It looked a little deflated due to my tail puncturing it, and it looked a bit redder than usual. It was probably due to my blight ability. A strong rosy smell emanated from it. I gulped saliva and opened my mouth. Here goes nothing.
「Kindred Devourer Title Unlocked」
A second title? "Hey, Elizabeth, did you also get the Kindred Devourer Title?" I glanced at her and noticed her staring blankly into the air.
"Just now, I also obtained it," she responded. Elizabeth was probably looking at the system screen. It looks like we both got it at the same time.
I was curious about what these titles are. After I finish eating this heart, I need to check the new things that I've got. I swallowed the piece I was chewing and began chowing down quick on the heart. Excitement was present within me.
BraAAaAAaa
I burped as I laid down on the ground. I patted my stomach, which was full and satisfied, "This is the life." I said as I stretched my arms and legs. Its time. Status.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
「Status:」
「Cunning: 23 => 31」
「Power: 12 => 14」
「Spirit: 25 => 29」
「Resilience: 15 => 19」
「Unspent Status Points: 2 => 6」
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
「HP: 37/37」[Full]
「MP: 25/25」
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
I began to read the status window in front of me as I lay down on the soft grassy ground. My cunning status seems to have risen by a lot, but why did my power attribute only grow by 2? Why is that? Is it because of my species? I quickly commanded the system for the description of my species.
「Opening Blight Rat Advanced Profile...」
「Blight Rat: An extinct species that once thrived in the lowest parts of the Nox Labyrinth (Noxilum Tenebraea). They are considered the weakest of all beasts in written history due to their low attribute growth, with the exception of their cunning. 」
「Status Potential:」
「Cunning: +2 per level」
「Power: +1 per two levels」
「Spirit: +1 per level」
「Resilience: +1 per level」
「Location: Not found (Extinct)」
「History:」
「Three thousand years ago, the Blight Rat species were abundant beasts that reigned over the third strata of the Nox Labyrinth. In armies of hundreds, they would take down the strongest of beasts with ease due to their innate ability called "Blight" that sapped the lifeforce of anything it was afflicted with.
The species lived in constant hunger due to their overwhelming numbers. Due to their voracious appetite, they began to cannibalize each other until two hundred years ago. When the great catastrophic event called "The Plague" happened, the mana concentrations present in all stratas began to increase, causing the beasts from the lower stratas to move towards the surface.
Blight rats flooded the surface, covering it in a beige-like blanket that devoured anything it came across. Cities were brought to the ground, and nations were brought to their knees as millions of beasts trampled the surface with their terrifying power. The mana surge that occurred inside the dungeons enabled them to reach the surface, and as the mana levels rescinded and the rats went back to their strata. The Nations of Vertalum were filled with fear that it might happen again, so they devised a plan.
The strongest divers of every nation were gathered, and their group was called the "Eight Rays. They were sent down the Nox Labyrinth with one mission in mind. The complete extermination of the blight rats.」
I read the passage about the history of my species, and it got me wondering. If my species was already extinct, it meant that I was the only one of my kind left. A lonely feeling crept up in my heart. I never realized I had this feeling of longing for my kin, but now that I knew they were all gone, I felt empty. I can't help but feel this way.
I ignored the feeling and stared at the beautiful otherwordly sky, "Weakest of beasts, huh?" I mumbled to myself. My species hunts in groups, yet I'm alone. I need to get stronger. I chuckled, "I really am unlucky."
"Sir Vaeden," Elizabeth called out to me. Even though her face was mostly covered, I could tell she had a serious expression on, "When will the sorcery lessons start?"
Ah, that's what it was about. I waved my tail at her and answered, "Now is not the time yet, for we have just fought a rigorous battle, and we must rest." I tried to sound wise, but all I did was get the final hit on the chimera. I honestly didn't do anything.
"So wise, Sir Vaeden. Then rest we shall," she said as she conjured vines on the ground creating a pillow for her head. I sighed as I watched her get into a comfortable spot which was in a fetus position. She faced me as she folded her knees towards her body and stared at me intently. She was eager to learn, sigh.
My eyelids started to become heavy, and my body started to become sluggish. So much has happened in the few hours I've been reincarnated. I wasn't physically tired, but my mind sure is drained. My mind began to drift as my eyes finally closed, heralding my long-awaited slumber.
...
... ...
"Sir Vaeden. Wake up." Elizabeth gently shook my body to rouse me up. I groaned in annoyance as my sleep was being disturbed.
