Satoru, after taking in all the information from Great Sage, nodded to himself. "Alright. Since I'm not really tired, the first thing I should do is figure out how to use my skills better. Killing a few monsters to gain their abilities and training myself sounds like a good way to start. After that, I'll find a way out of this cave."
As he prepared to move, his attention was caught by the abundance of herbs and shiny-looking rocks scattered around the cave floor. Curious, he asked, "Great Sage, what are those? They look valuable."
A brief pause, and then Great Sage responded:
Satoru's eyes—or rather, his awareness—lit up with interest. "Medicinal herbs and magic ore? That's great! Sounds like they could come in handy later. And since I have all this storage space thanks to my Predator skill, I might as well take everything."
Without hesitation, he activated Predator, and his body began to absorb all the herbs and ores within his reach. One by one, the items disappeared into his internal storage, neatly organized and ready for future use.
"Man, this Predator skill is ridiculously useful," he muttered, watching the shiny ores vanish as he absorbed them. "I don't even have to carry anything—it's all just stored inside me. What else can I do with this skill, Great Sage?"
** Absorb objects and creatures. Analyze and break down absorbed materials or lifeforms. Replicate properties or skills of absorbed entities. Store an unlimited quantity of materials in an organized internal space. Utilize absorbed items or skills as needed.>** Satoru was impressed. "Unlimited storage and the ability to analyze and replicate skills? This is beyond overpowered! Alright, I'll keep an eye out for anything valuable to absorb from now on." After clearing the area of all the herbs and ores, Satoru felt a sense of accomplishment. "That should do it for now. I'm stocked up on resources, so next step: find some monsters, test out my skills, and get a better feel for this body." With that, Satoru started moving deeper into the cave, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him. Satoru ventured deeper into the dimly lit cave, his body moving fluidly across the uneven terrain. The faint glow of magicules in the air illuminated his path as he prepared himself for his first encounters with the cave's inhabitants. He didn't have any experience in combat in this new form, but he was determined to make the most of his skills. First Encounter: Giant Bat As he rounded a corner, Satoru noticed movement above him. A swarm of Giant Bats descended from the cavern ceiling, their sharp fangs gleaming and their wings flapping noisily. "Looks like I'm the unlucky target of the day," Satoru muttered. The bats swooped down to attack. Satoru activated Magic Sense, allowing him to detect their positions in the dark. When the first bat lunged, he used Predator to catch it mid-air, absorbing it instantly. He felt a wave of knowledge flood his mind as Great Sage spoke: Encouraged, Satoru grinned. "Not bad! Let's try this out." He activated Ultrasound, sending out a pulse that reverberated through the cave. The remaining bats faltered mid-flight, disoriented by the sudden wave of sound. Satoru quickly absorbed them one by one, gaining: After dispatching the bats, Satoru noticed how sharp his hearing had become. He could now detect faint noises in the distance, giving him an advantage in the cave's labyrinth-like environment. Second Encounter: Cave Snake As he traveled further, he heard a faint rustling sound. A Cave Snake slithered out from behind a cluster of rocks, its forked tongue flicking as it sized him up. The snake lunged at incredible speed, aiming to sink its venomous fangs into Satoru. "Whoa, you're quick!" Satoru dodged to the side, using his newfound agility to avoid the attack. He activated Water Blade, a skill he had gained earlier from analyzing his body. A sharp, crescent-shaped blade of water formed and sliced through the air, striking the snake. The creature hissed in pain but didn't retreat. Instead, it coiled up and launched itself again. This time, Satoru used Ultrasound to disorient it before leaping onto the snake and activating Predator, absorbing it into his body. "Poison resistance, huh? That'll definitely come in handy. And heat detection? Guess this makes me a high-tech radar system now," Satoru joked, his confidence growing. Third Encounter: Giant Centipede Moving deeper, Satoru encountered a massive Giant Centipede, its armored body clattering as it crawled toward him. This creature was more intimidating, with sharp mandibles that oozed a foul-smelling venom. The centipede attacked with surprising speed, aiming to crush Satoru with its mandibles. He dodged but felt the ground tremble as the creature's body slammed into the floor. "Alright, big guy, let's see how tough you are," Satoru muttered. He activated Water Blade again, aiming for the centipede's joints, but the attack barely scratched its tough exoskeleton. Taking Great Sage's advice, Satoru used Ultrasound to temporarily disorient the centipede before unleashing a powerful strike with Predator, focusing on its exposed joints. The centipede screeched as its body crumbled, and Satoru absorbed it. "Steel Thread? That sounds versatile. I can probably use this for traps or binding enemies," Satoru mused, testing the ability by forming thin threads that shimmered like silver. Fourth Encounter: Fire Spirit Further into the cave, Satoru encountered a glowing, humanoid figure composed entirely of flames. It was a Lesser Fire Spirit, and its presence radiated intense heat. The spirit launched a fireball at Satoru, who barely dodged it. "Alright, this might be tricky," he muttered. He activated Heat Detection to better track the spirit's movements and used Water Blade to counter its attacks. The water attacks were effective, causing the spirit to shrink as the flames flickered and weakened. Taking advantage of its vulnerability, Satoru used Predator to absorb the spirit. Satoru felt the warmth of the flames coursing through him. "Fire resistance and flame manipulation? I'm starting to feel like a walking arsenal," he said with a laugh. "TADA"