《The Serpent's Wisdom: rebirth of a healer》 Chapter I "You know, you could have become the most powerful and richest man to ever walk this earth. For a century and beyond, our family would have been the most powerful. But no, you had to be the most honest, the most honorable, the most selfless and the most stubborn." She threw at me, her eyes tinted with barely concealed hatred. The half-light that covered her face as she spoke. Coupled with the regular and morbid beeps of the machines, the room seemed like a death trap. "Life, war and entertainment are industries in which we have invested a lot. You know what the cost of health care represents, for an average household throughout a lifetime. I know you know; a quarter of the expenses, this multiplied by millions, no billions of people. So tell me, Frank. Even if the pharmaceutical companies left you alone, I don''t know!" Out of pure solidarity perhaps. You thought that insurance companies and some dark forces in the government would leave you alone. You are completely crazy, my dear. Imagine the amount of power you would make the two lose. Insurance companies would have closed their doors. And the government would be deprived of a step forward that would strengthen its position as a great power. Imagine how much money the medical tourism sector would lose because of you. I am sorry Franck, between your pride and the survival of our family, I had to make a choice." These words spoken in one go were like the fire of hell. They flowed through my veins, with such fury, that I could not help but sniff loudly. Only a little dignity and a cruel lack of energy kept me from bursting into tears. "Why?" I asked, in a whisper, my voice broken. "After everything we have lived and endured together. Everything we have built." To my great disappointment, the question and my plaintive tone seemed to fall on deaf ears. The indifference and calm she showed towards my situation proved to me without a shadow of a doubt that this was a plot hatched for a very long time. I was just too blinded by my success to realize it. "Because!" she told me, carefully measuring her words "I am not you, you never understood that. I do not stand on a throne of virtue, wanting to be the one who will save a dying world. You were ready to give for a pittance, a treatment that we spent 20 years developing. We were humiliated, ridiculed, persecuted at times. I cannot accept that all I reap in the end is the glory of having done it. The glory of having succeeded in creating the miracle drug by assisting the brilliant and humble Franck. No! I want the power that goes with it, that I crush under my boot, those who have taunted me in the past, that I will be received like a queen wherever I go, I want to be one of the most powerful in this world, because I deserve it. Your humanism has killed your humanity, not me! " This last sentence was said, with so much power, so much resentment, and emotion. That I jumped at the end. But as quickly as her mask broke, as quickly she fell back into her coldness. "I see" I replied. At that moment arguing had become superfluous. Everything I believed in had just been thrown in my face, while I was dying before my eyes. The cruelest thing about all this is that it was the one who had been with me for almost 15 years who betrayed me in the vilest of ways. In hindsight, her demands make a lot of sense. But coming from the mouth of the one who had advised me, sulked, loved me. They were just death sentences that I had a hard time accepting. Ironically, she was the one who was watching my last moments. "One last thing," I asked, "with what substance did you poison me, no toxicology test ever detected anything. We both know I wasn''t sick." "We created something revolutionary. If it can save from many things. If we modify the formula in such a way, that it attacks the DNA of a specific person, it will be very effective." It was so obvious that it was ridiculous in all honesty. "Don''t worry my dear Franck, even a millennium later. You will be a hero. I will see to it," she told me, kissing my forehead, bathing it with a few lonely tears, full of love, sorrow, hate, and regret. Then without a backward glance, she stormed out the door, never to return, and without warning, all the rage I had been accumulating inside me burst forth in a cascade of silent tears, running down my hollow cheeks, as I pounded the bed with rage.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Around 11 pm, tired from crying and ruminating so much, I fell asleep despite myself, to the sound of machines going crazy and loud footsteps rushing down the empty corridors. ******* I felt strange. One moment, I felt like I was passing away, the next, I woke up, my mind foggy, my body numb in strange and new sensations. I don''t know what kind of medication, or sedative I was given, but it was strong and damn effective. Not wanting to rush myself, I take my time, to evacuate the rest of the torpor inhabiting me. "That''s strange, I have the feeling that I''m much better," I said to myself. It seems that I went too fast with this statement. Indeed, with my full recovery of consciousness. I was able to see that something was wrong. "How the hell, do I have fucking infrared vision" I shouted, in shock and panic. I wanted to put my hands to my head, to tear off the thermal camera that I thought I had on my head. But I didn''t feel my arms, only my body, which was wiggling in a completely natural movement. "Argh! Fuck, fuck. What''s going on " I shouted enraged. Instead of my voice, all that reaches me are none other than vibrations, that by some kind of hoax, my voice is. When I think, I observe and feel my surroundings. It is more and more obvious, that I am no longer in this damned hospital room. Trying to move slowly, I hear or rather (I am not sure) the rustling of what I assume to be dead leaves under me. I can move, I have sensations, but no clue where I am, and what happened to me. Given the jumble of similar shapes and the movement of small animals, I feel perfect. I feel like I am in a forest. Preparing myself for another cry of frustration. Suddenly I freeze, and I hear a kind of crackling in my head. Like when you turn on a television. It is very strange and scary. Activating the system in progress¡­ Checking body parameters¡­ Searching for a class corresponding to the skills of the summoned¡­. Installing Updates and Patches¡­ ¡­ I had yet to experience a bullet to the head at point-blank range. But this was pretty close. I mean, it hurt like hell! Information was burning into my memory, at an astonishing speed, and there was nothing I could do about it. As abruptly as the pain had come, it faded just as abruptly, followed by a ping, then a pop-up screen appearing in my field of vision. Here is a template for your level 1 intelligent mutated snake''s first character sheet, tailored to its current stats and skills. This model includes basic statistics, its passive skills, as well as its overall profile: --- Name: [To choose] Race: Intelligent Mutated Snake Size: 5 meters Weight: 70 kg Level: 1 Class: Adaptive Healer (evolution to fighter possible) --- Basic Statistics: Strength (STR): 15 ¨C The snake''s physical abilityrepresentsng its muscular power to coil, bite, or crush its enemies. Endurance (END): 18 ¨C Reflects the snake''s resilience, endurance for prolonged combat, and ability to resist damage. Agility (AGI): 20 ¨C The snake''s speed and flexibility, allow it to strike quickly and dodge. Intelligence (INT): 12 ¨C The snake''s newly acquired cognitive ability to think, learn, and adapt to situations. Perception (PER): 14 ¨C Ability to detect threats or opportunities in the environment. Vitality (VIT): 17 ¨C A measure of overall health and hit points, influenced by passive regeneration. Charisma (CHA): 6 ¨C Given its reptilian form, Charisma is low, but can be compensated for by other strengths in Intelligence and Manipulation. --- Passive Skills: Minor Regeneration: Recovers a small percentage of health points every minute, promoting the natural healing of minor injuries over time. (Example: 0.5% of max HP/minute) Natural Poison: Each bite injects a paralyzing venom that inflicts damage over time and slows down the target''s hit. Toxicity increases with levels. Player Spirit: Protects the snake from the madness caused by its awakening to consciousness. Strengthens its mental resilience in the face of psychological challenges or prolonged isolation. Enhanced Senses: Thermoreception (Heat Sensation): Ability to detect changes in heat in the environment, allowing to locate prey or enemies even in the dark. Vibration (Motion Detection): Sensitivity to