"I think I went too far."
Well, it's been two nights since I woke up here. All has been well. For me that is. The jungle has definetly seen better days. I mean..... These trees were getting on my nerves, so punched them all down. If anyone ever finds my trail, then sorry. But your world can only blame itself for hindering my mission. Besides, this place is now what I like to call an 'Industrial ready' piece of land! All you people need to do now is remove these trees and builds some fabrics!
I wonder sometimes actually, is there any oil in Farleng?
Lets do a quick relaps! Met some more cloud tigers. They all looked a little angry, did I offend them perhaps? Nah, can't remember doing anything of that sort. However, I didn't know that they were so common in these parts. But any how, my Kabir Tyrant is done thanks to the kitty cat suicide squad. Those fellows could only beg and cry before the unparalleled might engraved into every cell of my beaslord's body.
After devouring them I tried transforming into the Kabir tyrant, and surely the wait was worth it.
Not only does this form possess even more explosive power and speed than my go to guy, it can also use a form of echolocation and pinpoint all prey nearby! Much more efficiently than me bestial senses too! Almost forgot, this guy is the size of a car. I think it gets bigger, but my spirit pressure limits the growth.
Have been using it ever since, and I really enjoy running around while disguised as a giant brown liger. Or sabertooth tiger if you would. The graceful build of this beast allows for much more agile and swift movements. And the traveling speed is also on another level.
The fur has a nice metallic shine to it, while some thick black lines run down over the sides of the back like drops of water. Yeah, there is also the raccoon-like google's on the front, but I can't really see those that well.
Came across a herd of dark green flamingos some time ago. They were called [Venom Pickers] if my memory doesn't serve me wrong. Anywas, it said they were quite powerful, but those guys still ended up as my dinner. A single move was enough to behead most of the heard. And even if I had missed, they wouldn't have gotten far, as shooting them down with my bullets worked even better.
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[Venom Pickers: A type of large water bird with the shape of a flamingo. Their tounges are decked in posioniues hypodermic needles which will stick onto any prey they catch. They usually hunt small fish found in ponds, or smaller animals found in the jungles they inhabit.]
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They not only satiated my hunger, but the condor also reached a hundred percent too! I gave it a shot, however, the wingspan of this thing is too large. Transforming into it was also a little bit weird. How should I explain it? It still felt incomplete somehow. Let's give it a proper try after getting out of here.
Besides this, I have also acquired some fish genetic codes thanks to my kabir tyrant... Which can walk on water by the way. Cool right? I'm a certified cat jesus now. But yeah, they jumped at me the moment those flamingos went down. Sadly, the situation now has become rather dire. No matter how hard I look, I can't seem to find any more animals. Did they perhaps run away?
Probably...Anyways, back to the fish! [Blue stripe piranhas] or whatever. Like a small zebra fish with sharp teeth and blue in color. Hard to see in the start, but I used [tremor bomber] while sticking my head underwater. I'll give you a hint... Worked like a charm!
Oh? You heard [Tremor Bomber], right? Yeah, my skill assimilation finished up. And the results are pretty satisfying.
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[Active Abilities] (-)
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[Mad King's Hammer(new): Cover your fist's in a condensed mass of power originating from your desires. This skill will get more powerful as the user grows.]
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[Aura of the five(new): Call upon the power of lighting, earth, wind, water and fire to temporarily increase the power of your magic. This skill will grow with the users essence understanding.]
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[Roar of the Quake(new): Destroy everything weak enough with the power of your shout. Area of effect will always be within 5 meters of the user, but will slowly expand if held down. This skill will grow alongside host.]
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[Immortal Speed LvL 4: Tripples user's traveling speed by using energy. Higher level equates to less energy needed]
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[Aspect of the tainted: Call forth the power from every bloodline mixed within the body. Transforming you into the physical incarnation of impure power.]
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[Skill Assimilation: Mix togheter similar skills to create new and more rare ones.]
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[Physique theft: Steal the body type of other creatures. Enhancing and strengthening your own. Physiques will stack.]
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Yeah, my active abilites are pretty cool. And much more convenient than the other ones. However, they can't really fare against the passive abilities.
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[ABILITIES] (passive) (-)
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[Immortal Regeneration: User's cells will rapidly heal at a speed visible to the naked eye. Great resistance against flesh wounds and other injuries, but less effective against poision.]
