《Re:Mimic [MONSTER MC LITRPG]》 Chapter 0: The last day. Chapter 0: The Last Day The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting lazy shadows across the city¡¯s rooftops. Lucas stood on the edge of a weathered brick building, peering down at the narrow gap separating him from the neighboring rooftop. His dark curls swayed gently in the breeze as he calculated the jump, every muscle in his body taut with anticipation. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Sarah asked, her voice filled with concern and mild fear. She stood a few meters back, holding her phone steady, its lens trained on Lucas. ¡°Yeah, man,¡± Jake chimed in, his camera already rolling. ¡°That¡¯s like¡­ what? Seven? Eight meters? If you miss, you¡¯ll go viral for all the wrong reasons.¡± Lucas turned to glance at them, a confident smirk playing on his lips. ¡°Relax, if I thought I would go splat, I wouldn¡¯t be making this jump at all. Just make sure you get my good side.¡± Jake snorted. ¡°Dude, every side of you is about to be plastered online. Don¡¯t mess this up.¡± Sarah rolled her eyes but kept her phone steady. ¡°Focus, Lucas. You¡¯re going to give us a heart attack one of these days.¡± Lucas¡¯ smiled and mumbled to himself. ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡± Lucas faced the gap again, his expression finally serious. His heartbeat steady as he visualized his future actions¡ªpush off with enough force, angle his body mid-air, and land with precision. He took a few steps back, his sneakers scuffing against the rough rooftop surface. ¡°Alright,¡± He called over his shoulder. ¡°Get ready. One take. No do-overs.¡± Jake laughed nervously. ¡°We¡¯re ready. Just¡­ don¡¯t die, okay?¡± Lucas didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he took a deep breath and bolted forward. The wind whipped against his face as he sprinted toward the edge, every movement fluid and purposeful. Sarah¡¯s breath caught as Lucas launched himself into the air, his body arching gracefully over the gap. For a moment, it was as if time slowed¡ªthe city below stretched out in a dizzying panorama, the sounds of distant traffic muted. ¡®It was almost like I¡¯m flying.¡¯ A broad smile spread on his lips at the fleeting thought. The landing came fast and hard. Lucas¡¯s feet hit the rooftop with a resounding thud, his knees bending to absorb the impact. He rolled forward and expertly dissipated all momentum, getting to his feet in one fluid motion. He turned back toward his friends with a triumphant grin. Jake let out a loud whoop, his camera still fixed on Lucas. ¡°Holy crap, dude! That was insane!¡± Sarah exhaled, finally lowering her phone. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you just did that.¡± Lucas shrugged, brushing some dust off his jeans. ¡°Told you I could.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, my heart definitely didn¡¯t,¡± Sarah muttered, shaking her head. She tapped her phone¡¯s screen. ¡°But this? It¡¯s going to blow up.¡± Jake jogged over to the edge of the roof where Lucas stood, holding out his camera. ¡°You¡¯re gonna get some serious clout after this one. I mean, look at this shot, it¡¯s perfect!¡± Lucas took a moment to glance at the footage on Jake¡¯s screen. The video captured everything¡ªthe daring leap, the perfect arc of his jump, the moment his feet met the rooftop, and his perfect roll. A sense of pride welled up in him as he handed the camera back. ¡°Not bad,¡± He said with a grin. ¡°Now let¡¯s find the next one.¡± Sarah groaned. ¡°Next one? It''s already late and we have school tomorrow. What are you? An adrenaline junkie?¡± Jake laughed. ¡°Yep, that¡¯s Lucas for you. Always chasing the next high.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he turned his gaze to the horizon, where the city stretched endlessly, rooftops calling to him like an open invitation. The next morning. Lucas woke up to the sharp, invasive sound of his alarm, the blaring noise tearing through the quiet of his room. He groaned, rolling over to slap the clock until the noise cut off, leaving a tranquil silence in its wake. His body felt heavy and sluggish, the early light filtering through his blinds doing nothing to wake him from the dull fog that seemed to settle over his mornings lately. His room was a controlled mess of mismatched trophies and medals. He also had a few posters of various athletes on his wall. His skateboard leaned against the wall on the way out, well-worn and decorated with stickers and scoffs. His sneakers were kicked off beside a pile of weights by his bed. On the desk sat an assortment of chalk bags and gloves, items of his various sports, but they looked more like they¡¯d been tossed there mid-motion than actually stored. With a stretch, he pushed his dark curls out of his face and forced himself to sit up, blinking in the dim light. The mirror above his dresser caught his eye, drawing him up from the bed to face it. He shuffled over, leaning against the edge, and took in his reflection¡ªtired eyes, deep brown, framed by dark circles that were becoming a permanent fixture. Another day. Another gray sky. Another routine of school, assignments, and the daily grind of just getting by. He let out a long, slow yawn, then dragged himself into the bathroom for a shower. The chill of the water managed to wake him, though just barely. Minutes later, he returned to his room, slipping into a pair of worn jeans and a faded T-shirt. His backpack, hanging limply on a chair, looked rather beat up and old, but he slung it over his shoulder anyway. Today, like every other day, it felt heavy. He then leisurely walked downstairs, skateboard in hand and backpack over his shoulder Downstairs, the smell of pancakes greeted him, warm and sweet, just like always. His mom stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease, humming softly under her breath. The sound was comforting, like background noise Lucas had grown up with, part of the soundtrack of his life. Her care for him, through these small rituals, never wavered. ¡°Morning, Lucas,¡± She said, not turning from the stove. ¡°There¡¯s breakfast if you¡¯re hungry.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He looked down at his watch and saw the time was already 7:05 AM. He would be late if he sat down for breakfast. ¡°I¡¯m good, thanks.¡± He said as he grabbed an apple from the counter. As he was about to turn and go, he noticed his mom¡¯s laptop open on the counter. The screen showed a video paused on a familiar image: Lucas mid-air, leaping between rooftops, the cityscape blurring in the background. His mom was watching videos of his parkour stunts again. She took note of his gaze and spoke calmly. ¡°You know, I worry about you doing all this¡­ jumping around. These stunts of yours, they¡¯re very dangerous, Lucas. You could get hurt.¡± He shrugged, biting into his apple. ¡°I¡¯m careful, Mom. It¡¯s not like I go out there planning to fall to my death.¡± She frowned, glancing at the screen. ¡°I know, but¡­ you¡¯re just so fearless. Sometimes I think you don¡¯t realize how easily things can go wrong even if you know what you¡¯re doing.¡± He brushed her off with a playful grin. ¡°Relax, Mom. I¡¯ve got it handled. Besides, who needs sidewalks when you¡¯ve got rooftops? Anyways, love you. Byeeee.¡± ¡°Lucas¡­¡± she started, but he was already stepping out the door, skating off down the driveway. The wind picked up as he sped down the street, feeling the familiar thrill of movement, of freedom. Skating wasn¡¯t like parkour, but it was close enough. A reminder of the rush he chased, the sense of being untethered. He could still feel his mom¡¯s gaze on him as he disappeared down the block, the weight of her worry pressing on him. She was always like that, always looking out for him, even when he didn¡¯t want her to. It was very comforting, in a way he didn¡¯t like to admit. The ride to school wasn¡¯t a dull bus trip for Lucas; it was a thrill-seeking dash across the neighborhood on his skateboard. As he pushed off, gaining speed, he could feel the cool refreshing morning air on his face as he dodged cracks and dips in the road, his stance loose but his control absolute. He weaved between the thin lines of parked cars, picking up speed, and then shot across a narrow intersection, ignoring the honking car that slowed just in time for him to cross. To anyone watching, it might look reckless, but for Lucas, it was a calculated dance. Testing the limits of speed and balance, his heartbeat thrummed in sync with each push and glide. His mind tuned out the traffic and the noise, focusing on every detail of the ride¡ªthe grip of his shoes on the board, the slight adjustments as he took a sharp corner, the feel of the wind whipping through his curls. But then, in the corner of his vision, something flickered. He instinctively turned his head, and for just a fraction of a second, the world seemed to fracture. A jagged streak of shimmering colors¡ªlike a rainbow colored static¡ªhung in the air above the asphalt, buzzing faintly before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. The sound of his wheels on the pavement snapped him back to reality, but the image burned in his mind, a surreal anomaly in the otherwise familiar morning. When he spotted a sloping curb ahead, he leaned forward, launching himself off with a jump. The board left the ground for a split second, a moment of freedom before he landed smoothly and coasted toward the school¡¯s entrance. Lucas skidded to a stop just outside the school gates, the sound of his wheels catching a few stares, though he barely noticed the thought of that strange fissure still floating around in his mind. ¡®What was that?¡¯ His friend, Jake, who was already waiting, began moving towards Lucas with a smirk across his lips as Lucas flipped the board up into his hands, looking deep in thought. ¡°Dude, you¡¯re actually insane,¡± Jake laughed, breaking Lucas out of his thoughts. ¡°Every time I see you tearing down the street like that, I think, ¡®This has to be the day he finally eats pavement.¡¯¡± ¡°Nah, man,¡± Lucas grinned, walking closer to his friend. ¡°Gotta keep it interesting, right? Besides, I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± As they walked into the courtyard chatting, they were joined by Sarah, who nudged him playfully. ¡°So, have you checked the latest views on your videos? That rooftop jump¡¯s almost at 150,000. People are going crazy over it.¡± Lucas raised an eyebrow, a hint of pride flashing through his tired eyes. ¡°Almost 150,000? People can''t get enough, huh?¡± Sarah gave him a pointed look. ¡°You know you¡¯re insane, right? Half of the comments are people convinced you¡¯re going to end up with a broken leg.¡± ¡°Or worse,¡± Jake added with a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s kind of a miracle you haven¡¯t.¡± Lucas shrugged with a bright smile on his face. ¡°Guess I¡¯m just lucky.¡± They continued their conversation and weaved the crowd as the head for their first class of the day. Classes drifted by in a dull blur. The steady hum of teachers¡¯ voices, the scratch of pens, and the low murmur of whispered conversations all faded into the background. Lucas didn¡¯t pay much attention¡ªhis mind buzzed with what he saw this morning. Something about it felt really strange to him but he could not tell wha exactly. Eventually, he pushed out those thoughts by thinking of stunt ideas for his next video. But sitting still felt almost impossible, his body was just waiting for the next chance to move, to escape the confinement of the classroom walls. He caught himself drumming his fingers on his notebook, tapping out rhythms only he could hear, his gaze flickering to the clock every few minutes. By the time math class rolled around, Lucas¡¯ patience had worn thin. Mr. Wilkins was scribbling equations on the board, his low, monotonous voice blending into the background. Most days, he barely registered¡ªbalding, with tired eyes that seemed half-asleep even when he was awake. Reliable but forgettable, like a droning noise you eventually tune out. Lucas tried to focus, but his mind kept drifting back to the flicker of that strange anomaly he¡¯d seen that morning. What was it? A trick of the light? A glitch? The thought unsettled him, no matter how many times he told himself to forget it. Then, mid-sentence, Mr. Wilkins stopped. His hand froze mid-air, the chalk slipping from his grip and began floating in the air. For a moment, the class stilled. Pens paused, heads lifted, confused murmurs rippling across the room. Lucas straightened in his seat, the prickle of unease returning. ¡°Sir?¡± a girl sitting at the front ventured. Mr. Wilkins didn¡¯t answer. He turned slowly, his movements unnaturally stiff, and Lucas immediately noticed something was wrong. His face was slack, his eyes glassy and unfocused, but more than that¡ªhis skin seemed¡­ off. It wasn¡¯t just pale; it was translucent, faint veins spiderwebbing beneath like cracks in frosted glass. Crack! Suddenly, his head twisted to face the chalk board, snapping 180 degrees with an audible crack. The room erupted in gasps and muffled screams, chairs scraping as students backed away. Lucas froze, a cold weight sinking into his stomach. ¡°Stay calm!¡± One of the students shouted, but their voice broke mid-sentence as the lights overhead began to flicker violently. Shadows twisted unnaturally along the walls, stretching and coiling as if alive. And then, it happened. The air around Mr. Wilkins shimmered. It rippled like heat waves rising from the asphalt, distorting his outline. And then the chalkboard behind him fractured¡ªnot into shards, but into jagged, glowing fragments. Each piece seemed to float, suspended in midair, and within them, Lucas glimpsed impossible scenes: burning red skies, oceans hanging upside down, cities twisting and breathing like living creatures, and enchanting paradises. Lucas¡¯ breath hitched. The same jagged distortion he¡¯d seen earlier now surrounded their teacher, spreading outward in waves. Mr. Wilkins¡¯ body convulsed violently, his form tearing apart as if something far greater was forcing its way through him. His outline stretched and collapsed, pieces of him unraveling into glowing threads, leaving behind an ever-shifting void where he had stood. A noise, deep and resonant, filled the air¡ªa sound that bypassed hearing and sank directly into Lucas¡¯ bones. It wasn¡¯t a roar or a scream; it was something incomprehensible, like the universe itself groaning under the unbearable strain of whatever was occurring in this classroom. Students began collapsing. Lucas could see Jake at the edge of his peripheral vision clawing at his face viciously as if trying to block out the sight and sounds. He could hear Sarah¡¯s voice from behind him as she wailed and screeched, her voice completely inhuman from all her screaming. The class was in complete pandemonium. Students floated up, defying gravity as they unraveled like Mr. Wilkins. Others simply went limp where they sat, their expressions frozen in sheer terror and pain. Somehow unaffected, Lucas clutched his desk, his knuckles white, his mind raced as he tried to make sense of anything. He couldn''t move a muscle and could only watch, his mind swam in confusion and sheer terror. ¡®What¡¯s going on??!¡¯ Nothing responded to his internal roar. The room around him blurred and stretched as gravity seemed to warp. Objects and people twisted and shifted unnaturally. His chair tilted beneath him, but he held on, feeling as though letting go would mean being pulled into whatever had taken the entire class. The void surged, expanding outward. Tendrils of pure light and shadow snaked out, brushing against the walls, the ceiling, the floor, and even the students. With every touch, the world shattered further, cracks spreading like spiderwebs. Lucas¡¯ chest tightened when he saw what layed beyond the cracks. It wasn¡¯t just the classroom¡ªit was the world. Through the cracks, he could see¡­ nothing. No stars, no light, no darkness. Just a void. Suddenly, he felt something. A presence¡ªvast and incomprehensible, its awareness bearing down on him with crushing intensity. It wasn¡¯t something he saw but something he felt. An infinite, formless consciousness that permeated every fiber of his being and every fragment of the collapsing reality around him. Its being was everywhere and nowhere, a sheer juggernaut of existence pressing against his mind. In that fleeting moment, Lucas understood one horrifying truth: this presence was not bound by form, logic or the constraints of any reality he could comprehend. It didn¡¯t watch him¡ªit encompassed him, an ancient force so utterly alien that his thoughts buckled under its sheer magnitude. Yet, even within its incomprehensible vastness, its attention was singular, suffocating. It was as though he had been plucked out of an endless sea and held aloft by something that had no need for sight, only will. The cracks widened, swallowing the classroom whole. Desks, chairs, students, the walls themselves¡ªall dissolved into fragments of glowing dust, swept away into the abyss. Lucas felt his grip on reality slipping, the world disintegrating around him. And then, silence. Everything stopped. Lucas floated in a boundless void, his body weightless, his breath frozen in his chest. The presence lingered, suffocating in its enormity. He couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t scream, couldn¡¯t even think. A sound¡ªor something like it¡ªechoed in his mind. It wasn¡¯t a language, but it resonated with a clarity that left no room for misinterpretation. /This was not meant to be./ The void trembled, pulsing with a blinding light. Lucas felt himself being torn apart, not physically, but on a deeper level¡ªhis very essence unraveling, his consciousness stretched to its limit. In an instant, everything collapsed. The universe imploded on itself. Billions of years of growth change and countless celestial body gone it an instant. Everything went null. Chapter 1: Cutscene. Chapter 1: Cutscene Lucas woke to nothingness. The first thing he noticed was the air, or rather the lack of it. His lungs heaved as though he were drowning, yet there was no water, no weight crushing him. Only a vast, oppressive void stretched endlessly in every direction. He sat up¡ªor thought he did¡ªhis movements sluggish and disjointed, as though his body wasn¡¯t quite his own. A soft, cold light bathed everything, yet it came from nowhere. No shadows. No warmth. Just the emptiness pressing against him like a silent judge. He looked down, expecting to see his hands, his legs, some anchor to reality, but they weren¡¯t there. Or maybe they were. They flickered, translucent and insubstantial, like a fading memory struggling to stay alive. His thoughts scrambled, clawing for context, for anything. He latched onto fragments¡ªa classroom, his friends, Jake¡¯s laugh, Sarah¡¯s voice, his mom. Then came the sharp edges, the parts that didn¡¯t make sense, Mr. Wilkins¡¯ unraveling, the classroom falling into delirium, Sarah¡¯s screams, and Jake self destruction. The events unfolded in his mind piece by piece, as if reality itself were unraveling itself. ¡®Was that real?¡¯ His chest tightened as the memories came faster, more visceral. Screams. Glass shattering. Portals to other worlds. That presence. Then¡­ nothing. Now, here. Wherever here was. He pushed himself to his feet¡ªor tried to. There was no floor, no gravity to brace against, yet he floated upright. His voice broke the silence, trembling and hollow. ¡°What happened to everyone? Where¡­ am I?¡± The void answered. Not with words however. A hum resonated around him, low and all-encompassing, a vibration that didn¡¯t just touch his ears but reached inside his very essence. It felt vast, ancient, and indifferent. The kind of presence that didn¡¯t acknowledge individuals but entire eras. When it spoke, its voice wasn¡¯t a voice at all. It was more like a thought, raw and absolute, echoing through him as though he were a receptacle for its will. An accident. Lucas blinked, the implication of the words hitting him like a physical force. ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡± He stammered, his voice cracking as he fought back his instinctual fear and awe of the presence. ¡°What accident? What happened!?¡± The presence offered no elaboration. It waited, cold, and unyielding. Its silence louder than any response could have been. Lucas¡¯s mind raced, filling the void with his own desperate thoughts. ¡°The school,¡± he muttered, more to himself than to the presence. ¡°Mr. Wilkins¡­ my friends¡­ mom¡­¡± He froze at this point, the weight of the realization sinking in. ¡°They¡¯re¡­ gone, aren¡¯t they? What did you do to them!?¡± The presence didn¡¯t confirm or deny. It simply existed, vast and implacable, like a storm cloud looming overhead. Lucas felt its indifference, not cruel but detached, as though his anguish were an insect¡¯s cry carried on the wind. He screamed into the void, his voice raw. ¡°Tell me! What happened to them? What happened to me?!¡± Taking its time, the void replied once more. Annihilation. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The single thought settled over him, suffocating in its finality. Lucas staggered back, his translucent hands clutching at his chest as though trying to hold himself together. ¡°No¡­ no, that can¡¯t be right,¡± he whispered. His breath hitched. ¡°Why would something like that just... happen? That¡¯s not the way things work!¡± Lucas screamed, unable to accept this reality presented before him. The presence simply returned to silence. Completely unbothered by Lucas¡¯ outbursts and frustrations. Lucas¡¯s knees buckled¡ªor they would have, had there been a ground to fall onto. He collapsed inward, his form flickering as his mind spiraled. He had nobody, no frame of reference, nothing to anchor him to reality. ¡°Why?¡± He whispered, his voice barely audible. ¡°Why did this happen?¡± The void stirred, not in sympathy but as if moved by some unseen current. Its answer came slow, deliberate, and absolute. Contact. The word struck Lucas with a weight he couldn¡¯t comprehend. He didn¡¯t understand it, not fully, but he felt its enormity. This wasn¡¯t a catastrophe orchestrated by malice or fate. It wasn¡¯t personal. It was inevitable. His anger flared, raw and instinctive. ¡°Contact? That¡¯s it?¡± he shouted into the endless expanse. ¡°What the fuck does that even mean? Everything just¡­ ends? For no reason?¡± Once again the presence doesn¡¯t acknowledge Lucas¡¯ outburst. Simply encompassing him in its overbearing silence and indifference. Lucas clenched his fists, feeling like he was about to explode. His form flickered more violently every passing moment. ¡°Then why am I here? Why not them? Why not¡­ all of us?¡± The presence didn¡¯t answer immediately. It let the silence stretch, suffocating, and infinite. When it finally responded, the thoughts carried an air of inevitability, as though they¡¯d already been decided long before Lucas even asked. You¡¯re an anomaly. ¡°What?¡± Lucas echoed, his voice tainted with confusion. ¡°What does that mean? What happens to me?¡± The presence didn¡¯t hesitate. Its response was simple, uncompromising. You choose. Lucas stilled, his breath catching in his throat. ¡°Choose?¡± he repeated, dread creeping into his voice. ¡°Choose between which options?¡± Again, the void didn¡¯t rush to answer. It let the weight of the question settle over him before finally delivering its ultimatum. Oblivion, Or purpose. It echoed, its words carrying a chilling finality. Lucas¡¯s mind reeled. ¡°Oblivion?¡± he whispered. To fade, to join what is lost. It clarified, though the explanation brought no comfort. ¡°And¡­ purpose?¡± he asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty. The void seemed to swell around him, its presence pressed closer without moving. To remain, To become. Lucas¡¯s hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He didn¡¯t understand. Or maybe he did, and that understanding terrified him. ¡°Become¡­ what?¡± The presence didn¡¯t answer. Not directly. Instead, it offered him a single, unyielding truth. To persist is to change. Lucas shook his head, his thoughts a tangle of fear and defiance. ¡°I don¡¯t want this,¡± he said, his voice frail. ¡°I just want to go back. I want my life back.¡± Your life is gone, What remains is choice. The presence replied, cold and unflinching. Lucas¡¯ vision blurred¡ªnot with tears, for he had no eyes to cry with, but with the weight of everything pressing down on him. He wanted to scream, to fight, but there was nothing to fight against. The presence wasn¡¯t an enemy. It wasn¡¯t anything he could grasp. It simply was. He sank into himself, trembling. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can do this.¡± The voice once again just sank into silence. It¡¯s patience immeasurable. Lucas closed his eyes, at least he imagined he did. He felt the enormity of the void, the endless pull of oblivion, and the faint, fragile thread of purpose dangling before him. Neither option offered any comfort. Neither felt like salvation. But one was final, and the other was unknown. After what felt like an eternity, his mind doing its absolute best to grapple with the situation, he finally spoke. His voice was firm and determined as he said. ¡°I choose to remain. I¡¯m going to live, not just for myself but for everything and everyone you destroyed!¡± The void responded not with words but with motion. The endless whiteness folded in on itself, collapsing into a single point of light that burned brighter and brighter until it consumed everything. Lucas felt himself pulled into it, his form unraveling and reassembling, no longer entirely his own. As the light swallowed him, the presence spoke one final time, its voice reverberating through the very fabric of his being. So be it. Chapter 2: Into the cavern. Chapter 2: Into the Cavern. Lucas awoke into a blackness so absolute it felt like a suffocating blanket, pressing down on him from every direction. He instinctively tried to breathe, only to find he had no lungs, no mouth, no pulse hammering within him. Panic began to swell, but something deep within, something instinctive yet unfamiliar¡ªheld him steady. It was as though his body already knew what to do yet, his mind lagged behind. Disoriented, he strained to remember where he¡¯d come from. The strange and horrifying world-shaking events that occurred while he was in his school, that eerie blank void, and that incomprehensible presence which seemed responsible for destroying his entire world. All these memories flowed into his mind like a raging river. All the strong emotions he felt during those events surged back into his mind. Lucas just sat where he was for a moment, trying to process everything. ¡®Okay, Lucas, let''s calm down and assess the situation. It can''t be that bad right?¡¯ Lucas attempted to encourage himself. He patiently began to pay closer attention to how he felt at the moment. His senses immediately informed him of a few key details he had not picked up in his panic. Wherever he was, it was rather cold and damp. A chill seemed to hover, faint but unshakable, mingling with the heavy, stale air around him, which reeked faintly of rot and wet stone. Taking note of this, a new sensation rippled over him¡ªa slithering movement he couldn¡¯t control. His skin felt wrong, not skin at all, but something pliable, ever-shifting, and struggling. ''I¡¯m¡­ not me?'' He thought in surprise, though what he had become remained elusive. His mind began to spiral and his form writhed even more chaotically, producing wet tendrils at random which slapped against the wet rock around him. ¡®No! This can¡¯t be happening.¡¯ Before he could go into a full panic attack, that deep alien instinct tugged at his mind once more. It calmed his mind and soothed his rampaging emotions. A few seconds later, he was calm enough to brush off his panic for the time being and gave himself a new task. ¡®I can¡¯t panic now. I don¡¯t know where I am, so let¡¯s try moving first.¡¯ He tried to stretch forward experimentally, sending a ripple outward. Tendrils¡ªor something resembling limbs¡ªflopped against cold stone with a faint, wet slap. His attempts to control the movements only underscored how alien his new form was. The familiar awareness he once had of his muscles, his balance, and his center of gravity was gone, replaced with a sickening uncertainty. His whole body was unsteady, shifting and changing with every thought, resisting his attempts to shape it. ¡®What the hell??¡¯ Frustration and confusion simmered within him, twisting into anger and helplessness. Every movement felt clumsy, beyond his control. He remembered the ease with which he¡¯d once moved, how his human body had felt like an extension of his will. Now, he was trapped in a form that defied him, that flexed and morphed without rhyme or reason. His emotions stirred once more¡ªa raw blend of fear, irritation, and something darker, a grief for the body he¡¯d lost. ¡®No¡­ I can do this. I chose this, didn''t I? I just have to put in the work. I can do this.¡¯ He tried to console himself. But as he felt his body vibrate chaotically as if in response to his thoughts, he could not help but feel a deep disgust. ¡®Let¡¯s keep pushing.¡¯ Bit by bit, through sheer grit, he managed to extend a tendril, feeling it press firmly against the damp stone beneath him. He experimented, forcing himself to anchor to the ground, to pull himself forward, even as resentment gnawed at him. Every inch he gained felt less like progress and more like an endless struggle. Yet as he pushed forward into the unknown, he clung to a glimmer of determination, a primal urge to survive and make sense of this strange situation. He couldn¡¯t afford to give in to frustration. He would learn this form, as foreign as it was, and he would figure out why he was here, no matter how alien or hostile his own body felt. Lucas pushed forward, each slither and stretch a clumsy attempt at movement. His whole form essentially flopped forward slightly each time he willed himself to move. Every inch forward felt like a small victory, but the darkness loomed, pressing in on him with suffocating weight. Then, breaking the silence, came a screen of plain text. Projected directly into his mind, the panel read. {Status system, initializing.} ¡®Huh?¡¯ Lucas just stared at the screen blankly, unable to wrap his head around this new development. Seeing that the screen just sat there, he took the initiative to try and communicate with it. ¡®Umm¡­ hello? Is anyone there¡­? Where am I? And why am I like this?¡¯ The screen just absorbed his questions, offering no response. After a tense, waiting moment, it flickered. New text appeared on it almost instantly. {Adaptation. That is the essence of what you are now.} ¡®Adaptation?¡¯ he echoed, frustration edging into his thoughts. ¡®How? I don¡¯t even know what I am. What happened to me!?¡¯ His words¡ªhis thoughts¡ªwere desperate, but the screen ignored them. He stopped and waited, thinking the text might have more to say. But after waiting for what felt like a few minutes, the only thing that greeted him was silence. Lucas then sighed internally and slithered further, he pushed tendrils outward, skimming the cool, damp stone walls. Sounds filtered through, tiny echoes of distant skittering and faint drips of water. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. He hesitated, the unfamiliar sensations leaving him reeling, but the screen changed once more. The sentence on it this time was just as simple and as confusing as the last time before vanishing, leaving him in darkness once more. {Let your instincts guide you.} ''What does that even mean?! That''s just cryptic BS!'' A pulse of irritation and fury burned within him. This whole situation seemed set up just to mess with him but he refused to be pushed around any further. That alien instinct pulsed within him once more, cooling his mind. ¡®No, no, no. I can''t lose my cool right now. I will have all the time in the world to break down later.¡¯ After calming himself, he thought about the screen and drew a few conclusions. ¡®It was probably some type of recorded message but from who¡­? That¡­ thing?¡¯ His mind went to the cosmic entity that destroyed his world. It sounded plausible but he has too little information on hand. ''It doesn''t matter... I should just figure out how to move properly first before worrying about cryptic messages.'' With that thought in mind, he stretched a tendril forward once more, brushing it against the ground and pulling himself forward. He¡¯d adapt, he told himself, if only to prove he could survive. As Lucas pressed onward, the darkness remained unyielding, yet he felt an unsettling shift in the air, the atmosphere thickening around him. Strange sounds echoed in the distance¡ªscrapes and grunts, punctuated by a faint rustling like claws skittering over rock. He froze, tendrils quivering as a primal instinct gripped him, something deep in his core told him to shrink back, to stay hidden. But he couldn¡¯t see, couldn¡¯t retreat into the safety of familiarity. Every strange new appendage he stretched out felt raw and exposed, his hearing heightened but alien. The faint, unsettling noises grew louder, bouncing off the cavern walls, growing in his awareness until they seemed almost tangible in the pressing darkness. Then, abruptly, the panel returned, cutting through his silent terror with its calm black text on a white background. {Creatures lurk in this cavern. They can be hostile. Stay vigilant.} It stated simply. Lucas¡¯s thoughts tumbled into a panic. ¡®What kind of creatures?¡¯ he asked, dread froze him in like ice through his mind. The thought of being mauled by wild animals while blind and incapable of escaping sent a jolt of terror through him. The screen changed once more, reading. {Focus. You must learn to navigate this environment. Open your status screen.} He blinked, or at least tried to¡ªan old reflex that no longer worked in this new, unblinking form. ¡®Status screen?¡¯ He thought, the confusion swirling in his mind somehow grounding him. What did that even mean? How was he supposed to focus on something he couldn¡¯t see, couldn¡¯t feel? {Concentrate. Visualize it.} Lucas hesitated, but then, swallowing his doubts, he reached inward, focusing his awareness, trying to picture a screen in his mind. It felt absurd, like a child¡¯s game, yet something within him responded. The darkness parted slightly in his thoughts, and suddenly, as though emerging from a fog, a translucent screen materialized in his mind standing side by side with the screen of text. Lines of text appeared on it, stark and clinical, each word clear yet oddly detached, like they were written for someone else. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 1 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly] Attributes: ?Physique: 1 ?Spirit: 1 ?Mind: 1 Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 1] ?Leech [Level 1] ?Spirit Sense [Level 1] Attribute points: 0 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The sheer weight of the information flooded his thoughts, each line pulling at a different thread of his bewilderment. After skimming through it, one particular line caught his attention. ¡®I¡¯m a mimic??¡¯ Ignoring his question, the screen changed once more. {Strive to master your skills.} ¡®But I don¡¯t even know how to use them! You know what? Just shut up!¡¯ He shot back, frustration bubbling beneath his surface once more. The only response he got was an overwhelming silence as both screens faded away. Reeling in his emotions, Lucas kept moving, pushing himself forward in what he hoped was a straight line. He had no real goal, no sense of direction, no map to guide him. But movement, even this clumsy crawl, gave him a fragile sense of control in this unfamiliar darkness. Every ripple, every inch forward, was his way of defying the helplessness that threatened to swallow him whole. The sounds grew louder as he went on, filling the emptiness around him with a new, visceral unease. Scraping claws against stone. Low, rumbling growls that seemed to vibrate through the air and sink deep into his amorphous form, like distant thunder. Each noise triggered a tremor of instinctive fear that pulsed through his strange, volatile body, a constant reminder that he was not alone here. Whatever made those sounds were alive¡ªand moving closer. ''Think, Lucas,'' he told himself, gripping onto the thought as if it were an anchor. ''There has to be a way out of this.'' He forced his breathing¡ªwell, his awareness¡ªto steady, to focus, calming the frantic urge to panic. And then, as he slowed his pace and quieted his mind, something unexpected began to happen. The sounds¡ªthe scraping, the growling, the subtle shifting of stone¡ªbecame more distinct. They didn¡¯t just register as noise but painted strange, blurry impressions in his mind like foggy, grey shadows moving against the dark. Curiosity overtook him. He let go of every other thought and instead concentrated solely on his hearing, listening with an intensity he¡¯d never thought possible. It was almost like a switch had been flipped. Each sound became sharper, more defined, no longer just a directionless clamor in the blackness but layered with depth and texture. Slowly, as he tuned in further, the world around him began to form into an image, a landscape built entirely from sound. In his mind, he could ¡°see¡± it. Fuzzy impressions of walls, rough and jagged. The cold, uneven floor was littered with debris. Grey outlines of moving shapes, their footsteps rough and uneven, scratching against the stone with each step. The creatures from before, they were close now, shuffling slowly but steadily toward him. ¡®I can see¡­¡¯ The thought flickered with astonishment, almost disbelief. Though he had no eyes, no vision as he once knew it, the sounds around him created something close enough to sight. An outline of the surroundings stretched out in his mind¡ªa mental map, very imperfect and incomplete, but real enough to guide him. As he listened, he quickly got overwhelmed with his new perception. Unlike his sight, he could essentially see 360 degrees around him. His human mind took a bit to adjust but thankfully, it seemed mimics normally perceived things this way so he quickly got over it. ¡®Okay, this is a good start. But what now?¡¯ His first instinct was to move¡ªto get away from the looming shapes in the distance. But another part of him, a part honed by years of climbing and leaping and testing his limits, told him to wait. To hold still, let the sounds map out his surroundings further, take in every detail he could. If he could learn the rough layout of this place, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe¡¯d have a chance to avoid whatever danger awaited. The sounds grew even clearer, each scrape and growl etching a slightly better picture. He felt the distance between himself and the creatures, felt the slow, predatory way they moved. His mind processed their movement, every step they took sending a pulse of information through his awareness. The creatures were closing in, but he was learning too, his new awareness gradually giving him an edge. ''Let my instincts guide me, huh?'' He thought, tightening his focus. He could do this. His body was different, but his instincts, his resolve¡ªthat part of him was still Lucas. And with this strange new skill, he was more prepared than he¡¯d thought. Chapter 3: First encounter. Chapter 3: First encounter. With his new "sight," Lucas gingerly explored his environment, feeling out each stretch and shift of his tendrils across the rough, jagged floor. The act of dragging his amorphous form over stone was a strange blend of effort and intuition. ¡®Let¡¯s try avoiding noises that sound like animals for now.¡¯ His body instinctively recoiled from a faint clatter in the distance. The words he had just read echoed in his mind, urging him to adapt, to survive. And so, he avoided anything that sounded alive. After all, he had no clue what he was dealing with yet. Over time, the darkness around him became less suffocating and more familiar, even comforting. He began to feel attuned to the way his senses worked now, sensing echoes, the small shifts of air, and the subtle tremors in the ground. It was as if he were learning to ¡°see¡± with a kind of second sight, a perception driven not by light but by sound and touch, each faint noise feeding into an emerging mental map. Each sound he heard helped him piece together a world in fragments, a mosaic crafted from faint echoes and delicate vibrations. Every noise, from the soft drip of water to the distant crunches and wails, painted a piece of the mental map forming in his mind. The rough contours of the cavern sharpened with each new sound, textures filling in like brushstrokes. This perception wasn¡¯t passive; it demanded his full attention, his focus shifting from the absence of sight to the richness of sound and touch. The more he listened, the clearer the map became. A shifting, living representation of his surroundings. After what felt like half an hour of creeping through the dungeon¡¯s endless corridors, Lucas found a narrow crevice nestled against the wall. Relief surged through him, followed by an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. His instinct told him this small, hidden space was a haven. A place he could blend into, hidden from sight, safe from predators. Almost instinctively, he wrapped himself into the crevice, pressing into the cold stone and feeling its contours close around him. In the silent darkness of the crevice, a strange calm washed over him. ''Why does this feel so¡­ right? This is literally just a dark hole in the wall.¡¯ He thought, a faint worry nibbling at the edges of his mind. The body he now inhabited didn¡¯t only change his physical form, but perhaps something deeper within him was shifting, too. The fatigue he hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d been carrying began to press down, all the mental tension from everything that has happened to him recently finally caught up to him. Memories of his old life, his last moments as a human, felt like fragments of a dream, slipping further out of reach. And in the solitude of the dark, his thoughts quieted. He drifted off to a deep sleep Quelch. A wet, squelching sound woke him from his slumber. Lucas immediately snapped awake, his form flattening instinctively against the stone as his awareness sharpened. The noise came closer, a slow, steady drag punctuated by unsettling squishes and plops. Something was moving toward him, something dense and liquid, its crawling was rhythmic and unhurried, as if it knew exactly where it was going. ¡®What was that?¡¯ Even though he had his new perception to rely on, making out precise details with his new senses was not possible at the moment. All he could make out was a very hazy mass slowly making its way towards him. Lucas stayed still, trying to blend further into the shadows of his crevice. The rough rock dug into him as he struggled to push himself deep in, almost trying to melt into the stone. The sound grew louder, wet and viscous, the air around him thickening with an acidic, stinging scent. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and dread as he strained to identify what was approaching. Quelch! Lucas froze in place, every nerve on edge as the noise echoed down the rocky passage. The vibrations ran through his heightened senses, and he felt them deep within, a steady, slithering approach that prickled his new instincts with a jolt of fear. His mind screamed at him to retreat, to find somewhere safer, but his body¡ªstill clumsy, still adjusting to this new reality¡ªremained motionless. Frozen. He couldn¡¯t see it, couldn¡¯t pinpoint the exact form of the threat, but he knew it was getting closer, its presence an oppressive, slimy weight in the darkness. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡®Please¡­just keep going¡­don¡¯t come here¡­¡¯ But the noise didn¡¯t fade. Instead, it grew louder, its pace almost purposeful, as though it knew where he was hidden. He could feel it now, a vague, pulsating presence, something that felt alive, drawing nearer with a patient, relentless determination. Suddenly, the sounds stopped. Silence settled over the cavern, thick and heavy. Lucas held himself as still as he possibly could, waiting, hoping it would go another way though his instincts vaguely told him otherwise. Then, before he could process what was happening, something cold and slimy brushed against him. A split second later, it latched on, and an eruption of burning agony seared through him. The creature¡ªwhatever it was¡ªclung to his form, its body ate away at him like it was made of jelly-like acid. The agony was blinding, consuming every part of his awareness until all he could do was thrash, his shapeless form flailing wildly against the stone walls and floor, striking everything in a desperate attempt to dislodge the creature. It held on firmly, its toxic touch dissolving layer after layer of his form. The pain was so overwhelming, all thoughts left his mind. In this moment, only two things existed, him and pain. He was going to die. Desperation overtook him, and in a frenzied attempt to free himself, Lucas whipped himself in every direction, slamming himself back against the cold stone. Tendrils lashed out wildly, seeking to bring him any ounce of respite. But the burning only worsened, the creature seemed to ooze further over him, its acidic body melting him down rapidly. The cold stone beneath him was now slick with fluids. The foul stench of rot and decay filled his senses, a smell so intense it nearly choked him. He felt his mind beginning to falter, the pain-numbing his thoughts as he faced the harsh realization that he was on the verge of being consumed entirely. At his height of hopelessness, something suddenly snapped within him. A fierce, primal instinct surged through him. It cleared away the haze of fear and agony, sharpening his focus to the extreme. The foreign but unmistakable instincts of a Mimic clawed to the forefront of his mind, urging him to fight, to survive. His frantic thrashing ceased, his movements grew more precise and deadly. His tendrils, once weak and flailing, began to harden, sharpening into thin, deadly points. With a fierce burst of movement, Lucas struck back. Fully consumed by his instincts. His sharpened tendrils lashed out, slicing through the creature¡¯s gelatinous body in a blur of fury, sending splatters of its acidic form across the stone. The creature recoiled, its writhing mass momentarily disrupted, but Lucas didn¡¯t relent. He struck again and again, his tendrils cutting deeper and faster, each hit driven by a ravenous need to destroy, an instinct that felt both foreign and empowering. But his foe was tenacious. Despite the punishment Lucas had inflicted, it lunged at him once more, its corrosive body latching onto him with renewed vigor. Its corrosive and pungent fluid seeped deeper, his form dissolving with a sharp hiss. Yet even as the unbearable pain wracked his body, Lucas felt himself regenerating. His Mimic form, resilient and relentless, fought to heal, knitting together his wounds even as the acid burned through him. His whole being pulsed with a force he didn¡¯t fully understand¡ªa dark, primal will to survive. The agony transformed, warping into something else¡ªa hunger, raw and insatiable. His form twisted, contorting as a monstrous maw opened within him, lined with jagged teeth¡ªa grotesque manifestation of his new reality. He lunged forward without hesitation, driven entirely by the feral Mimic instincts that had taken hold. With a final, savage motion, Lucas bit down on the tenacious slime. This attack ripped out a large chunk of the slime, instantly killing it. Lucas proceeded to eviscerate its remains with a barrage of tendril lashes, not giving it a chance to make a comeback. Its acidic form burned him from the inside as he devoured it, the taste was sharp and metallic, vile and toxic, but none of that mattered. He swallowed the creature, his body shuddering with the intensity of the act. And then, at last, there was silence. Lucas slumped down, his form quivering as the last traces of the slime¡¯s acid faded, leaving his tendrils twitching and his surface sizzling from the corrosive assault. A sharp sickening odor still wafted in the air. But at the very least, he was alive though barely. His mind, however, was shattered. The battle had been savage, far more brutal than anything he¡¯d ever experienced. The exhaustion that settled over him was inescapable, a deep weariness that dulled his thoughts to a slow crawl. He couldn¡¯t think, couldn¡¯t process what he¡¯d just been through. Lucas lay there, trembling, his body piecing itself back together as his regeneration took hold. He was alive. He had survived the encounter. But the cost, he still felt it. The acid had eaten into every fiber of his form, and he still burned from the inside out. The healing would be slow, dragging through each painful moment, but his body would recover. His mind, though, was another matter. For a long time, Lucas just lay there, unmoving, unable to gather his thoughts. The trauma of the fight lingered, a fog of pain and fear clouding everything. The closeness of death was still fresh¡ªso fresh, it had only been minutes since he¡¯d felt himself dissolving, breaking apart. And he knew, deep down, this was just the start. ¡®I almost died¡­¡¯ His mind flashed back to his school and that blank void. His mind couldn¡¯t fully comprehend all that had happened but this encounter had snapped him out of a daze he didn¡¯t know he was in. ¡®This isn¡¯t a dream¡­ I¡¯m a mimic now and I almost died.¡¯ He thought, exhaustion wearing him thin both mentally and physically. But slowly, beneath the exhaustion, a new feeling stirred. The fear and pain were still there, gnawing at him, yet something else began to take shape, a raw, quiet resolve. This cavern, this strange world, that presence¡ªthey were all trying to crush him, to grind him down until there was nothing left but fragments. They wanted him to fail, to fall apart, just like that slime had nearly broken him. But he wouldn¡¯t let it. Not now. Not ever. His form shuddered as he gradually pulled himself together, his tendrils extending to brace against the cold stone walls. The regeneration process continued, patching over the damage, knitting his form back together. And even as his body mended, his mind¡ªhis Spirit¡ªpushed him forward. He would survive. No matter what. Chapter 4: Struggling Chapter 4: Struggling. After resting for a while, Lucas began drifting aimlessly along the shadowed walls of the cavern once more. Each awkward slink of his form reminded him of his battle with the slime. The cavern stretched in every direction, an endless maze of cold, damp stone, its oppressive silence broken only by his movements and the occasional distant echo. Every touch of his tendrils against the rough ground sent strange, muted sensations rippling through him, reminders of his new body¡¯s odd, alien nature. ¡®I¡¯m really doing this?¡¯ The thought echoed hollowly in his mind. He¡¯d told himself to survive, to push through this ordeal, but in truth, he wasn¡¯t sure what he was supposed to do. The Rage, despair, fear¡ªemotions that would have flooded him back in his old life¡ªnow felt noticeably dimmer, faint echoes dulled by the strange numbness of his form. It was as though his new body lacked the capacity to fully process them. And yet, the absence of these emotions gnawed at him, leaving him unsettled, almost as if he were watching himself from somewhere far away. ¡®Something¡¯s not right.¡¯ He could tell but had no way of finding out the exact problem, neither did he have the time to deal with it. So, he continued his slow march along the uneven floor, he focused his awareness on his surroundings as much as possible. Every faint sound and smell captured brought with them the creeping fear of the unknown. Suddenly, he picked up on something peculiar¡ªa faint, almost melodic rhythm pulsed through the cavern itself. It was subtle, barely distinguishable from the ambient noise, yet something about it drew him in. He stopped, listening intently, his nebulous form pulsed slightly as he absorbed the gentle beat. The sound was very faint but steady, a rhythm that felt both alien and comforting, like a heartbeat echoing from deep within the earth. As he focused, the rhythm seemed to resonate with him, a low, vibrating pulse that coursed through his form, washing over the aches and exhaustion left from the battle. For a fleeting moment, Lucas felt rejuvenated, as if the cavern¡¯s rhythm was lending him strength, grounding him in its ancient, unyielding presence. It was strangely calming, easing some of the anxiety gnawing at him, almost like the cavern itself was speaking to him, offering a strange sort of companionship. But then, as quickly as it had come, the rhythm faded, and Lucas snapped out of his trance. The soothing presence receded, leaving him alone in the silence once more, his awareness crashing back into his strange, aching body. ¡®What¡­ was that?¡¯ He felt something shift inside him, a kind of yearning he couldn¡¯t quite define. As he tried to make sense of it, his body subconsciously morphed, rippling through different shapes as if trying to mirror his confusion. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was some leftover instinct from his human life or something entirely new, but it was unsettling yet fascinating. After a few moments of silent contemplation, he forced himself to push the experience aside. He had just survived a near-death encounter with the slime, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be caught off guard again. ¡®Focus, Lucas. We have to find a real safe space, not just another crack in the wall.¡¯ He began contemplating where a blind creature like him would be safest. The idea of climbing up formed slowly in his mind, a faint spark of hope he hadn¡¯t felt since arriving in this place. ¡®Higher ground,¡¯ he thought. ¡®If I could scale these walls, maybe I¡¯d find somewhere safer¡­ somewhere I could actually get my bearings with minimal worry.'' But he wasn¡¯t exactly confident in his climbing skills, at least not anymore. ¡®I got this,¡¯ he encouraged, trying to psyche himself up. ¡®It¡¯s just like rock climbing¡­ only now I¡¯ve got way better tools... I just have no clue on how to use them efficiently...¡¯ With a tentative resolve, he approached a wall and began testing his finer movements, inch by inch. He reached out, growing a tendril, then retracting it, stretching his flexibility as he experimented. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His body, though malleable, didn¡¯t seem to respond quite as he expected; each attempt to move upward sent him stumbling, collapsing back into a amorphous, shifting mass. His human mind struggled to fully command this alien form¡ªit was like learning to walk all over again, except this time with limbs that could change length and shape at will. And to make it worse, he felt like he was made of water. After experimenting for a few minutes, he focused once more, extending his tendrils as he remembered doing when he frantically lashed out at that slime. He imagined them hardening, visualizing the tension and strength he¡¯d felt when fighting the slime. To his relief, they stiffened under his will, taking on a sharper, more precise form. One tendril stretched up, its tip tapering into a crude, hook-like claw that clung to a crack in the wall. He extended another, latching onto the rock beside it, his new limbs swaying slightly with each attempt to stabilize himself. The sensation was strange, but a thrill bubbled up in him as he saw his body obey his commands. He could feel his reach expanding, his tendrils responding with a newfound strength. His form was grotesque, certainly, but there was a certain satisfaction in shaping it, in molding it with purpose. Each motion felt less like an awkward nudge and more like the beginning of finer movement. ¡®I can do this¡­ I¡¯m starting to understand.¡¯ With renewed determination, he adjusted his grip, pulling his body upward, one tendril at a time. It wasn¡¯t graceful¡ªfar from it¡ªbut he was moving. The wall felt cold and rough against his shifting form, but he didn¡¯t let go, inching higher and higher, gaining confidence with each movement. He could hear his tendrils scraping along the stone, their rigidity barely holding as he forced them to obey his will. Lucas paused, focusing on his senses. His body stilled as he listened to the cavern¡¯s silence, focusing on the faint whispers of the wind and the distant echo of dripping water. The darkness around him pressed close, an almost physical weight, but he forced himself to ignore the doubts creeping in. ''Let¡¯s keep going.'' He reaffirmed his resolve and pushed himself upward, inch by cautious inch. Each movement, each small gain, felt like a triumph. His human mind wrestled with this strange mimic body, yet he knew he had no choice but to adapt. Somehow, he had to create a balance between the two, he had to find a way forward. He focused his thoughts, narrowing them to the climb itself, every tendril placement a calculated risk but with his new sense, he could navigate the wall well enough. As he climbed, he began to notice something odd: his body didn¡¯t tire like it would have before. His human arms would¡¯ve long since begun to falter on such a sheer ascent, but in this form, it was his coordination¡ªhis ability to control his limbs and body¡ªthat remained his biggest hurdle. After nearly fifteen minutes, he hooked a tendril onto a sturdy outcropping above and hoisted himself up, settling onto the wide ledge. His form stretched across its jagged edges, and though it was cramped, he felt a sense of relief. The ledge was just large enough to hold him. After resting for a few moments, he thought to himself. ''Alright, let¡¯s see that¡­ what was it called again? Oh, right. Status screen.'' He concentrated, and with a moment¡¯s delay, the status screen appeared in his mind. ¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 1 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly] Attributes: ?Physique: 1 ?Spirit: 1 ?Mind: 1 Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 1] ?Leech [Level 1] ?Spirit Sense [Level 1] Attribute points: 0 ¡ª¡ª¡ª Lucas scanned the screen, trying to make sense of the details it contained. There seemed to be a lot on the screen but he just didn''t understand the context of most of it. After a few moments of fruitless analysis, he sighed. ''Isn¡¯t this like those litRPGs Jake always spoke of?'' he mused. ''Jake would¡¯ve made sense of this in no time.'' The thought of his friend brought with it a pang of melancholy. His mind drifted to the world he had watched get destroyed, the people he¡¯d never see again, and that mind-breaking presence. ¡®Fuck.¡¯ He cursed, the pain and negative emotions from that event still haunting him. After a few moments, his emotions simmered down and he refocused. The status screen faded, replaced by the cold, dark reality of the cavern. He was alone, but he was still here. He took in his shifting, amorphous body, a thought struck him. ''I need to get a handle on this form before trying anything more complex.'' He steadied himself, stretching his tendrils experimentally, hardening and shaping them. He imagined them as tools that could anchor and support him¡ªnot limbs. His current body was not his old one, he could not view them as the same. Little by little, he started to gain some control, twisting his body in ways that felt more efficient. The small victories bolstered his confidence. ''I can do this. I have to.'' Chapter 5: Hanging out. Chapter 5: Hanging out. As Lucas practiced movements with his body for hours on end, he eventually became weary and fell asleep. He drifted off to slumber like a switch being flipped off. His mind simply could not keep up with the high levels of focus needed in his current situation. As he slept, he had a dream. Lucas found himself back on a familiar street, the evening light casting long shadows as he ran. He felt the thrill of speed, each leap and turn precise, the rhythm of his movements second nature to him. He launched himself over a railing, tucking and rolling before springing to his feet. People walked around him, oblivious to his stunts or outright ignoring him¡ªjust the way he liked it. But then he caught a glimpse of a face in the crowd, twisted in a way it''s not supposed to. It was only a flash, but his heartbeat stuttered. He shook it off and kept moving¡ªhis pace going up a notch, but the faces of those around him started to change, one by one. Each stranger¡¯s eyes grew hollow and empty, their features morphing and shifting impossibly, their heads following his movements even when their bodies were facing the opposite direction. He stopped dead in his tracks to make sense of what was going on but suddenly, one of the malformed people lunged at him, their arms lengthening grotesquely, fingers clawing at him viciously. Lucas stumbled as he dodged frantically, barely catching himself as he began running away at full speed. But his limbs felt heavy and unsteady. When he glanced down to figure out what the problem was, his hands were no longer his own neither were his feet. They looked entirely alien to him. They rippled, shifting and transforming, becoming slick and unnatural tentacles. His fingers twisted into strange shapes, betraying him, refusing to respond the way he wanted them to. Panic began to set in but he kept moving, feeling the world around him begin to pulse and writhe. This created a disorienting effect that made him feel nauseous. The people surrounding him now looked so horribly disfigured that they did not even look human anymore. Their facial figures contorted to degrees no human could possibly bare. With each step, his body continued to change, warping into something unrecognizable. His muscles betrayed him, their strength and precision he relied on dissolving into weakness. It felt like he was trapped inside himself, unable to control this new, grotesque form. The creatures closed in, their forms merging, twisting into one overwhelming mass of dark, slithering shapes. Watching this happen, his fear spiked dramatically. In an attempt to hasten his escape, he stumbled and fell to the ground. Just as the mass of writhing flesh swallowed him whole, he felt the memory of his last moments, his death, flashing through his mind¡ªthe terror, the helplessness, the final, agonizing collapse into darkness. Lucas jolted awake, his form writhing in his confusion and panic. To add to this confusion, he felt himself falling off the narrow outcropping he was on. If his level of panic before was an eight out of ten, it immediately shot up to an eleven. Instinctively, numerous spiked tentacles burst out of him and he hooked himself to the wall. He took a few moments to calm himself then he climbed back up. ''Of all the ways to die, being killed by a nightmare wasn¡¯t on my list. I¡¯d give anything to be back in my bed, where the worst thing I had to worry about was oversleeping..'' Lucas sighed internally, his numbed emotions had certainly spiked in that brief moment when he was falling. As he rested, his thoughts began wondering. ''What kinda dream was that?'' He mulled over the nightmare for a while, his mind eventually drifted away from it as it became hazy in his memory. He eventually thought of how he just clung to the wall instinctively, it oddly led him to a cherished memory from his childhood, the day he first learned how to do a front flip. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. After watching a video online on how to do a front flip, he just went to his backyard and tried it. His first attempt was a very painful face plant but he improved on his subsequent tries and after a few hours, he could do a front flip easily. ''Isn''t it the same now? I just have to try intuitively like back then... even if the stakes are much higher now.'' With that in mind, he proceeded to try manipulating his body even more. This time not craving instant mastery, but simply understanding the process itself. He didn''t know if it was because of him instinctively clinging on to the outcropping due to his nightmare or him framing the experience as a flip but, he was improving much faster than he was before. His fear of his new form being pushed to the back of his mind as he let his body follow its instincts. Hardening his tendrils was getting easier and his limbs were more responsive. This shift excited him and he began testing just how much he could do. After about half an hour, while he was almost gleefully practicing his movements, he began feeling a familial but almost forgotten sensation¡ªHunger. It was different than what he was used to though, he could quite literally feel like the ''core'' of his being was empty. This sensation rapidly damped his improving mood as Lucas thought to himself ''What am I going to eat?'' As he thought about the issue, he could feel dread building up within him. He had lived his whole life as a human with all his basic necessities met without him having to even think about them. His biggest concern back then was whether the type of food he was craving at the moment was available or not. But now... he didn''t even know when he would get his next meal or even how to eat in his current form. He tried to ignore the feelings of hunger for now but with the floodgate of memories of his past opened, he began reminiscing on places and people. ''Will I ever see mom again?'' As his mind got to this point, memories of his mom came flooding in. The sense of dread he had begun to feel spiked. The things he had been subconsciously ignoring sprang up in his mind one by one. Everyone and everything he knew was gone. Without any rhyme or reason, his whole life had been taken away from him. And now he didn''t even know what he was anymore... His form sat on the outcropping deep in thought when suddenly, he smelt a sharp, metallic smell in the air. It instantly drew him out of his thoughts because he knew what it was. Blood. Before he could process this new information any further, he heard some soft, shuffling movements from the cavern floor below. Lucas tensed up on his small outcropping given how unfriendly his previous encounter with a life form in this new world had been. He focused on his hearing as much as possible and began picking out some details about the movements. They sounded like heavy footsteps from something bipedal and there were at least four of them. As he listened, the steps got closer and closer. About two minutes later, he could tell there were five creatures moving in his direction. He could vaguely make out their humanoid stature but nothing else. With each step they took closer to him, the more panicked he felt. He could feel his tendrils hardening and piercing into the rock beneath him while his body pulsed and flexed with anxiety. ''It''s okay, they don''t know I''m here. I just have to relax and they will pass me by. Simple.'' Lucas told himself, doing his best to calm down his fraying nerves. As he calmed himself down, a chilling thought crossed his mind. ''Why did they stop near me??'' Lucas felt his nonexistent heart drop and he froze in place like a grotesque statue. Each passing second was excruciating as his mind grappled with the possibility that he had been spotted. He suddenly heard a low, rough, and guttural voice beneath him. With his heightened hearing, it felt like the sound was being transmitted directly to the core of his being. Almost immediately, a different voice equally guttural voice responded. The creatures then seemed to move around for a bit almost like they were searching for something. ''Fuck...'' Lucas¡¯ heart somehow sank even lower. Even though he could not understand them, just their mere presence and the fact that they were searching around frightened him. His mind scrambled as he felt subtle, rhythmic vibrations on the outcropping he sat on. ''Did they spot me already?'' Lucas thought to himself as his panic grew to new heights, he had no clue how far he had climbed up the wall or how bright it actually was. For all he knew they might be staring at him directly. As the steps grew closer and closer, a third voice suddenly cut in, causing the other four creatures to stop their movements. The others just grunted something in response before a weaker, almost elderly fourth voice said. The other creatures grunted, the creature who was closing in on Lucas seemed to move away as the vibrations of its steps grew fainter. As Lucas felt a wave of relief, one of the creatures suddenly said. < It''s moving away.> The first creature who spoke grunted and responded with. As it said that, they began moving away from Lucas. Lucas waited until he could no longer hear any sounds around him for a few minutes before he began moving again. His tense nerves and tentacles unwinding. ''What were those things? They could actually talk even though I don''t understand them at all.