"Whaaaaaat?" I answered with a hint of irritation. My eyes were still closed as I wanted more time to sleep.
"It's night already. It is dangerous to sleep in an open area. Beasts of the night might surround us and kill us in our sleep. We must move towards my home." She spoke seemingly worried, not for herself, but for me.
"You got me at "Kill us in our sleep," I'm up," I said as I shook my head to shake off the drowsy feeling from waking up. That was a refreshing sleep. I rolled to my side and stood on all fours, "Lead me, Eli."
"Eli? Who's that?" she replied, confused by the name I called her.
"Eli is short for Elizabeth. Think of it as a nickname. It is what friends do in my time." I answered briefly as I gestured for her to move.
"Ah, is that so? Then let us move, Sir Vae." she responded cheerfully as she took 2 steps forward, I stopped for a moment, and she noticed, "What's wrong?"
"Uh, Vae is similar to endearments of lovers in my time. You can call me Vaeden without shortening it." I said awkwardly.
"O-oh! I-I a-apologize. Sir Vae-Vaeden!" she replied, obviously flustered with the information I dropped on her.
"It's fine. Let us keep going." I casually said, trying to remove the awkward atmosphere. Elizabeth began to move forward, frequently glancing over her shoulder to check on me if I was still following behind her. It looked like she was trying to match her pace with mine.
"Hey, what about the leftover corpse of the chimera?" I asked as we traversed the dense vegetation that leads to her home.
"It's in my inventory," she replied as she raised her hand to gesture me to stop, her head swayed from left to right to check our surroundings. She lowered her hand and began to move forward once more.
"You could do that?" I asked, surprised by what she said as I trailed behind her. For a rat, I'm having a hard time seeing in the dark. This is weird.
"Yes. Would you like to carry half of it when we reach our destiny?" she offered as she commanded the vegetation that hindered our path to part creating room for us to move.
"Gladly," I said. I was already feeling a bit hungry. How long was I asleep for? I wanted to ask Elizabeth, but we had no way to properly know how much time has passed.
After walking for what I could guess about half an hour, "We're here." Elizabeth spoke. I was going to ask if we were near yet, but it looks like I didn't have to.
She parted the dense overgrowth in front of us and revealed a stone path that led to a crudely built door at the side of a small hill, "Welcome to my home." Elizabeth said proudly as she pointed at it.
The house she was referring to oddly reminded me of a hobbit's home from a book I've read back on Earth. Elizabeth walked towards the door and opened it, gesturing me to come in.
I slowly took a step forward. A part of me was excited to see what was inside. The first thing that I noticed was there was light coming from inside the room. My eyes wandered towards the ceiling, and I saw a vine hanging with some sort of flower that was emitting light enough to illuminate the entire room.
The room was quite spacious, filled with furniture molded from the earth. Ingenium, what a handy skill. At the center of the room were a fairly high table and a chair. Each corner of the square room was decorated with a potted plant of some sort which looked a bit bizarre but beautiful nonetheless. One of the flowers found in the corner looked like a live flame that wasn't giving off any light. Its roots twisted around the pot it was in, and instead of feeling the heat from it, I could feel coldness instead.
At the right side of the room from the entrance, an earthen bed was present with white plant matter on top of it, which I was guessing was something close to cotton to act as foam for the bed.
"Sir Vaeden," she spoke as she stared at me intently. Is she going to ask about that again? "When will I be taught sorcery?" she continued with excitement.
"Tomorrow at night, Eli. I need to plan what to teach you first." I answered, trying to delay my promise. She nodded her head and sat in the chair at the center. I needed to wait for the morning to come so that I can proceed with my plan.
"I was going to ask this before my stomach rudely interrupted us, but what does the edge of your territory look like since I don't have a map. I plan to venture there." I asked.
"My territory is filled with vast greenery. Once you see something other than that near my territory, then you are at the edge. Would you like me to accompany you?" she offered as she manipulated the earth at the other side of the table to create a small chair. She scratched her head and looked at me. She was probably wondering how I would sit on it.
"It's fine. I must go alone, for now. Let us continue our rest." I answered politely, declining her offer. My plan was simple, slaying beasts grants experience therefore making me stronger. Without the power of numbers that my species takes advantage of, I needed to become independent and strong on my own. With levels, I can be stronger. I headed towards Elizabeth, who was creating a small bed that fit my size beside her bed, and waited for her to finish.
I climbed up the bed she created for me, and I laid down comfortably. I closed my eyes filled with anticipation for the next day. I will become strong.