vibrations in the ground or air, allowing one to anticipate the movements of nearby living beings. Olfaction (Smell): Ability to sense pheromones and scents from a great distance. Night Vision: Sensitivity to low light, allowing it to move in the dark. Snake Anatomy: All the natural characteristics of a snake, including the ability to slither silently, coil prey, and move through difficult environments. --- Combat Stats: Hit Points (HP): 200/200 Mana Points (MP): 0 (N/A) Residual Poison: 10/10 (Poison available for attacks) Movement Speed: Average (for its size and weight) --- Equipment: None (being a snake, it doesn''t need equipment). Even though I wasn''t a big fan of video games, it was obvious that this was my character sheet. Dying, waking up as a snake, apparently being a character in an RPG. It was completely crazy, and I was already fed up. The karmic lottery was a bitch, no other way. As I was ruminating in my thoughts, the air around me suddenly began to vibrate. Given the intensity of the vibration, what was approaching was big, and it was fast. Being new, in this I had no intention of rubbing shoulders with a predator I knew nothing about, and which was potentially a magical being. If it attacked me despite my build, it was a monster. Taking to my heels (it hurts to say) I slipped away as fast as I could. I hadn''t even crawled 10 meters, when I let out a high-pitched hiss of pain. Ten razor-sharp claws had just pierced the skin, as they took me into the air. -Critical Hit: HP(170/200) -30 Chapter II As mediocre as my new life was, I refused to die so prematurely. I had no combat experience as Frank, but my new body would have it instinctively. But that was for later. As I was now, defending myself was a death sentence. The creature that carried me, in this case, a scandalously large bird, was not child''s play. After capturing me, it had pecked me several times, violent enough to knock me out and dissuade any possible escape. My HP had gone up to 150/200 in the blink of an eye. Starting a fight in the sky, even if I came out on top, would be equivalent to a fall of several hundred meters, unlikely to survive. As it sped off to its nest, I glanced at the bird, searching for any information that might aid my escape. Congratulations! You have acquired the Observe skill (level 1). Race: Dark Snowy Owl Height: 30 feet Weight: 1 ton. For more information, the skill requires upgrading. ¡°Fuck,¡± I cried mentally, ¡°this is completely ridiculous, physics and anatomy mean nothing here, how many hearts does it have?¡± How dense are its bones, and its wingspan in flight? And unlike me, it didn¡¯t seem mutated. So many questions, too bad the answers were the least of my worries. The snowy owl was flying quite fast, and given the piercing cries it was producing and the ones it was receiving in response. I guess we were near his nest and I was going to be a snack for his chicks. One thing was for sure now. I didn¡¯t have the skills to beat this monster. Making any kind of plan would be more useless than anything else. The only alternative was to improvise and flee as soon as possible. And damn it! I did it. The second he landed in his nest, loosening his grip on me, and his chicks opened their greedy gullets to tear me apart. I slipped out like a flash, much to the displeasure of the mother who let out a high-pitched screech of anger.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The chicks, however, were not very happy about my escape. Like a well-coordinated gang, they surrounded me to cut off my escape, while their mother advanced dangerously toward my position, all the while avoiding stepping on her children. For such behemoths, they were fast. For a scientist like me, it was just bullshit that I still had trouble conceiving. In extremis, I avoided a vicious blow from the mother that pulled me out of my thoughts; the annoyance could be read in her posture and the way she snapped her beak furiously. Taking advantage of the interlude, I dove at full speed on her, wanting to inflict a bite that would hopefully weaken her. ¡°Shit,¡± I swore, I had just bitten her paw, and it had produced nothing conclusive. It was like biting into lead, it was painful as hell for my fangs and a waste of venom. It had been less than a minute that this had lasted, and it was obvious that I had to take a drastic measure, finish eating or go for broke, the choice was quickly made. The nest was located on a cliff, rugged as can be. Only crazy predators would venture there. Taking a random direction to confuse my attackers, I suddenly turned toward the chick I was aiming for. It was a bit isolated and quite close to the precipice that I hoped would be my salvation. None of them expected this. Before the mother could even react, I put all my energy into jumping into the void, my rings wrapped tightly around the chick. Its breed seemed cut out for resistance; if it could not cushion my fall, I would know my second death in less than 6 hours. Despite all the urgency of the situation, I suddenly began to think that my survival was assured, I was reincarnated, and the Deus Ex Machina would surely save me. Even if I had no ears, I could feel the wind whistling furiously around me. The toddler¡¯s mother, though fast, was too big to dive after me, where I was falling. As I went down, the space got smaller. And I felt this narrowing when I bumped into a rather rough wall. Alas, it was only the first in a long series of bounces on sharp stones, on thorny branches. I hadn¡¯t even reached the ground and I was already a wreck, the system interface flashing wildly as my HP soared. My only consolation was that I was still firmly attached to my prey, who had died in the meantime with his throat crushed by constriction. My entire body was sore and littered with injuries as I woke up hours later, having lost consciousness. If it weren¡¯t for my regeneration and my dampener, I would be in pieces right now, probably dead. The last thing I remembered was that my HP had dropped to 10/200. ******** The place I had landed in seemed even darker and more gloomy than the one I had woken up in. There was heavy humidity in the air, a heavy silence, and the environment seemed frozen in time, it was both awkward and creepy. As I writhed in painful moans, the equivalent of a gurgle sounded in my stomach, signaling that I was starving. My serpentine side couldn¡¯t stem the disgust I felt at the thought of eating the baby snowy owl. But if I didn¡¯t want to die, I had to be pragmatic. Snakes eat in bulk anyway, I don¡¯t think taste matters. Approaching my meal, which had landed a few meters away, I quickly coiled myself around it, before another one came to claim it. It was smaller than me, so swallowing it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. ¡°This is disgusting,¡± I thought to myself, as my entire body stretched to accommodate the meal. Honestly, I wish I could eat shitty-tasting food instead. Now that I had eaten my fill, my healing should speed up. But to do that, I would need to find a safe place to digest. I doubt the snowy owl is at the top of the food chain. Even though I am in a fantasy world, I doubt the evolution of predators differs much, aside from their special abilities. Luck smiled on me this time. I didn¡¯t have to look far before I came across an epic tree. ¡°You¡¯ll be a perfect hiding place,¡± I thought to myself, as I climbed up to hide and rest. Chapter III Not having a clock sucked. Even orienting yourself by the sun was impossible here. When I woke up, it was broad daylight, yet the area was still dark, due to the dense foliage and the depth of the canyon. Well, it wasn''t a problem for me, it''s not like I''m human and I''m going to get sick because of it. But living in a reptile body with a human mind was confusing. And it was even more so, that despite the size of my meal, it only took me a day to digest it. I suspect it would have taken less time if I wasn''t so injured. Normally, a normal snake would have taken several days to digest prey of this size. I was an intelligent mutant snake with almost magical abilities, I guess that had something to do with it. Now that I had a bit of a break, I had to analyze the mess I was in. I¡¯ve been in another world for about 2 days, in the body of a monster, and I have abilities that seem to be due to my old life. It was cool and all, but being a healer in an inhospitable biome populated by monsters seemed counterproductive¡­ From a practical standpoint, it made no sense. ¡°Wait,¡± I said out loud to myself, ¡°I wasn¡¯t a simple healer, but one who could adapt.