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[Sulfur Manipulation LvL 1: User can create and manipulate sulfur clouds.]
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[Striders step LvL 2: User can fling his body 200 meters in any direction.]
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[Breathless move(new): User can freely and tirelessly move for one day with only a single breath of air. This skill cannot grow and will need to be fused with similar ones to improve.]
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[Valor's Voice LvL 1(new): Can influence and sway the minds of others more easily. Your words will hold great meaning in the minds of the weak.]
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[Cloak Of The Beast(new): Your hide/skin will negate all damage taken by 20%. This skill can be improved by evolving.]
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[Rubber Body: User can bend body in any direction.]
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[Genetic Drain: Absorb and store the genetic codes and bloodlines of other animals.]
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[Endless Evolution: User can infinitely evolve.]
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Its really nice being back on my feet again. Not having to worry about getting accidentally killed by some damn bunnies.
And not only have all my skills been thoroughly thinned out, but my core is also finished.
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[Core Forming process]
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[Nuclei: 100%]
[Magic Core: 100%]
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[Does host wish to create core?]
[Yes/No?]
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Seeing how they both got full, I just pressed the button. Begging to reach my old layer again. However, something strange seemes to have happend instead.
After pressing yes, I temporarily blacked out for a while. And when I woke up again, I was both greeted by a bunch of crows nibbling on my large paws, and a highly satisfactory notification.
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[Genetic Combo has fused Nuclei and Magic Core!]
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[User has formed a [Abstruse Nucleus/Core!]
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[Abstruse Nucleus: A rare type of core only ever heard about in legends. It fuses the user's energy with the body, making it possible to now efficiently use stamina as an energy source. This would usually not be plausible, as stamina is almost incapable of sustaining magic spells and skills. Other than this, the host's strength and energy reserves are greatly magnified.]
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This is quite impressive, and I really didn't expect to have them fuse together. However, with my energy restored, I tried checking what layer I had reached.
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[Level:18/20] (level up!)
[Name: Michael] (Switch?)
[Age:15]
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[Layer(New): High General]
[Abstruse Core(new): Rank 3]
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[Physique: Noble Vampire] (new!)
[Bloodline Combo] (+) (new!)
[Essence] (+) (new!) (Lightning added!)
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[Magic Spells] (+)
[Battle arts] (+)
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[Activate Abilities] (+) (new!)
[Passive Abilities] (+) (new!)
[Titles] (+) (new!)
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"New Physiques and Titles? Also, lightning?! Wonder where I can find some thunder spells...But most importantly, the core?"
"So my energy and stamina is the same now? Well, I could probably last longer in fist fights, and the energy is no different. Only now I can just check how tired I am."
"Other than that, I can feel that my stamina reserves have multiplied by an inconceivable amount. Not bad at all!"
Roaming around this place has yielded some fruitful rewards indeed! I should head out....After killing the king of this region. Like the monkey guy back where I first started.
This area is pretty much a desert made up of vines, branches and bark now. However, as I continue to bring forth the beta version of the apocalypse, some things never seems to change.
The first is that I still can't open that marble container in the other ring! Damn it all... Well, who gives a sh**. I'll pop it open after reaching the king layer again.
The second would be that I can't find any lizards here. My poor [Essence drake] needs some love too dammit! But it matters not, for my tainted transformation should be pretty badass even without a dragon.
Almost forgot! Those sealed books laying together with the container...I got one open! All of them have been covered by some sort of black membrane. Is this Jenkins's dark magic? Weird thing actually. Anyhow, the book seems to be based on old legends which happend after this world was created.
"Whispers of Metis" is it's name. Stories and tales written down by a wind goddess living here. The book is quite large, not too far away appearance vise from an old plank. The cover is made of a torn piece of old leather, having some green paint outlining the title rather beautifully. The age is also visible on other parts than just the cover, as even the tips of the pages have begun to break down.
However, lets save this baby for after killing the king. Wonder where that guy is hiding. No matter how much I tear down he never comes to greet me. No, wait, I accidentally sendt my bestial senses underground one time. But something forcefully shook it away. Let's find out what that was.
