The cavern had this weird, soft glow that came from the bioluminescent moss clinging to the walls. Normally, I'd say it was eerie, but now? It felt... warmer. Like the place itself recognized the bond I'd formed with Nibbles. That tiny guy was perched on my shoulder, flicking his tail like he owned the place. I settled onto the cold stone floor, cross-legged, and focused on this new energy web connecting us.
It wasn't just some vague connection; it felt alive, buzzing faintly, like a heartbeat I could sense but not hear. The more I focused, the clearer it became, and with that clarity came a flood of realizations that hit me harder than I expected.
I squinted, half-expecting to need my Analyze function to get a better look at Nibbles' details. Except... I didn't. It was just there, floating in my mind's eye, as clear as if I'd pulled up a status screen.
{Species: Mimic Squirrel (G-/D-)}
{These creatures possess the potential for varied evolutionary paths, shaped by their personalities and elemental exposure.}
{Subspecies: Tri-elemental Mimic Squirrel (F-/D- -> D+)} (Mutation)
{Skills: Light Immunity, Light Release and Absorption, Light Projection, Light Heal, Water Wall, Life Absorption}
{Rank: E- -> E / D+}
I stared at the status for a second, processing just how far Nibbles had come. From a half-dead critter I patched up to this? His skills were sharp, his potential ridiculous, and his presence cocky.
"Well, aren't you becoming a little powerhouse," I muttered, smirking.
Nibbles chittered back, his tone practically dripping with agreement. Cheeky as ever.
While I was soaking up the surprise of this automatic insight, a new sensation brushed against my thoughts. It wasn't quite a voice, more like... emotions. Flashes of intent. Nibbles was trying to communicate.
I shut my eyes and focused. Nibbles?
Warmth. Excitement. A sharp jolt of pride. That was his response.
"Wait, you can hear me?" I asked aloud, almost laughing.
Another wave of smugness hit me. He didn't need words; his emotions screamed, Of course I can.
"You've always been cheeky, haven't you?" I said, chuckling.
This whole emotional dialogue thing was new, but surprisingly easy to pick up. It wasn't words—it was raw instinct, like speaking a language you didn't know you'd learned. And in battle? The potential for coordination was huge.
The next discovery was as weird as it was fascinating. As I studied Nibbles, something caught my eye—faint streaks of blue and green fur on his tail. That definitely wasn't there before. A quick glance at his status confirmed it:
He'd inherited my water and life affinities.
Not taken—shared.
In return, I'd gained his light affinity. Not fully—it was sitting at around 70%—but it was there. I stretched out my hand, willing a flicker of light to form, and sure enough, a soft glow danced on my fingertips.
"Seriously, you're full of surprises," I muttered, scratching behind his ears.
The bond wasn't just some symbolic link but changing us both.
It wasn't just the magical stuff either. Nibbles had physically leveled up. His movements were sharper, faster. He darted across the cavern floor, a blur of speed, before leaping back onto my shoulder with a smug chirp.
At the same time, I noticed changes in myself. I felt lighter, quicker. My reflexes were sharper, and even my breathing came easier. My endurance had definitely improved.
"This bond just keeps getting better," I muttered, shaking my head.
The 5th discovery.
This one blew everything else out of the water.
Through our bond, Nibbles could merge with me—like, literally merge. We called it Possession.
The first time we tested it, the results were... insane.
The moment Nibbles entered my body, I felt this overwhelming surge of power.
My hair turned stark white, and my eyes lit up gold, glowing like twin suns. It wasn't just a stat boost—our strengths combined and multiplied.
For a few moments, I had the raw power of an E+ ranked fighter.
I could use his abilities as easily as my own. A Healing Aura radiated from my palms, while Light Bolts shot from my fingertips, streaking through the cavern in flashes of brilliant light.
And yet, I was still me.
Nibbles wasn't in control; he was just... there, amplifying everything I had.
It exhausted our mana a lot faster, but with Nibbles's mana added, I could last longer after we ran out of mana.
