[After reading the related skills information, you gained some learning progress.]
["Skeleton Stripping" current progress 22/200.]
["Bone Control Skill" current progress 23/200.]
[...]
Compared to Artisan Skills, the learning progress of Special Skills is much slower.
However, Rogel is not in a hurry; he just takes it step by step.
After looking out at the night outside the window, Rogel stood up and stretched his body.
He originally planned to end the game but found that the Dark Sea Mayfly clone had undergone new changes.
After its slumber, the Dark Sea Mayfly woke up again and transmitted a feeling of hunger.
"Woke up so quickly?"
Rogel was a bit surprised.
He thought for a moment, then switched to the True Perspective, went to his small wooden house, opened the lid, placed the Dark Sea Mayfly on his hand, and observed it carefully.
After today's feeding, the Dark Sea Mayfly's size had noticeably increased.
Its body, originally smaller than a mung bean, had now grown to about two centimeters.
The color of its body had also darkened a bit.
"This growth speed is quite fast."
"I just wonder when it will start to metamorphose."
While thinking, Rogel cut some more fragments of meat and placed them in a basin.
"Meow～"
At this moment, Big Orange approached and rubbed against his pant leg, then pawed at the lid, full of curiosity.
It seemed to be saying, "What delicious food are you hiding? Let me see."
"Shoo, go play elsewhere."
Rogel wouldn't let it have the chance to harm his little clone, so he tossed it a few small dried fish, then locked the basin in the cabinet.
...
Two days later.
In the past two days, Rogel hadn't explored the cave.
He devoted most of his energy to shipbuilding.
It must be said that Felik was indeed very attentive, not only reinforcing the ship but also seriously teaching Rogel Artisan techniques.
The remodeled ship had begun to take shape.
This quickly enhanced Rogel's Artisan experience, and he believed he would level up soon.
After finishing today's shipbuilding lessons, Rogel hurried to Chad's smithy.
After gaining progress in Blacksmithing Skills, Rogel returned to his small wooden house.
Lately, Rogel's main focus was on the growth progress of the Dark Sea Mayfly.
After these days of continuous feeding, the size of the Dark Sea Mayfly had reached the size of a palm, with a length of four to five inches.
At this point, the form of the Dark Sea Mayfly had completely shed its former weak and fragile appearance.
The slightly dark blue and gray soft shell growing on its back made its body seem more robust, with four soft tentacles the length of Rogel's middle finger, fluttering like ribbons, exuding a peculiar beauty.
Its narrow, pitch-black eyes were beginning to show a ferocious aura.
The level had also increased, reaching level 2.
[Dark Sea Mayfly]
[Type: Monster]
[Quality: Ordinary]
[Level: 2]
[Tier: Extraordinary]
[Explanation: An extraordinary creature found in dark aquatic areas, very rare; Dark Sea Mayflies that can grow to this extent are even rarer.]
With level increase, the explanation also changed.
But its strength was still relatively weak, potentially even weaker than the Cold-toothed Monster Fish seen in the water cave before.
However, there's no rush. From the feeling conveyed by the clone, Rogel could vaguely sense that tonight might be the time for the Dark Sea Mayfly's first metamorphosis.
But from what the clone felt, just consuming these meat fragments might not be enough.
After pondering for a moment, Rogel took out some monster fragments from the Item Inventory.
These things, because they were too commonplace, were not considered as loot by the game.
But Rogel could still pick them up, so he kept some, and it seemed they were finally coming in handy.
After throwing in these monster fragments, the Dark Sea Mayfly dexterously carried them with its four tentacles to its crab-like mouthparts to crush and swallow.
Before long, a palm-sized meat fragment had been devoured by the Dark Sea Mayfly.
Yet, the feeling from the clone told Rogel it was still not enough.
This instead made Rogel feel a burst of happiness.
Without a doubt, this indicated that the Dark Sea Mayfly was about to undergo its first metamorphosis.
Without hesitation, Rogel put the remaining meat fragments into the basin.
After a while, the water in the basin had become murky and slightly red, with many meat residues floating around.
But, it was still not enough!
Seeing this, Rogel quickly searched his Item Inventory, rummaging around.
If he couldn't find any other monster fragments, he might have to immediately dive into the cave to hunt some monsters.
Eventually, Rogel found some rat meat and rat tails.
Although these things seemed unimpressive and even somewhat disgusting, honestly, they were much better than monster fragments, as they were considered loot.
After throwing these into the water, the Dark Sea Mayfly quickly devoured them.
It didn't reject any food.
Finally, the Dark Sea Mayfly conveyed a feeling of satisfaction.
Then, following his instincts, Rogel directed the Dark Sea Mayfly to attach itself to the wall of the basin.
After falling into slumber, the four tentacles on the sides of the Dark Sea Mayfly didn't stop moving.
The body of the Dark Sea Mayfly began to unconsciously secrete a brown mucus, soon wrapping itself into a meatball.
The four tentacles continued to move unconsciously outside the meatball.
[After consuming enough energy, your Clone Talent has activated.]
[Dark Sea Mayfly is undergoing metamorphosis...]
It's starting to metamorphose!
Rogel was very excited and already began to anticipate the post-metamorphosis appearance of the Dark Sea Mayfly.
Maybe after this metamorphosis, the Dark Sea Mayfly could possess preliminary combat power.
However, it probably couldn't complete the metamorphosis immediately, and now it was getting late.
"Forget it, I'll continue tomorrow, sleep first."
Rogel suppressed the impulse within, ended the game, washed up, and went to sleep.
...
"Here it comes, here it comes!"
Upon waking, Rogel didn't even bother with breakfast and eagerly opened his phone to enter the game.
After the night in the game ended, the sun rose again.
Rogel took out the basin from the cabinet.
Once the basin was out, Rogel saw on the screen the big meatball in the basin.
It had significantly increased in size compared to yesterday.
The meat tentacles waving on top looked a bit bloody.
Just at that moment, the consciousness of the clone began to gradually awaken.
With a sound, a brown carapace blade pierced the meat membrane and poked out.
Together with the serrations on it, the meat membrane was cut open, creating a huge slit.
Mucus seeped out, mixing into the water.
A creature measuring about ten inches long broke its way out of the protective mucous membrane.
The form of the Dark Sea Mayfly at this point had already changed dramatically.
Slender dark eyes, a hard shell, and six meat tentacles with fine barbs around its sides.
More eye-catching were the two forelimbs it had grown.
The right side boasted a serrated bone blade, while the left was a deep brown bone clamp reminiscent of a crab's claw.
This was an exceedingly fierce and domineering monster!
[Dark Sea Hunter]
[Type: Monster]
[Quality: Elite]
[Level: 3]
[Tier: Extraordinary]
[Explanation: An extraordinary creature found in dark aquatic regions, very rare; having undergone metamorphosis, it has shed the weakest part of its larval stage and become a formidable small hunter.]