¡® Lucas thought about what just happened for a few moments before thinking to himself. ''Should I follow them?'' Chapter 6: Familiar feelings. Chapter 6: Familial Feelings. ''Should I follow them?'' Lucas wondered, he didn''t know if it was due to the fact that they seemed capable of communication or it was just sheer curiosity but the thought seemed enticing at the moment. ''No. That would be too dangerous, I have no reason to assume those creatures are not going to be aggressive towards me. I can barely move around reliably and have no clue where I am, I would just be setting myself up to get attacked or worse.'' With this rationalization in mind, Lucas tried to think up his next plan of action. Hunger still gnawed at him and he still had no concrete idea on what to do about it. ''Okay, let''s start slow. Since I''ve gotten better at moving, let''s move in the opposite direction of those creatures and try to figure out this hunger problem. At least then I will be killing two birds with one stone, right?'' His amorphous form rippled in affirmation at the thought. He extended a tendril beyond his small outcropping, he did so slowly and methodically before piercing it into the wall. It went in rather easily to his slight surprise. The rough and sturdy wall felt almost comfortable on his tendril¡¯s grip. After getting used to the sensation for a few moments, he reached out a second tendril and repeated the process. Before he knew it, he had eight tendrils in the wall and stuck to it. His form rippled as he thought to himself. ''I can do this, it''s just like a flip. Rough start, rewarding end.'' After he psyched himself up, he proceeded to move across the wall like an unholy spider. His pace picked up little by little until a few minutes later, he was practically dashing across the wall. Each step of his tendril was eerily quiet but the vibrations they produced fed his senses with the information he needed to move around properly. As he got used to it, he felt a familial rush. That feeling he got only when he raced across his city with no care in the world. The urge to yell despite his lack of vocal cords. ''Let''s take this up a notch!'' He internalized giddily, his former confidence in himself shining through. For a brief moment, he forgot about his rather grim situation. He dashed forward with as much velocity as he could muster, his body molding itself into a smaller shape as he willed it to. His eight tendrils moved across the wall with remarkable precision. When his speed peaked, he suddenly put as much power as he could muster into his tendrils and pushed hard on the wall, shooting himself horizontally across the wall like a cannonball. As he felt himself gliding just barely above the surface of the wall at such high speeds, a wave of mild euphoria hit him and something ephemeral rippled within him. ''This is what I''m talking about!!'' With that internal roar, he generated a much thicker tendril, waited for the precise moment when he began slowing down to pierce the wall with an audible crack. He then used it as leverage to swing even further while conserving as much momentum as he could. After a few swings, he caught himself on an outcropping and took a rest. His mind reeled at what he had just done. ''How did I do that?'' Lucas was stunned at what just happened. Just a few moments ago, he could barely control his own body. But now he was zipping across the walls like some superhero? ''Maybe it¡¯s some mimic instincts or something that''s helping me adjust? Or maybe I''m just a genius at parkour? Hehe, probably both.'' If he could smile, he would be grinning to himself. The feeling of racing across the wall lifted his mood tremendously but something suddenly brought him back down from that high. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ''Argh!'' Lucas¡¯ form spasmed as he almost fell off the outcropping he sat on, his hunger quite literally was piercing through the core of his being. ''I have to eat something.'' Lucas thought grimly. ''But what am I going to eat?'' The question stumped him. Even though he knew he was not a human anymore, it didn''t erase eighteen years of experience he had as one. That was not something you could just ignore. ''What did that voice say again? "Let your instincts guide you?" Well... they have definitely helped me move better, let''s try applying that to getting food.'' When he reached this point in his thinking, he tried to focus his senses on the cavern below. If he could pick up the sound of anything small, he would go down and eat it. Simple. He didn''t know if it was the numbed emotions or if he was still not processing all the events that had happened to him properly but, he knew he had to eat something, and getting picky would literally lead to his death. He would think more when he was satiated first. With his resolve made, he sat and focused on his hearing. Minutes passed like a breeze. During this time, he heard a myriad of distant sounds. Some of them were things he could recognize like water dripping on a rock, creatures moving around, and fighting. Other things though we''re not so familiar. Sometimes, he could hear a faint cracking sound. Almost like the static of a television, when he focused on it, it would be gone. The cavern tunnels also seemed to stretch oddly, sometimes sound would randomly take slightly longer to travel. The occurrence confused him but he put it to the back of his mind. Other times he would hear a faint vibration with a very peculiar rhythm to it. He had heard it''s tranquil melody before but now it grew louder as he paid more attention to it instead of fading away. It was all-encompassing and soothed his mind in a way he didn''t know was possible. As he listened to its rhythm, every other sound slowly faded away. After dozens of tranquil minutes, the sound suddenly shutter before it vanished. Lucas heard a chime in his head as he received a notification. {Spirit sense [Level 1]¡ª> Spirit sense [Level 2]} ''Woah...'' The notification didn''t even register in his mind because when the sound changed. Suddenly, his senses erupted with clarity. The faint vibrations turned into vivid echoes, painting every crevice of the cavern in more intricate detail. His entire perception of the world had shifted in an instant. ''What just happened?? Woah... this is going to take some getting used to.'' As he ''looked'' around, he noticed something about his ''sight'' had changed. It was now more detailed but completely monochromatic, that is, his perception appeared completely black and white. As he tried to adjust to these developments and understand what had just happened to him, he opened up his status screen and took note of the most significant change. ''The [Spirit sense] skill just leveled up. Was it because I was paying attention to my senses so much? Well, at least I can see now. I can run and I can see what I''m running towards. That''s some progress at least. Now I just have to get used to it and finally get something to eat.'' Though he had more questions on how his [Spirit sense] skill worked and how all his other skills worked as well, he knew contemplating on it at the moment would get him nowhere. Besides, he had a much more pressing concern. He felt almost hollow due to his hunger. The rush of emotion he felt from the dash across the wall had long since faded, now he had to get his first meal in this strange new world. Gingerly, he began moving along the cavern wall. His tendrils gripped the stone with ease, each movement confident yet recognizably inhuman. He felt his body adjust naturally as if it were always meant to move this way. As he moved, he noticed something fascinating. Every time a tendril struck the wall, it sent out a pulse¡ªa subtle vibration that rippled outward like a stone dropped in a pond. These pulses temporarily ¡°illuminated¡± his surroundings, painting the cavern in strange, monochromatic clarity. Fascinated, he paused to focus on this phenomenon. The world around him was stark in its simplicity, the simple colors of black and white gave him much more detail than he thought possible. The vibrations he made¡ªno matter how faint¡ªrevealed the terrain with eerie precision. ¡®Is my new sight¡­ related to sound? Like how bats do it? But I thought the skill had something to do with my Spirit? Whatever that means¡­¡¯ Curiosity overtook him, briefly distracting him from the ache in his core. He experimented further, sending deliberate pulses out with more forceful tendril strikes. The echoes painted sharper outlines of his environment: jagged stalagmites below, distant outcroppings, and faint movements of creatures scurrying far beneath him. The more he focused, the clearer everything became. Minute noises in the distance appeared like faint beacons in his monochrome vision. The drip of water was a gentle flicker; the scrape of unseen creatures was a darting blur. His surroundings were a symphony of motion and sound, and he was starting to feel like he belonged in it. ¡®This is incredible,¡¯ Lucas thought, feeling genuinely moved. Tick Tick Suddenly, a loud ticking sound grabbed Lucas'' attention. The sound was sharp, rhythmic, and close. Unlike the faint background noises, this was something deliberate¡ªalive. His tendrils tensed instinctively, digging into the wall as he honed in on the sound. There. He could see it now¡ªa small, darting form moving along a ledge not too far from where he clung. It emitted those rhythmic ticks, each one drawing him closer like a moth to a flame. ''Here goes nothing. Let''s see what I''m made of.'' A mix of fear and anticipation coursed through him. He knew it was time to hunt. Chapter 7: Survival of the fittest. Chapter 7: Survival of the fittest. As Lucas cautiously made his way toward the ticking sounds, his body rippled and writhed mimicking the whirlpool of emotions and the gnawing hunger he was currently feeling. With each tendriled step, he took closer to the source of the skittering and ticking, the more his form writhed and rippled in nervousness while his ¡°vision¡± of what the creature was became more detailed. Lucas abruptly stopped at a good distance away from the sounds. With his perception, he could hear what he had been tracking these past few minutes. It was¡ªin his opinion¡ª a beetle, a really big one at that. It looked to be much larger than himself, this combined with its huge mandibles and the spines jotting out of its bulky-looking carapace gave it a rather intimidating presence. ''This might be more difficult than I assumed.'' Lucas thought nervously, his tendrils subconsciously hardening and digging deeper into the wall. His rational side told him to get away from this creature as soon as possible. ''Fuck. I can''t chicken out now. It''s either I die trying or die later.'' Lucas made up his mind and with the hunger that seemed to grow more pronounced every minute, it was not a difficult choice to make. He stalked closer to his would-be prey. It didn¡¯t seem to have registered his presence yet as it moved across the cavern floor at a quick pace. Lucas followed behind it as quietly as he could, luckily that did not require much effort given that his movements were almost inaudible by nature. Lucas followed the bug for about fifteen minutes, picking up on all vibrations and sounds it made due to its movements with laser-like focus. During this period, the beetle had moved quite erratically. Going through seemingly random tunnels and crawled into crevices haphazardly. In some holes, other creatures and insects would be present leading to the armored bug killing them with a few swift chomps. After each kill, it would just eat a small amount of the crushed creatures. It would then buzz its wings over the carcass for a few moments before leaving it as it moved on through the wide and wet passages of the cavern. ''Is it looking for a specific creature?'' Lucas couldn''t help but ask himself as he noticed how the bug handled its prey. He thought of eating its leftovers but the thought nauseated him. ''Nah, I will get something fresh for my first meal. No need to get some sloppy seconds from a beetle I don''t even know.'' As he contemplated the armored insect''s actions while attempting to lighten his own mood, the beetle suddenly froze like a paused video. Then, in an instant, it swiftly darted to a puddle that contained a mysterious liquid. When it got there, the insect clacked its huge mandibles a couple of times before it continued its journey. It never made any physical contact with the puddle once. When it left, Lucas made a short stop near the puddle and tried to see if he could figure out what it was. Before he could even get close to touching it, he was immediately hit by the heavy and oppressive smell of rotten flesh with a sharp acidic undertone. One thought immediately surged to the forefront of his mind when he picked up on the scent. ''A slime was here!'' Due to the fact that Lucas had almost been melted alive by one so recently, he could vividly remember the putrid odor it emitted as it attacked him. ''The bug is hunting a slime?'' Lucas reasoned, trying to understand its action, but he didn''t let the thought distract him as he kept following the bug''s trail. As he silently stalked the armored bug, he began to notice more and more creatures darting about, going about their business. He saw what ''looked'' like a millipede moving around on the side of the cavern wall. It was quite long and looked... fuzzy in his current vision though he couldn''t tell exactly why that was the case. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He also saw three small rat-like creatures attacking a cockroach with wild ferocity but, their attempts to attack it didn''t phase the bug whatsoever. It just swiftly skittered away from the trio who followed it out of Lucas'' range of perception. These were just a few examples of the buzz of activity going on in the widening cavern, every creature he could sense was in some kind of confrontation, was getting eaten or doing the eating. Multiple paths also appeared, leading to who knows where. In the midst of this chaos, Lucas chose to buckle down and follow the armored bug he had been tailing all this while. For some reason, most of the creatures just ignored the beetle and those that didn''t, were cleaved apart by its ferocious bite. Lucas on the other hand, just sneaked by the creatures as quietly as he could. Sticking to the walls like his life depended on it. ''This is rather intense. The cavern is thriving with this many creatures? Can I actually cope with this?'' Lucas thought grimly, he felt almost overwhelmed by all that was happening around him. He wasn''t a human who was "above" these "lower" creatures anymore because, in the sense that mattered the most, he was one of them now. ''I have to cope, thinking about all this right now is a recipe for disaster.'' Lucas refocused, shutting down the line of thought before any distracting and depressing thoughts could rear their ugly heads. With renewed determination and a blazing hunger in his core, he ventured deeper into the cavern hot on the trial of the armored beetle. Eventually, the beetle finally came to a stop. It had finally met its prey¡ªa slime. The slime had just begun crawling out of a rather large crevice in the wall. By comparing its size to the beetle''s, Lucas could tell it was much larger than the one that attacked him previously. Lucas felt nervous ''seeing'' the slime as it slid out of the crevice but the beetle seemed ready for action. It positioned itself directly in front of the slime, its mandibles opened wide and looking ready to pounce. Knowing they were about to clash, Lucas tensed up in anticipation, his senses heightened unbeknownst to him as he watched the slime calmly slide towards the waiting beetle, seeming oblivious to the threat. SNAP! In a sharp burst of motion, the beetle shot at the slime and bit into it with its huge and savage-looking mandibles. The impact produced a wet, sickening quelch as the slime was cut into two uneven halves. Before Lucas could react to the sudden assault, the slime reformed itself by the side of the armored beetle¡¯s head and lunged at it. Its jelly-like form consumed the beetle''s head and thorax. Almost immediately, Lucas heard a very faint hissing sound as the slime¡¯s acidic liquids went to work on the beetle''s tough carapace. The originally dark gray beetle had a much brighter head in Lucas'' monochromatic vision. The beetle, seemingly unbothered by the slime''s attack, just opened its mandibles 180 degrees wide before delivering a thunderous chomp at the empty air. SNAP!! The bite was so powerful that it generated a small shockwave which blasted away parts of the slime on the armored bug''s head and shook Lucas to the core. With a few shakes of its head and the firm buzzing of its powerful wings, the slime was fully slung off. Lucas watched this happen in quiet awe and fear. Trying his best to follow what was going on. He watched as the slime reformed itself a little bit slower this time and attacked the beetle again only to last for a little while before being destroyed. This process repeated itself, with the slime reforming itself slower and slower after each devastating attack from the beetle. Lucas could tell it would not last much longer and he couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. ''Am I really going to attack that thing? It''s using that slime like a punching bag and I barely survived my last encounter with a slime... maybe I was too hasty in following this monster.'' As these thoughts streaked across Lucas'' mind, the slime had been destroyed by the beetle one final time. The beetle then stood over the puddle it left behind just clacking its deadly mandibles and buzzing its wings. In Lucas'' vision, he could tell its carapace appeared slightly darker than it did before its fight with the slime¡ªif you can even call it that. Before he could fully wrestle with his fears, a faint tremor rippled through the wall above the beetle. Lucas froze, his senses sharpening as the vibrations grew sharper. A blur of motion shot out from the cavern ceiling, landing squarely on the beetle¡¯s back with a decisive thud. Lucas¡¯s tendrils quivered as he ¡°saw¡± the new arrival: a spider-like creature, its form faint and spindly in his monochrome perception. Without hesitation, it sank sharp fangs into the beetle¡¯s thorax, the attack precise and lethal. The beetle hissed¡ªa high-pitched, piercing sound that rattled Lucas¡¯ mind. It spun wildly, its tough wings buzzing with such force that they smashed the spider against the wall. The predator crumpled to the ground, stunned but still alive, before attempting a desperate leap away. But the beetle was faster. Its mandibles opened wide and snapped shut with bone-crushing force, severing the spider in mid-air. The cavern echoed with the *SNAP* as the beetle ground its would-be assassin into a pulpy mess. Lucas flinched, his body instinctively curling tighter against the wall. The beetle tossed the mangled spider¡¯s remains into its maw, its movement sluggish but deliberate. Then, it staggered forward, its steps uneven, the damage it sustained more apparent. ¡®It¡¯s weakened¡­ This is my chance!¡¯ Lucas¡¯ hunger roared to life, drowning out the rational whispers of retreat. He crept forward, his tendrils gripping the wall with newfound purpose. The beetle, oblivious to its shadowy stalker, continued its slow march toward the deeper darkness of the cavern. Lucas readied himself, forcing his writhing form to harden and tighten like a coiled spring. This was it¡ªthere would be no second opportunity. Chapter 8: Mimic in the Beetle鈥檚 shadow. Chapter 8: Mimic in the Beetle¡¯s Shadow. As Lucas watched the beetle creep away slowly, he decided to make his move. His tendrils hardened, his normally fluid and chaotic form becoming as still as a lake. He scuttled across the wall quickly, trying to get into a better position to launch his ambush. The beetle still did not seem to notice his movements and kept crawling away gingerly, trying to keep the injured section of its thorax as still as possible. In a matter of moments, Lucas reached what he considered to be the ideal spot to pounce. As he ¡°looked¡± down at the incoming beetle, no complex thoughts about what he should be doing or feeling appeared in his mind, he just had the simple and primal desire to attack the beetle with everything he had and finally get his meal. Just as the armored bug closed in, Lucas made his leap at it. He felt a sharp shift in his perception, almost like everything had slowed down to a crawl as he leaped off the wall down towards his unsuspecting prey. The air howled as his two front tendrils thickened and hardened into spear-like tips. Ready to impale the beetle in a sudden burst of violence. CRACK! With a sickening, wet crack, Lucas''s tendrils struck the beetle''s vulnerable thorax, unleashing a sudden gush of warm ichor. But instead of sinking deep into the wound, his tendrils merely grazed the injured flesh, refusing to gain the depth he desperately needed. The armored beetle let out a pained hiss as it shook and buzzed frantically, trying to knock off this new assailant. Due to their size difference, each frantic movement almost sent Lucas flying. He felt the air wail with each powerful motion but he held on as tightly as he could. His tendrils instinctively grew jagged spines to give him a firmer grip on the thrashing beetle. After a few moments of fruitless struggling, the beetle carapace noticeably darkened in Lucas¡¯ monochrome sight and it spread its wings in the next instant. Having seen the ferocious beetle¡¯s clash with the slime, Lucas could already guess what it was about to do but was too slow to react accordingly. BOOM! In a burst of motion, the beetle smashed itself into the side of the cavern wall. The earth-shattering impact planted Lucas firmly into the wall and left him in a daze, his tendrils retracting instinctively. The beetle removed itself from the crater as swiftly as it could before turning to face its adversary, its mandibles opened wide like a waiting bear trap. With his core rocked, Lucas could barely recall where he was. He hastily sank to the floor as he felt a sharp howling wind roar directly in front of him. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. SNAP! The beetle¡¯s coup de grace missed by just a few centimeters, but the shockwave generated by the powerful bite slammed the amorphous Lucas to the cold cavern floor with a wet twak. The beetle struggled for a moment to readjust itself as it took a few steps back before preparing to deliver another fatal bite. As Lucas saw this opening, he gathered his wits and tried to slink away while he had the chance. The novice mimic generated 8 tendrils and shot out of the side of the crater with as much power as he could muster. Just as he squeezed out of the cavity, a huge pair of closed mandibles slammed into him mid-air, accurately smashing into the side of the wall once more. This time the armored bug did not let up, it intended to crush Lucas with its sheer weight as it pressed its enormous head on the panicked mimic. ¡®I¡¯m going to die.¡¯ Under the crushing weight of the beetle, Lucas couldn¡¯t help but have such a thought. He could feel his muted feelings of panic and fear being rekindled as each excruciating second passed. His struggling and flaying seemed almost futile under the overbearing weight of the hulking beetle. Once the thought settled in, it wasn¡¯t accompanied by any paralyzing fear or hopelessness. In the blistering haze of violence, it just struck him as an undeniable fact. But he wouldn''t take it lying down. Lucas hardened himself as much as he possibly could while lashing out his tendrils at the beetle¡¯s head, hoping and praying for a lucky hit to its eyes or any other sensitive organs. After a few tense and desperate moments of wildly thrashing against the beetle, he heard a loud crack and felt a sharp burst of pain throughout his injured body. However, he paid no attention to it and continued his frantic assault. ¡®Come on! Come on! I can¡¯t die yet! I can¡¯t!!!¡¯ As if powered up by his internal roar, a tendril finally made a good connection to one of the beetle¡¯s eyes forcing it to let out a wounded hiss and back off slightly. With this gap opened up, Lucas had two options, escape and fight another day or continue his onslaught like a wounded animal. The former didn''t even register in his mind as Lucas immediately lunged at the beetle¡¯s head, tendrils flailing wildly as he went for broke. Each attack aimed at the beetle¡¯s eyes and wounded its thorax with almost all of them connecting on the stunned beetle. In just a few short moments, Lucas¡¯ spear-like tendrils had gouged out the beetle¡¯s eyes and widened the wound on the beetle¡¯s thorax dramatically. Just as Lucas felt triumph was within his grasp, the beetle came too and smashed Lucas into the wall once more, causing Lucas to crumble back to the floor limply. The armored beetle then slowly opened its mandibles wide to deliver the final strike in this heart-wrenching battle. ¡®Fuck.¡¯ Lucas cursed, unwilling to go out like this but¡­ he could barely generate a tendril in his current state. Even so, he willed his body to slowly slink away from the beetle. Just as Lucas felt the cold chill of death once more, the beetle froze like a statue, its mandibles still wide open. Although Lucas was confused by the sudden turn of events, he crawled away from his foe as quickly as possible before assessing the situation and his surroundings. No other creature was nearby at least he couldn''t detect any, it was just him and the beetle. After resting for a tense minute, Lucas crawled over to the beetle and tapped it with a tendril nervously¡ªno movement. He then directly climbed to its head and pierced into it with a hardened tendril but still no reaction. ¡®Is it dead? I killed it??¡¯ Lucas thought unbelievingly but the corpse of the beetle just stood there, proving this wasn''t some kind of dream or hoax A wave of relief and fatigue flooded Lucas as his form almost turned into a puddle. He thought to himself with a curled tendril in the air. ¡®I did it!!!¡¯ Chapter 9: Aftermath. Chapter 9: Aftermath. ¡®I did it!!!¡¯ After that surge of emotions, Lucas tried his best to calm down. After all, he could still vividly recall how the victorious beetle had been ambushed and severely weakened after its battle with the slime. He would not be excited to participate in another life-and-death battle any time soon, to say the least. ¡®Okay, now is the moment of truth. How do I actually eat it?¡¯ This was something that had been bugging him for a while now. Back when he lashed out at the slime and generated a gaping maw to kill it, the mouth didn''t actually function like his human mouth did. So he was very much clueless on how to proceed in satiating his hunger. ¡®It''s fine, I¡¯m just going to wing it and trust my gut. After all, that''s literally the only advice I was given to navigate this hell hole.¡¯ Lucas grumbled internally. Having affirmed that he had no real plan, Lucas tried to do what came most naturally to him which in this case, was to pierce his tendril into the beetle''s badly damaged eye and willed it to¡­ eat? Maybe it was an insect or being a mimic just shifted how he experienced emotions too much but, he didn''t really mind doing this to the beetle¡¯s corpse. As he felt the warm ichor on his tendrils, he wasn''t really bothered by the feeling and tried his best to get his tendril to begin feeding on the carcass. At least that¡¯s what he hoped it could do. ¡®This is stupid.¡¯ After a few moments of aimlessly poking and prodding in the head of the beetle, Lucas could feel some mild frustration start to creep in. Yet, he remained steadfast and trusted his instincts. After a few moments of groping around, he just left his tendril in the beetle''s head. Thoughts swirled in his mind, most of them about the brutal fight for survival he had just been through. He couldn''t help but think to himself. ¡®Wonder what mom would say if she found out I fought a monster and won.¡¯ The thought left behind a pang of pain and longing as well as bitter-sweet amusement in him since he knew he would most likely never see her again. Similar thoughts bounced around his mind. He thought of things he usually did with his friends. These memories eventually derailed his thoughts and he forgot his goal of eating and just sat quietly. Then, suddenly, he felt a warm and comfortable current shoot up into him from his tendril. The current pulled Lucas out of his thoughts as he hastily turned his attention towards it. He was startled by what he now felt from the appendage. The tendril had grown innumerable tiny spines that pierced all across the beetle''s head. Each spine traveled quite far into the beetle¡¯s head and thorax, turning it almost porous. Better yet, he could feel the tiny spines drawing something away from the corpse into himself. It felt¡ªwonderful. Each time he felt his tendril pulse, he felt a small dose of euphoria flow through him. As this process went on, Lucas tried to pay on the changes that his tendril had undergone. If he could make sense of it, his next meal would be much easier and much more convenient. ¡®Damn¡­ how did I actually grow all this? No, it doesn''t matter. Right now, I just have to try to eat faster and get out of here.¡¯ After studying it for a while, Lucas still didn''t fully understand how his tendril transformed in such an intricate way, but he had discovered how to absorb whatever he was taking from the beetle''s corpse much faster and proactively. He immediately focused on the absorption process, the euphoria he felt spiking as the steady pulses of satisfaction became a constant stream. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s the stuff.¡¯ As his absorption rate increased, he felt the numerous injuries he had sustained in the fight heal rapidly further improving his good mood. In his very short life as a mimic, Lucas had finally formed a truly pleasant memory. As he enjoyed himself, he suddenly felt the steady stream cease. Before he could check out what the problem was, he received another unexpected yet pleasant surprise. {Congratulations, [Leech] has leveled up from Level 1 ¡ª> [Leech] Level 2.} {Congratulations, You have leveled up. +1 Attribute point.} ¡®Ohhh, so this is what [Leech] is for? Why does it have such a misleading name though?¡¯ Lucas wondered curiously. Initially, he felt like the [Leech] skill would be something attack-related simply due to its name. But it seems like he was mistaken. ¡®I leveled up as well, I should check for changes in my status screen soon.¡¯ His mind also went to the new notification¡ªhe had leveled up. Even though he didn''t know its true significance, he could tell it was probably something good. All in all, his mood was on cloud nine. Lucas began diligently studying his feeding tendril once more to see what caused the stream to fade away. He immediately noticed the issue, the beetle''s carcass had shrunk considerably and felt much easier to pierce through. ¡®I really did a number on it. Maybe this skill can be weaponized after all. I should try and figure out how to increase [Leech]¡¯s level. Same for [Spirit Sense], both are going to help me make sure I live a little longer.¡¯ Lucas thought to himself, considering his future in this cavern with the mindset of an inhabitant for once. As he sat on the corpse deep in thought, he suddenly detected something at the very edge of his perception. Lucas instantly tensed up at the sudden vibration and scrambled away from the beetle¡¯s carcass, swiftly climbing up into the dark embrace of the cavern walls. He strained his senses as much as he could to make out what was approaching. Given that it was still too far, the figure he could ¡°see¡± was somewhat fuzzy but Lucas didn¡¯t mind. He just kept his attention on its movement and stayed as still as a statue. After a few seconds, he noticed two other moving figures following the first one. Unlike most of the other creatures he had ¡°seen¡± up to now, they were bipedal and looked humanoid. Each of their heavy steps closer further illuminating their appearance in Lucas¡¯ monochrome perception. When they got close enough, Lucas could also ¡°see¡± that they were carrying long staffs with them. Even though Lucas couldn''t tell what the staffs were exactly, he could make a good guess. ¡®They are wielding weapons?¡¯ Lucas asked rhetorically, but he ignored his curiosity for now and redirected his focus to his new ¡°guests¡±. Lucas ¡°watched¡± them with rapt attention as they closed in on the beetle carcass, his body tense and anticipatory. The leading humanoid walked to the side of the beetle with a confident stride, it stood quite a bit taller than the beetle. It placed a hand on the beetle''s head causing it to crumble slightly. It looked at the corpse in surprise before calling out to the others with a rough and baritone voice. It announced, questioningly. A second figure approached the insect''s corpse as well. Placing its hand on it before responding with. The third and final humanoid approached the duo and carcass, standing a full head taller than both of them. It regarded the scene for a moment before it spoke as well, its voice grave and commanding. When the two humanoids heard the final sentence, they were visibly shaken. The second humanoid couldn¡¯t help but ask. The larger humanoid didn¡¯t respond. It instead looked up as it grabbed its weapon tighter. The group fell silent after that before they left hastily. Lucas watched all these events in quiet contemplation and intrigue, finding these creatures very interesting. ¡®What are they? They can communicate and seem to be able to use tools so they might actually have a functioning society. If so, why are they in the cavern as well? Is the cavern all there is?¡¯ Multiple questions streaked across Lucas¡¯ mind but he knew he couldn''t answer them by just sitting still and hiding. So in a moment of brassness, he made up his mind to do something very risky. ¡®Let¡¯s go see why they are in such a rush to leave.¡¯ Lucas stalked after the humanoids with surprising stealth. He stayed in the shadows and followed them, hoping to better understand his situation and alleviate his ignorance. Chapter 10: New developments. Chapter 10: New developments. Lucas quietly followed the three humanoids, he tried to keep track of all the stops and turns they made. So far, he had just been wandering aimlessly but he could tell these creatures knew their way around this labyrinthine cavern. The three humanoids moved efficiently and with purpose, ignoring most of the life forms they came across which in turn ignored them. But this progression ended when they met with a rather aggressive creature on a narrow path. To Lucas, it looked like a very big centipede. Even though it was not as big as the armored beetle, it was not far off from it height-wise. It more than made up for this with its length however. This combined with its menacing long mandibles and many limbs gave it a rather frightening appearance. The centipede was initially feasting on a carcass in the middle of the path before it took note of the approaching group. The humanoids immediately tensed up when they noticed it. The tallest humanoid¡ªwhich Lucas considered the leader¡ªstepped forward with its spear in hand roaring out a command. The other two let out low grunts of affirmation, readying their weapons as well. The squad slowly spread out in front of the centipede in a semi-circle and tried to close in on it. The centipede took the sequence of actions as a provocation, and it reacted swiftly. Uncoiling itself from its prey, it puffed out its body to appear larger, letting out a menacing hiss. As it did, its mandibles yawned open, threateningly exposing their razor-sharp edges The trio froze momentarily, their leader then dashed forward, its spear thrusting squarely at the centipede¡¯s head aiming for an eye. The centipede didn¡¯t back down and lashed out with a single mandible. Due to the centipede shifting its head slightly to deliver its attack, the spear just grazed its tough carapace while its mandible closed in on the leader¡¯s body with deadly precision. The leader swiftly maneuvered its spear, using the shaft to block the centipede''s vicious attack. The impact sent the leader stumbling off balance, creating a momentary opening. Before the centipede could capitalize on this however, the two other attackers launched coordinated strikes from its sides. Caught off guard, the centipede screeched as a spear punctured its eye, a gush of ichor spilling from the wound. Simultaneously, the centipede successfully knocked the other spear away with its free mandible. With a spear lodged in its eye, it instantly went berserk. It began lashing out wildly, forcing both humanoids to step back hastily with booming steps. The leader who had regained his balance joined the fray as the trio continued their practiced onslaught on the centipede. ¡®Woah¡­¡¯ As Lucas watched the centipede get defeated in just a few exchanges, he was stunned. Individually, the humanoids could not overwhelm the monstrous centipede so quickly if at all. But with simple strategies and numbers, it became light work. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡®I have to be very careful. The moment they reunite with others or they get suspicious I¡¯m following them, I should bounce.¡¯ Lucas told himself, watching how the trio easily dispatched the centipede confirmed just how dangerous they were. If he were to face them as he was right now, he might not even get the chance to escape. As they finished off the centipede, the leader commanded. As it spoke, the leader withdrew its weapon from the centipede''s lifeless body. With a swift motion, it sheathed the spear and began moving forward, venturing deeper into the cavern. The others lingered for a moment, their gazes fixed on the centipede''s corpse before they fell in step behind their leader. ¡®I wish I could understand them. This is getting frustrating.¡¯ Lucas grumbled to himself as he followed behind them silently. ¡ª¡ª¡ª As Lucas followed the trio through the cavern, he watched them easily dispatch creatures that opposed them with relative ease. As they ventured deeper, the passageways expanded and the cavern walls loomed taller, making the cavern feel bigger yet somehow more isolating. The air was filled with the faint echoes of dripping water, and the damp atmosphere carried hints of various scents Lucas couldn''t quite identify. The walls themselves were home to strange, alien plants that clung to the rocky surface, their unusual forms making Lucas wary. He decided it was best to steer clear of them, unsure of their potential dangers. There also seemed to be much less aggressive creatures roaming around so Lucas subconsciously became much less tense. ¡®Where are they headed? They have been trekking for quite a while now.¡¯ Lucas wondered to himself. After following them for a while with no action, boredom had begun to set in. After a few more minutes of travel, a change finally occurred¡ªnew humanoids appeared. A group of five this time appeared from a separate tunnel. Three of them looked to be pulling something with them that Lucas couldn''t identify, their movements labored. While the other two who looked taller and more powerful, stood guard at the front and back. As the two groups converged, the leader of the five-man group stepped forward, its voice low and guttural as it addressed the leader of the three-man group. The leader of the trio straightened and replied, its tone sharp but restrained. The five-man leader froze at the mention of the name before it clicked its teeth thoughtfully, then gestured toward the carcass his group was hauling. The guard at the back grunted, stepping forward before it added. The three-man leader tilted its head, hissing softly as it responded. Both groups exchanged sharp, guttural grunts and low hisses, the sounds seemed to signify mutual understanding. Without further delay, they melded into a single unit, their movements unified as they marched deeper into the cavern. ¡®Well... that was... confusing.¡¯ Lucas thought to himself, still trying to process the unexpected encounter. He had been tailing the group for a while, but their sudden meeting with the five-man group and the following conversation had left him perplexed. ¡®I should stop tailing them for now, though,¡¯ he decided. ¡®It seems they''re very organized.¡¯ The ease with which they had coordinated their movements and communicated with each other suggested a level of sophistication that Lucas hadn''t fully anticipated. ¡®Maybe their base is larger than I thought.¡¯ he mused, his mind racing with possibilities. With that thought in mind, Lucas carefully began to retrace his steps, seeking a safe location to regroup and reassess. He needed a quiet spot to digest everything he had just witnessed, check his status screen, and get some much-needed rest. As he moved cautiously through the shadows, Lucas scanned the surroundings, searching for the perfect place to lay low and gather his thoughts. If he wanted to survive here, he would need to adapt much faster and even more importantly, he had to understand all the tools he had. ¡®Now¡­ let¡¯s finally check out my status screen.¡¯ Chapter 11: Improvement Chapter 11: Improvements. Lucas finally found a safe, isolated crevice after backtracking for about half an hour. He settled into the rather large hole after making sure no other creature was in it or around the area. ¡®Okay¡­ Let¡¯s see what changed after my level-up. Status.¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 2 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly] Attributes: ?Physique: 1(+) ?Spirit: 1(+) ?Mind: 1(+) Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 1] ?Leech [Level 2] ?Spirit sense [Level 2] Attribute points: 1 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®Hmm¡­ I have a single attribute point now. And with the ¡®+¡¯ signs near each attribute , it''s safe to assume I can add it to any of them.¡¯ Lucas reasoned. ¡®But which one should I place a point in? Let''s see¡­ Physique should be my overall physical capabilities. Mind should be my mental abilities. As for Spirit¡­ I¡¯m not so sure¡­¡¯ ¡®For now, it doesn''t really matter. Let¡¯s just figure out which attribute is the most useful first... Physique¡ªif my assumptions are correct¡ª is the best choice at the moment. It should be able to help me get stronger and faster. It might even help me control my body better if it¡¯s an overall improvement to my body. So, let¡¯s go with Physique.¡¯ With his choice made, Lucas decisively focused on his attribute us screen and placed his attribute point into Physique. He immediately felt a strange energy painfully fill the center of his body, his normally jelly-like flesh began to harden at his core while his body began to rapidly expand and¡­ boil. His monochrome perception immediately shut down and his world became pitch black. ¡®Arrgh!! What is happening!?¡¯ From a third-person point of view, it looked like the hole Lucas was in began to absorb all the surrounding light and heat as the temperature of the surrounding area dropped considerably. Frost began to build up on the crevice¡¯s entrance, causing the nook to look and feel like a death zone. The air within grew thin and stale as if the life of the cavern was being drawn into him. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. This phenomenon and rapid changes were excruciatingly painful for Lucas. He felt like every fiber of his being was being hammered and stretched out in every direction as if his every molecule was being remade atom by atom. His soft jelly-like flesh writhed in pain and seemed to evaporate away in wisps of smoke. Yet somehow, he grew larger. The energy being channeled through him enhanced his regenerative abilities dramatically, reshaping, reforging, and restoring him cell by cell. The pain intensified as he grew larger, his body straining against the confines of the crevice. What had initially seemed like a spacious hiding spot now felt suffocatingly small, barely capable of containing his expanding form. As seconds of agony ticked by at a glacial pace, Lucas clung to consciousness with every last shred of determination. His motivation wasn''t driven by a rational fear of being devoured by some cavern creature - his pain was too all-consuming for such coherent thoughts. Instead, his will to stay awake was a primal, instinctual response, a desperate attempt to exert some semblance of control over his suffering. Eventually, the harrowing pain began to subside, his body began to shrink as well. About a minute later, he had returned to his original size but he was definitely not the same mimic. As he still felt some phantom pain from the whole ordeal, the disoriented Lucas tried to get his bearings. A small tendril plopped to his side on the now melting frozen floor. But his mind failed to register the cold or the wetness. As his perception came back to him, he couldn¡¯t help but curse. ¡®Fuck¡­ What just happened?¡¯ Going from normalcy to insane amounts of pain back to normalcy gave Lucas an extreme whiplash. As he tried to piece things together, he reached out his tendril to get out of the crevice to air out his thoughts, a habit he had as a human. CRACK Instead of the usual silent ¡°step¡±, his tendril impaled the tough rock with a sharp crack. This immediately drew Lucas¡¯ attention to the tendril. He pulled it out of the hole he had made and ¡°looked¡± at it in surprise and amazement. ¡®Seems I was right, Physique is definitely related to my constitution and strength. But I didn''t think one point would make such a big difference.¡¯ He then proceeded to gently crawl out of the chilly hole, taking note of how much lighter his body felt. Each step he took was brimming with power. ¡®With this improvement, defending myself should be much easier. Let¡¯s see just how much stronger I have gotten.¡¯ Lucas had never felt such a drastic jump in power in his entire life. Given his current situation, almost everything he had experienced and done so far felt like a fleeting fever dream or rather, a haunting nightmare. But this? This made him feel empowered in a way he had never felt before. ¡®If I can keep growing stronger at such a rate, why should I be scared of any of these creatures?¡¯ With a quite literal pep in his step, Lucas shot out of the crevice. His perception expanded almost twice as much as it previously did. This improvement left him stunned as he stuck to the side of the wall. He could even feel the faint shifts in the air as he stood trying to wrap his head around how this happened. ¡®Well, how sharp your senses are is based on the organ you used for said sense right? So, since Physique seems to improve the body overall it makes sense that my senses are sharper than before¡­ right?¡¯ Lucas thought, trying to rationalize this sudden change. Even though all of this was still very new to him, Lucas tried to understand everything that happened to him as logically as he could. He knew that his efforts were most likely futile but, he still had to make an attempt at rationalizing because that was his only reliable tool in his current situation¡­ minus the weaponizeable tendrils and rapid healing. ¡®Wonder if I can level up [Spirit sense] again?... Meh, I will do that later, let¡¯s take these enhanced tendrils for a spin!!¡¯ Filled with excitement, Lucas crawled across the cavern wall at a fanatic pace. With his eight appendages moving in perfect synchrony, like a finely tuned mechanism, Lucas had begun to adapt to his new form. The initial struggles to control his strength had given way to a growing sense of fluidity and coordination, as he became increasingly accustomed to his enhanced capabilities. With a burst of speed, Lucas launched himself forward in a massive horizontal leap, rapidly building momentum as he hurtled through the air. Mid-flight, he generated a thicker, longer tendril that trailed behind him like a whip. As his momentum began to wane, Lucas expertly used the tendril to swing across the wall, leveraging his velocity to cover even greater distances. Each swing propelled him further into the cavern, he began to hear the familiar chittering chaos of the myriad cavern inhabitants. His swinging came to a safe stop as he clung to the wall in contemplation. ¡®Should I go in stealthy or¡­ say fuck it? Stealth is safer but I have to level up and to do so I need to experiment. I didn''t have time to consider how level-ups work. But I do have one hint though¡ªkilling others. Let¡¯s put that theory to the test. After all, it''s kill or be killed out here.¡¯ With confidence overflowing, Lucas set off to guarantee his survival not noticing his mindset had undergone a fundamental shift to something more primal. Chapter 12: On the prowl. Chapter 12: On the prowl. Lucas set off on his personal quest to kill another inhabitant of the cavern. Even though he had told himself he was out to hunt and experiment, he still crawled along the cavern¡¯s walls with extreme caution. The two brutal fights he had already participated in and scenes of the mysterious humanoids easily dispatching various monsters were still very vivid in his mind. He knew that at the moment, he was probably one of the weakest creatures in the cavern. This coupled with inexperience in anything¡­ monster-y made him a very easy target. ¡®The only way to get the required experience is to go out and hunt other creatures and hope I don¡¯t end up in someone else¡¯s guts¡­ great.¡¯ Lucas mused, the fact that his survival hinged on mere chance did not comfort him in the slightest. ¡®Well, it''s not like this is any different from when I was a human. In this cavern, it much more obvious how suddenly death can come. At least here, knowledge of my looming demise can¡¯t be shoved to the back of my mind even if I wanted to.¡¯ This thought left a bitter aftertaste for Lucas. In his past life, everything seemed to have a stable pattern to it. You followed the laws and norms of society? Great, your life would be easier. You worked harder than most? Awesome, you would probably be rewarded for it. But all of that got thrown out of the window in a split second, utter chaos quite literally consumed his life and world along with him. Events beyond his control killed him, his friends, and everyone he knew¡ªall gone in an instant, with no reason or warning. The rules he thought he could trust had been erased, leaving only pain, confusion, and dread in their wake. Yet now, as he clung to the cavern walls, he realized there was no time for mourning or self-pity. The only rule that mattered here was survival, and it was one he had no choice but to accept and follow. As these thoughts streamed across Lucas¡¯ mind, they brought him inevitably back to one place¡ª the day of his demise. Lucas was forced to pause his movements as his form began to writh unstably, mimicking his jumbled mess of thoughts. He felt a violent mix of emotions bubbled up within him. Anger, fear, despair, and many more. As these emotions began to settle in, he felt something within him shift. His rampaging emotions suddenly dimmed as if a switch had been flipped. This created a sharp disconnect between what he could remember and his own mind. His form became more stable as well helping him keep his balance on the wall. ¡®What was that?¡¯ It felt wrong and unnatural, almost like someone had turned down the volume on his soul. Was this part of becoming a monster? Or was it his mind protecting itself from breaking? ¡®Is there something wrong with me? This isn¡¯t the first time this has happened since I stopped being human. Each time I feel any strong emotions they suddenly dim, am I just incapable of processing such emotions now? No, now¡¯s not the time for this. I have to adapt and this¡­ this change can be used to my advantage.¡¯ This development filled Lucas with a type of dread and fear he could not really place so he swiftly suppressed those thoughts.He knew this was for the best. At least he hoped so. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Lucas scoured the cavern for many minutes, trying to spot the ideal target. The creatures he could sense were either too far away or things he had no confidence in taking down without causing a commotion if at all. As Lucas ventured deeper into the cavern, the number of monsters he spotted increased, and their power grew more intimidating. Yet, ironically, the chaotic din of the cavern worked in his favor, drowning out his presence and allowing him to blend in even more. Amidst the turmoil, he observed the hidden world of smaller creatures, busily eating and manipulating the lush plant life on the walls. Meanwhile, larger beasts lurked, ambushed, or evaded one another. Their primal struggles playing out all around him. ¡®Why are the bigger creatures so hostile? Even though I don''t know how long it has been since I got here, a few hours should have gone by if not a full day but these creatures are still so¡­ restless.¡¯ This hyper-aggressive behavior of most of the creatures struck Lucas as odd. Even though he wasn''t an animal expert or anything, he could still tell they were unusually violent. They didn''t even seem to care about their lives as they dove head-first into confrontations at the drop of a hat. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡®It doesn''t matter how rabid these monsters are, I just need to confirm how I level up. Once I do, I can become strong enough to hopefully ignore most of this madness.¡¯ Lucas hoped. He then directed his focus to one of the smaller cavern inhabitants eating a fungus-like plant. ¡®Now, let¡¯s test the theory.¡¯ With this, Lucas snuck up to the creature. It looked like a large cricket but it had four pairs of antennae and two extra pairs of very developed hind legs. These were all the details Lucas could make with his perception. As he softly approached, he generated an extra tendril which slowly crept toward the unsuspecting insect. When he got the tendril within an acceptable attack range, it snapped forward like a whip, striking with as much power as he could muster. A loud crack followed the impact of the tendril but it was mostly ignored due to the surrounding noise. ¡®Huh??¡¯ Lucas ¡°looked¡± at his tendril in confusion. There was nothing there. In fact, he had not felt his tendril make any contact with the insect at all. It simply just vanished. Given Lucas¡¯ 360 degrees of perception, that should have been completely impossible but it was the reality. ¡®Did it hop away or¡­? If it hopped, I should have been able to hear the sound of its movements right?... Okay then¡­ next target.¡¯ Lucas tried to brush off the encounter and stayed focused. He decided to switch up his approach and go lower to the cavern floor and try his luck down there. The moment he set his tendrils on the cavern floor, he immediately sensed more vibrations from the creatures in the distance duking it out or on their way to a battle. He stood for a moment and just absorbed the rush of sensations. The sharp foul smell of rot and decay which had been prevalent from high above spiked considerably. This combined with the constant vibrations and a chaotic mess of chittering, hisses, cries, and many other sounds painted a very vivid picture of carnage in Lucas¡¯ mind. ¡®Is this hell?¡¯ Lucas asked himself, his thoughts lingering on the question. The answer seemed obvious. His instincts screamed that he didn¡¯t belong here, that this place was alive in a way that sought to devour him. But he didn¡¯t have the luxury to dwell on the thought. Just as the weight of his question threatened to drag him into dark musings, a sharp, searing pain erupted from above. The response was instinctual. One of his tendrils lashed upward in a blur, a whip of alien flesh seeking its attacker. The strike connected, piercing something soft with a wet quelch. Without waiting, Lucas flung whatever it was against the wall. The creature struck with a wet slap, its body crumpling to the cavern floor. Lucas froze, his form wriggling and tightening as he felt an unfamiliar burning liquid surge through him. His mind raced as he turned his focus inward, assessing the sharp ache radiating from his side. ¡®What was that? The wound hurts like hell¡­ Was it poisonous?¡¯ The memory of the spider-like creature that attacked the beetle flashed across his thoughts, its venomous bite and brutal efficiency replaying like a warning. If it was the same type of predator, he was in serious trouble. Suppressing the rising panic, Lucas moved. He turned his attention to the wall and began to move in the direction of its base, his only thought to put distance between himself and whatever else might be lurking just beyond his perception. But he immediately noticed something was very wrong. His tendrils felt sluggish, their movements labored. Each movement required every ounce of his willpower, as though his limbs had turned to lead. He could feel his insides burning up like he was being melted from the inside out. His very form struggled to maintain its shape. His heart sank. Whatever struck him had already begun taking its toll. The pain was gradually picking up causing his normally not so reliable ¡°sight¡± to become blurry and disjointed. ¡®I can do this.¡¯ He muttered internally, forcing himself to focus. ¡®Just push forward.¡¯ He repeated the mantra with each agonizing step, dragging himself towards the wall. But as he neared the wall¡¯s base, his perception picked up something else¡ªa blur of movement, fast and deliberate, closing in on his position. His thoughts sharpened, panic giving way to a chilling clarity. ¡®Seems things just went from bad to worse.¡¯ Yet, oddly, he found himself calm. Perhaps it was the strange emotional dampening he¡¯d been experiencing, or perhaps the alien instincts of his mimic body. Whatever the reason, he pushed fear aside, narrowing his focus on survival. His mind shaped and processed numerous thoughts in the blink of an eye. ¡®I can¡¯t outrun it. My best chance is to fight. If I can land a deep enough injury and activate [Leech], maybe¡­ maybe I¡¯ll have a shot.¡¯ Abandoning his retreat, Lucas turned his focus to the incoming predator. His eight tendrils drove deep into the cavern floor, trying to anchor him in place. Every movement was slow and wobbly but accompanied by an unflinching will. He generated a new tendril above him, its sharp tip forming slowly under the weight of his concentration. Thanks to his recently enhanced Physique, he shaped the appendage into a makeshift weapon, sturdy and lethal. Its tip hardened to the max while its body was as nimble as possible. The effort drained him considerably. The sluggishness in his body worsened, the weight of his own limbs threatening to pull him down. Still, he pressed on, sharpening his resolve alongside his weapon. And then, silence. Lucas¡¯ perception honed in on the blur, tracking its rapid approach. Though his senses were dampened by the effects of the venom¡ªor whatever had struck him¡ªhe could feel the predator closing in, its movements precise and unrelenting. ¡®Six seconds.¡¯ He thought, his mind calculating in the face of death. The seconds stretched, each one carving itself into his thoughts like an eternity. ¡®Let¡¯s see if I¡¯ll make it through a full day in this hellhole.¡¯ His tendrils braced, his weapon poised above him, and his resolve solidified into something unshakable. For the third time since he arrived in this nightmare, Lucas felt the weight of his life balanced on the edge of a single moment. And he was ready to fight for it. Chapter 13: A desperate struggle. Chapter 13: A desperate struggle. Six seconds was usually a very short period of time, but at this very moment, time seemed to move at a snail¡¯s pace. With each rapid, reverberating step from the approaching creature, Lucas tried to make out as much detail of it as he could, all to nail down his one shot at survival. ¡®It''s most likely a centipede or millipede-like creature.¡¯ He formed this opinion based on just how many steps he heard coming from the creature. This new information didn''t change his plan much, he still had just one goal in mind. The seconds ticked by, and in no time at all the creature stopped a few meters away from him. His hazy monochrome ¡°vision¡± saw what could only be described as a massive centipede similar to the one the mysterious humanoids dispatched earlier. It stood quite a bit taller than Lucas, its many legs sharp and curved as it eyed him with deadly intent. Not immediately going for the kill, it brought its gaze to the weaponized tendril Lucas had prepared all this while. As it waited and cycled Lucas, Lucas could feel the poison draining more and more of his stamina. His focus wearing thin and his limbs feeling heavier and heavier. ¡®Come on you sick fuck! Come get it!!¡¯ He roared internally as his form rippled and writhed aggressively. He pushed himself to stay awake and followed the monster centipede¡¯s jittery movements. Suddenly, Lucas felt a surge of pain within him and one of his tendrils slacked causing him to slump to the side slightly. The monster centipede instantly noticed this change as its mandibles flared and it shot towards him like a bullet. Lucas¡¯ mind tightened to the limit as he knew this was the moment his life and death would be decided. Every extraneous thought was driven away from his mind, leaving him with only instincts. The centipede¡¯s legs skittered against the ground, the chitin scraping like nails on stone, its mandibles almost 180 degrees open as it closed in for its kill. Lucas swiftly directed his weaponized tendril at the incoming monster¡¯s head and stabbed it out with all his might. As the front half of the centipede¡¯s body was still mid-air, the sharp tendril buried itself into its head with pinpoint accuracy. Feeling the impact, Lucas screamed internally. ¡®[Leach]!!!¡¯ At Lucas¡¯s mental command, his weaponized tendril writhed and expanded dramatically, splitting into countless needle-like offshoots in an instant. They tore through the centipede¡¯s head in a burst of wet, sickening sounds, each offshoot drinking deeply of the beast¡¯s vitality as it spasmed and collapsed forward. Due to the centipede¡¯s momentum, it crashed into Lucas heavily before going dead still. Its head now looked like a grotesque pincushion. Lucas¡¯ mind was on its fringes as he slumped onto the centipede''s corpse, almost becoming a puddle. All he could do was concentrate on draining as much vitality from the centipede as possible. He could feel the pain caused by the poison fading considerably after about ten seconds of leeching. He could also feel how his limbs lightened once more giving him some confidence and relief. He had survived the encounter. ¡®That was really dangerous.¡¯ Lucas couldn¡¯t help but sigh to himself. If something stronger and smarter had shown up, he would be dead¡­ again. Oddly, the thought did not fill him with dread as it would have just a few hours ago. It filled him with triumph. ¡®I did survive. I can make it here. But first I should retreat and recover, I have already pushed my Luck far enough for one day.¡¯ He knew his survival had been a fluke and if he kept banking on this stroke of fortune to keep hunting, he could only blame himself for his demise. In about 30 seconds, he stopped feeling the euphoric stream of energy flowing into him. He knew that''s all the monster centipede had to give so he disengaged his tendril from the centipede¡¯s head which instantly caused it to break down into dust. The rest of it looked like a dry husk, a hollow shell of its former glory. ¡®Damn, seems like [Leech] is an attack skill after all.¡¯ He flexed his ninth tendril for a bit as he took in what just happened and everything still going on at the cavern floor. ¡®Okay, that''s enough. Let¡¯s head back.¡¯ With that, Lucas began the arduous climb back to the crevice, his tendrils sluggish and trembling as they stretched for holds on the jagged rock. Even though he had healed a bit from killing that centipede creature, the poison from the spider still coursed through him, making every movement a struggle. Each time a tendril latched onto the wall, a burst of pain shot through him, forcing him to momentarily recoil and shiver before he could push forward again. His grip faltered more than once, and his form sagged against the wall, barely able to cling on. The usual ease with which he maneuvered his eight limbs now felt foreign, his tendrils spasming unpredictably. But he pushed through the discomfort, inch by agonizing inch until he finally reached the crevice. Pulling himself into its dark embrace, Lucas collapsed, his form almost pooling on the cool stone. He curled up tightly, trembling as the pain and exhaustion coursed through him. After a long while, the pain decreased to a manageable level. To keep himself busy, he opened his status screen to see if there were any changes to it even though he knew that was very unlikely. ¡®Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything new after that fight.¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 2 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly] Stats: ?Physique: 2 ?Spirit: 1 ?Mind: 1 Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 1] ?Leech [Level 2] ?Spirit Sense [Level 2] Attribute points: 0 ¡ª¡ª¡ª Upon confirming what he already knew, he tried to interact with the status screen a bit more to see if he could gleam any extra information from it or additional functions of the system. But he was met with disappointment. ¡®Yep, still don¡¯t know what most things on my status mean.¡¯ After failing to find any additional functionality of his status screen for many minutes, even his determined mindset began to waver. He began looking at the skills and achievements more analytically, trying to deduce what they meant and what they did. Hoping to come to reasonable conclusions. ¡®Concerning my skills, so far I haven¡¯t used [Mimicry] and [Guide]. [Mimicry] should be the ability to copy other lifeforms or something along those lines right?¡¯ ¡®So maybe I can activate it by trying to transform into something else, after all producing tendrils comes so naturally to me now. I just simply have to step up the changes I make.¡¯ Lucas mused, trying to identify the possible ways in which the skill functions. Even though he didn''t know exactly what the skill did, the two skills he could use were massively helpful. Ignoring [Mimicry] and [Guide] would be very unwise and downright dangerous. This couple almost dying yet again in such a short time frame made him desperate for any additional tools to add to his arsenal. ¡®As for [Guide]¡­ I don¡¯t even know where to begin. Instead of having its level in brackets, it just says special. What¡¯s that supposed to mean? And what type of skill is it in the first place? Wait¡­ does it have something to do with that voice I heard when I just arrived? But it wasn''t that helpful though and it hasn¡¯t said much since then¡­¡¯ Multiple thoughts streamed across Lucas¡¯ mind but since he had so little info to work with, he could only reluctantly leave it alone for now. ¡®The achievement is also a complete mystery.¡¯ Lucas could only grumble in frustration. No matter how he racked his brain, he couldn''t make sense of some very important aspects to his survival. ¡®Let¡¯s just focus on the skills that actually work for now: [Leech] and [Sprit sense]. As long as I can get them to higher levels, my odds of surviving will climb greatly¡­¡¯ Lucas tried to encourage himself. With [Leech], he had an offensive skill and with [Sprit sense] he had the ability to detect danger. If he used both wisely, he should be able to carve out a path of survival for himself. After he got ambushed by the spider and almost killed by the centipede, he realized just how important every single decision he made could be. Every step he took had to be filled with purpose and intelligence or they might very well be his last. Sure he always thought he was being cautious, but the instant he got a boost in power his confidence immediately became arrogance which subsequently, almost led to his death. ¡®I can¡¯t let that happen again. My life is more than mine. I have to remember that¡­¡¯ Lucas vowed solemnly to himself as he still felt the poison nibble away at his insides. The memories of his mom, his friends, and his home were still clear and vivid in his mind. With his mind focused, he tried to make some progress on his skills. ¡®Since my perception was heightened by the boost into my Physique, leveling it up should be easier now right? This plus the fact that I¡¯m not fully recovered yet makes it the perfect skill to try and improve.¡¯ His blob-like form rippled in affirmation at the thought. With his goal set, he began recreating the process of how the skill leveled up in the first place. He peacefully sat still in his little crevice trying to take in and process as many sensations as he could. Due to him currently being in a hole in the wall and given how far up he was, most of the sounds that reached him were somewhat damped. The monochrome image of the external world he had in his mind¡¯s eye was rather incomplete and fuzzy due to this. He tried to piece together something clearer but his senses just were not powerful enough to do so. Even so, he persisted. Repeating the process over and over for minutes and possibly hours on end. Eventually, he forgot what he was originally doing and just sat in silence. Paying attention to everything but not really contemplating on anything, it was quite a confounding state. As the amorphous mimic sat there in silence, he began to hear a familiar sound. It was a melody he had heard just a few hours after he arrived in the cavern. Its unique rhythm seemed to envelop everything as it played gently from every direction, surrounding him with its soothing presence. In his current entranced state, the sound resonated with him even more deeply than it did previously. Drawing him into a truly entranced state. In this current frame of mind, he could ¡°see¡± something he couldn¡¯t before¡ªhimself. A dark patchy gray, formless creature with multiple tendrils jotting from it. He could see more than this, however. Within this stillness, Lucas glimpsed something new¡ªa faint, glowing sphere nestled at his center. ¡®What¡­ is this?¡¯ As he paid closer attention to the object, he noticed it was generating a glowing substance whose color he could not really place. It was almost liquid in its behavior and flowed through his amorphous body like streams of water. The substance moved unpredictably, twisting and curling in chaotic patterns that mirrored the unstable nature of his mimic form. Its movement was mesmerizing¡ªsometimes surging like a river, other times slowing to a gentle trickle. He couldn¡¯t quite grasp what the substance was, but it seemed to emanate warmth and a faint energy that resonated with his entire being. With each shift and ripple, Lucas felt a subtle rhythm, as though the core was breathing life into him in real time. The chaotic flow felt at odds with the entrancing melody surrounding him, but somehow the two coexisted in harmony. His thoughts were disjointed, a haze of curiosity and wonderment. ¡®Is this some kind of special energy I can tap into?