Chapter 4: Lybarriyth and new skills
Shiori's pov
...
I rubbed my palm against my skull as I felt a small migraine forming.
"Where am I? Oh right a cave." I looked up at the tiny source of light which seemed to be the entrance I fell from. The cave seemed to be lit up by glowing mineral like crystals randomly along the walls.
"How am I going to get out from here?
Maybe I could use mobility boost again..."
{I don't recommend it, this cave is very weak structure and could collapse if pressured}
"I guess I would have to..." Just then a blue slime appeared, moving in my direction.
"Wow a slime how cute, I wonder if I can communicate with it..." Before I could finish my thoughts, the slime poubched on me and engulfed me in its essence.
"Definitely not cute!" I screamed trying to remove it from my body but it didn't make it easy. it frost engulfed my body in itself as it begun sipping into my clothes. It went inside my hoodie and shirt, it's texture wetting my clothes making them squishy and soapy, disgusted I quickly took them off, revealing my undergarments. Before I could process what was going on, It somehow unclipped my bra, my breasts falling victim to its shenanigans.
"Let me go!" I yelled in disgust as It continued on. some of it's fluids slipped into my shorts, attacking my wet region . I tried my best to release myself but it held me in place, keeping up with it's strange activities.
"In... insight!" I tried not to fall victim into the pleasure as a screen popped up
{Insight activated}
{Species: slime}
{Lv: 10}
{Rank: peaceful }
{Strategy: attacks it's opponent by engulfing it in its essence before disgusting them}
{Strength: due to its special fluid like body, it's immune to heat or physical attacks and absorbs it's prey in minutes}
{Weaknesses: it's core is the only vunrable part}
"Peaceful my ass! This creep is groping me without shame!..."
So it's weakeness is the core huh.
I stared at the tiny yellow ball in its center, Most won't have noticed it since it's well camouflaged. However being so close to keep was an advantage. I brought out my claws and dug into the slime before extracting the tiny pill shaped yellow ball. The slime stopped it's advances and turned into a pool of blue goo.
"It's so small..." I rose the slime core above my head staring at it for a moment before it slipped from my hand and fell into my mouth, chocking me. It refused to come out no matter how much I coughed up so I ended up swallowing it. I fell on my knees as I caught my breath as a holographic screen popped up .
{Notification}
{Slime core has been ingested}
{New skills acquired}
{Do you accept}
{Yes} {No}
I clicked on yes, suddenly I felt a strange sensation within me, like something had changed. A new screen appeared.
{New skills obtained}
{Complex skill: heat resistance}
{Complex skill: slime manipulation}
{Complex: radar}
{Elite skills: mimic}
{Skills: slime manipulation is compatible, do you wish to combine it with elite skill: predator?}
{Yes} {No}
I clicked on yes
{Elite skills obtained}
{Absorber has be converted to absorption master: this grants access to new skills once host of skill is digested by absorber slime}
I beamed with excitement, now instead of eating I could absorb them. I adjusted my clothes back in place before grabbing my bag that was laying on the floor nearby.
"I'll have to find an exist else where..."
....
I've been roaming the caves for quite some time and I think I've finally found what I've been seeking as I stared at the light ahead.
"Freedom!" I ran towards the light beaming, Only it wasn't, the light was just another cave but with a 20 meter long phyton in it.
{Insight activated}
{Species: king phyton}
{Lv: 30}
{Rank: intermidate}
{Strategy: either injects it's prey with highly potent venom or strangles them with it's scalely body}
{Strength: venom, high defense, mana sensitivity}
{Weaknesses: it's massive body slows it down when midair}
"You can't be serious?! " I stared at the snake with a straight face as I was inwardly panicking. I could always just ignore it but then again I doubt that the snake won't let me leave. I sighed before using mobility boost to leap of the walls, the snake charged my ways as I was midair.
{Slime manipulation activated}
I made clear slime schrikens and threw them at the phyton, they sliced off it's head within seconds as the corpse fell with a thudded.
"I guess I can also solidify any object i think of" I stared at the corpse before tensing up a bit. My stomach was growling loudly as I stared at the only source of food in front of me.
"I guess I better do it quickly before I changed my mind..." I walked over to the wall and picked up two stones, snapping them together to make a small flamre. I added a few mosses and rocks to increase its size. Once I was satisfied, I made a slime blade and cut a chuck of snake meat, trying not to vomit
...