¡± If I were to draw a parallel with my old world, I would say it was like a war medic (I know the comparison is lame). ¡°If I wanted to even delve into the concept, I could even twist healing techniques for lethal purposes. As a rudimentary plan formed in my mind. I invoked the system to see my options. As I thought, I could invoke it whenever I wanted. Name: [Choose] Race: Intelligent Mutated Serpent Height: 5 meters Weight: 70 kg Level: 1 Class: Adaptive Healer --- Base Stats: Strength (STR): 16 ¨C The snake¡¯s physical ability, represents its muscular power to coil, bite, or crush its enemies. Endurance (END): 18 ¨C Reflects the snake¡¯s resilience, endurance for prolonged combat, and ability to resist damage. Agility (AGI): 20 ¨C The snake¡¯s speed and flexibility, allow it to strike quickly and dodge. Intelligence (INT): 12 ¨C The snake¡¯s newly acquired cognitive ability to think, learn, and adapt to situations. Perception (PER): 14 ¨C Ability to detect threats or opportunities in the environment. Vitality (VIT): 17 ¨C Indicator of overall health and hit points, influenced by passive regeneration. Charisma (CHA): 6 ¨C Given its reptilian form, Charisma is low, but can be compensated by other strengths in Intelligence and Manipulation. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡ª Passive Skills: Minor Regeneration: Recovers a small percentage of hit points every minute, promoting the natural healing of minor injuries over time. (Example: 0.5% of max HP/minute) Natural Poison: Each bite injects a paralyzing venom that deals damage over time and slows targets hit. Toxicity increases with levels. Player Spirit: Protects the snake from the madness caused by its awakening to consciousness. Strengthen mental resilience in the face of psychological challenges or prolonged isolation. Genetic Harvesting: Allows the extraction of DNA from creatures consumed. Higher levels allow the player to collect more complete genetic fragments, reducing the time and energy required for analysis. At advanced levels, rare or hidden genetic traits can be extracted. Genetic Analysis: Improves the speed and accuracy of analyzing collected DNA. With higher levels, the player can identify complex traits, ensuring compatibility with their body and unlocking advanced mutations. Alchemical Instinct: Enhances the detection and collection of active components from plants, animals, and minerals. Upgrades increase the yield of usable ingredients and reveal previously undetectable properties in rare resources. Alchemical Synthesis: Allows the combination of active components into effective poisons or elixirs. Higher levels allow the creation of more powerful mixtures and reduce the risk of failure during synthesis. Enhanced Senses: Thermoreception (heat sensation): The ability to detect changes in heat in the environment, allowing the location of prey or enemies even in the dark. Vibration (Motion Detection): Sensitivity to vibrations in the ground or air, allowing it to anticipate the movements of nearby living things. Olfaction (Smell): Ability to perceive pheromones and odors from great distances. Night Vision: Sensitivity to low light, allowing it to move in the dark. Snake Anatomy: All the natural characteristics of a snake, including the ability to slither silently, coil prey, and navigate difficult environments. ¡ª Combat Stats: Hit Points (HP): 200/200 Mana Points (MP): 0 (N/A) Residual Poison: 10/10 (poison available for attacks) Movement Speed: Average (for its size and weight) Equipment: None (being a snake, it does not need equipment). Active Skills Observe (can evolve into a passive at high levels): Allows the player to gather detailed information on creatures, plants or objects. By activating this skill, the player can analyze specific characteristics such as weaknesses, genetic properties or chemical components. The data obtained varies depending on the level of the skill. Limitation: Requires attention and can consume a small amount of energy or concentration, especially for complex analyses. Evolution: As the skill develops, it can become more intuitive, offering general information automatically (base statistics, danger, etc.), and allowing precise analyses without additional effort. ¡ª----- Biomass Gathering Description: Biomass represents the raw energy needed to feed and evolve. It is collected by ingesting creatures or plants, and then stored in the player''s body. This energy is essential to initiate molts, which trigger the integration of genetic mutations and level-ups. How it works: The amount of biomass obtained depends on the size, biological quality and rarity of the target. Excess biomass is stored, but the storage capacity is limited at the beginning and increases with evolution. Molting requires a specific amount of biomass, combined with understanding the genes incorporated. ¡ª-------- ¡°Oh! That wasn¡¯t there,¡± I said mentally as I scrolled through my status page. Indeed, there were four new passive skills, an active one that I had unlocked in the skies, and a biomass collection system. Even though I wasn¡¯t a big gamer, it was a pretty generous start, I thought. However, the system being quite complex, the difficulty I would encounter to be able to evolve somewhat counterbalanced this generosity. It was a lot of research work, coupled with survivalism. It¡¯s quite cruel, I sighed in disappointment. ¡°System, how much biomass did I harvest from my meal and how much will I need to evolve?¡± I asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll get used to this thing anytime soon,¡± I gasped, reading the response on the status screen. You have collected exactly 1 Biomass and 1 Gene Fragment for the Camouflage mutation. You will need 200 Biomass, a Denimum from two separate genes, and a successful Alchemical Synthesis to trigger the mutation and level up. ¡°Fuck it!¡± I cursed. If I didn¡¯t have the Player¡¯s Mind skill, I would probably be hyperventilating. This whole thing is bullshit. If I wanted to have any chance of surviving, I had to constantly put myself in danger by risking my life. ¡°Two hundred units of biomass, two complete genes. And an alchemical synthesis, seriously? I was just a damn snake, not a walking experiment lab. Who are we kidding here?¡± If that¡¯s how it was, obtaining active skills was going to take a long time, as well as consuming biomass to increase my size and weight. Well, it seemed that to survive, I had to match my animal instincts with my human, and especially scientific, intellect. As much as I hated my situation, I couldn¡¯t just sit here feeling sorry for myself. I needed short- and medium-term goals. ¡°System, will I have skill points to allocate?¡± I asked, although I already knew the answer, given the situation. No, your passive skills will evolve according to your motivations; your active skills, except for observing, will always evolve by mutation. Once they reach a certain ceiling, they will stop evolving, unless you can incorporate magic into them. ¡°More and more joyful,¡± I breathed, with a sneer that was meant to be disdainful. ¡°Starting hunting now is the right thing to do,¡± I hissed, climbing down from the tree, while carefully observing my surroundings, looking for any threat. With no suspects within meters of me, I began to sneak as silently as I could through the canopy. All the while mentally formulating my medium-term objectives. Which boiled down to: Survive at all costs Master the system before it kills me. Climb the food chain one meal at a time. Get out of this hellish zone Get in touch with civilization, to measure the extent of the mess I find myself in. Chapter IV
The canyon walls rose like ramparts of bone, their surfaces striated with mineral scars, witnesses to a thousand bygone ages. Each fissure exhaled a cold, almost palpable breath that snaked through the shadows like a wandering soul desperately seeking peace. Above, a stifling canopy, dense as a starless night, stretched its gnarled, twisted fingers to claw at the sky. The branches, bristling with thorns and covered in grayish lichens, resembled the petrified veins of a gigantic creature. Here, day is an illusion: the light only dies slowly, suffocated by the voracity of the leaves. The ground is a carpet of carrion and life, where shredded roots and luminescent mushrooms intertwine like worms in a corpse. Each step crushes a litter of dead leaves that crack like bones under an insensible weight. The air is heavy, laden with a fetid humidity, a dampness that seeps into the very soul. Everywhere, sounds perish. The wind groans through the gorges like a chorus of specters, and indistinct whispers seem to be born in the shifting shadows. Sometimes, a bestial cry tore through the silence, a foreign lament that echoed between the walls, reminding me that I am not the only one prowling. Countless eyes observe me, forming a morbid and bloodthirsty constellation. In this natural prison, everything seems to whisper a gloomy promise: everything that enters here eventually becomes a part of it. Bones, skins, memories¡­ Everything decomposes, everything is recycled, to nourish this matrix of shadow and terror. And yet, in the midst of this suffocating hostility, beauty persists. A scarlet flower sometimes springs from a crevice, bursting like a drop of fresh blood on a shroud. A flash of bioluminescence in the depths reveals underlying currents of black water, sparkling like tears of ink. But these bursts of life are not promises: they are lures.