¡¯ Despite his question, he felt no urgency to get an answer. Time seemed to lose all meaning as he focused entirely on the interplay between the object, its strange output, and the sound. He couldn¡¯t tell if he was in some deep meditative state or if his mind was slipping into delusion¡ªbut in this moment, it didn¡¯t matter. Reality felt distant and unimportant. After what felt like both an instant and an eternity, the glowing substance began to vanish. The chaotic flow within his body waned as the small amount left retracted to the object at his center. Its radiant glow also dimmed considerably. The entrancing melody that had cradled him faded into silence as if the unseen force behind it had decided its work was complete. Suddenly, his consciousness snapped back, rushing to the present like a cold jolt of water. The ethereal tranquility was gone, replaced by a sharp ache at his center. ¡®Oww¡­ what just¡ª¡¯ {Congratulations, [Spirit sense] has leveled up from [level 2]¡ª>[level 3]} His thought was suddenly cut off by a notification. It mildly surprised him but he was more concerned about the strange thing that just happened to him and the aggressive pain he could feel in his ¡°core¡±. ¡®Wait¡­ I have a core?!¡¯ Lucas hastily drew his attention to himself and instantly noticed that he could actually ¡°see¡± himself now. The first thing he noticed was that all his injuries had been healed, the poison within him seemed to have been cleansed completely. Apart from that, he finally saw something with color¡ªhis core, blazing with an otherworldly light. Chapter 14: Core and skill exploration. Chapter 14: Core and Skill Exploration. As Lucas stared at what he subconsciously identified as his core, he was struck speechless. Its otherworldly light illuminated his mind in a way he had never experienced before. ¡®Why does it hurt so much?¡¯ Lucas asked, feeling a sharp pain coming from the newly discovered organ. His mind then flashed to what it was doing in his meditative trance. ¡®It seemed it has healed me somehow. How does that even work? Questions just keep piling up with no hint of an answer¡­ Let¡¯s rest for now, I think I have earned that at the very least. With a fresh mind, maybe I will be able to make some headway with this.¡¯ With that thought in mind, Lucas drew his attention away from his core and tried to settle in. The ache in his core still lingered however, a sharp, pulsing reminder of the mysterious healing it had performed¡ªat what cost, he couldn¡¯t tell. Even with the pain he was in, exhaustion tugged at him as his tendrils curled inward, pulling himself into the smallest shape possible, as if making himself smaller would make the ache quieter. He might have been healed physically but his mind was approaching its breaking point so it didn¡¯t take much time for him to nod off. A few minutes after he began sleeping, his core began vibrating at a strange frequency. Tiny streams of energy flooded out of it forming a complex weave of unnatural light within Lucas. Following this development, a gentle hum could be heard from Lucas¡¯ form as it took on a strange hue. After a few hours of sleeping in this strange state, Lucas awoke from his dreamless slumber in the safety of his damp, cramped hole. As he came too, the phenomenon going on with his core ceased. He felt revitalized, his form rhythmically pulsing with energy. He subconsciously generated some tendrils and flexed them around as thoughts bounced around his head. ¡®That was some surprisingly good sleep. I can¡¯t even remember the last time I felt this refreshed just from sleeping. Kind of ironic, considering everything that¡¯s happened lately¡­¡¯ Lucas mused somewhat bitterly, still marveling at how peaceful his slumber had been despite the seemingly ever-present danger surrounding him. Lucas stirred, his form still pulsing faintly with energy. It was subtle, like a rhythmic heartbeat, but he felt¡­ good. Rested. For the first time since this nightmare began, his thoughts weren¡¯t clouded by pain or panic. ¡®Not bad,¡¯ he thought, flexing his tendrils experimentally. They moved with ease, their flow smoother than before. He couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªhe felt stronger. More alive. ¡®Time to figure out this core situation. If it really has the ability to heal me, understanding it might be the key to surviving another day¡­ Not that I can really tell what ¡°another day¡± means without a sun down here¡­¡¯ Lucas then turned his focus inward trying to seek out his core once more. In a few short moments, he could see it once more. It looked just as radiant as it initially was in his meditative trance, pulsing with an otherworldly light as it peacefully floated within him. ¡®It¡¯s actually real.¡¯ Lucas mused in slight surprise. Not being used to experiencing something so¡­ supernatural. Given his previous tired state, he was ready to wake and see nothing within him then write off the core¡¯s existence as nothing more than a delusion. But the more logical side of him knew doing so would spell his doom. ¡®My universe was randomly destroyed by a cosmic entity a day ago, status screens and floating orbs with supernatural powers are just the natural progression.¡¯ Lucas thought dryly. He then proceeded to analyze the orb more closely. He noticed it had none of the fluid-like substance from before. ¡®Seems sleeping recharged it somehow. Now, how do I actually generate the healing fluid?¡¯ With this new objective, Lucas began experimenting with his core. As he stared at the floating orb, he tried to interact with it in the only way that seemed possible¡ªwilling it to do stuff. And the results were¡­ almost nothing. At best it would begin rotating slowly when he focused on it really hard but apart from that, it just sat there inertly. Almost mockingly. ¡®Why is nothing happening? When I was in a trance, it went out of its way to heal my injuries but now I can only get it to do a few spins?¡¯ Lucas grumbled internally, unable to accept this roadblock. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡®Does it have something to do with my Mind or Spirit stat? I will have to investigate further. For now, I can only keep trying.¡¯ Lucas could only sigh in the end. Everything to him in this new world was either unknown, trying to eat him, or both. ¡®It¡¯s not something I can figure out just by thinking about it on my own, at least not anytime soon. I can only move on to my skills for now.¡¯ Lucas drew his mind away from his core and redirected his thoughts to his skills as he tried his best to curb his frustration by doing something he considered more productive. Since he had already leveled up [Spirit sense] once more and [Leech] needed a victim to function, that narrowed down his focus to just one more useable skill¡ª[Mimicry]. At least he hoped it was useable. But first, he had to take in the changes his [Spirit sense] level up had brought. Drawing his attention away from his core, Lucas spread his perception around his crevice, taking in every detail to see what changes had been added to it. What he ¡°saw¡± surprised him. ¡®Woah¡­ there¡¯s way more detail now. I can actually see grooves in the wall. Even though the range hasn¡¯t changed much, the amount of detail is leagues ahead.¡¯ Lucas thought excitedly, this development brought him relief. Even though he could technically ¡°see¡± before, it was very hazy. Leaving him with just white and gray impressions of moving shapes. But now, everything was much more detailed bringing him closer to the sense of sight he had as a human. ¡®Okay, [Mimicry] here I come!¡¯ Feeling pumped by how developed his perception had become, he pressed forward in his skill exploration. Thinking about the skill, Lucas thought about what the word itself meant and his identity as a mimic ¡®[Mimicry], it should be the most important skill I have as a mimic, and by definition of the word it¡¯s simply the ability to copy stuff¡­ but copy what exactly?¡¯ As Lucas contemplated, various tendrils extended from his stationary form and began to gently bob and twirled around. ¡®I should be able to mimic other creatures at the very least, right? Let¡¯s try that first.¡¯ With that idea in mind, he began sifting through various creatures in his mind. He settled on something he considered simple for his first try¡ª transforming one of his tendrils into an arm. A human arm. The moment he had the thought, he immediately acted upon it. With a flex of willpower, he retracted all his tendrils leaving behind only one. Concentrating all his willpower on the sole tendril, he tried to make it transform into something more complex, something more familiar. It swayed lightly at first, as if hesitant, before steadying under his will. He visualized what he wanted the appendage to become as vividly as he could, conjuring up a very familiar image of his human arm¡ªdown to the veins, bones, and the subtle grooves of his palm. He poured everything into that image, willing the tendril to obey. In just a few moments, the tendril began warping and changing. He could feel it rapidly thickening and gaining extra weight. Its tip split and formed a 3 fingered appendage while the tendril¡¯s skin became firmer. Before he could begin to feel excited though, he felt a stream of energy flow from his core to the limb followed by a sharp and searing agony. The tendril was immediately lit ablaze with pain, as though it were being torn apart molecule by molecule from within. This insane amount of pain instantly broke his focus, causing the three-fingered tendril to rapidly transform back into a regular tendril. It then swiftly shrunk back into him before he could wrap his mind around what just happened. ¡®The hell?¡¯ Lucas¡¯ thoughts froze. He tried to process what happened for a few moments and came to one possible conclusion. ¡®The pain probably came from generating nerves for my arm or something¡­ but I don¡¯t have a brain or nervous system in this current form, right? At least not in the normal sense, so that theory is questionable at best.¡¯ Lucas was stumped. After a few minutes of trying to think his way through the issue with no success, he switched tactics. ¡®If I can¡¯t think my way out of it, I¡¯m just going to brute force my way through it. Sitting on my hands is not an option, besides, when has a little pain scared me? I have to do this. Not just for myself, but for everyone.¡¯ Lucas thought to himself unwaveringly. It didn¡¯t matter the means, he was hell-bent on getting the skill to work. He was literally the last son of his home reality, his survival carried much more weight than it ever had. Calming his mind, he began the process once more. This time fully braced himself for the pain he was about to experience. He swiftly generated a new tendril and trained his mind on it, he replicated the same process from just a few minutes ago. The tendril began to warp and change much faster this time, it thickened considerably in just a few moments. Reaching this point, Lucas tightened his focus even more, bracing for impact. And then¡ªit came. ¡®Aaahhhh!!!¡¯ Pain shot across the limb like he was being bitten by thousands of fire ants. The tendril contorted and thrashed around frantically, looking for any sign of respite only to receive none. Lucas buckled down though, not letting up an inch even as his amorphous form flickered chaotically along with the tendril. Even when every moment felt like waking agony which made him question his very existence, he persisted. ¡®I can do this! This is my opportunity to become better!! Pain is temporary!! Arrgh! Goddamn it!! Fuck!!!¡¯ He roared to himself as if biting back against his own anguish. His internal roars swiftly went from motivational phrases to horrid curses. He held on for what felt like hours on end, he held on for so long his mind began to fray. Staying conscious became harder and harder, his monochromatic perception flickered on and off like a bad lightbulb but he still held on. Eventually, the pain began to fade and relief flooded into the limb. This caused his heart to sink at first. ¡®Did I lose focus? Did it fail??¡¯ He asked himself as he turned his now faint perception to the limb. He was surprised to ¡°see¡± what the tendril had become¡ªa simple human arm. He tried to flex it and it flowed his will smoothly, each digit moved rhythmically and more flexibly than his actual hand ever had. In fact, its movements bordered on inhuman dexterity. {[Mimicry] has leveled up from [Level 1]¡ª>[Level 2]} ¡®I¡­ I did it! Hahahaha I did it!¡¯ A wave of relief flooded through Lucas. All that pain and hardship actually paid off and confirmed the use of mimicry. After a few minutes of triumph and rest, Lucas reigned himself in as a pressing thought rose to the forefront of his mind. ¡®Can I transform back into a human?¡¯ Chapter 15: A helping hand. Chapter 15: A Helping Hand. ¡®Can I transform back into a human?¡¯ The thought hit Lucas like a bolt of lightning. ¡°Looking¡± at the arm his tendril had become, his mind instantly made such a connection. A deep and powerful longing surged out of him but he was clear-headed enough to tell himself that, ¡®No¡­ maybe I can do it later. But as I am right now, the pain would most likely drive me insane or outright kill me.¡¯ Even though he wanted to immediately try transforming into a human, the consequences of such an action were not something he could bear at the moment. Lucas tried to banish the thought from his mind and continued manipulating the arm he now had, marveling at the fluidity he could control it with. This was a rather pleasant experience for him because all this while just figuring out how to control his new body had taken a lot out of him mentally. But this arm had shown him a brief glimpse of his past, of a time when he had mastered his body to a level most people would never achieve. After using the arm for a while, he could not help but sigh to himself. ¡®Growing you hurt like a bitch.¡¯ The pain from transforming the tendril was easily the second worst feeling he had ever experienced. ¡®Am I going to have to bear something like that each time I have to transform?¡¯ Just the thought made his amorphous firm shiver uncomfortably. ¡®No, the skill leveled up. So maybe that means I can transform my tendrils into arms from now on? Well, there¡¯s only one way to find out¡­¡¯ He then rested for a while before he gathered his courage and de-transformed his tendril. It swiftly regained its slender, fingerless form with no pain to speak of. After it regained its form, it gently flexed and waved almost playfully. ¡®I really hope I¡¯m right about this¡­¡¯ Lucas then slowly began transforming the tendril through metaphorically gritted teeth. As usual, it began thickening rapidly, and in a few moments, its tip began splitting into finger-like projections¡ªtwo, three, four, five. When all the slender fingers got generated, Lucas braced for impact. He could tell bones were about to begin growing and hardening within the fleshy limb. This was the point which almost drove him mad before. In the split second the limb began growing bones, he felt something within him pulse and surge in the direction of the rapidly changing tendril. Before he could track what was going on, the tendril became a simple human arm once more. ¡®What?? Nice!¡¯ Lucas felt confused at first before he realized his theory was on point. He began flexing his fingers and the entire limb in various ways which it moved according to his will as easily as last time. ¡®What caused that surge of energy at the last moment?¡¯ Still confused at what happened in the last moments, Lucas rifled through every possible thing he knew of that might be responsible for such an event. After a few moments, his thoughts instantly reached a single conclusion. ¡®My core?¡¯ He swiftly moved his focus to the mysterious organ once more. Right now, it was noticeably dimmer as it rotated within him. He could not help but marvel at it, it seemed like a beautiful mystery just at the edge of his grasp. Regaining his focus in a few moments, he began his investigation. ¡®It seems to have lost some of its energy. Safe to assume I can power some of my skills with its energy¡­¡¯ This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The thought that he wouldn''t have to go through such extreme pain every time he changed brought him great relief. ¡®Phew¡­ at least there''s some hope. I should figure out this core issue faster. But, it can only wait. For now¡­ I have only go out and hunt.¡¯ At the thought of going outside once more, the tips of his tendrils subconsciously hardened into sharp edges that pierced into the cold rock beneath him. He knew just how dangerous going out there can be. Even with all these discoveries he had made recently, he did not feel one bit safer. ¡®I have to get out there... Why did I choose to stay alive? Just to cower? No. If there¡¯s a path to survival, I will walk it, and if there is none. I will make one for myself. There are no other options.¡¯ With resolve harder than steel, Lucas began steadily climbing out of his crevice, his normally fluid and dynamic form now calm as a lake. This newfound determination was fueled by a mix of exhaustion, frustration, and the soul-ripping pain he had just endured. He was tired of being on the back foot, and he set out now not just to hunt, but to prove something to himself. ''I¡¯m going to live.'' Physically, he might mostly be the same, but mentally, a subtle shift had taken place¡ªone which would go on to change the lives of billions. ¡ª¡ª- About five minutes later, Lucas had returned to the spot where he almost got done in by the centipede. The now familiar sounds of primal struggles and harsh smells ground against his heightened perception. This time a little wiser and much more careful than before, he stuck to the wall and watched for any possible prey. ¡®Hmm¡­ my ¡°sight¡± seems to be a little different now.¡¯ After watching for a few minutes, Lucas picked up on an extra facet of his new perception. Apart from everything being much more detailed, living creatures had this extra¡­ ¡°color¡± to them. Color was not quite the right word to describe what he was perceiving, but it was the only word he knew of that fit this new sensation. Each life form he ¡°watched¡±, had a unique ¡°shade¡± to it now. It was like seeing a color he had never experienced before. This development made his already strange world even weirder. ¡®At least things are clearer now. I just have to take some time to adjust to it.¡¯ Knowing that he had no other options, Lucas decided to adjust to this new sensation as rapidly as possible. After all, it was helping him point out possible prey with even better clarity. Like this, he moved around the cavern wall, slowly and methodically, the usual cacophony of carnage below him serving as a constant reminder of where he was and what he was surrounded by at all times. He noticed a few familiar creatures like some three-eyed rats, millipedes, and even a beetle scuttling around the cavern floor but the vast majority of the creatures below were unknown to him. As always, the smaller creatures stuck to the walls and generally remained around the plant life, going about their business peacefully. He also ignored them for the most part, not wanting to offend unknown treats simply because he was too lazy to go around them. Having crawled for quite a bit, Lucas paused and took inventory of his surroundings. The noises were still present if not even more aggressive but nothing below was isolated enough for him to make a move on it. ¡®Hmmm¡­ this is going to take a while huh?¡¯ Lucas asked rhetorically, the thought of having to hang out here for hours while being very tense did not sound like a fun time. ¡®Let¡¯s just locate something specific to track¡ª¡® The thought was cut off before he could fully process it. He didn¡¯t know why but, a spot just a few meters away from him ¡°looked¡± very off. The surrounding cavern walls were the usual dark grey while a small section looked¡­ different. Like the rock in the area was fluctuating. Paying more attention to the shape, he noticed something that caused his shapeless body to instantly tense up¡ª the strange shape was in the form of a spider. ¡®Is that what I think it is?¡¯ Images of the shadowy figure that attacked the beetle from early on and himself flickered across his mind. ¡®No wonder I didn¡¯t notice it before. I can barely make out its figure even when it¡¯s sitting right in front of me! Let¡¯s see what it¡¯s up to.¡¯ Lucas proceeded to patiently watch it for about a full minute. It didn¡¯t move at all, not even a twitch. If his perception didn¡¯t give it a unique ¡°color¡±, Lucas would have thought it was just as cold and inert as the wall it lay on. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ Lucas was at a crossroads, he could either a) sneakily move away, b) sneak up to it and attack it, or c) ignore it completely and hope for the best. In a few moments, Lucas had made his decision. ¡®I already told myself before I came out here, I¡¯m here to hunt and I won¡¯t cower anymore. This is just an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.¡¯ With his mind made up, Lucas softly crept up to the would-be assassin. A ninth tendril slowly formed above him as well, it would be his weapon for this attack. ¡®Okay, the plan is simple, close in, attack. If that doesn''t work, get out of dodge as fast as possible.¡¯ As Lucas made up this plan, he was already less than three meters away from his target. He could feel almost all his emotions become muted as he entered a state of supreme focus. His weaponized tendril had already become twice as thick as a regular one. Its tip hardened to the max, and its edge sharper than a razor¡¯s. He was prepared. ¡®Three seconds.¡¯ He told himself. The thought was cold and calculating, in three seconds he would be in the appropriate range to launch his assault. His steps didn''t falter as he approached, counting down in his head. ¡®3¡­2¡­1¡ªNOW!¡¯ He immediately thrust out his spear-like tendril at his foe, victory or defeat would be decided in a single exchange. Chapter 16: Becoming a predator. Chapter 16: Becoming a Predator. ¡®3¡­2¡­1¡ªNOW!¡¯ Lucas thrust out his weaponized tendril with all his might, his mind razor focused on this one attack. As the tendril lanced through the air, he could hear a piercing howl as it made its way to its motionless target in a heartbeat. When the tip of the tendril got within just a few centimeters of the spider, it suddenly jolted into motion and made an attempt to evade the strike. Unfortunately, it reacted too late. All it did was shift a few centimeters to the side before the sharp tendril buried itself into its large abdomen, creating a sickening, wet quelch which was swiftly drowned out by a sharp crack as the tendril sank into the rocky wall beneath it. ¡®[Leech]!¡¯ Not taking any chances, Lucas activated his [Leech] skill. His weaponized tendril exploded into innumerable, finer tendrils that sank into the spider''s flesh, seeking out every fiber of the spider¡¯s being in a surge of motion. In less than a second, he immediately felt a surge of vitality flow into him for a few seconds before stopping. The spider''s lifeless body swiftly disintegrated, like ash in the wind. Falling off the wall silently. Lucas remained in place, processing everything that just happened. He sat in place for almost a minute, eerily still, his mind replaying the strike. The countdown, the lunge, the moment of impact¡ªeach detail burned into his memory. His ninth tendril suddenly shot out of the wall, curling like a triumphant fist as a surge of pride swelled within him. ¡®Hell yeah!¡¯ He actually hunted something without being forced into a life and death situation for once. This seemingly straightforward ambush had proven something very important to him¡ªhe was improving. He could still feel the rush of power from using [Leech], the calm and calculating thoughts as he planned the ambush. It all felt¡­ ¡®Exhilarating.¡¯ He thought excitedly. ¡®Let¡¯s keep going, a few more kills then we head back.¡¯ Lucas then proceeded to scour the wall cautiously for more prey. He couldn¡¯t help but have an extra pep in his step. ¡ª¡ª¡ª After exploring the winding tunnels of the cavern for a few hours, Lucas did not notice any easy targets and was forced to head to the cavern¡¯s floor. He paid attention to the movements below for a long while. After making sure there was nothing around that might ambush him and slowly made his way down. With extremely tight nerves, he took the first step down gingerly. When nothing dropped from above or snapped up at him from below, he hastily scurried across the floor trying to create some distance away from where he was. ¡®Okay, let¡¯s head¡­ that way.¡¯ He thought after scanning the cavern floor for a few moments. The damp floor, jagged stalactites, and branching tunnels forcing him to make a spontaneous choice. He swiftly made his way towards his chosen tunnel having selected it due to how quiet it was. In the process of crawling, he could sense things moving in the distance as always. Their gray shapes caused him to raise his guard a bit more. When he finally made it to the non discript tunnel, he inspected it for any dangers. After a minute or so of searching, he was certain nothing was prowled around the tunnel and headed in. ¡®This is going better than expected. I just have to map out the area. That will make sneaking around much easier.¡¯ He thought to himself as he moved further down the path. He walked forward cautiously a minute or so, taking in every detail of the tunnel with each step. He was abruptly forced to a stop however as he sensed something troubling. A few meters away from him, he could sense a solid rock wall. ¡®A dead end?¡¯ He reached out and touched the cold stone with a tendril, feeling a little sheepish for being so tense about the tunnel. ¡®Wonder why nothing is camping out here. Well, whatever the reason, I shouldn''t stick around to find out.¡¯ He then began the trek back out. His form rushing across the ground like a monstrous spider. As he got closer to the tunnel¡¯s entrance, the ambient sounds of the cavern¡¯s activities came rushing back. One sound in particular was eerily familiar yet very different from how he remembered it. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Squelch. The sound was rather close, it came directly from the tunnel¡¯s entrance. ¡®Fuck, it¡¯s a slime¡­ Well, it¡¯s no big deal. I¡¯m stronger now and if I can¡¯t kill it, I can always run.¡¯ Lucas reassured himself. His form writhing chaotically in anticipation of the clash. As he rushed ahead, the figure of the slime became clearer. It ¡°looked¡± like a shifting, gelatinous mass, glowing with an unnatural hue. With his enhanced perception, he could pick up something else, an object hovered within its center. The object''s shape was fuzzy while it emitted a ¡°color¡± which painted the slime with that strange hue. ¡®It has a core too?¡¯ Lucas¡¯ attention shifted to the object for a split second, his form froze before a powerful urge to attack exploded out of him. His form simmered and writhed as he created an extra tendril above him, sharpening it as a tool for his impending attack. A slightly more detailed plan formed in his mind, driven by instinct. ¡®Let¡¯s use [Leech] on its core!¡¯ Without any hesitation, his pace picked up. The slime on the other hand was eerily calm. It just sat nonchalantly at the tunnel¡¯s entrance as if baiting Lucas to attack. When Lucas got within striking distance, his ninth tendril lashed out. Before it could make contact with the slime though, Lucas sensed its core pulse with an unusual energy. Its body instantly hardened like steel, easily deflecting the offending tendril. The slime then writhed and shifted, its side facing Lucas swelled with numerous pimple-like protrusions. Before Lucas could understand what was going on, multiple needle-like projectiles fired out of the slime. The objects pierced into Lucas¡¯ flesh and burned with a sharp hiss. ¡®Ahhh!¡¯ The needles felt like they were injecting acid directly into him. This mind shattering pain instantly cleared up his mind as he realized this slime was very different from the creatures he had encountered before. ¡®What the hell!?¡¯ The slime fired some more projectiles but Lucas hurriedly flung himself to the side of the tunnel. His mind was in fight or flight mode as his eight tendrils dug into the cool rock. Without any hesitation, he sprinted out of the tunnel. The slime fired a few more projectiles but he dodged them all thanks to his 360 degree perception and flexible form. He made a hasty getaway out of the tunnel, the slime¡¯s needles on him visibly sank deeper into his for. Thankfully, no other monster was present outside. Due to this, he easily made his way up the towering cavern walls and began to regroup. The pain he felt across his entire body reminded him of just how little he knew about the cavern. ¡®Why was that slime so strong? I didn¡¯t even scratch it with my all out attack. Shit, I can feel its acid still burning me up. Arrghh¡­ let¡¯s head back, even though I don¡¯t like it, that''s the safest bet.¡¯ He cautiously headed back to his crevice. Navigating his way back to safety was a harrowing task given how far he had travelled and the immense pain wracking him. When his amorphous form finally got to the crevice, he collapsed into a malleable heap. After resting for an hour and giving his body some time to heal, he recollected the events of his recent escapade. ¡®Leveling up [Spirit sense] really made a difference this time. Be it the spider or that strange slime, I have more info to work with overall.¡¯ His form rippled softly at the thought then he continued. ¡®That slime had a core like me¡­ is that why it could fire out projectiles? Thinking back, I could sense that weird energy surge within it before it acted.¡¯ His form stilled for a moment while two tendrils grew out of him, lazily waving as he thought to himself. ¡®What type of ability was that? I wonder if I can copy it.¡¯ He could still vividly remember how the slime¡¯s energy pulsed before its attack. In the heat of the moment, he was tense and afraid but thinking about it now seemed almost mesmerizing. ¡®Let¡¯s see if I can make any progress with my core then.¡¯ He focused on the strange sphere within him. Its mystical light illuminated his mind like usual. He reached out with his Will, trying to manipulate the orb. After a few seconds of focus, the orb began rotating slowly. Taking this as a positive sign Lucas increased his focus. The orb just lazily rotated at the same pace however. Seconds swiftly became minutes, Lucus felt his concentration beginning to fade. He withdrew his focus from the unnatural sphere and thought to himself. ¡®Still no reaction. I¡¯m not doing something right¡­ but what?¡¯ He wracked his brain in thought. Though he had already done this before to the same result he could not help but feel disappointed. ¡®When my core healed me or used its energy for my [Mimicry], it was almost instinctive wasn¡¯t it? Then can I force it to react or directly influence the energy within it?¡¯ With that idea in mind, he tried taking a different approach. He tried to visualize the chaotic stream of energy that had flowed within him. His mind went to how the energy within the slime pulsed and transformed. In a few seconds, he felt his core pulse as well. Joy and excitement spiked with him as his attention went back to the core. He could sense a few strands of energy moving out of it but they hastily retreated back into the core with his focus now on it. ¡®Shit¡­ no, it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s just start over.¡¯ Lucas'' form vibrated menacingly but he bottled up his frustrations, he began the process once more. This time it took a full five minutes for him to feel changes within his core. The long wait almost caused him to crack but he kept his cool. The few streams branched out of the otherworldly sphere almost curiously. Each stream heading to separate directions in chaotic patterns. He watched as they circled throughout his entire body, filling him with a sense of power and confidence. ¡®Hahahaha!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but laugh, this lapse in concentration caused him to stop paying attention to the streams of energy. In response, they hastily retreated back to the core like they were never present. That feeling of power and control instantly vanished like smoke. Crack! Frustrated, Lucas stabbed a tendril into the tendril beneath him. ¡®Oh, fuck off!¡¯ Unbeknownst to him, his core flared up in activity at that emotional outburst. Its structure swiftly underwent changes as it became something more volatile and fluid. ¡®Why are you doing this? You¡¯re probably my only hope at surviving out here and you keep messing with me? Why can¡¯t you just freaking work¡ª¡® The thought was cut off as a surge of energy exploded out of his tendril, blasting him into the top of the crevice with a loud crash. He fell back down to the crevice floor a few moments later dazed and confused. While recollecting himself, Lucas couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡®What just happened?¡¯ Hastily bringing his focus to his core, what he saw made his mind go blank. Chapter 17: Changes. Chapter 17: Changes. ¡®What just happened?¡¯ Lucas asked himself, confusion drowning his thoughts. He could still feel the dust and small rocks on him from smashing into the ceiling. In a few moments, he deduced the force that smashed him into the ceiling definitely had something to do with his core. With this in mind, he hastily looked within himself and saw something that surprised him. The initially static and perfect sphere had completely changed. What replaced it now was an ever changing mass. It had no real structure or shape. Its ¡°color¡± shifted wildly and unpredictably, becoming hues that made no logic sense. Like he was staring at the color of his very being. As he watched its motion, he could not help but become mesmerized by its otherworldly nature. ¡®This is my core?¡¯ The word core had much more weight in his mind at the moment. Even though he had named the mysterious object casually, it seemed he was on to something. As he sensed it for a few more moments, he picked up on some other changes. ¡®Weird¡­ it now feeling more like a part of me.¡¯ If he couldn¡¯t feel a powerful connection to the esoteric mass, Lucas would not have carried such a notion. After about half a minute of just watching it, Lucas gathered himself and tried to interact with the core¡¯s energy once more. This time much more cautiously. His amorphous form stilled, its chaotic flux calming to a placid state. The only thing in his mind being the chaotic flow of his core¡¯s energy. He focused for just two seconds before it clicked. The core¡¯s energy rushed around his body in a chaotic stream, comfortably following his will like an obedient pet. That feeling of confidence returned but it didn¡¯t distract Lucas, he stayed in this state of supreme concentration for about half a minute. After this duration, when he was confident he could keep the stream running he generated a tendril. Trying to test the limits of his control. ¡®Huh?¡¯ The instant he thought of generating a tendril, he felt his energy move and change on its own. It focused on the spot where the limb was to be generated and spawned it in less than a second. ¡®Interesting.¡¯ Lucas could sense an energy stream within the tendril. With the energy flowing within it, it felt far more powerful and dexterous than it ever did. Focusing once more, then tendril shifted and transformed into a human arm. ¡®Oh, the streams within it are now more complex.¡¯ He thought leisurely. Since the moment he began using his core¡¯s energy properly, he felt¡­ lighter. All the fear, frustration, and despair the cavern usually brought to his thoughts were nowhere to be found. He sensed himself again, trying to notice any changes and instantly found one. His body had changed considerably as his energy began flowing. It had gone from almost gelatinous flesh to tough and packed with muscles. ¡®How¡¯s the energy doing this?¡¯ Lucas couldn¡¯t help but ask himself before ignoring the train of thought. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter how or why it¡¯s working, since it is¡ªI¡¯ll use it. I just have to gain proper control of it and my power will soar. Now let¡¯s try moving around with these new muscles.¡¯ Lucas slithered around his crevice like a snake. His body moved with surprising agility and control. After a few seconds, he focused and tried to make himself lighter. He felt his energy flex once more and his body returned to its almost gelatinous flesh. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. He stopped once more and took inventory of himself. His energy moved within him with its usual chaotic stream but now he felt there was definitely much less energy within his core. With a shift in his mental state, he turned off the stream. He immediately felt his mind crash back down from his carefree high. ¡®Is the energy influencing my mind? No, I was probably just too focused on channeling it. With this, I might be able to transform back to human much faster. But first its time to grow myself a nice pair of eyes.¡¯ Lucas knew he couldn¡¯t immediately transform to a human but that would not stop him from gaining human parts. And since he lacked the sense of sight, he would be killing two birds with one stone. Thinking up to this point, his form solidified as he steeled himself for the growth process. If this went like how growing an arm did, he would have to buckle down for the excruciating pain. He patiently waited for his energy to regenerate while visualizing the eyes he would grow. A few minutes later, he felt refreshed enough to proceed with his plan. He then gave himself some words of encouragement to psyche himself up. ¡®I can do this. Gaining sight will be a game changer for me¡­ Well if the cavern isn¡¯t pitch black that is. No, positive thoughts only. I need sight and I will have it. Let¡¯s do this!¡¯ He felt his core once more. Using his recently acquired experience, it was much easier than before. He directed his will and energy to create eyes, human eyes which he could use as a gateway to peer out of his current dark world. He pictured the general shape of an eye¡ªround, glistening, and embedded in a socket¡ªbut his understanding of its intricacies was surface-level at best. He could only focus on the basics, visualizing an orb capable of sight rather than fully grasping the delicate layers of muscle, tissue, and nerves. Still, he willed [Mimicry] into motion by galvanizing his newly acquired energy. Almost instantly, two spots on his body ignited with searing pain, like flames drilling into his form. He felt the muscles in the area develop into something more solid almost like bones, forming two sockets for his presumed eyes. He could feel in excruciating detail as new muscles, tissue, and nerves grow on the two spots. The pain almost caused him to falter and let go of the skill. ¡®No!¡¯ Gritting his metaphorical teeth, he pushed his energy to work even faster, his form flickered ominously at the strain. Unfortunately, that just caused the pain to spike dramatically. Each new muscle that grew felt like strands of barbed wire were being sewn into his brain, pushing him further to the edge of sanity. ¡®Damnit!!!! No! I can do this!! I will push through!!!!¡¯ Refusing to give up, he cranked up the energy output even more. Though the pain was immense, the confidence and comfort his energy gave him cheered him on. If he could see his core at the moment, he would see his core was shifting and changing more frantically than ever before. Doing it¡¯s absolute best to power his skills. The two searing spots felt like they would incinerate him. The pain became so sharp it felt like they were burning holes directly into his mind. But he held on. He could not back out now when the completion of his eyes felt closer than ever. Suddenly, the pain faded. Before he could comprehend this change, everything went black as he passed out from exhaustion. His core now dimmer than ever, barely changing form as it slowly recovered. In an undetermined amount of time later, Lucas stirred awake. He looked around where he was in confusion. This wasn¡¯t his room. Then it came back to him. ¡®Oh yeah, I¡¯m in the cavern.¡¯ He blinked as he took in the claustrophobic crevice he was settled into. Wait what? {[Mimicry] has leveled up from level 2 ¡ª> level 3.} He suddenly received a notification but it didn¡¯t distract him from the fact that he could actually see it. ¡®I did! All that pain wasn¡¯t for nothing. Let¡¯s go see what¡¯s outside!¡¯ He felt an odd excitement towards being able to see. Being a former human who relied primarily on sight before, he couldn¡¯t really be blamed. He swiftly slithered to the edge of his elevated crevice and gazed at a sight which he would never forget. ¡®Woah¡­¡¯ The cavern wasn¡¯t dark, in fact it was the opposite. The rocks seemed to give off a soft ambient light, each radiating its own distinct hue, from vibrant turquoise to deep, pulsing crimson, creating a kaleidoscope of light that painted the cavern walls like an artist¡¯s chaotic masterpiece. Strange, bioluminescent plants thrived among the glowing rocks, their ethereal colors weaving seamlessly into the kaleidoscope of light, transforming the cavern into a hypnotic, otherworldly landscape.¡± ¡®Seems I have been missing out on a lot.¡¯ Lucas was transfixed. His form leisurely writhing and shifting hues as he watched the mesmerizing display. Each shift in the cavern''s colors seemed to reflect off his own body, creating a subtle interplay between his alien form and the kaleidoscopic environment. The once-familiar cavern had become something utterly alien, transformed by the soft, glowing tapestry of light that seemed to breathe life into every corner. Yet, unlike before, there was no fear gnawing at his mind, no overwhelming dread of the unknown. Instead, he was overcome with a bizarre, almost childlike sense of wonder, as though the harshness of his ordeal had given way to a quiet promise of discovery. ¡®This sight was possible due to my own efforts,¡¯ He thought, his confidence swelling like a tide. The chaos and struggle he endured had forged this moment, and he could feel it in his very Essence. ¡®I can and will forge a path for myself in this new world. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡¯ As he resolved himself, the glimmer of wonder didn''t fade, but it was tempered by determination. He slithered back toward his crevice, his movements deliberate and steady. The vibrant light of the cavern receded behind him, but its impression remained, etched deeply into his mind like a guiding beacon. Returning to the confines of his elevated nook, Lucas paused for a moment to reflect. The view had been a revelation, a vivid glimpse of what lay beyond the darkness of his struggles. But now, it was time to focus. His thoughts shifted to the experiments he had planned, the steps he would take to harness the chaotic energy coursing through his new body. The path ahead would be grueling, filled with uncertainties, but Lucas welcomed the challenge. Settling into the shadows of his crevice, his resolve hardened. He wasn''t just surviving anymore¡ªhe was adapting, evolving. The world may have turned alien, but so had he. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, that realization didn¡¯t fill him with despair. It filled him with purpose. Chapter 18: Cranking things up. Chapter 18: Cranking things up. A week swiftly passed in the cavern. Lucas measured the amount of time that passed using his sleep cycles. During this past week, he had made leaps and bounds with his energy control and use of his skills. Currently, he was on the prowl once more, stalking some prey. His ever changing color helped him blend in almost perfectly with surrounding cavern walls. In his sight, he could see a small pack of rat-like creatures moving on the floor of the neon colored cavern. With a guesstimation of their sizes, they were about a ? of his size. Being able to truly look at them now, he could make out their features properly. Each rat creature had 2 hairless tails and 3 white eyes, with the third eye settled inbetween the other two. The color of their fur was a bright red which blended surprisingly well with the surrounding colors. The trio moved around swiftly, seeming to be on a hunt of their own. Lucas stealthily followed above them, his arachnid-like form different from before. His two front tendrils looked like two bone-like scythes growing out of him. The other six looked much more muscular yet slightly leaner. His entire form was much more structured and streamlined as well. Lucas tailed the rats for about thirty minutes before they ran into something¡ªa huge salamander. The lizard was quite large, easily standing over the three rats and was about thrice as long as them if not longer. Its beautiful sky blue scales looked smooth and moist, almost like it had a thin membrane of water covering its entire body. Its scales also had some rune-like shapes carved randomly across its scales. Thanks to Lucas¡¯ [Spirit Sense], he could instantly tell the runes were not physically there. It was its Spirit energy flowing in a unique pattern across its surface. ¡®Interesting. The other lizards didn¡¯t have those patterns.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t Lucas¡¯s first time seeing one of these salamanders but it was going to be the first time he hunted one. And from the looks of it, this one was a little special. The pack of rats immediately surrounded the salamander in the wide tunnel, with two at the sides and one facing it squarely. After a tense few seconds, the leftmost rat lunged at the salamander. Its mouth filled with a dim crimson glow as it went in for a ferocious bite. The salamander, unflustered, slashed out with an energy coated claw. The swipe smashed away the rat easily, smashing it into the tough cavern wall. It¡¯s life or death unknown. The other two rats saw this opening leaped at the salamander at the same time. Sadly for them, the salamander used the momentum of its claw strike to do a full spin. Using its tail like an energy coated whip, it smashed the two rats to meat paste. BANG! The right most rat splattered against the far wall while the middle one was smashed apart by the tail whip, painting the tunnel red. The salamander then watched the aftermath of its attack in apparent pride before it slowly made its way forward. ¡®I will have to watch out for that tail.¡¯ Previously, if Lucas had watched such a scene, his first thought would have been to flee as far as possible from the lizard but now¡­ ¡®Can I replicate that tail whip with my tendrils? Should be possible but it can¡¯t maximize the use of [Leech]¡­ or can it?¡¯ With these thoughts swirling in his mind, he went down and absorbed the dead rats. As he pierced them with his scythe-like limbs, they became encased with a dark red energy. His tendrils didn¡¯t just absorb the rat corpses, but also some crimson energy. Within Lucas core, it could be seen that a swirl of crimson energy was revolving around his core while his normal energy weaved across his form. A minuscule about of crimson energy was added to the swirl from the rat corpses. ¡®No wonder the lizard ignored the corpses, there¡¯s barely any Life energy within them.¡¯ Lucas thought in comprehension, all his experimentation with his skills had provided him with a breakthrough in the use of [Leech]. Absorbing this unique energy he coined Life energy was possible thanks to activating [Leech] with his Spirit energy. When he was done, Lucas began tailing the salamander. He monitored the tunnel like a hawk, trying to scout the perfect spot to launch his ambush. About five minutes later, when he was absolutely sure there were no other creatures present thanks to his heightened perception, he made his move. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. High up the cavern¡¯s wall, Lucas made a death defying plunge towards the salamander from its right side. Doing his best to aim at its blind spot. His six movement tendrils tensed as he rocketed off the wall, the air whipping at his eyes. Luckily they were protected by a transparent membrane he devised after his numerous battles, giving him unflinching vision. When he was about six meters away from the sky blue lizard, his scythe-tendrils lit up with an eerie red glow as he anticipated the impact. The instant he got four meters from the salamander however, it abruptly swung its tail upward with a sharp diagonal arc not forgetting to coat it with its energy. ¡®Shit.¡¯ Was all Lucas could think before he was viscously smacked out of the air like a noisy fly. Mid plummet, he focused all his Will and Spirit energy to make his form more malleable, willing himself to ignore the immense pain from the tail whip. He smacked into the ground with a wet clap before hastily solidifying himself once more. When he turned his attention to the salamander, it was already lunging at him with a claw strike. Instead of retreating, Lucas shot forward and attacked with his glowing scythe-like tendril. Both attacks clashed harshly but both combatants were unfazed by the impact. Lucas pressed forward and hacked at the lizard with his second scythe-like limb. The lizard calmly stepped back lightly dodging the attack by a few centimeters. It then retreated about five meters away from Lucas in almost the same breath. ¡®How is it so good at dodging?¡¯ Lucas could help but ask himself. It seemed like the salamander could perfectly predict his moves. This fact just stoked his Spirit further. Without missing a beat, Lucas lunged at it once more. A new plan formed in his mind. ¡®If I can¡¯t strike it to death, I will grapple it to death!¡¯ The lizard watched him approach with an eeriely calm gaze. The runes on its sleek body glimmered brightly with a sky blue light. The membrane on it changed as well, becoming almost a second skin as it perfectly replicated the scales on the lizard. This transformation didn¡¯t deter Lucas at all. He Willed his core to move his life force across his entire body. He could immediately feel a difference, his senses became more powerful, his strength, body coordination, and toughness shot through the roof as well. His speed soared as he shot towards the lizard like a crimson comet. The spike in speed caught the lizard off guard as it hastily struck out with a claw. ¡®Chance!¡¯ Lucas watched its attack almost in slow motion. With ease and confidence, he jumped above it and hacked at its head with all his might. The attack pierced the veil around the lizard with some difficulty before piercing into the soft eye underneath. HIIISSSSSS!!! The lizard pulled back with a pained hiss, trying to create some distance but it was already too late. With the tendril sinked in, Lucas activated [Leech] from within its vulnerable skull. Instantly turning its brain to mush and securing the kill. The next instant, the lizard collapse to the floor in a quiet heap. The membrane on it lost all its luster rapidly becoming moisture that evaporated in the following moments. Standing next to the corpse, Lucas pulled out his tendril as he fell into thought. Blood pooling around the salamander. ¡®What a fight. I didn¡¯t think it would create such an opening due to my sudden acceleration. Thankfully, [Leech] came in clutch as always¡ª¡¯ {[Leech] has leveled up from level 2¡ª> level 3. Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 3.} Before Lucas could even finish the thought, he received a series of notifications. Reading them, his already good mood became even better. ¡®Finally! [Leech] leveled up. It took quite a bit for me to level up though. It seems it¡¯s as I guessed, the stronger the creature I kill, the faster I level up.¡¯ Forcing himself to calm down, he spread his senses out once more. After making sure a spider wasn¡¯t lurking in the shadows, he thought to himself. ¡®Let¡¯s calm down and inspect this lizard corpse first, those runes it had were very interesting.¡¯ Lucas brought his attention back to the lizard and checked out its scales, sadly all its runes seemed to have faded away after its death. ¡®Hmmm¡­ With the salamander dead, there¡¯s nothing manipulating the Spirit energy so it makes sense for the runes to fade. Well, if it could create runes, I can definitely do so as well!¡¯ Not getting the runes didn¡¯t dampen Lucas mood at all. After all, he had an Attribute point to spend and he just faced off against something as powerful as the salamander without flinching. He felt truly powerful at this moment. The Lucas from two weeks ago and the Lucas now we''re worlds apart¡­ literally. Seeing there was no need to keep the lizard¡¯s corpse, Lucas used [Leech] on it to drain its lingering Life energy. The moment he impaled it with his glowing scythe tendril, it immediately shriveled up like a decaying weed. ¡®Woah, now that¡¯s more like it!¡¯ The power of his [Leech] had ramped up considerably. That one level difference seemed to be much wider than he thought. With his business with the lizard carcass wrapped up, he made his way to his den. A few minutes later, he was sitting within his nook. On its walls, you could see tally marks counting his sleep cycles. With the neon lights of the cavern slightly piercing into his crevice, Lucas brought his mind to his status screen. ¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 3 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly] Attributes: ?Physique: 2(+) ?Spirit: 1(+) ?Mind: 1(+) Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 3] ?Leech [Level 3] ?Spirit sense [Level 3] Attribute points: 1 ¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®Okay, let¡¯s make a choice. Physique, Mind, and Spirit¡­¡¯ Numerous thoughts flickered across Lucas¡¯ mind as he tried to deduce which stat would be the most effective to place a point in. A few minutes later he had come up with what he deemed as safe assumptions. ¡®Physique is my best bet. So far, I have no clue what Mind will affect while Spirit will probably increase my core¡¯s energy which I don¡¯t really need more at the moment thanks to [Leech]. So Physique it is.¡¯ With the choice made, Lucas began preparing his mind. He could still remember the last time he gave himself a stat in Physique. After preparing his mind, Lucas mentally clicked the plus sign. The transformation began instantaneously. He felt an influx of energy barge into his core but surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t as painful as the first time around. His formless core easily took in the influx of energy and redirected it throughout his entire body. The feeling was almost magical, his mind felt at ease as the energy raced within him. Altering and enhancing his body wherever it went. Lucas tried to watch what was going on, but a sudden and sharp sting to his mind forced him to retract his focus. As the process went on, Lucas felt more and more comfortable. A few minutes later, when frost had built up within the entire nook, he suddenly felt a sharp pinch. Bracing himself, he felt the pain pinch multiply across his form. In just a few moments, it felt like he was getting stung by millions of flaming bees. Lucas¡¯ form writhed and contorted but he held on to his consciousness firmly. His mental fortitude had taken a massive jump this past week. After an unknown amount of time had passed, the pain slowly began to reside. Eventually, he felt perfectly fine again. He slowly opened his eyes. After a few moments of relaxing, he pulled out a tendril to see what had changed with his body. The tendril appeared in a split second even without the mobilization of his Spirit energy. As he analyzed the internal structure a bit closer, he felt a rush of emotion. ¡®With this level of control, I should be able to transform back into a human. But first, let¡¯s go get some revenge on that slime.¡¯ Chapter 19: Taking on the slime. Chapter 19: Taking on the slime. After Lucas was done testing the limits of his new body, he fell asleep. Even though he could only do some rudimentary tests, he could tell this one point had given him a level of control over his body that was leagues ahead of what he could do with just two points. Now, he just had to translate that into combat power. When he woke up, he scratched a tally mark on the wall of his hollow. He then grew his eight tendrils and left. Moving into the psychedelic landscape with a decent stride. ¡®Let¡¯s see what that slime is up to now.¡¯ Even though Lucas was more powerful now, he wouldn¡¯t go in guns blazing like he did in his first few days. He now knew enough to understand that the difference maker between him and probably everything else in this cavern was his ability to gather information and apply that knowledge in useful ways. After a week of actively stalking and learning about these creatures, he could confidently say he had a rudimentary understanding of their behavior now. ¡®Even though these creatures are ferocious and relentless, they still understood when they were absolutely out matched. Facing off against an opponent they have no hope against is not something any sane animal would do. If so¡­ why am I heading to a death trap?¡¯ When Lucas reached this point in thinking, his stride slowed down, question marks floating around his mind. Then, he suddenly shot out a tendril into the ceiling and began swinging across the cavern. If he had a mouth, he would be grinning like a madman. His eyes blazed with a manic light. ¡®I¡¯m heading there because I want to. Defeating it will solidify my progress. I have grown, I¡¯m strong now.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know why, but the reasoning sounded particularly funny to him at that moment. This was very far from a rational thought but, if he strategized for every little thing would he still be living? When he chose purpose, was his intent to cower away forever? No! Thinking of all the times he has been forced to hide and flee in this cavern, he was filled with a fury and disgust he had been suppressing. But now, he felt he had truly grown strong enough to forge his own path. Defeating the slime would help him prove it. When his resolve was made, he swung above the cavern wall. Feeling truly free and unfettered for the first time in this life. He finally felt in control of his own life. For the second time in the cavern, he found himself truly enjoying the experience. If he could looked at his core at this moment, he would find that it had become a rapidly spinning, dark crimson tornado. As his confidence and ease grew, the faster it spun, eager to use its energy. As he used his weaponized tendrils to swing across the hypnotic terrain below. He used his hearing to keep track of the monsters below. As he got closer and closer to the slime¡¯s tunnel, the more sparse creatures were. Then finally, he was there. With a slight effort from his mind, his Spirit energy roared to life. The ease took him aback but he just chuckled inwardly and thought. ¡®You want me to kick it¡¯s ass as well huh? Don¡¯t worry, with your help, it¡¯s already dead meat.¡¯ Using his Spirit energy in tandem with his [Spirit Sense], he saw the colors of the cavern instantly become much more vibrant and esoteric. He focused on what he came for and in a few seconds he could sense it. The slime was still at the back of the cavern. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. He turned off [Spirit sense] and made his way down using a nearby wall. He then confidently made his way into the tunnel. His already high confidence further boasted by his Spirit energy. The moment Lucas stepped into the tunnel, the slime sensed his presence and began making its way towards him. The slime looked different from what Lucas expected. It was a pitch black and had a metallic sheen to it. The slime moved forward lethargically, almost like a slug. It was much bigger than Lucas remembered but that didn¡¯t deter him. Lucas rushed forward, planning to end this fight in an instant. Knowing the slime could fire projectiles, his plan was very simple. ¡®Close the distance and smash it apart!!¡¯ When he had this thought, an eerie crimson energy coated his entire form as he closed between them in two seconds flat. With no suspense, he hacked down with a scythe-tendril. The blow produced a bright spark as it deflected off the slime¡¯s metallic form. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Confused but undeterred, he lashed out another attack with even greater ferocity. Only to meet the same outcome. Before he could fully process the slime¡¯s outstanding defense, numerous spikes grew across the slime¡¯s form causing Lucas¡¯ form to subconsciously clench in panic. Lucas hastily grew extra protective flesh on his eyes while lashing out with his right scythe-tendril once more. This time with the intent of knocking the slime to the side. BANG! ¡®Heavy!!¡¯ Cracks spread throughout his scythe-tendril while the slime didn¡¯t budge an inch. As pain raced across his limb, the slime fired out tens of needles into him. At this close range, all of them meet their target, instantly giving Lucas some extremely painful acupuncture. ¡®Argh!¡¯ The slime¡¯s acid was injected into Lucas from every single one of the spikes, causing him to frantically retreat. He moved back a good fifteen meters from the slime giving himself a breather. Numerous small tendrils grew across his body and began plucking out the needles. His mind racing as he watched the slime. It just stood there eerily, almost as if it was taunting him. Where is all that big talk you were mouthing off before huh? Since this fight started you haven¡¯t even made a scratch on me and I¡¯m literally doing nothing! Hah! Face it, you''re weak. Lucas knew the slime couldn¡¯t possibly have such complex thoughts, and even if it did there was no way he could hear them. But with his heightened ego being amplified by his Spirit energy, thinking rationally was quite difficult at the moment. ¡®I¡¯m just warming up slime ball! Now let me get serious.¡® A steely light flashed across Lucas¡¯ eyes¡ª he would either kill this slime today or die trying. With his Life energy within him flowing like a raging torrent, all his injuries healed at an accelerated rate. His damaged scythe-tendril had already healed as he rushed at his foe once more. This time, the slime was ready. It fired off tens of needles once more for its stationary position. Lucas dodged to the left and cycled around the slime. Lucas then swiftly channeled more energy into his scythe giving it a deep red, almost black hue. He brought down the weaponize tendril like a guillotine. CRACK! A sharp cracking sound rang out as Lucas¡¯ limb shattered and cracks appeared all over the slime. Though the pain was immense, Lucas ignored it and immediately transformed his second tendril into a spear like form. He stabbed at the wound he had created, his eyes almost glowing with a crimson light. Another sharp crack rang out in the tunnel and to Lucas¡¯ dismay, it was his second limb breaking apart. To make matters worse, new needles had grown on the slime form, targeting Lucas at point blank range once again. The slime¡¯s thoughts rang out once again. As I said, you¡¯re weak. Too weak. ¡®Shut up!!¡¯ Instead of dodging, Lucas dived head first into the hail of needles. He could see the puncture he had made swiftly mending. It was now or never. Lucas tanked all the needles without even flinching in his manic state. His eyes now pure crimson. As the acid pumped into him, he used the pain to harden his resolve even further. His focus supreme as he channeled his energy to help him create a new weaponized tendril. Something tougher and sharper than anything he had ever created. His chaotic swirl of a core which was now very dim, eagerly provided. Its original incomprehensible hue shining across the crimson life blood it channeled towards the tendril. Lucas leaped into the air and drew his tendril back. This would be his final attack. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as his tendril grew. He could see spines growing on the slime once more. Thankfully, his new weapon grew even faster. It was a spear-like appendage, it looked like a pristine, crystal bone. Its tip exuded a cold harsh, light. Not thinking on it further, Lucas stabbed at the slime¡¯s injury with unerring precision. He watched in slo-mo as his limb easily pierced through the slime like butter. ¡®[Leech]!!!!¡¯ He immediately felt a large stream of energy flow into him from the slime, knocking him out of his state of focus and bringing him crashing down onto the slime. The slime tried to struggle free but its movements were too lethargic. No matter the amount of needles it stabbed into Lucas, his concentration on his skill was not broken. After what felt like an eternity to Lucas, there was no more movement from the slime. Infact, there was no slime at all. All that was left was a crystalline orb that glowed with a black light. Seeing he had succeeded, Lucas immediately collapsed into a heap and passed out but not before thinking. ¡®Suck it¡­ slimeball.¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª Lucas snapped awake thanks to the voices. His injuries had already healed but that didn¡¯t register as he looked at the tunnel¡¯s entrance. After a few moments, five humanoids walked in. Each one was equipped with what looked like wooden spears. They stood tall and had broad and powerful looking shoulders. What made Lucas take a double take was their looks. Their skin was a deep green and rough like the bark of a tree. Their eyes¡ªor so he assumed¡ª were two bright green lanterns shining from their heads. From the way they spoke, Lucas understood they were here for him and definitely not with kind intention. Lucas¡¯ form couldn¡¯t help but shrink in dismay. ¡®Fuck me.¡¯ Chapter 20: Tactical Retreat. Chapter 20: Tactical Retreat. As Lucas sat on the dim tunnel¡¯s floor, he couldn¡¯t help but get anxious. He had just defeated a very powerful opponent but before he could even bask in the triumph, a bigger treat showed up. ¡®Shit.¡¯ Lucas felt a pit of despair beginning to well up within him as he watched the green humanoids approach with heavy steps. Their booming steps sounded like the bell tolls of his funeral. His originally excited core had come to an almost full stop, now dim and static. 90% of its energy used up in destroying the metallic slime. Lucas was jolted awake from his gloom by the deep voice in the distance. He had no clue what they were saying but his eyes watching them hardened. His core blazed with what little energy it had left. ¡®I have to escape. No need to face them directly. I just need one opening. But first...¡¯ He wrapped a tendril around the black glowing orb from the slime. He placed it within his infinitely malleable flesh and began hatching an escape plan. ¡®I just have to hide and hope they don¡¯t notice me. If they do then I run. Simple, right?¡¯ He looked to his core as if searching for some form of affirmation. Oddly enough, the core glowed and moved even more chaotic, the Life energy absorbed from the slime revolving around it. Lucas¡¯ originally dim gaze brightened up at the sight of this change. Feeling pressed for time, he spread himself as thin as possible and lay completely flat on the ground. Activating [Mimicry], he envisioned himself as part of the ground. Completely inert, cold and dark. His color swiftly changed, matched the floor, his skin also contorted and changed becoming much rougher. By the time the process was complete, Lucas was indistinguishable from his surroundings. The dark green humanoids were still cautiously making their way through the tunnel. Their heads looking up as they searched for the ¡°Thraxxar¡±. Even though Lucas couldn¡¯t not see them, he could hear them. With his exceptional hearing and their close proximity, he could sense them perfectly well in monochrome detail. Eventually, they cautiously made their way to Lucas¡¯ spot. Two moved to the edge of the tunnel, hoping to sense something while one blocked the tunnel¡¯s entrance. The two remaining humanoids stood around were Lucas was. Their simple spears at the ready. The larger of the two humanoids spoke up. It had a very rough voice, it almost sounded like wood was being scraped together to produce the harsh sound. The smaller humanoid it was speaking to moved and stood directly on Lucas¡¯ center. Lucas felt it was familiar but he had no idea why. Its stature was noticeably shorter and leaner than the rest, its rough skin being a lighter green. After a few moments, it held its spear with both hands horizontally and began to glow with a bright green light. If Lucas could see its face, he would notice two runes were now inscribed on its eyes. Lucas felt its Spirit energy moving in a strange way. It directly interacted with the Spirit energy all around the tunnel and especially where the smaller humanoid stood. This immediately gave Lucas a bad feeling. Lucas didn¡¯t need to understand it to know he had been spotted. The four other humanoids turned their focus on Vekarn but it was too late. Lucas rapidly morphed into a gaping maw that surrounded Vekarn, lined with rows upon rows of jagged fangs. Lucas immediately snapped up and chomped into Vekarn like a Venus flytrap. A wet crunch echoed out as Lucas maimed and incapacitated his prey, its spear braking like a twig within Lucas¡¯ maw. With no ounce of hesitation, he went for the kill. ¡®[Leech].¡¯ With a harsh wail filled with pain and terror, Vekarn struggled to get out of Lucas¡¯ death grip but that just made his tendrils tear it apart faster. In the end, it got absorbed in under three seconds. All that was left behind was fine black dust. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. The rest immediately leveled their spears and prepared to attack this terrifying foe. If they felt any fear or anguish, it didn¡¯t show on their wooden faces. Lucas had other plans though. After securing the kill, he transformed once more to a smaller and even more compact version of his usual spider-like stature. The closest humanoid attacked with a simple thrust but given the dull green glow of the spears tip, Lucas wanted none of it. Lucas side stepped the attack and hopped on to the cavern wall like an actual spider. With the manageable amount of Life energy he had absorbed, he shot across the wall like a red streak of light. The single humanoid guarding the tunnel entrance couldn¡¯t react before Lucas raced past it. Just when Lucas felt he had succeeded, he shivered as a wave of fear flooded his core. The feeling was so intense it almost forced him to stop dead in his tracks. Focusing on his [Spirit Sense], he could sense all four of them holding their simple wooden spears like javelins. Each one had multiple pitch black Runes etched on them. This change didn¡¯t come without a cost however. They now looked like withered trees, their size, stature, and color took a massive hit from activating this attack. Before Lucas could comprehend what they were doing, the first javelin shot at him. It easily surpassed his speed and impaled him into the rough wall. With barely any delay, a second spear followed, then the third, and finally the fourth. In the end, Lucas looked like a pincushion. These four attacks destroyed his eyes and crucified him to the wall. To make matters worse, the spears were disrupting the Life energy within him as dense black energy flowed out of them into his core. He could feel himself rapidly decaying with each passing second. ¡®Am I dying?