{King phyton ingested}
{New skills acquired}
{Complex skill: poisonous mist}
"Gross, gross, gross! I can taste it! And it's horrible!" I kept rolling on the floor in agony before sulking in despise.
I guess I have to keep searching and get more skills.
....
Walking more I ran into a giant spider.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
{Insight activated}
{Species: ellucan spider}
{Lv 30}
{Rank: intermidate}
{Strategy: attacks with strong and sharp webbing}
{Strength: six eyes, webs}
{Weaknesses: weak to light}
obviously! It's a damn cave spider! But I don't have any light! I guess I'll just use this.
{Poisonous mist activated}
It paralyzed the large insect in moments before it collapsed, I then made a smile sword and stabbed it in it's chest before consuming it's eye.
{New skills acquired}
{Complex skill:Webber}
{Complex skill: steel threads}
...
For the next few hours or who knows how long, I've been exploring the cave tunnels which turned out to be a labyrinth hence, all the monsters.
Thanks to my sensitivity, I could easily sense where the monsters are and avoid them. I don't need to keep eating random monsters just to gain some skills, they taste as bad as they look and fighting is a hassle. More importantly I'm sure about the limits of predator so I can't be reckless .
As far as I've managed to grasp, I can mimic the characteristics of what ever i eat, but only for a certain period of time.
I spotted some light up ahead, they didn't seem to have monsters in that section so I decided to go check it out.
"Wow" I awed at the sight, The tunnel from which the light came from was filled with beautiful white flowers and crystal that emitted a faint blue glow.
I brought out my phone to take a picture, I walked closer but slipped and fell into the water.
SPLASH!
I coughed out some water as a screen popped up.
{Location: heart of the labyrinth}
"So I'm at at the center huh..." I could feel the amount of mana flowing in here, It was nice.
"What's this?" I plucked one of the white flowers.
{Analysis... : moonlit lily}
{Use as a main ingredient when making healing potion}
It looks like a vanilla plant. I gave it a lick as my eyes sparkled with glee.
"Yum!" I praised and ate the whole thing.
{Moonlit lily has been ingested}
{New skills acquired}
{Healing mage: this allows you to create healing potion within the body as long as the plant is still ingested, amount to make is limited as well}
"What a deal!, but I'll need a alternative storage to be on the safe side since it would all disappear once I've digested the main source." I took a bunch more and put them in my inventory until they weren't any more left to take.i walked to one of the glowing crystals.
{Insight activated}
{Ingnas magnus: a crystal like ore than possesses a moderate amount of mana. It's use for making the power source wands, staffs and even magical weapons}
"It looke like rock candy." I mused as I smelled one before tasting it.
"Yuck! Yep definitely not rock candy..." I frowned at the odd taste. Out of curiosity, I grabbed those as well. As I ventured deeper into the cave, I noticed how more abundant the mana was.
"What's this?" I stared at the large metal gates in front of me. I sense a highly large amount of mana emmitting from inside, probably the source of all this mana. I gulped as I anticipated the terrifyingly ferocious beast that maybe on the other side. I activated my foxy form and slipped through the small holes by the side of the metal gate. Suddenly the whole area was covered with pink mist.
"Who goes there!" A deep grudged voice spoke. I couldn't see a thing but I could sense it, how can't I? The mana pressure alone is basically crushing me.
{Insight activated}
{Dragon of time Tencrous'}
{Lv: unknown}
{Rank: legendary}
{Strategies: unknown}
{Strength: unknown}
{Weaknesses: unknown}
"A fox cub? What brings you here, have you perhaps come to challenge me?!" It asked.
"No thanks, I'm just lost" I answered honestly.
"Really now" he mocked
"Yes, so if you'd kindly show me the way out, I'll be on my way " I said simply. It laughed, leaning it's head forward to take a good look at me. It's lime green scale shone as smoke came out from it's nostrils, it's Ruby eyes locked on me.
"I've been imprisoned here for centuries and not once has a mortal come here without wanting to claim my head " he chuckled proudly
"Not interested, now please directions" I ask bluntly
"Your a strange one, there's a rather powerful beast in front of you and yet not an ounce of fear can be traced on your face. How so?" It asked curiously
"If there's no reason to fight why bother worrying. I'm just lost and would like to get the hell out of here!" I replied wanting to leave as soon as possible.
" Very well how about a deal, let's battle. If you can last for five minutes fighting me, I'll tell you how to leave this place." It smirked
"Why not just tell me now?"
"I'm bored ok..." It replied with an annoyed tone.
