(Author note: all members of the brood, including the MC, don't have a gender. As you know, they don't have genitalia. I just called them he/she based on their appearance, masculine or feminine.)
Skills.
The power granted unto us, intelligent species, by the almighty Akashic Record.
The power that enables us to do things we consider to be impossible or can only dream of before the Emergence.
We thought only humankind has this power but alas, the Akashic Record is fair. He grants the monster something of equivalent value, he gives them the power to change their own strain.
When a monster has a sufficient amount of biomass, they can use it to change parts of their body into something stronger.
We have observed this phenomenon in the wild. Where a Hitor, a flightless avian monster with three legs, went inside its nest and came out with a stronger leg. A Yanis, a single-horned wolf monster, came out of its nest with a twisted horn when it previously had a straight horn.
it seems they can only mutate in their own nest. Destroying the nest will not stop this phenomenon, the monster will just build another nest. Only monsters, being with a core, can mutate their strain.
-Excerpt from "Introduction to Monster Study, First edition", Onetur Yashal.
I get out of my egg and find that my wound is gone, the wound was healed as a side effect of mutating. I look at my Bone Blade, the blade appearance doesn't have any change whatsoever, the arm becomes a bit muscular but that is it. Energy flows out of my core and into the blade.
HUMMMM!
The blade let out a humming sound. Lines of yellow light creep from the base of the sword to the tip, covering the blade with a faint yellow light. The yellow color is the same as the yellow of my Tendrils.
It looks so cool!
And it's really light on my energy, it only uses five energy.
Species: Brood Worker
Core LV: 1
Strength: 15
Vitality: 11
Intelligence: 36
Agility: 12
HP: 25/25
EN: 35/40
Strain: Eyes LV1, Tendril LV1, Arm LV1, Conductive Bone Blade LV5, Legs LV1, Body LV1, Tails LV1, Black Sludge Gland LV1
BioMass: 0
I want to try it on a monster!
"Child, did you mutate your strain?"
I turned to Mother and beamed.
"Yes, Mother! Isn't it amazing? My new blade!"
I show Mother my shining yellow blade. She looks at it and smiles, she nods.
"Yes, it is amazing, child."
Her touch on my head is very comfortable. I will definitely protect her and the brood.
"Mother, I'll become a champion and protect the brood! You can count on me!"
Without waiting for Mother's reply, I ran out of the nest to hunt. I need to grow strong quickly! To become a champion!
Midway, I meet up with my siblings. They each bring back Pringos for Mother. They are wounded but nothing too serious.
"Work hard!"
I greet them as I pass them and they greet me back.
"For the Brood!"
"Work hard!"
"For Mother!"
The one who likes bashing things is at the back of the pack, he had more wounds. He seems to be a reckless one. I hope he rests for a bit before he goes back hunting. I get close to him.
"Brother, if you maxed out your Bone Blade, check out the mutation called Fist Bone. I think you'll want that."
My brother looks at me and nods faintly before going on his way to the nest. The silent type, eh?
I continue my way to the forest. I walk around the forest vigilantly, anticipating ambush and looking out for prey. Before I know it, the energy in my Bone Blade already dissipates. Hmm, the energy doesn't stay long.
Before long, I find the blue creature Mother hunted for us. I think it's called Broon, the muscular creature is staring at empty space. I still remember its taste, it tastes good.
As the information said, the Broon is a meathead. Look at its stupid ugly face.
Hmm, I think fighting it upfront will be stupid. Brook might be a fool but he's good at fighting, adding muscle, I think even one hit will be dangerous for me.
Ideally, I should attack its head and end it in an instant, but how? I look around and see that there is a tree just behind the Broon. This might work.
I walk slowly around the Broon. Reaching the tree, I put my hand on the tree and tried to climb the tree. I think I can do it. I unhurriedly climb high and reach a good height, I adjust my position so I can attack the Broon below me.
With my arm holding the tree, I aim my blade at the Broon below me and charge it with energy...
I am a fool.
I forgot about the sound.
The Broon becomes alert. I won't let my effort be wasted. I jump and swing my blade down. The Broon discovers me and throws a punch. Its reaction is fast.
The Broon's fist meets my blade.
SLAAAASH!!
My blade won.
