A month had passed.
For someone who had just been transported to this world, the changes over this month could be described as earth-shattering.
I pulled up the system panel and looked at the data displayed.
[Cheek Pouch Squirrel] [Gray]
[Level 8/10]
[Experience: 63/100]
[HP: 80/80]
[MP: 40/40]
[Strength: 7]
[Defense: 4]
[Speed: 12]
[Luck: 10]
[A small magic beast that generates space with its cheek pouches, non-threatening, agile movements, highly alert]
[Traits: Cheek Pouch Space, High Sensitivity]
[Skills: Leap (Proficient), Bite (Proficient)]
Recalling this month's experiences, I couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
During these days, Brownie and I had established a cooperative relationship. We agreed to meet near the rotting wood pile every day to search for Stone Beetles together.
With Brownie helping keep watch, I was indeed much safer and could focus more on finding prey.
Like this, we'd meet at a fixed time every day, searching for Stone Beetles around the rotting wood pile. Occasionally, we could also find some Glowbugs on nearby trees.
Brownie really liked those glowing little insects. I also discovered that after eating the bugs, a warm current seemed to flow through my body, feeling more comfortable than eating ordinary food, and my magic power recovery speed would also increase.
Besides regular hunting, I'd also spent a lot of time exploring other areas of the forest.
I'd discovered several new fruit trees, noting their locations and the approximate ripening times of their fruit.
I'd seen a swarm of Poison Stinger Wasps nesting in a hollow tree. That dense cluster of wasps made my scalp tingle, and I'd given it a wide berth from far away.
I'd encountered a Steel-Bristle Boar. That guy was massive—just standing there drinking water by the stream, it emanated an oppressive presence. I'd hidden in a tree to observe it. The system showed it was level 25, completely beyond what I could provoke right now.
I'd also watched a Wind-Feather Sparrow hunt a Thorn-Tail Rabbit on the ground. That speed was astonishing—it completed the dive and capture almost instantly. The Thorn-Tail Rabbit didn't even have a chance to escape.
Once, I'd spotted an Iron-Claw Bear from afar. That enormous size—just the "thud thud" sound of its footsteps made my heart race. The system showed level 30+. That terrifying aura made me immediately turn and run without even daring to observe it for another second.
Gradually, I gained a clearer understanding of the magic beast distribution in this forest.
The forest edge, which was the area where I currently operated, was mainly populated by lower-level small magic beasts. Stone Beetles, Tree Sprite Mice, Thorn-Tail Rabbits, and the occasionally appearing Vine Serpents and Wind-Feather Sparrows.
Going deeper into the forest, where the trees were taller and the light more dim, the magic beasts' levels clearly increased. Medium to large magic beasts like Steel-Bristle Boars and Iron-Claw Bears frequently appeared there.
The deepest part of the forest was perpetually shrouded in mist. I'd never gotten close to that place. Just looking from afar, I could feel an inexplicable sense of oppression, as if something terrifying was watching me.
"There's definitely something very dangerous there..." I made a mental note to absolutely never approach it.
Besides exploration and hunting, I'd also spent a lot of time practicing my skills.
After returning to my tree hollow each day, I'd practice Leap and Bite over and over until my magic power was depleted and I was completely exhausted.
Gradually, I found myself using the skills more and more smoothly. The distance of Leap became farther, and the landing point more precise. The power of Bite noticeably increased—bark that previously needed several bites to pierce could now be bitten through with deep marks in one go.
Moreover, the magic power consumed was slowly decreasing, and the fatigue after using skills wasn't as strong anymore.
I'd also conducted various experiments with my Cheek Pouch Space.
Initially, I'd only used it to store food—fruits, Stone Beetle meat, and the occasional Glowbug I caught.
The space's capacity didn't seem to have changed much, still only able to fit about five or six fruits.
One day, I had a sudden inspiration and tried putting a live Glowbug inside.
To my surprise, the bug didn't die in the space. It was still glowing and seemed to be in good condition.
After a few minutes, I released it. The bug flew around groggily for a few circles, then flew away.
"So I can store living things..." This discovery excited me.
I caught several more bugs to experiment and found they could stay in the space for about half an hour at most. Beyond that time, they'd start becoming weak, and staying longer might kill them.
"The space isn't stable enough yet..." I thought to myself.
I'd also spent some time renovating my tree hollow.
I'd collected more soft moss to spread on the ground and gathered some dry grass and leaves to make a simple "bed." Though crude, lying on it was indeed more comfortable than before.
At the hollow's entrance, I'd woven a simple barrier from branches and leaves, making it harder to spot from outside that someone lived here. I'd also found several hidden small holes near the hollow to store extra food, just in case.
Gradually, this tree hollow had truly become my "home."
The day I reached level 5 was worth commemorating.
That morning, I'd just finished eating a Stone Beetle when the system popped up a notification.
[Level Up!]
[Current Level: 5/10]
[System Panel Updated]
I excitedly pulled up the panel and found significant changes.
First, there was now a name field, and the "Gray" I'd given myself appeared after the species name.
