A week has passed since the sparing session with Felix.
During this time, not much had been going on, other than the usual routine of training of course.
But today I am here at the edge of the compound and on top of the wall checking my equipment. My sword strapped to my waist, my bow attached to a clip on my back in an tight mean race and a number of arrows resting inside my quiver. All ready to leave with.
Leaving to go where, you might to wondering? Well I have decided that since I recently awakened my mana core, gaining the ability to utilise mana as well as making a sufficient amount progress in bringing my combat strength to a level that won't drag me down or get me killed, I have Chosen to venture out and finally use my skill {consumer}.
{Consumer}, a seemingly simple skill that has a minimum amount of description mentioning a singular effect. To consume a target and merge their traits into yourself.
A first glance at the system screens description one might think that the skill is exceedingly useless compared to my other flashy skills, with their long list of abilities and positive mentioning or even getting praised by the system.
But in my opinion with how system insults the skill openly showing its distaste for it, it's obvious that there is something more to the essence of the skill that makes it different to other skills and the system antagonistic towards {consumer}.
The reason I picked it though is for the amount of potential it could theoretically bring me.
To give an example would be that even if I was born with a body lacking lacking talent, maybe even flawed and stricken with illness that is as if not more inferior to my previous body, with {consumer} I could devour others talented individuals and merge the essence within me to create a perfected version of myself.
Now, with an extremely talented and adaptive body that's already showing potential even at such a young age, there's no telling the heights this skill will push me too in the future.
It should obviously take a while to reach that if i want to maximise the strengths the skill can bring me and evolve to another level. Especially if try not to push myself to the level of self torture and psychosis to achieve my goals like I did previously, that is definitely not my intention that I want in the run through life and enjoying the journey to strength would be great, even ideal.
Though some earlier modifications that won't affect any future paths as well as serving as a good foundation to build up on when ready is what I'm currently going for. Also having the added benefit of seeing how the skill really works and its limitations is also a big reason as to why I'm going out in my early years, even with the risks.
Anyway, for now I have decided to limit myself to three species to go for as my first targets to hunt and devour for
Number 1; an eagle.
The bird would provid the ability if the skills works how I believe it would to see a lot further, extend my field of vision by a large margin and potentially give me the ability to focus my eyes to spot and a catch even minuscule move in hidden enemies. Altogether these special eyes will serve as excellent stepping stones as well as an potential enhancer for the skills related to my eyes to a future of being able to see the closed "truth" of the world. Well potentially.
Before I carry onto the next animal, yes there are a lot of animals and life forms almost indistinguishable from their earth counterparts, when uneffected by mana of course. Weird, I know, but I have had long time to accept that for a long while I will not understand a lot of this worlds laws, secrets and truths. Especially with the existence of people able throw literal fire from their bare hands. Even on earth I was quite ignorant about the complexities of life in general so I'm not bothered for now, merely curious.
To get back to the matter at hand…
Number 2; a mountain lion.
Although I have been calling the outside of my home "the woods", it would be more accurate to the the hundreds of miles of unoccupied land a forest with various mountain biomes all around us.
So it's a tempting home for montano lions.
The reason for that I've decided for them is for the agility the species naturally possess, that when added to my almost perfect human body as well as the existence of mana in my body ready to move at my will, it will be a considerable boost to my overall power almost instantly. Another would be the stealth they instinctively possess would bring my stealth skills to another level entirely with my experience as a assassin paired with the instincts of a animal. Finally it would be there senses that when added to my own would be another big boon to my already fine tuned senses.
although I already possess everything I just listed, it would serve as building blocks that would boost these abilities even without using mana to a superhuman level and turn and experienced killer limited to a child's body into a deadly hunter, and when I refine my body with mana it would bring it to a level even further than what my purely human body can handle alone.
Also most if not all felines posses a kind of night vision so that would be a plus I could get out of that.
Finally, number 3; a salamander.
No not the mythological elemental fire beast, but the amphibian with moist skill usually located in moist environments. The reason I want to take on the characteristics of the salamander is mainly for their regeneration. A regeneration capable of restoring limbs and organs, even the sensitive organs like the brain or heart. With this I would be capable of taking more risks and not having to worry about permanent damage that can cripple me if I decide to take them. Another less important abilities but useful a salamander posses is skin breathing. Though it doesn't sound like much, in certain situations it can be crucial and even passively it would be a plus in a fight due to not having to sync up your breathing and movement, as well as Lessening the chances of becoming out of breath.
Coming out of my long thoughts about my plans I do the final "double" check of my equipment and with a pulse of mana my body disappears… into the dark of night.
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