My pace of life had slowed somewhat in recent days, which was a boon for me. The canyon where I resided, as gloomy and dangerous as it was, had not yet tried to kill me; anyway, I was the embodiment of caution now. I was able to safely gobble down a good quantity of rather exotic small creatures. Unfortunately, it didn''t give me any particular advantage, other than satisfying my primary hunger. The resulting gene fragments were frankly useless to me, and the biomass negligible at this stage. Even the herbs I had ingested, while searching for compounds to collect, yielded nothing conclusive, or it was too sparse or simple to make any difference. Faced with stagnation, I had to take it upon myself and start exploring. Thus, after what would amount to half a day of rampaging, I found myself at the edge of a dull, muddy-looking lake. If I were a simple snake, I would certainly have complained, but what I had just discovered was a welcome salvation given the monotony of the last few days. Although I am reincarnated, the second the odors emanating from the lake reached my Jacobson''s organ, I both smelled and tasted heavy, suffocating odors, mixing whiffs of burnt garlic and rotten eggs. No wonder the area around the lake was completely empty. The sulfur was in quite a high concentration, and the smell of burnt garlic closely resembled arsenic.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. To be sure, I would have to ingest some of it. Even if it''s risky, I doubt it will do me any harm. My minor regeneration should protect me from long-term exposure, if they are lethal. And on top of that, these are compounds that can be used either in poisons or in healing elixirs. Putting my doubts aside, I plunge my gaping maw into the water and begin to suck it in. And my God! It''s damn burning, but I disregard the pain and continue to suck. My status screen flashes every second, showing the HP I am losing. Not wanting to push my luck too far, I stop drinking and quickly move away from the lake, as my HP continued to drop. I was even starting to feel dizzy. Prudence dictated that I did not immediately begin to analyze. I instead looked for a tree high enough to take refuge and watch all around me, while recovering my HP.
Sulfur (more specifically hydrogen sulfide), arsenic, antimony, and mercury were the predominant compounds in the water I had drunk. There were other compounds and heavy metals in the water, but their quantity was so negligible that I would have to drink astronomical amounts to make anything viable out of them. However, what I harvested was quite interesting, especially the sulfur; I can already see myself emitting a highly concentrated gaseous poison that could save me from annoying fights, but for that, I would first have to find an animal like a skunk, a bombardier beetle, or even a namesake of a species of arthropod that, if I remember correctly, could emit hydrogen cyanide. As for arsenic and mercury, I could keep them as secondary poisons, after combining them with other elements. And while I''m thinking about it, I should also collect genes to counter or mitigate the effects of toxic gases. Dying from poisoning by one''s own poison would be really stupid. Unlike other genes, this shouldn''t be difficult to find; the lake environment should be teeming with such organisms; if there aren''t any, the organisms in decomposing corpses should do the trick. At this last thought, I swallowed in disgust; becoming a scavenger was very unappealing to me. But what wouldn''t one do to survive. Even if some things disgust me, I have to admit that being able to experiment like this would have been the dream of any science-loving nerd. I whistled appreciatively. Oh, I started mentally. As another idea just struck me, like a blow from a club. Hydrogen sulfide is a highly flammable gas; it would be a highly effective weapon against opponents who are resistant to my gas, if I managed to ignite it. My mind raced as I thought about it: genes from electric eels, compounds reactive with H?S, all of that would do perfectly. "Give me a few years, and you won''t know what hit you." You bastards! I roared, both excited and resentful (especially thinking about the Dark Harfang). I had barely finished recovering from my laughter when suddenly, I felt something sharp and massive strike me from atop my perch. I bounced off the branches of the tree before falling violently to the ground. I was stunned! It was more from being surprised than from the pain, even though I was a little banged up. "How could this have happened?" I asked myself, frustrated and angry. Admittedly, I was lost in thought, but I was attentive to my surroundings. In less than a second, I have my answer; as the latter, I felt a dangerous vibration near my head that I managed to dodge just in time, while retaliating with a quick lash of my tail that hit the mark, although it was of no real danger to my attacker. "No shit!" I swore, when I caught the lapse of time that its camouflage faltered, that it was a fucking Komodo dragon on steroids, bristling like a porcupine. Chapter V The air was heavy with apprehension as I faced my attacker. This hybrid animal seemed straight out of a nightmare, both in its monstrous appearance and its aberrant, almost supernatural abilities. Its camouflage made its immense bulk almost invisible, and to make matters worse, the little shit was silent and fast as hell, making it even harder to anticipate its attacks. I had glimpsed its silhouette for a brief moment during its first attack. From then on, it showed a cunning like no other. It prowled, prowled, struck me from angles I least expected, trying to slowly exhaust me. Slowly, but surely, it was succeeding; proof: my HP was at 120/200 in less than 5 minutes of combat. The most frustrating thing about all this was that I didn''t see why such a specimen needed camouflage. It was strong, bristling all over, had a tail as fast as lightning, and finally a tongue as sharp as a razor that administered a kind of low-dose paralytic. That''s why I hate it! This place, I thought, narrowly avoiding a nasty tail blow while receiving a tongue lash out of nowhere. The animals have too contradictory abilities to counter them quickly and effectively. Not wanting to be attacked again, I quickly crawled to a safe distance. I couldn''t continue like this; I needed a plan, and immediately. I had barely theorized any plan. I felt a sharp pain in my side, then a violent sensation of collision as I crashed into a nearby rock. My status screen kept flashing furiously to notify me of critical hits and dangerously low HP. But I was too sore and groggy to pay attention. And unfortunately, the Komodo dragon was already on me. Since my death, I don''t think I''ve felt so much hatred towards a creature. Now that it thought I was defeated, it was playing with me. "It''s mocking me, damn it!" I cried, frustrated and humiliated. Its sharp, invisible claws scraped my skin, drawing circles on it. Even though they were different cases, it reminded me of my last moments at the hands of my treacherous wife. Just like her, it was an enemy that sneaked into my shadow and struck me, without me being able to defend myself. I''m fed up! Fed up with always being at everyone''s mercy, I hissed with rage. Which only earned me another vicious tail blow from the creature, still invisible. A blow that paradoxically gave me an idea, albeit a dangerous one. "System then expel, the stored components," I asked, full of hope. "Yes," it replied. "Let''s go all in," I emboldened myself, crashing into it like lightning despite its thorns that wounded me, and half of my body numb and paralyzed. Apparently, it didn''t expect it, and its camouflage fell. Faced with my attempt at constriction, it defended itself quite valiantly, lashing me with several tongue blows, numbing me even more.