¡¯ Lucas could feel the cold embrace of death caressing him once more. This time it felt truly inescapable. His core seemed to agree as it had dimmed to almost pitch black. Numerous thoughts race in Lucas¡¯ mind, trying to find a way to get himself unstuck, a way to survive, a way to get away from all this. Nothing panned out though. He would die, that was it. Then memories of his entire existence flashed across his mind, his mom, his friends, his countless hobbies, frantically struggling for survival within the cavern. All these memories and feelings solidified into one immutable thought. ¡®I want to live. I¡¯m going to live!¡¯ His core blazed, the extremely minute Spirit energy left within him being used to change his body¡¯s composition. With his will to escape guiding his [Mimicry] and with his Spirit as fuel, his form took on a very dull grey glow as he became almost liquid. In the blink of an eye, he slipped away from the spears and regained his form. He dashed away from the tunnel as fast as he could, paying no mind to the humanoids that almost killed him. He wasn¡¯t out of the woods yet. With no sight, he used his hearing to navigate the winding pathways of the cavern. With all the pain and panic he was in, the best he could do was follow a random path and hope for the best. The only thing on his mind was getting away. He streaked by multiple cavern creatures which promptly ignored him given his velocity. Eventually, he found a random unoccupied cave and collapsed in it. Completely spent and at the edge of death. But at the very least¡­ ¡®I survived¡­¡¯ That was his final thought before everything went black. When he came too once again, he could still feel a very sharp pain all across his body. Especially the four spear injuries. Thankfully, his natural regeneration had pulled away from death¡¯s door. After checking on his surroundings and making sure he was safe and alone, he inspected his injuries with his mind. Fortunately, apart from the four spear wounds, he was mostly fine. The effects of spear attacks seemed to have faded. Checking his core, he saw it was oddly dimmed and static. When his mind tried to interact with it, it felt like he smashed his brain directly into a brick wall. This development greatly worried him and led to him subconsciously thinking. ¡®I¡¯m still too weak.¡¯ Unlike in his heightened ego state, he thought nonchalantly. No angst or wounded ego to be found. ¡®That¡¯s right, I am weak. I can change that though. My choices matter and from now on I need to put a tighter leash on myself.¡¯ He sent his mind to the orb he collected. Somehow, it had survived the onslaught of the tree-like humanoids and his subsequent dash across the cavern. He removed it from within himself and held it out with a tendril, taking a closer look. It still glowed with a dark light. Holding it with one tendril, it felt strangely heavy in his grasp. Beyond that, he could feel a high amount of Spirit energy within it. This prompted him to analyze it with his [Spirit sense]. When he activated the skill, he could see the orb filled the entire cavern with its dark light. His instincts told him to absorb orb with his core. Promising he will be satied like never before. He could hear whispers of matchless transformations the longer he held on to the core. Suddenly, he let go of the orb. He still vividly recalled his fight with the slime, how arrogant and deluded he was by his own Spirit energy. ¡®No¡­ it wasn¡¯t my Spirit energy. It just heightened what was already there.¡¯ He thought of how he initially planned on fighting the slime on his own terms after he came up with a strategy. But the moment he felt that attitude was stifling, his Spirit energy shifted, feeding into his growing arrogance instead of cooling his mind as usual. A sharp light flash in his eyes. ¡®Never again. My will is my own and I¡¯m going to wield it properly. Getting drunk on power is definitely off the table.¡¯ At that stern thought, his core began moving once more. Gaining a little bit of its original light. Lucas kept thinking further. ¡®I will use this core to become human once again. Not because I crave power, but because it is my choice. Becoming human may not be advantageous to me in any way, shape, or form but it is what I want to do. So it shall be done. I will go out on my own terms.¡¯ His core regained a bit of its original spark during his monologue, Lucas didn¡¯t notice though. His sole focus was on absorbing the core and becoming human once more. No matter how painful the process. Chapter 21: It鈥檚 Human Time! Chapter 21: It¡¯s human time! Lucas looked at the orb in his tendril, the psychedelic light outside his cave creating a deep contrast with its dark light. A fierce light reflected in his eyes. He didn¡¯t know what would happen if he absorbed this core. Even if it helped him transform into a human once more, he was certain the pain from the process might drive him insane before he succeeded¡­ ¡®It¡¯s now or never. Given that I didn¡¯t level up from killing both the dark slime and that tree creature, it seems leveling up is much more difficult than I thought...¡¯ With these thoughts in mind, Lucas¡¯ decision was made and he shifted his focus to relaxing. After thirty minutes or so, his mind was a calm lake. His gaze somehow became even sharper. Without further delay, he pulled the dark orb into himself. After absorbing the orb to where he felt his core was located, he was surprised nothing happened. Looking within himself he realized something very important that he had been unaware of. ¡®My core isn¡¯t a physical organ?¡¯ He could see the orb was overlapping with where he felt his core was located, but they somehow didn¡¯t interact with one another. It was very perplexing. ¡®Interesting¡­ but how do I proceed from here then?¡¯ After thinking for a few seconds, he sent his focus on his core itself. The enigmatic presence within him was as active as ever. All the Life energy he had absorbed over this entire week was completely depleted but its Spirit energy had been regenerated to a significant level. He just silently watched his Spirit energy dance to its own unpredictable rhythm. The sight calmed his mind as it always did. After what could have been a few minutes or even hours, he snapped out of his trance. A stream of thoughts flowing into his mind. ¡®I need life energy. I won¡¯t be able to handle the strain of this transformation with just my spirit energy.¡¯ At the thought, his core brightened with its obscure color once before returning to its normal hue. Lucas watched this with genuine fascination. ¡®Is it actually capable of understanding me? Or am I just losing it?¡¯ Lucas thought to himself, a twinkle of humor flashed in his eyes as he redirected his focus to his core once more. ¡®Since you can communicate, let¡¯s give you a proper name. How about¡­ Crash?¡¯ His core ¡°visibly¡± brightened once more at the word Crash. ¡®You like that name huh? Crash it is. Now, what are we going to do about this Life energy issue¡­¡¯ Lucas knew he was very likely losing his mind by simply acknowledging ¡°Crash¡±. He could also tell that, he could communicate with it to understand his own instincts deeper. And when you factor in all the isolation he was experiencing, it was just a matter of time before something like this happened. After meditating on Crash for a few seconds, it swiftly gave him an answer. ¡®What do you mean ¡°eat more¡±? We are too weak right now. Not to mention those tree creatures may have a way of tracking me.¡¯ Dumping out that idea, he meditated some more. This time for almost thirty minutes. ¡®Use [Leech]?¡­ Wait, that might actually work. But can I actually absorb Life energy from the air? Well let¡¯s find out.¡¯ With a goal in mind, Lucas immediately acted on it. He generated a tendril above him, trying to envision it as some form of conduit of Life energy rather than a straw that sucked it out of his foes. Surprisingly, his tendril actually grew some esoteric runes on it. They were blood red and buzzed with activity. The image of that sky blue salamander immediately flashed in his mind as he recalled it having its own runes. ¡®Was I using [Leech] the wrong way this whole time?¡¯ Lucas couldn¡¯t help but think so. He could already feel this tendril was much more efficient at absorbing Life energy. He could feel it channel the crimson energy from all around him. It was a wonderful feeling. Shaking off these distracting thoughts, he focused on the task at hand while taking note of how the runes on his tendril behaved. He felt [Leech] was actually draining both his stamina and Spirit energy to stay activated in this runic mode. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡®But given how much Life energy I¡¯m absorbing right now, it¡¯s definitely worth it.¡¯ In just five minutes, his cor¡ª I mean, Crash was now dim and he was dead tired. But he could sense quite a bit of Life energy swirling around Crash. After taking a rest, he repeated the process. Eventually, Crash was stuffed full of Life energy for the first time ever after about six cycles of absorbing Life energy with [Leech]. The Life energy had formed a chaotic swirl of deep crimson all around Crash. Before he could comment on how gluttonous Crash was, he was hit with a notification. {Congratulations, [Leech] has leveled up from level 3¡ª> level 4. Keep up.} Lucas immediately felt a drastic change in the skill. Each time he used [Leech] with the Runes, he felt more and more at ease when handling external Life energy. But with this level up, he developed a vague sense of external Life energy without activating any skills. It was like a switch had been flicked on in his mind, giving him the ability to sense Life energy now. ¡®Woah¡­ no wonder the notification is different. [Leech] seems to have much more depth than I gave it credit for.¡¯ Thoughts on how to apply this with his other skills flickered across his mind but he silenced them and gathered himself. There was still much to do. After collecting himself once more, he thought. ¡®Okay Crash, this is it. It¡¯s human time!¡¯ Crash blazed with the deep crimson light of Life energy indicating it was ready as well. With his focus on the dark orb, he used all his will power to move it towards his core while Crash¡¯s energies became a whirlpool that sucked in the dark orb. In just a few seconds, the dark orb vanished and appeared within Lucas¡¯ core. It now glowed with Crash¡¯s otherworldly light. ¡®Yes!¡¯ Filled with elation, Lucas exclaimed mentally before buckling down. This was going to be painful. ¡®Do it Crash.¡¯ With that mental command, all the Life energy around Crash smashed into the dark orb. In a split second, it detonated like a bomb, radiating blinding light and violent Spirit energy. Lucas could feel there was another component to dark orb¡¯s energy but he couldn¡¯t place it. He didn¡¯t have the luxury to think about it casually either given how fiercely Crash and the dark orb¡¯s energy wrestled. Thankfully, Crash gained the upper hand quickly and brought the situation under control. With zero hesitation, the wild combination of energies surged across Lucas¡¯ form. [Mimicry] flared to life as Lucas recalled his physical appearance and memories one last time. With that image firmly in mind, the first jolt of pain hit him. A low and deep vibration came from his core carrying an energy which dissolved the very state of being. The pain was so great, Lucas¡¯ mind went completely blank. All he knew was pain, pain, and even more pain. He couldn¡¯t fight back against it and he couldn¡¯t escape it for it was all encompassing. With no ability to tell time, all Lucas could do was hold on at the edge of madness. His puddle-like body was molded into a human-like shape by a mysterious force. It was made up of raw Life and Spirit energy as it hovered above the cavern floor like floating, unnaturally colored mercury. Eventually, a pitch black spinal cord began to grow rapidly within this primordial fluid. Somehow, the pain got even worse for Lucas. It left like the spine was being branded into his existence. Even with the rapid speed each vertebrae grew, it still felt as slow as a snail in this heightened state. When the spine was finally done, it glowed with a mysterious dark light reminiscent of the dark orb¡¯s. Dark glowing ribs unfurled from the spine like the petals of a grotesque flower, expanding outward to form a cage. Lucas could feel his skeleton growing, his consciousness and Will struggled to bear with the ever increasing pain. Pristine white tendons and muscles followed. They looked like tense metal wires as they encased Lucas¡¯ skeletal framework. They twitched and spasmed as they connected, as though testing their newfound strength. A web of nerves wove through the muscle, faint sparks of Spirit energy racing along the pathways like fireflies in the dark. Lucas felt his awareness expanded, the sensation of touch returning to him in fragments¡ªjagged, raw, and heightened to the extreme. His energy repeated the process with his limbs and neck. When it got to his head however, the process slowed as his energy dwindled. His skull began to take form from the base of his neck and began to move upward. When his skull was formed it looked rather eerie since it was pitch black and glowed with that dark light as well. Without any fanfare, the energy moved into his skull and began forging the most critical organ¡ªthe brain. At first, a gelatinous, translucent mass began to pool at the top of his forming spine, glowing faintly with threads of Lucas¡¯ energy. The mass pulsed and expanded, an amorphous bundle of potential waiting to take shape. It quivered, as though struggling to decide what it should become. The base of the brain formed first. The brainstem, a cluster of intricate connections that extended from the top of the spinal cord. Tendrils of energy sparked and wove together, threading through the structure like veins of molten light. The brainstem anchored itself firmly, acting as the control hub for his emerging nervous system. From there, the mass grew upward and outward, splitting into two symmetrical hemispheres. When this happened, Lucas¡¯ mind finally cleared up and he awoke, his consciousness reattaching itself to his new form completely. But given that his form was currently incomplete, his Mind almost collapsed due to the sensory overload and pain. ¡®Ahhhhh!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but scream internally as he felt his Mind almost unravel. Clamping down with his Will, the process stabilized and continued. His brain fully forming then his energy moved to growing his skin which was now two shades darker than he remembered. The process sped up as his eyes grew alongside shoulder length, thick black hair. When the process was finally complete, his energy was completely tapped out. Everything went black as he crashed down to the cavern floor like a sack of bricks. {Congratulations, you have performed a perfect transformation. [Mimicry] has leveled up from level 3¡ª> level 5. You have leveled up from level 4¡ª> level 5. Achievement unlocked: A tough nut to crack. ¡­} Chapter 22: Setting goals. Chapter 22: Setting goals. In his deep slumber, Lucas dreamt of many things. Most of these dreams were of him reliving his former. But without fail, each dream ended in the world shattering catastrophe caused by that cosmic presence. As he cycled through these dreams, his final dream was rather strange. He lived out his final life as a slime, specifically the dark slime he had so much trouble with. He had its hazy memories of being created by a mysterious and gentle energy. He could remember moving around the cavern essentially blind and starving. He struggled to fend off the weakest cavern inhabitants for many, many days. After yet another day of desperately playing survival, he mindlessly stumbled into a cave. Being a good slime, he slinked his way to the very edge without any semblance of thought. What laid there was a small mineral deposit, not that he understood what it was. His instincts just told him it was absorbable so he absorbed it. The process took weeks of tireless effort. The more he absorbed the metal, the tougher and more durable he got. His originally semi-solid and fluid form became as rigid as diamond and as tough as steel. Of course in the process, numerous cavern monsters tried to get a bite out of him, rats, beetles, centipedes, and even bats but neither of them could break his outstanding defense. His power grew with each victim he killed in the cave and eventually, the metal ran out and he was now too heavy to hunt. All he could do was wait, wait for something foolish enough to get into its domain. As time passed, his wish was finally granted. A crimson streak suddenly raced towards him before he could ready his needles. Its attacks were sharp and fierce, each one filled with a strange power that overwhelmed his normally accelerated healing. But he didn¡¯t panic, after all, he was a slime. He kept trying to take the creature down, firing tens if not hundreds of needles into it. But its relentless and blistering assault continued to grow more and more powerful until. Crack! ¡ª¡ª¡ª Lucas¡¯ eyes slowly fluttered open. He felt strangely comfortable and relaxed. His body felt whole in a way it hadn¡¯t in a long time. His Mind also felt considerably sharper than before. He sat up on the cavern floor, trying to grasp a better understanding of his situation. His mind cleared up as it struck him. ¡®I just sat up!¡¯ His head snapped downward at an inhuman speed, giving him a partial view of his body for the first time in this new world. The surreal light from beyond his cave painted his form with its gentle hues. His dark skin contrasted with the soft lights. He raised his right arm to his face, clenched and unclenched it. A complex feeling bubbled up from within him. One which he could express only by roar. ¡°I¡¯m human again!!¡± His voice surprised him. It was different, heavier but somehow even more melodic. Making him sound androgynous. Ignoring that, he checked out his body once more as he stood to his feet. His body was more fit compared to his past life. All his muscles looked developed and lean. As his eyes traveled down his torso, he couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Where¡¯s my junk?!¡± Down there was a smooth plane, no third leg in sight much less any pubic hair. He suddenly felt Crash hum and paid attention to it. What he learned left him exasperated but he kinda agreed with its logic. Humm. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ It is a very sensitive weak spot. I wouldn¡¯t be using it in this cavern any time soon anyway¡­ but still...¡± After going back and forth with Crash for a bit, he turned his attention back to his body. His legs were perfectly sculpted similarly to the rest of his body. Since he had no reflective surface, that¡¯s all he could gleam for now. ¡®What matters now is how well I can control my body. Let¡¯s see¡­ okay let¡¯s try a simple backflip. 1¡­ 2¡­¡ªGo!¡¯ From his standing position, he shifted his feet apart as he took an appropriate stance. He then leapt upward, smoothly tucking his legs in and executed a perfect backflip. His form landed on his two feet with an almost imperceptible thud. Standing to his full height once more, he muttered. ¡°Three points in Physique is no joke. My body coordination is insane! Something still feels wrong though¡­ Yeah that¡¯s right, I¡¯m not using any tendrils.¡° At the thought, four thick tendrils sprouted from his back. They ended with deadly scythe-like claws ready to maim and kill any foe. The blades of each claw a pearly white, making them look like razor sharp fangs. As he flexed the new appendages in comfort, he spoke to himself out loud. ¡°Good, now that¡¯s more like it. I should check my status screen. I think I heard a few notifications while in my hazy of misery.¡° This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. When he opened the notifications, he was stunned. {Congratulations, you have performed a complete transformation. [Mimicry] has leveled up from level 3¡ª> level 5. +1 attribute point. Good job. You have leveled up from level 3¡ª> level 5. Achievement unlocked: Tough nut to crack. [Guide] skill initializing.} Excited by the series of notifications, he opened his status screen. ¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 5 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly], [Tough nut to crack] Attributes: ?Physique: 4(+) ?Spirit: 1(+) ?Mind: 2(+) Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 5] ?Leech [Level 4] ?Spirit sense [Level 3] Attribute points: 2 ¡ª¡ª Lucas was struck in awe at the state of his stats. His Attributes, level and skills made a massive jump. He even got a new title as well. ¡°Things probably couldn¡¯t have gone much better than this.¡± But his status screen seemed to take that remake personally. {[Guide] skill initialized.} A new notification appeared in his mind, before he could ask anything, a new line of text appeared. {Greetings, Lucas Maverick. I shall be your [Guide] from henceforth. You may give me a name if you so choose.} Reading the now blue text on his status screen, Lucas felt confused for a moment, he asked out loud with his tendrils softly whipping behind him. ¡°What are you?¡± {As I said, I¡¯m your [Guide]. To elaborate further, I am a very special skill imbued into your system by The Arbiter.} The [Guide] answered patiently. His tendrils froze mid-air as he processed the entire response. Hoping for some clarification, Lucas asked further questions. ¡°Who is ¡®The Arbiter¡¯? And why didn¡¯t you activate sooner?¡± {The first question is not something I can answer. As for the second, your mental faculties were too low to properly handle my capabilities.} Both responses felt¡­ off to Lucas. Like half truths though not outright lies. Crash buzzed with agreement. Lucas raised his guard by several notches as he questioned his [Guide] some more. ¡°Be honest with me, would your activation have turned my brain to mush before or is this whole thing a test to see if I can get to level 5?¡± Lucas might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he knew when a situation was strange. This cavern¡­ all the creatures seemed tailor made to pressure him but not outright kill him as long as he was cautious and skilled enough. OR, he may just be super paranoid and his mind was grasping at straws from being isolated in a cavern for a week as an alien creature. Either way, it was a valid question to ask. [Guide] didn¡¯t waste any time to answer however. {Your Mind was truly incapable of bearing the strain of my activation. As for why you appeared in this specific cavern, I have no clue. Any further questions?} Lucas still didn¡¯t trust it for a second but it was quite literally in his head and given that he wasn¡¯t even sure he would see his next sleep cycle, he sighed and decided to go along with it. ¡°So what can you do for me?¡± {Glad you asked, you now have the analyse function for you status screen. Just think of anything on it and focus on it for a deeper explanation. Apart from that, you can also issue my core task. You should know that not everything in your status screen is available at the moment.} Reading the new message, Lucas¡¯ eyes widened slightly. He went to his status screen and went to his {Achievements}. Focusing on [Anomaly], lines of text appeared in response. {[Anomaly]: You are a truly unique being in the vast cosmos. Your existence is a mystery in and of itself. Reward: Special [Guide] skill granted.} {[Tough nut to crack]: You have shown your outstanding tenacity and determination again and again, using your willpower to push back in a world determined to break you. Reward: +1 Mind.} Reading through the descriptions, though [Anomaly] sounded grand, Lucas resonated much more with [Tough nut to crack]. He felt a swell of pride when he read through its description. This [Achievement] was attained with his own blood, sweat, and unbending will. His four tendrils whipped back and forth as he turned his focus back to his status screen. Trying to dig up more knowledge. Unfortunately, he was met with a roadblock as he focused on his Physique attribute. Switching to check his skills, he received the same notification. {Access denied.} With his guard raised once more, Lucas asked softly. ¡°Why?¡± {As I said before, not everything on your status screen is currently available. To gain access to them and more, please assign me a core task.} ¡°What is a core task? And how do I select one?¡± {A core task is the primary reason for my existence. It is the main path in which I can guide you. It can be anything you desire, my job is to bring you along that path as efficiently as possible. As for your second question, you can select one by simply stating it with a firm Will.} Reading through the stream of texts, Lucas thought about what he truly wanted. Did he want to leave this cavern? Of course. But he knew that was short sighted. If his theory about the cavern being a test was anywhere near the truth, the beings he might face outside would be much worse. With all this in mind, Lucas spoke firmly, his eyes gleaming with Crash''s otherworldly light for a fleeting moment giving him a steely look. He spoke firmly, with more conviction than he had ever held. ¡°I want to be strong. The strongest being possible.¡± Chapter 23: Assigning Attribute Points. Chapter 23: Assigning Attribute points. ¡°I want to be strong. The strongest being possible.¡± At that sentence, [Guide] paused for a second, before responding with. {Core task accepted. [Quests] tool initiated.} Lucas felt a mild pain in his mind. It cleared up in a few seconds however. When he opened his status screen, he was met with a new function. {[Quests]: ?Raise [Spirit sense] to level five. Reward: Information packet on Spirit energy. ?Raise [Leech] to level five. Reward: Information packet on Life energy. ?Evolve or improve mimicry beyond its current level. Rewards: information packet on skills. ?Acquire a pseudo core. Rewards: Information packet on pseudo cores.} Reading through this list of quests, he couldn¡¯t help but frown a bit as he asked out loud. ¡°Why are all the rewards information packets? Attribute point would be much more helpful.¡± {I¡¯m a [Guide] skill not an [Attribute] skill. My sole purpose is to assist you without interfering with your own development and goals.} [Guide] replied without missing a beat. Lucas tsked but shelving the matter. It¡¯s not like he was expecting any help anyway. And thinking on it further, there was the old saying, ¡°knowledge is power¡± right? With [Guide]¡¯s help, he would certainly figure out how his skills work much faster. Maybe even create new skills as well. Subconsciously nodding at his own thoughts, Lucas addressed his [Guide] again. ¡°Okay let¡¯s give you a name¡­ How about Wiki?¡° {I think it¡¯s a wonderful name. Anything else?} ¡°Can you talk?¡± At the question, soft and melodic voice appeared in Lucas¡¯ mind. It was completely gender neutral, seeming designed to ease Lucas¡¯ mind. {Yes I can, Lucas.} ¡°Good, do that from now on.¡± {Okay, I understand.} Though it was mildly unpleasant to have a voice in his head, Lucas already had another voice in his head, what was one more? With that out of the way, he brought his focus to his status screen. Though the quests were interesting, he had a more pressing issue to deal with. He still had two whole points to assign. The choice was easy to make but he noticed something strange. ¡°I thought my Physique was at 3 not 4?¡± Lucas tilted his head slightly as he asked himself, trying to remember his status screen before his miraculous transformation. Humm. With a powerful hum, Crash interjected his thoughts. It tried to express something to Lucas he couldn¡¯t really understand. All he could make out was, ¡°Transformation good??¡± Thinking further on Crash¡¯s ¡°words¡±, he came to a more put together statement. ¡±Using that particular slime enhanced my Physique? Was it because it had a physical core?¡± Hum Humm. ¡°Oh I see. Guess we should gun for tougher foes then, huh?¡± Humm! He felt his Spirt energy shift and crash like a raging tide at the thought. Crash definitely agreed. With the matter put to rest, Lucas turned his attention back to his status screen. Expecting what¡¯s to come, he laid down flat on the rough cave floor and prepared for the enhancement he would receive. He mentally assigned the point, he felt his heart clench suddenly before his heart rate spiked up dramatically. As always, all the surrounding energy was drawn to him, to his core more specifically. The entire cave became covered in frost in just a few seconds. The frost continued to spread beyond his cave but Lucas didn¡¯t pay any attention to this external change. Within himself, he felt the surroundings energies flow into his core, where they underwent a mystical transformation before moving into his body. Unlike previous times though, the process was completely painless. Infact, it was quite pleasant. It felt like each of his individual cells were being massaged by a torrent of clouds. Their efforts to enhance him were soft and almost affectionate. Strangely, he could feel something in his mind shifting as well. To be more specific, his perception was developing into something more. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Apart from his seven senses¡ªthe ¡±regular¡± five plus his Spirit and Life energy senses¡ª he could feel a new type of perception bubbling up. But since his transformation was not over, he could not explore the sensation any further. As the process went on, the clearer he could feel the changes going on in his mind. After about three minutes in, he felt another change. His body felt saturated with the soft energy so it moved back into his core. He tried his best to feel what was happening to his core without directly using his perception. He could feel his core solidifying, becoming something actually physically. It was shaped like a perfect sphere. Feeling these changes, one thing stuck out to him. ¡®Wasn¡¯t this how the dark slime¡¯s core was? It seems there¡¯s more to having 5 Physique than I thought¡­¡¯ Time ticked away rapidly, and after about thirty minutes, the enhancement was done. No more energy flowed into his body or Crash. He felt refreshed, and energized. Standing upright in the frozen cave with the use of his tendrils, his motions looked eerily inhuman. He looked down at his arms and felt a surge of power course within him. He could feel Crash buzzing and writhing within him as it felt it as well. This had nothing to do with Sprit energy or Life energy. It was just him. He felt¡­ more. He paid close attention to himself, trying to take note of the differences he was experiencing. His senses easily spread into his body. His 360¡ã perception keener than ever. He could see a clear mental image of his organs and how his blood moved within him. This information that would overwhelm the average human mind just caused him to frown for a bit, feeling slight strain on his Mind. If he wanted to, he could consciously control his bodily functions now. ¡°I should consider putting more into Mind. It seems to be helping me already but my body is just too complex for my current processing power.¡± Lucas mumbled to himself. He then switched his focus to his core. He could see all his Spirit energy was bottled up in a perfect sphere. Its color a hue he couldn¡¯t place. All he knew was it was otherworldly and associated with his specific energy. Watching his energy swirl and race unpredictable within the core brought him a certain peace. Tkkt! That peace was shattered when he subconsciously clenched his fist. This normal action caused a sharp whistle of air to escape from his fists. It sounded almost like the air fled in terror of his sheer might. ¡°Of course I¡¯m not that strong yet. It¡¯s just the high from placing the attribute hasn¡¯t wound off. I just have to keep my cool, I¡¯m not sure I can afford being surrounded by those tree people once more.¡± Lucas tried to rationalize. He knew for a fact that even though he was much stronger now than he had ever been, numerous unknown treats still lurked in the cavern. His previous experience of escaping from the tree humanoids taught him the price of his misplaced confidence. Humm? ¡°Yeah that¡¯s right Crash, acting badass when your weak just makes you a dumbass. With that said, it¡¯s time to go test out what I¡¯m capable of with my current attributes. Then I can decide how to use my final point. While at it, we should try to complete those quests, we need all the information we can get.¡± With a plan formed, Lucas walked out of the icy cave, a virtually different being in both body and Mind. Lucas activated his [Spirit sense] as he walked, the already beautiful colors of the cave became even more vibrant. He could now see clear patterns of Spirit energy weaving in the air. Forming very faint and very complex shapes and structures. Before he could even investigate the occurrence further, he received a notification. {[Spirit sense] has leveled up from level 3¡ª¡ª¡ª>level 4. Keep up.} As he read the notification, Lucas thought to himself in satisfaction. ¡®It seems transforming back to a human is yielding all sorts of improvements after all.¡¯ He focused once more on the changes in Spirit energy around him. He stood with 4 gently swaying tendrils behind him for a full five minutes, carefully observing his surroundings in deep thought before he reacted blunt conclusion. ¡°I can¡¯t understand any of it.¡± The reason he was so intrigued by these patterns was because they reminded him of the runes he saw on the sky blue salamander, and on himself when he used his level 4 [Leech]. Sadly, things were never that easy in the cavern. His recent rapid advancement seemed to have made him forget that. Lucas decided to be more productive, He directed his focus to the many winding tunnels of the cave trying to deduce which path to take. Suddenly, he heard a very familiar sound. This was the sound that accompanied him when he just got into the cavern. With its tranquil melody, it not only helped heal his wounds, but also enhanced his senses. The sound was much louder now, its amplitude rising little by little. This time, Lucas could see something else occurring at the rhythm of the melody. The Spirit energy in the air got more excited. Even Crash seemed to enjoy the sound a lot as the flow of Lucas¡¯ Spirit energy became much fiercer. ¡®So that¡¯s why it feels so good. It¡¯s interacting directly with my Spirit energy. I wonder where it¡¯s coming from.¡¯ With that, Lucas closed his eyes with a tranquil expression. His tendrils relaxed and retracted into his form. All his attention was on the sound. A few moments later, he opened his eyes and exclaimed. ¡®That way!¡¯ He shot off to his right with zero hesitation. His initial plans or whatever danger lurked in the cavern thrown to the back of his mind. This sound¡­ it touched on something deep within Lucas¡¯ psyche. Something he never had as a human. Following it just felt natural and instinctive. Why would he question the impulse? As Lucas dashed through the cavern, his tendrils sprang back up from his back. He ran so fast his feet left small craters with each stride. His weight seemed to have increased quite a bit. He shot his tendrils into the walls to help him maneuver and make turns. His knowledge of parkour fusing with his current super human body for insane results. With each tendril assisted turn, flip, and wall run, his velocity continued to climb. The wind howled in his wake as he shot through the cavern''s tunnels like a streak of black lightning. Every cavern creature avoided his presence the moment they heard the thunderous sounds of his steps. After a minute of dashing, Lucas finally caught himself. The sound¡¯s trance-like affect having worn off enough for him to think clearly. Subconsciously, he slowed down and thought to himself in both panic and excitement. ¡®Holy shit, how am I moving so fast?¡¯ With his mind distracted, the sound faded completely. He couldn¡¯t hear it anymore no matter how much he listened. ¡°Why did I suddenly race off like that?¡± Now that he was back to his senses, he couldn¡¯t help but be slightly frustrated at himself and even a little worried. He had given into an impulse just after chastising himself to not rush off toward the unknown if he wasn¡¯t prepared. ¡°Well, we¡¯re already here. Let¡¯s look for something to fight.¡± With a heavy sigh, he began looking around. Trying to make heads or tails of where he was and something to take his anger out on. Hum hum? ¡®Yeah, yeah. We¡¯ll eat it as well. Everything seems to be avoiding us though. Will have to go full stealth mode for this.¡¯ In the distance, he could sense the ever colorful creatures of the cavern moving away from him in unison. Looking down at his polished black skin, he immediately frowned. ¡®I stand out like a sore thumb like this.¡¯ Focusing on his [Mimicry], he Willed his skin color to change back to the vibrant, ever changing color he once had. With that out of the way, he stalked further into the cavern. His steps were cautious but confident. ¡®Let¡¯s see what I¡¯m made of.¡¯ Chapter 24: Collisions. Chapter 24: Collisions. Back in the dark slime¡¯s cave¡­ Five humanoid figures walked to the entrance of the dark cave in a tight formation. Their physiques were robust and powerful and colored with a striking, deep green. They looked like walking trees. Their bright green eyes and flowing branch-like hair, the only things detracting from that fact. Boomed the rough and deep voice of the apparent leader. Its form was different from the rest. Apart from its vine-like hair being more elaborate, it had a taller and more well defined physique. It also carried a very distinct aura from the rest. The five stood at the mouth of the cave before marching in, spears raised. After walking into the cave, the leader immediately saw something that grabbed its attention. It even caused its bright eyes to flicker for a moment before returning to its usual luminosity. It could see three simple wood spears impaled almost half way into the solid rock. Pitch black ichor that smelt of rot and decay hung to each spear. Without a word, the group''s pace picked up as they moved forward. It didn¡¯t take long for them to come across the corpses of two other tree humanoids and one barely hanging on. The corpses looked shriveled and decayed. Their originally vibrant, green eyes now a dull black. The five silently stomped over to the only surviving member. They methodically formed a circle around its dark brown form and held their hands together with their head facing down. Their limbs sprouted and grew like vines, fusing all five of them together by linking their arms. Suddenly, bright white runes appeared in the eyes of each humanoid. Each one of them shared the same shape and structure. With the appearance of the runes, beautiful green Spirit energy pulsed out of them. The Spirit energy circled across the five in complex and seemingly chaotic patterns. With each circle, the energy grew more and more intense. Glowing brighter and brighter until the entire cave was lit by a piercing green light. The energy reached its apex in just a few seconds before shooting to the injured tree humanoid on the ground in a concentrated beam. Its physical condition began to rapidly improve as more and more energy was fed to it. Less than a minute later, it seemed perfectly healthy. The five retracted the energy at that point. The runes in their eyes disappeared as their eyes dimmed slightly as well. The process had taken quite a lot out of them. The humanoids on the ground slowly stood up, seeming sinewhat out of it. Its face was as expressionless as its comrades around it. It eventually stood to its feet and immediately looked towards the simple spears in the wall. Its gaze flickered then it turned towards the leader and said. The leader let out a deep and gruff sound in affirmation. It then asked in an audibly softer tone. The saved humanoid¡¯s gaze flickered intensely. The leader got all he needed to know from its gaze. It turned to the rest and said. With those two simple statements, it walked back to the entrance of the cavern. Its stomps were notably heavier. Two of the humanoids he came with logged the two corpses on their shoulders as they followed behind the leader. The leader made a stop at the three spears. It reached out at the spears and retrieved them one by one, placing them on its back. Holding the last spear in his hand, it sent a pulse of Spirit energy through it. Two dark red runes pulsed in its gaze before vanishing. It immediately snapped its head towards the specific direction Lucas went. It then retracted its gaze as it led its crew away in eerie silence¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª Back to Lucas, our favorite mimic swung above the heads of five crimson rats like a superhero. The rats let out a shrill squeal and rushed away in terror. Lucas ignored them as his focus was captured by something else¨Chis body. Using his body to its limits had always given him a liberating feeling. Now that he felt human again, that feeling ramped up. His dulled emotions shining through his mimic exterior as a slight smile hung on his lips. His four tendrils pierced, hooked, and released from rock to rock like grappling hooks every two seconds or so as he zipped across the colorful and rich cavern walls with flair. Mid-flip, his fun was disrupted by the low hums of Crash. Hum hum? ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten why we are out here. There simply aren¡¯t any creatures to fight. Anything noteworthy is too sensitive and runs away before I can do anything while the weaker ones are not worth the effort.¡± That seemed to satiate his imaginary buddy as it fell back into silence. Lucas kept swinging and maneuvering around the cavern. With each powerful swing and transition, he kept trying to push his limits. How far could he swing? How fast could he do so? With each question that rose, the harder he pushed to improve the result. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. With his current Physique and Mind, whenever he figured out what to do, he could easily apply it. To his surprise, he felt the influence of the Mind attribute here in the air more than ever. Movements he would normally leave to his instincts or would fix with hours of trial and error were corrected mid motion. His mind just processed information much faster than it did before. And with how amazing his body already was, it was like giving the proper software to his hardware. In short, he was much better at utilizing his body now. ¡®I should have expected this. My attributes don¡¯t exist in a vacuum. The only way to display my full potential is to have the right combination of attributes. Now that I have Wiki, I will probably have a deeper understanding of my attributes soon. So for now, let¡¯s hold off from spending the point I have left.¡¯ Comprehending these insights, Lucas kept swinging and testing out his body. After a few minutes of swinging and covering quite a bit of ground, he felt his stamina dropping. ¡®Hmm¡­ even though I¡¯m more powerful now I¡¯m also much heavier. But given the distance I have covered, it¡¯s definitely worth it. I should have covered over 5 kilometers in less than three minutes!¡¯ Lucas slowly lowered speed before going back down to the cavern floor. He then took off with a calm jog. Since nothing was happening, boredom eventually set in. Thoughts he hadn¡¯t had time to really consider began popping up in his mind. ¡®How is the cavern so big? I have been traveling in one direction for 5 kilometers now and nothing is changing? No¡­ the tunnels are getting larger and the creatures are getting more powerful as well. Is the sound attracting the creatures like it did for me?¡¯ As he theorized, he heard a sharp scraping sound ahead of him. The sound was familiar so he honed in on it. What he sensed surprised him. ¡®A beetle? Good! I know it will definitely be looking for a fight!¡¯ Hum! Humm! Lucas rushed ahead with Crash cheering him on. As he got closer, he felt the beetle¡¯s aura more clearly. It was powerful, almost like¡ª ¡°It has a core.¡± Lucas¡¯ eyes widened slightly before narrowing. This is what he needed, a strong opponent. His strides became more forceful as his speed increased. In a few seconds, he was face to face with the grey colored beetle. It was much bigger than the first one he met. It was as wide as he was tall. Standing at shoulder height with him, its massive mandibles drawn apart ready to cleave him apart with a simple snap. Looking at this creature, Lucas tensed. Its powerful aura made him second guess his decision. He became hesitant and unsure for a moment as it noticed him and began closing the distance. ¡®Can I beat it? I can¡¯t keep taking unnecessary risks. What if I¡¯m very injured after the fight and an opportunist strikes¡ª¡® HUMM! With a reassuring hum, Lucas felt his Spirit energy course through his veins for the first time in this form. This was Crash¡¯s doing. Lucas¡¯ distracting thoughts cleared up but his Will was strong enough to not fall into hubris as well. ¡®Yes, I have to be cautious but if I don¡¯t allow myself to take risks that¡¯s simply suicide. I just have to do my best. And right now, all I have to do is fight!¡¯ With his thoughts cleared up, he shot at the beetle as well, leaving two craters in his wake. He closed the distance immediately and unleashed a fierce punch. Boom. The blow stunned the monstrous bug for just a moment but that gave Lucas the opening to unleash two slashes with his scythe-tendrils. Unfortunately, the bug''s carapace was too tough, it easily shrugged off the hits and snapped its mandibles at Lucas. Lucas stepped back to avoid the cleaving bite and countered with a slash from one of his lower scythe-tendrils. The beetle barely flinched from the attack as it rammed into Lucas with a sudden burst of speed. ¡®What??¡¯ Bang. Lucas was smashed a solid ten meters away before he even touched the ground. Rolling to a stop, he hastily stood up and was surprised he wasn¡¯t injured. His elation was cut short when he felt a surge of Spirit energy coming from the armored beetle. The pulse of power kicked up dust and debris as the air shook. Its light grey color now a shade lighter making it appear almost white. Activating his [Spirit Sense], Lucas could see its Spirit energy revolving around it extremely fast. Its energy seemed to be tracing out Runes but Lucas didn¡¯t have time for them as he could see the beetle rapidly expanding in his vision. With a fierce howl, the wind roared as the beetle flew at Lucas. Its wings flared out as it came at him looking for blood. With his reflexes and skills as guides, Lucas shot his tendril at the wall to his left and dove in that direction. He dodged the beetle¡¯s crushing charge by just a few centimeters and could feel the sharp wind graze his feet. Smashing into the wall like a battering ram, Lucas left a sizable crater but only one thing was on his mind. ¡®How is it moving so fast?¡¯ Boom. He heard the beetle crash into the far wall. Dust and debris shot out from the large crate made by the beetle. The beetle used its wings to deftly turn around and face its foe once more. Before Lucas could even come up with a valid strategy, the beetle rushed at him once more. It''s a very light grey color now a piercing white. Its speed rose to a ludicrous degree. Contrary to logic, Lucas instead rushed towards the biology locomotive. His right arm changed into a pitch black pike which he leveled against the beetle. Transforming that single arm almost took half of his Spirit energy but he didn¡¯t care and dumped more into it. A series of red glowing runes covered the surface of the simple pike in a neat line. As the white and black streaks raced toward each other, Crash let out a deep hum as it gave Lucas its all. HUM! ¡®That¡¯s right. I¡¯m not a human, so I shouldn¡¯t fight like one!¡¯ BANG! Lucas mentally roared as they collided with a loud bang. Lucas felt his weaponized arm pierce into the beetle¡¯s carapace with minimal resistance and immediately activated [Leech]. However, the skill couldn¡¯t take full effect before the beetle¡¯s overwhelming momentum smashed both of them into the wall with a thunderous boom. When the dust settled, Lucas pushed off the lifeless corpse of the beetle from himself and pulled out his arm. A gaping wound could be found in the beetle''s head as he retracted his limb. Apart from some deep lacerations on his skin and some bone fracture, Lucas looked relatively fine. He sat down in the crater and looked at the corpse feeling a swirl of emotions. Expelling a deep breath, he plotted out his next actions while replying the fight in his mind. ¡°I should remove the core and head in deeper¡ª¡° Drip drip drip. Hearing the sound of dripping water his mind snapped away from his thoughts as he tried to sniff out the origin. He searched around confused before he felt something wet on his face. This caused him to freeze in place as he asked rhetorically. ¡®I¡¯m crying?¡¯ His confusion grew as the tears continued to stream. He couldn¡¯t stop them, even as his mind grappled with why they were there. They were a reminder¡ªa crack in the muted mask his mimic body wore. For a moment, Lucas felt a little less alien, a little more human. Chapter 25: Beyond the Cavern. Chapter 25: Beyond the cavern. Stargazer city. 7:00 AM. At a 1-star domain diver training center, Flynt Rayce walked in with a confident stride. His short platinum blonde hair waved in the morning breeze while his pale yellow eyes sparkled with barely concealed joy. ¡®I finally paid for the [Jolt] skill. I hope I can practice for a bit before our next mission.¡¯ The automatic doors opened after a facial scan. Within the establishment, Flynt could see various people moving around. Most of them looked to be in their early 20s with a few middle aged people here and there. They moved around orderly, with a some having distant gazes as if they could see something no one else could. Their bodies were adorned with sleek body armor of various colors. Some carried various melee weapons, while others carried rifles and pistols, but the vast majority moved around unarmed. Taking a closer look at the armors and weapons, you could see very small inscriptions on their surfaces. The interior of the place was designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind. Apart from a painting here and there, holographic signs giving out directions to various training room and skill application hubs, there was not much else to see. Flynt made his way to the receptionist¡¯s counter with swift steps. After waiting for the three people in front of him to finish their business, it was finally his turn. ¡°I have an appointment for the [Jolt] application hub. Here is my permit.¡± Flynt said to the pretty brunette receptionist as he rummaged for something in his chest pocket. The young woman just nodded before her eyes glowed white as she scanned Flynt¡¯s face. She frowned slightly as her scan failed. Flynt pulled out a small sphere from his chest pocket with a sheepish smile. It floated on his palm for a few moments before producing a holographic Rune. The woman scanned the Rune for a few moments before the light in her eyes glowed green and vanished. Flynt¡¯s smile became more natural at the sight. As he pocketed his device and was about to leave, the woman called out to him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you link with your Synap properly? That would have made the process much easier for both of us.¡± Already used to such a question, Flynt gave a casual answer as he walked away. ¡°It¡¯s too much of a clutch. If I want to reach the heights I aim for, it will be very detrimental to me.¡± Not waiting for her response, Flynt strolled towards a vacant Skill application center to get his money¡¯s worth. In less than two minutes, he had made his way to the room. It was well lit and relatively small being about 5*5*5 in its dimensions. Keeping with the facility''s minimalist design, its walls and ceilings a uniform white making the room look sterile and clean. The only noteworthy object in the room being the black pod resting in its center. It was slanted with a height of about three meters. Its exterior was sleek and seamless with a transparent oval across its surface. Flynt walked over feeling a little nervous. After all, it was not unheard of to be unable to learn a skill even if you had the Essence to match it. As he felt his thoughts go a little out of control, he stopped, took a deep breath and muttered. ¡°Status.¡± ¡ª¡ª- [STATUS] Name: Flynt Rayce Species: Prismari Tier: 0 Level: 4 Essence: Lightning Achievements: [Notable Swordsman], [Child of lightning] Attributes: ?Physique: 2 ?Spirit: 3 ?Mind: 2 Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Electrokinesis [Level 3] ?Zap [Level 3] Quests: ?Raise [Electrokinesis] to level 5. Reward: [Electrokinesis] circuit. ?Raise [Zap] to level 5. Reward: [Zap] circuit. Attribute points: 0 ¡ª¡ª- A glimpse at his status calmed him down. He could do this. He had a [Guide] and an Essence. If he couldn¡¯t use this skill, then that meant no one could. With that, Flynt stepped toward the machine. When he got within five meters of the pod, a life-like hologram of a woman appeared in front of Flynt. She was quite beautiful and dressed in a simple yet elegant gown. She looked at Flynt and began explaining how to use the pod with a pleasant smile. {Please present your Synap, Sir.} It said with a soft voice. Flynt obliged and fished his Synap out of his pocket. The floating sphere instantly flew out of his hand and melded with the pod. The pod then opened up for Flynt in the quiet room. {Now, you can lay in the pod. After thirty minutes, the procedure should be done. Hopefully you will be satisfied with the results.} The hologram disappeared after it said that, leaving Flynt alone once more. Without any hesitation, he made his way over to the pod. It¡¯s transparent door gave way as he stepped into its ergonomic interior. Lying down inside, he couldn¡¯t see outside of the pod. The interior provided him with a gentle glow and surprising room to maneuver. When Flynt began wondering when the process would start, a holographic panel appeared in front of his gaze. {Initiate procedure? [Yes] [No]} ¡®These 10000 credits better not be wasted.¡¯ He trained his eyes on [Yes] and immediately passed out. Large amounts of information began to enter his mind and he read through all of it in a dreamlike state. This information was on how to gain the [Jolt] skill, or more precisely, how to manually use electrical energy to enhance his reaction time, reflexes, and even more. As you might guess, mapping out all your nerves and the signals they produce wasn¡¯t something a normal human could do. But with this device, the mind breaking information was crammed into the user''s brain while making sure they understood it and didn¡¯t lose their minds in the process. The machine wasn¡¯t infallible however, hence Flynt¡¯s earlier worry. Flynt slept in the pod, his breathing steady as he focused on the information flowing into his mind. They came in bursts, abstract concepts interwoven with raw data. It wasn¡¯t like reading through a manual, it was more like being yelled at from within your own mind. You would understand, even if you didn¡¯t want to. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. After about fifteen minutes later, the process was still going strong. In his hazy state, the ideas began organizing them in his mind. The first idea struck him like a bolt of lightning. ¡®So, my nerves are like highways¡­ signals traveling down them. This Skill¡­ it¡¯s meant to speed them up?¡¯ His Spirit began to churn inside him, his Essence responding instinctively. He felt something like a pulse deep in his body, as if every nerve in him were subtly vibrating. ¡®No¡­ not just speed. It¡¯s like opening new routes. Or¡­ skipping the roads entirely.¡¯ The insights continued to pour in as he broke down the process of how his nerves worked. He realized [Jolt] wasn¡¯t simply about faster signals, it was about reshaping how they traveled, and the effects they had on what they traveled through. By applying Spirit energy, he could bypass some of the body¡¯s natural limitations. But how? Flynt¡¯s thoughts began racing. He visualized his body in fragments: tendons flexing, muscles contracting, his heart pounding. The pod was forcing him to feel every inch of himself in a way he never had before. It wasn¡¯t just about Physique. ¡®It¡¯s Spirit. That¡¯s why I¡¯m feeling this¡­ Spirit bridges the gap. I¡¯m not just making my body faster. I have to use my Spirit to guide the signals, like rerouting a circuit through raw energy.¡¯ He subconsciously followed this train of thought and was met with agony. He saw flashes of imagery in his mind, arcs of blue lightning coursing through translucent nerves, bypassing obstacles, connecting directly to his brain. His limbs twitched involuntarily as they clenched and relaxed involuntarily. His heart rate spiked dramatically and he hastily stopped. ¡®If I push my body too much, I¡¯ll burn out. My muscles can¡¯t handle it. But without enough Spirit, the signals collapse before they even do anything substantial.¡¯ He felt like he was walking a tightrope between control and certain death. His Spirit churned harder now, responding to the mental exercise. He realized something critical. ¡®It¡¯s not enough to just send the signal using my Spirit. I have to shape it. Guide it with my Will.¡¯ The mental image shifted. He pictured himself as a conductor of a storm, controlling where each bolt of lightning struck. Too much energy in one place, and the system would overload. Too little, and it wouldn¡¯t be enough to make a difference. ¡®Balance is the key.¡¯ The pod filled his mind with the specifics: how to amplify his Spirit to extend his reaction pathways, how to use the raw power of Physique to handle the enhanced strain, and how the two needed to synchronize perfectly. It was almost poetic in its complexity, but the deeper he dove, the more he realized it wasn¡¯t just theory. His Spirit and Physique were enabling each other to accomplish something they couldn¡¯t do individually. Without Spirit, the Skill was impossible. Without Physique, it was almost meaningless. As the process neared its end, Flynt felt his mind teetering on the edge of understanding and total overload. His Spirit surged within him, not just in his core but through his entire being. It wasn¡¯t just raw energy, it was a force of his intent, guiding every signal, every spark. ¡®This¡­ this isn¡¯t just a skill. It¡¯s a foundation. If I can master [Jolt], it¡¯ll be more than just faster reflexes. I''ll be able control myself¡­ my Essence. My future.¡¯ When the final packet of data hit, it felt like a circuit closing. Everything aligned in his mind, and a single sentence appeared in his vision. {[Jolt] learned.} That very simple message made him feel at ease and let his Mind rest, falling into true sleep. Lucas woke up three hours later, the moment he opened his eyes a very faint radiant white Rune could be seen in his eyes before it faded. Flynt didn¡¯t feel any different so he anxiously opened his skill menu in search of [Jolt] Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Electrokinesis [Level 3] ?Zap [Level 3] ?Jolt [Level 1] With a relieved sigh, Flynt stepped out of the now open pod. He felt refreshed and relaxed from his pleasant sleep. As he was about to head out, the holographic woman appeared once more. {I hope you were satisfied with the procedure, Sir.} ¡°I was, thank you for instructing me. It was the most expensive sleep I have ever gotten, hahaha.¡± {Hahaha. No, thank you for using our services. Good luck on your future missions.} She said with a smile as she vanished. Flynt also stepped out planning to use the training facilities when his Synap buzzed. He pulled it out and it conjured a holographic head of a young red haired woman. Her eyes were a rich green and her smile infectious. ¡°What¡¯s got you in a good mood this morning, Ana?¡± Flynt asked as he walked, a small smile playing on his lips. ¡°There¡¯s a new 1-star mission available. Guess the reward?¡± As he looked at her smile, Flynt¡¯s got wider as he said casually. ¡°A hundred thousand credits?¡± ¡°Haha, no. It¡¯s actually five hundred thousand!¡± ¡°What??¡± Flynt almost crashed into a passerby when he heard that figure. After giving his apologies, he turned back to Ana. ¡°No way. Have you notified everyone else?¡± ¡°Yep, we¡¯re all waiting for you at the caf¨¦. So drop whatever you¡¯re doing and meet us here. If we waste any more time, this mission might get snatched up.¡± Flynt nodded and said. ¡°Yeah I understand, I will be there in five.¡± Ana nodded and dropped the call. Flynt changed directions and headed outside. They could not miss out on a mission like this. He knew the only reason it hadn¡¯t been taken yet was probably because there was a catch but he had confidence in his team. More importantly, he had confidence in himself. So he stepped outside into the city. The sun was just peaking above the horizon to illuminate the city. Numerous holograms floated over various buildings, running advertisements for businesses and services. Some of them showed footage and armored Prismari trekking through various terrain. Each of them equipped with a vast assortment of melee and long ranged weapons. Flynt paid the holograms no mind. He just moved over to the closest bus stop and waited for less than a minute for a ride. Less than five minutes later, he stood in front of the Rustic Breakfast. The place his squad always met at to make important decisions. The building¡ªsimilar to its name¡ªwas simple and had just one floor. It looked like a shack put together by tens of very skilled DIY guys, striking a contrast with the surrounding city. Flynt stepped inside and spotted his four teammates sitting at a table. They seemed to be discussing something animatedly, at least the two men in the group were animated while the women interjected from time to time. Walking closer, Flynt began to pick up on the conversation. ¡°What are you on about, Jaxsyn? Rynaldoe has nothing on Mezzyr! Mezzyr can dribble circles around her with his eyes closed.¡± A lanky man said. His almost pale white skin emphasized his rather unique sky blue hair. He wasn¡¯t the most handsome in the traditional sense but his sharp facial features were quite striking. ¡°Okay. I have just one question for you though, how many goals does Rynaldoe have? She¡¯s a legend for a reason. You¡¯re just denying facts.¡± A muscular man with long violet hair countered. His light brown skin made him somewhat distinct in the group. His purple pupils twinkled with playful defiance as he pushed some more. ¡°If Mezzyr is so great, what happened yesterday, huh? Bacalana lost 4-0. 4-0!¡± Ana and the other woman just smiled at this. They all knew the lanky man was a very passionate zokker fan and a Mezzyr zealot. Before the young man could fly into a full blow tirade however, Flynt knocked the table twice, drawing their attention. ¡°Yes, yes, we all know Mezzyr has the [God of zokker] Achievement, Dahn.¡± Flynt said to the lanky man with a slight smile as he sat. Dahn¡¯s outraged expression froze on his face. He finally unfroze when he heard the chuckles and booming laugh of his companions. Sheepishly taking his seat, he said. ¡°Good morning to you too, Flynt. You¡¯re finally here.¡± The others also greeted Flynt. ¡°Good morning guys. So Ana, can you explain the mission in full detail?¡± The red-haired woman nodded and faint runes appeared in her eyes as he sent the mission page to everyone. As their eyes focused on an image Flynt couldn¡¯t see, he pulled out his Synap and opened the image. It read. {Task Issuer: Confidential Mission Type: Reconnaissance and Exploration Threat Level: 1-Star (High Risk) Compensation: 500,000 Prismari Credits Additional Bonus: 500,000 Prismari Credits (upon locating and reporting the domain core) Mission Overview: You are tasked with conducting a preliminary survey of a recently developed domain, estimated to be between 59 to 500 years old. The domain''s environment and potential threats remain unclassified, requiring cautious exploration. While reaching the domain core is not mandatory, its discovery and subsequent reporting will significantly enhance the mission''s reward. Be advised that the domain exhibits minor spatial and temporal instability, necessitating heightened situational awareness. Recommended Team Composition: - A 1-Star-rated five-member squad, or - A 2-Star-rated solo operative Proceed with caution and prioritize data collection and survival. Further instructions will be provided upon mission acceptance.} Reading the message, Flynt¡¯s eyes shrunk slightly. Something told him there was more to this than meets the eye. But¡­ that was the nature of the job, no?. He turned to his squad to hear their opinions. The first to speak was Vai, the woman who hadn¡¯t spoken up till now. Her long silver hair tied in a ponytail actuated her beauty. She turned her sapphire eyes to Flynt and began. ¡°I think we should go for it. It¡¯s easy money. If things start going south we just leave and still get paid right?¡± Ana nodded at this, indicating she was on the same wavelength. Dahn stayed silent with his arms folded. Jaxsyn frowned slightly before he spoke. ¡°What if they know we won¡¯t be able to leave when we enter? That¡¯s probably why they are willing to pay such an outrageous price, right? And let¡¯s not forget, the Domain¡¯s laws are unstable. We all know how bad it can get if its Spirit energy abruptly rises.¡± Ana frowned at his words and couldn¡¯t help but say. ¡°Those are rare, Jaxsyn. How would the mission giver even know something like that will happen?¡± Flynt subconsciously nodded, Jaxsyn had expressed what was bugging him the most. Flynt turned his pale yellow eyes to Dahn who just shrugged indicating he held no opinions. ¡®Seems it¡¯s up to me¡­¡¯ Flynt looked at his team mates and fell into thought for a moment. Their gazes held trust as well as respect for whatever choice he made. With a sharp exhale he said, ¡°We are taking the mission. To ensure our safety, we should buy Riftkeys each. Even though they¡¯re expensive, we should be able to make 90000 credits each if we succeed. If we locate the Domain core, we can even double that. What do you guys say?¡± The two women immediately agreed, followed by Dahn, and eventually Jaxsyn as well. Flynt smiled and said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, breakfast is on me today.¡± Jaxsyn''s originally dim mood immediately brightened up as they all laughed and ordered their breakfast. None of them being aware just how monumental this one decision was. Chapter 26: Deeper into the cavern. Chapter 26: Moving deeper into the Cavern. Back within the cavern¡­ Lucas had already gathered himself and began cutting into the beetle¡¯s corpse. Transparent ichor and grey flecks of carapace hung on his arms and tendrils as he worked. His mind however, was elsewhere. ¡®Why was I crying? Do I feel bad for the beetle? No. Do I feel bad for myself? No.¡¯ Humm. A low hum kicked back against that second no. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine. I have been killing my way through the cave for more than a week now. Why would I get all mushy now?¡± Lucas subconsciously began to speak, his voice dangerously loud in the quiet cavern. Humm Humm. As he listened to Crash, Lucas¡¯ eyes widened in realization, that actually did make sense. When he was just a mimic, his body could not process his emotions properly so he forgot about them relatively quickly. This let him charge into danger head on with little to no hesitation. ¡°But now¡­ I can fully process things I used to shrug off. Maybe transforming back was not such a good idea...¡± His limbs stopped working on the beetle as he sank into silence. He recalled his previous fights and his most recent fight. With a deep sigh, he asked rhetorically. ¡°Who am I?¡± When he asked, he recalled his rooftop jump. He felt like that moment of fleeting freedom occurred a thousand years ago rather than two weeks ago. A smile crawled onto his face as he resumed digging for the beetle''s core. ¡°I¡¯m Lucas Maverick, a free spirit. It doesn¡¯t matter my shape or form, I always crave freedom.¡± He spoke absentmindedly, treating each word as a casual fact. When Lucas spoke those words, Crash let out a strange pulse of energy. Its color glowing brighter as its circulation patterns became even more chaotic. Lucas didn¡¯t take note of any of this as his focus was on getting the core. After a few minutes later, Lucas finally got his prize. The beetle¡¯s core was very different from the slime¡¯s. It was as transparent as glass and gave off a strange light. The light was a vibrant and pulsing hue that seemed to ripple at his touch. Yes, the color rippled at his touch. The core¡¯s light somehow did not cast any shadows and even let out a low hum. Lucas opened his palm and watched the core curiously. The core began floating a few centimeters above his palm, moving around in erratic orbits but never left the scope of his palm. ¡°Cool.¡± Lucas muttered, his eyes filled with wonder. Suddenly, Wiki¡¯s pleasant voice chimed in. {[Quest]¡ªAcquire a pseudo core completed. Reward received. Should I activate the packet now? [Yes] [No].} Crash let out a low hum at the notification, Lucas agreed. ¡°Yeah, we should find a secure location first. Knowing how things work with the system, this reward might make me pass out first.