My energy-infused blade easily slices into the Broon's arm, while I don't manage to completely slice it, my blade slices up to its elbow. Then the energy disperses, seems like the energy cannot be kept for long and disappears just as fast after it hits something.
The Broon screams, not waiting for it to counterattack, I kick the Broon in the face and distance myself from it. The Broon falls back and holds its bloodied hand, rolling around and howling in pain. I ready my other blade but I don't charge it with energy yet.
The time in which the energy stays inside the blade is short but thankfully, I can charge the blade with energy even faster, just a few seconds.
Before I can launch another attack, the Broon stands up and looks at me with hate. Roaring, it rushes at me. The Broon's fist fell toward me but I dodged to the side. My energy-infused blade slash at the Broon's body, the Broon leaned to the side and narrowly dodge my blade.
The hand that I thought was already useless suddenly moves, while it is maimed from below the elbow, the shoulder is still fine. The arm lashes like a whip but it barely has any strength.
But then a blue fist suddenly appears in my peripheral vision. Feeling endangered, I hastily duck down. A huge fist brushed past my head.
Before I could think my body had already moved. A light covered blade thrust at the Broon's head from the side. Using its fast reaction, the Broon manages to dodge it but it doesn't see the second attack.
The second energy-fused blade penetrates the jaw of the Broon and the tip of the blade comes out from the top of its head. The Broon spam a bit before going limp and its body falls on top of me.
[You have slain LV1 Broon, you gain EXP!]
I let the Broon body press down on me. It takes a few minutes before my mind functions normally again.
That few moments where the Broon punch almost hit me. I can feel my blood grow cold but it also feels exhilarating. The brief moment where our instinct and body take over. When death is decided in an instant.
I like it!
I slip out from under the Broon's body and look at the big carcass. I have it all for myself! It's a feast! I started eating and only after a long time did I finish eating. My belly sticks out and I feel like throwing up. I gain 3 biomass. What's left of the Broon is just its core, I left it for last.
After my stomach frees up some space, I take the orb and swallow it.
[You gain 2 biomass! You gain EXP!]
I see. So that's why Mother eats the core. Not only does it give biomass, but it also gives EXP.
I wait until I digest the Broon before searching for more prey. I'll continue until I have 14 biomass before I go back to the nest.
I stroll around before finding another Broon. Just like the one from before, it is also gazing at empty space. Is this all it does when it's not fighting or hunting?
I try to attack it from above again but learning from my past mistakes, I only infused energy into my blade at the last moment. The attack was successful but my aim was off. It hit the Broon's shoulder but it's much better than the last time.
While one of my blades is buried deep in the Broon's shoulder, the other blade attacks and pierces the Broon's head, ending its life. The Broon died without much struggle.
[You have slain LV1 Broon, you gain EXP!]
This way of attack is safe and efficient, but it just feels like it's lacking. I want to fight like before. Trading blows in a melee. I'll mutate my body next, maybe that way I can take a blow from Broon or Linoprey. For now, I'm gonna rest for a while. My energy is almost spent, I can't do battle with no energy.
I just need four more biomass. I climb a tree just high enough to cover a lot of ground. Hm, I can see a lot of prey from here. This is easier than searching for prey on foot. I can see Pringos, Broon, and Linoprey. I can also see my siblings hunting. What should I choose? Let's go for Broon.
I see two Broons not too far from me. The distance between the trees is not that far, maybe I can jump from one tree to another? No, let's save that after my leg mutates. Can't have myself fall from this height, that's gonna hurt.
One of the Broons is sleeping while the other is gazing vacantly. Unfortunately, the sleeping one is the one close to a tree, not the other one. No matter, I can handle a Broon, right?
Just like before I stealthily go around them and climb the nearest tree from the sleeping Broon. I jumped off and at the last minute before the impact, energy reinforced my blade as it pierced the sleeping Broon, it died sleeping.
[You have slain LV1 Broon, you gain EXP!]
After seeing me and it's dead friend, the other Broon roars, it's already ugly face becomes more ugly. It throws a punch at me, I lean to the side and counterattack with a slash to its head. It lowers its head and when I pass it, the Broon feet lashes out.
Chance!
Unlike its thick arm, the Broon's leg is thinner. I can slice it clean! I fill my blade with energy and swing my blade.
SLAASH!!