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. But too bad for it, that wasn''t my intention. I only needed to make its camouflage fall and have access to its head. The death cry it let out as it violently freed itself from my head was pure melody to my ears; I had just sprayed all the sulfur, arsenic, mercury, and other crap I had in reserve directly into its eyes and nostrils. Even if it was far from lethal for a creature as overpowered as it was. But the fight had just evened out, and I didn''t intend to let it recover. Zigzagging quickly, while avoiding its crazy and random tail blows, I pounced on it and wrapped myself with all my strength around its neck, while frantically biting it, pouring all my poison into its organism. It started rolling on the ground, trying to dislodge me, but I held on, and for good measure, I deeply thrust my tail into its ear canal, repeatedly, shredding everything inside, including its vestibular system. Despite all this, it continued to struggle like a madman, decreasing my HP, which was now only 30/200. A few minutes later, I released my grip and took a few steps back to contemplate the smoking carcass, short of breath, my body in tatters. It wasn''t just a monster I had just defeated. It was my hesitation, the doubts that had been gnawing at me these last few days, and the non-acceptance of what I was now. But suddenly a cracking sound reminded me that this world wouldn''t stop to congratulate me. I immediately went into attack position. Luckily for me, it was just a small animal, which scurried away when it saw us. Against my will, I released a breath I didn''t know I was holding. "Let''s see what your characteristics are," I said, returning to my task, triggering the observe skill. Race: Mutated Spiny Varan Size: 1 meter Length: 5 meters Weight: 250 kgs. Level: 2 "No wonder you were such a pain," I laughed, in a hiss both amused and a little shocked. I thought I was the only animal that could mutate in this area. I guess my only difference is my system and my intelligence. I can''t even imagine if I come across a mutated Shadowy Owl. Better not to think about it for now. "Well, reflection can wait, it''s time to collect my due." Easier said than done; I have the feeling that this meal will be as grueling as my fight. ¡ª------ Two weeks later. "It''s over!" I said, relieved. I had finally digested my last piece of lizard. Unlike the fledgling, I couldn''t swallow the varan in one go. I had to spend an incalculable amount of time ridding it of its thorns, cutting it into pieces that I could swallow, and finally constantly regenerating while eating it. The toxic substances I had injected into it, plus its paralyzing poison, really gave me a hard time. In the end, it was really worth it. The gains offered by a mutated animal are just cheating compared to normal animals. "Let''s see my gains." Biomass units: 100 Gene fragments; 10 Complete gene: 1 Alchemical components: 10. I only needed a hundred more units of biomass, and I would have enough energy to trigger my molt. As for the genes harvested, five of them were related to camouflage, bringing my total to 6. I needed 2 fragments to complete it. As for the other fragments, 3 were related to defensive spines, the other two were useless to me for the moment. The alchemical compounds amounted to a necrotic enzyme, an anticoagulant protein, toxins, and tracking pheromones. Yeah, if it wasn''t a sadistic bastard who liked to take his time and underestimate his opponent, there''s no way I could have beaten him if he had given his all from the start. However, the most interesting thing was the complete gene for the production of paralyzing saliva. Certainly, it wasn''t extremely powerful, but it accelerated my evolution. If I hunted diligently in the coming days, I should be able to molt without any problems. Surviving twice thanks to last-minute tactics is not for me, and anyway, it''s not viable. The tears of the sky From living memory, Jack had never known such an abundant year. All the harvests were overflowing, the animals had given birth to healthy litters, the taxes were paid without a problem, and he had managed to make a substantial enough profit to expand his house. Everything was for the best, in the best of all possible worlds. His wife was pregnant and he already had two children aged five and seven respectively. They had all been sleeping in a rather cramped room for years. Even though she had never complained about the situation, he always felt tense when he discussed the future with her, or when they stole a moment to make love when the children were outside. "Whoa, it''s embarrassing. You''re going to take a nasty fall if you don''t stop smiling so ridiculously," said Harry, a teasing smile on his lips. "Sorry about that," said Jack, scratching his head awkwardly as he straightened his horse. "While we''re at it, spill the beans. What''s making you so happy, buddy?" "You wouldn''t understand," said Jack, pausing as if searching for his words, then continuing. "Since I married Martha, this is the first time my plans have gone as expected. I still can''t believe it, so I''m savoring every moment." "Aside from the family stuff and the heart stuff, I see what you mean to some extent," replied Harry, half-serious, half-mocking. "Since we''re on the subject of confessions, are you ever going to settle down? You''re the wealthiest and most eligible bachelor for a hundred leagues around." "That''s nothing to laugh about," said Jack, as Harry choked with a thunderous laugh. "I''ve told you before, my angel face won''t clip its wings in the bonds of matrimony. Anyway, I''m a man of the people," said Harry, feigning seriousness. "I don''t doubt that," retorted Jack. "Just try not to end up in a forced marriage. Even your skills won''t save you." "Don''t worry, my friend. Runescarvers aren''t exactly common around here. In this backwater, it''s a get-out-of-jail-free card, as long as I don''t mess with the higher-ups." "If you say so, if you say so," replied Jack as they began to pick up speed. "A godforsaken hole, indeed," thought Harry as he galloped. A backwater province where social mobility was frozen in time. Although he was from these parts, he didn''t grow up there, unlike his father, who spent the beginning and end of his life there. Previously, he lived in the capital, studied there, and was even an apprentice to a renowned runescarver. Even though he wasn''t noble, his standard of living was quite excellent. He had a clear path ahead of him, culminating in marrying his lifelong love, Lisbeth. But that was without counting on greedy nobles who frowned upon second-class citizens becoming wealthy. Thus, his father''s business, herbalism and its flagship product, Ether Powder, was dismantled, nationalized in the name of the perpetuation of the state and religion¡ªpure nonsense. Persecuted and penniless, he and his father had to flee for their lives. A few years later, his father died of grief and bitterness. He, despite his unfinished apprenticeship, had become a key figure in the region. This was both his salvation and his punishment. Magical skills were not common. In remote areas, they were often the prerogative of noble or extremely wealthy families. Thus, despite his success and abilities, he was never able to regain what he had lost; instead, he made a lot of enemies. Returning to the capital, Lisbeth''s smile seemed, year after year, an unattainable dream. While the two men were lost in their respective thoughts, their horses suddenly reared and began to neigh frantically. Indeed, a violent wind had risen without warning, carrying a smell of ozone and burning. Sensing the danger, the animals in the vicinity began to flee without hesitation.