These skills are turning out to be quite useful. With the *Shadow Cloak* ability, I can now conceal my presence by blending into the shadow of my prey. This makes it much harder for them to notice me, as if I'm a part of the darkness itself. It feels strange but empowering. As for the other physical enhancement skills I've acquired, they will help me exert my strength more effectively during combat or any physically demanding situations. This newfound power is something I can already feel coursing through me, making me feel like I'm more capable than I've ever been before. I can't wait to test the limits of my abilities.
Before I move on to hunting, I'll focus on practicing the *Shadow Cloak* skill first. I want to get the hang of it before doing anything else. Once I've mastered it or at least feel comfortable with it, I'll test my strength by lifting a few objects to better understand my current physical limits. I can already tell that my strength is far greater than it was before, but how much greater exactly? That's something I need to figure out.
But there's still one lingering question I need answered: how exactly do I use the *Shadow Cloak* skill? I have the general idea, but I need more guidance before I can perfect it.
"Lumeria, how do I use the *Shadow Cloak* skill?" I asked, turning to her for guidance. Her advice would be invaluable at this stage. She had been nothing but helpful ever since I arrived here, and her wisdom always seemed to have the answers I needed.
"Adam, you need to focus on the shadow of an object or a being," Lumeria explained in her usual calm and measured tone. "Once you've found the shadow, try to envelop yourself within it. Imagine becoming one with it. The more you practice, the better control you'll gain over it. It's not something that will happen overnight, but with time, you'll learn to move through shadows as if you were one with them."
"Got it. Let's give this a try," I said, determined to make progress. With Lumeria's advice, I felt more confident about my ability to master the skill. I was eager to test it out.
I took a deep breath and focused my mind entirely on the shadow of a nearby object. I channeled my shadow affinity into it, focusing all my energy on becoming one with the shadow. My affinity was already at the mid-level, so I expected some success, but I knew it wouldn't be perfect. I focused on every inch of the shadow, willing myself to blend into it. After a few moments, I could feel the change. I felt lighter, more hidden, as though I were almost a part of the darkness.
Perhaps because my shadow affinity had already reached the mid-level, I was partially successful. I managed to blend into the shadow, though it wasn't perfect. While I could conceal myself to a significant degree, I wasn't completely invisible. If someone were to look carefully, they would still spot me, but they would have a harder time doing so.
"Not perfect," I muttered under my breath, frustrated but not discouraged. "But this is a good start. I can work with this for now." It felt like a small victory, and I knew that with more practice, I would perfect it.
Satisfied with my initial attempt, I decided to turn my attention to my physical strength. There was a large boulder nearby, sitting on the ground as if waiting for me to test my limits. I approached it with purpose, determined to see just how strong I had become. Walking over to the boulder, I crouched down and gripped it firmly with both hands. I lifted it off the ground, straining slightly at first, but then the weight felt manageable, even easy.
"Hmm, not bad," I thought to myself as I held the boulder aloft, admiring my own strength. "This feels like it weighs around 1,000 kilograms. Back in my old world, I'd easily be the strongest man alive." The thought made me smirk. I had always been strong in my past life, but now, with the enhancements from my new form and abilities, I was even stronger. It was a good feeling.
Of course, this wasn't even close to my limit. Ants are known to carry between 10 to 50 times their body weight, and with my ant-like abilities, I should be capable of something similar. If my current weight is around 75 kilograms, my theoretical strength should be approximately 1,900 kilograms, almost two tons. That was incredible, even by the standards of my old world.
"Not bad at all," I said, smirking slightly. "I guess I'm ready to start hunting now." The thought of testing my abilities in a real-world scenario made me excited. It was time to put everything I had learned to the test.
For my first hunt, I decided to start simple. A slime would be the perfect target. It was weak and easy to kill, but who knows? Maybe it would have some special bloodline or unique abilities. I had to find out.
"Lumeria, can you locate a slime nearby?" I asked. My senses were keen, but I still needed help with the finer details. Lumeria had been able to find everything I needed up until now, so I was confident she could help with this as well.
"Scanning the surroundings," Lumeria replied, pausing for a brief moment. "There's a slime approximately 500 meters ahead."
"Perfect," I said, already on the move. "Let's see if my luck is good or bad today." I wasn't expecting much, but you never know what might turn up.
When I reached the location, I spotted the slime. It was a simple-looking creature, with a translucent, gelatinous body that glistened in the sunlight. There was nothing about it that made it appear particularly dangerous, but I knew better than to underestimate anything in this world.
"Lumeria, what's its weakness?" I asked, needing the critical information to ensure a quick and efficient kill.
"The core," she replied without hesitation.
With that knowledge, I immediately lunged toward the slime, targeting its core. It reacted by trying to jump away, but I was faster. Before it could escape, I had already shattered its core, my hand grasping the broken piece as it dissolved into a puddle of goo. Without hesitation, I devoured the core, knowing it would provide me with some kind of power.
I sat down to meditate, focusing on absorbing its essence. I needed to understand what I had gained from the slime's bloodline and essence.
After about 15 minutes of deep concentration, I opened my eyes and asked, "Lumeria, what did I gain from this slime?"
"You've gained water affinity," she replied. "Additionally, your acid affinity has advanced to the mid-level."
"And what about the skills?" I asked, eager to know if anything useful had been unlocked.
"You've acquired the following: *Storage* (low level), *Regeneration*, and *Acid Absorption*."
"Hmm," I said, thinking it over. "Maybe the novels I used to read were a bit misleading. This is the real world now, and things aren't always as simple as fiction made them seem. Still, I've gained some decent skills here. This is a good start." I was satisfied with the results, but I knew this was just the beginning. There was so much more to learn and gain from this world.
With that thought, I stood up, feeling more powerful than before, ready to continue my journey.
Now my acid affinity is stronger, and I've already absorbed four bloodlines. There are only six more I can absorb, and I have to make sure to choose wisely. I should also find a bird's bloodline—maybe it can help me fly.
"Let's try to find a bird."
"Yes, Adam, but you should try to find them yourself too. It will help you develop your tracking skills," Lumeria suggested. Her advice was sound. I would need these skills for the future.
"Okay, next time I'll try myself."
"Alright... there is a nest of Ember Wing birds nearby. You can try your luck there."
"Fantastic. That's a great name. Maybe it will have some useful skills too. I'll try blending in with the trees' shadows."
As I neared the Ember Wing nest, I spotted a bird with glowing, fire-like wings sitting protectively on its nest, guarding three eggs. The sight was mesmerizing. Maybe tonight I'll have an omelette for dinner, I thought with a smirk.
The bird was just warming its eggs, and for a moment, I hesitated. Maybe I shouldn't kill it. I would be taking the mother away from her eggs. It seemed cruel, but then again, if I wanted to survive, I had to absorb its bloodline. I couldn't afford to be weak. Without further hesitation, I grabbed a stone and crept up behind the bird. I enveloped myself in its shadow and began attacking it with rocks. It didn't fight back. Instead, it shielded its eggs with its wings, perhaps out of a deep maternal instinct.
In that moment, I decided to spare the eggs. I immediately climbed down from the tree, carrying the Ember Wing's dead body and its three eggs. Just then, Lumeria spoke:
"Adam, I think you should keep the eggs and let them hatch. They could be useful companions for you."