck gold. 'Let's just hope the big ones are different.' Dustin said.

He was a bit hesitant, but he had made up his mind to do it, so he went through with it. Holding out his hand, he commanded the enormous monster to come out of the river so he could see it's head.

A moment later, a * bash! Sound was heard as the monster erupted from within the river, head first. After showing it's head, Dustin became even more amazed at his luck. If he wasn't mistaking, what he was looking at, at the moment was a sea serpent.

It was easily 4 metres wide, and its height was a little above 4 metres. It's body was covered in scales, and it's head had a complex look that made it look like a huge crown had been fixed into it's face, as two horns protruded atop both sides of the monster's crown like exhibition. As for it's length, Dustin couldn't tell it's end.

"Fuck.. Tame."

..

[Sea Serpent]

Rank: E+

Favourability: Mid

Hp: 300

Mp: 150

[Skill tab]

Passive: Lightweight (E), Streamlined (E), Water Loving (E)

Active: Water Manipulation (E), Serpent's Domain (E)

..

"Such a cruel world. Merely looking at the skills, I can tell this guy wasn't originally an E rank monsters. It' skills have also been reduced to E rank." Seeing this, Dustin couldn't help but confirm his theory.

'These gods are really strong enough to tamper with reality. Doesn't this mean they can always reset my growth even if I become strong? There has to be another way.'

If a god was observing Dustin and heard what he was saying, they would probably be shocked to no end. It had barely been a month since they were brought to this other world, but look how far he was thinking. How he came up with this thought completely unknown. Such an existence like Dustin would only grow to become another Kratos in the eyes of the gods. Good thing the gods are unable to interfare with the events in Na'ash.

"Let me look at these skills."

..

[Lightweight]

Rank: E

A skill possessed by weak creatures with big bodies. Reduces the weight of the body, making it easier to move. Grants slight increase to overall speed, but doesn't increase strength.

[Streamlined]

Rank: E

Reduces the friction felt when moving through fluid. Allows one to enjoy swimming like a fish, or diving like a bird without altering their physic. Increases movement speed by 5%.

[Water Loving]

Rank: E

Possessed mostly by aquatic creatures, it grants a 5% boost in all stats when in water, and a 5% reduction in all stat when not in water.

[Water Manipulation]

Rank: E

Able to manipulate water and all fluids to a certain degree, in simple and crude ways.

[Serpent's Domain]

Rank: E

Create a domain where you can summon low level snakes, and also gain 2% boost to attack and defence for you and your summons.

..

"If these skills weren't numbed, I can imagine how frustrating it would be to fight this guy. Most definitely a raid boss, not for solo players. That is of course, unless you are me. Can't wait till I tame stronger monsters!" Dustin grinned widely, as a storm of evil laughter coursed through his mind.

*Cracks throat

"Let's focus first. There's no way you won't be able to rank up." Dustin said while looking at the sea serpent. Since they were connected, they could share series of complex emotions, which in turn made communication possible. Dustin also had no way of knowing if the monster was male or female, so he had been referring to it by default as a male. "What's your gender?"

From his understanding of the serpent, he was able to tell that it was male. 'Phew, I wasn't wrong.'

"System, I don't see any indication that the serpent will be able to rank up. Can't it?"

.. 'When it is time for it to increase in rank, you will be notified. Until then however, any such description will be left.'

"System."

.. 'Yes.'

"Is this a new development?"

.. 'Yes.'

"For how long will you keep updating!? Who is the incompetent person that programmed you! What are you anyway?"

.. '...'

Dustin had slipped in the question this time, hoping for an answer, but he never expected too much anyway. At least it only remained silent this time. This was a good development according to Dustin's instincts.

"I should get going. I've spent almost a hour here, let's move out!" Dustin said.

The serpent lowered its head as it submerged the rest of its body underwater, leaving just enough space above its head like a floating platform, enough for Dustin to leap unto with no effort. As the snake turned with him to face the direction opposite where he came from, and towards the red marker, the uncountable snakes that roamed the river gradually disappeared, almost as if they liquefied and turned to water.

"So that was the Serpent's Domain skill. Terrifying, even for me. This only points out the need for an AOE skill."

.

.

.

"When am I going to reach level 100 and unlock my ultimate Title?"