The Dark forests, five years ago this place were said to be the most dangerous place, that manifested in the world. Lives equivalent to thousands have been swept away with just a single step within this horrific environment. Monsters that spawned as soon as you killed their kin. They were strong, intelligent, and lastly tactical. These monsters developed a high level of intelligence comparable to guardians. Until all of these powers were easily removed, upon the destruction of the orb of catastrophe
[System: The orb of catastrophe has been destroyed by the great alchemist Ernest Quelt that's known for his great achievements. This relic is of unknown origins and to this very day, the only thing that the guardians know was the fact that it empowers the monsters in its range of effect. Even with the destruction of the orb, these monsters' ranks were lowered from extinction rank to measly high-ranking monsters. Nonetheless their not an enemy that a guardian easily belittles]
'Looks like I'll have to regain some of my strength... I'm surprised that there seems to have not even a single irregularity within my condition. Now that think about it, didn't the programming on my test subjects would easily be destroyed? Wait a moment, if my greatest creation merged with my body, it must have simply repaired it right?'
He quickly tries to remember his knowledge and failed attempts over the years that passed. When his first project of the creation of a "Second chance" was kept a secret from the world and his comrades
'Once a week has passed the function of the recreation of muscle memory would've disappeared. This is why the homunculus would've taken a long time before they could enter the final phase. Most of the requirements within my most successful sample only required a few more days. Until it could finally bloom and be the first of many failures to become a living individual. Instead of gaining sentience when it was going to consume my rotting flesh. It saw my body as a missing piece of what the sample was trying to produce. Which led to my body being resurrected as a new being and becoming one with my experiment,'
[System: You've chosen a skill that you want to be returned to your body. The skill has now been engraved into your newly created vessel. Your body has now been fully integrated with the system, you can now level up]
"My bag, it isn't here... Who would've guessed those bastards not only stabbed me to death, they also dare to take what's rightfully mine? Well, the system told me I was resurrected. This means that all my previous contract with my weapons has been relinquished... Looks like I'll have to make use of this rusted blade, quite ironic that im using the blade that kills me," Without anything left of his belongings, he finally decided to leave for the outside world
When he finally climbed up the gorge that became his burial ground, he brought the knife and place it in his inventory. Yet the effects and abilities of this weapon have already been used. It could still be worth using as a means to fend off the monsters lurking in his environment
"Light! Finally, I've found the exit!" faster circling for more than half an hour he reaches the exit of the cave. He gazes into the Moonlight with a dagger in his hand and a long and raggedy cloth covering his privates. He ventured into the dark forest for any lower-rank monsters whilst the abilities within his body started to emerge
[System: The golden eyes of the abyssal tiger have been activated. You can now freely see at a time when your surrounding isn't touched by the ray of light. Apart from night vision, your sense has been increased]
"Kieeek!!!!" If his abilities were a millisecond late to have activated, he would've lost his head right then and there
He read his situation and he concluded that he stepped into the territory of one of the lowest monsters, a demonic hog. That large beast thrust its long and pointy horns which would've severed his head, but his body's instincts denied him to die. Even though he couldn't dodge his response was to block and change the course of the attack. Instead of his head, he blocked with his hands, it pierced through his flesh but never once felt any kind of pain
"You have to try harder than that," He used his strength and pulled his right arm from its horn and uses it to throw his powderized poison
He obtain this from the mushrooms that grew within the edge of his cocoon, he thought he'd need more than a rusted blade and he was right. However, the demonic hog would flail him around by the time his poison has entered its body. He suffers a ton of blood loss, and yet he couldn't feel any kind of pain in his body. When he realizes this he entered a proper position whilst holding his knife and aiming it at his target
[System: The scales of the nightmarish behemoth have manifested themselves to provide the guardian with a better defense. This will only activate once the host has entered a life-threatening state. This will remain as the host's last and final resort to preserve its body]
[System: The skill [Unparalleled alchemical knowledge] has increased the effectiveness of powederized poison. The infection rate has increased, and the dosage has been increased. Finally, the status effect [Weakening] has lowered the stats of the afflicted target]
Anyone would've waited for the right time to make their escape from this desolate environment. It was the most logical thing to do when only the inhabitants are monsters, that range in all shapes and sizes
However, Ernest wasn't a guardian that was lucky enough to reach the center of this hell hole. Apart from his class, gears, or items, that aided him in his expedition, the greatest thing that he currently possesses is his experience
"Demonic hogs, known for their strong charging its victim... The greatest way of killing it is to avoid getting struck by its powerful headbutt. The way to do that is by riding it, however, its skull is its most durable part. You might as well made drugged it with some status effect potion via mouth or nostril," As a guardian that roamed the dangers of his world, he was one of the few who was known to be vigorous
With the manifestation of the scales preventing his loss of blood, he drugged the monster as his top priority
[System: We don't agree with the guardian's strategy of continuing to apply your powderized poison. You're not doing any kind of damage to the overdose target. The only thing that you're obtaining in this exchange is a measly drop rate of the target's defense and stamina~]
[System: You've temporarily muted the system, it will become active once again, after the appointed time has passed]
"Shut up... I know what im doing," His body was being maintained even though he was being flailed around by the horns of his enemy. Yet he kept on the same pace and with the help of his eyes, he can easily avoid any kind of threat. By the time the hog seemed to be affected by his concucted drug, he opened his inventory once more. He grabs his only weapon and slices its body with the edge of his blade
[System: You've killed a high-level demonic hog, the collected experience will now be given. You leveled up, and all of the wounds you gained and stamina lost have been restored]
[System: You've gained a new title called: First blood. Because your first kill is a high-leveled demon you'll gain 5 in every stat. You've achieved an incredible feat at the 0th level, the system wants to grant you a skill]
"Whew, I would've undoubtedly lost if it weren't for the abilities I attached to the homunculus. The laws were pretty strict and annoying, I couldn't care less about them. But I can't ruin the good name of the guardians so I didn't use human body parts. Since that was out of the plan, I combined my lifes work with the use of drops I gained from the monsters I hunted. If my memories are right I also have that," He closes his eyes and started imagining a figure that manifested itself from his body
[System: You've called upon the devouring leach to prey on the flesh that resides in the corpses of your enemies. Devouring leaches hunger has been satisfied, and the host has gained 1 bonus stat on attack, defense, and health]
'This is only the beginning. Demonic hogs are the weakest monster that dwells within the dark forest. If I wish to escape from this wretched environment then I'll have to make use of the system. Plus I need to have better control over my body, I just realized that I didn't apply any nerves to the sample. I can't feel any kind of pain like any normal person should, for now, let's use it. I would've panicked if I could feel any kind of pain in this hell of an environment,'