I gasped, my lungs burning as I jolted awake. Something thick and viscous clung to my mouth and nose—blue slime.
Panicking, I sat up, coughing and spitting until the strange substance was out of my airway. My chest heaved as I caught my breath.
My vision was blurry at first, but as it cleared, I saw a crowd of worried faces.
"You're awake!"
Veshira jumped in and hugged me with teary eyes before I could react.
"What were you thinking? Setting off the explosives while you were still standing there—were you trying to get yourself killed??"
"I didn't exactly have time to come up with a better plan."
I muttered, tapping Veshira on the back to release me.
I looked down at my body. There was no wound from the Cavecrawler.
It seems whatever that thing in the void was had reconstituted my body.
Open statues
I think in my head.
A glowing window materialized before me, hovering in the air like something straight out of a game.
**[STATUS WINDOW]**
**Name:** ???
**Race:** Echoren (Tricrown Variant)
**Title:** God Candidate
**Level:** 1
**Experience:** 0 / 100
**Attributes:**
- **Strength:** 12
- **Agility:** 10
- **Endurance:** 15
- **Intelligence:** 14
- **Charisma:** 8
- **Divinity:** 1
Only 8 charisma? Seriously.
I frowned, glaring at the screen.
No doubt this was because the original owner of this body was a lacker.
Ereshar—that was his name, wasn't it? Strange how it wasn't showing up here.
And then it hit me.
Wait... What is my name?
"Why are you quiet? Are you still really okay?"
"Oh, I am fine. Totally fine."
Before Veshira could press further, a loud, authoritative voice boomed from the crowd.
"If you are fine then I suggest getting off my bed, lad."
A loud voice broke though the crowd.
"Piss off, will ya? There are a lot of work to do, stop lazing around."
An elder, a female Tricrown with a missing eye.
I think the Echoren race live longer than human because I don't find her looking so old to be called a grandma.
The crowd began to scatter.
I turned to her, trying to muster some charm.
"Ah, I didn't realize I was resting on such a beauty's bed. Forgive me, but I've not yet fully healed to leave this comfort."
I reached out, gently taking her hand and pressing a light kiss to it.
"Perhaps we could share it instead?"
The elder raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Oh, this young lad has quite the tongue on him. Fine, I'll allow it."
Without hesitation, she climbed onto the small bed, her body pressing against mine as she settled in.
"I'll hold you so you don't fall off. How's that?"
I wrapped my arm around her, leaning into the playful banter.
"Comforting."
I glancing at Veshira, who was standing by my side.
"You don't feel jealous?"
"Nope. Not at all."
Veshira said with a smile. There was a teasing glint in her eyes as she walked away.
No fun
I had hoped for some kind of reaction.
"Well, this isn't how I imagined this day ending."
I muttered under my breath, earning a hearty laugh from the elder at my side.
"Good thinking lad. So what do you want to talk?"
The elder woman sat up.
"How did I do on the test?"
"Honestly, I thought this whole company was done for the moment five out of seven broods failed the test. At least, you didn't die off like the ones before you. Honestly, I thought this company was done for the moment 5 out of 7 brood died during the test."
"Don't you think the test is too harsh?"
"It wouldn't have been, if some idiots hadn't messed it up before we got here. It was supposed to be a straightforward hunt."
"You shouldn't blame them. They were overzealous. Anyway, There is something else I wanted to talk to you. Have you been aboard the aircraft?"
"A true Tricrown."
The elder handed me a card. On it were her name and her position: Elies, Ground Fighter Division.
"Strap me into a suit of armor and send me to slay some wingless dragons now and then. Keeping as many DNA samples of those creatures as possible."
"Why would they do that??"
She leaned in closer, lowering her voice.
"Because I like you, I'll tell you this—though you'll find out soon enough once you're on the aircraft. There's an ancient civilization, one that specialized in genetic modification. We're searching for their technology to merge with the DNA of the wingless dragons. If we succeed, we could roam the Earth freely. But we don't make it publicly known. No point in giving people false hope. Also because of the danger of such technology."
As she finished, a screen appeared in front of me.
**[QUEST LOG]**
**[ASCENSION]**
- **FIND THE ANCIENT RUNES.** _(Pending)_
"You seem to have high hope for me huh? That's all. I needed to know. Thank you."
I said, standing up from the bed.
Elies smirked, leaning back on the bed.
"Don't disappoint me, lad."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
**I forgot to ask about the trees.**
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The cavern bustled with activity when I returned.
The air was thick with the earthy scent of newly dug rock and something sharper -- the raw flesh of cavecrawlers.
It seemed they had managed to hunt the stragglers left behind after the explosion and were now feasting on them.
I found Veshira seated near a small group, slicing into a cavecrawler's exoskeleton.
She spotted me and gestured for me to sit next to her.
Without hesitation, she held up a piece of meat toward me.
"Ahhhh."
Reluctantly, I opened my mouth, taking the piece. The texture was slimy, and the taste was earthy with a metallic tang. I chewed slowly, fighting the urge to gag.
It took a few more chew for me to get used to it. But once I do, it wasn't so bad.
"Update me on our situation"
"We'll have to make do with our current numbers until new broods are sent. Thalvyr's scouting party has already left to assess the situation beyond the blocked tunnels. We're fortifying what's left of the cavern system to make sure the crawlers don't return."
As she spoke, she gestured toward a group of five individuals guiding a massive creature through the cavern.
It was a worm—but not just any worm. This thing was enormous, resembling something straight out of Dune though significantly smaller and noticeably more docile. Its segmented body shimmered under the dim glow of the bioluminescent fungi, coated in a thick, translucent blue mucus.
I squinted at it, something clicking in my memory.
"Wait a second. That goo... isn't that the same stuff you used to treat my injuries? The stuff that was in my nose and mouth?"
Veshira grinned, clearly enjoying my reaction.
"Exactly. The creature secretes it naturally. It's a powerful healing agent, but it also hardens when it comes into contact with dirt and stone. Our people domesticated them long ago, using them for digging tunnels and even for sustenance when food is scarce."
A glowing notification flickered in my vision.
**[THE CONDITION TO USE A SKILL IS MET]**
Intrigued, I thought the command: **Open Skill List.**
A new window materialized before me, displaying the details of my current abilities.
***********************************************************************
**[Active Skills]**
1. **Soul Transfer**
- **Description:** Allows the user to transfer their soul into a compatible host, leaving the original body behind. Can only be used once every 30 orange glows. The current body will enter a dormant state until the soul returns or perishes.
- **Condition:** Host body must be alive but unoccupied.
2. **Soul Absorption**
- **Description:** Absorb the essence of souls from recently deceased beings to collect energy and potential.
- **Condition:** Currently unavailable. Skill locked until specific criteria are met.
---
**[Passive Skills]**
1. **Soul Resonance**
- **Description:** Utilize absorbed souls to enhance physical and mental attributes, acquire new skills, or strengthen existing ones. The more powerful the soul, the greater the potential gains.
***********************************************************************
Veshira nudged me.
"You're staring off into space again. Is this going to be a new thing?"
"Yep. Better get used to it."
I smirked, opening my mouth wide for Veshira to feed me.
She picked up another piece of cavecrawler meat and held it out, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You're spoiling me, Veshira."
"Don't get used to it."
She said, flicking a small piece of meat at me, which I dodged with a laugh.
The rest of the group chuckled.