(A/N) Check this story out on ScribbleHub under the same name ^^
Has all my progress meant... nothing? I need to reform both my core and my mana veins, but how does one even achieve that? As far as I'm aware, all beings have a core of some sort as they're born with it. Beasts have monster cores while humanoids have an araphix core, though everyone calls it a core and they label it with the corresponding colour of their core. Not once have I come across a text pertaining to forming your own core or veins. However, mana veins are an entirely different predicament. Only certain Beasts have those, and those specific species are born with them, yet I'm expected to form them? On my own? I sigh.
Shaking my head, I manoeuvre through the wide tunnels of the cave until I reach a large chamber. I'm not sure what I expected the cavern to look like, but it certainly wasn't this. Moss encases the entirety of the floor, walls and ceiling, some particular patches growing rare flowers that look suspiciously like Apurotus Delphins, which are expensive alchemical ingredients used in alchemy and incredibly poisonous, debilitating those that digest small dosages of the plant's petals and fatal in larger quantities, and mushrooms too, also boasting their value in alchemy. Trees sprout from random areas of the cave, their leaves a lush green despite there being no sunlight for them to photosynthesise. Bushes cover the outskirts of the vast cavernous chamber, sometimes wrapping around the trunks of trees and the odd bush sprouting away from other vegetation.
Scattered about are small tunnels leading away from the main chamber to unknown areas, perhaps something to explore later.
Despite the oddity of a forest-esque scene entrapped in a cavern, my mind focuses on the sheer number of Beasts crawling throughout the area. Yes, it's a dungeon, but this kind of populace of Beasts is astounding. Dungeons are supposed to be regulated, ensuring there isn't an early Dungeon Break. Missions are posted in Guilds and are taken on by Delvers who come to subjugate Beasts and keep their numbers low without destroying the Dungeon's ecosystem. If the Beasts are left unregulated, an early Dungeon Break is guaranteed. Those Breaks often occur every decade, the Beasts within the Dungeon all surging out and destroying wildlife along with any nearby civilisations. Now, I've never been inside a dungeon, but with this volume of Beasts roaming within its influence? I'd estimate a few months before it Breaks. This dungeon must Break often, seeing as there was an apparent lack of animals within the forest surrounding the fallen tower, and there are no nearby civilisations here to regulate it consistently. However, I haven't fully explored the surrounding area, so there may be villages I'm unaware of.
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Alert:
Time remaining: 1 hour
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Ah, I've got to be quick, the requirement is to suck one Beast dry of blood, and it's done. I can do that. I'm not aware of the attributes of the Beasts in this dungeon, but I'm sure I could potentially identify a few commonly appearing Beasts with the knowledge I acquired during my studies. Here's to hoping. Oh, but what are my own skills? I haven't looked at the descriptions of everything, but it should take no more than a few minutes at most. I might as well get accustomed to my own abilities before I begin fighting against the unknown.
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Skill description: (Species Skill) Claw Swipe: Level 1 [I]: This skill enhances the inherent efficiency behind the movement of the Host's swiping action and improves the total force behind the attack. This skill is optimised for close-quarter combat, ideal for rapid, decisive blows that deal significant damage to foes. This is an attack skill.
Skill description: (Species Skill) Harden Scales: Level 1 [I]: This skill automatically activates upon contact between another being, or another being's mana, and the Host. Durability and defensive capabilities of the Host's scales increase significantly, helping to diffuse the force behind any potential attacks from adversaries. This is a defensive skill.
Skill description: (Species Skill) Tail Slap: Level 1 [I]: This skill facilitates a harsh, powerful strike executed with the tail of the Host. The force behind this attack is enhanced significantly, both in blunt force damage and efficiency behind the movements of the corresponding muscle groups. This is an attack skill.
Skill description: (Exclusive Skill) Morph: Level 1 [I]: This skill enables the Host to willingly alter their current form into any of the registered morphs. Any evolutions are automatically added to the morph list. Morphing to previous evolutions does not reduce the Host's power, simply changing the Host's physical form. This is a special skill.
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Pretty straightforward. I'm itching to try out these skills, most specifically my morph skill, yet I have no mana I can use to perform it. Shame. In time, I'll figure out how to form my veins and core.
Moving on from inspecting my skills, I finally begin trying to complete the life-threatening mission. I narrow my eyes, scanning my surroundings for the nearest Beast. Slinking its way towards the bushes on the outskirts is a rat-like Beast, though triple the size of one, with short, stubby little legs in comparison to the rest of its rotund body. A thin, wispy tail flicks around behind it, showing a lack of caution as it stumbles about, seemingly unaware or uncaring. Minuscule rounded ears poke out from its bizarrely long head that's roughly the same length as its tail, and somehow just as thin too. Its maw is wide and gaping, drool leaking from its mouth, filtering through the gaps between its curved, pointed teeth. The lower row of teeth is notably longer than the rest. From its appearance, I deduce it's a Taeter Neotoma, though its age is unknown as of yet, so I can't specify further.
Honing in on its frame, I slowly approach, using the bushes as cover and keeping my body low to the ground, each paw moving slowly, trying to minimise the amount of noise I make as I move. As I approach, it becomes apparent that its appearance is more grotesque than I previously thought it to be. Its fur has a sheen of grease, wiry and slick, small bits of debris and flesh chunks left matted into the fur. Ew.
Once I'm close enough, I pounce, claws extended towards the rat Beast, promptly sinking into its fur coat, piercing through its flesh and pinning its figure to the ground. I move one paw, swiping down, the skill [Claw Swipe] making it more efficient and enhancing the power behind the strike. My claws slash down, ripping through its hide, long gaping wounds now dug into its stomach, prompting it to let out a muted squeak. Giving in to instinct, I open my jaw, biting down on the rat Beast's head, shaking and pulling it free from its spine before spitting out its head to the side of me. Shockingly, the Beast didn't taste bad, not at all, but rather quite nice and... smokey. I hum, the sound coming out deeper than I'm used to, more akin to a rumble, and sink my fangs into its twitching corpse, happily drinking its blood that flows through my body, rejuvenating and refreshing.
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[You have slain a Level 2 Taeter Neotoma Juvenilis [I]]
[Appropriate amount of Experience points have been acquired] ¬ Doubled due to Mission Accomplishment.
[Host's level has increased by 1 level]
[Host has now reached Level 2]
[Skill points obtained: 1]
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Mission has been completed.
[Reward: Survival Mission accomplishment - Double experience and double Mutagen from the subsequent prey chosen.]
[Prey killed to complete the mission has granted double experience (✓). Mutagen is yet to be harvested.]
[Double Mutagen and Experience Point boost is active, lasting for 2 hours.]
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Oh? Levelling up didn't require much, just one kill. Well, it should've been 2, but I was granted double experience. Hmm, interesting. It says that the Mutagen is yet to be harvested. How does that work?
As if to answer my query, the system responds to my prompt.
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Mutagen: a resource the host may use to enhance physical attributes such as body parts and organs. This resource is harvested from the corpses of Beasts and other beings through the consumption of flesh or the being's physical matter. Mutagen is located under the 'Reserve' section within the Host's status.
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Well, thankfully, these Beasts don't taste foul, so harvesting Mutagen isn't as repulsive as it would be otherwise.
(A/N) Check this story out on ScribbleHub under the same name ^^