Body Transformation
When Cid woke up, his body had undergone a huge transformation compared to his old frail-looking body. He now looked like a muscular young man with a confident demeanor. He now had short, spiky black hair and sharp facial features, giving him a determined look. His physique became well-defined, showcasing his new strength and athleticism.
As he slowly regained consciousness, he lifted himself from the cool ground and gingerly touched his throbbing head. He felt a slight ache that seemed to last for only a second before fading away. As his eyeless eyelids fluttered open, he was surprised to find that his vision had become incredibly clear. It was as if he could see every little detail in stunning 4K resolution. Even his other senses, like hearing and smell, had been heightened to their maximum potential. He turned his head to the left and saw his weapon lying beside him on the ground.
Just as he reached out to pick it up, a red transparent screen appeared before him with the words "Congratulations! You have successfully transformed into a halfling. First mission: Defeat the horde of beasts coming towards you. Total amount of beasts: 20. Upon completion, you will be granted rewards." This shocked Cid but also filled him with a sense of excitement and anticipation. He couldn't believe it - this was his new body. He felt brand new, solid and confident, as if taking on 20 beasts was no big deal.
With newfound strength coursing through him, he grabbed the sword and stood up to face the approaching beasts in the distance. Some were large and intimidating, while others were smaller and faster. But Cid felt no fear. He held the sword tightly in his hand, feeling its weight and power, and knew that he was ready for whatever came his way.
Cid stood, his body pulsing with newfound strength, his grip tight on the crimson reaper. The beasts approached in a chaotic frenzy, their roars filling the air with a loud symphony of impending danger. He squared his shoulders, a flicker of determination igniting in his eyes.
"Looks like we've got some unwelcome guests," Cid muttered to himself, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
The first beast lunged towards him, its massive claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Cid dodged to the side with a dancer's grace, the rush of air accompanying the beast's strike brushing against his skin. He countered swiftly, bringing down the crimson reaper in a swift arc that sliced through the beast's thick hide like butter. The creature let out a guttural roar before collapsing at his feet.
"One down, nineteen to go," Cid quipped, a surge of adrenaline fueling his movements.
The next opponent charged at him, its speed catching Cid off guard for a moment. With a quick pivot, he narrowly avoided the beast's snapping jaws, feeling the hot breath on his skin. He retaliated with a series of calculated strikes, each one finding its mark on the beast's exposed flank. The clash of steel against flesh reverberated through the clearing, a cacophony of battle cries and snarls filling the air.
As the fight raged on, Cid's senses sharpened to a razor's edge. The metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the acrid smell of sweat and fur. His muscles burned with exertion, each movement fueled by sheer determination and unwavering resolve. The ground beneath his boots trembled with each impact, sending shockwaves through his body.
A particularly large beast barreled towards him, its sheer size casting a looming shadow over Cid. With a deep breath, he steadied himself, anticipation coiling in his chest. As the beast closed in, Cid leaped aside with lightning speed, narrowly avoiding its crushing weight.
"Too slow!" Cid taunted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
In one fluid motion, he spun on his heel and brought the crimson reaper crashing down upon the beast with unbridled force. The ground shuddered beneath them as the blade bit deep into the creature's flesh, sending a spray of crimson droplets into the air. With a final roar that echoed through the clearing, the beast fell defeated at Cid's feet.
Eighteen beasts remained, but Cid showed no signs of faltering. Each foe he faced only fueled his determination further, igniting a fierce fire within him that burned brighter with every victorious strike. The dance of battle continued with relentless intensity as Cid pressed on toward his ultimate goal - to emerge victorious against all odds and claim his well-deserved reward amidst the chaos of combat.
As Cid continued his one-man assault on the remaining beasts, his movements became even more fluid and precise, as if he had become one with the crimson reaper. Each strike, each block, each parry was executed with a deadly efficiency that left his opponents gasping for breath before finally succumbing to their fate.
The battle raged on, the air thick with the scent of blood and the sounds of metal meeting bone and fur. Despite the chaos, Cid remained calm and focused, his entire being centred around the task at hand - defeating the last eighteen beasts to claim his reward.
Cid knew that the end was near, and with a final burst of adrenaline, he launched himself at the last remaining beast. The creature roared in terror and fury as Cid closed the distance between them, the crimson reaper poised for the death blow.
The clash was brutal, both sides refusing to yield and As the last beast fell, Cid's breathing slowly returned to normal. He looked down at the crimson reaper, but it did not seem to be stained with blood.
The screen reappeared in front of Cid, displaying a message: "Congratulations, you have earned four rewards!" Reward 1 was an Ability Orb Chooser, allowing him to select an ability from a predetermined list. The second reward was Skill Outfit Manipulation, granting the user the ability to wear any outfit they desired instantly, but it couldn't be levelled up. The third reward was 20,000 EXP, bringing his current level up progress to 20,000 out of 25,000 EXP. Finally, the fourth reward was Swordsmanship Mastery, promising mastery in all sword and blade weapons he picked up.
Cid couldn't believe his luck as he gazed at the rewards displayed before him. The Ability Orb Chooser intrigued him the most, as it held the promise of unlocking a new power to add to his arsenal. The thought of mastering different abilities and combining them with his newfound swordsmanship skills excited him to no end.
Without hesitation, Cid selected the Ability Orb Chooser and was presented with a list of powerful abilities. His eyes scanned through the options, each one more enticing than the last. After much deliberation, he finally settled on Animal Communication. Cid had always loved animals, and from reading the description, this would allow him to converse with any non-human creature.
Cid felt a surge of excitement as the Ability Orb Chooser glowed brightly before disappearing in a flurry of radiant particles. A newfound sense of connection to the world around him seemed to pulse through his veins, tingling with untapped potential. He closed his eyes and focused on the power within him, reaching out with his mind to the creatures in the surrounding forest.
As he opened his eyes, a sense of wonder washed over him. He heard the melodic chirping of birds overhead and the rustling of leaves as small woodland creatures scurried about. Cid concentrated, sending out a mental signal to any nearby animals, testing his newfound ability.
To his amazement, a squirrel perched on a nearby tree branch turned its head towards him with curious eyes. Cid felt a rush of joy as he realized he could understand the creature's thoughts and emotions. The squirrel chattered excitedly, its message clear to Cid—gratitude for protecting their forest from the beasts that had threatened their home.Cid thought, of course, and as if understanding him, the squirrel jumped around in gratitude before scurrying away to scavenge for food.
Cid took advantage of his new skill in manipulating outfits. After bulking up, he noticed that his current clothes were ripped and decided to change into something more stylish. He thought about an outfit that would match his personal style and a red light Shaun dimly on his body revealing the outfit he had envisioned, it was a loose-fitting black t-shirt paired with cargo pants that feature multiple pockets, enhancing the utilitarian vibe.
A plaid shirt tied around the waist adds a layer of texture and a pop of pattern to the monochromatic outfit. He wore sturdy black combat boots, which contributed to the overall rugged aesthetic. He was happy with it.
As he retrieved the sword, he imagined it having a sheath. Suddenly, a simple black sheath appeared, covering the entire length of the blade. He noticed a strap attached to it as well. It occurred to him that this was his outfit changer's special skill, and he could also use it on others and objects. He had countless questions about everything that had just happened to him, but for now, he was just grateful to have an ability and be eligible to join the military.