¡± He half joked as he stabbed the beetle¡¯s carcass with a single tendril and activated [Leech]. He couldn¡¯t let anything go to waste. He felt the familiar euphoria of Life energy coursing through him for a few moments before it faded. Life energy moved around Crash in a perfect ring. ¡°Why are you brighter now Crash?¡± Hum. Lucas heard the new sound, but could not fully understand what it meant. So he asked. ¡®What?¡¯ Hum hum. Crash ¡°spoke¡± once again but the full meaning was lost on Lucas. All he could get was, ¡°We¡¯re freer now? Cool¡­ I guess?¡± With that, he returned his attention back to the beetle¡¯s core in his hand. Lucas placed the core on his heart and Crash produced a whirlpool of energy that sucked it into the strange space it occupied. The beetle¡¯s core formed an erratic orbit around Crash. Its strange light interacted with Crash¡¯s in mysterious ways. ¡®I hope you know what you¡¯re doing, Crash. And don¡¯t absorb it. Not until I say so.¡¯ Hum. With that taken care of, Lucas went on the move. He removed his perception from his core and began making his way up the cavern wall. He easily grappled his way off the cavern floor using his tendrils and began swinging almost twenty meters off the ground. As he swung with his signature flair, he looked around for potential nooks and caves. Twenty minutes later, he found a big enough one thirty meters off the ground. He swiftly made his way to it with a few sharp swings. The slightly stale air whistled in his wake. Cautiously, he dropped into the cave with a frontflip. His hair waved as he stood to his feet. With his [Spirit sense] activated, the air thickened as he could now see strands of Spirit energy in air. Through the skill, he could sense multiple small lifeforms hanging on the cave''s pitch black ceiling. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡®Their Spirit energy is quite weak.¡¯ With zero hesitation, he stepped into the cave. What greeted him was a small colony of about thirty bat-like creatures. They looked quite large as they hung upside down in the cave Unlike most of the other cavern inhabitants, they were black in color with oversized ears folded over their faces. When Lucas stepped into the cave, their ears loosened from their faces. Each ear lobe was grotesquely oversized as a single one was bigger than their own heads. They collectively trained their eerie red eyes on Lucas who had disturbed their slumber. Lucas¡¯ four tendrils shifted into their scythe forms as he prepared for combat. His eyes narrowed in the dim light. The foul scent of carcasses and blood stung his sensitive nose. He could see the Spirit energy flow and change around them. He immediately caught sight of a familiar red glow and thought. ¡®They can use Life energy as well?¡¯ Whoosh. The first bat crashed towards him, wings and fangs bared and stained with dried blood. A deep crimson light wrapped around its frame as it swooped in. Lucas didn¡¯t flinch, it was as if he couldn''t see the attack with his gaze focused on the ceiling beyond the incoming bat. When the bat got into his range, his left upper tendril hacked at it with ruthless precision. Deep red runes appeared on its surface as it sliced through the air with a muted howl. The bat was easily cleaved in twain while Lucas¡¯ hadn¡¯t even gazed at it from start to finish. Suddenly, the remaining bats let out fierce screeches and dove down in unison. They flapped their wings and flew around chaotically. With his [Spirit sense] and [Leech] working in tandem, Lucas could see red waves of energy being emitted from their screeches. As the waves passed through him, numerous strange runes were embedded into his skin before vanishing. Frowning at this, Lucas went on the offensive. Whatever those Runes were, he didn¡¯t want to find out. Using his lower tendrils to assist his wall run, he proceeded to hack and slash at the bats. Lucas channeled his Life energy as he attacked. His arms morphed into blades in mere seconds. With these four weapons, he made short work of the bats. Each attack drew blood and harvested lives. No matter how they screeched and attacked, they were too weak to even injure him. In his eyes, they were just flying sacks of life energy. A minute later, the last bat fell. Lucas sat on the floor among the remnants of his handiwork. The carcasses looked like mummified corpses which swiftly crumbled into black dust. The cave now carried a strong deathly odor. As Lucas looked around at the carnage, he didn¡¯t feel much. He could still feel the warm Life energy flowing through him as he de-transformed his arms. ¡°Guess I¡¯m more used to this than I thought. Now, let¡¯s see what a quest reward is like.¡± Taking a seat, he opened the quest page and mentally clicked [Yes]. A sharp migraine immediately stung his mind and blurred his senses. It was only about ten seconds later where he could even see his own hands again. When the side effects subsided, he took a look at the information packet. To his surprise, what followed was a simple text file carrying a definition. Even though there wasn¡¯t much content, what he read definitely interested him. {Pseudo core: This is the most vital part of any entity with aspirations to push beyond their natural limits. It houses the entity¡¯s Essence, Will and Spirit while shaping their Physique and Mind as they develop it.} Lucas turned his senses inward and addressed Crash. ¡®So you''re called a pseudo core huh? I wasn¡¯t too far off the mark when I named you at least. It¡¯s still weird that I can talk to you though.¡¯ Lucas thought for a bit then asked out loud. ¡°Hey Wiki, can I ask you questions about pseudo cores?¡± Wiki answered without missing a beat. {Of course, Lucas.} ¡°Is it normal that I can communicate with my pseudo core?¡± {No.} Surprised but expecting such a response, Lucas pushed further. ¡°Why is that?¡± Wiki¡¯s response was even more surprising. {The entity you call Crash is completely immaterial. The answer to your question is beyond the bubble of pseudo cores.} ¡°Completely immaterial? So is Crash a complete figment of my imagination?¡± Hummmm! Crash let out a low hum as it refuted Lucas¡¯ question. Wiki however, answered calmly. {I can not answer that at the moment. Please complete related [Quests] to get an appropriate response.] That response raised even more questions than answers for Lucas but one thing was for certain now. ¡®Crash is real. It might not be physical but it¡¯s not just me losing my mind either. If Wiki acknowledges its existence, that¡¯s more than enough proof.¡¯ Lucas let out a breath he didn¡¯t know he was holding. Sure, he didn¡¯t think he was insane but insane people don¡¯t think they are losing it as well. With this at least, he understood there¡¯s more to Crash. ¡®Or maybe both Crash and Wiki are figments of my imagination¡­¡¯ Lucas shook his head to expel the thought with a weary smile. He turned off his status screen and walked to the entrance of the cave. As he peered out, he could see the mesmerizing landscapes down below. The plants on the cavern wall provided their neon light which illuminated the battlefield for creatures big and small. He stood there with his tendrils gently swaying behind him as he watched life struggle for survival below. With his current perception, Lucas could easily see things almost a kilometer away with perfect clarity. This sharp vision was following an insect he had seen before. It was a cricket-like bug with three pairs of legs and antennas. Its carapace was a gentle light green that helped it melt into the hypnotic background. Much like last time, it was perched on a fungi plant minding its own business. Lucas and most others creatures in the cavern ignored it because it was too fast and wasn¡¯t rewarding to consume. Lucas could see it jump from plant to plant with muted bangs. Its jumps were so powerful he could see small shockwaves produced by each leap. ¡®I wonder if I can do that.¡¯ Humm. Crash hummed in denial. They didn¡¯t have enough Spirit energy for such transformations. Lucas felt so as well. Even since he transformed human, even though he was much stronger and faster, his transformations were much more costly. If the bats didn¡¯t offer themselves up in that fight, he would have nothing left in that tank right now. ¡®Is it because of my high Physique? That actually makes a little sense. I¡¯m much heavier now which means I need way more energy to transform myself to other forms.¡¯ He thought as he recalled the recent beetle fight. Just transforming a single arm took almost half of his Spirit energy. He retracted his gaze from the cavern below and headed back into the dank cave. He spoke to himself absentmindedly, his voice light. ¡°Guess that attribute point is going to Spirit.¡± As he strolled to the end of the cave, he suddenly heard the familiar melody of the cavern. He immediately froze and began paying attention to it. ¡®Again? Didn¡¯t the sound appear just a few minutes ago?¡¯ As his thoughts scrambled, he could feel the sound was more powerful than before. It beckoned him to an unknown location deep within the cavern, whispering sweet words that promised an escape, power, and true freedom. ¡®No! I¡¯m not going anywhere!!¡¯ Humm! Crash let out a resonating hum that matched and reinforced his Will. Lucas could still vividly remember the haze the sound put him in. That would not repeat itself ever again. After an intense struggle, the sound began to dim. Its enchanting melody retracted from Lucas¡¯ mind as he finally stabilized himself. Now within his own control, he could hear cavern creatures rushing through the myriad tunnels. Their roars and wails brought Lucas a sense of crisis. Their usual bloodlust for one another tamed, they fled as a synchronized horde with a singular purpose. ¡°What¡¯s going on???¡± Lucas asked mentally as he could see hundreds of creatures of all shapes and sizes racing towards one direction. As if feeling his confusion, Wiki chimed in. {Domain core has initiated a Domain surge. New [Quest] given: Locate the domain core. Reward: information packet on Domain cores. Good Luck, Lucas Maverick.} Chapter 27: Pandemonium Chapter 27: Pandemonium. {Domain core located. New [Quest] given: Locate the domain core. Reward: information packet on Domain cores. Good Luck, Lucas.} As he heard Wiki¡¯s voice, his heart couldn¡¯t help but clench. ¡®Is the Domain core what¡¯s producing the sound?¡¯ Lucas thought as he looked down at the frantic animals. He frowned as he thought of something quite troubling. ¡®Just what is it? Is it controlled by some creature? Or is it just some mechanism of the cavern itself?¡¯ Hum. Crash finally chimed in with a confident hum. Lucas¡¯ expression loosened slightly as he nodded to what Crash said. ¡®Yeah, Crash. There¡¯s only one way to get to the bottom of this¡ªfollowing the horde. But first, let¡¯s use that Attribute point, we need to be as prepared as possible.¡¯ Lucas could tell whatever was going on was not something he could handle casually. If he got cocky due to his recent victories, he would be digging his own grave. He headed back to the putrid smelling cave once more and sat on the grimy floor. He opened his status screen with a thought, pushing the pandemonium going on outside to the back of his mind. ¡®Status.¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 5 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly], [Tough nut to crack] Attributes: ?Physique: 5 ?Spirit: 1(+) ?Mind: 2(+) Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 5] ?Leech [Level 4] ?Spirit sense [Level 4] Attribute points: 1 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Weird, it seems I can¡¯t add any points to Physique any more. Why is that? Is there some kind of hard limit for how many attributes I can have?¡± Lucas was confused by this development and even slightly worried. If all his attributes met a road block while the cavern creatures kept getting stronger, he would be in trouble. Shaking his head, he said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do about it for now. Thankfully, this point is going into Spirit anyways.¡± With his choice already made, he assigned his attribute point to Spirit. The instant he added the point, he sensed torrents of Spirit energy surge towards his core. He didn¡¯t need to activate his [Spirit sense] to see as the threads of Spirit energy weaved a translucent cocoon-like structure around him. The cocoons color vibrant but undefinable to his perception. Unlike with his Physique, the enhancement of his Spirit was very calm. There were no extreme effects to the environment or excruciating pain to accompany the process. Hum! Crash let out a satisfied hum as it ferociously devoured the incoming Spirit energy and made it its own. Lucas sensed the process and had a thought. ¡®I should be able to level up my [Spirit sense] by watching how Crash transforms.¡¯ He knew it would probably not work since he could not watch the process of his Physique getting enhanced but he was willing to give it a try. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he activated his skill. ¡®Oww!¡¯ He was immediately forced to shut it off due to the blinding radiance he saw. With a wrinkled expression, he opened his eyes in frustration. His thoughts stirred. ¡®As I thought. The energy is too intense, it''s like staring at the sun¡ª¡® Hum Hum! Just as he was about to begrudgingly dismiss his idea, Crash hummed with fervor. To Lucas it sounded like a man drunk off power or a child that didn¡¯t understand the concept of limitations. It pushed him to try again, to be willing to do whatever he wanted without fear. ¡®I can¡¯t Crash. If I push too hard, something in my mind will break. I can feel it and so can you.¡¯ Hum! With that response, Lucas fell silent and repeated what Crash said out loud. ¡°Be free?¡± Those two very vague words would not mean much for most others, but for Lucas, it meant something profound. Wasn¡¯t that why he was doing all this? To be free? In the truest sense, his life was over. What he was doing now was building himself back up from nothing. What was all this hesitation for? So what if his mind broke? He had already lost so much and still hung on to his former identity as a person? Wasn¡¯t that absurd? ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Lucas laughed out loud when he reached this point in thought, a weight he didn¡¯t really acknowledge being taken off his chest. ¡®I can be free.¡¯ Hum! Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Crash urged. Lucas turned his attention to his core once more and could tell the process was almost over. The Spirit energy within Crash was surging wildly as if trying to escape the core containing it. The cocoon around him had dimmed considerably but still held quite a bit of spirit energy. Lucas could feel Crash¡¯s desire to break out of the core and express its might to the world. As he witnessed that sight, Lucas had a slight smile on his face as he let go of his inhibitions and activated [Spirit sense] once more. The Spirit energy immediately drowned out all his senses, the only thing he could feel, taste, hear, smell, and see was Spirit energy. ¡°Ahhhh!!¡± Hum!! With a wild roar like a wounded beast, Lucas could feel the cocoon around him searing his flesh and burning his eyes but somehow, he held on. His determination to succeed was as solid as a monolith. HUMMM! Crash let out a deep hum, their desires to break through all restrictions matched in that moment. For the first time ever, both entities'' thoughts were completely aligned and they became whole for a fleeting instant. A jolt ran through Lucas¡¯ body as he felt something click in his mind. The original ungraspable flow of blinding energies had become something more palatable. It was now a chaotic dance of an uncountable threads of Spirit energy moving in a very orderly sequence into his core. Even though he could not understand what he saw, he could at least see something. He smiled and kept watching for a few seconds before the process came to its end soon after. Cough cough. As he coughed up mercurial, deep crimson blood, Lucas felt a small prick in his mind as he and Crash came apart once more. A bloody grin was soon plastered on his face as he and Crash shared a mental high five, reveling in their success. ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Hum! To further affirm his accomplishment, he received a series of notifications and heard Wiki¡¯s pleasant voice. {Congratulations, [Spirit sense]has leveled up from level 4¡ª¡ª¡ª>level 5. +1 attribute point. Requirements met,[Achievement]¡ª [Tough nut to crack] has evolved into [Daredevil]. Good job!} {[Quest]¡ªraise [Spirit sense] to level 5¡ªcompleted. Rewards unlocked. Activate information packet? [Yes] [No]} ¡°Yes!¡± In his excitement, Lucas pumped his fist and tried to open his eyes. He was met with a sharp piercing pain. With his mind now cooled off, he could tell something was very wrong with him. Apart from his eyes, he couldn¡¯t smell or taste the overwhelming odor of death from the cave anymore, nor could he feel the hard rock he was sitting on. With further investigation, he could tell the maddening wails and howls from outside were completely quiet now. This was very bad. ¡°So I lost all five senses huh? Hahahaha, you know what? I¡¯m not surprised.¡± He spoke in an unusually loud voice. Being deaf does that to a mimic. ¡®At least, it can¡¯t get much worse than this¡ª¡® Bang! Lucas was suddenly smashed to the floor by a powerful force creating a sizable crater. He hastily activated his [Spirit sense] to get a better grasp on what¡¯s going on. What he sensed left him completely baffled. ¡°When did a giant bat get here?!¡± He could see a bat shaped cluster of crimson Spirit energy bearing down on him with its massive wing. This bat was at least thrice the size of the ones he easily dispatched. With his skill being at level 5 now, he could sense things much further now. In fact, sensing at his maximum range gave him a migraine. The bat exploited this opening as it smashed into him once more. Hastily restraining his [Spirit Sense] to a manageable level, he sensed something that made him go a little pale. He could sense tens of massive bats swarming outside his cave and the horde below had not diminished in the slightest. ¡®The hell????¡¯ Panicked, Lucas lashed out at the above him. Not holding back in the least, his two upper tendrils cleaved apart the bat''s wing. The creature screeched and tried to fly back but Lucas didn¡¯t relent. With the aid of his lower tendrils, he sprang up with a leap, impaling the bat with a tendril while activating [Leech]. He made short work of the bat but couldn¡¯t help but frown as he sensed himself and his surroundings. He could sense tens if not hundreds of glowing Runes on his form turning him into a beacon. ¡®What are these?¡¯ Lucas thought as he bolted out of the cave with a daring jump over an incoming bat. Mid-air, he stomped on its head to give himself an even higher boost. ¡°Hahaha, can¡¯t believe that worked!¡± He laughed as he swung away using a tendril. Since he made the choice to watch his Spirit advancement, much of the weight on his psyche had melted like snow. With his Spirit energy rumbling in his chest and Crash by his side, he felt like whether he died at this very moment, at the very least he should have fun. The bats didn¡¯t care about his demeanor though. The colony gave chase as they furious screeched at him. To Lucas¡¯ dismay, each sound wave from them carried a strange crimson Spirit energy that glued to him and engraved more runes on him. ¡®So that¡¯s how they found me!¡¯ It immediately clicked in his mind. ¡®The little guys couldn¡¯t win so they called in back up?¡¯ He thought to himself, a sharp light flashed within his empty eye sockets for a brief moment Lucas could sense the bats gaining on him, their raging red outlines cutting through the chaotic blend of colors his [Spirit Sense] provided. He had to switch tactics and fast. Since he couldn¡¯t out run them or hide away, there was only one option left¡ªto fight! Hum! Crashed agreed as it flooded his form with Spirit energy. He let his Spirit energy circulate through him without holding anything back as he suddenly retracted his hooked tendril mid-air. With a small correction to tuck his arms in, he began to crash to the floor feet first with a stylish spin, picking up more and more velocity with each rotation. The wind whipped his hair as he felt the closest bat surge forward. The distance between them closed in an instant. Using his rotational force and four scythe-tendrils, he slashed at the first bat like a helicopter¡¯s propeller. Immediately evisarating it. The Runes on his blades glowed brightly as he kept spinning, forming two crimson rings. Undeterred, the bats charged in head first, eyes brimming with bloodlust and malice. Slashslashslashslashslash. In less than two seconds, Lucas sliced through 4 bats like butter and crashed into the horde below like a missile, killing a few creatures from the impact. He immediately produced four more tendrils and absorbed them. A bat closed in from the sky like an asteroid, Lucas tried to command a tendril to lash out but felt a sharp pain in his mind once again. His attack staggered. Boom! This mistake proved costly as the huge bat smashed Lucas'' head into the rock floor with a crimson claw. The impact rattled his skull and left him in a daze. The bat took to the air once more leaving faint scratches on his burned face as another bat crashed into Lucas, this time on his chest. The impact created multiple micro fractures on a few ribs, causing Lucas to wheeze in pain. The bats cycled over Lucas and took turns attacking him from the sky with ruthless precision. ¡®My mind can¡¯t handle the strain of using more than eight limbs anymore!¡¯ Lucas gritted his teeth and absorbed all but one of his tendrils. He timed the next attack and rolled to the side at the very last moment, he then smoothly impaled the bat with his tendril through its skull. Before he could get his bearings however, something collided with him from behind with extreme speed and force. Bang! He smashed through several weaker creatures in the horde before coming to a stop. He didn¡¯t have to think too hard to know he was just hit by a beetle. Its enigmatic Spirit energy outlined its brutal form in an even more terrifying way, making its size and shape distorted and jagged. Luckily, the beetle was immediately taken out by a ghastly centipede. He took the chance to concentrate on his [Spirit Sense] for a moment and saw that the creatures of the horde had fallen into chaos. The sight was an overbearing blend of colors and vibrations that melded, writhed, and broke apart all at once. ¡®Ahhh!¡¯ A sharp pain stabbed at his psyche for merely witnessing such turbulent Spirit energy. He hastily regained his focus with his smile wiped off his face. He had noticed the situation had somehow gotten even more out of control. His fight with the bats had knocked some of the creatures out of their trance and they had returned to their hyper aggressive ways, leading to more creatures waking up and adding to the chaos. Lucas immediately took the chance to escape. He was confident in his abilities but not suicidal, there was no way he would willing participate in this battle. Not in his current condition at least. ¡®I just have to find a quiet cave and figure out how to get rid of these runes.¡¯ With a plan formed, he moved towards the direction of the domain core, hoping to give some distance to the bats. Sadly, things were never that simple in the cavern. As he dashed away, avoiding every creature with inch perfect moves and twists, he could sense something strange was going on with the cavern. As the creature fought even more brutally, he felt the amount of Spirit and Life energy in the air spike dramatically. Hum! Crashed suddenly warned Lucas of the energy shifts on the tunnel wall. Lucas brought his attention to energy and immediately frowned. The energy flowed and writhed within the tunnel enigmatically, almost like veins pumping rainbow colored blood. As the seconds ticked by, Lucas felt a strange pressure on his body and mind as the energy pulled him towards the walls. Each step he took felt awkward as if gravity was now sideways. He could sense numerous creatures melding into walls, some even exploding into Spirit energy at random in an extreme display of aggression and defiance, while some simply vanished like they were never there. The colors and vibrations got so intense Lucas was forced to a screeching halt as he mentally exclaimed. ¡®What the hell is going on?!¡¯ He suddenly felt the energy finally get a grip on him and he vanished. An instant later, he fell from the sky and crashed into the floor face first. His tendrils immediately flared as he stood up ready for combat. When he sensed around himself, he froze and was filled with abject confusion. In front of him stood five humanoids, all pointing various firearms and melee weapons at him. ¡®Things somehow keep getting worse.¡¯ Chapter 28: Into the cavern. Chapter 28: Into the cavern. ¡°Hah!¡± Flynt roared as he slashed his long sword at his opponent. The featureless humanoid parried the attack effortlessly, its movements smooth and well practiced. Flynt didn¡¯t let up. He pressed forward with a flurry of slashes and thrusts, each attack was faster than the last. His opponent evaded, parried, and dodged his strikes with minimal movements, its sword waiting patiently in its grasp. When Flynt finally lost steam, it struck back. Its blade stabbed out like a viper¡¯s bite¡ªsudden and fatal. ¡®[Jolt]!¡¯ Flynt hastily activated his new skill. Radiant white runes flicked onto his pale yellow eyes. The deadly thrust slowed down to a crawl in his vision. Flynt felt a surge of power course through him as he readjusted his form, parried the attack, and struck out with a deadly hack all in the blink of an eye. His motions were rigid and almost inhuman. This blitz of movement caught his opponent off guard as it was swiftly decapitated, its body disintegrating into nothingness. Flynt immediately stumbled forward to a knee, steam rising from his form as his muscles burned. His body shook from pain and overstimulation as he took a deep breath and thought with a sigh. ¡®I still can¡¯t use [Jolt] for more than a second without risking severe injuries. It¡¯s already been two weeks as well, maybe I bit off more than I can chew this time. I just hope it will be enough for the mission.¡¯ He sank to the floor and rested for a few minutes. When he finally caught his breath, he placed his sword in its sheath and gingerly headed out of the training facility. On his way out, the simple grey clothes he wore cleaned themselves automatically as he passed through the door. Walking through the facility¡¯s halls, he could see other users moving towards various training rooms. A decent amount moved with unfocused gazes and calm smiles. Flynt thought nothing of this as he was already used to such sights. When he got near the entrance, he opened his palm and his Synap was ejected from his body and floated above his palm. He was about to place it in his pocket when he received a message. {Ana: Don¡¯t forget, tomorrow¡¯s the day of the mission. Don¡¯t go crazy on training, okay?} As he read the message, a warm smile unknowingly crept on his face as he replied with. {Flynt: Of course, Ana. I¡¯m heading home now. See you tomorrow.} {Ana: Good. Good night, Flynt.} Flynt stowed away his Synap and headed out the door. He was greeted by a bustling city night. He checked the time and realized it was already 7:56 PM. With a tired sigh, he walked to the bus stop and took a ride home. Apart from a few looks since he was carrying a sword on his back, no one interacted with him. A majority of the bus riders not even noticing him as they sat in blissful silence. Once he got to his two room apartment, a soft light glowed on his chest and his sword vanished from his back. He headed straight to the bathroom for a proper shower. Thoughts on how to improve his [Jolt] skill dotted his mind while he showered but he ignored them. The fact that he trained today was already very selfish of him, he couldn¡¯t risk getting injured before the mission once more. He dried up and left the bathroom after about five minutes. He wore his white and star patterned pajamas as he laid in bed browsing his floating Synap which had become a holographic display. After watching a few 2-star rated domain dive videos, he decided to check out the news. For once he saw something that actually caught his interest. {BREAKING NEWS Sky Gazer News: Historic Partnership Announced Between Beastkin Empire and Prismari. In a groundbreaking move, the Beastkin Empire and the Prismari have joined forces to establish the One World school of higher learning. This unprecedented collaboration aims to promote unity and progress across the planet. Notably, the Prismari and the Beastkin Empire have announced plans to complete the One World academy of higher learning in the vibrant city of New Dawn. To achieve this ambitious goal, the two partners will pool their resources, combining the Prismari''s renowned technological expertise with the Beastkin Empire''s impressive architectural prowess. The construction process is expected to be completed in phases, with the first phase focusing on the development of state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. The school''s design will incorporate innovative, domain-friendly features, showcasing the Prismari''s commitment to sustainability and the Beastkin Empire''s passion for harmonious coexistence with nature. According to sources, the institution will offer specialized programs for exceptional students. Applications for special case students will be made available, providing opportunities for talented individuals to thrive. However, for regular students, tuition fees have been set at 50000 credits. This cost is expected to provide students with access to top-notch facilities and esteemed faculty from both the Beastkin Empire and the Prismari. Details on the application process, admission requirements, and scholarship opportunities are expected to be released in the coming weeks. This historic partnership marks a significant milestone in the planet''s pursuit of unity and advancement. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story. Live Update We''re seeing reactions pour in from across the planet, with many hailing this partnership as a major breakthrough. Others have expressed concerns about the tuition fees and the potential for unequal access to education. We''ll continue to bring you updates and analysis as more information becomes available.} As Flynt read further, the more impressed he got and the more hopeful he felt. He wasn¡¯t arrogant about his talents by any stretch of the imagination but he knew his own abilities. Being self taught and being an orphan wasn¡¯t a recipe for a talented Domain diver, but somehow at just seventeen years old he was currently the top 1-star diver. ¡®Maybe if I get selected, I will finally get proper guidance¡­ No, I can¡¯t just assume I will be selected. Let¡¯s save up for the school fee. This is even more reason for this dive to succeed¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but fantasize about such a thing but he knew reality could be quite cruel so he prepared his mind. His drive to succeed in tomorrow¡¯s mission went through the roof. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Flynt¡¯s Synap buzzed at 6:00AM sharp, waking him with an audible groan. He yawned and left for his bathroom with sluggish steps. He brushed his teeth and took a quick, warm shower. After grooming himself, he headed back to his bedroom. He opened his wardrobe and grabbed a black case on the floor. The case was relatively featureless apart from the very fine grooves embedded into its surface. Running his palm across the surprisingly warm and smooth metal, Flynt could feel it buzz with a latent power. He pulled out his Synap and placed it on the case. The Synap fused with the case and it rapidly transformed into a dark and sleek suit of armor. A vast array of Runes peppered its ergonomic design giving it a unique look, like a fusion of technology and mysticism. Its helmet was composed of a dark yet transparent glass-like material with no visible runes on it. Flynt placed a hand on the suit and thought with a small smile. ¡®Never gets old seeing it transform like that.¡¯ In under a minute, he wore his armor but held his helmet in his hands. A soft light glowed from his chest and the helmet in his grasp vanished. He looked into his dressing mirror and nodded to himself before leaving, the door locking itself behind him. As he left his apartment, Ana and the others were already outside waiting for him. They each had their own armors on and stood outside a trickied out off-road vehicle with Jaxsyn behind the wheel. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Took you forever to get ready as always SL. Do you think we will be getting paparazzi drones at the gate?¡± Dahn said with feigned annoyance as he opened the door of the car and got in. The women just smiled and got in as well. Flynt awkwardly smiled and got in through the front passenger seat. They all greeted each other and Jaxsyn started the car and drove to Stargazer city¡¯s gate. The gate was not overly elaborate but it had quite few vehicles moving in and out. Thankfully, the squad headed out early so there wasn¡¯t much traffic. After a quick scan at the gate, the squad drove away. As they headed to the coordinates of the Domain, Flynt did one last mandatory check. ¡°Everyone has their rift key right?¡± The squad affirmed. Flynt just nodded, his expression becoming serious. Even though he hadn¡¯t know his squad mates for long, they already shared a strong bond. If he lost any of them to such a silly mistake, he would never forgive himself. The squad got quiet as they closed in on the mission location. The calm grassland giving way to a menacing forest. Through the windows, the squad could see numerous beasts and wild life in their natural state. The loud engine of Jaxsyn vehicle attracting their attention. As the ride went on, the squad collectively felt a mild dread and could tell something was wrong. The closer they got to the location, the more dramatic the feeling became. They all knew by now that ignoring your gut instincts on this job was a recipe for disaster. Eventually, the squad found themselves at the mission¡¯s coordinates. As the group stepped out of the vehicle and faced a narrow cave entrance whose foul air caused their sensitive noses to wrinkle, Flynt couldn¡¯t help but speak up, his voice tight. ¡°We can turn back now, you guys know that right? I¡¯m sure you all felt it as well, this dive is probably going to be the most dangerous one yet. I don¡¯t want to¡ª¡° Jaxsyn stepped up and placed a hand on his shoulder. His chiseled face lighting up in a small smile as he spoke with a slight playfulness. ¡°For a second there, I almost thought you were our mom, SL.¡± This brought a small chuckle out of everyone as he continued, his expression growing serious. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Flynt. We all passed the DD tests on our own and we all have good heads on our shoulders. Trust us as much as we trust you, okay?¡± Flynt looked to the rest of the group and saw steel in their gazes. They were their own people and they understood the risks. Flynt¡¯s gaze hardened as well as he nodded to Jaxsyn and summoned his helmet. ¡°Weapons ready.¡± Four lights flashed as the squad took out their weapons. Dahn wielded a 75 centimeter long, slim, pulse rifle with a holographic scope. Very faint lines of blue energy could be seen tracing its surface as Dahn hung it on his back. Jaxsyn summoned a heavy looking, 120 cm rifle. Its dark form was engraved with a series of complex light blue runes, giving it an enchanted appearance. Thunder clap¡ªthe name was quite fitting since each round was capable of reaching hypersonic speeds. As Jaxsyn wielded this weapon, his aura immediately became as solid as a boulder. Ana pulled out what almost looked like a gauntlet but it didn¡¯t cover her fist. It encased her entire forearm but made no direct contact with her armor. This weapon was called an echo smasher. It was a cylindrical structure with dense runes inscribed on it. As she tightened her grip, the runes glowed a bright white then dimmed with a barely audible, low hum. Next up was the silver haired Vai who summoned a photon reaper. It was a slim, 130 cm railgun. Its body was smooth as glass while it hummed with the faint growl of thunder. She placed a palm on the rifle, it visibly extended and changed in size. Lastly, Flynt pulled out a pulse rifle and a sheathed longsword. He placed the sword on his back and it stuck to him like he was a magnet. He then summoned his helmet and secured it in place, the rest of the squad followed. ¡°Squad sync in 3, 2, 1¡ª¡° A flash bang of thoughts and emotions went through the squad¡¯s mind for an instant before dimming back to almost normalcy. They could now all feel each other¡¯s emotional state and could directly share mental burdens. This process disoriented them for a few moments but the squad easily bounced back. With the link in place, the Runes on their armor finally activated. They glowed faintly with white light as they enhanced their physical capabilities drastically. With everyone suited up properly, Flynt sent a mental message. /Move out./ The rest of the squad just pinged him and moved in a simple diamond formation, headed towards the unknown. Jaxsyn took the front and Flynt brought up the rear. Vai and Dahn flanked Ana who was in the center as they moved in. When they got to the cave''s mouth, Jaxsyn didn¡¯t hesitate and stepped through the entrance. He immediately felt much lighter. Keeping up his vigilance, Jaxsyn looked around the entrance and saw it looked much wider than it did from outside. Seeing there were no immediate threats, the squad followed him in. When everyone got in, Jaxsyn and Flynt stood on guard as Flynt asked. ¡°Dahn, Status report.¡± Dahn used his Synap enhanced suit and their linked minds to filter through and analyze the tons of data he was getting. After a few short seconds, he sent some simple text files to all the group members. It read. {Domain core status: Unknown Gravitational strength. 5.25 kg/m2 Space-time continuum: Unstable Spirit Energy density: Faint} Flynt read the report with a straight face, his mind processed the information in a heartbeat as his eyes scanned the cavern they had just walked in. /Keep your eyes peeled, something is off. Dahn, scout ahead./ Dahn pinged Flynt before a soft light flashed in front of him. When the light disappeared it revealed a small fleet of tiny, mechanical drones. The drones immediately shot forward into the cavern while the squad followed behind in their diamond formation. They proceed through the cavern at a steady pace. Their weapons were drawn as they moved deeper and deeper into the cavern. After about an hour or so of not running into anything in the winding and numerous passages, the squad could almost taste the tension in the air. All this while, Dahn had kept track of the Spirit energy density which was constantly rising. Suddenly, they heard it. A very pleasant melody echoed through out the entire cavern like a mother¡¯s voice. It beckoned each of them to come help it, as if it was in extreme distress. /Don¡¯t give in to it, squad. It¡¯s the core, it¡¯s probably going through a¡­ surge! Rift keys now!!/ The moment Flynt realized the significance of that sound, he immediately ordered a full retreat, his voice shaking slightly. But it was too late. The squad felt the sound increase in amplitude and the surrounding Spirit energy immediately went berserk. The energy flowed in bizarre patterns which caused the entire cavern to stretch and compress in plain sight. Dahn, now broken out of his trance, gave a report. His voice was frantic. /We can¡¯t SL. If we make the jump now, we will end up canned meat on the other side. The best we can do now is wait it out./ Flynt clenched his teeth tightly but he knew this wasn¡¯t the time to panic. He asked, /Dahn, any feedback from your drones?/ Dahn pinged him twice in quick succession, indicating a negative. Already expecting this, Flynt issued his next command. /Cross formation. Put down anything that moves./ The squad moved into position like a well oiled machine. Flynt, Dahn, Jaxsyn, and Vai stood in a cross shape while Ana stood secured in the center, her echo smasher letting out a menacing hum as she held it steady. With the squad¡¯s concentration at its peak, something strange happened. From the ceiling of the constantly writhing tunnels, a giant centipede creature dropped in. Its appendages were razor sharp and gave off a cold light. The instant it noticed the squad it lunged at them from Flynt and Vai¡¯s side. Flynt opened fire with his rifle. The kinetic pulse accurately destroyed the centipede¡¯s head through its vulnerable compound eye. Its head exploded in an shower of gore, with its body thrashed violently before collapsing to the ground. /Save your energy. We don¡¯t know how long we will have to fight through this./ The squad pinged him indicating they understood. After the first monster appeared, more soon followed. Bats, crimson rats, Slimes, neon colored snakes, and many more appeared. The squad easily handled these threats. Jaxsyn and Vai took out the bigger and more dangerous monsters like armored beetles with their more powerful weapons while Flynt and Dahn took out the weaker but more numerous creatures with almost perfect accuracy. Ana was saving her Spirit energy the most because she was the most vital member in the squad¡ªthe medic. She just scouted the cavern, looking for possible escape routes and reporting on creatures closing in. After ten minutes of the intense firefight, the creatures weren¡¯t declining. If anything, their numbers were increasing steadily. They didn¡¯t just attack the squad, they also viciously attacked each other further adding to the chaos. Flynt frowned as he felt his Spirit reserves nearing the 80% mark. If he had already consumed this much, the squad would be faring much worse. /Jaxsyn, Dahn, switch to melee. Ana, Vai cover us./ Flynt ordered as his rifle vanished with a soft light. He stepped forward with his hand around his long sword¡¯s hilt. A rather large insect lunged at him, its mandible snapping forward with the promise of violence. Flynt calmly slashed out his sword with a simple stroke, the blade buzzed as it was coated in a layer of plasma. ZZTCHH! The blade cleaved through the insect like a bullet through fog, instantly killing it. Warm ichor splattered on the ground as Flynt moved on to his next target. Jaxsyn pulled out a rectangular shield and a heavy short sword. He charged forward into an incoming beetle like a bullet train, the fierce wind blowing back his purple hair and showcasing his piercing gaze. Boom! At the moment of impact, something unusual happened. Jaxsyn¡¯s shield released an intangible pulse of energy that covered both him and the beetle before shrinking into his shield. They froze in place for less than a second before the beetle was blasted away like a missile with its head bashed in while Jaxsyn stood like a monolith. The beetle¡¯s massive frame smashed into numerous cavern creatures and gave the squad some much needed breathing room. /Nice!/ Vai exclaimed through their mental link as she watched the destruction. Using this opening, the squad went on a rampage. Corpses piled up into small mounds as they let loose their various techniques. About thirty minutes later, the monsters slowed down into a trickle. With a precise stab from his spear, Dahn took out the last remaining rat. The cavern fell back to an eerie silence as the squad cautiously looked around. As the squad regrouped, Flynt transmitted out. /Dahn, is it safe to do the jump now?/ /Negative Flynt. The surge is still ongoing. The good news is, it seemed to have plateaued. And since most monsters head to the core, we should be¡ª/ Before Dahn could finish his transmission, the squad heard a heavy crash ahead of them. Soft lights flashed in front of them as they conjured and aimed their guns at the new threat. When the dust settled, dread coiled in their chest at the sight of the new arrival. The pressure it exuded put them on edge. It looked humanoid, standing rather tall at almost two meters. It¡¯s dark brown skin had heinous burn marks all over it, making look like a torture victim. Its black, metallic bones could be seen through multiple deep wounds it had across its form. Its facial features were even more haunting given that its eyes were burned out while its nose, lips, and ears had become charred flesh. The burn marked across its face giving it a gruesome visage. It struggled to its feet with its four muscular tendrils before it snapped its head at the well armed group. This creature was¡ªLucas Maverick. Chapter 29: Enter the mimic. Chapter 29: Enter the Mimic. The squad and the burned humanoid watched each other in a pregnant silence. Flynt¡¯s mind raced as he tried to think of a solution that didn¡¯t involve violence. This monster gave him a very bad feeling even in this injured state. As Flynt focused more on it, he realized why. /It has a core./ He thought simply through the Synaplink, the rest of the squad visibly tightened their formation at his revelation. This was way above their pay grade. /What makes you say that SL./ Jaxsyn asked, his gaze locked firmly with the abomination. /I can feel it¡­ the way the surrounding Spirit energy orbits around it. That happens to only 2-star divers or¡­/ /Monsters with cores./ Dahn completed his transmission gravely. The squad who were already under mountains of pressure, felt even worse at the moment. Vai''s left arm could be seen shaking slightly while Flynt had some cold sweat running down his back. Trying to keep his focus, he transmitted a command to Dahn. He could feel the Spirit energy in the surroundings calming. /Dahn, when the cavern stabilizes, immediately notify us for the jump./ Dahn just pinged him once in response. Suddenly, the squad heard the creature speak. Its voice sounded rough and pained but no doubt that of a young man. The only issue was, it spoke in an alien language. /It can talk?/ Vai asked in disbelief. Not knowing what to think, the rest of the squad stayed silent and ever vigilant but a shared unease ran through them. Thanks to their extensive training, they knew anything could happen in an unexplored domain. A talking humanoid was actually quite common from all the reports they had read but seeing it in person was still profoundly unnerving however. With the team still shell shocked by the humanoid¡¯s voice, the creature slowly raised both its arms in a surrendering pose as it continued to speak. Its last sentence had a questioning tone to it followed by a low hum from its chest. As it heard the sound of the hum, the creature''s disfigured face scrunched up as it spoke once more. As the eight limbed monster spoke more and more, the more on edge the squad felt. As Flynt watched the creature ramble on with its tendrils flaying and gesturing, he decided to take an active decision. This standoff would not end anytime soon otherwise. /Vai, do you have a clear shot?/ After a moment of hesitation, he got a ping from her. /Good, on my mark, take it out. Everyone else, stay vigilant./ Flynt knew it was a big risk to attack this creature but he was given no choice. Rather than banking on the monster¡¯s mercy, he would rather place his confidence in his squad and their equipment. He couldn¡¯t risk their lives on wishful thinking. As the creature¡¯s movements got more pronounced with its tendrils now waving in slow, almost hypnotic patterns, the squad could tell it was trying to communicate something to them once more but the language barrier and situation wouldn¡¯t let them think too deeply about it. When it finished speaking, it began slowly walking backwards towards the far wall into the shadows of the cavern. Flynt immediately tensed up and commanded. /Vai, now!/ BOOM! The shot she had been preparing all this while, blasted out of her rifle at hypersonic speed. The monster couldn¡¯t even react before the bullet punched a giant hole through its black, metallic skull and out the back of its head while producing a massive shockwave. The round directly vaporized its head in the process due to the super heated plasma coating it, leaving behind a faint blue trail in its wake. Its body flew back like a gruesome rag doll, smashing into the cavern wall with a crushing bang. Still on guard, the squad watched the dust settle. They collectively held their breaths wishing it was dead. After a few moments of deafening silence¡ªthey felt it. The surroundings Spirit energy was being siphoned towards the creature¡¯s position. Every second that passed, the Spirit energy seemed to become denser and denser to the point where it was even visible to the naked eye. It formed deep crimson threads in the air as it moved towards the monster. Flynt could tell something was wrong and commanded. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. /Open fire!!/ The squad blasted at the cloud of dust with no regard for their Spirit energy. It was do or die. The squad relentlessly fired for a solid fifteen seconds before the air stilled. The Spirit energy in the air calming down and dissipated. As the squad seized fire, Flynt spoke to Dahn once more. /Dahn, is the jump not¡ª/ BANG! Mid transmission, a blisteringly fast blur shot out of the cavern wall and smashed into Dahn with a sickening crunch. ¡°Aaaahhh!!!¡± Dahn¡¯s pained scream rang out throughout the cavern as the squad scrambled to react. With their guns aimed at the monster, it hastily fled back to the shadows as if it were an illusion. Flynt and Jaxsyn opened fire at it while Vai stayed her shaking hands. Her face pale within her helm as she was already drained from her previous shot. Ana rushed over to Dahn to find his armor had a massive hole punctured into its chest. Placing a hand on him, she could already tell he was dead. Through the hole in his armor she could black dust pooling out. Whatever the monster had done, it was not something she could heal even if he was alive. The thought froze her in place, sheer disbelief and panic overtaking the months of training she had been through. /Ana, how does it look?/ Jaxsyn asked anxiously, his transmission tinged with worry. Ana just shook her head repeatedly, too choked up to coherently transmit her thoughts. Before the squad could fully process her implication, Flynt saw a black streak making its way to Ana rapidly. The wind howled in its wake as it got within a few meters of her in what felt like an instant. ¡®[Jolt]!¡¯ Flynt activated the skill without even thinking about it, he heard a notification go off in his mind but he completely disregarded it. His focus was absorbed by the task at hand. Saving Ana. Everything slowed to a crawl as he aimed his pulse rifle at the abomination. In his [Jolt] state, Flynt could see its haunting visage once more. Its previously injured body now healed, its pitch black skin carrying an almost metallic sheen. Its head however was a different story, its face had been completely burned away leaving behind an ominous black skull with deep crimson wisps in its sockets. Its burning gaze locked on to Ana, blazing with a chilling killing intent. With the creature in his crosshairs, Flynt let loose a concentrated beam of pure plasma. The beam slammed into the monster with a sharp boom, smashing it away but not doing any significant damage apart from burning its skin. Before Flynt could fire off another round, he felt a sharp pain in his head and arms. He immediately shut off [Jolt] and the monster vanished from his sight. ¡®This can¡¯t go on like this.¡¯ Things were swiftly going out of control. They had to escape now. Hardening his resolve, Flynt transmitted a command to the squad. |We are going to jump one by one. Vai goes first followed by Ana then Jaxsyn./ /What about you, Flynt?/ Vai asked, her transmission shaky and barely going through. /I¡¯ll be fine. I can react to its movements better than you guys. Okay Vai, start. We¡¯ll be on guard./ With an escape plan made, the squad got into formation. Vai and Ana stood at the center while Jaxsyn and Flynt stood back to back across from them. Jaxsyn stored away his rifle opting for his shield and short sword, he couldn¡¯t react fast enough to actually shoot the creature. Flynt pulled out his sword as well since his rifle simply wasn¡¯t powerful enough to do some decisive damage. Ana produced a runic circle in her palm after calming herself down. A green thread shot out of it and connected to Vai, increasing her energy regeneration rate. With this, Vai had enough energy to make her jump in a few seconds. Taking a deep breath, Vai conjured her riftkey with a soft glow. It looked like a compact, rhombus-shaped device made of overlapping crystalline layers, each inscribed with glowing Runes. The Runes pulsed in sync with her own energy, reacting to her intent. At its center, a small, rotating core of condensed Spirit energy hummed faintly, like a pulsing heartbeat. As she held it up, the edges of the riftkey shifted slightly, as if adjusting to an unseen current. Thin, threadlike veins of light spread from the core across the crystalline surface, tracing intricate patterns that changed with each pulse. With a practiced motion, she twisted the Riftkey, aligning the runes into a new configuration. The cavern air vibrated. A faint, jagged distortion rippled outward from the Riftkey, carving an ephemeral doorway into space itself. It wasn¡¯t a perfect portal as it visibly flickered unstably. It produced nonsensical lights and shadows which clung to its edges, like a wound in reality. The riftkey whined softly as it fed on Vai¡¯s already depleted Spirit reserves, struggling to stabilize the portal for a few more moments. She took a shaky breath and transmitted. |It¡¯s ready¡ª| Before she could finish, the darkness stirred. The monster shot out towards her from the perfect stillness but Jaxsyn was ready and intercepted it mid air with his shield, his form coated in an intangible energy as he roared. ¡°What are you waiting for?!!¡± Vai hastily jumped through the closing portal without looking back while the insidious humanoid shot away back into the eerie blackness with almost twice the velocity it came in with. A massive boom could be heard from where it crashed into. Ana deactivated her Skill as she steel herself to repeat the same process as Vai. Despite her efforts, her hands shook while tears streamed down her face as she tried to focus her Mind and Spirit. As the seconds ticked by without an attack, the squad¡¯s nerves were fraying at the edges. Jaxsyn visibly jumped and shook at the slightest sound. Flynt was unusually tense, trying his best to perceive the flow of Spirit energy in hopes of tracking the predator hunting them. WHOOMM! Ana finally opened her portal and rushed through, the two men raised their guard as much as possible, banking on the monster attacking at this moment. But to their surprise, it didn¡¯t attempt anything. Now, they were down to two. |Okay SL, take out your Riftkey.| |What?| |You think I¡¯m going to let you die here, Flynt? I''m the Vanguard of this squad for a reason. Take out your Riftkey and leave. I¡¯ll hold it back.| |But¡ª| The darkness stirred once more as the grim humanoid attacked, this time aiming for Flynt. Jaxsyn charged at it with his shield hoisted while Flynt dodged to the side. When Jaxsyn and the beast collided, a sharp crack could be heard from the shield as the monster shot away almost as fast as it came in. ¡°Just go!!¡± Flynt bit back his tears as he took out his riftkey and activated it. As the portal opened, Flynt could see the humanoid charging towards him while Jaxsyn did his best to fend it off. He could see Jaxsyn¡¯s shield and armor gaining numerous cracks and fractures. Each attack he intercepted weakened him further and further. Flynt tore his eyes away from the scene and focused on the portal he was generating. He had to at least comply with Jaxsyn¡¯s dying wish. When the portal finally opened, Flynt looked to the side at Dahn¡¯s desecrated corpse and back at Jaxsyn. ¡°Aaahhhh!!!¡± He turned just in time to see Jaxsyn being impaled by a sharp tendril while he let out a baleful scream filled with resentment and unwillingness. Flynt clinched his teeth and dove into the portal. His mind clouded in fear, pain, helplessness but most of all¡ªhatred. Deep within, he had carved this day in his heart. This day will be forever burned in his heart due to the profound hatred he felt for that pitch black abomination. Chapter 30: Life goes on. Chapter 30: Life goes on. ¡­¡­ In a large training field spanning fifty meters, the air was still, save for the soft whisper of wind carrying dried leaves and flower seeds. The scent of wildflowers lingered, mingling with the earthy aroma of the ground beneath. It was a place of quiet solitude, where the world seemed to hold its breath. A very tall young woman stood peacefully with eyes closed in the field, completely motionless. She wore simple, loose black pants and a comfortable vest. Her long black hair was tinged with a faint but vibrant red as it caught the morning light. Her hair cascaded down her back, framing her statue-like figure. Her basic stance could only be described as perfect as she wielded an intricate 1.2 meter wooden sword. She seemed to be in a meditative state as she contemplated her swordsmanship. ¡®What is a sword? A weapon used in duels? Well, that works for mortals. In my grasp however, a sword is an extension of my Will. Each slash and thrust is an act of imposing my Will onto reality. And that Will is¡ªto kill!¡¯ Breaking the absolute stillness, she shifted her feet slightly, widening her stance as she performed a crisp horizontal slash. An intangible energy coalesced on the blade but faded the next instant. ¡®That¡¯s not right.¡¯ With a small frown, she loosened up her body and stepped forward with an angled thrust, then a diagonal slash. Each attack, step, turn, and shift was performed fluidly and at ease but still could not capture the phantasmal energy she was after. Her attacks came so fast and measured that you could barely track her movements. A sign of her profound mastery of the sword. As she kept up with this routine, her beautiful face became serene as she didn¡¯t show any emotion, much less discomfort. With her eyes still closed, all that was left in her mind was her sword. With one final wide vertical slash, a sharp translucent energy flew out. It cleaved the ground in front of her with a perfect ten meter stroke, leaving a clean fissure in its wake. Her movements came to a stop as she heard the gentle chime of a notification. She stood upright as she expelled the breath she had been holding all this while. She finally opened her ruby eyes and stared down at the wooden sword in her grasp. A faint smile appeared on her face as she thought to herself. ¡®I have finally mastered it. Let¡¯s see what [Achievement] I got.¡¯ { Requirements met, Achievement¡ª[Grandmaster swordswoman].} She felt a swell of pride as she read it, her ceaseless practice had bored fruit. ¡®With this I can finally move to another weapon. Should I go for a spear or an axe next? Or maybe something more niche?¡¯ As she thought to herself with slightly wrinkled eyebrows. Her expression evened out when she saw a woman standing at the far edge of the empty training field. The woman noticed her gaze and waved at her excitedly with a broad smile. The woman wore a simple yet practical black dress and a crisp white apron. What stood out about her however, were the two animal ears protruding from the top of her short black hair and her long bushy tail wagging behind her. The swordswoman walked over to her presumed maid. The Beastkin appeared much smaller as the swordswoman towered over her. She gazed down at her as she spoke, her voice carrying a melodic precision that felt almost too perfect. ¡°Am I needed, Sasha?¡± The young woman nodded subconsciously before blushing as she spoke, ¡°Yes, Mistress. The Queen requests your presence in her office. She said it was not very urgent and you could take your time however.¡± Ev¨¦lyne just nodded softly before petting the woman softly between her ears causing the young woman to wag her tail even faster. She smiled at the sight before releasing her. Sasha hurriedly bid her farewell before scurrying out of the training field with flushed cheeks. With Sasha gone, Ev¨¦lyne walked over to the weapons rack and placed her wooden sword back. She walked out of the training field and towards the mansion in the distance, with a steady stride. On her walk through the brick layed path, she passed by quite a few residents of the manor. Each and everyone of them being Beastkin of various shapes and sizes. When they noticed her, they all greeted her respectfully before going back to whatever task they were performing. After about a quarter of an hour of walking, she stepped into the house and headed straight upstairs. The interior design of the house was grand yet charming. Various exquisite portraits and paintings adorned its wall, accompanied by some well placed antiques. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Ev¨¦lyne didn¡¯t pay much attention to all this since she was already used to such sights. When she got to her destination, she knocked at the rich and heavy black wooden door twice before stepping in. The room was quite spacious. It contained quite a few strange artifacts and paintings on the walls as well giving it a feel of luxury and elegance. Ev¨¦lyne calmly walked in and sat opposite to the only person in the office. They both shared almost the same facial features, same phoenix eyes with ruby pupils, same soft cherry lips, and the same perfect oval face. What differed however was their hair color and overall demeanor. The woman wore an elegant black and gold dress woven from the finest fabrics, while her vibrant crimson hair was styled into an intricate crown braid, wrapping around her head like a regal circlet. A few loose strands framed her face, softening her sharp, dignified features. Small, golden hair pins shaped like constellations or circuitry patterns were subtly placed throughout her hair, giving her a regal, almost divine presence. The woman smiled brightly at Ev¨¦lyne, her ruby eyes almost glowing as her gaze pierced through her. ¡°How did your training go, darling?¡± She asked softly. Ev¨¦lyne couldn¡¯t help but smile as her previously stoic face melted into a genuine smile. ¡°It went well, mother. I feel I have truly mastered the sword, it now feels like an extension of my will.¡± The woman nodded as she said. ¡°That¡¯s good Ev¨¦lyne, it¡¯s just in time as well. I recall you have always wanted to explore an uncharted domain right?¡± Ev¨¦lyne felt a thrill of excitement but she suppressed it as she nodded patiently. Her mother just opened her palm, projecting a detailed 3d hologram as she continued. ¡°I think this is an appropriate present for you. These are coordinates to a 1-star domain. I have assigned some¡­ workers to scout out the domain. When they are done, I shall give you the coordinates. But take care okay? I won¡¯t send any guards with you this time.¡± Ev¨¦lyne immediately circled the table and wrapped around the woman in a fierce hug not saying anything and speaking with her actions. The woman in turn just smiled softly, stroking her hair. Looking at the map, the coordinates were the same as the map handed to Flynt¡¯s squad. Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s destination was¡ªthe cavern. ¡­¡­. Back at the cavern¡­ Thud. Lucas tossed aside Jaxsyn¡¯s corpse with a soft thud. Grains of what looked like black sand swirled in the still air for a few moments before everything went silent. The red wisps in Lucas¡¯s eye sockets flickered for a bit before dimming considerably, as he collapsed to a knee. ¡®Fuck¡­ I¡¯m almost out of Life energy. My Spirit energy is pretty low as well. That was a tough fight¡­¡¯ He thought to himself as he checked on his core. Struggling to get to his feet, he heard a very faint hum from Crash. If he still had lips, he would crack a small smile as he responded. ¡®Yeah, we made it bud. We just need to find a quiet cave. You can go to sleep now.¡¯ Crash hummed once more before going quiet. Lucas frowned and thought to himself. ¡®Each time we fuse, Crash gets weaker and weaker. I should refrain from doing that as much as possible.¡¯ Taking note of this, Lucas turned his focus to the two corpses. He could tell they were thinking and feeling people he had murdered but¡­ he had no choice. Killing them didn¡¯t provoke any deep negative emotions from him. In fact, he felt almost nothing and that scared him. Throughout the entire fight, only two things had been on his mind, fear due to getting his head vaporized and anger for not attacking first and letting the situation progress so far. Stifling his thoughts, he looked around at the carnage throughout the tunnel. Almost stumbling forward, he moved towards some fresh corpses. Not wasting any time, he impaled them with his tendrils and absorbed the meager scraps of Life energy left in them. After he felt rejuvenated enough, he moved over to the corpses of Jaxsyn and Dahn. He picked them up with his lower tendrils and picked up their weapons by generating an extra pair. With everything set, he rushed through the tunnel. The unusual darkness did nothing to hinder his perception as he sought a safe haven. His steps and swings resounded throughout the tunnels due to the extra weight he was lugging around but his mind was too distracted to care. Too many things had happened in just a few minutes. From the cavern going crazy, the bloodthirsty bats, and facing off with the team of strange humanoids, it all felt like it had happened in an instant. He had to think through all this, browse the notifications he had received throughout all the fights, make sense of them, AND think of a suitable step forward after all that. Lucas could already feel a phantom migraine coming if he thought through all of this right now, so he chose not to. ¡®Let¡¯s find a safe space first. All that can come later.¡¯ After what felt like hours of searching, he finally found a suitable cave on the cavern floor. He immediately made his way to it and placed the corpses down. He sat on the floor and stretched his senses as much as he possibly could but he didn¡¯t sense anything. Not even the usual bioluminescent plants and critters on the wall. The Spirit energy in the air was also shockingly faint as if it had been sucked dry. For some reason, the thought caused his heart to sink. He could instinctively tell that whatever was going on in the cavern was far from over. But at the same time, he was too tired and beat up to be truly considering such things in-depth. So with a heavy heart, exhausted body, and stretched Mind, he passed out on the cave floor. Falling into a deep slumber. As Lucas slept, his core buzzed with the absorbed Life energy. It flowed through him as a low but powerful hum could be heard. With each passing moment, his grimly injured head mended itself at a slow but steady pace. ¡­.. At some point, he jolted awake. The first thing he noticed was, he could actually feel his face on the rough cavern floor. He could also pick up the ever present heavy aroma of death the cavern floor always had. Opening his eyes to the dim lights around him, Lucas blinked twice as he said. ¡°My face, it¡¯s healed! I can see again¡­ not just that. All my senses, they are back! Hahahahhahah¡ªwoah!¡± Lucas brought a hand to his face. He felt himself up as he laughed like a giddy lunatic before jerking back in panic when he noticed the state of his hand. Looking at his black, metallic looking hand which now had razor sharp claws instead of fingernails, he was confused. He then remembered how he fought against the humanoids with guns. All that ferocious anger and fear he felt during that encounter had subconsciously guided him to change his body this much. ¡°I really got by with the skin of my teeth once more, huh?¡± HUM. Crash let out a firm affirming hum. Lucas clenched his fist tightly producing an audible crack. After looking at it for a few seconds, he didn¡¯t even bother to change back as he had a lot to do and quite a bit on his mind. ¡®Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. I survived and I will get stronger. But first off, let¡¯s check our notifications shall we?¡¯ Chapter 31: [Quests], Achievements, and Spirit. Chapter 31: [Quests], Achievements, and Spirit. ¡®Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. I survived and I will get stronger. But first off, let¡¯s check our notifications shall we?¡¯ With a mental command, a screen appeared in his mind carrying several notifications. ___ {Congratulations, [Spirit Sense]has leveled up from level 4¡ª¡ª¡ª>level 5. +1 attribute point.} {Requirements met,Achievement acquired ¡ª [Daredevil]. Good job!} ___ {Congratulations, your [Leech] has leveled up from level 4¡ª¡ª-> level 5. +1 attribute point.} {Requirements met. Achievement acquired ¡ª [Notable Combatant]. Good job!} ___ Lucas couldn¡¯t help but smile as he read these messages. This was all his effort, his constant striving and practicing had been acknowledged by the system itself. ¡°Wiki, can I receive my [Quest] rewards now?¡± {Absolutely Lucas. So far you have completed the [Quests]; ?Raise your [Spirit Sense] to level 5. ?Raise your [Leech] to level 5. ?Acquire a pseudo core. Information packets available; [Spirit energy packet] and [Life energy packet].} Listening to Wiki¡¯s cold yet pleasant voice, Lucas¡¯ face showed a hint of flustered surprise when it talked about the pseudo core [Quest]. ¡®I completely forgot about that. Thankfully, it¡¯s still orbiting my core right where I left it.¡¯ Lucas thought to himself in mild relief. Ignoring Lucas¡¯ emotional state, Wiki continued. {You can now access each packet at your [Quest] page. Would you like to access them now?} This wrestled Lucas out of his thoughts as he nodded at Wiki words. He then activated the Spirit energy packet first and felt a flood of pain in his head for a few moments. A wall of text then appeared in his gaze. {Spirit is the physical manifestation of the will. Spirit energy by extension is the inherent power of all life forms. Remember, the Spirit knows no limit.