With this place transformed into a woody dessert and most of the animals either stuffed into my bottomless belly or frantically escaping, there is now only one question within my mind. Something I only have just begun to realize....
Why aren't there any insects here?
Like, who's cleaning up my mess? Does this world have some sort of super fancy bacteria, or do other animals just finish it off?
While wondering about how this world's ecosystem works, I unconsciously gaze down onto the filthy earth beneath my dark brown paws. Filled with all kinds of broken sticks, severed vines and tree splinters. It perfectly mixes with the bottom layer of grass. Even the smell is that of the fragrant flow of life. However, lets just dig straight down for now. Mabye my dinne... No wait, the king hides there.
"As for the stuff I leave behind...It will surely decompose over time. Not like anyone's gonna come and tell me to stop, right? I mean, what kind of idiot would follow such tracks."
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"Mrs Winter, there are more broken remains spread over here. Seeming to have previously belonged to a cloud tiger."
The research group were hurriedly following the footprints left behind by Michael. All leisurely yet cautiously walking down the ruined pathway made up of half eaten corpses and cut down trees.
At this moment, Winter was traveling alongside six knights and her two main companions, Wilsen and Bander. The rest had set up camp and called for reinforcements back at the camp. Not wishing to risk following the monster which had caused this mess.
'Looks like I have to get to the bottom of this myself..' Winter, who's appearance was now much better kept walking behind the female knight.
Her white hair was set in a ponytail, and the lab coat spun around the waist, showing off a grey short sleeved under armour Klinging onto her body, as to not get stuck in any debris. However, even with such graceful looks, she could not help but feel regretful. Why was it always her who had to do the heavy lifting, while the rest would refuse to bother? Even though her passion lied in exploring the unknown, working with such unmotivated people was entirely different task in itself.
'Well, excluding Wilsen... He always seem to follow me anywhere, no matter how dangoures the task is. Its really nice to have some countable colleges. And he is such a good friend too!'
However, while thinking of him, she then remembered Bander. This guy who decided to join them in hopes of gaining some recognition if they managed to discover anything.
'Well, he is something else...'
Winter regained her usual though process after arriving near the carcass. The strong leafy smell and the grotesque odor of flesh emitted from the mutilated tiger brought her back to reality.
Only half of the specimen remaind. Most of the upper body had seemingly been biten off in one single move, leaving the hind legs and digestive track behind.
The female knight next to her finally began to show some hesitation. These were already difficult creatures to deal with by themselves. However, here you had something which seemingly killed one in a single move!
"Mrs Winter, should we mabye head back?" The female knight had a hint of uncertainty in her voice this time, as the feeling of incoming danger kept creeping closer every time they came across a new set of cut down trees.
But no matter how many times she hinted at this, the answer Mrs Winter gave did not change. Still holding the same amount of confidence as ever.
"No! We will continue!"
Not even left with time to retort, the knight could only watch as the white ponytail swayed further away from her. Heading in the direction where the destruction kept growing in magnitude.
However, she could only sigh in defeat and quickly run after the girl. Only able let the rustling iron armour scream out her pain, and curse silently in her mind where no one else could listen.
'I have a really bad feeling about this...'
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"Damn, I have a really good feeling today. Did someone order me a pizza?"
Well, this swell time may originate from my new find. I dug my way down, and as ecpected, there is a vast cavern beneath this jungle!
Its kind of dark and moist here, and the mossy smell doesn't help it at all. But I just changed into the Kabir Tyrant and used echo location. It's easier too see using this than with the bestial senses, as they only roughly show the shape of stuff. Like an infants drawing. You can see it, but barely make it out.
Back to the underground. Its not too far away from how I first saw things after waking up here. The roof, or the jungle, is of course supported by some old stone pillars randomly found all over. Probably left behind by the person who carved this cave out.
There are several bodies of water found here too. Each filled with some old rocks and bones. Like tiny ponds of death. Or trash cans rather. Either way, this crib is pretty slick.
However, no matter how comfy I feel, some sort of weird energy keeps attracting me into a certain direction. Like a moth towards a lightbulb. I tried sending both an echo and a strand of my senses through the darkness, but I can't get a proper read, as the same unkown forcefield pushes me back.
"Let's just get this over with!"
And while still in my Kabyr Tyrant form, I elegantly dash towards energy beacon.