"I can barely think straight now! It's making it hard for me to read the boss's moves and when to dodge!" After that sudden notification popped up, this fight became 3 times more difficult than before. After the notification popped up, I could hardly think straight, as my mind was constantly focusing on devouring the creature before me. All I could think about was to try and keep my mind from going back into that 'peaceful' state like last time because that would surely get me killed in an instant.
It seems like my 'Flame Pillar' skill really didn't do as much as I thought, and I'm pretty sure I cast it 6 times at least.
*ROAR*
The Blazing Bear had released a loud ground-shaking roar that knocked me off balance. It was already bad enough that I couldn't think straight, but now I was caught off guard. The Bear's eyes also turned a light red glow as they glared at me with all the hostility of the world.
"Shop!" I shouted. Because I was caught off guard by the ground shaking, the fight I had going on inside my head also took a major turn...for the worse. I could feel myself losing the ability to think properly, although slow, it was evident.
[On Sale]
[Balance: 5700]
[Ring of Haste]: 200 Credits
[Necklace of Strength]: 300 Credits
[Potion of Clarity]: 500 Credits
---
[Basic, and Intermediate Fire Magic Book: 250 Credits
[Advanced Ice Magic Book: 1500 Credits
[More...]
I hurriedly scan through the items as I could feel the overwhelming feeling of 'peace' overcoming me. The first item I saw related to the mind, I bought it.
"Potion of Clarity!" I shouted before being smashed into a wall. Because I had average defense, it hurt like h*ll. After the potion was deposited in my inventory, I quickly took it out and drank it. Even though the pain made it hard to move my arms and legs, I had to if I didn't want to fight a battle with absolutely no chance of winning. As I drank it, I felt a cool breeze throughout my body, while most of the feeling traveled to my head.
The once overwhelming peace looming over my mind had hurriedly retreated like it had met its natural enemy. I could finally think properly, even though the 'Nature of the beast' was still fighting for control of my mind. As I tried my best to quickly get back on my feet, a notification popped up as the cooling effect of the potion had worn off.
[The stat 'Intelligence' has been unlocked.]
[Calibrating 'Intelligence' to the current level.]
[Calibration successful.]
As the last notification popped up, the feeling of 'the nature of the beast' had basically completely been wiped out. Although the effect was still there, I couldn't feel barely any change in my behavior now. I could properly calculate where the boss's attacks would be now, but I still tripped up a few times due to the lingering pain in my limbs.
"Flaming Spear!" I shouted at the boss. As the sporadic fire erupted from beneath the floor and pierced the boss underneath, I noticed a notably different sound coming from its mouth this time around. It let out a painful shriek as the dancing pillar of fire created a noticeable gash on its stomach. I then checked its stats again while it was recovering from the pain.
After seeing the updated amount of health it had, I was truly impressed. The bear took a while to recover, so I remained on guard far away from it while letting myself recover as well. After seeing the amount of health the Flame Pillar took from the boss, I quickly noticed that this new 'Intelligence' stat strengthened both my mind power and magic attack power greatly. I also noticed that the reason I hadn't awakened the 'Intelligence' stat earlier was because I had bought the fireball ability from the Shop instead of actually learning it.
It soon occurred to me that even though I had the system, there were certain shortcomings that came along with it. It doesn't matter anymore now that I awakened the stat though. After a minute or so of glaring and growling, the boss had finally recovered from the previous attack. Because I knew I would win this battle, I got cocky and decided to see what would happen if I let the effect of the Beast Transformation overtake me. I know this is both stupid, and idiotic, but I had to know for research purposes.
"Fire Pillar!" I cast Fire Pillar at the boss again so that it would take some time to recover while I figured out how to control the power of the new 'Intelligence' stat. It didn't take as much time as I thought it would, thanks to the 'Intelligence' stat strengthening my mind, which also accelerated my thought process. After around the same time the boss had recovered, I had figured out how to weaken the defense of my mind and let the feeling of 'peace' overcome me. This time, as the strange feeling of 'peace' completely shrouded my mind, I didn't close my eyes or blackout, only a translucent, light blue notification had popped up in front of me.
[Assimilation with the ability 'Beast Transformation' now in progress.]
[...0%]
[...6%]
[...15%]
[...24%]
[...39%]
[...55%]
[...78%]
[100%]
[Assimilation successful.]
[The ability 'Beast Transformation' has become 'Unique' grade and unobtainable now.]
As I read the continuous notifications, I was shocked. I then thought back to how I had woken up shackled down to a cold metal surgical table. 'Is this what whoever that person was was doing to me?' I thought while checking for any new and redeeming features of the now completed 'assimilation'. While checking all my limbs, I soon noticed how long my arms had gotten, as well as my nails, they had basically become claws at this point. At first, I stepped back thinking it was a monster's hands, but soon noticed that they were mine, as I could feel and control them.
After noticing that, I also noticed that the boss had already recovered, and had jumped at me immediately. As I looked up, I saw a Bear in mid-air brandishing its huge claws towards me. As I had no time to cast 'Flame Pillar', I formed an 'X' with my arms in hopes of fending off most of the damage from the incoming attack. And also, even if I had enough time to cast 'Flame Pillar' it wouldn't even hit the bear because of how high it was in the air.
I squinted my eyes and clenched my teeth as its claws touched my arms and shredded through most of my skin. Although it hurt, I was absolutely certain that that was only 30 to 40% of its strength. To think that my arms had undergone that much of a change from the 'Beast Transformation'. I also quickly noticed that there was a tingly sensation running through my arms, which numbed most of the pain. I was curious but, I also had no time to waste, so I used all the strength in my arms and pushed the boss from in front of me back 40 meters.
>>>
Meanwhile, the members of the group sent by the mysterious person were disgusted at what they saw inside the dungeon. As they ran full speed through the cave, they noticed that all the Fire Bears had already been killed, and in a gruesome way too. Their stomachs were basically nonexistent as there was a giant gaping hole with still-warm blood slowly oozing from it. Whoever had done this was not to be taken for a joke. Even though this was the lowest-ranked dungeon, the one who did this was not to be taken lightly, he or she clearly could deal with these mobs like they were nothing.
They were all afraid to meet this individual, even though they were all over Level 100, who knew what kind of abilities the person had? There were always newly awakened individuals with unique blessings or passive abilities, so they didn't expect anything less. They just hoped that the person would beat the boss quickly and leave.