"Okay fine, I accept your challenge " I said stretching a bit. Without warning, it headed my way at impressive speed. I barely had time to dodge but managed to leap outa the way, it repeated this over and over, trying to get a proper strike on me. My stamina may be high but even I can't keep this up for long. I kept counting down the seconds as I hoped i could last till five minutes.
It suddenly changed tactics and increased the density of the mist, making it even harder to find him. I used sticky webs to latch onto him as he shook around to me get off.i got flinged off as I braced myself for impact. My back slammed harshly against the cave wall, the impact making me see stars for a moment. I could taste something wet and metallic, my chest felt squeeze as I coughed out some blood. I made a few shirenkens and threw them at the dragon, the air was do dense that I missed the projetile. I panted in exhaustion, trying to catch my breath, when I was suddenly imprisoned in a glass box.
"The hell?!" I kept banging on it, in attempt to free myself.
"Don't fret, I shall make your demise pleasant and painless as you drown in my illusion vision"
"That wasn't the deal!" I yelled out as everything turned hazy and dark.
........
I stood in a park, dressed in my highschool uniform with my school bag in one hand. I looked around my surroundings and spotted sanemi walking home while reading a book in his hands.
I waved happily at him but a group of bullies got his attention first. They snatched the book from his hands before pushing him down to the ground but he didn't react and stared at them unbothered, which only seem to annoy them even more. I just stood there as I watched the scene unfold. the bullies eventually left, leaving senemi beatened and bruised. I rushed over and embraced him as he sobbed into my chest.
"Sis...ter" he sobbed
"I'm here, I'm here nemi" I embraced him lovingly.
Tencrous pov
I looked through the fox hybrid's memories.
"It's doesn't seem like she's from around here" her memories was quite unique, she was always surrounded by strange glowing screens with animated pictures appearing on them, How strange.
"What's this?!" I stared intently at a certain memory. My eyes twinkling was curiosity and interest.
"I've never seen anything like this! I must get my claws on it!" I awed as I turned to look at the girl who was still tranced.
.....
Shiori pov
We sat down on a park bench, playing chess.
"Checkmate" I smiled as I killed his king, he giggled happily as I smiled back. Suddenly everything froze, as if time had stopped. I glanced around as I inspected the area. This event happened a year ago.
So this is the dragon's power? He created a replica dimension visualizing one of my memories. Every detail is correct but i'm well aware that it's all fake, however senemi's tears weren't. The pain he went through without me is one of the reasons we always stayed be each other side and it's one of the reasons why I can't lose here.
I regained consciousness as I glared angrily at the opponent in front of me, I stepped closer to the glass before throwing a fist as it, slowly begun to shatter.
"Thank you for showing me how worthless and pathetic I am. now my goals are clearer" the glass finally shattered as the shards blasted everywhere
"Such expectional power!" Tencrous thought with awe
"Now, I'm gonna beat you into a plup" I cracked my knuckles, preparing to smack him senseless.
"Lower your arms, I'm not willing to fight anymore" tencrous smiled, laying on it's back like a damn puppy asking for tummy rubs
Is this thing for real?!
"Your quite the intriguing one, I'm sorry if you had an unpleasant experience, I just usually choose a memory at random,"
This son of a bit*h
"Let's start over, I'm tencrous, dragon of time"
"I'm Shiori komori"
" I have to say, your memories are quite intriguing " he said with a knowing glint in its eye.
"How much did you see?!" I asked waryly as the beast just smirked in response
"I offer a preposition, let's form a contract" he suggested.
"A what?"
"It's like, I'll become your humble companion, plus there are other benefits " he explained
"I accept! So how is it done?" I quired
"There are two stages, first binding of our energy, that way we can see where we each stand, and second is giving of a name to the contracted" he explained as i nodded
"Let's begin" energy emmitted out of us as I stared in awe.
"Let's start with 50-50" the energy combined but instantly repealed
"What?!, hmm let's try 60-40" it was the same result
"Let's try, 80-20" the energy combined as they finally mixed to become one.
We've finally reached a balance, but no better than a slave. I believe my adventures with this hybrid, nah my master, is going to be one of the best experience of my life" it thought before slowly fading away as a new figure appeared in its place.ithought before slowly fading away as a new figure appeared in its place.ithought before slowly fading away as a new figure appeared in its place.ithought before slowly fading away as a new figure appeared in its place. A very attractive man dressed in modern clothes, he had gorgeous green hair, and blood red eyes.
I have a feeling that this is the beginning of something new.