[Stealth]

Gon had come to the [Scorched savanna] two days ago, and back then Stealth had still been at level 3.

In two days it had increased by three levels, all the way to level 6. With such a fast rate of growth, it would be a waste to not make the most of it. He might even be able to bring it up to level 10 in time!

It was improbable, he never actually heard of anyone that wasn't more than thirty years old with a skill at level 10. Though maybe once of the rickety old goblins had ones way higher level, it was totally possible considering how they constantly kept sneaking up on everyone; Including him.

And another good thing was that Stealth would allow him to keep avoiding fights, and so also not risking him leveling up before he wanted to along with more easily picking his fights.

Skills usually grew best with use, and Stealth had grown much from him hiding from the primal creatures of the savanna... So he just had to start looking around, mostly just trying to get a lay of the land and any possible monsters to use as his sacrifice for a good class.

One time, he got a thought, and neared a herd of ashmane with one at least at level 9.

He was only confident in surviving since ashmane didn't often attack an obscured foe due to it being instinctively linked to the behavior patterns of multiple predators, and kept at a range of about a dozen meters for safety reasons.

[Your skill [Stealth] has reached level 7]

It had only been a total of five hours since he started grinding out skill levels, so it getting to level 7 so quick was a nice.

He neared the grazing herd a bit more, for quicker progression.

[Your skill [Stealth] has reached level 8]

'?'

Gon instantly paused, even if there was a level 9 unaware of him and that somehow increased his skill's growth, this was way too exaggerated. He silently attempted to watch, trying to scour for anything of note.

He couldn't find anything off...

'-Oh shit.' Gon's entire mind filled with horror, he needed to get away, and quick.

The reason the ashmane were traumatized to the point it was written into its genetics, at least one of them, was near. He couldn't see it, but the massive skill growth indicated its existence.

He didn't have Anti-stealth, so of course he couldn't see it. Who knew if it had Anti-stealth itself, if it did then it would maybe be weaker? Gon wasn't sure, he never dealt with something that had a level in the 20's.

He did his best to stay silent, as Gon thanked whatever god the enlightened praised for giving him the [Obscured coward] trait. His eyes noiselessly strayed away from the heard he had been stalking and tried to find whatever was his brother in arms, stalking the same herd of more than a dozen ashmane.

[Congratulations, you have gained the skill [Anti-stealth]]

Well at least there was a bright side, he got a new general skill, one that was pretty hard to get. Mostly since you needed to be searching for a target in specific that was sneaking about.

He didn't need to specifically know who or what, but needed to know 'Something' was sneaking about and search for it.

He kept waiting, very much nervous.

[Your skill [Stealth] has reached level 9]

Again, the growth was nice, but life was better.

-And finally the source of his fear finally pounced out of the grass, instantly killing the strongest ashmane, which would require Gon multiple hours of preparation to bring down.

The feline creature three times as large as him but had still sometimes hidden in less than a meter high grass then killed four more of the ashmane while they ran away, losing the rest.

Gon silently looked on as the creature, a giant cat close to three meters tall and more than five meters long, at its shining red eyes, and pair of black fangs; a [Blacktooth], the apex predator of the savanna.

Specifically an {Apex} variant, which... Really made Gon shiver in his boots.

Variants were rare and all, but you could find one or two {Alpha}'s if you really tried to search for time, usually found through the blood-red markings on their hide or fur.

He was so screwed.

[Your skill [Stealth] has reached level 10]

And seeing from its size, it was at least level 30 or higher.

Even if his old tribe came at it, with every hob-goblin and goblin they could, all holding no fear in their hearts, they would be slaughtered.

He was so screwed.

If that thing even slightly glanced around he would instantly be spotted, the only reason he hadn't yet was because it was focusing on its meal along with the lack of caution formed over the years of ruling the nearby area with no actual threats.

He was absolutely, 100%, no doubt about it, SCREWED the moment it was done eating. He needed to get away, and quick too.

He made the slightest of movements back, less than a single step, and the {Apex} [Blacktooth] paused slightly. Though the next moment it returned to eating.

[Your skill [Stealth] has reached level 11]

The chance he was about to die... It was so high, if he was certain that if he survived he would see the legendary occasion told of only in fairy tails; His stats would permanently increase outside of leveling.

Specifically his fortune stat.

His mind went a thousand miles a minute, at least it felt like that, and a slight shudder went through him, carrying over to the grass he was hiding within.

[Your skill [Stealth] has reached level 12]

'Every little thing helps,' He thought to himself 'I guess.'