More importantly, detailed numerical information appeared on the panel—HP, MP, Strength, Defense, Speed, and a strange "Luck" attribute.
Proficiency levels were also noted next to skills. Both Leap and Bite, which I'd practiced for so long, showed as "Proficient."
I carefully studied these values.
HP should represent how much damage I could take. It would decrease when injured but slowly recover after resting.
MP was consumed when using skills. Once depleted, it also needed rest to recover.
Strength, Defense, and Speed were fairly straightforward—they should measure my combat ability.
As for Luck... fixed at 10, I had no idea what this value meant.
What surprised me even more was that when I looked at other magic beasts, their panels had also changed.
Before, I could only see species name, level, and a brief description, but now I could see their stats!
For example, when I looked at a nearby Stone Beetle:
[Stone Beetle]
[Level 1/1]
[HP: 10/10]
[MP: 0/0]
[Strength: 1]
[Defense: 5]
[Speed: 1]
[Luck: 5]
[An insect-type magic beast with a hard shell, strong defense but slow movement]
Defense 5—no wonder its shell was so hard.
I looked at a Vine Serpent in the distance:
[Vine Serpent]
[Level 6/20]
[HP: 90/90]
[MP: 30/30]
[Strength: 10]
[Defense: 4]
[Speed: 10]
[Luck: 7]
[A snake-type magic beast that camouflages as vines, preys on small mammalian beasts]
The stats were lower than I'd imagined. Was that why it had to use camouflage to hunt?
However, I noticed that although these magic beasts' panels now showed stats, they still didn't have detailed information about names, skills, and traits.
"Looks like only I can see complete information..." I thought.
The day after reaching level 5, I had a bold idea.
That day, Brownie and I were resting near the rotting wood pile. Looking at its panel, I suddenly thought—what would happen if I put Brownie in my Cheek Pouch Space?
I looked at Brownie's panel:
[Tree Sprite Mouse]
[Level 4/10]
[HP: 45/45]
[MP: 20/20]
[Strength: 3]
[Defense: 2]
[Speed: 8]
[Luck: 8]
[A small magic beast that inhabits trees, feeds on fruit and leaves]
Though it now had stats, there still wasn't more detailed information.
"Squeak squeak?" (Brownie, do you trust me?)
"Squeak?" Brownie tilted its head. (What's wrong?)
"Squeak squeak squeak." I said, (I want to try something. It might be a bit strange, but it won't hurt you.)
Brownie looked at me for a while, then nodded.
"Squeak." (Okay, you're my friend.)
I took a deep breath, concentrated, and tried putting Brownie into my Cheek Pouch Space.
The next second, Brownie disappeared.
I could clearly feel it was inside my space, and... it didn't seem unconscious. It was still moving, and I could even hear surprised squeaks.
The space was pitch black inside, which must be very uncomfortable for Brownie.
After counting a few seconds, I quickly released it.
"Squeak squeak!" Brownie appeared before me, looking a bit dizzy with its fur standing on end, but uninjured.
"Squeak squeak squeak?" (What just happened? I was suddenly in a pitch-black place! So stuffy!)
"Squeak squeak." I explained, (That was my Cheek Pouch Space. Are you okay?)
"Squeak..." Brownie shook its head and took several deep breaths. (A bit dizzy, but I'm fine. That space is so small, and you can't see anything. It felt very uncomfortable.)
I nodded. It seemed the space was still too small for a magic beast of Brownie's size, and lacking air circulation, staying long would indeed be unpleasant.
But just then, I noticed a crucial change.
I looked at Brownie's panel again—
[Tree Sprite Mouse] [Brownie]
[Level 4/10]
[Experience: 30/100]
[HP: 45/45]
[MP: 20/20]
[Strength: 3]
[Defense: 2]
[Speed: 8]
[Luck: 8]
[A small magic beast that inhabits trees, feeds on fruit and leaves, non-aggressive]
[Traits: Tree Affinity, Light Constitution]
[Skills: Climbing (Proficient), Glide, Leaf Camouflage]
I froze.
The name appeared!
Not only that, but experience points were now displayed, along with detailed trait and skill information!
Previously, only I could see such a detailed panel, but now Brownie's panel had changed to this!
"Is it because it entered my space?" I looked at the changes on the panel, a strange feeling welling up inside me.
Had the system recognized Brownie as a "companion"?
I tried looking at other nearby magic beasts. Their panels still only showed basic information.
Only Brownie's panel had undergone this change.
"Cheek Pouch Space..." I murmured. "Not just a storage space, but can also establish some kind of connection?"
If that was the case, then this ability's potential might be much greater than I'd imagined.
I looked at Brownie, who was grooming its raised fur, completely unaware of what had just happened.
I decided to keep this matter secret for now and continue observing.
Back to the present, I lay inside my tree hollow entrance, nibbling on fruit.
"Just 2 more levels until the cap..." I looked at the experience bar on the panel.
Reaching max level wasn't far away now.
Just then, Brownie's call came from the entrance.
"Squeak squeak!" (Gray! Come quick!)
Its voice sounded very urgent.
I wondered what it had discovered this time.