} Lucas read through the text with absolute concentration. When he got to the final line, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little scammed. All that fighting and struggling for this? ¡°Okay? I didn¡¯t know what I expected but this is kinda short, no?¡± {You can ask me any query. If it¡¯s within what you have access to, I shall do my best to answer.} Rolling his eyes, Lucas responded with, ¡°What questions could I possibly ask now? I don''t know what is even relevant.¡± {But isn¡¯t that why you should ask as many questions as possible, Lucas? These packets are to help you close that knowledge gap as swiftly as possible.} Contemplating Wiki¡¯s logic, Lucas felt it was right. He had been looking at all this too shallowly. Not every problem needed to be solved with violence or dangerous stunts. As the saying goes, information is power¡­ or at least something like that. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ Let¡¯s activate the [Leech] info packet then.¡± {Okay, Lucas.} Wiki answered indifferently as Lucas got jolted by the brief but mind numbing pain of having vast sets of knowledge directly downloaded to his consciousness. {Life energy is one of the most common variations of Spirit energy. Its main role being the manipulation of Vitality in any consciousness entity.} Reading through the text with Wiki¡¯s words in mind, the word ¡®Vitality¡¯ immediately stood out to him. So he asked Wiki. ¡°What¡¯s Vitality?¡± Without any delay, Wiki responded. {Vitality is the metaphysical driving force behind life itself. It governs the life span, base instincts, goals of the myriad races, and much more.} Lucas¡¯ eyes widened in shock as he tried to digest what he had read. ¡°This is¡­ a little too grand isn¡¯t it? I can potentially control the essence of life itself simply because I can manipulate Life energy?¡± Lucas asked, completely flabbergasted. Wiki however, responded with its usual indifferent tone. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. {With sufficient power, mastery, and knowledge, nothing is impossible.} Lucas swallowed hard on reflex. Didn¡¯t that mean he could one day become godlike? When his thoughts reached this point, his mind went to the cosmic force which destroyed his universe. Even that being said it was helpless to fix his world and what happened was an accident. Was it really possible to surpass such an entity and fix his home world? Shaking his head, Lucas calmed himself down as he thought, ¡®Let¡¯s survive this cavern first. Then we can begin making plans to surpass God.¡¯ After grounding himself, Lucas began to think deeply as he placed his grotesquely hand on his chin, his tendrils absentmindedly waving behind him. After a few moments, he had a good question in mind. Even though it seemed obvious, he felt it was worth clarifying. ¡°What¡¯s the relationship between my pseudo core and my Spirit?¡± {Your pseudo core is the primary conduit of your Spirit. Through it, you can project your Will onto yourself and the World.} Noticing two more keywords, Lucas instantly asked, ¡°What is Will?¡± He was bound to be disappointed however as Wiki simply said. {You currently do not have access to this information.} ¡°What is the World?¡± {You currently do not have access to this information.} With a soft sigh, Lucas could only move on. After a few minutes of conversing with Wiki, he finally ran out of relevant questions and decided to move on to something else¡ªhis Achievements. With a mental command, his two newest Achievements displayed themselves with their respective walls of text. ___ {[Daredevil]: You¡¯re willing to put life and limb on the line for reasons others view as foolhardy. Rewards: +1 Mind. Trait unlocked [Daring Mind].} {[Noteable Combatant]: You have participated in and survived numerous battles. Your will, tenacity, and instincts for violence are commendable. Reward: +1 attribute point.} ___ ¡°No wonder I could resist the Domain core¡¯s calls. It seems [Daredevil] saved me from the ill fate most cavern creatures got...¡± Thinking back on it, Lucas couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat. If not for Crash goading him into doing something so reckless as to watch his Spirit energy during his Spirit enhancement, he would be dead right now. HUM HUM. Lucas laughed as Crash made his presence known before he spoke in a surprisingly soft tone. ¡°Thank you, Crash. Really. You have saved me quite a few times now.¡± Crash just let out a soft hum, as if to say, ¡®don¡¯t mention it¡¯ before going silent once more. Lucas looked around the quiet cave. The still, decaying air whuffed through his senses as he thought of what to do next. Organising his thoughts, he knew he had only two things left to take care of. Assigning his three attribute points and examining the corpses, more specifically the weapons and armor they carried. With all that cleared up, he spoke out. ¡°Status.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 5 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly], [Daredevil], [Noteworthy Combatant] Traits: [Daring Mind], Attributes: ?Physique: 5 ?Spirit: 2(+) ?Mind: 2(+) Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Mimicry [Level 5] ?Leech [Level 5] ?Spirit sense [Level 5] Attribute points: 3 Quests: ?Evolve or enhance [Mimicry] beyond level 5. Reward: Information packet on Skills. ?Evolve or enhance [Spirit Sense] beyond level 5. Reward: Information packet on Skill advancement. ?Evolve or enhance [Leech] beyond level 5. Reward: Access to more advanced information on Life energy. ?Locate the domain core. Rewards: Information packet on domain cores. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Already used to the process, Lucas sat as laid down as comfortably as he could on the rough cavern floor as he thought about which point to place his attribute points. Now that he had three points, he could push either Mind or Spirit to 5. The thought of splitting the points never occurred to him since he felt that would just be mismanaging his resources. Having 5 Physique had proven its worth again and again just by how hard it was to injure him now. And with his latest transformation, his toughness seemed to have been magnified. ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s see. In the bat fight, the only reason I got swarmed was because I didn''t have enough Spirit energy and was injured. If I had more energy, my injuries would have healed much faster. As for the fight with the humanoids, I survived solely because I advanced [Leech] to level 5 mid-fight. If I already had a massive reserve of Spirit energy, I wouldn¡¯t have fallen to such dire straits in the first place¡­¡± After some consideration and running back his most recent fights through his mind. He swiftly spotted the main issue¡ªhis Spirit energy. Since his Physique was so far ahead of his Spirit energy, every transformation and alteration he made to himself sucked away a big chunk of his power. If he had a bigger reserve, this problem would immediately go away and he could even experiment with gaining even more powerful transformations! HUM! With his mind made up and Crash¡¯s support, Lucas didn¡¯t hesitate and placed his first attribute point. In an instant, he felt a surge of pleasant Spirit energy rush through him. It flowed and permeated throughout his entire Being before making its way to his core. Hum. Crash let out a gentle pulse as it seemed to resonate with the process. The beetle core also let out a steady vibration as it continued its frantic orbit around the core, glowing with its strange dull white light. This time, Lucas didn¡¯t dare watch the process once more. With [Spirit Sense] already at level 5 and with the [Quest] to either evolve or enhance it. He would be a moron if he could not tell the Skill was at a bottleneck. Trying to brute force it now would just be injuring himself for no gain. So with nothing better to do, he paid attention to his surroundings as he waited for the process to be over. When the process was over, Lucas could feel his Spirit energy surging like a high tide. It circulated through him faster than it ever before and following his intentions with little to no effort. ¡°It seems improving my Spirit does much more than just increase the quantity of my Spirit energy. Even my thoughts feel¡­ clearer and more distinct. No wonder Wiki defines Spirit as the physical manifestation of the Will. I feel fantastic!¡± Lucas spoke excitedly. Without a second thought, he placed his remaining two points. After an hour, Lucas¡¯ Spirit attribute was at five points. As he opened his eyes to examine what was different, he heard a voice that caused him to freeze in place. The voice sounded like a young adult but something was¡­ off about it. It spoke just a single word. ¡°Crash.¡± Snapping himself out of his daze, Lucas exclaimed, ¡°Crash, you can talk?!?¡± ¡°Crash?!? (¡ã¥í¡ã)!¡± Chapter 32: Runes. Chapter 32: Runes. ¡°Crash, you can talk?!?¡± ¡°Crash?!? (¡ã¥í¡ã)!¡± Crash exclaimed in surprised confusion as well. Lucas communicated with it for a few moments and realized something strange. Apart from being more expressive, Crash could only say one word¡­ kinda. ¡°Can¡¯t you say something else?¡± ¡°Crash?¡± ¡°You know, like actually words, Crash.¡± ¡°Crash, crash?? (?_?)¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re saying actually words. I can understand what you mean but¡­ I can also tell you¡¯re just saying crash over and over. It¡¯s pretty weird now that I think about¡­¡± ¡°Crash¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ well, we¡¯ll figure this out as we go. I will ask Wiki later but I get the feeling I already know it¡¯s response... Welp, we still have to examine the corpses and weapons.¡± With an affirmative crash, Crash fell silent once more. Lucas spread his senses out to make sure nothing was closing in on his location. He was pleasantly surprised by how far his range had become. Even though he couldn¡¯t tell the exact radius, he felt he covered almost a kilometer with his perception. ¡°Holy¡ªoww!¡± He hastily shut off his [Spirit Sense] as he felt a stabbing pain directly in his mind. His tendrils spasmed for a few seconds as his senses sank into jet blackness. His head exploded with pain as it felt like a railgun round had drilled through his skull¡­ again. Even after several seconds passed with Lucas holding his head and shivering, the migraine persisted. Only after several minutes passed did he finally have the ability to think complex thoughts. ¡°Phew¡­ it seems my Mind is too fragile to process that much information all at once. That felt almost as bad as getting shot in the head.¡± Lucas said with a muted voice as he shakily got to his feet. Though it was disappointing that he couldn¡¯t use such an overpowered detection range immediately, he was already satisfied. All he had to do now was experiment with his Spirit energy and skills to properly test out the limits of his Spirit. After running tests for about half an hour, Lucas figured out that the most suitable range for his current [Spirit Sense] was about fifty meters. This was more than enough in his opinion. With a faint smile on his face, Lucas spoke to himself optimistically. ¡°With this scouting will be a breeze. A high Spirit attribute is already paying dividends. Now, let¡¯s check out the gear.¡± Gingerly walking over to one of the corpses, he knelt beside it and began his examination. This was the corpse of Jaxsyn. Even though Lucas didn¡¯t know who or even what he was, his final valiant effort and his strange ability to repel him was still very fresh in his mind. Each time the Runes on Jaxsyn¡¯s armor glow with that strange shadowless light, Lucas felt like his momentum was robbed and even used against him. Looking at the fractured armor with the broken corpse within it, Lucas felt a little hollow. After fidgeting with the armor for a few minutes, he figured out how to open it. All that was left within was an extremely decomposed corpse and black dust. Lucas took his time digging two pits, his tendrils carving through the rocky ground with mechanical precision. The corpses, brittle and crumbling, barely held together as he placed them inside. A fine layer of black dust coated parts of his tendrils and arms, a reminder of what remained. He couldn¡¯t help but say to himself. ¡°I really wished it hadn¡¯t come to this¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Mouthing those words, Lucas¡¯ face twisted in disgust. He knew he genuinely felt sorry for what happened but at the same time he didn¡¯t actually feel sorry for killing them. It felt more like a minor inconvenience rather than murder and in this quiet cave he couldn¡¯t run away from that fact. ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°I know I had no choice¡­ it¡¯s just that¡­ I didn¡¯t think this is how I would feel after killing a person.¡± ¡°Crash?¡± ¡°How do I know they¡¯re people?¡­ That¡¯s a good point actually¡­ Maybe they are an alien race like the tree men?¡­ I really hope so.¡± ¡°Crash.¡± With a deep exhale, Lucas pushed his thoughts aside as he nodded at Crash¡¯s words. Whether they were people or not, he couldn¡¯t change what happened. What he could do was learn from his experiences. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get to the gear. I should be able to use their weapons. And the markings on the gear look special. If my assumptions are correct, they are what give the gear special properties.¡± After shoveling his complex feelings to the back of his mind, Lucas took hold of Jaxsyn¡¯s short sword with his hands. He carefully traced and observed all the groves and engravings on the blade for a few moments before standing up and swung it casually. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. With a sharp whoosh, it sliced through the air smoothly. Lucas retracted his arm with a frown. His attack, though casual, didn¡¯t produce any special effects as it had in Jaxsyn¡¯s grasp . Thinking for a bit, it finally hit him. His burning pupils flickered as a sheepish smile appeared on his grim face. ¡°I¡¯m such a moron. If I don¡¯t use Spirit energy, how can anything magically happen?¡± With renewed focus, Lucas channeled his Spirit energy into the blade, hoping he was right. Crack! HUM! Lucas immediately heard a piercing crack as the sword began vibrating in his hand producing a bone rattling low hum. Lucas felt a chill crawl up his spine the moment he heard that sound. He could feel the Spirit energy within the blade had spiked abruptly and was struggling against the blade from within. ¡°Crash! (??§¥?)?!¡± With zero hesitation, Lucas heeded to Crash¡¯s words and tossed the sword out of the cave with frightening strength. The blade sailed far out outside the cave before detonating with a muffled bang in a devastating implosion. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡®ll be more careful with the other stuff.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t even know how to react to what just happened. He could tell he may have overloaded the blade or something? But that didn¡¯t feel right since he didn¡¯t use a lot of Spirit energy. Unable to come to an acceptable conclusion, he walked towards the next piece of gear he wanted to experiment on. Much more cautious now, Lucas gingerly picked up Dahn¡¯s pulse rifle. Its condition was probably one of the best out of all the gear so he held it like a treasure. As he analyzed the rifle, he realized a very pressing issue. It had no trigger. ¡°How do I even fire this thing?¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°What if it blows up? Let¡¯s try everything else apart from that for now.¡± Lucas spent minutes tinkering with the rifle. He noticed the rifle was composed of a very light alloy and a material that felt like plastic. He also sensed that there were some strange mechanisms and markings within the rifle but even with his enhanced senses, he could not understand what they were for. He could probably take apart the rifle to investigate but that was idiotic in his opinion. With a deep sigh, he got to his feet and aimed the rifle at the cave¡¯s exit. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Lucas tensed up as he channeled his Spirit energy into the rifle, his senses on high alert for anything out of place. His eyes glowed as he did his utmost to restrain his power. With a soft hum, the Runes on the rifle lit up with a blue light. Excited, Lucas willed his energy to fire. A bolt of plasma shot out in an instant, disappearing into the darkness of the cavern. ¡°It actually worked! Guess I was worried¡­ for nothing?¡± Half way through his sentence, he noticed something was wrong with the gun. The grip he was holding felt¡­ wooden? He brought his focus to the weapon and realized IT was transforming into wood. ¡°HUH???¡± ¡°¡­¡± All Lucas could do was watch it slowly transform into wood. Even Crash was stumped. Lucas tried to think through what the issue was but nothing came to mind. This was too bizarre. With no other options, he had to come up with a new plan or else he would lose all the gear he had looted. ¡°What is going on? Is my Spirit energy having some kind of weird reaction to their gear? Or did they get more damaged in the battle than I thought?¡± Lucas racked his brain thinking about this problem. He took a seat on the rough, cold floor as he thought. He tried asking Wiki for help but it simply said. {You currently don¡¯t have access to such knowledge.} Before sinking back to silence. With that option shot down, he turns to his old, reliable buddy, Crash. After a few minutes of conversation with Crash, an idea struck him. ¡°I don¡¯t need the gear themselves. If I can just figure out how those markings work, I should be able to use their special properties right?¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that.¡± With a new plan in mind, Lucas walked over to each piece of armor. He then altered his tendrils to cover much more surface area while being thinner as well. With these new feelers, he carcassed the surfaces of the shield and body armor like they were long lost lovers. Thanks to his [Spirit Sense], sharp natural senses, and his Physique and Spirit standing at 5, he could form almost a perfect visualization of the inscriptions in his mind. Though the process was quite strenuous due to his low Mind Attribute. ¡®This might actually go better than I thought.¡± With the blueprints formed and that optimistic thought in mind, Lucas walked to the back of the cave and began tracing the inscriptions from the shield on the wall. The complex geometric structures were drawn with almost perfect precision by all four of his tendrils. In less than a minute, it was completely but was very obviously missing some parts to it. ¡°It¡¯s probably not going to work properly if I add my Spirit energy like this. Should I try to fix it?¡± Lucas¡¯ crimson pupils flickered and danced as he tried to recall how the symbols looked in the first place but he could barely remember most of the fight, much less such a precise detail. After racking his brain for a while he said. ¡°Fuck it, let¡¯s do this. Are you ready, Crash.¡± ¡°Crash! (?''?-''?)?¡± ¡°Here goes nothing.¡± Lucas gingerly placed his right palm on what he had drawn on the wall. The complex lines and circles looked like something a machine would draw rather than a¡­ well, mimic. Anyways, he began channeling his Spirit energy from his core. As usual it made its complex, seemingly random patterns throughout his body by flooding to his arm. His crimson wisp-like pupil took on the indescribable shade of his Spirit energy as he fed the inscriptions with a minuscule chunk of his Spirit energy. ¡°Let¡¯s drip feed it till¡ª¡° Boom!! A deafening blast erupted from the wall, caving in the nook and sending Lucas flying out of the cave at breakneck speed. He rolled and tumbled for a few seconds before catching himself with his tendrils. His mind spun rapidly as he tried to figure out what just happened. Feeling a sharp pain in his right arm snapped him out of his thoughts. With a tense jerk of his head, he looked down at it to see what was wrong. ¡°The hell?¡± His eyes widened, his arm was gone. From his hand right up to his elbow, all he could see was his black metallic skeleton. White smoke rose out of his form as well, indicating more damage had been done than he thought. Before he could process the events any further, he heard the neutral voice of Wiki. {Conditions met. A new [Quest] has been issued, Forge a working Rune. Reward: Information packet on Runes.} Though he had some questions, Lucas chose to keep them to himself for now. He was out in the open now and injured, not a great combination in cavern. So he hastily circulated his Spirit energy and what little life energy he had to heal himself while moving away from the collapsed cave. ¡°Damn, I lost all the equipment. My luck seems to be as shitty as ever¡± ¡°Crash?¡± ¡°Maybe? They were already badly damaged before. With tons of rock now hammering down on them, it¡¯s good to keep my hopes low.¡± Crash fell silent at that. Lucas looked back at the cave with a steely gaze, his pupils danced with a smoldering intensity before he retracted it. And with that, he rushed off. He had tests to run and a quest to complete. Chapter 33: Drawing Runes. Chapter 33: Drawing Runes. As Lucas rushed through the cavern, his figure looked like a black streak as he crawled and swung from the walls. During this acrobatic dash, he circulated his Spirit energy in a now familiar pattern. He could sense his wounds healing at a rapid rate. Even the most gruesome injury to his right hand could be seen mending itself in real time. His pitch black metallic muscles grew like wires, systematically attaching themselves to his bones. In less than ten minutes, he was as good as new. Making a quick stop on a small outcropping, he checked his Spirit energy reserves. Sensing his core, he realized he still had more than 95% of his Spirit energy left. ¡°Nice! By the looks of it, I haven¡¯t even used up to five percent of my reserves. Back during the bat chase, if I even attempted such a healing, all my Spirit energy would have been drained with little to show for it.¡± Thinking of his Spirit energy, a small smile crept up on his face. His crimson pupils danced energetically as he shot off the wall leaving a spider web of cracks in his wake. His form split the air with a powerful howl as he continued his search for a safe haven. ¡°Hmm¡­ the ambient Spirit energy is increasing.¡± As he moved deeper into the cavern, he felt the ambient Spirit energy rising. Usually, he wasn¡¯t all that sensitive to Spirit energy unless it was very concentrated, there was a very obvious shift in it, or he was actively using his [Spirit Sense]. Now, it felt like his sixth sense for Spirit energy was as powerful as his other senses. He could only attribute this his high Spirit as he moved forward. With the uptick of ambient Spirit energy, Lucas began to notice the usual bioluminescence plant on the cavern wall and the small critters that accompanied them as well. The previous eerie silence replaced by the tranquil sounds of nature in motion. With the dim lights the plants brought and the rising ambient Spirit energy, Lucas¡¯ senses suddenly exploded in detail. Looking at his limbs, he could feel and see the smallest grains of dust that powdered their surface and ground at his skin. He could see how specks of black dust were still under his claws after his fight with the squad. He heard the extremely slow pounding of his heart like a war drum, even his blood circulating throughout his veins sounded like cars at a race track going lap upon lap at full throttle. He could see and taste the foul stench of blood and death always emitted by the cavern floor. Given his 360¡ã of perception, this flood of information quickly overwhelmed him. Bang! Dazed by the sudden explosion of his senses, Lucas missed a swing and crashed to the cavern floor hard. The sound of his crash rippled through him like a bomb going off, he could feel his head ringing as he struggled to stand to his feet with the aid of his tendrils. His Mind was getting overwhelmed. Thankfully, Crash stepped in. ¡°Crash!¡± At its voice, his senses toned down to their usual degree of sharpness. His overclocked Mind immediately relaxed as he felt a sharp pain in his head. Standing in a small crater, he asked out loud. ¡°Woah¡­ what just happened?¡± ¡°Crash crash.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t use my [Spirit Sense] again. At least I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± Thinking on what happened further, he realized he had used his [Spirit Sense] in the instinctive way he usually did to scout the area but thanks to his new attributes, his brain almost melted in the process. ¡°I¡¯ll have to be more careful. If I lose control like that in a fight, I¡¯m going to end up something¡¯s lunch.¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°Yeah I won¡¯t be fighting anything anytime soon. Don¡¯t worry about it. Let¡¯s find a cave first. I have a lot of things to practice.¡± And with that, he leaped through the air. Leveraging his tendrils to swing across the cavern as he sought a suitable cave. A few hours of exploring later, Lucas found a safe space for himself. It was quite high up the cavern wall so it met his needs perfectly. After thinking about his next course of action, he decided to go to sleep. His mind had been exhausted from all the brutal encounters he had recently gone through. Laying on the rough floor, Lucas wrapped his tendrils around himself almost like a cacoon as he slept soundly. A couple of hours later, Lucas woke up feeling energized and refreshed. With his goals already set, he began thinking about the Runes as he sat crossed legged in his cave. His tendrils waved and played with each other behind him. ¡°What am I missing with the Runes? Let¡¯s see, when I activated the short sword it seemed like I overloaded it causing the explosion but the Runes on it barely glowed and I used little energy so I¡¯m not so sure. As for the rifle, it initially fired normally but it seemed my energy transformed the structure of the gun itself into wood for some reason. Last but not the least, when I drew Runes from the shield and tried to use them, it caused the wall to explode like the short sword with an even bigger blast even though I used even less energy to power it.¡± Reaching this point in thought, Lucas cupped his chin as his pupils flickered with uncertainty. ¡°From all this, I can draw a few conclusions. Either the Runes on all the gear was damaged leading to the weirdness and explosions, my Spirit energy is just incompatible with Runes as a whole, or there¡¯s some kinda trick to activating Runes.¡± He then used his tendrils to pick up a palm sized rock as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s run some experiments first. I¡¯m sure I can get to the bottom of this.¡± He used a clawed finger to draw a small Rune he could remember from the shield. It had the simplest structure being a simple triangle but with its vertices containing different geometric shapes. With fluid and precise strokes, Lucas drew the first node. A very small downward facing triangle with a dot at its center. He then connected a straight line to it and drew what looked like a square, shield-like shape with two diagonal lines within it. He then brought down two connection lines from the two nodes to where he drew the final shape. It was a looped triangle with no extra details. ¡°Looks good to me. What do you think, Crash?¡± ¡°Crash. d(^_^)b¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s see what happens now.¡± Examining what he had drawn, he could see no flaws in it and Crash agreed. Now it was time to supply his Spirit energy. Unlike last time, he didn¡¯t just randomly pour his energy into the rock. He intentionally guided it into the downward facing triangle as he thought to himself. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡®It seems each node is important and plays its own unique role. So if I guide my energy to flow through each node systematically, things might go differen¡ª¡® Before he could finish the thought, he felt the rock vibrating in his hand violently. Before he could even retract his Spirit energy, numerous cracks ran across the rock surface and it swiftly crumbled into a pile of dust. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try that again.¡± Undeterred by the abrupt failure, Lucas found another rock and swiftly drew the Rune on it once more. This time he placed his energy in the square shield-like node first only for the rock to explode on him like a hand grenade. The powerful blast numbing his hand. On his third attempt, he placed energy into the looped triangle and was surprised when nothing bad happened. Encouraged by this, he led his energy to the upside down triangle then the square shield-like node. When the linking up process was done, the rock began to pulse in his hand violently, queueing him to toss it out immediately. With a muted bang, he heard the rock explode like a bomb in the distance. Lucas stopped at this point and fell into thought once more. He could tell he was missing something but the only way to gain any knowledge on Runes was to actually draw and activate a Rune first before receiving an info packet. Reaching this point in thought, Lucas suddenly said, ¡°Hey Wiki, you there?¡± {Yes I am, Lucas.} ¡°You¡¯re an asshole, you know that? How the hell am I supposed to do this without blowing myself up first? You¡ª¡± Wiki did bother to respond as Lucas peppered it with insults for almost a full minute. With all the malice and frustration out of his system, he refocused on his task once more. As he kept drawing the same Rune over and over to the point where he had to carve up rocks himself for his own use. With each new trial, he learnt a little more about the rune. By trial six, he had figured out that starting from the downward triangle produces the weakest explosions. By trial ten, he learnt the square shield-like node had to be traced from the diagonal lines before moving to the square itself or the rock would definitely explode or disintegrate itself. Looking at the rectangle palm sized rock in his hand, Lucas thought over what he had been doing for the past hour now. ¡®This is my fifteenth try. For some reason the last node keeps causing the rocks to disintegrate no matter how I trace it. Wait, what if I channel energy from both the downward triangle and the shield node?¡¯ With this new idea, he hastily went to work. His Spirit energy easily flowed from the downward triangle to the shield node. As it powered them, they glowed with a dim white light. Using his Will, he directed his energy from both nodes into the looped triangle. They met at the center of the node before fusing into one stream and traced the final node. When the process was completed, Lucas felt everything click in place as the Rune glowed with a powerful white light. He felt the rock in his hands harden considerably, its shade becoming darker as it strunk as well. Just as his eyes widened in wonder, he suddenly heard a very low hum from the rock. His heart sank as the runes began to flicker unstably before shutting off completely. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the rock slightly and it was squished in his grasp like jelly. As he watched the previously solid rock become a very viscous liquid in his hand, he couldn¡¯t help but smile before he burst out laughing, almost bringing himself to tears. After a few moments, he got himself together before tossing the jelly to the side. He used his tendrils to stand up as he said to himself. ¡°Of course that was going to happen. Can never be too easy, huh?¡± Since Wiki hadn¡¯t informed him of his quest being completed, Lucas understood it had been a failure. He walked to the entrance of his cave and jumped out, a tendril shot out as sailed through the air with practiced ease. He needed to clear his head. As he swung through the cavern absentmindedly, the sound of running water cut through his senses. He had heard water dripping throughout the cavern before but this was different. Given how powerful he was now, he chose to go investigate the sound. After five minutes of swinging and crawling on the cavern''s walls, he finally found the location he had been all this while hearing. He immediately saw two things that peaked his interest. First off, he could see the sound came from a spring. Its water flowed through a small channel which seemed to have been created by the flow of the spring itself. Secondly, a sky blue salamander was drinking from the spring. It looked much bigger than the one he had taken down before and its Spirit energy was vast giving it a deep azure aura in his perception. But even with its powerful aura, Lucas didn¡¯t sense a solid core from it. What piqued Lucas¡¯ interest about the salamander was the Runes it had throughout its body. With his [Spirit Sense], he could see some type of energy flow from the spring into the lizard. It weaved complex patterns and flowed into its Runes systematically. Seeking answers, Lucas asked Wiki internally, ¡®What¡¯s it doing?¡¯ {The salamander is absorbing Water energy from the spring.} ¡°Hmm¡­ nothing else?¡± Wiki kept silent. Lucas guessed it was doing something along those lines but he hoped Wiki would give him more information. Unfortunately, it seemed he didn¡¯t have the relevant information packet(s). Switching tactics, Lucas tried to memorize the runes on the salamander¡¯s scales. Similar to the Runes on the equipment, the shapes were not very complex so it wasn¡¯t difficult for him to memorize them. What was difficult was figuring out which Runes the salamander was using and their purpose. After watching for what felt like five minutes, Lucas still could not make heads or tails of the process and the salamander seemed to be done. The runes on its scales dimmed before vanishing as it turned its head to Lucas'' direction. Its gaze was confused for a bit before it decided to cautiously move away. ¡®Its senses are really sharp. Good thing I kept my distance.¡¯ Lucas thought as he moved away from the spring as well. As he swung through the cavern, he couldn¡¯t help but think about the salamander. What let it use its Runes but he couldn¡¯t? The next moment it hit him. ¡®Its Runes were on its body! Maybe if I drew the Rune on myself, it will finally work. But there¡¯s one issue though, how is it materializing its Spirit energy?¡¯ Lucas had seen a salamander and other creatures use their Spirit energy externally before but he had never really made an attempt to emulate it since he had quite a lot on his plate most of the time. When you add the fact that he still defeated them in combat, it didn¡¯t seem like something worth learning. He rushed to his cave to test this new insight and see what difference it would make. He settled in and sat crossed legged on the floor once more. With absolute focus, he tried projecting his Spirit energy out of his palm. A small ball of strangely colored energy appeared in his palm. Its color changed randomly, Lucas could even tell some of its colors were hues he had never seen before. After rationalizing the ease of the process away, Lucas began focusing on the energy itself. He was already used to how it looked since this was how his Spirit energy appeared within his core. What he didn¡¯t expect however was for his Spirit energy to affect his other senses as well, giving him nonsensical perceptions like the taste of swinging through the cavern and hearing his own emotions. He easily shook off these feelings and focused on the task at hand. Using the ball of energy, he shaped it out into the triangular Rune. It hovered on his palm inertly as he prepared for the next step. ¡°Here goes nothing.¡± Steeling himself, he placed the Rune behind his left palm. The Rune changed and shifted to fit the back of his hand on its own. As it did so, Lucas felt a sharp pain in his hand. He could see his flesh writhing and shifting as the Rune appeared on his hand. When the process was over, Lucas looked at his arm in confusion. ¡°Why is it so different from the lizard? Its Runes looked more like glowing tattoos while mine looks like I got branded¡­¡± Mulling it over for a bit, he still couldn¡¯t get to the bottom of it so he let the matter be. It was time to run the final test and actually activate the Rune. ¡°My hand better not turn to jelly after this.¡± He said as he clenched his teeth and poured his Spirit energy into the Rune as he did for the fifteenth trial. He chose this process with the reasoning that having a jelly hand was way better than detonating himself. He smoothly activated the downward triangle node and the shield node. He then brought down two streams of energy from both nodes and activated the looped triangle. With all three nodes connected, the Rune glowed a bright white that consumed his entire left arm. He could feel his left hand changing, his flesh and bones let out low hums as they became darker and denser than any other part of his body. The metallic sheen his skin always had, had evolved into a polished gleam on his left hand. ¡°Hmm, it didn''t blow me up. Good, let¡¯s see what¡¯s different about my arm.¡± Flexing and waving the arm around didn''t feel much different than usual so he decided to run a small test. He transformed a tendril into a scythe-like appendage and chopped down at his arm viciously. Clang! In a burst of sparks, the scythe-tendril was deflected off easily. Lucas looked at his hand in awe, finding himself speechless at the display of durability. Suddenly, Wiki¡¯s indifferent voice snapped him back to reality. {[Quest], Forge a functioning Rune, completed. Reward received. Should I activate the information packet now? [Yes] [No].} Chapter 34: By the power of trial and error, I shall become鈥擱une man!!! Chapter 34: By the power of trial and error, I shall become¡ªRune man!!! {[Quest], Forge a functioning Rune, completed. Reward received. Should I activate the information packet now? [Yes] [No].} Snapped out of his reverie, Lucas turned his attention to Wiki. The Rune on his hand stopped glowing as he read the notification to make sure of what he had heard. Before he could even say anything, he received another notification from the system itself. {Requirements met,[Achievement] acquired - [Amateur Runist]. Good job!} Lucas couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the notification as he said, ¡°Haha, I guess fortunes really do come in pairs.¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°What do you mean that¡¯s not a real saying? Didn¡¯t I just say it?¡± ¡°Crash!¡± Lucas smirked as he said to Crash. Crash in turn didn¡¯t back down as they went on a full tangent about what classifies as a saying. Noticing he was getting distracted, Lucas conceded. ¡°Fine, I made it up. You happy now? Let¡¯s check out the [Achievement] and open the information packet first, I can always disprove you later.¡± ¡°Crash.¡± Opening his status screen, Lucas pulled up a description of his latest [Achievement]. It read, {[Amateur Runist]: You have taken your first steps into the art of Rune crafting. While your understanding is rudimentary at best, you have demonstrated the ability to form and apply runic knowledge. A foundation has been set, whether it crumbles or strengthens depends on you. Reward: Trait unlocked ¨C [Runic memory] [Runic Intuition] ¨C Your mind grasps the patterns of Runes with more ease. Recognition, memorization, and instinctive understanding of their structures come more naturally to you, allowing for quicker comprehension.} Reading through the [Achievement], Lucas nodded. He didn¡¯t really expect anything at all but this [Achievement] and [Trait] sounded quite useful. This made him think about why [Achievements] existed in the first place. What made some of the things he did deserving of them? ¡°The [Achievements] I have seem kind of random. I got [Anomaly] simply by existing, [Tough nut to crack] for not losing my mind during my transformation process, [Daredevil] for being borderline insane, [Notable Combatant] for my fighting skills apparently, and finally [Amatuer Runist] for simply drawing and activating a Rune¡­ What is the through line between all these things?¡° ¡°Crash crash?¡± ¡°Yeah, they were all pretty hard to do. But there has to be something else right? Because if we go by that logic then why don¡¯t I have something like [Acrobat] for all the tendril swinging and backflips I have been doing? Or [Bulletproof] for surviving that bullet to my head?¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°I know you don¡¯t know, I¡¯m just airing out my thoughts, Crash. I¡¯m sure Wiki will be able to tell us at some point. Speaking of Wiki, let¡¯s go install the latest information packet.¡± Grounding his thoughts, Lucas opened his [Quest] screen and clicked [Yes] on Wiki¡¯s latest notification. The sharp migraine he usually got from installing knowledge was much milder this time. ¡®I¡¯m probably just getting used to it.¡¯ {Information packet on Runes installed, you can ask me your questions now.} With zero hesitation, Lucas jumped to the first question. ¡°What are Runes?¡± As usual, Wiki didn¡¯t miss a beat as it responded neutrally. {Runes are the language of the cosmos. Those who ¡°speak¡± and ¡°write¡± them, commune with existence itself.} Not expecting such a grandiose response, Lucas¡¯ eyes widened slightly as he processed the information. He closed his eyes for a few moments before opening them once more, this time, his flame-like, crimson pupils seemed to almost emit a burning light. He asked his next question, almost absentmindedly. ¡°So are Runes created or discovered?¡± Wiki¡¯s response struck Lucas like a missile. {Both.} ¡°What? How??¡± {You currently don¡¯t have access to such knowledge.} ¡°Of course I don¡¯t¡­ Okay, people who create Runes, what are they? And how do they even do that? Creating Runes sounds like they can create new laws of reality from scratch...¡± Lucas ended up mumbling to himself at the thought. This was huge. He was bound to to be disappointed however since Wiki¡¯s next response was simply, This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. {You currently don¡¯t have access to such knowledge.} Sighing, Lucas was forced to move on to his next question. Thinking of his next question for a bit, he asked something obvious or at least he felt was obvious. ¡°How are Runes written and spoken?¡± {There are innumerable ways in which Runes can be ¡°spoken¡± and ¡°written¡± but you have stumbled upon only a few methods, limiting what I can share with you. Carving out the Rune on objects or Willing them into existence with your Spirit energy are the main ways you have come across. Speaking or activating Runes on the other hand has to do with the Runist¡¯s Spirit energy, knowledge, and Mental energy. Only with these three factors aligned will the Rune be activated.} Listening to this, Lucas felt the last part was a little vague and with the new term Mental energy being involved he asked, ¡°Umm, can you clarify that last part?¡± {Certainly. In order to activate a Rune, the Runist must power the Rune with their Spirit energy while guiding this energy in a very specific pattern using their Mental energy. Knowledge on the Rune¡¯s effect serves as the bedrock for the activation. Without in-depth knowledge of the Rune¡¯s effect(s), the Rune will not activate. Conversely, the more knowledge the Runist has on the effect(s) the more efficient the Rune.} When he heard this, Lucas felt both enlightened and a little confused. Did he know what the Rune on his hand did? He didn¡¯t think so. But apparently, he did since it worked. ¡°As usual these things try their best to be confusing. But jokes on them, I will just use Runes with my janky methods.¡± ¡°Crash!¡± With Crash approval, Lucas nodded to himself at his convictions, he then moved onto the next question he had. ¡°What are those nodes each Rune seems to have?¡± {Those are called Sigils. You can think of them as the words that make up the sentence that is the Rune.} ¡°So Runes are not the simplest structure in this language?¡± {Yes.} ¡°Then what is?¡± {You currently don¡¯t have access to such knowledge.} Lucas caught himself smiling at that response as he said, ¡°Real smooth Wiki. Real smooth.¡± Like this, Lucas spent the better part of an hour asking Wiki various questions. The vast majority of these questions were left unanswered but the few answers he got illuminated his path considerably. As he sat cross legged on the floor, he cracked his neck and said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s draw some more Runes.¡± He took a look at the Rune on his left hand in thought before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s call this one¡­ Hardening Rune. Yeah, sounds about right.¡± He thought of the various Runes he still had in his mind and decided on drawing another ¡°simple¡± one. This new Rune was made of three nodes or rather Sigils as Wiki calls them. It also shared a similar structure to the Hardening Rune. The three Sigils were as follows; The first one was a downward facing triangle with a spiral within it. The lines that made up the triangle were slightly curved and three lines left the spiral at its center connecting to the vertices of the triangle. The next symbol was a simple rhombus. Within the rhombus were overlapping, concentric outlines that slightly offset each other giving the illusion of subtle movements. The last shape was a looped hexagon. It was similar to the looped triangle in the Hardening Rune and had no other elaborate details. With these shapes in mind, Lucas opened his palm facing the ceiling as he said, ¡°Good thing I learned to create Runes with my Spirit energy. Drawing that rhombus a bunch of times would have killed me with tedium.¡± A ball of energy appeared in his palm and swiftly formed the Rune according to his thoughts and memories. He then placed the Rune on a rock he had prepared. He wasn¡¯t arrogant enough to start practicing with his flesh just yet. With the Rune inscribed, he followed the process of activating the Hardening Rune. He first placed his energy in the downward facing triangle and tried to circulate it. The next instant, the rock crumbled into dust. Without a change in expression, Lucas indifferently blew the dust away and tried again. Five attempts in, I finally figured out the circulation method for the downward triangle. Apart from starting from the spiral within, he had to split his energy into three strains to trace the triangle. As he completed this and moved to the rhombus, the moment his energy filled out the Sigil it suddenly became as brittle as glass and crumbled in his grasp. ¡°Seems l underpowered the Sigil¡­ let¡¯s try again.¡± With a few more tries in, he understood how to circulate his energy in the rhombus. With just the final Sigil left to activate, Lucas was forced to take a break just to temper down his excitement and check his Spirit reserves. If he got killed because he was low on energy he would be more angry at himself than his killer. ¡°If my guess is correct, that weird looking hexagon should be activated the same way the weird triangle from the Hardening Rune did.¡± As he took a break, he took some time to think about how to proceed. These thoughts came to him quite easily so he cupped his chin in thought. ¡°Why am I so sure of this? It¡¯s probably because of [Amateur Runist] right? Well, let¡¯s put the theory to the test.¡± With this new idea, he felt confident he was correct so he immediately went to work. With all the previous tests he had been running, he understood the precise amount of Spirit energy this new Rune liked. In less than five seconds, he activated all three Sigils. As the Rune glowed with a powerful white light, he could tell he had succeeded. With a wide smile on his face, he watched and felt as the rock in his grasp absorbed his Spirit energy and underwent some very subtle changes. Unlike with the Hardening Rune, the rock didn¡¯t become denser, rather it felt more malleable yet tougher at the same time. As he prepared to smash it with a tendril as a test, the Rune suddenly flickered weakly before shutting down. Soon after the rock began floating in his palm and rotated in place. Lucas blinked twice as he watched the floating rock. Poking it a few times, it shifted in place but kept rotating on its axis for a few seconds before crashing into his finger on it¡¯s own. ¡°Cool¡­ I guess I can conclude from this that my Spirit energy is incompatible with external objects for some reason. As always, my luck with these things sucks balls, haha.¡± Lucas chuckled softly as he spoke to himself. For some reason, the thought didn¡¯t leave him depressed or frustrated. After everything he had been through, something like this didn¡¯t even bother him as he generated a new Rune in his left palm with an excited smile. He would deal check on the floating rock later. He calmly placed it behind his right arm with a prepared mind. Soon after, he felt a searing pain on his flesh for a few moments and the Rune branded itself to his hand. He sucked in a deep breath and activated it. The Rune glowed with a bright white light and Lucas felt an immediate change throughout his body. He felt¡­ lighter, stronger, and somehow even more flexible. Boom! As a test, he casually threw out a punch to the wall behind him. His fist tore through the air with a piercing shriek before smashing a decent sized crater in the wall. His smile grew even wider as his pupil danced frantically. He didn¡¯t even feel a numbing pain in his fist. ¡°I could get used to this. Let¡¯s call this one¡­ Strengthening Rune. Now¡­ let¡¯s see what else I can draw.¡± With genuine joy, Lucas sat back on the cave floor and decided on which Rune to draw next. Chapter 35: Crouching mimic, Hidden Tree men Chapter 35: Crouching Mimic, Hidden Tree men. Boom! A loud explosion rocked the cavern, generating minor tremors and jetting Lucas out of his cave high above with a cloud of dust. Thankfully, he was still conscious after the explosion and maneuvered himself safely to the ground using his tendrils. Cracks and patches of missing flesh could be seen all over his form but his back had the worst of it. He was missing an eye and all his hair was burned way as well. He was currently quite the sorry sight but a jubilant smile spread across his bloody lips as his wounds healed rapidly. In no time, he was back to normal. His blood soaked the ground around him as he stood up from his crouching position. ¡°That was awesome! Seems I was right about Life energy having different effects on runes. Too bad I couldn¡¯t figure out how to use the lightening Rune. I will just have to try again later.¡± Lucas said to himself as he recalled what just happened. In the dim light of the cavern, you could make out multiple Runes on his body. He had a Hardening Rune on each fist, a complete new three Sigil Rune on each of his four tendrils, a Strengthening Rune on his chest, and a significantly more complex rune on his back. The Rune on his back spotted six separate Sigils and each of them were linked together by a looped hexagon rather than a regular polygon. This gave the Rune a much more arcane look. After all his experiments on it, he figured out its function was rather simple yet complex to execute¡ªIt made him much lighter. Looking around at the mostly quiet cavern floor, Lucas thought for a moment before thinking out loud. ¡°That¡¯s enough Rune crafting for now. These past few days, I have already exhausted all my ideas. Let¡¯s go see what Domain cores are all about.¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°Of course I just want to fight something. Not using my new abilities would be blasphemous.¡± Lucas said with a smirk as he shot away with a superhuman leap. Using his tendrils as swings, he made his way deeper into the cavern. Absolutely carefree yet more powerful than ever. ¡ª¡ª¡ª As Lucas swung through the cavern, he used the rising Spirit energy levels as a guide to the domain core. Though he was now more confident than ever, he still had his guard up as he frequently activated his [Spirit Sense] in short bursts. As he travelled deeper, he noticed more and more life forms while the cavern grew brighter as well. In fact he noticed something quite strange. The Spirit energy would gather into small, vibrating clumps on the walls sporadically and spawn a new life form. Lucas paused his journey just to take a better look at this process but couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it. But it certainly gave him food for thought. ¡°Is this how every creature in the cavern is produced? Is this how I was created?¡± Arriving at this juncture, Lucas didn¡¯t know how to feel about that. ¡°Even if I was, what does it matter? Existential musings can come later damn it.¡± He continued deeper into the cavern, a little frustrated at his own ignorance. After an hour or so, the cavern was filled with a chaotic orchestra of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. The strong scent of blood and ichor pervaded the air as the neon lights of the cavern wall illuminated the carnage below him. Seeing this familiar sight once again, Lucas paused for a moment. He crouched on the wall and took in its odd beauty of the cavern. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I would say this place is beginning to feel like home¡­ the sounds, the ferocious struggles, the utter chaos. All of it feels so¡­ Liberating. There¡¯s no time to think long term. Fight or die. Fight and die. The veil between life and death is truly ephemeral.¡± ¡°Crash¡­?¡± Raising an eyebrow, Lucas snapped back, somewhat annoyed. ¡°That explosion didn¡¯t scramble my brains you jackass. I just¡­ felt like expressing my thoughts.¡± ¡°?_?¡± Even though Crash didn¡¯t reply, Lucas could feel it raising a metaphorical eyebrow at him. Lucas smiled at this and continued. ¡°I¡¯m not just a meat head you know. I have a lot of things I used to think about. But I can¡¯t really do that now since it gets me nowhere.¡± He paused once more, looking down at the cavern floor to see a swarm of bugs overwhelming a snake creature only for their battle to end in a gruesome stalemate. Before either side could claim victory, they were crushed by a charging beetle as it shot towards a clueless slime. ¡°Yep, still the same old cavern. Let¡¯s move ahead Crash, I feel like we are closing in on the domain core.¡± ¡°(£þ¦Ø£þ)¡± Crash just hummed once and fell into silence. Lucas shot through the air with his tendrils whipping energetically. With a small amount of his Spirit energy, his top right tendril grew and stabbed into the cavern wall like a grappling hook. Using this as a pivot, he comfortably swung away with a lazy backflip before shooting out the next tendril as he transitioned faster and faster. After a few minutes of casual swinging, Lucas¡¯ [Spirit Sense] picked up something interesting¡ªTree men. They were heading directly to his position with confident strides from a tunnel about twenty five meters away. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Keeping his [Spirit Sense] on them, Lucas sensed a rather weak but calm aura from them. But beneath that tranquil aura he sensed something strange. While their individual auras were subtly different, their Spirit energies were indistinguishable from one another. He had never noticed this detail before in anything he had seen so far. ¡°Hmm¡­ I wonder what that means? Are they just¡­ the same? Like clones of each other? Or is there something I¡¯m missing¡­¡± ¡°¡¥\_(¥Ä)_/¡¥¡° ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll figure it out later. I plan to pay them a visit after all.¡± After just a few seconds of surveying them, the leading tree man uttered a command and the rest stopped. They all calmly drew their weapons while the leader began channeling its Spirit energy. Less than a second later, a black Rune appeared on the leader¡¯s forehead emitting a warped black light that gave Lucas an ominous feeling. ¡°Crash!¡± Hearing the tension in Crash¡¯s voice, Lucas immediately sent his perception to his core. On it, he saw the same black Rune. Lucas'' heart sank. ¡®When did I get this?¡¯ There was no time to examine this new discovery as the humanoids rushed towards his position. Lucas calmly jumped to the floor using the wall¡¯s outcroppings as skipping points. He crashed to the fall with a muted bang then stood to his feet cracking his neck and fingers. He spoke with a small smirk. ¡°I wanted to test my Runes in the first place. It¡¯s pretty nice of them to offer themselves up, don¡¯t you think, Crash?¡± ¡°Crash! (? ??_??)?¡± Crash buzzed with excitement and Lucas immediately felt a change in his Spirit energy. If before it was a normal river now it was a raging rapid. He felt it race throughout out his body multiple times a second with its unique pattern as he powered up his Runes. Taking a sprinter¡¯s starting position, two Hardening Runes could be found on the soles of his clawed feet. He pierced his two lower tendrils into the floor a few meters ahead of him with the ease of a sword going through mud. Building tension in all his limbs, the Rune on his back glowed with a strange shadowless hue. His form was like a knocked arrow, ready to unleash devastation on whatever dared to stop his charge. With the incoming tree humanoids clear in his perception, he began a steady countdown. His pupils grew larger and burned fervently. ¡®5¡­ 4¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡ªGO!¡¯ BANG! With a massive burst of power, Lucas shot horizontally across the cavern floor. Leaving behind a huge crater as he headed for the leading tree man. His arms morphed into blades mid-flight as he lunged at his foe. The moment the leader stepped out of the tunnel, it was impaled by a black streak formerly known as Lucas Maverick. Its torso and weapon exploded in a hail of greenish transparent ichor and wooden flesh. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, its four comrades failed to react in time as Lucas adjusted himself and struck at his next victim. This time, he cleaved at it using his newly transformed scythe-tendril. The tendril¡¯s usual pristine white edge now possessed a razor thin silver glow as it bisected the humanoid diagonally. ¡®Nice!¡¯ Though jubilant in his mind, Lucas tendrils quickly used [Leech] on the two injured humanoids¡ªimmediately disintegrating them into black dust. He couldn¡¯t take any chances with these guys. Turning his attention to the remaining three, they still wore their usual detached look as they stabbed their weapons to the floor. Lucas sensed something wrong and immediately tried to intervene but it was already too late. In their alien language, they said a single phrase. The moment those words were uttered, two of the three dropped to the floor lifeless. Their emerald eyes dimmed to an absolute black as all their Spirit energy was sucked away into the only standing humanoid. Lucas paid no attention to any of this given the transformations the third humanoid underwent. The Spirit energy around it writhed and weaved intricate patterns as its originally emerald pupils morphed into a complex tapestry of runes and fractals. It grew considerably taller and bulkier, sprouting a few green tendrils on its back. To top this all off, its Spirit energy and aura immediately tripled! Clenching its spear with its massive hands, it held it horizontally in a very basic stance. Lucas¡¯ pupils immediately contracted as his instincts screamed of imminent danger from his transformed opponent. With a steely gaze, Lucas hastily widened his stance. His tendrils flared as he prepared for the upcoming battle. BOOM! In the blink of an eye, the humanoid pierced out with its primitive spear. The air around the tip of the spear exploded with a bone shattering boom due to the abrupt acceleration. Lucas immediately hacked at the spear with his right bladed arm. The collision was instantly against Lucas as he was knocked back more than two meters before skidding to a stop. The tree humanoid didn¡¯t let up as it dashed forward with another thrust, its spear¡¯s runes glowing with a thick dark green light that spread throughout the spear. ¡®Alright asshole, try this on for size!¡¯ With gritted teeth, Lucas revolved his stored Life energy and powered the Strengthening Rune on his chest. The Rune instantly took on an ominous crimson glow and his heart rate spiked dramatically. His heartbeat and blood circulation became audible as Lucas shot towards the tree monster like a bolt of black and red lightning. He lashed out with his bladed arms, the first hack on the spear was a stalemate while the second hack cleaved at its neck, leaving a deep gash that spilled sweet smelling ichor. The tree humanoid stumbled back trying to protect its neck but it was still within reach of his tendrils. SLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASH! In the blink of an eye, Lucas¡® tendrils slashed out almost ten times. His first attack sliced through its arm, disarming it. While each follow up attack left behind a deep cut into the tree humanoid¡¯s tough bark and forced it away from its weapon. It stoically tried to guard its head and torso as it was quickly getting overwhelmed. Exploiting a slight opening in its crossed arm, Lucas lunged forward with his right arm forward. It had now morphed into a slender, white pike. This new weapon was painted with glowing Runes which absorbed the Life energy in the air as it pierced forward. THRUST! With that powerful thrust, Lucas ran his makeshift spear into the humanoid¡¯s chest and began absorbing its Life energy with [Leech]. The tree humanoid struggled and roared frantically, clawing and thrashing against Lucas with all its might. Though it left some cuts and bruises on Lucas, it all seemed futile. The level 5 [Leech] was absolutely devastating, the fact that it struggled so hard surprised Lucas instead. ¡°Stop struggling!!¡± BANG! Annoyed and somewhat flustered, Lucas disengaged from the tree monster and smashed it to the floor. He then used his tendrils to impale its torso in four different spots before using [Leech] once more. After a few desperate attempts at freeing itself, the tree humanoid finally fell silent. The corpse swiftly turned black and brittle before Lucas disengaged. He felt a massive amount of Life energy flowing into his core and immediately turned off his Strengthening Rune. He could still hear his own heartbeat thundering throughout the cavern and his blood heating up within his veins. Clouds of vapor rose from his head and torso, indicating just how far he was pushing his body. Exhaling a deep breath, a cloud of steam was expelled from his lungs as he said rhetorically. ¡°Phew, good thing I ended that quickly. Don¡¯t want my heart to explode on me¡­ Hmm, why didn¡¯t I level up?¡± Lucas frowned at the thought. ¡°Did I not absorb enough energy? Or is there an extra requirement I¡¯m unaware of?¡± ¡°Crash! (?o?)¡± Crash cut in with childlike enthusiasm. Lucas smiled as he felt a swell of pride from Crash¡¯s words. As he spoke out, his previous thoughts went to the back of his mind. ¡°Thanks, Crash. Let¡¯s head in deeper. Maybe we can figure out where these tree humanoids are coming from and end this once and for all.¡± Crash buzzed excitedly as Lucas leaped into the sky before shooting out his tendril. He could feel his power surging and he would make use of it. He wouldn¡¯t just be surviving in this cavern, he would be striving. Whether he could level up or not didn¡¯t matter, he would make use of everything the world had given him so far. Chapter 36: Domain core? DOMAIN CORE??! Chapter 36: Domain core? DOMAIN CORE!! Lucas pressed forward leisurely, taking in the sights and sounds of the cavern. No matter how far he travelled into the cavern, it seemed like the distance between him and the domain core was not shrinking. The cavern¡¯s wall and branching paths had grown so large he almost felt like a fly on the wall. After an hour or so, he heard a familiar sound. No, it would be more accurate to say he felt it. It was the calming melody of the cavern. It resonated with his core and tried to control his mind. Landing on a nearby wall, Lucas braced himself and easily resisted the pull. He could feel something about his Mind had changed. It felt like he was finally in the driver seat of his own thoughts yet his instincts were sharper than ever. ¡°Hmm¡­ the [Daredevil] achievement is living up to its description. Before I got it, the sound would put me into a trance or even directly alter my thoughts. But now, it''s just a minor inconvenience. Given how loud the melody is, I¡¯m sure the domain core is just ahead in through this tunnel.¡± Lucas¡¯ pupils subconsciously shrunk and his muscles tensed at the thought. He knew that whatever laid at the domain core was going to be both unexpected and extremely dangerous. Given that every cavern monster had surged towards the core just a few days ago, yet the cavern seemed to be operating normally gave him an inexplicably bad feeling. Factoring in the fact that the cavern seemed to be manufacturing its inhabitants, he felt like he was playing in the palms of something unknowable. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I can only find out what happened if I go take a look. But first, I have some changes to make. Let¡¯s see just how far my [Mimicry] has come.¡± Strengthening his resolve, Lucas¡¯ expelled a deep breath and leaped down to a sizable outcropping. He stayed in a crouching position in preparation of his transformation. His eyes took on a sharp sanguine glow while the Rune of his back glowed faintly. He had been thinking about how to move faster throughout the cavern ever since the bat incident and now, he was finally ready to test out an idea. A jolt of Life energy pulsed within Lucas as his dark flesh began to ripple and shift, his limbs spasmed then began to elongate unnaturally. Multiple wet cracking sounds could be heard as his bones grew, expanded and in some cases divided. Joints popped into new alignments as they adapted to their changes. His arms lengthened past natural human proportions, shoulders broadening to support the extra reach. While his elbow bent higher than before to support the extra range of motions, allowing him to plant his hands flat while keeping his chest elevated. His legs followed suit with his femurs lengthening and his knees adjusted to his beast-like stance. Tendons realigned, pulling his legs lower into an optimal angle for a bounding stride. Clawed fingers extended further, becoming slightly curved as their joints recalibrated. Palms flattened while innumerable minuscule ridges spread across their surface for more grip. His toes took on a similar transformation while his ankles gained an inhuman degree of rotation ensuring stability and control. His spine curved forward like a coiled spring as his skeletal structure adjusted and adapted to his needs. Each tendrils retracted and regrew on his lower back, becoming hyper flexible tails as he developed complex tail bones for each of them. They all developed in bladed tips and edges, useful both in combat and movement. Finally, his skull shifted with a slow, deliberate creak. It elongated subtly while his cheekbones sharpened. His eyes widened unnaturally, their shape adjusting for a much broader field of vision. His eyes grew thin, translucent lids beneath his primary ones. They blinked rapidly before flickering shut, vanishing from sight due to their see through nature. His lashes also fell off as his primary eyelids became transparent as well. His jaw stretched, the bones realigning with a quiet pop as his mouth lengthened beyond human proportions, becoming more of a snout. Teeth followed suit, lengthening into tapered points while the corners of his lips curled ever so slightly. His wide mouth naturally twisted into a grin that was neither human nor reassuring. This transformation process took over ten minutes. When it was finally over, Lucas lifted up his right hand and took at it. Gazing at its now inhuman form his smirk widened subconsciously. He raised his eyebrows in surprise as he spoke to himself. ¡°It worked on the first try? No mind breaking pain?¡± He turned to his volatile core and could see more than a quarter of his saved up Life energy had been drained by this transformation. It should be known that he could store up almost as much Life energy as the amount of Spirit energy he had. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Level 5 skills are no joke, without my high Spirit I could never make full use of [Mimicry]. Thankfully I used my Life energy instead of my Spirit energy for this, or I would be super drained as well. Anyways, time to take this baby out for a spin!!!¡± With that excited howl, his voice boomed throughout the cavern as he shot forward like an arrow. Each stride brought him more than five meters forward and this was just the start! Building up speed and getting used to his form, his velocity shot through the roof and the air wailed in his wake. Using his tails to adjust, turn, swing, and balance out his stride worked wonders for his efficiency. Thanks to them, he could make sharp turns without losing momentum and thanks to his flexibility and Runes, he has no worries about dislocating anything. After goofing around on the wall for a full fifteen minutes, Lucas felt he had gotten a hang of it. His movements were smooth and he moved so fast he couldn¡¯t keep his eyes open even from his initial burst. Fully satisfied with his speed, there was only one more thing to test out and he knew just where to run said test. ¡°Okay, Crash. We are heading in. You pumped?¡± ¡°Crash! (?????)?¡± ¡°Hell yeah! Let¡¯s go!¡± BOOM! Lucas rushed forward leaving behind a small shock wave and a crater. He could feel a euphoria surge within him as his speed reached an extreme. To an outsider, his figure looked like a black blur with soft white trails on it. As he sprinted forward, he activated his [Spirit Sense] and kept it as a steady fifty meters. Even though this was just 5% of his [Spirit Sense]¡¯s range, he could feel it straining his Mind by a very miniscule amount. In order not to get a migraine before an actual fight, he focused the skill on his sight and hearing so that he could navigate ahead safely while keeping the strain to a minimum. In no time flat, he stepped into the tunnel he sensed the domain core from. With each stride forward, he could physically feel the Spirit energy rising higher and higher. He also sensed something strange coming from within the tunnel. It felt as if the space around him was shifting and stretching before him. When he turned and tried to go back out, it the exit stretched away from him indefinitely. ¡°The hell?