The possession automatically gets canceled.
The injuries are also shared; they are controllable.
When the test ended, I glanced down at him, now curled up on my lap. "Looks like we're a force to be reckoned with," I said, grinning.
He squeaked in agreement, puffing out his tiny chest like he'd just won a fight.
A Quick Look at My Status
Afterward, I checked my own progress. It felt overdue, given everything that had happened.
{True Name: Chains of Liberation.}
{Current Name: Alypos Ilias (????th reincarnation)}
{Age: 13}
{Rank: E- / E-}
{Affinities: Water (100%), Life (100%), Death (70%), Ice (100%), Lightning (85%), Pain (100%), Soul (80%), light (70%)
{Attributes: [Master of Water], [Fated], [Master of life] ???}
{Aspect: Evolution, Contractual Bond, ???}
{Race: Human (Max: E-)}
{Strength: 9.8 -> 10/10 (E-)}
{Agility: 9.8 -> 10/10 (E-)}
{Constitution: 9.8 -> 10/10 (E-)}
{Dexterity: 9.8 -> 10/10 (E-)}
{Charm: 9.8/10 (E-)}
{Mana: 10/10 (E-)}
{Luck: 7.6 -> 8.4/10 (F+)}
{Skills: Water Manipulation Stage 1 (D+), Aqua Healing (E+), Hell Viewing (E), Light immunity, Light projection}
{Combat: Flowing Style Level 5 (Quasi-master)}
{Functions:- Analyze}
"Not bad," I murmured, though the rank cap was starting to annoy me.
***
The days blurred together as I immersed myself in training and further exploration of the bond. But as the third day dawned, something shifted.
The ground beneath me began to tremble, a faint rumble that quickly escalated into a violent quake.
Dust and loose stones rained down from the cavern ceiling.
"This is no ordinary earthquake," I muttered, rising to my feet.
Nibbles chittered nervously, leaping to my shoulder.
Then I saw her.
Zainab's massive form writhed in the center of the cavern, her scales gleaming with an almost blinding brilliance.
She was twisting and coiling, her body contorting in ways that seemed impossible.
The air grew heavy with mana, the sheer density of it pressing against my skin.
"This is her breakthrough," I realized.
Zainab was pushing her mana core to its limit, forcing it to expand and condense.
The process was violent and painful. She hissed and thrashed, her cries echoing through the cavern.
I watched in morbid fascination, comparing her ordeal to my own.
When I had broken through, I hadn't made a sound. Whether that was a testament to my strength or a flaw in my humanity, I wasn't sure.
Zainab's transformation was far more dramatic.
Her azure scales began to peel away, shedding in iridescent flakes that dissolved into the air.
New scales grew in their place, harder, sharper, and far more radiant.
But that wasn't all.
As I watched, two new heads began to form, emerging from her writhing body with terrifying speed.
When the process finally ended, Zainab lay still, her massive form heaving with exertion.
She now had four heads: two blue, one brown, and one striking purple.
The cavern seemed to hold its breath as she rose, her new heads surveying her surroundings with eerie intelligence.
Mana radiated from her in waves, each breath she took exuding particles of water, earth, and poison.
She had become a Master-ranked being—a mid-ranker.
The difference was staggering. If before I had a slim chance of defeating her, now that chance had vanished entirely.
"0 out of 10," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.
Zainab's gaze settled on me, and for a moment, I wondered if she would test her newfound strength against me.
But then she spoke, her voice a harmonious blend of her four heads. "It seems we have both grown, human."
I inclined my head. "You more than me, it seems."
Her laughter echoed through the cavern, a deep, resonant sound that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Yes," she said, her tone both amused and proud. "And the gap between us has only widened."
Her words were a reminder of just how far I still had to go. But instead of despair, I felt a spark of determination.
One day, I would close that gap.
As the cavern settled into an uneasy calm, I glanced at Nibbles.
"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us," I said.
The little squirrel chirped in agreement, his tail flicking with resolve.