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Whoa, easy now!" said Jack, trying to calm his horse by stroking its neck. Harry, who had managed to control his horse, was speechless at the situation before him. Worried by his silence, Jack was about to ask him what was wrong when the words died in his throat, all but one. "Holy shit." Without wasting time, the two men turned back as fast as they could. ---------------- There were days when the sky bled. It always began the same way: a dull rumble, like a colossal heartbeat, resonating in the bowels of the world. Creatures, whether predators or prey, stopped dead, as if an invisible hand was compressing their instincts. The trees themselves, those mute giants, seemed to hold their breath, frozen under the threat of an imminent scourge. Then, everything changed. The sky tore open like a fragile canvas, revealing a gaping maw made of flames and shadows. Scarlet lightning streaked across the black clouds, illuminating indistinct silhouettes. The ancients called this phenomenon the Tears of the Sky, a magical storm that ravaged everything in its path. Each raindrop falling from the sky seemed animated by its own will. They were not drops of water: they were spheres of incandescent liquid, burning at thousands of degrees, which transformed the earth into a smoking hell. Where they touched, the landscapes twisted, the ground melted into craters, and even the most robust creatures screamed silently before being consumed. Yet, at the heart of this chaos, there was a sinister beauty. Each impact illuminated the darkness with a multicolored glow, as if the world were a gigantic broken stained-glass window. The acidic mists that rose danced in hypnotic arabesques, and the ashes fell in shimmering flakes, creating a picture both sublime and deadly. In this regular apocalypse, there was no refuge. Natural shelters were swept away, weak protection spells melted like butter in the sun. Only the luckiest or most ingenious survived, buried deep in the bowels of the earth or protected by relics or high-level spells. That day, the village of Jack and Harry was in the path of the Tears. The inhabitants knew it. They had heard the first beat, felt the atmospheric pressure change, seen the birds flee en masse. In a lugubrious silence, they had barricaded their homes, murmuring prayers to gods they were not even sure they still believed in. When the first tear fell, it reduced the central square to a sea of black glass. The second took away an entire silo, leaving a smoking crater where months of provisions once stood. The inhabitants ran, screaming, throwing themselves into hastily dug cellars. Among them, a child¡ªtoo young to understand, but old enough to feel the fear¡ªstopped for a moment, captivated by a tear suspended in the air. It shone with a golden glow, seeming to hesitate before melting down on him. A scream tore through the air as an old man threw himself on the child, throwing him into a half-collapsed alcove. The tear struck the man, and the child watched, horrified, as the body disintegrated into a rain of luminous ashes. When the storm finally stopped, silence returned, but it was not the same. It was heavy, imbued with the memories of destruction. Where a prosperous village had shortly stood, there remained only a field of smoking craters and charred bones, interspersed with luminescent crystals. Among all the villagers, only the child and a few others emerged as survivors, some seriously injured. The child clutched a piece of charred cloth he had torn from the old man, staring at the ruins with an expression that only a broken spirit could display. ------------ When they arrived at the village, Harry couldn''t hold back Jack, who rushed like a madman towards the smoking ruins of his house. He fumed, sputtered, swore, clutching the ashes of everything he held dear with nameless despair. Harry didn''t know how long he had remained standing in the same position. But when he came out of his shock, it was already night. Jack''s howls had become weaker. The few survivors had erected a makeshift tent, in which they had gathered in silence. Naturally, he joined them inside and took it upon himself to stand guard. Around midnight, Jack, too tired, had fallen into a deep sleep, joining the other villagers who had fallen asleep in the meantime. Harry still had a small bag of ether powder on him; he distributed it to the wounded, relieving their pain for a few hours. ---------------- "Hmm," complained Jack, opening a half-asleep eye. "What is it, kid?" he asked, seeing who was shaking him. "I don''t see your friend anywhere this morning, nor the multicolored stars that were here yesterday." "You mean the Tears of the Sky. Harry must be checking the surroundings," he replied. He had barely finished his sentence when an alarmed villager burst into the tent. "Jack! Harry has disappeared with the horses and all the crystals. We''re screwed, screwed!" "That''s impossible. He couldn''t have done that!" cried Jack in panic. Two hours later, he and the other survivors had left the village in a hurry, to save what little they had left. The Tears of the Sky, as deadly as they were, were rare and precious magical artifacts, especially in a remote area like theirs. As such, they rightfully belonged to the local lord. Jack strongly doubted that the latter would take the disappearance of the crystals well, despite the tragedy. They were just simple villagers who would care about their well-being in the face of power. ----------------- Miles away. "Sorry, friends, I could no longer resign myself to this life. I hope one day you will forgive me" Harry said to himself, as he felt suffocated by a ball of anxiety, guilt and above all excitement at the thought of seeing Lisbeth again very soon. Chapter VI One month later It took me exactly one month to collect the remaining resources I needed. The issue wasn¡¯t so much their danger but their rarity. Gathering the last gene fragments for camouflage proved incredibly tedious, especially since I took the opportunity to collect genes for spikes as well. Let me explain the process¡ªit¡¯s truly fascinating. In my previous life as a researcher, creating the treatment that landed me in so much trouble, I had to assemble a fairly large team to collect the data I needed. Occasionally, out of curiosity or to better understand the process, I would join them in the field, either to gather specimens or to observe them. Over time, this gave me a rather detailed understanding of how different biomes function and what they contain. The canyon is an extremely hostile environment. On Earth, the rare zones similar to it are neither as vast nor as accessible most of the time. And, even more importantly, they don¡¯t harbor nearly as rich and diverse a fauna and flora. For instance, Movile Cave in Romania barely covers 300 square meters. To confirm my hypothesis, I moved at a steady pace of about 12 mph for 72 hours straight, and unfortunately for me, after what I estimate to be nearly a thousand kilometers, I was still in this cursed canyon. Which brings us back to our main topic¡ªgathering. I had finally completed full gene sets for camouflage, paralyzing saliva, and spikes. For example, to complete the camouflage set, I had to eat a carnivorous plant that ambushed me, hoping to make me its snack. When the set was completed, my excitement was more than palpable. Each fragment encoded a different aspect: One was for camouflage pigments, several for light reflection, one for scale morphology, and one for neurological control. The process was simply fascinating. Too bad my level was still too low to manipulate different genes for unique abilities. But that wouldn¡¯t take long¡ªall was ready for my first molt. I just needed to find an appropriate place to do it. --- After a grueling day of exploration, I finally found the perfect spot for my molt: a crevice in the rock, far from prying eyes and predators. The cave extended deep into the canyon, and the air inside was so heavy it seemed to stifle all life. But for me, it was ideal. I could feel the moisture saturating the atmosphere¡ªa perfect environment for what was about to be a long and grueling process. Shedding skin for a normal snake is already an arduous task for the body, but in my case, it was far more than just a simple renewal of skin. Every fiber of my being was preparing to be reborn, to adapt to the new genes I had absorbed. I coiled into a dark corner, remaining almost completely still. The doubts that had plagued me over the past few days now reached their peak. My metabolism was accelerating at an alarming rate, and I could feel my heart pounding wildly. At any moment, I could have a heart attack if I didn¡¯t calm myself. ¡°For better or worse,¡± I whispered to myself as I prepared to initiate the process. ¡°System, begin the molt.¡± Molt preparation initiated. The foundations of your metamorphosis have been established. Estimated duration: Indeterminate. Note: This process is irreversible. Any weakness or interruption could result in permanent damage or death.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Upcoming changes: Physical enhancement: Complete revision of bodily structure. Activation of acquired abilities: Adaptive camouflage, keratinous spikes. Neurological improvement: Optimization of reflexes and control over new abilities. Warning: Intense pain and temporary alterations in consciousness are to be expected. Evolution does not forgive. Prepare to abandon what you were to become what you are destined to be. ¡°Go to hell, jerk!