¡± This strange development caused Lucas¡¯ already high guard and caution to rise by several degrees. The cavern never ceased to surprise and scare him. His crimson wisp-like pupils shrunk into pins as his mouth arched dangerously, revealing his row of serrated teeth. ¡°I already bit the bullet and it seems the cavern wants to put me to the test. Fine by me, let¡¯s see what¡¯s really going on here.¡± With that rushed forward once more. Though his pace was considerably slower as he treaded forward as carefully as possible. As he moved ahead, he began to notice the usual cavern inhabitants. All of them headed towards the deeper into the Domain in sync. At first he saw just a few centipedes here, a rat there, and so on, all of them scuttling forward. Strangely, every single creature moved ahead calmly. It was almost as if they were in some sort of formation. Lucas picked up on this detail but just followed them forward, there was nothing else to be done. As he travelled further, he finally heard it. Numerous battle cries and roars sounded out while animalistic shrieks and wails could also be heard greeting them. Lucas immediately stopped moving forward and spread out his [Spirit Sense]. What he saw left him flabbergasted. Deeper within the tunnel, scores of bats alongside numerous critters could be seen facing off against dozens of tree humanoids. The floor was filled with monster corpses which the cavern creatures crushed beneath them in their efforts to launch their frenzied assault. The tree humanoids on the other hand stood stalwart at the tunnel¡¯s exit. Fending off the waves of monsters with ease. They were equipped with rudimentary wooden shields and spears but thanks to the Runes covering their armaments and their more sophisticated use of Spirit energy, they easily held strong even with much fewer numbers. Watching this epic clash, Lucas¡¯ mind was transfixed. The battle was pure, unadulterated violence. During the core surge, he was blind and too focused on his survival to witness such a sight but now he could. ¡°Crash!¡± ¡°Yeah I know, they are dangerous. I¡¯m not going to lose my head now of all times. If my guess is correct, the domain core is behind the tree humanoid¡¯s defense. If I get a little closer and stretch my [Spirit Sense], I should be able to sense it and complete the [Quest]. Then I can proceed further with some information to work with.¡± With a simple plan, Lucas moved forward for about a kilometer and then activated his [Spirit Sense] at max power for an instant. Given how vast the tunnel was, he had to repeat the process multiple times before he got a better picture of what was going on. The mental snapshots he had been taking with his [Spirit Sense] fused into one coherent map in his mind. The image contained the entire battle and something more. Behind the tree people laid a village. Within it, he could see lush plant life and tall trees. Interestingly, he could see some tree humanoids within these trees. Some were quite literally growing out of these trees. But all that took a backseat to what stood at the center of the cave. It was a single, small tree. This lonely tree seemed to defy logic and Lucas tried to create a mental image of it. One moment, it would be the same size or smaller than the rest of the trees and in the next it would be beyond the scope of his perception. When he ignored this and tried to focus on its finer details, the tree simply refused to be watched. The colors it produced were simply incomprehensible to his mind and they filled him with various sensations and emotions. One moment he would feel the weightlessness of a rooftop jump and in the next he would feel that fleeting desperation of a life and death struggle. Each new emotion he felt, the more obscure the tree¡¯s image appeared in his mind. It felt like watching existence in its purest form unfold before his very eyes . Within Lucas¡¯ mind, he saw its mythical branches gently swaying in the nonexistent wind, Lucas could hear the melody of the cavern directly in his mind. The sound immediately magnified as if trying to sear itself into his mind but this time not in an effort to control him but to¡ª Suddenly, he was snapped out of his reverence by the cool indifferent voice of Wiki. {[Quest]-locate the domain core- completed. Reward received. Should I activate the information packet now? [Yes] [No].} Chapter 37: Revelations. Chapter 37: Revelations. {[Quest] -locate the domain core- completed. Reward received. Should I activate the information packet now? [Yes] [No].} Lucas brought his mind to the notification and contemplated the choice for a few moments before deciding to accept. With the [Daredevil] Achievement, his mind could now handle the strain fairly easily. ¡°Argh, it still hurts quite a bit.¡± Feeling a sharp migraine, Lucas couldn¡¯t help but grumble as he rubbed his temples with his tails. He shook his head to snap out of it and brought his focus back to Wiki, he had some important questions to ask. ¡°What¡¯s a domain core?¡± Lucas started off with what he considered the most important question. Given what he had seen from the domain core, it was anything but ordinary. Surprisingly, Wiki paused for a full three seconds before responding with, {A domain cores are concentrated facets of reality. Each one holding the boundless properties of creation and existence itself.} ¡°Seriously?¡± Even though Lucas was getting used to these grand, world warping answers and even expected one, he couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. ¡°How is a domain core formed then?¡± Lucas asked his next question with his fingers crossed hoping Wiki would give him an answer. {You currently don¡¯t have access to such knowledge.} Not really disappointed by that outcome, he thought through his next question. It was quite obvious the battle ahead was related to the domain core in some way, but what was the exact reason? For that he would have to gleam as much as he could from Wiki. By this point, Lucas knew what type of questions would be answered by Wiki and how to get it to reveal a decent amount of information. If his question was too direct, it would either not answer at all or give a one word reply at best. While if it was too convoluted, its answer would be equally vague. So to strike that balance, he asked an indirect question first to test the waters. ¡°What¡¯s that melody the domain core keeps playing?¡± {Domain cores have varying life cycles and growth patterns. What you perceive as an entrancing melody, is its feeding call. Be warned.} A chill raced up and down Lucas'' spine at that last sentence. Wiki rarely answered so directly and it even sounded¡­ emotional. This small shift in tone worried Lucas greatly so he hastily asked his next question, he had no plans of becoming a cosmic tree¡¯s lunch. ¡°How do I get out of this tunnel?¡± {There are only two ways, escaping through brute force or waiting for the feeding process to end.} Confused by the first answer, Lucas asked, ¡°Through brute force? How?¡± Infinitely patient, Wiki calmly responded, {By forcing your way out of the spatially stretched tunnel or by claiming the core for yourself. I would not recommend either of those options with your current strength.} ¡°No shit, Wiki. So, how long will it take for the feeding process to end? On that note what is it feeding on in the first place?¡± {For your first question, the answer is unknown, it depends on when that battle concludes and the domain core¡¯s appetite. As for the latter, it feeds off death.} If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°What? Seriously?¡± Lucas asked with a nervous chuckle. Though his mouth was smiling, his pupils shrunk to pins, his form became as taut as a bow, and his digits dug into the cool rock beneath him. The longer he stayed in this tunnel, the louder his instincts roared at him to escape. The more he learned about the domain core, the more dangerous it seemed as well. With its melody worming its way into his mind he could barely think straight, agitating him even further. ¡°Crash!¡± Crash snapped him out of his agitated state. Now more than ever he needed a cold head. Fortunately, he had Crash and [Daredevil] to fall back on. His nervous smile curved into a proper smirk as he said, ¡°You¡¯re right Crash, it doesn¡¯t matter what it is. We didn¡¯t come all this way to wimp out. Since it feeds off death, let¡¯s give it what it wants!¡± Since there was no way to avoid the fight, he would dive into it head first! Lucas was not the same scared teenager who had been dropped into the cavern a few weeks ago, through hours of combat and mind breaking pain, he had forged himself into something more and this would be his proving ground. Make or break, flight or plight, it would all be decided here. BOOM! With a terrifying wolfish grin slicing across his face, Lucas bolted forward. His runes activated and assisted his motion making him appear like a ray of white and black light. When he got within fifty meters of the battle, a change immediately took place. When the crimson sound waves from the bats shrieks touched him, multiple crimson Runes appeared across his body. The bats instantly went insane as more than a dozen of them left their opponents and began heading to his direction. Their figures were coated in a deep crimson as they raced towards him, a fierce fury blazing in their demented eyes. To make matters worse, that ominous black Rune appeared on Lucas¡¯ core once more and all the tree men had a visible reaction to his presence. Thankfully, they were not as crazy as the bats and stayed in their formation. ¡®What the fuck? Are these bats brain dead?! The main issue is the tree people, not me!!¡¯ Lucas bared his teeth in anger and frustration as he accelerated further. No matter what he did, it always seemed like his luck was absolute dog water in this cavern. But that wouldn¡¯t matter if he ripped all his foes to shreds! His eyes burned with a sanguine glow at the thought. Unbeknownst to him, his Life and Spirit energy¡¯s revolution speed cranked up dramatically. His Life energy swirled within his core as his Spirit energy flared throughout his ultra athletic form. An instant later, he clashed with the first bat. The bat dove at him with zero sense of self preservation, Lucas didn¡¯t even regard it as his bladed tail struck out like a streak of silver lightning. He didn¡¯t even slow down as he cleaved it in half. As he rushed forward, his tails became silver streaks as they cleaved through the air multiple times per second. He easily made short work of the bats while conserving as much energy possible. In no time, he was on the battlefield. The foul scent of blood, ichor, tree sap, faeces and so much more hit him like a brick wall. Each clash resonated through him like a tremor as he took in every detail from around him. Due to this overwhelming input of information, his restraint on his [Spirit Sense] loosened but instead of his senses radiating outwards, they solidified on a fixed range. Everything seemed to be moving in slo-mo as he weaved through the horde of monsters. He had only one goal in mind¡ªkill as many tree men and bats as possible. The bats seemed eager to assist him as they abandoned whatever they were doing and headed straight for him. Lucas forcibly stood his ground within the horde as he prepared for the onslaught. All the creatures around him gave way and created a neat circle around him due to his bloodthirsty aura. He couldn¡¯t risk fighting both the tree men and the bats at the same time so he would handle the bats first. The bats didn¡¯t care about his thoughts however as they crashed towards him with their signature dive bombs. Lucas expelled a breath of cloudy steam as the world slowed down even further in his perception. The bats who once outpaced him were now moving at a snail¡¯s pace. ¡°Come, you fuckers! Let¡¯s settle this!!¡± With that explosive roar, Lucas leaped straight into the air. Trusting his instincts, he didn¡¯t hesitate to step on the first bat with a crushing stomp. With his lightening Rune and new form working in tandem, he smashed the bat into the ground while soaring even higher. As the bats rained on him, he used his tails and claws to disembowel them with brutal efficiency. He somehow managed to converse his momentum and stayed mid-air with every other kill. His Mind, Spirit, Physique, and Runes worked in unison to make this impossible sight a reality. The longer he stayed mid-air, the further he pushed everything he had learnt so far. Each movement was like an entrancing dance of death. Each cleave, stomp, claw, and weave wasn¡¯t planned out or coordinated in his head. It was all raw instinct and bloodthirsty desire. The more he fought in this manner, the clearer his mind became. The melody had been muted to almost nothing as all that was left was a feeling of euphoria. His pupils roared with a sanguine blaze that consumed his eyes entirely but he had never seen the world so clearly. In simpler words, Lucas was slipping into a blood frenzy. AWWOO! Lucas unleashed a piercing howl as he did a front flip. His tails came down like a guillotine, cleaving the final bat into five uneven pieces. Landing softly on his four limbs, it¡¯s blood rained on him as his laughed, ¡°Hahahahaha! Is this it? You charged over here just to get decimated?¡± Barely fifteen seconds after the bats initiated the conflict, Lucas had cut them down to the very last. He could feel he had used about a tenth of his Spirit energy but with his current rate of regeneration, that was almost negligible. And this was not considering the abundant Life energy he still had left. ¡°CRASH!(¡ï¦Ø¡ï)¡± With a manic grin, Lucas rushed towards the tree humanoids. His heart thumping in his chest chest violently. He was far from done. Chapter 38: Frenzied battle. Chapter 38: Frenzied Battle. As he rushed toward the wall of tree humanoids, Lucas¡¯ streamline form darted through the horde of monsters with graceful ease. The tree men were seemingly unphased by his charge as they held steady. Their emerald gazes betrayed nothing but rigid conviction. When Lucas got to a close enough range, he could sense something odd from the humanoids. Like the previous ones he had fought, their Spirit energy was perfectly identical. Building further on this, Lucas could feel the collective energy flowing between them like an all encompassing shroud. The energy flowed between them with impeccable timing and accuracy, lending each humanoid the power to fend off their assailants with ease. This ability made the already formidable wall of bodies even more iron clad. Lucas recognized this fact in less than a few seconds. With his Mind being pushed to its absolute limit, his thoughts flowed uninterrupted and at a blinding pace. Lucas leaped at the humanoid in front of him, his plan of action very simple. ¡®Let¡¯s see just how tough their defences are.¡¯ Leveraging his velocity and turning off his Lightening Rune at a very precise instant, Lucas smashed out a powerful claw. His Hardening Rune glowing with a bright crimson, mimicking his eyes. CRACK!¡ªBOOM! The humanoid¡ªand several of his companions¡ªwas sent flying back, its shield exploding in its grip like a wooden hand grenade. The fragments injured a few of the weaker creatures and distracted a few of the tree men for a moment, but that was enough. Sensing the opening, the horde of monsters immediately surged towards it in a frenzy. Lucas was surprised by just how powerful his attack was but he didn¡¯t overthink it, he led the charge forward as his tails struck out like deadly whips. In the blink of an eye, three humanoids had been beheaded. The fourth one had barely reacted in time and parried the attack, chipping its spear. As Lucas prepared to launch another attack, he felt the atmosphere change. A massive amount of energy surged towards the surviving humanoid. Its Runes and eyes immediately blazed with a smoldering intensity as it stepped forward with a powerful thrust. The attack gained Lucas full attention as it rapidly expanded in his perception. Reacting in time, he slashed out with a silver and crimson claw, trusting in his defenses and power. BOOM! The clash generated a small shock wave that sent the lightweight Lucas flying towards the humanoid behind him. Oddly, it already had its spear raised and thrusted out with its full power. Its bulky form moved with superhuman coordination as it pierced directly at Lucas heart or more precisely¡ªhis core. Mid-air, all Lucas could do was try to borrow his momentum and slash out with his tails. Thankfully, his instincts guided him perfectly. He twisted his lower half as he sailed backwards, lashing his tails behind him with a blind sweep. Their edges gleamed with a piercing silver. One of his tails clashed with the primitive spear, killing its momentum just enough for his other tails to slash across the humanoid¡¯s body. His attack produced three deep cuts on it neck, chest, and stomach, the force of the attack blasted it back into a miserable roll. Landing on his feet, Lucas immediately lunged at it to finish what he started. Just as he was about to land his claw strike, Lucas felt an overwhelming sense of danger. He instantly abandoned the attack and braced himself with his free arm and tails. Suddenly, a pitch black spear pierced into his arm and tail, grazing his face in the process. Its momentum was so great, it flung him back into the horde of cavern creatures, killing quite a few in the process. Lucas hastily pulled out the spear with his tails and chucked it away. A geyser of dark blood spurted out as he felt the wound burn. He finally activated his Life energy to heal his wounds as he took inventory of his surroundings. ¡®It seemed I am royally fucked.¡¯ Was the only conclusion he came to. From what he could tell with his [Spirit Sense], even though the tree men were much fewer, his ¡°allies¡± were getting eviscerated. It seemed without the bats, they had no ability to injure, much less kill any of the wooden humanoids. To make matters worse he could see, nine humanoids convening in threes . With the stances they took, he already knew they were up to no good. Even if he had any plans to stop them, a tree man stood guard. It was correcting its stance after that devastating javelin throw from earlier. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Its bark was considerably darker than the rest and it was more robust. As it stood there unarmed, ominous black Runes flickered in its gaze as it stared a hole through Lucas. He felt his wounds fester just at its gaze, slowing down his healing process considerably. This made Lucas anxious to get back into the fight but Crash suddenly chimed in. It didn¡¯t say a single word, it just expressed its intent. ¡°(^_^)o==o(^_^) (? ??o??)? \*??*/¡° Confused by what he heard, Lucas asked out loud, ¡°You want us to fuse together and then¡­ explode?¡± ¡°Crash!¡± ¡®Oh, fuse together and win? No, it hasn¡¯t come to that yet.¡¯ At this point Crash fell silent, as if contemplating how to convince Lucas before deciding on, ¡°Crash!¡± Slightly confused but feeling pumped by Crash¡¯s words, Lucas grinned as he roared. ¡°Huh? Of course I¡¯m going to keep fighting! And I¡¯m going to win!!¡± He shot forward like a bullet, plunging into the battlefield once more. The humanoids stood as stalwart as ever. The ten preparing humanoids had gone down to four but these four were by far the most powerful on the field. With swats of giant bugs and critters dying around him, Lucas made his way towards the wall of humanoids and was predictably intercepted by the three Elites and Boss. His grin widened and his eyes blazed brighter, he immediately launched himself at what he considered the strongest opponent¡ªthe unarmed dark green humanoid. One of the other three interjected with its shield raised and its spear held steady. Lucas fluidly clawed at its shield into a backflip while performing a Rune powered tail whip. The force of the impact scratched up the shield and forced the humanoid back a couple of steps but that was it. Before Lucas could land on his feet, another Elite humanoid attacked from right. Its spear met his guarding arm, drawing blood as it punctured his tough skin. Unphased, Lucas dashed in for more. Only to be intercepted by the Boss humanoid. As its fist clashed with Lucas'' claw, he felt an unusual burn sensation in his hand. It was like punching a pool of extremely corrosive acid. Lucas switched to using his tails and quickly overwhelmed it with a barrage of strikes. With it on the back foot, the Elites intervened. Their spears and shields moved in perfect coordination as they covered each other''s blind spots. Due to his opponent¡¯s number advantage, he was instantly forced back. In just a few moments, he was getting overwhelmed. One of the Elites charged at him with its shield forward, Lucas wisely slashed at its legs with a single tail while blocking the assault from the other Elites with his free limbs. To Lucas¡¯ surprise, his tail didn¡¯t phase the first Elite as its Spirit energy suddenly spiked and its speed amplified. Lucas couldn¡¯t react in time to dodge and was hit by the charging humanoid. He was knocked away like a ragdoll, flying directly towards the Boss humanoid. The Boss¡¯s Runes flashed with a deep black that matched its eyes as it threw out a powerful punch. CRACK!¡ªBOOM! A powerful shockwave was released as Lucas sternum was pulverized by that one fist. Lucas flew to the opposite direction like a missile, blood and organ bits jetting out of his orfices. He crashed to the ground and dug a small trench due to his momentum, landing more than fifty meters away. Every single bone in his body broke. At that moment, all knew was pain and for some odd reason, this caused him to laugh internally. His body shaking at the effort. ¡®Hahahahaha!¡® Within him, he could feel the black Rune on his core trying its best to eat away at him, fueled by the Boss¡¯s last attack. In the distance, he could sense the last of the cavern inhabitants had fallen. All that was left was him¡ªhe laughed even harder at that, to the point where he physically began to choke. While he was busy drowning on his own blood, the Boss, Elites, and regular tree men rushed towards his position. Their powerful steps reverberated through him and gave him a perfect sonic image. Suddenly, Lucas felt a powerful pulse in his core and the world slowed down even more in his perception. The strain from using his [Spirit Sense] was reduced to almost nothing, he could sense everything around him with even greater clarity. He knew Crash had done something but now wasn¡¯t time to ask questions. Smiling, Lucas opened his blazing crimson eyes. His banged up body began to writhe and heal rapidly. Not only that, some strange crimson Runes began to appear all over his battered form. These seemingly chaotic Runes began to rhythmically flash, all the Life energy within a hundred meters radius flooded his location in waves. Each wave followed the thunderous thumps of his heart. The tides of energy was so powerful that the approaching humanoid were forced to halt their movements and protect themselves. The weaker tree men had to brace themselves with their spears just to keep themselves standing in the fierce currents. This immense energy came from every corpse on the battlefield and the cavern itself. Lucas felt a powerful euphoria at the influx of power as it immediately healed all his wounds. Soon, he was forced to bare his teeth and snarl as the energy overloaded his core and body. Erasing the Runes the bats, the tree men, and even he had drawn. Reverting him to a blank slate. ARGHHHHH! Forced to unleash that pained roar due to the excoriating pain, Lucas writhed on the floor as he wrestled with his Life energy. ¡°You¡¯re my energy! And you''re going to obey my will!!¡± Veins bulged all over his form as he struggled, his heart thundered while he turned bright red. His blood heated up far beyond boiling point as steam was ejected from all his pores. Soon after, blood gushed out of every pore and orifice on his body, transforming him into a macabre spring. Struggling to his feet, he tried to redirect the energy. Tried to guide it to do something constructive. He felt it follow his Will as his skeleton expanded then contracted at fixed intervals, becoming denser in the process. His muscles grew larger and more well defined before shrinking back into themselves, mimicking the loop his bones were in. ¡°Argggghh, fuck!¡± Clenching his bloody teeth, he brought part of his focus to another task¡ªredrawing the Lightening Rune. He could feel the energy in his surroundings dipping so it was now or never. With a steel like mind, the complex hexagonal Rune appeared and printed itself on his back. His muscles and bones stopped getting denser as the Life energy was fully absorbed by him. His hair had grown wildly, now covering his entire body like an actual wolf. His beast-like stature was now twice as large and brimming with blood lust. All signs of rationality all but gone. AAWWWOOOO! Letting out a powerful howl, a blast wave of Life energy surged from his location. Sending clouds of black dust into the air and knocking back every humanoid. Announcing his presence in the most primal way possible. He, Lucas Maverick was here, and the domain core would submit! Chapter 39: Boss Fight! I¡¯m Chapter 39: Boss Fight! As his triumphant howl propagated throughout the battlefield, Lucas could feel something in himself had changed. His mind felt more¡­ whole. Crash¡¯s presence had completely faded and fused into the individual known as Lucas Maverick to create something more. But, this was something to investigate later. At this time, all Lucas wanted to do was fight, kill, and prove himself capable of surviving, of thriving. Unfortunately, this transformation hadn¡¯t been smooth. Pain wracked his entire being as he struggled to bulk himself up in the face of the small army. With narrowed eyes, he brought his perception to the tree men. 30+ ordinary tree men stood in formation behind the three Elites and the Boss. Their weapons held perpendicular to the ground as they watched Lucas as well. No trace of fear could be seen on their faces, only resolve and even a burning fighting spirit. The three Elites melded into the ordinary tree men¡¯s formation. Copying their stance even in the face of Lucas¡¯ boost in power. Confused and agitated, Lucas fur tensed up and he unleashed a thunderous growl. The sound reverberated through his form like it was from a jet engine. His Life energy strengthened his form further with its revolutions, bringing his mind to the edge of going berserk in the process. THRUM-THUD...THRUM-THUD...THRUM-THUD¡­ Suddenly, the tree men began beating their spears against the ground, creating a pulsing rhythm. In the distance, Lucas could see the domain core having a visible reaction to this behavior. Its form now vibrating and shifting in tandem with each synchronized beat of their spears. This gave Lucas a small sense of crisis but in his current state such emotions just made his bloody grin spread wider in anticipation. As Lucas¡¯ figure tensed in preparation to launch himself forward, the Boss took calm, powerful steps forward. Its forest green eyes darker than they have ever been as it spoke out, its voice low and rough, As it uttered that alien phrase, Lucas felt the Spirit energy within the tree men shift and change its flow. Previously, it was somewhat evenly distributed between them but now about 70% of it was being absorbed by the Boss. Even more troubling, the energy had formed a bridge between the humanoids and the domain core. If they could somehow borrow power from it, he would be screwed. BOOM! Having seen enough, Lucas lunged forward, transforming into a dark red blur. His form slick with blood as his barely healed body groaned at the strain. ¡°Thanks for letting me transform dipshit, now die!¡± Lucas snarled as he dished out a claw strike, his hand coated in brilliant crimson Life energy. The still transforming Boss didn¡¯t react to his attack as Lucas'' form just sailed through it like it was a mirage. ¡®What?¡¯ Panicked, Lucas attacked the other humanoids only to be met with the same result. Their forms somehow phased through his attacks completely. THRUM-THUD...THRUM-THUD...THRUM-THUD¡­ The echoing tempo of the created by the tree men only got louder and louder. The sound now carried a trace of the domain core¡¯s power, causing the rhythm to be transmitted directly to Lucas¡¯ Psyche. ¡®Wiki, what¡¯s going on?¡¯ Wiki immediately answered, its neutral voice slightly heavier than usual. {You currently don¡¯t have access to such knowledge.} ¡®Fuck!¡¯ Growling, four Runic inscriptions appeared above his hands and feet. Unlike before, they were made entirely by Life energy. Without a second thought, Lucas imprinted them on his flesh. The searing pain helped focus his tense Mind even more, and with [Daring Mind]¡¯s help, he immediately moved on to another plan. ¡°Since I can¡¯t interrupt them, I will just prepare for the battle as well.¡± He kept his plans simple. Given how unpredictable the situation was becoming, he could only bet on himself. In a flash, the Runes were complete and he moved on to the Sharpening Runes on his tails and Strengthening Rune on his chest. While he did so, he also moved away from the army of humanoids while training his senses on the Boss. He could see its transformation was now almost complete. Its originally rough bark now looked like an organic suit of armor. Each groove and layer of wood interlocking to form a complex weave of protection. The grooves around its limbs followed a spiraling pattern similar to the growth of tree rings. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Across this newly formed armor, various gentle white glowing Runes could be spotted along its appendages and torso. Unlike Lucas¡¯ method of applying Runes, each Rune looked like it had always been there and simply followed the pattern of growth the armor provided. By the time the transformation was over, the Boss was now considerably taller but that took a back seat to the oppressive amount of Spirit energy it radiated. Two complex Runes suddenly flashed to life within its abyss-like eyes, it then trained its powerful gaze on Lucas as it asked. /Be prepared, Thraxxar. For you face the full might of the Yggorin!/ Though Lucas didn¡¯t understand its words but the Boss somehow transmitted its meaning and intent directly to his mind. ¡°Oh yeah?! You¡¯re about to face the wrath of Lucas Maverick!¡± Not backing down from the challenge Lucas rushed forward once more. Any thought of understanding the situation or forming some complex plan to defeat the Boss had long since been thrown out of the window. Lucas once again chose to believe in himself. As Lucas rushed towards the Boss, it just calmly extended its arm parallel to the ground and mobilized its Spirit energy. In the distance, its black spear whistled through the air towards its open hand. When Lucas got within five meters of the Boss, the spear fell into its grip and it smoothly performed a lazy thrust. Lucas pupils shrunk as the effortlessly attack moved at a significant speed, striking towards at his brain. Not to be out done, Lucas sidestepped the thrust and clawed at its outstretched arm. ¡®Let¡¯s see just how tough you are!¡¯ Slash! BOOM! A shockwave exploded outward as splinters flew in the air. Lucas¡¯ attack left a jagged claw mark on domain lord¡¯s arm, knocking it to the side. This sudden shift in momentum surprised both Lucas and the Boss. ¡®Chance!¡¯ Lucas subconsciously activated the Lightening Rune with his Life energy, his body instantly felt as light as a feather as he lunged towards the Boss¡¯ head. Intent on finishing this with a fatal bite. His jaws took on a crimson glow as they widened to an inhuman degree, hanging almost 270¡ã wide as he delivered this viscous chomp. The Boss¡¯ forest green pupils shrunk as some of its Runes glowed brightly. Its figure suddenly flashed to the side as it avoided Lucas¡¯ attack with a powerful bite. BOOM! Slash! Slash! To its surprise, Lucas¡¯ tails acted like they had minds of their own, leaving two deep gashes on its back as it escaped desperately. Landing on his feet, Lucas dashed towards the boss once more. Leaving behind a crater as his mouth curved in a bloodthirsty grin. The dark humanoid hastily got into a proper stance as it regarded Lucas seriously. Every cut on its form was already mended. Lucas closed in on and smashed out another claw strike, the wind shrieking at the dark red attack. His tails flared silver as they sought out the best moment to strike. Slashslashslashslashslashslashslash. In a rapid barrage of attacks, Lucas had the Boss on the back foot. Each attack scored numerous lacerations, splinters of flesh, and sweet smelling ichor. But to his dismay, the Boss¡¯s injuries healed almost instantaneously. Its vast supply of Spirit energy gave it the foundation to compete with the physically superior Lucas. After dozens of exchanges, the bastion of the Yggorin¡¯s Runes flared to life as it thrusted out. This attack siphoning a considerable chunk of its power. With a bone shattering crack, both Lucas'' hand and the Boss¡¯ spear were smashed away. The Boss recovered faster than Lucas and immediately struck out again. Its spear lancing at his throat like a serpent¡¯s strike, flashing with a deadly black. Lucas¡¯ tails deflected the attack as he used his Lightening Rune to escape, becoming a crimson blur. Unwilling to lose this advantage, the Boss became a dark green streak as it chased down Lucas. /Are you a coward, Thraxxar? Face me!/ Lucas stayed silent as he galvanized his Life energy to sprint away faster while rapidly healing his hand. He had to end this fight soon. With just these exchanges they had, Lucas understood it would be very difficult to kill this monster without cutting off its power source¡ªthe tree men THRUM-THUD...THRUM-THUD...THRUM-THUD¡­ In less than three seconds, Lucas made it to the legion of humanoids who were still performing that rhythmic thumping. They all completely ignored him as they focused on their task. Mentally crossing his fingers, he lashed at them with a tail. The tail simply cleaved through them like a blade through smoke, completely inconsequential. Before he could get frustrated, this slight delay allowed the Boss to catch up. Its Spirit energy exploded outwards as it went all out. It thrusted out its spear at Lucas core, its Runes flaring with an ominous dark light. Lucas rolled to the side barely avoiding the attack while countering with a tail slash, slicing Boss across the neck. The Boss stomped out a kick which sent Lucas flying, then it became a blinding streak which arrived at Lucas'' destination before even he could. Lucas felt a wave of dread as he sensed the Boss¡¯ spear suddenly appear a few centimeters away from his core. Its tip carried that deadly black energy once more. Using everything he had within him, Lucas moved to the side as he was impaled in the chest. BOOM! Vaporized blood and guts exploded out of Lucas as his inner organs were almost completely eviscerated by the attack. A black beam of Spirit energy shot through Lucas¡¯ chest like a laser, cleaving through the earth for tens of meters. The cavern fell to silence as both figure froze like statues. /You fought well, Thraxxar./ The dark humanoid tried to pull away its spear but it felt like it had been casted into metal. Before it could figure out what was going on, Lucas¡¯ tails stabbed into it from multiple directions. The domain lord¡¯s complex weave of Spirit energy immediately fell into disarray as he activated [Leech]. The Boss let out a bellowing roar as it struggled fiercely against Lucas. Lucas could feel the Boss¡¯ energy eating up at his insides much more frantically as it flailed but he didn¡¯t care, all he knew was this was the only chance he would get and he had to take it. ¡°Shut up!¡± This tense stand off went on for a few moments before the Boss collapsed to a knee. At this point, the Boss was already low on energy Lucas just had siphoned everything it had to give. Lucas yelled as he took out a tail and pierced through its core, silencing the Domain lord. Lucas immediately collapsed to the floor, his Mind and Physique facing some severe backlash from his reckless use of [Leech]. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself painfully at the thought. ¡®[Leech]¡­ always coming in clutch¡­ hehe.¡¯ Thinking of the numerous humanoids probably rushing towards his location, Lucas gritted his teeth and began galvanizing his Life energy. As he re-entered his heightened state of focus, he heard something strange. The rhythmic pounding the tree men were performing, it was still ongoing. In fact, it was now louder than ever. The Domain core¡¯s enigmatic chime borrowing its way into his weakened Mind once more. Lucas desperately tried to push it out to no avail. ¡®Not like this, goddamn it!¡¯ Just as all hope was lost, he felt the Domain core¡¯s power gently caressed his Mind and then sent of a pulse of its intent into his psyche. Before Lucas could question this change in treatment, he received a system notification he couldn¡¯t ignore. {Special [Quest] granted - Conquer the Domain core. Reward: Link with the Domain core. Do you accept Special [Quest] ¡®Conquer the domain core? [Yes] [No].} Chapter 40: There鈥檚 a second phase? Chapter 40: There¡¯s a second phase? {Special [Quest] granted ¡ª Conquer the domain core. Reward: Link with the domain core. Do you accept Special [Quest] ¡®Conquer the domain core?¡¯ [Yes] [No].} Reading through the notification, Lucas¡¯ mind froze. He had just been through a gruesome battle and yet he was being enticed into another one? The periodic thumping of the tree men pressed more and more on his psyche, pushing him to make a choice. Unable to even here his own thoughts, Lucas growled as he barked, ¡°I accept!¡± The synchronous beating immediately stopped. Lucas tried to will his [Spirit Sense] to get a picture of what happened but his Mind failed him. An overwhelming pain flooded him as it had finally reached its limit. ¡®Fuck¡­ me¡­¡¯ With those last, regretful words, Lucas¡¯ blacked out. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a void. Floating in this perfect darkness, Lucas felt a sense of serenity. His taut nerves finally unwound in the absolute silence. There were no thoughts, no sensations, just tranquil stillness. Suddenly, he heard a familiar sound. No, it was more than that. He felt the domain core¡¯s presence. Its mythical form appeared within the perfect void as well. With just the two of them in this blackness, they sat there for what felt like eons. Communicating yet not transmitting any information. Perfectly in tune with themselves, each other, and with the void. The enigmatic tree weaved its mysterious power throughout Lucas¡¯ entire being, reconstructing and healing his broken body. Its power was like a mother¡¯s touch, soothing yet empowering, guiding his Mind and Physique to their peak state. Before Lucas could fully comprehend what was going on, the tree retracted its power and vanished. Leaving him alone and somewhat lost. ¡°Ahh!¡± Lucas suddenly snapped awake from his stupor. His [Spirit Sense] flared to its nearly one kilometer limit before he hastily withdrew it. His fur immediately stood on end at what he sensed. He spun around to confirm it with his own gaze. About fifty meters away from him, the army of tree men were gone. What took their place was a massive swirl of thick green Spirit energy spanning over sixty meters wide. What caused Lucas'' eyes to narrow however, was the corpse of the domain lord floating directly at its center. The Domain core floated above it, using its otherworldly influence to weave the Spirit energy through the corpse. Countless Runes flickered across the corpse as its aura slowly but surely grew more terrifying. An overbearing pressure surged form the ritual, causing the ground beneath Lucas to crack. Lucas easily resisted the pressure as his Mind raced. ¡°Wiki, what¡¯s going on? Is this related to the special [Quest]?¡± Wiki immediately gave a response. {Affirmative. The domain core has chosen this as your trial ¡ª defeat the Domain lord.} ¡°But I already defeated it! {¡­} Wiki¡¯s answer or lack of one, forced Lucas to accept the situation. Whatever the tree was doing to the corpse, it bode ill for Lucas and given how high they were in the sky he had no hopes of stopping it. ¡°Phew¡­ Since I can¡¯t interrupt it, I can only prepare.¡± Expelling a deep breath, Lucas brought his focus to his Runes. ¡°Hmm?¡± With raised eyebrows, he noticed his Rune felt noticeably different. He could feel faint amounts of Life energy resonating with the Runes. This had never happened before. ¡°Is it because I used Life energy to engrave them?¡± Boom!¡ªcrack! The pressure from the sky suddenly amplified, almost smashing Lucas to the floor. Cycling his Spirit energy, he felt the pressure decreased as he gazed up at the sky. His pupils shrunk to needle points at the sight above. The domain core had returned to its position within the Yggorin¡¯s village, gently waving in the nonexistent wind. The corpse of the domain lord now hovered vertically in the air and gently floated to the ground. Its form now a radiant white while its Runes were a profound black. Its stature had grown significantly, now standing at almost six meters tall. Five pairs of tendrils extended from its torso, gently flexing like powerful vine. All these features combined gave it a rather haunting beauty. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. When its feet noiselessly touched the ground, it opened its bleach white eyes to reveal a pair of eerie black pupils. Unlike before, its gaze almost transfixed Lucas. It didn¡¯t feel like he was staring at another life form but rather¡­ an entire world. A world drenched in decay and death. Suddenly, the transformed domain lord spoke. Its voice was completely monotonous, lifeless, and eerily¡ªin perfect English. ¡°Do not disappoint me, Lucas Maverick.¡± BOOM! Before Lucas could express his shock, the domain lord rushed forward like a streak of light. Releasing a massive boom in its wake. Lucas swiftly leapt to the side barely avoiding the Boss as it flashed by. Before Lucas could regain his footing, the white streak flashed to his side lashing out a sharp kick. Lucas blocked with a hardened leg but the force of the attack smashed him away, injuring his leg in the process. The Boss immediately followed Lucas'' flying form like a heat seeker locked onto its target. ¡°Argh.¡± Lucas grunted as he activated his Lightening Rune, his body sailed much further and faster than it logically should have. He then contorted and maneuvered his body mid flight to stick a perfect landing assisted by his tails. The domain lord flashed in front of him, hammering down a brutal right cross. It¡¯s tendrils poised to strike. Its towering shadow covered Lucas entirely. Lucas weaved the blurry fist with a simple side step, the air groaned by his side as he struck out a sanguine claw. A tendril blocked his strike before another struck at his head in a split second later. Lucas countered with a tail causing the exchange to become a haze of tail and tendril strikes, filling the five meter radius around them with blurry after images. As they went blow for blow, Lucas was still forced to dodge its devastating punches and kicks. Bangbangbangbangbangbangbangbang¡ªBOOM! The blitz of clashes was ended by a crating haymaker from the Domain lord. Lucas¡¯ skull crashed into the cavern floor with an audible crack. Capitalizing on this, the domain lord froze for an instant as its huge arms suddenly burst into three parts. With the extra appendages, it continued its onslaught. The black, tree ring-like Runes across its form glowing with a baleful light. Lucas tried to create some distance and recuperate but it was to no avail. In a second, he was hit by almost two dozen attacks, each one heavier than the last. Every cut, bruise, and broken bone from the Domain lord was extremely tedious to heal. Lucas¡¯ Spirit energy could barely keep up with his healing demands and he hadn¡¯t even been seriously injured yet. As the pressure increased, the deeper Lucas fell into his frenzied state. The fight itself became a backdrop to him as every exchange became his world. The deeper into the fight he got, the smoother his energy flowed, he was getting hit less and less while his Life energy powered his Runes far beyond their usual capabilities. Each successful attack he landed provided him with enough energy to perform three more exchanges. His Physique and Spirit energy were rapidly adapting to the strain of the battle. Honing his instincts and Skills to a degree he never knew was possible. He could feel his [Mimicry] constantly feed him a constant stream of information on how to shift and change his form. Coordinating with [Leech], [Spirit Sense], and Runes, his form became a flickering sanguine blur. Completely untouchable. ¡°Enough!¡± BOOM! Suddenly, a powerful white shock wave erupted from the domain lord. It batted Lucas tens of meters away before he got himself together. Thankfully, the domain lord didn¡¯t chase after him. It simply stood in place, its split arms coming back together. It¡¯s extended its right arm to the side, palm opened. One of its tendrils broke off, going completely stiff and fell into its grasp. It then spoke to Lucas with its emotionless voice, its broken tendril instantly regenerating. ¡°Good. Now we can get started. Brace yourself, challenger.¡± As it spoke, the broken tendril morphed into a weighty pitch black spear. The Rune on it made Lucas¡¯ hair stand on end. It gave him the same feeling as the Boss¡¯s abyss-like gaze. Lucas¡¯ growled as his eyes burned brightly due to his overwhelming fighting Spirit. His claws pierced into the hard floor while his energies cycled within him faster than ever. The domain lord took a basic spear stance, its body tense, yet poised as it leaned forward to perform a simple thrust. ¡°??!?!?!!¡± Lucas¡¯ instinct blared in alarm as he jolted to the side. His senses still picked up the Boss performing its simple thrust before it simply vanished. Crack!-BOOOM! Lucas felt a burst of pain on the side of his face. The pain didn¡¯t phase him as he turned to a streak of crimson and flickered multiple times in less than a second. When the Boss finally stopped its supersonic movements, dozens gashes and gaping holes exploded out of him. All his wounds showed exposed bones and oozed with putrid black blood as steam whiffed off his stationary form. Oddly though, Lucas didn¡¯t let out a single sound. His eyes hazy as if he didn¡¯t even know where he was, completely lost in a trance. ¡°You have done well, Lucas Maverick but your journey ends here.¡± After uttering those final words, the domain lord thrust out its spear. With its blistering acceleration, it pierced through Lucas core with no difficulty. ¡°???¡± The Boss immediately came to a halt as it noticed something wrong¡ªits spear had felt zero resistance. Crack. It suddenly felt a large object thrust into its wide back. Hastily, it spun around and lashed out with a spear strike only to hit nothing. Crack! It repeated the process only to find nothing once more. What followed was five seconds of the Domain lord furiously ¡°shadow boxing¡°. Its spear strikes eventually plateau in speed and power while it caught just the faintest glimpse of a hazy, crimson silhouette. Lucas didn¡¯t say anything. He spoke solely through his actions. His movements were completely ephemeral. Each time the domain lord showed an opening¡ªhe struck. Each time it over extended¡ªhe struck. Each time it slowed down¡ªhe struck. Every misjudgment, every error, every inefficiency was punctuated by a leeching strike. Barely a minute later, the domain lord was on a knee. Its body bore hundreds if not thousands of wounds. Its pristine white color was now a dreadful brown while its Runes were completely depowered. It had barely a few seconds of life left in it, staying somewhat upright solely due to its spear. Crack. ¡®[Leech]¡¯ Lucas appeared behind it once more, delivering the final strike. Its form disintegrated into black dust as he leeched it. Lucas'' body was a mess, he was missing most of his skull and a decent amount of his torso. Covered in dozens of normally life threatening wounds, he collapsed into a heap as notifications ran in his mind. {Congratulations, [Mimicry] has evolved into [Adaptive Resonance]. Well done.} {Congratulations, special [Quest], Conquer the Domain core, completed!} Chapter 41: Pain and Gain. Chapter 41: Pain and Gain. Gasp! With a desperate gasp, followed by a coughing fit, Lucas finally awoke. Each powerful cough ejected black grimy blood, bits of organs, and bones. His entire body shuttered in pain as he almost passed out again due to his own rapid coughing. With an inhuman degree of willpower, he willed himself to stop coughing. His muscles tightened and contracted in ways that made it impossible to move. After a few minutes, his body had finally settled down. He focused his perception on himself and immediately felt a blinding pain in his skull. With clenched teeth, Lucas pushed through. He had to understand his current situation or death would be his only outcome. Within him, his ever changing core still moved and flexed rapidly. With each transformation it sent a faint pulse of energy between the beetle core within him and the Life energy revolving around his core. The small amount of Life energy he had didn¡¯t just rotate in a perfect cycle anymore. It vibrated and crisscrossed in vibrant patterns all around his core. Lucas couldn¡¯t afford to pay attention to this change as he willed the Life energy to heal himself. The Life energy obediently followed his command, gently flowing throughout his broken body in an effort to fix it. He clenched his teeth so hard they almost cracked as he was forced to stop. ¡°Argggh¡­¡± As his Life energy tried to heal his numerous injuries, he felt his marrow burn and his blood boil. His wounds refused to heal as they writhed with sharp hisses. Black ooze followed as he pushed harder. Whatever the domain lord had done to him, ordinary healing wouldn¡¯t cut it. At least not any time soon. So for more than thirty minutes, Lucas would attempted to heal himself, stopdue to the extreme pain before restarting the process all over again. By the end of it, his appendages and tails had healed enough for basic movements. Since his Life energy was now spent, he groggily stood up only to collapse back to the floor in pain. On his third attempt, Lucas finally stood and used his blurry senses to navigate toward the tree men¡¯s village. At its center he could see the ever radiant domain core sitting there tranquility, its branches waving at him. Its ethereal melody was now soothing to his mind and body. Lucas gingerly hobbled forward, every soft step leaving a deep impression on the black dust covering the ground. It took him almost an hour to crawl all the way to the domain core. He collapsed near its trunk as he passed out once more. An indeterminate amount of time later, he jolted awake once more. His body had naturally healed quite a bit, yet he was still far from a 100%. Spreading his [Spirit Sense], it barely spread for a hundred meters before a sharp migraine forced him to stop. With that single sensory pulse Lucas understood two things, he could tell there was nothing within the immediate vicinity except for the domain core much to his relief and his Mind while still fractured was in much better shape than before. ¡®Seems my luck has finally turned around a bit.¡¯ Lucas thought in relief as he peered into himself. To his surprise, a considerable amount of Life energy revolved around his core. Its rapid circulation assisted his natural healing processes. ¡®Why did its circulation change? Does it have to do with how I apply my life energy in that final exchange against the domain lord?¡¯ Lucas thought to himself idly, as he directed the energy to heal him. The searing pain forced him to shelve his thoughts for now as he focused on the task at hand. Four hours later, his body was in fighting condition, if just barely. He could finally speak without feeling like he was being ripped to shreds from within. Lucas sat beneath the domain core and opened his eyes to take in the world around him once more. Due to the recent events, the Yggorin village had become a ghost town. Its hut-like tree looked quite desolate due to the silence and emptiness. Outside the entrance, the cavern floor was caked in black dust. The only remnant of the great battle. With a deep sigh, Lucas¡¯ eyes became unfocused as he fell into thought. ¡®I did it¡­ I won¡­ I am the strongest... But for how long?¡¯ He could tell there was more to this world than just the cavern. Those humanoids with advanced energy weapons were obviously not from within the cavern. With two being dead, Lucas thought it was just a matter of time before more showed up. Since he didn¡¯t have the liberty to consider such threats previously he ignored it, but now¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll go through this one step at a time. Right, Crash?¡± Crash let out a barely audible hum of affirmation. It seemed fusing with Lucas had taken quite a lot out of the immaterial goofball this time. Lucas felt rather worried about it but had no clue on how to help it. He defiantly shook his head and almost barked at himself, ¡°One step at a time. First check our notifications then plan ahead. Crash will be fine.¡± Lucas summoned the series of notifications he had received. He read them intently as he stifled any disheartening thoughts. {Congratulations, [Mimicry] has evolved into [Adaptive Resonance]. Well done!} {Congratulations, [Quest], Evolve or improve [Mimicry] beyond level 5 has been completed. Information packet on Skills now available.} {Congratulations, special [Quest] ¡ªConquer the domain core¡ª completed!} {Requirements met, Achievement ¨C [Notable Combatant] has evolved into [Skilled Combatant]. Well done!} {Requirements met,Achievement acquired ¨C [Sonic Boom]. Good job!} ¡°Still no level up from all those kills¡­ it seems I¡¯m missing something vital, but what?¡± Lucas wracked his brain trying to figure out the underlying issue. With his level and two of his attributes capped, he had much less room to grow in power. And given how vast of a difference one attribute point made, he dreaded the day he would face a level six opponent while he was still at level five. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Wiki, what¡¯s the issue here? Why am I not leveling up?¡± Wiki indifferent responded the same as before. {You currently don¡¯t have access to such knowledge.} Having expected this Lucas just sighed and requested something more productive. ¡°Activate the Skills information packet Wiki.¡± {Certainly.} As usual, Lucas was hit with a migraine. This time it hammered in his brain like a jackhammer. Almost causing him to black out. He held on with a quiet groan and asked his questions through gritted teeth. ¡°What is a skill?¡± {A skill is any unnatural ability possessed by a life form that requires a rudimentary understanding of at least one Attribute to perform.} ¡°Could you explain again¡­ like I¡¯m a five year old?¡± With infinite patience, Wiki neutrally complied, {Of course Lucas. Alright, imagine you have a toy car. Normally, you have to push it to make it move. But what if you had a special button that made it zoom forward by itself? That button is called a Skill. It lets the toy car do something extra and special that it wouldn¡¯t normally do on its own. Now, to use that button properly, you need to understand how the car works a little bit. If you just press it randomly, the car might crash or implode on itself. But if you learn how to steer while pressing the button, you can make it go exactly where you want and even do usually impossible things. Like driving upside down.} Lucas easily grasped the concept but another question stood out to him. ¡°How come I already had Skills from the start? I had no understanding of my Attributes previously.¡± {You are an unnatural Lifeform, Lucas. Your existence itself spits in the face of linear logic. And due to the Arbiter¡¯s Will, you were granted certain¡­ privileges.} Lucas raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°So¡­ I should have spawned in with no skills?¡± {Yes.} Lucas smiled at that which rapidly evolved into a restrained laugh. ¡°Hahahahaha, seriously? I would have been so screwed. I guess my luck is not that bad after all. So can you now give me descriptions of my skills now?¡± {Yes, Lucas.} ¡°Nice!¡± Lucas¡¯ tails wagged excitedly as he paid attention to Wiki. {[Guide] ¨C A special skill handed to a chosen few by the Will of the Arbiter. Its main function is assisting its host in accomplishing their goals. [Leech] ¨C A predatory ability that allows the user to extract Life force and biomass from a target through sustained contact. [Adaptive Resonance] ¨C An advanced ability that lets the user attune themselves to external influences, allowing synchronization with environmental conditions, foreign energies, or even hostile forces. [Spirit Sense] ¨C A sensory skill that allows the user to sense various forms of Spirit energy in the environment.} Listening to the definitions, Lucas nodded thoughtfully. Apart from the newest skill¡ª[Adaptive Resonance]¡ªhe had more or less figured out what his skills did. If anything, he felt like Wiki was holding out on some details as usual. Lucas proceeded to ask his next question, not really expecting an answer. ¡°So how do I enhance/evolve my skills?¡± To his surprise and joy, Wiki gave a lengthy response. {You can enhance a skill by adding an extra function to it, removing a flaw, or by simply making it more efficient. Skill evolution on the other hand directly alters the skills framework and adds to its previous effects, usually at least.} ¡°Ohh, so that¡¯s why I can still easily alter my form even though [Mimicry] is no longer available?¡± {Yes.} ¡°Nice. So which is better? Skill evolution or skill enhancement?¡± {It is entirely subjective and situational.} Lucas hmmed as he shared a similar view. With that out of the way, he proceeded to ask many more questions. Predictably, the vast majority of them went unanswered and for the answered few, he received just one word responses. After exhausting all the questions he could think of, Lucas moved on to his Achievements. His tails rubbed together in anticipation as he opened [Skilled Combatant] first. {[Skilled Combatant]: You have defeated an opponent who outclassed you in every physical aspect. Victory is not always about strength¡ªit is about control, precision, and knowing when to strike. Reward: +2 Attribute points.} Lucas smiled ecstatic, he hadn¡¯t expected much but he got two whole points! With this, Mind could reach the 4 points mark. Barely containing himself, he turned his attention to his next Achievement. {[Sonic Boom]: You have broken the sound barrier, moving at a speed that defies ordinary perception. The air itself splits before you and the sound of your motion chases after you. Reward: Trait Unlocked ¨C [Beyond the Flesh] [Beyond the Flesh] Your movements are no longer entirely bound by the limitations of mere biology. While physical strain still applies, physical laws which restrict your motion are slightly mitigated, allowing for greater efficiency at extreme speeds.} ¡°Interesting, so this is why it felt so much easier to move as the fight went on. Hell yeah, I wonder what I will get if I go even faster!¡± Already calculating a few more applications of [Adaptive Resonance], [Beyond flesh], and the final Rune he had not drawn, Lucas spotted a massive grin. His pupils danced and flickered like fireworks. His tails kicked up small whirlwinds as they wagged like propellers. ¡°Crash¡­¡± Crash snapped him out of his daydream by bringing up the one thing he hadn¡¯t checked out yet. Lucas chuckled a little embarrassed as he said, ¡°I was getting to it.¡± ¡°(?_?) (?_?)¡± Lucas smiled softly and said, ¡°Get well soon buddy. Now, let¡¯s address the elephant in the room. Status¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 5 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly], [Daredevil],[Skilled Combatant],[Amateur Runist] ,[Sonic Boom]. Traits: [Daring Mind],[Beyond Flesh], [Runic intuition]. Attributes: ?Physique: 3(5) ?Spirit: 5 ?Mind: 2(+) Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Adaptive Resonance ¨C [Level 1] ?Leech ¨C [Level 5] ?Spirit sense ¨C [Level 5] Attribute points: 2 [Quest]: ¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Hmm¡­ why is my Physique showing three points with the five is in brackets? Is it due to my weakened state? That¡¯s a little concerning¡­¡± If this was a permanent problem, Lucas would be in serious trouble. His primary Attribute for combat was Physique, losing such a significant amount had virtually crippled him. ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s fine. When my injuries heal, I will be in tip top shape.¡± After putting his mind at ease, he placed his two points in Mind. Expecting the worst, he braces himself for a brain melting experience but it never came. What he did notice however, was his thoughts felt¡­ louder? He could feel something being fed to his Mind steadily but he could not trace it at all. There was no physical change taking place within him or externally. It was all immaterial. As the process went on, his thoughts became more pronounced, his memories became clearer than ever. He cycled through his entire life multiple times just as he laid there for hours. He didn¡¯t absorb every detail from his memories but that¡¯s simply because he didn¡¯t want to. Suddenly, the process was over. Lucas felt an unprecedented clarity of thought and one thing immediately stuck out to him. Ever since he laid beneath the mysterious domain core, it has been gently reaching out towards his mind. Its reach wasn¡¯t forceful in any way, it was like a child curious about a new pet. Unlike a child though, its ¡°touch¡± seeped in directly to Lucas Psyche. Lucas calmly opened the reward screen for the ¡°Conquer a domain core¡± [Quest] and clicked yes. The fantastical tree¡¯s power flooded into his being and everything went blank. Chapter 42: Trials. Chapter 42: Trials. Lucas opened his eyes to a black void once more. The domain core floated with the void as well. Lucas tried to speak but no words could come out. Luckily, he could move within the abyss so he gently drifted towards the tree. On his way, he felt it nudge at his mind as it asked for access. Though unease, Lucas accepted. His reward for the [Quest] had been ¡°Link with the domain core¡± after all. If he was too cowardly to accept the reward after all this, all that bloodshed and fighting would be a joke. Besides, from the transformations and skills the previous domain lord and tree men showcased, linking with the core was certainly a boon rather than a bane. Probably. When the tree¡¯s power synced up with Lucas¡¯ Psyche, his senses broke through the confines of his mortal coil and spread throughout the cavern. No, it was more than that. He didn¡¯t just see the cavern in its entirety, he felt it, he became it. Every plant, rock, and monster felt like an intrinsic part of him. This transcendent moment lasted for an instant before it ended. Lucas shot awake with a deep gasp as his instincts sought out any possible dangers. With manic eyes, Lucas spread his senses out throughout the cavern. To his surprise, his range easily surpassed the one kilometer range as it raced throughout the cavern. He didn¡¯t even feel a slight prick in his skull but he felt his Spirit energy rapidly dropping so he hastily turned it off. ¡°Whoa¡­ what just¡ª¡° He was cut off by the refreshing chime of a notification. {Requirements met, Achievement ¨C [Domain Lord], acquired. Nice work!} Lucas grinned wolfishly as he opened the Achievement¡¯s description. {[Domain Lord] ¨C You have successfully linked with a domain core, its world is your oyster.} ¡°Strange, there¡¯s no reward? Can you explain why, Wiki?¡± {You don¡¯t have access to such information.} Lucas rolled his eyes as he mumbled. ¡°Of course not. I want to understand the bare minimum of my situation? Blasphemy!¡± At least he managed to cheer himself up with that last line. He turned to the domain core and asked it directly. ¡°So¡­ what are you?¡± He felt the tree¡¯s omnipresent intent hone in on him. It took a few moments before linking with Lucas again. This time, Lucas saw a thought provoking scene. His Mind was brought to a point in time when the cavern was just a regular cave with an unusual amount of Spirit energy flowing through it. Something¡­ ordered and implacable changed that. It wasn¡¯t an instantaneous process and it didn¡¯t even seem didn¡¯t seem deliberate. One thing that was for sure however was the fact that a transcendent law influenced the Spirit energy to flow in very special patterns. These transformations went on for decades, possibly centuries. The fights between the cavern inhabitants, the climate, natural disasters, foreign life forms visiting the cavern, and much more were all facets of the domain core¡¯s formation. Eventually the core was born at the center of the cavern, warping reality in its wake and creating the Yggorin in the process. Lucas suddenly woke up in reality once more and almost flew out of his skin. More than a little agitated, Lucas said, ¡°Could you not do that every time?¡± Like a chided child, the domain core retracted its intent. Its branches swayed noticeably weaker than before. ¡°Crash.¡± Crash chimed in, its voice dim but better than before. ¡°You can speak to it? Are you sure you will be okay?¡± ¡°(£þ¦Ø£þ)¥Î(£þ¦Ø£þ)¥Î(£þ¦Ø£þ)¥Î¡± With a nonchalant affirmation, Crash expressed its confidence. ¡°Okay bud. You work on that, I have to try out the last rune. ¡° ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± After that soft nod, Lucas laid on the ground completely. He did his best to calm his mind and Spirit energy as he recalled what he felt was the last workable Rune. It was also the most difficult Rune he had in his mind. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The Rune was structured as an octagon containing two nested rhombuses. All together, there were sixteen unique sigils on the Rune. Each and every one of these Sigils were interconnected, causing the Rune to look like a mind numbing mess. To make it worse, several Sigils were quite damaged and difficult to fully make out. This was the main reason why his previous efforts of using it failed. ¡°Welp, let¡¯s get started.¡± With a prepared mind, Lucas carved out a rectangular rock and began his experimentation. Having learned from his experiments earlier, Lucas used the least amount of Spirit energy to activate the first sigil. Unsurprisingly, the test failed as the rock imploded on itself before releasing a concussive blast wave. Lucas didn¡¯t even flinch as he carved out a new rock and continued his experimentation. Ten trials in¡ªno progress. Twenty trials in¡ªno progress. Fifty trials in¡ªno progress. One hundred trials in¡ªno progress. On the hundred and third trial, Lucas¡¯ expression had sank as deep as a well. His eyes burning with a barely concealed frustration, the markings of a monster at its limits of patience. He gently activated one of the center Runes he nicknamed Dick. You see Dick had this bad habit of always redirecting his energy into itself when he tried activating other Runes in the center. But when he activated it from the start, it always caused the rocks to detonate violently. BOOM! As expected, the rock blew up in his hand. ¡°Ohh, fuck off!¡± With that frustrated yell, Lucas stopped using rocks. He figured his body was a much better conduit and he would be able to guide his Spirit energy much more dynamically if he used it directly from his skin. Without any hesitation, he engraved the octagonal Rune in his right palm. Rather than play it safe by activating any other Rune, his eyes flashed with fervor. Like a gambler desperate for a win, he activated Dick. BOOM!! A blinding explosion immediately erupted from his position and smashed him on the domain core like a fly on a windshield. Coughing in pain, Lucas peeled himself off the tree and assessed his injuries. Seeing his mangled arm and almost half of his Spirit energy mysteriously gone, Lucas sighed, ¡°This is going to take more effort than I thought¡­ no matter. I will keep pushing, there¡¯s definitely something I¡¯m missing.¡± With such a mindset, Lucas Laid back on the floor as his injuries healed. His mind racing for a solution. On the second day, Lucas thought of a new approach. Who said he had to activate each Sigil one at a time? Couldn¡¯t he just activate them all at once? All very valid questions, putting it into practice was another matter. He sought to test this hypothesis with his already functioning Hardening Rune. Due to its relatively simple structure and energy flow, it was Lucas¡¯ first pick. And with his much beefier Mind, he was confident he could make it work. His first test on his arm was a complete failure which led to his flesh disintegrating. He nonchalantly healed it and got back to work. After tens of experiments using both his Life and Spirit energy, he found that his Life energy was better suited for the task given how dynamically it responded to his intent and flesh. Two days later, Lucas had already lost count at the number of trials he had to perform. With both his Physique and Spirit standing at 5 and Mind at 4, sleep had become an option not a necessity. His numerous experiments finally bore fruit as Lucas activated his Hardening Rune. Something finally clicked in his mind and the Rune flared to life instantaneously as if the energy was cycling itself into it. Though it didn¡¯t increase the Rune¡¯s power, it made it activate almost as fast as his thoughts. ¡°Cool¡­It¡¯s almost like¡­ I have¡ª no, my body has developed an instinct to automate my energy cycling? Interesting¡­¡± Thud. He immediately passed out on the floor with his orifices bleeding. Two weeks later¡­ Lucas still sat in the tree men¡¯s village looking rather shabby. His fur was very overgrown and unkempt. Dirt and grim caked his body but Lucas couldn¡¯t care less, his sole focus was the Rune on palm. He carefully studied its enigmatic structure for minutes on end before he sighed. When he woke up from his previous black out, he began studying his other Runes and figured out how to activate them instantaneously as well. He had succeeded with each of them but when it came to the octagonal Rune, he was stumped. To begin with, he had no clue what the activation process was and even if he did, the Rune had many errors in its pathways. Even though he had corrected them to the best of his capabilities, he didn¡¯t know if he had re-wired the Rune into a bomb or something worse. Given his luck, he really didn¡¯t want to test it randomly but he had no choice. ¡°16!