The Broon's leg falls to the ground, the Broon howls in pain. I rush at it and it throws another punch at me, I thrust my energy blade at the fist. My blade digs deep into the hand but stops at the wrist. I guess this Broon has upgraded its arm. But it's enough, I swing the blade down and the Broons hand is now maimed. The Broon screams and brings down its other fist, trying to smite me.
Unfortunately for it, I took a step back and pierce its head in one lunge.
[You have slain LV1 Broon, you gain EXP!]
Looking at my bloodied blade and the result of the fight, I say this has been a successful hunt. I eat the Broon that lost a leg and saves the intact Broon for Mother. I stuff myself with the Broon flesh and core. Maybe I should get a stomach strain if I ever see one later. I finally have enough biomass to upgrade one strain to level 5.
I quickly drag the Broon carcass to the nest. The Broon is a lot heavier than Linoprey. Because of it, it takes me a lot of time to reach the nest.
In the nest, I see two of my siblings are digging into the wall. The sludge temporarily opens up a section of the covered wall. I wonder why they are doing that. I bring the heavy Carcass to Mother.
"Mother, I brought you another prey!"
Mother smiles and rubs my head.
"Thank you, child."
"It's my duty as the future champion to help Mother! I'm going to mutate my strain again! Bye, Mother!"
Mother looks surprised before smiling again.
"Go, child."
I once again enter my egg.
[Use 14 biomass to upgrade Body to LV5?]
Yes. my whole body then envelops in warmth. I feel my body grow bigger, harder and more muscular.
[You have reached the maximum level for this strain. Do you wish to mutate it?]
Yes.
[Please pick the mutation for the Body.]
Wow, the amount of it…
Let's see, let's see…
For my Body first evolution, I have already decided to pick a defense focus mutation. So I ignore the option of adding an element to my body, like Fire Body or Poison Body. Although the option of damaging my attacker is tempting, it's not the time to pick it.
Oh, there's also the option like my arm.
[Conductive Body]
[Enable energy to flow throughout the body, reinforcing the body. When charged with energy, the body becomes harder and tougher.]
[Energy +10 Vitality +2]
Should I choose this? Hmm…
Let's not. I want my body to be tough without having to charge it with energy. Carry on.
After scrolling down all the options, I narrow it to two options.
[Hardened Body]
[Harder body exterior that is resistant to physical damage. Offer little to no defense against energy damage.]
[Vitality +3 Strength+1]
[Charged Body]
[Cover the body with a thin layer of energy, reducing damage from both physical or energy. Weaker defense compared to a mutation that wholly focuses on either physical or energy.]
[Permanently lose 5 energy to cover the body with a layer of energy perpetually. Vitality +1 Intelligence +1]
There is also energy focused defense mutation but I haven't seen a monster that attacks with energy besides myself. So I ignore it for now.
Now, which should I choose? The Charged Body one seems more versatile but with the lack of enemy with an energy attack, it seems a waste to choose it.
Yes, let's go with the Hardened Body! For the second mutation, I'll choose the energy focused one so it'll balance things out.
The sludge covers me completely as foreign energy comes inside my body and slowly changes my body. I feel as if my body is being blown then compressed.
Time flies, I don't know how much time has gone but I feel as if a long time has passed. When I get out of my eggs, I see my siblings still digging and they already dig quite deep.
I observe and compare myself with my siblings, I am a little bigger and darker than them. Right now, my body can produce more power and harder than them.
Mother is still sitting on her throne, beside her throne is a mountain of prey. There are many Pringos and one Broon. I walk toward her.
"Mother, look! I mutate my body, I'm stronger now!"
"Un, good child."
Mother smiles and runs my head.
"Of course! After all, I'm the future champion! I need to grow strong quickly!"
Mother chuckles.
"It is good that you hold the Brood dear but don't put yourself in danger. You can only protect the Brood if you are alive."
Mother's voice is still kind and warm but it's heavy.
"I know, Mother. I won't die!"
Mother smiles then suddenly her smile disappears. She stands up abruptly and her face hardens, she is angry.
"Your siblings are in trouble. Go, child, help them. I'll guide you to them."
"Ok, Mother!"
I quickly run out, Mother shows me where they are with the mind link. Who dares mess with my siblings?! I'll tear them limb from limb!
The place Mother shows me is not too far, I run with all my power. Soon, I hear the sound of fighting.
This sound… Broon?