¡± I hissed as my vision blurred. --- Secretion of the detachment fluid When I woke up a few hours later, the first sign of my transformation was a thick, viscous fluid oozing from my scales. It was an enzymatic secretion designed to facilitate the detachment of the old skin. The fluid, slightly phosphorescent, emitted a metallic odor, as if my body were exuding its very essence. Underneath the old layer of scales, I could feel the new skin forming. It was still tender, vulnerable. Every movement sent a dull pain rippling through my body, as though my own flesh were rebelling against me. --- The initial fissure After several hours, the first crack appeared, just behind my head. This is typically where the shedding process begins for a normal snake, and my case was no different. With a conscious effort, I pressed this spot against a rough stone, rubbing until the skin broke. The tearing sound was almost inaudible, but I felt it resonate deeply within me. The old skin peeled away slowly, sliding down my neck. In the dim light of the cave, I could see silvery reflections on my new skin. --- The passage of time The molt was not a quick process. Hours¡ªor perhaps even days¡ªhad passed since it began. Every inch of shedding demanded intense concentration. The enzymes did their job, dissolving the bonds between the old and new skin, but I still had to contort, rub, and pull to speed up the process. At times, I felt a stabbing pain. My nervous system was likely adjusting to the new configurations. The genes I had absorbed didn¡¯t just alter my appearance¡ªthey restructured my internal circuits, reshaping my perception of the world. --- After what felt like an eternity, I finally felt an expansion in my body. My body seemed longer, my weight noticeably greater. My salivary glands, for instance, throbbed with a new sensation. I could feel them swelling and contracting, preparing to produce far more potent paralyzing saliva than before. My muscular system was also undergoing changes. My muscle fibers seemed to strengthen with every movement, becoming denser and more elastic. It was as though my body were adjusting to support greater power. But the most fascinating change was my scales. The new skin that had formed wasn¡¯t just an aesthetic improvement. On an almost instinctive level, I could tell that these scales were capable of manipulating light in unprecedented ways. The second most fascinating change was the spikes. Unlike what I had initially hoped, they didn¡¯t cover my entire body. Instead, they were clustered on my tail, forming a structure akin to a flail¡ªboth oval and cylindrical. In hindsight, it¡¯s the most logical arrangement. I¡¯m a slithering creature that constantly contorts; spikes everywhere would be counterproductive. Finally, there was a brand-new organ. Its purpose was to store finished alchemical products and expel them when needed. Honestly, it was a blessing; relying on the system to do this would¡¯ve been lame. --- After what felt like an eternity, I managed to shed my entire old skin. It lay in a corner of the cave, resembling a relic of a former self. I took a moment to contemplate this empty shell¡ªa tangible reminder of everything I had been before this transformation. I slowly slid into a small pool of water I had spotted earlier, letting the cool liquid soothe my new skin. The sensation was almost euphoric. --- The moment I moved, I noticed an immediate difference. My new skin reacted instantly to the environment. The pigments in my scales subtly shifted, matching the coloration of the cave walls. I decided to test my new abilities further. Concentrating, I was able to activate my camouflage more intensely until I became nearly invisible to the naked eye. It wasn¡¯t mere concealment¡ªit was as if my body fused with its surroundings. Testing my paralyzing saliva on a small creature wandering the cave, I found it to be far more effective. Just a few drops were enough to immobilize the poor beast within seconds. I felt more attuned to this world. Every vibration in the air, every fluctuation of light or temperature seemed amplified. It was as if I had become the perfect predator, tailor-made to survive and thrive in this hostile world. ¡°Let¡¯s not get cocky,¡± I chuckled at the absurd thought. ¡°We¡¯ve only just completed our first molt and leveled up. Survival is still a necessity.¡± Chapter VII Let''s see what the changes are. "System, my status." Name: [To be chosen] Race: Intelligent Mutated Serpent Size: 5¡ú7 meters Weight: 70¡ú110 kg Level: 1¡ú2 Class: Adaptive Healer Base Stats: Strength (STR): 16 ¡ú 20 ¨C The serpent''s physical capacity, representing its muscle power to coil, bite, or crush its enemies. Endurance (END): 18 ¡ú 24 ¨C Reflects the serpent''s resilience, its stamina for prolonged fights, and its ability to withstand damage. Agility (AGI): 20 ¡ú 24 ¨C The serpent''s speed and flexibility, allowing it to strike quickly and dodge. Intelligence (INT): 12 ¨C The serpent''s newly acquired cognitive ability to think, learn, and adapt to situations. Perception (PER): 14 ¡ú 18 ¨C Ability to detect threats or opportunities in the environment. Vitality (VIT): 17 ¡ú 21 ¨C Indicator of overall health and hit points, influenced by passive regeneration. Charisma (CHA): 6 ¨C Given its reptilian form, charisma is low, but can be compensated by other assets in intelligence and manipulation. ¡ª Passive Skills: Minor Regeneration: Recovers a small percentage of hit points every minute, promoting natural healing of minor injuries over time. (Example: 0.5% of max HP/minute) Natural Poison: Each bite injects a paralyzing venom that deals damage over time and slows down affected targets. Toxicity increases with levels. Player''s Mind: Protects the serpent from madness caused by its awakening to consciousness. Strengthens its mental resilience against psychological challenges or prolonged isolation. Genetic Harvesting: Allows the extraction of DNA from consumed creatures. Higher levels allow the player to collect more complete genetic fragments, reducing the time and energy required for analysis. At advanced levels, it can extract rare or hidden genetic traits. Genetic Analysis: Improves the speed and accuracy of analyzing collected DNA. With higher levels, the player can identify complex traits, ensuring compatibility with its body and unlocking advanced mutations. Alchemical Instinct: Optimizes the detection and collection of active components from plants, animals, and minerals. Improvements increase the yield of usable ingredients and reveal previously undetectable properties in rare resources. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Alchemical Synthesis: Allows the combination of active components into effective poisons or elixirs. Higher levels allow the creation of more potent mixtures and reduce the risk of failure during synthesis. Enhanced Senses: Thermoreception (Heat Sensing): Ability to detect heat variations in the environment, allowing it to locate prey or enemies even in darkness. Vibration (Movement Detection): Sensitivity to vibrations in the ground or air, allowing it to anticipate the movements of nearby living beings. Olfaction (Smell): Ability to perceive pheromones and odors at a great distance. Night Vision: Sensitivity to low light, allowing it to move in darkness. Serpent Anatomy: All the natural characteristics of a serpent, including the ability to slither silently, coil prey, and move in difficult environments. ¡ª Combat Stats: Hit Points (HP): 300/300 Mana Points (MP): 0 (N/A) Residual Poison: 20/20 (poison available for attacks) Movement Speed: Average (for its size and weight) Equipment: None (being a serpent, it does not need equipment). Active Skills: Observe (can evolve into a passive skill at high level): Allows gathering detailed information about creatures, plants, or objects. By activating this skill, the player can analyze specific characteristics such as weaknesses, genetic properties, or chemical components. The data obtained varies depending on the skill level. Limitation: Requires attention and can consume a small amount of energy or concentration, especially for complex analyses. Evolution: As the skill develops, it can become more intuitive, providing general information automatically (basic stats, danger level, etc.), and allowing precise analyses without extra effort. Spiked Tail Description: The player''s tail is equipped with solid and sharp spines, similar to a natural flail. The spines are robust enough to inflict piercing and blunt force trauma. Effect: Allows devastating attacks in close combat. The spines naturally regrow if broken (regrowth time: 24 hours). Limit: The tail is heavy and slightly reduces mobility when used frequently or in tight spaces. Adaptive Camouflage Description: The protagonist''s skin changes