¡­ That¡¯s how many possible ways I can try to activate this Rune¡­ that¡¯s more than twenty trillion tries that are guaranteed to fail in catastrophic ways. With everything I have learnt over these few weeks and my [Runic intuition], I could narrow it down to only 16 tries. I just had to eliminate Sigils like, Dick, Shella, and so on to get a stable starting point. If these all fail¡­ I will be forced to shelve the Rune for now.¡± Taking a deep breath, rested for about five minutes then began the first activation. His right hand spontaneously combusted at the attempt. Casually clenching his fist, the fire got extinguished by his roiling Life energy and he moved to the next attempt. Each and every attempt brought about a harmful effect due to his failures. Be it freezing his arm over, disintegrating flesh and bones, the limb simply exploding/imploding or even stranger effects like it moving in slow-motion or even transmuting his arm to different materials. By the sixteenth attempt it would be a lie to say Lucas wasn¡¯t feeling more than a little nervous. But he steeled himself and activated the rune. In a flash, the Rune blazed with a crimson light as it activated. The complex mesh of Sigils and pathways beaming with energy. Everything suddenly clicked in place and the Rune stabilized. Lucas¡¯ eyes went wide with joy. With a smile on his face, he said¡ª CRACK! With his mouth hung open, he heard a teeth shattering crack sound coming from his arm. It was now badly mutilated with the Rune now a garbled mess. With a deep sigh, Lucas healed his hand and sank into silence. His gaze cloudy as he contemplated his next actions. Chapter 43: Meditations. Chapter 43: Meditations. ¡°Crash?¡± Due to Lucas'' abrupt burst of negative emotions, Crash finally disconnected from the domain core and spoke to him. ¡°I just failed to figure out the final Rune¡­¡± ¡°(¨s¦à¨t,)¡± Lucas just shook his head and tried to change the topic. It was not something to be depressed over. Life goes on. ¡°So what¡¯s up? Has the domain core told you anything useful?¡± Crash paused for a moment as if to gauge how it should respond. Lucas could sense that whatever the domain core and Crash had been communicating, it had not been in a language he could comprehend. He didn¡¯t bother to cut in all this while since the Rune was kicking his ass. ¡°Crash.¡± Lucas frowned at that answer. ¡°It¡¯s better if I just see it?¡± ¡°Crash. Crash.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t like when it¡¯s messing with my mind. But if you say it can really help, I trust you.¡± ¡°d(¡ï¦Ø¡ï)b¡± Shaking his head with a soft smile, Lucas turned his attention to the tree and said out loud. ¡°Crash says you can help me?¡± The domain core didn¡¯t respond with words but rather actions. It extended two of its lower branches to Lucas and hovered them over him. Though the tree didn¡¯t talk, Lucas could always interpret its intent. It was quite the mystical form of communication. ¡°You can link with me. Just¡­ don¡¯t do anything weird, okay?¡± The tree''s branches just swayed playfully as its lower branches wrapped around Lucas¡¯ form. Turning him into a packaged killing machine, ready for delivery. ¡®?!?!¡¯ ¡°Crash¡­¡± Sensing Lucas¡¯ panic, Crash did his best to soothe him. Lucas'' panic immediately became fury. ¡®Why didn¡¯t you tell me before?!¡¯ ¡°¡¥\_(¥Ä)_/¡¥ ¡¥\_(¥Ä)_/¡¥¡± ¡°Damn it, Crash.¡± Exasperated, Lucas turned his attention back to the tree. It was gently coaxing his Mind to gain access. In a weird way, Lucas found it cute. ¡°Okay okay, do your thing.¡± Excitedly, the tree¡¯s power sank into Lucas¡¯ Psyche once more. This time it didn¡¯t show him parts of the cavern. Rather, his consciousness was beamed to a random part of the cavern. He immediately noticed something was wrong because his senses were much weaker, in fact he had only two senses; touch and hearing. With his experience from his earlier days, this change didn¡¯t really fluster him. After observing his surroundings for a little while he tried to slink forward. Squelch. Lucas immediately recognized that squelching sound. His now gelatinous form rippled as he thought. ¡°I¡¯m a slime now?¡± Before he could think further on it, he heard a periodic clicking sound heading directly for him. ¡°Oh shit, it¡¯s a beetle!¡± Unfortunately, even though Lucas could tell what he was facing, his senses were too poor to make out how far it was. Given his current form, escaping wasn¡¯t an option either. ¡°Fuck it, we fight.¡± Bracing himself, his Mind went into overdrive as he picked up on every minute shift in the air and the sounds of the surroundings. The air howled as the beetle charged in, mandibles spread wide. Lucas slinked to the side with all his might while trying to mobilize his Spirit energy. BOOM! The beetle missed its attack but was undeterred as it swiftly positioned itself for further attacks. ¡®Seriously?¡¯ Sensing the minuscule amount of Spirit energy he had in this form, he almost gave up entirely. But that despair soon turned to rage. ¡®You think you can bully me because I¡¯m weak? Fuck you!¡¯ As the beetle charged at Lucas, he galvanized his Spirit energy and lunged at the beetle as well. He form glowed pure white as he launched a suicidal attack right out of the gate. Bang. The collision was muted as beetle smashed straight through Lucas, splattering his gelatinous form all over the cavern floor. With a sharp gasp, Lucas woke up in his body once more, feeling a little light headed. ¡°What just happened?¡± ¡°Crash crash. ?(¨°_¨®¡¦)?¡± Lucas raised an eyebrow as he asked¡¯ ¡°How is that training? I just got obliterated by that beetle!¡± ¡°(?¨q¨r?) ... *???¡î*:?*BOOF*?:*¡î???* \_(¥Ä)_/¡° ¡°Ohhh yeah, you¡¯re right! I can use this to level up my [Adaptive Resonance]. Crash, you¡¯re a genius!¡± ¡°Crash. (??? )?¡± Lucas laughed at that. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Haha. Don¡¯t get too full of yourself though. We still have a lot to do. My Physique has recovered to 4 but that¡¯s still very far from 5 Physique in combat.¡± ¡°(?????)?¡± ¡°Yeah, let''s get to work. But before that, what should I call the domain core¡­¡± Recalling the figure of the domain lord, Lucas decided on a name. ¡°Let¡¯s go with Pike. Okay Pike, let¡¯s try that again.¡± The domain core obliged and beamed Lucas¡¯ consciousness away into another form, this time into a crimson rat. Even though his senses were much better this time, he was swiftly dispatched by a centipede. What greeted him when he woke up was the sweet chime of a notification. {Congratulations, [Adaptive Resonance] has leveled up to level 2. Keep up.} ¡°Nice!¡± Lucas was about to keep going but Crash hastily brought his attention is a very obvious problem he hadn¡¯t noticed yet. ¡°Crash!¡± Touching his face, he felt warm blood on his paw. He chuckled as he said. ¡°Okay okay, I will give it a rest. I can just practice the transformations I have learned.¡± With a soft hum of affirmation, Crash agreed and let Lucas be. Lucas¡¯ days of training went on like this. Pike would beam him across the cavern into random life forms. He would then participate in manic battles where life and death was settled in less than five moves. When he reached his mental limits, he would stop and try to physically transform into whatever he had possessed. With his [Adaptive Resonance] and Mind at 4 points, he could easily transform into these creatures and understand their internal frameworks. The influence of his Mind in this set up could not be underestimated. It gave him almost perfect memory and his mental processing speeds were completely superhuman. When you factor in the subtler aspects like strengthening his Will, resolve, and many other things, Lucas was blazing through his transformations. With each new transformation he acquired, the more refined his physical form became. Originally, he looked somewhat wolfish but after two days or so, he looked completely unrecognizable. He had lost all his fur in favor of beautiful white scales. Clawed hands had become proper digitigrade claws. Tails were now much more muscular and sharper at their edges. His overall stature had become bigger as well as he now stood about 2 meters on all fours and almost 12 meters in length thanks to his long tails. His head had also become much more muscular with a sharp and more prominent snout. His eyes were slightly protruding and oval in shape. Each eye had three eyes lids with varying transparency and bony ridges that protected them. His formerly wisp like pupils had reverted back to a more natural shape being white vertical slits with a back drop of deep crimson irises. Taking a closer look, it seemed like his pupil was vibrating, almost struggling to escape its fixed shape as its edges writhed unpredictably. Down at his mouth, it was now filled with sharp, serrated rows of canines at the front while at the back he had two rows of crushing molars. His ears had become large, rotatable, and were covered in scales. Topping it all off with slits for nostrils that let out puffs of steam every thirty seconds or so, his appearance was quite terrifying. He just sat beneath the domain core lazily with his tails gently swaying in the cavern¡¯s stale air. He sat as he reminisced about the recent creature he had possessed. ¡®So that¡¯s how those crickets jump so fast¡­ the mechanisms are actually so simple but I never thought of them. Well, it¡¯s more like I previously couldn¡¯t understand such concepts. Simple doesn¡¯t mean easy after all.¡¯ Having possessed a cricket for a few hours before his Mind started failing him, he had learned quite a bit about muscle and tendons in terms of storing energy. ¡®I should be able to apply all of these to my tendons, as for my muscles, it just needs a few tweaks. The hydrologic systems in them should be more than enough. What needs an over hull, are my joints. They¡¯re too few.¡¯ Thinking to this point, he opened the skill description of [Adaptive Resonance]. Something about the skill had been bugging him. {[Adaptive Resonance] ¨C An advanced ability that lets the user attune themselves to external influences, allowing synchronization with environmental conditions, objects, and even hostile energies.} ¡®It seems it can be leveled up rapidly by doing extreme things. Like resonating with the air to move with almost zero friction.¡¯ Thinking back on the fight with the domain lord, Lucas wore a ferocious yet bemused smile. ¡®It¡¯s not like I even understood what I was doing at the time, I just did it to survive. But now that I¡¯m fully conscious, tapping into that state is very difficult and not to mention painful as hell. And given my crippled Physique, I would rather not risk it.¡¯ Shaking his head, he brought his focus back to transformating his body. What he had in mind was rather simple¡­ at least to the current him. He planned to add two extra joints to his four legs and twelve in each of his tails. Thanks to his Mind, he could remember his human biology lessons in perfect detail and now understood what he was trying to improve and enhance. ¡°I guess school wasn¡¯t that useless after all. Now, Let¡¯s augment my bones first.¡± With a plan in mind, he began cycling his Life energy through his blood stream. This was another thing he figured out recently. Circulating his energy in such a manner supercharged his physical ability considerably faster and gave a bigger improvement than just coating himself in it. He focused this Life energy in his appendages and willed it to extend his ultra dense bones, causing his limbs to grow an extra 30 centimeters. Between his shoulders and elbows, elbows and ankles, new joints developed. Like the two already in place, they could perform almost 360¡ã of rotation. After securely padding them with cartilage, he moved on to his ligaments and tendons. Since he had already built a robust framework to work with, all he had to do was add to and alter some existing connections and he would be good to go. After about five minutes or so, he was done. He had also layered some muscles on the new joints for finer and more explosive movements. Standing to his feet, he spoke out loud. His voice was now extremely deep and low, like the sound of rolling thunder. ¡°I¡¯m heading out, Pike. If anything weird happens in the cavern, inform me.¡± Boom! Not waiting for a response, Lucas shot away from the village like a bullet. Leaving behind the eternally waving tree. Thanks to his current form and [Beyond Flesh], he blitz through the cavern like a white flash. His eyes were protected by two eyelids while his ears were retracted. Feeling his muscles and blood heating up at due to his absurd pace, he released a deep breath. Bellows of steam were unleashed from his nose, mouth, and dozens of strategically developed orifices around his body. Thankfully, he relied of his [Spirit Sense] to guide his movements as his velocity climbed so high he could barely keep track of things with his sight alone. ¡®Okay, that¡¯s enough of a warm up. Let¡¯s push harder!¡¯ CRACK!¡ªBOOM! Cycling his Life energy through his blood stream, his scales shimmered as he became a ray for crimson light. His velocity picked up dramatically as he shattered the sound barrier. Lucas¡¯ eyes burned with a sanguine light as his excitement peaked, this is what he has always been looking for¡ªfreedom! Streaked by multiple cavern inhabitants, they couldn¡¯t even sense him. The only trace of his presence the blast of wind in his wake. In less than thirty seconds, the cloud emitted from Lucas¡¯ pores went from white to reddish-pink. This queued Lucas to begin the deceleration process or he would risk injuring himself further. It took him almost three seconds to safely manage his momentum back to a standstill. When he finally stopped, he ignored his surroundings and fell into thought. ¡°Can¡¯t I decelerate faster? Biologically, I have explored every option available to me so I can bare the strain. The main issue is control. If I can¡¯t control my movements fluidly in a fight, I¡¯m dead meat.¡± Lucas¡¯ eyes narrowed as he thought of a solution. A few moments later, an enticing idea came to his mind. ¡°What if I could reverse the effect of the Lightening Rune and make myself heavier for a brief instant? Sure, it would subject me to much higher g forces but it would also make me stop much quicker¡­¡± Just as he was nodding to himself and was about to head back, and image flashed into his mind. It was of a humanoid wearing pristine, deep black armor. The armor had an innumerable amount of crimson Runes, crisscrossing its elegant form in carefully orchestrated spots. The figure didn¡¯t wear any head gear, letting their crimson tainted black hair free, and exposing the world to their suffocating beauty. Suddenly, the figure looked straight at Lucas before the image cut off. Its indifferent gaze filled Lucas with something he hadn¡¯t felt in quite a while, bone chilling dread. ¡°Strong¡­¡± That¡¯s the only word that could describe that humanoid. Lucas instinctively knew that¡¯s humanoid was much stronger than him. It wasn¡¯t even up for discussion, it was a fact. But Lucas knew their clash was inevitable as well. ¡°Pike, where is that creature right now?¡± Pike gave Lucas a sense of its precise location at Lucas¡¯ question. ¡°Crash! (?''?-''?)?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry buddy, I don¡¯t plan to lose. Let¡¯s go!¡± With that, Lucas became a crimson blur as he rushed forward. Though his instincts told him to run away as fast as possible, he willed himself forward. Determined to shape his own fate. Whether he was a lizard or a dragon, it would be proven right here and right now. Chapter 44: Folly of the Strong. Chapter 44: Folly of the strong. Sitting in the center of an extremely minimalistic room, the tranquil figure of Ev¨¦lyne sat peacefully on a couch. Her dark hair fell down her back like threads of night, shades of vibrant crimson splashed across it. Her immaculate features were highlighted by her current meditative state. She was dressed in a simple white robe as she sat in the lotus position. Her eyes closed as she focused on her core. It was a perfect geometric monolith made up of countless Platonic solids. Taking a closer look, these Platonic solids were structured in such a way that they repeated four complex patterns that looked like very intricate Runes. As Ev¨¦lyne meditated, her Spirit energy circulated within her blood stream. It made contact with each blood cell in its blistering laps around her body. Her Spirit energy also oscillated at a very unique rhythm that pulled in all the Life energy from the air and fed it to her core. After several hours, she finally opened her crimson eyes as she expelled a breath. A small smile appeared on her lips as her eyes sparkled in elation. ¡°I finally did it, all my skills are at level five. Let¡¯s see just how much progress I have made.¡± With that mental command, her status screen appeared. ¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Ev¨¦lyne Lifeblood Species: Vitauri Tier: 0 Level: 5 Essence: Perfection. Achievements: [Anomaly], [Grandmaster swordswoman],[Runist], [Expert Combatant], [Otherworldly Comprehension], [Ikarrus in the making]. Traits: ?[Breaking the veil] ?[Unbound Insight] ?[Runist Mind] ?[Transcendent Swordmanship] Attributes: ?Physique: 5 ?Spirit: 5 ?Mind: 5 Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Perfected Lifeblood circulations ¨C [Level 5] ?Perfected Lifeblood Rejuvenation¨C [Level 5] ?Perfected Bloody Stride¨C [Level 5] ?Exsanguination ¨C [Level 5] Attribute points: 3 [Quest]: ¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª Reading through her status, she felt a surge of pride at her own abilities causing her smile brightly like a radiant dawn. She restrained herself as she calmly stood up and walked out of the room. The next room she stepped into was a spacious bedroom containing multiple cold weapons, artifacts, and gadgets. All organized to frame the room perfectly, like a carefully curated exhibit. The room smelled fresh, like a rolling field of flowers. With the warm light beaming through the windows, the room gained a simplistic beauty. A queen sized bed sat at the center of the room immaculately made, its silken covers almost untouched. About three other heavy wooden doors were within the room, minus the small room she had just been to and the exit. Ev¨¦lyne calmly walked out of the room, deep in thought. As she walked down a rather large corridor, her stride slowed as she reached a rather pressing issue. ¡®The day after tomorrow¡¯s the day I leave the manor on my own for the first time¡­ why do I feel so nervous? Am I scared?¡¯ She came to a stop at this point as her eyebrows furrowed. After a few moments, she resumed her walk with a cloudy expression. ¡®Feeling nervous is a natural response. I have never been alone my entire life. The idea of being completely free just sounds¡­ foreign.¡¯ She rationalized with a nod as her expression relaxed. She continued her train of thought to something more immediate. ¡®I should head for an armory and get a suitable weapon.¡¯ Her pace picked up as she walked to her destination humming to herself. On her trip, she was met and greated by quite a few attendants and guards. All of them seeming infected by Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s positive mood. Ev¨¦lyne just waved at them with a faint smile. About five minutes later, she got to her destination and walked into the armory. She walked over to the servant stationed there¡ªa Beastkin with black fur¡ªand made her request. ¡°Can I get a look at the swords available?¡± ¡°Of course mistress Ev¨¦lyne. Here you go.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The Beastkin efficiently produced a tablet and she just placed a hand on it. The tablet scanned her palm for a few moments before producing a holographic display of a simple metal sword. Training her eyes on the image, it flicked to a different sword. This one a black greatsword, with a dark green edge. She kept flicking through swords until she stopped on one peculiar sword. The sword was 1.3 meters long, six centimeters wide, and quite narrow, almost looking paper thin. It was entirely pristine white as if constructed from a single piece of bone. Bearing a single edged, the blade contained no Runes as well, in fact it lacked a hilt and a scabbard as well. These factors gave the blade a rather primal touch. Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s eyes sparkled as she said, ¡°This one.¡± The Beastkin nodded politely as he took back the tablet. His free hand conjured an extremely complex Rune while his eyes glowed with a white light. He reached out with the Rune and placed it on the sword¡¯s image before pulling it out of the hologram. Handing over the sword with both hand, the Beastkin spoke, ¡°Your sword, mistress Ev¨¦lyne.¡± Ev¨¦lyne took the sword with a small nod and headed back to her room with a pep in her step. Given her height, the sword almost looked like a cross between a shortsword and a rapier in her grasp. She briskly headed for her meditation room and sat with her new sword in her hands. Slash. She slashed out casually, producing an extremely precise cut on her wall and floor. This line healed over in a few moments but Ev¨¦lyne was transfixed on her sword. The moment she made her attack, she felt the blade resonate and amplify her energy. ¡®Hmm¡­ I wonder how much more powerful it would be if it had some proper Runes.¡¯ After taking a deep breath, she conjured tens of Runes in the air. They all floated above the sword like crimson constellations. With a hardened gaze, her Spirit energy burst out of her as she engraved all of them simultaneously. As the Runes formed, multiple lines ran from each Rune, connecting them all into one sprawling network. After about thirty minutes, the Runes had set. Ev¨¦lyne nodded to herself as she thought, ¡®Let¡¯s see what improvements I have made.¡¯ Slash¡ªcrack! Performing that same casual slash, produced an audible crack in the air as her sword energy sliced through the room harshly. Her eyes widened in mild shock but she soon regained her composure as she thought, ¡®This should do for now. Any more advanced Rune can only be applied when I¡¯m in tuned with the sword. For now, I can only work on that.¡¯ A streak of crimson light flashed, the sword vanished as Ev¨¦lyne fell into a meditation once more. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Two days later, with the radiant dawn light pouring down on her, Ev¨¦lyne stood next to a sleek, compact aircraft. She was clad in an elegant, obsidian-black armor, its surface etched with geometric, crimson Runes that pulsed with a soft, inner light. The armor fit her form perfectly, flowing like liquid darkness as it bore no visible seams or joints. Her new, bone-white sword rested at her waist, a stark contrast to the dark armor. Her mother and a few maids stood alongside her, their expressions a mix of pride and gentle concern, as they saw her off. ¡°How do you feel darling?¡± Her mother asked, looking up at the tall young woman. Her voice gently but carried that profound dignity. ¡°I¡¯m quite nervous, mother.¡± Ev¨¦lyne responded calmly, her expression barely shifting. Her mother¡¯s smile widened as she stepped closer, cupping her daughter¡¯s chicks. She chuckled softly as she said, ¡°Only you could say such things with a straight face, Velidis.¡± Her voice became slightly heavier and more reassuring as she continued. ¡°I trust you, Ev¨¦lyne. We all do. If you encounter any trouble, you can always contact me and I will be there in a flash. Okay?¡± She gently removed her hands from chicks and pulled her into a deep hug. Ev¨¦lyne hugged her back rather tightly, surprising both of them. Releasing herself from the hug, Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s mom said with a soft smile, ¡°Okay dear, you should leave now. I know you¡¯re barely containing yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you moth¡ªmom¡­ for trusting me.¡± You could see her mom¡¯s heart melt as she nodded with a ¡°Hmm.¡± Ev¨¦lyne walked over to the teary eyed Sasha and gave her a few head pats before waving off the other attendants as she stepped into her aircraft. Everyone gave her space as 10 seconds later, she took off. Becoming a streak of light over the horizon. Due to the craft¡¯s immense speed, it was impossible to see the landscape around much to Ev¨¦lyne displeasure. She just consulled herself with the fact that she was heading to an uncharted domain alone for the first time and her excitement burned through her gloomy thoughts. Four hours later, she was at her destination. Stepping out of her aircraft, it entered its stealth mode as she walked away. She found herself standing outside a cave entrance. She took a deep breath and said out loud, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do this.¡± With a confident step forward, she walked in. She immediately felt space stretch and her weight decreased significantly. She got used to the sensations in an instant and began walking forward. The deeper she went in, the more mesmerizing the landscape became. The bioluminescence plants and radiant rocks painting the cavern in an entrancing light. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Ev¨¦lyne gasped in astonishment as she slowly trekked forward, absorbing every detail with unerring focus. It wasn¡¯t long before she heard a ruckus up ahead. Flashing forward as a crimson blur, she rushed to see the action. A large vibrant green snake was taking on a salamander. They both had cores and Spirit energy flashed from each collision. As Ev¨¦lyne watched on, she couldn¡¯t help but furrow her brow as she thought, ¡®Why are they so weak?¡¯ After watching the intensive fight for about fifteen seconds, she had already seen numerous openings each participant failed to exploit. Minus that, their use of Spirit energy was subpar at best. From what she had read about domain inhabitants, these two seemed to be the weakest possible inhabitants. Shaking her head, she ignored the battle and moved forward. The deeper she moved into the cavern the more disappointed she felt. None of the cavern inhabitants even noticed her presence as she had immense control over her own aura and energy. The few that did notice her, stayed far away. Even though she knew her mom wouldn¡¯t let her go anywhere too dangerous, this was a little disappointing. ¡®It seems the only interesting thing might be the Domain¡ª¡® Before she could finish her train of thought, she felt a powerful presence lock on to her location. The moment it got her position she constantly felt watched. She could already guess what it was. ¡®The Domain lord roams around? Interesting. Let¡¯s see just how powerful it is.¡¯ Faint excitement flashed in her eyes as she waited in her spot. Three minutes later, she heard the wind howling in the distance as something large approached. Chapter 45: Plight of the Weak. Chapter 45: Plight of the Weak. Boom. In a blast of dirt and debris, a beautiful monstrosity came to a stop. When the dust settled, Ev¨¦lyne could see the cavern¡¯s hypnotic lights reflecting off its immaculate scales. She could sense a vast, billowing Life and Spirit energy coming from the creature as it made no real efforts to tame it. Clouds of steam rose slowly from its hidden pores, obscuring its form. A few moments later, the clouds faded away and she locked eyes with the creature in front of her, their gazes subconsciously bursting with Spirit energy. After a tense silence, Ev¨¦lyne suddenly spoke. More precisely, she sent a thought directly into Lucas¡¯ mind. |What are you?| Even though her language was completely foreign to Lucas, he still understood her perfectly. His claws impaled the floor deeper at that. ¡°Why should I answer your questions?¡± Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s eyes widened slightly in shock. She expected a mental transmission from a Domain lord but it seemed this one was intelligent enough to have its own language? This piqued her curiosity, causing her to look at the creature in a new light. She quickly regained her composure as she said, |Well I guess it matters little. I came to this domain to defeat its domain lord but it seems you came to defeat me in turn?| Ev¨¦lyne said casually as she eased into a basic fighting stance. She lowered her core slightly, planting her feet shoulder-width apart for balance. Her torso remained poised, upright yet ready to shift. She held her arms slightly away from her body, elbows loose, with both palms open. Her form prepared to react at a moment¡¯s notice. Her gaze was still locked with Lucas¡¯. Lucas didn¡¯t reply as he let out a deep resonating growl. His form taut as he prepared to burst into motion. His tails tensed like scorpion stingers, he had already made his choice. Boom! Suddenly, Lucas streaked forward with one powerful lunge. Jaws wide open as he prepared to finish this with a quick chomp. Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s form flickered crimson in his perception as she smoothly dodged to the side while countering with a simple knife hand chop to his neck. Her arm was coated in an ephemeral energy. Lucas felt a hair raising danger from that attack so he pierced out with his tails, forcing her to exchange injury for injury. As if she could read his mind, Ev¨¦lyne evaded all his attacks with micro dodges. Each one measured to the millimeter as her hand pressed on, not losing a shred of momentum. ¡®The fuck?¡¯ Panicked, all Lucas could do was Harden his neck and reinforce it as much as possible in such a short time frame as he directed himself away from the chop. Thanks to his last minute preparations, the strike only scored a shallow wound but the energy within the attack went on a rampage within Lucas and almost immobilized him due to pain. When you factor in his previous injury, he was staying conscious due to sheer will. Ev¨¦lyne didn¡¯t care about any of this as she pressed forward, going for the kill. With a manic snarl, Lucas stopped trying to heal the injury and shot at her as well. Exploiting his longer range, Lucas¡¯ tails whipped out from four different angles. Clinkclinkclinkclinkclinkclinkclinkclink. Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s arms became blurry after images as she parried every strike from Lucas with ease, almost cleaving his tails off in the process. This only brought Lucas over the edge of madness and he became completely berserk. His white iris broke out of their restraints as Lucas flashed forward noiselessly, his blurry white figure unrestrained by friction or drag forces. This burst of acceleration caused Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s eyes to harden as complex weaves of Spirit energy oscillated over her form and she vanished. BANG! That singular impact contained more than a dozen exchanges from both parties with Lucas firmly at the losing end but he pressed on. The white and crimson flickering figures kept trading blows like there was no tomorrow, neither backing down. As the fight went on, the more surprised Ev¨¦lyne became. She could see Lucas getting faster and stronger. More importantly, his energy seemed to be adjusting to her¡¯s in small ways. No matter how she attacked him, he just did his best to keep his vitals safe while launching a counter attack. Worse still, for each move she made, Lucas seemed to have an almost perfect recollection of her move set and would be able to predict them in advance. /Your intuition and adaptability are remarkable. But your technique is rather sloppy, monster./ A smile unknowingly crawled up Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s face as she fought as seriously as she could without using her Skills, advanced techniques, or weapon. Blood had already splattered everywhere around them from these few seconds of combat. As the fight pressed on, Lucas could feel his body begin to weaken from all the fluids he had lost. The pain from using [Adaptive Resonance] was getting worse by the millisecond as well. The cloud of steam he usually emitted had colored an ominous dark red. Pushing his body even harder to adapt, Lucas'' form began shrinking as they fought. His stature became denser yet more agile, resisting Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s sword strikes better while his burst speed somehow kept improving even with his injuries. Bangbangbang!¡ªBoom! After a particularly brutal exchange, a huge crater erupted from the center of their clash as Lucas was kicked tens of meters away. Back in the crater, Ev¨¦lyne stood serenely as she seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. ¡°Crash!¡± Coughing up clouds of blood, Lucas staggered to his feet. His frontal left leg now a stomp and his four tails bloody messes. ¡®I¡¯m fine Crash, I¡¯m just warming up.¡¯ Crash could tell Lucas had already given it his all. He was panting like a dog, almost every fibre in his body had some form of damage, and his Spirit and Life energies were tapping out. To top it off, none of his injuries were healing as usual. ¡°Crash!¡± ¡®I said I¡¯m fine! We aren¡¯t fusing again!¡¯ Lucas angrily lashed out as he bared his teeth. His taut form oozed blood as he prepared for his final charge. He knew if he fused with Crash once more, that was it. He would be alone once more. /Your courage is admirable, monster. As a show of respect, I shall use one of my Skills./ The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ev¨¦lyne cut off his thoughts as she spoke indifferently. She drew her bone white sword, its surface rapidly becoming a deep crimson. She took an offensive stance for the first time. Her form coated in copious amounts of Life energy. It transformed her hair to a vibrant crimson as she stepped forward and spoke softly, /This Skill is called [Lifeblood circulations]. Here I come./ With that, she vanished from her position and reappeared in front of Lucas. Her blade cleaved down mercilessly, completely imperceptible to the human eye. Lucas felt the world freeze around him simply due to the power and speed of this one strike. Even in the face of imminent death, only one question rose in Lucas¡¯ mind. ¡®Am I that weak?¡¯ SLASH! The strike directly cleaved him in half, releasing an ultra thin blade energy that bisected whatever else laid fifty meters behind Lucas. Lucas'' corpse dropped to the floor as two lifeless halves in a pool of his own warm blood as Ev¨¦lyne stepped back. She casually put her sword back on her waist and waited. Her gaze narrowed as she felt the presence watching sudden unleash a burst of power and appeared above Lucas. She calmly dashed ten meters back with a hand on her sword¡¯s hilt as she looked up. Up in the air, Pike had appeared. Its ethereal form and music having no effect on Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s mind. She just patiently watched its branches wrap around Lucas, feeding him with its power. ¡°Ahh, so this is the second phase I have read about? Fascinating¡­¡± Within the cocoon, Lucas was undergoing a profound transformation. The domain core wasn¡¯t healing him per se, it just gave him an ungodly amount of Spirit energy to use as he saw fit. Lucas'' mind was still in the haze of battle and didn¡¯t understand or care if he was given this energy. He just wanted to grow stronger. ¡®Why did I lose? I wasn¡¯t fast enough, I wasn¡¯t strong enough, but most importantly, I wasn¡¯t skilled enough.¡® ¡°Crash.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t seem to hear Crash as he fell deeper into his own thoughts and body. His form reverted back to a humanoid shape. With his scales forming dense, flexible armor. His tails retracting comfortably to boast his skeletal structure to carry all the extra weight he was placing on it. ¡°Crash¡­¡± Runes were now formed by his scale gaps. Each one took their usual spots on his fists, feet, and torso. As Spirit energy roared through him, he felt himself almost break apart. Forced to stop the flow, he questioned himself. Why wasn''t it working? What was he missing? If he couldn¡¯t do this, could he survive another strike like that? As his thoughts raced, he suddenly heard Crash say something vague yet ominous. ¡°Crash.¡± His heart clenched as he asked, ¡°What do you mean goodbye?¡± ¡°Be free.¡± ¡°No! Stop!!!¡± With those final words, Crash vanished from Lucas¡¯ perception. He felt a wave of anguish that settled over him, a sudden wave of negative emotion crushing his every thought. Why!why!why!why!why!why!why!why!why!why! His Mind began working twice as fast but he didn¡¯t care, he was stuck in an agonizing loop within his own existence. He knew he had lost something irreplaceable once more, and there was no getting it back. Ahhhhhhhh! With a savage roar like a wounded beast, Lucas¡¯ energy detonated the cocoon. The beetle core he had been holding on to detonated as well, releasing a devastating blastwave. The energy forcing Ev¨¦lyne to take two steps back, her expression laser focused on the weaves of Spirit energy above. Lucas¡¯ flesh and scales imploded into him, sucking all the Spirit energy in the cocoon in the process. In an instant, he became a radiant white skeleton. Suddenly, his skeleton rapidly expanded. In a few short moments, he was over three meters tall. Spikes of bones erupted out of his back, forming four jagged, blade-like appendages. In a burst of power, multiple Runes criss crossed his skeleton haphazardly. Most of them warped in strange ways and were barely functional. With his skeleton set, his flesh exploded out of him in frantic growths. These growths surged violently, snapping bones with wet crack. Myriad fractures sprawled across his skeleton with each sickening break. Every tendon and every fiber of muscle spawned from warped Life energy, shaping him into a haunting abomination. /!!!!!!!!/ With a soundless shriek, these rapid growth came to a malformed stop. Lucas Spirit energy supply completely tapped out. He crashed from the sky like an unholy meteor. Bang. He landed on both feet like a monolith, creating a massive crater due to his sheer weight. The domain core vanished as its work was done, Leaving behind the hideous humanoid formerly known as Lucas Maverick. Streaks of blood ran down his eyes like miniature streams. Oddly, the blood didn¡¯t drop to the ground but rather interlinked his Runes. This caused Lucas to glow with a light sanguine hue. His form emitting a ghastly pressure and murderous intent. Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s eyes sparkled in delight as she watched this transformation. Placing her sword back on her hip, she shifted to a more defensive stance as she said, /That¡¯s quite the transform¡ª/ BOOM! The novice domain lord suddenly vanished with a thunderous boom. He reappeared in front of Ev¨¦lyne performing a simple punch. The very air was compressed by the sheer might of this single fist. Due to the overwhelming pressure trying to crush Ev¨¦lyne to paste, she was forced to take the attack head on with the palm of her hand, sending her skidding back. Lucas didn¡¯t let up as his fists and blades shot out rapidly, drowning Ev¨¦lyne in scores of white afterimages. Each strike was a super sonic haymaker, aiming to eradicate her very existence. But despite this, she was never on the back foot. Her smile grew into a radiant grin as she parried, blocked, and countered almost everything he threw at her with flawless palm strikes, kicks, knees, and elbows. As the exchange went on, Lucas moved faster and faster. Each attack was more fluid than the last as he coordinated his Attributes to the max¡ª Bang! With a clever faint, Ev¨¦lyne landed a devastating gut punch, smashing Lucas away. As he sailed through the air, she didn¡¯t give chase as she calmly said. /You¡¯re much stronger now, but your technique and energy control have deteriorated to an abysmal level. At this rate, I won¡¯t need to draw my sword./ Lucas didn¡¯t respond as he skidded to a stop. His figure suddenly jolted intensely as his Spirit energy went out of control, leaving his body bursting at its seams. His radiant white eyes burned with unmatched fury as he shot forward once more, even faster than before. Ev¨¦lyne frowned as her hair glowed crimson. Her then form flickered with a bright red, forming a perfect copy of herself. Both rushed at Lucas simultaneously glowing crimson, hands on their sword hilts. ¡®I should end this here. Torturing beasts is not a habit I should develop.¡¯ Lucas didn¡¯t bother with either of them as he smashed the ground with all his might. The ground pound generated a devastating tremor wave which flexed the ground like a whip. BOOM! The tremor dispelled the clone but Ev¨¦lyne still managed to close the distance and slashed out with her crimson sword. Lucas blocked with a punch but was shoved backwards, his fist cracked. Ev¨¦lyne pressed forward relentlessly, her strikes coming out blindingly quick. In an instant, she struck out a hundred times. Each slash and thrust capitalising on Lucas¡¯ improper technique and sloppy movements. Roar!!! BOOM! Smashing the ground once more, he finally gave himself some room to catch his breath. On an instinctive level, Lucas knew he was still out matched. But this realization just stoked his Spirit and anger further! HUMMM!!!! Lucas began vibrating, a powerful low hum pulsed throughout the cavern. His form resonated with the air as he emitted a cloud of blood, his current body unable to bear the strain. Spreading all his Spirit energy throughout his entire being, he became a white haze. His bladed limbs all shifted and fused into his right arm turning it into a gauntlet of pain and fury. He rushed forward, his velocity greater than ever. As he charged forward to perform his final attack, Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s stance suddenly changed, she widened her feet and gripped her sword with both hands for a power slash. With a deep exhale, her eyes suddenly surged with a flash of Life energy. Within her perception, everything was almost frozen. Lucas shot towards her at a glacial pace. She sighed internally as she said. /If you survive this, I will let you live. Essence of perfection: Layered [Exsanguination]./ Her figure exploded with legions of red afterimages, each one performing a slash at Lucas. Streaks of crimson energy cleaving through Lucas as she struck out thousands of times in an instant. Each attack cleaved at Lucas right arm. AGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Lucas bore the full brunt of this abuse and forged forward with a powerful roar. His momentum didn¡¯t slow for an instant under the hail of strikes. Slashslashslashslashslashslashslashslash!¡ªBOOOOMMMM! Her last attack struck down like demonic lightning against the final fist, the shock wave of the clash reverberated throughout the entire cavern. When the dust settled, Lucas was left standing still in his punching pose. The overbearing pressure he emitted all but gone. His right arm completely vaporized as well that side of his body. His eyes were completely black as he had fallen unconscious. Ev¨¦lyne stood opposite to him, her gaze still filled with wonder as she stared at the unconscious mimic. Her armor was pristine and spotless while a small cut had appeared on her left brow. In an instant, the cut healed and she placed her sword on her waist once more. She looked at Lucas for a long moment before murmuring, ¡°Still alive huh? I wonder what you are.¡± A flash of crimson light produced a black sphere in her hand. She pointed it towards Lucas and it absorbed him through a white beam of light. She then left the cavern with silent steps, her mind analyzing the one sided battle. Chapter 46: I鈥檓 Sorry. Chapter 46: I¡¯m sorry. With noiseless steps, Ev¨¦lyne headed to the exit of the cavern. As she walked for a bit, she felt the intent of the domain core tease her mind. Aware of its intent, Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s stride didn¡¯t pause as she calmly thought, /I¡¯m not interested./ With that, the domain core retracted its intent and tried to re-established its link with Lucas. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t work. Apart from the fact that he was within Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s core, he was also trapped in that strange device. All of its attempts were casually rebuffed by Ev¨¦lyne. As Ev¨¦lyne walked further and further, she could ignore the Domain core¡¯s weakening attempts, deep in thought. ¡®Why was it so¡­ hate filled in the end? Domain Lords don¡¯t go as far as mutilating themselves to achieve more power. At least I haven¡¯t read of such events. More than that¡­ I felt its deep anguish. That was not something a Domain creature should be capable of.¡¯ The more she thought about it, the more unsettled Ev¨¦lyne felt about the whole situation. It almost seemed like she had¡­ killed another sapient life form simply for sport? She shook her head, there was no reason to jump to such conclusions yet. Domain creatures lacked any form of Will. When she got home, this would all be cleared up. About fifteen minutes later, she was out of the cavern. Walking over to her aircraft, it went out of its stealth mode. The vessel was sleek and angular, forged from a composite of lightweight, hyper-durable alloys and energy-reactive materials. Its deep, matte black finish absorbed ambient light, reducing visual detection, while subtle golden trim along its edges pulsed faintly with stabilizing energy. Despite its compact size, it bore a refined aerodynamic form, almost predatory in its efficiency. The forward fuselage curved smoothly into an elongated cockpit, encased in an adaptive canopy that shifted between transparency and opacity based on external conditions. Twin propulsion thrusters were seamlessly integrated into the rear structure. Designed for silent yet immense thrust and acceleration. The landing struts hovered just above the ground, indicating an anti-gravity stabilization system that minimized disturbance to the terrain. With Ev¨¦lyne standing a few meters away from her vehicle, a soft crimson light escaped from her chest to her waiting palm. With a backdrop of expansive forest and a late afternoon sun hanging above, a circular and mirror-like device appeared in Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s palm. A small smile appeared on her face as the device lit up with a buzz. A few moments later, an image of her mother appeared with a warm smile. She asked with obvious pride, ¡°Did you already clear the Domain darling?¡± With a soft nod, Ev¨¦lyne said, ¡°Yes, mother. Most of its inhabitants were not noteworthy. The Domain lord however was quite strange.¡± Her mom raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°Strange in what way?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to explain¡­ we shall speak more on this when I am back. See you in four hours mother.¡± ¡°Okay dear, I will be waiting.¡± The mirror device dimmed as it shut off. A crimson light flashed from Evelyne¡¯s chest once more, reabsorbing the device as Ev¨¦lyne walked to her aircraft. The foul air of the cavern was left behind as she stepped into the cockpit of her aircraft. The aircraft hummed softly, its systems awakening with a gentle glow. The sleek canopy retracted in a smooth, near-silent motion, sealing Ev¨¦lyne in the minimalist cockpit. The moment she took her seat, her eyes glowed with power as the neural interface of the vehicle synchronized with her. The ship automatically engaged its pre-launch sequence. Thin, golden lines traced along the dashboard as holographic controls materialized around her hands. A gentle pulse of energy ran through the frame as the craft¡¯s core systems activated. The plane''s thrusters realigned while the landing struts retracted quietly into the aircraft. Ev¨¦lyne executed the launch sequence with a mere thought. The aircraft levitated smoothly, thrusters counteracting inertia as the craft levitated higher and higher. A soft thrum vibrated through the cockpit as the twin thrusters initiated, their energy output dynamically adjusting to the surrounding conditions. With an imperceptible delay, the craft transitioned from hovering to skyward acceleration, piercing through the air with hypersonic yet silent velocity. A barely visible energy veil formed around its exterior, dispersing atmospheric friction as the ship climbed in altitude. Within seconds, it had blinked away, leaving nothing but a faint shimmer in its wake. ¡ª¡ª¡ª About three hours later¡­ At a launch pad in the Lifeblood manor, Katlyn Lifeblood stood alongside the Beastkin Sasha in tranquil silence. The late evening sky was already giving way to starlight. Sasha politely stood behind Katlyn, tail concealed within her maid gown. Katlyn was dress in an elegant white dress, threads of red and gold marking it beautifully. Without turning to her, Katlyn spoke softly, ¡°It¡¯s okay Sasha, you know Ev¨¦lyne hates it when you restrain yourself.¡± Sasha blushed slightly at this. Her bushy tail slowly poked out of her gown and wagged frantically, prompting a chuckle from Katlyn. Before she could press the issue, she saw a faint streak making its way to the manor. This sight brought a soft smile to her face. Given its distance, Katlyn could tell her daughter was about fifteen minutes away. She turned to Sasha and spoke once more, Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Your mistress is almost here Sasha. I¡¯m sure she has quite a bit to tell us. But given how she usually is, we have to coax it out of her. So don¡¯t be shy okay?¡± Sasha nodded frantically as she stuttered out, ¡°Y-yes, my Queen.¡± Walking over with her soft smile, Katlyn patted her on her head lovingly. Her hands brushed against her fluffy ears. ¡°No wonder Ev¨¦lyne is so fond of you. You¡¯re so cute.¡± Sasha just blushed harder as she received the head pats. A soft growl could be heard from her from time to time. Roughly fifteen minutes later, the faint streak had already closed the distance to the manor. It now hovered over the launch pad as it gently sank down for a smooth landing. The cockpit door opened soundlessly to reveal Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s impeccable features. She stepped out into the pleasant air of the manor, she took a deep breath free of death and decay. As she walked towards her mom and Sasha, the former smiled brightly while the latter watched her is starry eyes. Her mood automatically lifted as she said, ¡°¡­Mom, Sasha, I¡¯m home.¡± Katlyn stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug while whispering, ¡°Welcome home, my Veliris.¡± Letting go, Katlyn gave Sasha room to step forward as well. Her arms half spread as she stepped forward stiffly. Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s tranquil expression cracked, a bright smile blooming on her face. She wrapped the smaller Sasha in hug before asking, /Did mother put you up to this?/ Sasha shook her head firmly, to a thumbs up from Katlyn. Ev¨¦lyne narrowed her eyes and asked again this time out loud, ¡°Really Sasha?¡± Sasha froze before nodding softly. She said, ¡°The Queen just asked me not to restrain myself around you... I-I missed you mistress.¡± Ev¨¦lyne tightened her hug slightly before she nodded with a ¡°Hmmm.¡± Letting go, Ev¨¦lyne turned to her mom, who said, ¡°We should head inside.¡± With a subtle nod from Ev¨¦lyne, the trio headed to the manor. On their walk, Ev¨¦lyne slowly explained how her rather short trip went. Katlyn and Sasha listened quietly as she narrated her experiences in the cavern. Her words were punctuated by the surprising weakness of the cavern inhabitants and her mild disappointment. With a somewhat helpless expression, Katlyn couldn¡¯t help but point out, ¡°If I sent you to a Domain with stronger creatures, the chance of facing creatures at level six and higher would rise considerably, darling. That would be too dangerous.¡± ¡°I know mother¡­ I just¡­ wanted the trip to be more exciting. It¡¯s not everyday I get to leave the manor.¡± Ev¨¦lyne responded absentmindedly as she walked forward. Katlyn frowned slightly but fixed her expression as she changed the subject. ¡°So did you capture the Domain Lord you were talking about?¡± ¡°Yes I did mother. On that note, we should analyze it now while you have some free time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to get some rest first? My schedule should be clear for the day.¡± Shaking her head, Ev¨¦lyne responded with, ¡°It¡¯s fine mother, I used up more energy piloting my jet than fighting.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s head to my laboratory.¡± With that, the trio headed for her lab. In a few minutes, they stood at the entrance. Two, heavy black doors sealed the lab. They carried a soft white glow from the innumerable microscopic Runes engraved in them, giving the doors a rather solemn look. Katlyn released a small stream of oscillating red energy towards the door. It vibrated at an extremely precise yet complex frequency. The steam flowed throughout each of the door¡¯s Runes at an incomprehensible speed, unlocking the door in less than a second. They walked through the now opened doors and were greeted by an impressive sight. The laboratory was a masterpiece of refinement and precision, its every surface sculpted with purpose. Soft lights pulsed from the engraved walls, flowing along delicate runic pathways that curved in elegant, almost organic patterns. The air itself was charged, humming with a contained power but awe inspiring power. As they walked in deeper, Ev¨¦lyne and Sasha felt a gentle nudge at their minds which they didn¡¯t resist. It came from the center of the laboratory. At the center of the chamber on a raised circular platform housed a translucent spherical construct of shifting energy. The sphere flickered between stability and motion. Each shift contained myriad types of energy, each one interacting with each other in complex, almost contradictory ways. Its surface rippled like liquid glass, displaying fragmented symbols one moment and complex, interwoven sigils the next. Each symbol was created with a different and unique strand of energy, barely existing for a few moments. Occasionally, a stray pulse of energy would arc toward the ceiling, only to be absorbed by the containment field that shimmered above. This was a Domain core. It was far more powerful than the one at the cavern but somehow, the Queen had bound it to her laboratory. Holographic constructs woven from Spirit energy, taking the form of precise tools, data displays, or interface nodes. They hover around certain parts of the laboratory. To the left, a series of containment chambers lined the wall, each holding suspended masses of material. Some pulsed faintly, others lay dormant, their internal compositions too volatile to risk exposure. Runic containers encased these chambers, keeping their contents frozen in a state of equilibrium. To the right, where numerous cages. Each contained a unique creature or item. Just from a simple glance you could tell they were quite strange. As the trio moved through the lab, the room adjusted to their presence¡ªtools floated nearby, displays shifting their focus to match the Queen¡¯s thoughts. A flick of her fingers sent Runes scattering through the air, reorganizing into intricate equations before dissolving into the core at the center. After a quick mental check, Katlyn could tell everything was running smoothly. She said to Ev¨¦lyne, ¡°Follow me, let¡¯s place this creature of yours in a proper containment field.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª Wake up. ¡®¡­¡¯ Wake up, Lucas. ¡®Mom?¡¯ You have to wake up now. ¡®Why? Isn¡¯t it over? I lost.¡¯ You did. But you¡¯re still here, you still persist. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter. I failed. I failed you, I failed Crash. I failed everyone. My persistence¡­ was a mistake.¡¯ The voice sank into silence at that. Lucas felt his consciousness begin to drift. It floated through his memories from earth. His relatively normal life, the friendships he had and his mom. Even though he cherished all those things, in this transient moment he felt profoundly ungrateful. He knew none of his choices could have influenced what happened at the end of his life. But right now, he realized just how much he took all of it for granted. Even when he died, he barely thought of his friends or mom. Everything had been about him, his survival, his goals, his strength. All that ego in the face of that final blade was comparable to whispering in an absolute void¡ªcompletely irrelevant. His self identity, the very state of being, had been cleaved apart by that final slash. So now, he floated here. In this mental domain of his own creation, unwilling to face himself or the world. Suddenly, he felt something probe his mind. It was extremely gentle, almost imperceptible in its actions. ¡®Hmmm?¡¯ It probed again, this time deeper and more intimate. Its soft power gleamed some of his thoughts, memories, and feelings. ¡®Leave me alone.¡¯ The mysterious intent didn¡¯t heed his words as it probed further, directly touching his Psyche. The sensation provoking Lucas fury as he lashed out. ¡°I said LEAVE ME ALONE!!!¡± The connection snapped as Lucas released a burst of his Will which visibly slammed into his containment field like a tsunami. Katlyn and Ev¨¦lyne bore thoughtful expressions as they processed what they had just seen. Sasha on the other hand shivered, the events of the final scene still vivid in her mind Katlyn frowned and was about to speak but Ev¨¦lyne beat her to the punch. Placing a hand on Sasha¡¯s head, she said, ¡°Open the containment field.¡± Katlyn paused for a moment. She watched as Lucas aura retracted while his healed but still horrid form rose from its slumber. She nodded slightly and deactivated the field. Ev¨¦lyne stroked Sasha¡¯s head twice before walking forward with a measured stride. She got into the containment cell and stood just a few meters away from the waking Lucas. As he stumbled to his feet in confusion, he spread his senses before instantly jumping back in sheer terror. His body responded to this shift in emotion by writhing and shrinking as he prepared to escape. His [Spirit sense] spread to its maximum range. All this frantic motion came to a screeching halt as Ev¨¦lyne bowed deeply. She sent him a simple mental message, /I¡¯m sorry./ Chapter 47: What now? Chapter 47: What now? /I¡¯m sorry./ The entire room fell silent at Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s apology. Even after she rose up from her bow, no one spoke a word. Lucas stepped away from the wall with a low growl, his Runes struggling to power up. Bladed appendages flaring as they glowed with a shaky silver. His mind raced, trying its hardest to figure out what she was on to. Katlyn suddenly thought out, /Calm down, this is a safe space child. Take care not to aggravate your injuries. Mending them has not been easy./ This ironically made Lucas more tense. His rigid form writhed and shrunk even further. His eyes were wild and frantic like a beast on its last legs. Ev¨¦lyne saw this and walked out of the containment vessel backwards, her steps slow and methodical. Once she was out, she thought, /We are going to leave you alone now. When you are calmer we shall speak further./ Lucas just watched them vigilantly as Katlyn deactivated the instruments and Runes she used to delve into Lucas'' psyche. The containment field reactivated around Lucas as the trio left. The lab locked itself behind them as they stood under the soft lights of the manor. Surprisingly, Sasha spoke first. ¡°That monster¡­ was it a person? Then it¡­ what happened to it?¡± Ev¨¦lyne stayed silent as she eyes landing on her mother, her intent clear. Katlyn cough in her palm as she said, ¡°Honestly? I have no clue. That Domain he was in, their language, their societal structure, technology, animals, etc. They¡¯re all very different from anything I have ever seen. It almost seems like he is from a different World entirely.¡± The trio fell silent once more at this, each holding their own thoughts. Simultaneously, their gazes focused at an abrupt notification. {Congratulations, requirements met. Achievement¡ª[Witness of the Beyond] unlocked. [Witness of the Beyond] ¨C You have uncovered a truth that was never meant for mortal understanding. Some among you are not of this world, not of this reality, and yet they exist among you.} Ev¨¦lyne blinked at the Achievement. She was no stranger to receiving Achievements but this one was particularly strange. No rewards or traits were handed out and she couldn¡¯t pinpoint any effort on her part that warranted an Achievement. Looking over to Sasha and Katlyn, she could tell they had received a similar notification. Katlyn spoke up since everyone had digested the information. ¡°So it seems I made the right guess. This creature is from a completely different World¡­ Amazing.¡± Catching a jubilant light flickering across her mother¡¯s eyes and her Spirit energy cycling faster, Ev¨¦lyne coolly said, ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t carry out any experiments on it yet, mother. We all saw its memories. It, or rather, he was just an ordinary mortal from a species incapable of harnessing Spirit energy. Whatever happened at the end of his life seemed to have brought him here, also changing him in the process... The entity that brought him here, it¡¯s not something I could fathom. What do you think of it, mother?¡± Katlyn frowned slightly as she said, ¡°That being most likely came from our world. Its presence carried a powerful mental energy that broke apart that world. That¡¯s all I can guess from the fragmented memories.¡± She turned to Sasha and asked, ¡°Could you sense anything in particular about it, Sasha?¡± Sasha frowned subconsciously as her tail tensed. Her ears fidgeted as she struggled to find proper words to articulate herself, ¡°It felt¡­ all encompassing. I could feel too many emotions and thoughts at once from it so¡­ I shut off my perception the moment it appeared. It was¡­ too much.¡± Ev¨¦lyne moved closer to Sasha and pet her head softly, calming down the agitated Beastkin ans the walked slowly. She too had felt that being¡¯s power, it was not something meant to be sent. After a while, the trio walked away from the lab. Eventually they got to some stairs leading up to Ev¨¦lyne¡¯s room. ¡°Goodnight mother, we can come back down tomorrow morning and talk to him.¡± Katlyn nodded as she said, ¡°Good night, my Veliris. Rest well.¡± ¡°Good night mistress.¡± Ev¨¦lyne walked into her room while Sasha and Katlyn took their leaves. Ev¨¦lyne headed to her dressing room and put on some loose, white robes, her battle armor reverting back to its standby form. She moved to her minimalist meditation room. Sitting in the lotus position, she began cycling her Spirit energy in complex loops. Her mind however, was elsewhere. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡®I almost killed a person.¡¯ This was a simple fact and she wouldn¡¯t try to justify herself. She knew her actions were completely self indulgent. ¡®Why didn¡¯t I notice earlier¡­¡¯ The thought ping-ponged in her skull, rattling the foundations of her self perception. She quickly reached a grating conclusion. ¡®I did. I just chose to ignore it.¡¯ Her mind fell silent at this, her Spirit energy retreated to her core as her eyes opened up. After a few moments, she whispered to herself with an indifferent expression. ¡°What does that say about me?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª Back to Lucas¡­ When the trio left, Lucas cautiously spread out his perception. His [Spirit Sense] was predictably halted when it made contact with the transparent containment field, it let out a gentle hum as it rebuffed his perception. He let out a sigh as his body relaxed, almost crashing to the ground in the process. With sharp breaths, he maneuvered his hulking form to take a seat on the rather warm floor. ¡®What now?¡¯ He thought before catching himself. There was no ¡°Crash¡± to respond to his thoughts, his horrid face twisted into an even worse expression when he realized this. His mind eventually drifted to his thoughts when he was still unconscious. ¡®I¡­ I failed. That¡¯s true¡­ So what now?¡¯ ¡°Be free.¡± He recalled Crash¡¯s final words once more and they stung. Getting captured like some kind of exotic creature was the exact opposite of freedom. He could feel something within him being chafed just by sitting in this cell. ¡®Okay¡­ it¡¯s not over yet. I just have to take things one step at a time. That dangerous woman apologized to me for some reason. Did they read my mind and found out I was human once before? Oww, why does this hurt so much?¡¯ Lucas'' form shifted and changed painfully as his thoughts developed, each minor pull, stretch, or compression agonizing even with his insane willpower and pain tolerance. His form went from a hulking, growth filled abomination to a leaner and smaller humanoid as he steadily transformed himself, still continuing his train of thought. ¡®If that¡¯s true, they might let me out, right?. Then I can¡­ What? Leave and die to something else? It all cycles back to the same problem. I¡¯m still too weak... Fuck.¡¯ With a deep sigh in both disappointment and discomfort, Lucas continued his transformation. In a few minutes, he had become a light skinned teenager. His facial features were slightly softer than they were in his past life while his physique looked quite athletic. His extra limbs transformed back into slim and flexible tendrils. Taking a peek of his insides, he let out a sharp gasp. ¡°Just how badly was I injured in that final clash?¡± He could see his body was struggling to keep itself together much less recover. His organs and bones had tens if not hundreds of fractures and punctures which constantly healed and reopened. His Spirit energy revolved sluggishly while his core barely glowed or shifted, even going static in some instances. ¡®Shit, that jackass did a number on me, I just hope my Attributes aren¡¯t screwed up. Status.¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª [STATUS] Name: Lucas Maverick Species: Mimic Tier: 0 Level: 5 Essence: Freedom Achievements: [Anomaly], [Daredevil], [Skilled Combatant], [Amatuer Runist] ,[Speed Demon]*,[Above and Beyond]*. Traits: [Daring Mind],[Runic intuition],[Beyond Flesh+]*, [Overcharge]*. Attributes: ?Physique: 2(5) ?Spirit: 3(5) ?Mind: 3(4) Skills: ?Guide [Special] ?Adaptive Resonance ¨C [Level 4] ?Leech ¨C [Level 5] ?Spirit sense ¨C [Level 5] Attribute points: 0 [Quests]: ¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª Reading through his Status screen, Lucas took a deep breath and closed his eyes, doing his absolute best not to launch a triad of curses. ¡°Of course, of course¡­ God fucking damn it!¡± He instantly failed as his anger won out. His tendrils whipped aggressively and painfully as he analyzed just how injured he was. ¡°With two Physique, I¡¯m practically dead meat! Even if they escort me out the door I have no chance at long term survival. That¡¯s not even considering if they plan to do something to me¡­ I¡¯m no match for sword bitch to begin with, factoring in the two others¡­ especially the red haired woman¡­ there¡¯s no hope.¡± Lucas¡¯ expression dimmed as he grasped just how grim his situation was. He had no cards to play, everything was in the hands of his captors. ¡°Should I just end this?¡± The thought came like a bolt from the blue and was dismissed just as fast. ¡°No, I chose purpose, I chose to persist. I have to live. There must be a way, there has to be¡­¡± After thinking about it for many minutes, Lucas eventually spaced out as he sat naked on the warm floor. He revolved his Spirit energy as he activated [Leech]. His tendrils worked like conduits as they absorbed the Life energy from the air, completely instinctively. Once he caught himself, his Life energy had already reached its maximum. At least, for his injured state. ¡°Hmm, well since there¡¯s nothing better to do, I should redraw my Runes. Might not be much but they¡¯re still something.¡± With this thought, Lucas distracted himself by redrawing his Runes on each of his appendages, back and torso. Even though it was much more painful than usual and he caught himself bleeding at random spots multiple time, he still finished his task. With everything in place, he was left to his thoughts once more. After moments of silent contemplation, he sighed once more as he said, ¡°Fuck it. Whatever will come, will come. There¡¯s nothing left to do except wait.¡± With that he sank into silence once more, eventually drifting off to troubled sleep. His body and mind too strained to keep him awake. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The next morning, Ev¨¦lyne, Sasha, and Katlyn stood at the lab door. Apart from Sasha wearing her usual maid outfit, Katlyn wore a simple and comfortable blue dress. Ev¨¦lyne wore a white blouse with some blue flowers on it, emphasizing her long legs. The warm morning light beamed in from the high windows as Katlyn unlocked the door. They headed to Lucas'' container and were taken aback by his transformation. Lucas, unable to sense their presence, slept tranquility. Katlyn said. After a few minutes, she deactivated the containment field. Lucas instantly jumped to his feet, his senses catching their unfamiliar presences. When he realized it was Ev¨¦lyne and co, he sighed and took his seat. With a frown he asked, ¡°So, what do you want from me?¡± A tense silence soon followed, Sasha subconsciously took a step back as she sensed Lucas¡¯ emotions. Her ears and tail dropped as she sensed pure anger, despair, and many other negative emotions from Lucas. Ev¨¦lyne frowned at this as she stepped forward. She calmly said, /I have a proposition for you, Lucas Maverick. Do you wish to be part of the Lifeblood household?/