When I arrive, I see my siblings. Two of them are desperately fighting Broon each, four of them lying on the ground with wounds and are bleeding out. Another Broon is eating the head of one of my siblings.
HOW DARE YOU!!
Blades out, I charge at the Broon that is eating my sibling. Discovering me, the Broon threw away my brother. It joins his hand and brings it down at me like a hammer.
Still running, I lean to the side. Avoiding the attack and slipping into its side. The fist strikes the ground and creates a little tremor. My energy-infused blade slashes upward.
SLASH!
Line of blood appears on the Broon forearms. The Broon arms fall off, dyeing the ground with its blood. The Broon cried in pain.
"Shut up!"
My other blade flash and the Broon's head separated from its body.
[You have slain LV1 Broon, you gain EXP!]
I quickly check on my brother. Unfortunately, he is already dead. A large part of his head is already eaten by the broon. I check on my other siblings, thankfully while they are injured severely, they are still alive. But they need to be taken to the nest to be healed ASAP!
I look at the other two siblings that are still fighting. One of them is my brother that likes bashing things, his Bone Blade already mutated into Fist Bone. the Fist Bone is even more muscular than mine. He is wounded but he still fights ferociously.
The other one, on the other hand, is struggling against the broon. She doesn't have any mutated strain yet. Her offense is not that good but she can dodge well, that's why she can still fight. I reach out for Mother through the mind link.
"Mother, can you hear me? Please direct my siblings in the nest to come here. We need to get the siblings here to the nest quickly!"
"They are already on their way, child. Kill the one hurting our family."
"Yes, Mother!"
I intruded into the battle, my blade swung down. The Broon just about to dish out a punch but it stops and jumps back. I stand in front of my sister.
"Go. Bring back our siblings to the nest."
I point at my siblings on the ground.
"Yes."
My sister nods and puts one of them on her back before going back to the nest. The Broon, looking at my fleeing sister. You want to chase her, but did you ask my permission?
I thrust my blade at its side, the Broon jumped back hastily and tumbled. I won't miss such a chance, energy runs through my blade and thrust the lying Broon. It rolls to the side to avoid my thrust and kick me.
I put up my arm as a guard and take the hit, I want to see if my body really becomes tougher. Despite attacking with its legs, the hit is still heavy but I endure it. I'm pushed back by two steps and my arm a little numb.
I guess I am tougher now. The Broon stands up and glares at me menacingly. I caught sight of my brother in a stalemate with the Broon he's fighting.
"Brother, you okay? If you can't keep it up anymore, I can take on your enemy."
Fighting two Broons at the same time will be rough but better than losing another brother. My stoic brother still had his eyes on the Broon in front of him. The two of them are wounded but my brother looks worse.
"No."
After saying that, my brother leaps to the Broon and punches the Broon in the face. Looking at the fight, he can still fight and I think he is gonna win. I turn back to the Broon I'm fighting.
The Broon rush at me and so did I, this broon is really predictable. It leaps and tosses a punch at me, I lean to the side and spin. The Broon misses me and before it can regain its bearings, my tail already sweeps and hits the Broon in the guts.
I always forget that I had a tail, how can I forget such a good attacking method. The Broon steps back and my energy blade is already upon him. It panics and dodges to the side but it loses its hand.
My blade cut the Broon's arm just above the elbow, the Broon howled and turned to run. But how can I let it? Did it think it could mess with my brood and leave alive?
I leap at it and stab it at the shoulder. The Broon drip to the ground with me standing on its back, it struggles but not for long. My blade pierced its head from the back. the Broon stops struggling.
[You have slain LV1 Broon, you gain EXP!]
Finished with my fight, I look at my Brother and see him straddling the Broon while bashing its head with his Fist Bone. The Broon is silent, I think it's already dead.
I approached him and put my arm on his shoulder.
"Brother, stop. It's already dead."
My brother stops and looks at the Broon under him, it's head already bashed to meat paste. The blood-covered Fist Bone retracts.
"You okay? Can you still move? If yes, then pick up our brother. We're heading back."
My brother nods and picks up one of the wounded siblings and heads back to the nest. I wait on the site before two of my siblings come, they haul the last two injured siblings and the dead sibling back to the nest. I put one broon on my back and dragged one more to the nest. The last broon will be taken by other siblings.