As Adrian resolved himself to protect Sakura, a familiar ring rang out, cutting off his thoughts.
[Cursed Writer sponsors 50 Fate Value to say, "That's touching and all, but… how do you plan to fight THEM to gain a body? There are much better ways…"]
Offended and embarrassed Adrian defended himself saying, "Shouldn't you of all people know that that's a common expression? Also what do you mean by them, as if you're not the same…"
Not wanting to give Adrian more fate value, Cursed Writer decided not to answer.
Seeing as Cursed Writer didn't answer, Adrian mumbled under his breath, "Why does he always ruin the moment…"
With that said, Adrian walked out of the house while talking with Sakura.
******
A few hours later after Adrian finished a small amount of training a sudden realization occurred to him.
Adrian couldn't help but ask, "Wait, I don't need food because of endurance, but what would have happened if I didn't have it… The only 'food' here are mushrooms, and most of those are poisonous or psychedelic."
Hearing this, Sakura's panel flickered, as if to show her confusion, before she said, ~Wouldn't you just die from dehydration, nutrient deficiency, poison, or starvation? Oh, and why haven't you tried eating the mushrooms?~
Adrian looked like he expected her reaction, but was confused with her second sentence.
Adrian tried to refute, "Why should I eat them… Wait, when I evolved didn't my cells change to produce toxins… What if I can synthesize new toxins with the protein structure of its poison."
Sakura was confused, but said, ~Tha… Fuck it might as well try. The worst that can happen is you trip balls for a while.~
With that one conversation, Adrian decided to experiment with an evolution he neglected, admittedly this was just to stall time before he had to face the theater once again.
******
Over the next six weeks, Adrian consumed everything he could get his hands on.
In the beginning, he started eating mushrooms near his home, and in the process he confirmed his theory, unlocking a special attribute called Poison Blood.
Adrian's, Supreme Alchemy attribute synergized well with Poison Blood allowing him to concoct new organic toxins to strengthen himself as well as raise his immunities.
Along the way his cells, and by proxy, his blood, gained the effects of paralysis, corrosion, hyperacidity, neurotoxic, psychedelic, pain relief, sense inhibitor, and many more.
As Adrian drank the toxic, radioactive, sludge water his Poison Blood attribute evolved into the [Toxic Body] attribute along with giving Adrian another unique skill [Compound Synthesis].
Seeing the cascade of notifications over the past few weeks Adrian continued only to find he could no longer gain new effects from the wasteland's environment.
******
Looking at Adrian his body was currently flushed red overflowing with heat threatening to burst into flames at any moment.
Sakura's panel suddenly flashed as she said, ~Stop! Times Up!~
Under strained breath, as his body cooled at astonishing speeds, Adrian asked, "How did I do?"
In response, Sakura quickly said, ~I think you should check your Abso System…~
"Wait, is there a big change?" Adrian asked as his body returned to normal
Annoyed Sakura said, ~Just check.~
Under Sakura's repeated coaxing, Adrian said, "Fine, Open unlocked view Absolute System."
[Absolute System Status]
[Race: Lesser Okutiar]
[Bloodline: Mythos (Awakened)]
[Attribute: Balance, Spiritual Energy, Mana, Gene cultivation, Supreme Alchemy, Toxic Body]
[Authorities: Outsider to Time: Time waits for nothing, except for you] (Wow you can even make time wait you must be pretty slow)
[Tier 2+]
[Titles: Absolute Zero Luck]
[Stats] (Click for More Information)
[Skills & Abilities] (Click for More Information)
[Evolution Points: 182,456]
Rolling his eyes at the block of text Adrian clicked the skills & ability tab.
[Skills & Abilities]
[Bloodline Ability: Transformation] (Want me to explain this for the readers too)
[Beginner Cooking Man: lvl 2]
[Skilled Compound Synthesis lvl 3]
Watching the roll-down menu Adrian couldn't help but sigh at how annoying his system is, before clicking on [Skilled Compound Synthesis lvl 3].
[Skilled Compound Synthesis lvl 3]
[Active effect: Allows you to create, manipulate, and combine anything physical.]
[Passive effect: Allows you to deduce the composition of anything you sense, as well as allows you to know the effects of any compound you make.]
Once again Adrian rolled his eyes seeing that the level doesn't matter as long as the prefix is superior.
Adrian could only sigh as he said, "Well at least it leveled up…"
After noticing his stagnation in this area Adrian asked Sakura, "How much longer until the next stage is opened?"
After thinking for a short time Sakura responded saying, ~From what I remember 267, but hold on I'll check…~
Pulling up a small light panel for the current area, Sakura became horrified muttering, ~S-Something's… wrong… it-it says 8 days left, but that can't be right we should have more time. Why… No, When did the quest change?~
As she spoke Sakura sent Adrian the quest information.
[Mushroom Wasteland Collection]
[Objective: Obtain all 4 shards and escape the wasteland before the host soul is immolated.]
[Time Limit: 8 days]
[Previous Quest was deemed to be ineffective as the host's mental state was broken.]
[You no longer qualify to participate in this Growth Stage.]
When Adrian's eyes made contact with the crimson light panel a primal chill ran down his spine as a looming aura of death and trauma flooded his senses.
With each word he read the suppression became more and more concentrated causing Adrian to fall into a daze unable to take his eyes off the panel until he read the last word.
As the last word entered his brain Adrian collapsed with the faint sound of Sakura's Frantic voice in the background, marking the end of his 98th day in the wasteland.
******
Suddenly the view changes to Nexus Entertainment…
As the view stabilizes the room is in a panic, each entity yelling about the current scenario.
Original System just stared at Cursed Writer with an overtly obnoxious grin as if to say they had won.
But as OS looked at Cursed Writer their joyous mood was immediately soured by the look of pure ecstasy on Cursed Writer's face.
With a sadistic smile, Cursed Writer looked at OS before loudly silencing the room by saying, "If I didn't want this to happen I would have rewro… I mean stopped this from happening…"
Pausing after his slip of the tongue, Cursed Writer looked around before he continued saying, "Besides we all know OS paid for the change under the rules to get back at Demi-System."
Speechless Original System just huffed before turning back to the screen waiting for something to happen.
Cursed Writer turned around at the onlooking party before saying, "But, you see, this is a much more exciting story to read, wouldn't you agree."
Red vein-like threads grasp at the view throbbing before engulfing the screen forcing you back into the island view of Adrian.
******
After a full day has passed Adrian awoke with an overwhelming feeling of existential crisis looming in his head.
Quickly Adrian got onto his feet forcing his body as fast as it would go, ripping it apart at the seams, scanning the wastelands for the theater or the final nightmare/hope.
Each stride further destroyed his body as it forced itself together creating a much more pronounced blood mist.
What Adrian didn't realize was that as he ran the crimson aura burned into his brain causing a lone number in the bottom of his vision to steadily tick up...
[Wisdom Increased by 1]
[Current Wisdom 74%]