texture and color to blend into the environment or reflect light. Effect: Significantly reduces or completely eliminates the player''s visibility, making its body practically undetectable to the naked eye under good conditions. Weaknesses: Ineffective against enemies using non-visual means (smell, super senses). Too much intense light or too rapid movements break the camouflage illusion. Cannot be used for too long in prolonged combat. Paralyzing Saliva Description: A neurotoxic saliva capable of temporarily immobilizing a target. Effect: Causes partial muscle paralysis for 1 to 3 minutes. Works on medium to large creatures, but less effective on super-predators or magically resistant or mutated enemies. Recharge: The neurotoxic glands take 6 hours to fully recharge after prolonged use. New Organ - Alchemical Chamber Description: A specialized organ located near the abdomen that stores produced compounds and expels them when needed. Stored Compounds: Arsine. Hydrogen sulfide Limit: Can only store and expel at this level. --------- "Why don''t I have any evolution in my passive abilities?" Your current level does not require any upgrades to your passive skills. When you reach a certain level, the system will notify you of changes. "I see, I have lot of limitations, and i don''t quiet understand their usefulness yet. Will that change in the future, will you mutate too, since you''re part of me." You are not limited, you must work for your rise to power, understand your environment, your abilities, and adapt to it. I am a bonus, not a crutch. Yes, I will also mutate when necessary. " You''re really insolent, you know that?" I said with a laugh, amused. "What are the conditions for the next mutation?" 500 units of biomass, 5 genes, 6 alchemical compounds. "I imagine my reptilian ass has to go hunting." ¡ª---------- Being as big as I am is an advantage. But on the other hand, it''s a pain; what gave me biomass at level 1 is now relegated to the rank of useless snack." To compensate, I had to eat a lot of small prey, which, over time, created another problem. The animals were becoming more wary or simply fleeing the area where I was currently living. I tried to find prey like the monitor lizard, but it didn''t lead to anything conclusive. Apart from a few elements collected here and there, my leveling up was completely stalled. There was, of course, a solution, namely leaving the canyon. But I didn''t want to leave this place without being at level 3 or 4. If predators like the Great Horned Owl were wandering outside the canyon, I was still in mortal danger. Searching every corner of this hole was my priority, and I was hopeful that I would find something interesting soon. Eventually, I stumbled upon the entrance of a cave during my search. At first glance, it seemed vast and plunged into impenetrable darkness." . "What are you hiding from us," I said, resolutely plunging into the darkness. Chapter VIII
48 hours later. The cave wasn''t just a dark and narrow shelter, as I had first imagined. No, it was an entire world, a unique biome, surpassing the canyon in terms of diversity and beauty. Gigantic stalactites hung down from the ceiling like menacing fangs. Some, covered in phosphorescent moss, diffused a pale light, casting spectral shadows on the walls. The ground was a labyrinth of mounds, crevices, fields of stalagmites, and underground pools where sometimes crystalline water stagnated, shimmering due to the luminescent crystals at the bottom. Every short distance traveled had to be analyzed: a fall into a crevasse or a misstep on a slippery surface could mean either my death or the discovery of my exact position in the cave. Despite my continued exploration, the cave''s topography stretched as far as the eye could see. There was a series of cavities connected by tunnels, which I lost count of after a while. Some cavities were so large that their ceilings disappeared into the darkness, while others were so tiny that I barely fit inside. Throughout the area, warm air currents circulated, carrying a mineral scent and a slight humidity. Coupled with the multitude of creatures constantly moving, emitting substances everywhere, my senses were constantly on high alert. Indeed, the animals that lived in the cave were just as large as I was, unlike in the canyon where, after my evolution, I had become a scourge. Why was this so? Was the cave a self-sufficient ecosystem? Was it due to the stable climate? Was it due to evolutionary adaptation? Or was it something mystical or magical, considering the luminescent stones? So many questions, with no answers. But I intend to find out the reason sooner or later; I plan to make my base here after all. It¡¯s an ideal place for farming and research. Even though it will be both easy and difficult, why? There are many living beings here, and most of them are of decent size. However, the weakest are level 2, and the most dramatic thing is that they are in colonies. Ants, scorpions, spiders, bats, and I don''t know what other creatures. I know! Just my luck. However, thanks to my new skills, I can manage. Snakes have never been frontal and dominant attackers. The essence of their attacks relied on stealth and subterfuge. I had no intention of deviating from this rule in the slightest. I wasn''t a show-off anyway.
Lying in the shadow of a rock formation and perfectly camouflaged, my eyes were fixed on a cohort of giant worker ants.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. They went back and forth in a methodical procession, carrying phosphorescent mushrooms to their nest. They were fast, efficient, and, unfortunately, always on the lookout. I saw them stop their work several times at the slightest sign of danger. Although annoying in the long run, I was able to understand their rhythm after a few hours of observation. Finally, after this long wait, an opportunity presented itself. One of the workers was lagging behind, her load being quite large. Without delay, I slipped away at full speed, my scales gliding over the rock without the slightest noise. When I was close enough, I lunged with my jaws wide open. My fangs pierced her chitinous skin before she even realized she was being attacked. A dose of poison, a dose of paralyzing venom, her body stopped moving immediately, except for her mandibles, which weakly tried to grab me. My mission accomplished, I took off without looking back. Barely a hundred meters traveled, I suddenly stopped; something was itching me. ¡°What¡¯s this lousy taste? It tastes like vinegar mixed with burnt plastic,¡± I said, clearing my throat. Quickly examining my surroundings, my eyes suddenly stopped on the ant, realizing where the smell was coming from. ¡°You little bastard, you were sending a message,¡± I said, half impressed, half frustrated. By the time I resumed my run, the ground was vibrating beneath me, an incessant buzzing rising in the air. The ant soldiers were after me, their legs clattering on the stone with terrifying fervor. I slid at full speed, my rings coiling and uncoiling in a frantic race. The green glow of the fluorescent plants and the shimmering of the shiny stones lit my way, revealing obstacles that appeared without warning. A pointed stalagmite passed so close that I felt it brush my scales. I turned sharply to the left, trying to shake off my pursuers in a maze of rock formations. But they followed me, relentless, their antennae quivering to capture my position. Each turn only slowed my escape. The fact that I refused to drop my dinner didn''t help either. A dislodged stone rolled under my weight, and I briefly lost my balance. Behind me, a sharp snap rang out: one of the ants had jumped, its mandibles snapping empty just where my tail had been a second earlier. ¡°Eat this!¡± I yelled, sending my tail slamming against its face. Under the force of the blow, it crashed into its other companions. Without wasting time, I propelled myself again, diving under a rock arch. The ants did not give up, their massive bodies sliding with almost supernatural ease through the narrow passages. Their organization was terrifying, a perfect unity that left no room for error. Out of breath, I spotted a narrow crack in the wall to my right. Without thinking, I rushed into it, my scales rubbing against the stone. But they were still there, their advance punctuated by the relentless hammering of their legs. I knew there would be no respite. Not here. They won''t abandon their comrades, and I won''t abandon my first meal of them, or the following ones for that matter. ¡°I should have chosen the scorpion; at least it wouldn''t have had reinforcements.¡± As they began digging into the wall at an insane speed.