"Grandpa, are you sure about going to the mountains? The news had announced that there would be heavy rain later this afternoon. It'll be dangerous since the mountain is prone to landslides," my grandson, Harry, told me as I prepared a basket and scissors.
He was my late sister's grandson, whom I took in after the whole family died in a car accident, and Harry miraculously survived. He was just six years old back then, and now, he has his own family.
"Don't worry, Harry. I'll be quick. Shopie needed the medicine, but the plants I need to gather can only be found in the mountains," I told him, easing his worries.
"But Grandpa-"
"I'll be alright, okay? Just make your family at home," I told him, slipping on my trekking boots and waving goodbye to him.
My dog, Koppo, followed me.
I arrived at the mountain an hour later and started looking for the herbs I wanted.
"Ah, there you are," I said, smiling when I saw a colony of mantra herbs and started to pick it.
A few minutes later, Koppo started to bark as gentle raindrops started to pour.
"Just a minute, Koppo. I'll fill this basket, and off we go. The rain isn't that heavy," I told him, but Koppo kept barking furiously in the direction above me. "Calm down, boy, we're halfway there," I tried to calm him down, but he bit my boots, trying to pull me away from where I was standing.
Koppo had never been like this, and I didn't understand him; maybe something was behind those bushes. To calm him, I walked over the bush, which only intensified his barking and pulled me out of there.
I tried to calm him down and to prove that nothing was there. I swiped the bush only to be faced with a huge king cobra who had already stood up and spread its cape, ready to attack.
I knew how aggressive kings are, so I stand still. But my dog Koppo is barking non-stop, provoking the king.
The king turned its head on my dog and was about to bite him.
Oh no, my beloved dog!
And before I knew it, I jumped on my dog and protected him. I don't know how many times the king had bitten me; all I knew was my body became numb as I lay on the ground, and my dog kept on whining.
The venom has probably started to take effect that my old body can't handle. I closed my eyes, and perhaps I should welcome my death anytime…
King Cobra's bite left my body in a numbing pain. I wanted to stop, but I bet the venom might be busy doing its job.
Confirmed. Pain nullification acquisition successful!
Confirmed. Venom Resistance acquisition successful!
I don't want to die yet. Harry will be sad.
Confirmed. Immortality acquisition successful!
Damn it. I hear Koppo's whining and the rain sounds, but I don't understand it.
Confirmed. Voice of all things communication acquisition successful!
Ah, I wasted my whole life trying to make herbal medicine for sick people, and yet I can't heal myself.
Confirmed. Healing acquisition successful!
I remember my grandmother, who was on a deathbed back then, trying to pass down her knowledge of witchcraft, but I declined. She told me I could tame aggressive animals, but I didn't believe her.
Confirmed. Monster Tamer acquisition Successful!
I also remember her teaching me how to use swords back then. But my mother forbade it and took us away from grandma. I smiled when I remembered mother coming running with a stick to hit me on my ass because I didn't follow her words. I would grab some basin as my makeshift shield against my mother's stick.
I would love to be a merchant. I wanted to sell my goods when I was young…
Confirmed. Great swordsmanship acquisition successful!
Confirmed. Creation and Appraisal acquisition successful!
Confirmed. Weapon crafting and enhancement skill acquisition successful!
Confirmed. Spell and magic caster acquisition successful!
Confirmed. Unlimited knowledge acquisition successful!
Calculating…body has been damaged and malfunctioned due to the snake's venom…trying to fix…
Failed.
Ah.. I want to be born young and do what I have missed all my life. I want to have a girlfriend and try that thing…
Confirm: Seduction Magnetism acquisition successful!
Understood.
Generating a new body…failed.
Matching body type…success.
Binding consciousness to the newly found body….
Granted…
Scanning and accessing the newly acquired body…
Begin transferring…
Successful..
Confirmed. Speech style summoning Magic acquisition successful!
Confirmed. Skill, Magic Manipulation acquisition successful!
Shut up! Who are you? Why are you in my head and so loud when I'm about to die?
Confirmed. Extra Skill obtained: Great Oz acquisition successful!
The voice has finally stopped. The weight of my body slumped, and noise began to feel blocked in my ears, and I took my last breath…
Peace at last, and if only I will have the chance to reincarnate, I'll make sure I'll make my life fulfilling…
Ah, damn it…