POV Chryssia
[Skills obtained: Retractable nasal bone, Retractable fins, Fire gland, Large monster physiology, Fire-resistant skin, Expanded lungs
ACCEPT: YES/NO]
I don't think much about it and accept the skills without hesitation, the burning sensation comes and goes just as fast.
The first thing I notice is that Large monster physiology didn't cause any changes in my body—though since I had already obtained this skill and used it as a component for Alpha Colossus, I guess it makes sense.
It's an inferior version of Alpha Colossus, so it makes sense it has no effect.
Retractable nasal bone and Retractable fins are similar—the first makes a bone protrude from the nose area. The thing is, my face is completely flat, so it looks like I have no nose, which makes the bone look more like a horn when it comes out.
And Retractable fins come out of my back, similar to the ones Anjanath has, only smaller and adapted to my body.
The issue is that my Fluidic Cloak covers them, so when I use the skill, they're not noticeable—though I honestly don't mind. Both abilities aren't very useful overall, so I'll save them for later with Synthesis.
Fire gland and Fire-resistant skin are the real prizes here. The first is a gland located in my throat that lets me release a gas that combusts upon contact with oxygen.
And the second makes me more resistant not only to fire but also to high temperatures. So now I can use High-Power Gunpowder Creation more freely, though I still can't be at the center of an explosion without getting hurt.
Expanded lungs increases my lung capacity by literally expanding them.
—Now for the second reward — I say to myself while opening my status and accepting the event reward.
[Name: Chryssia, The Phageris
Skills:
Special: Devour, Synthesis, World Travel, Eliminate Residual Will
Body: Tail release, Dislocate jaw, Ripping jaw, Intimidating Iron Crest, Extendable stomach, Gills, Agile hands, Alpha Colossus, Fluidic Cloak, Predator Tongue, Powerful long tail, Predator Eye, Alternate Form, Retractable nasal bone, Retractable fins, Fire gland, Large monster physiology, Fire-resistant skin, Expanded lungs, Compact musculature (64/96)
Offensive: Bite force, Strength increase, Ram, Meteoric drop, Cushioned stomach, Poison cloud, Poison ball, Charged blood, Hardened venomous spikes, Charged strike, Potent toxic acid, Kinetic charge, Accumulation, Discharge (33/48)
Defensive: Paralysis cloud, Distracting buzz, High-power gunpowder creation, Crushing body, Ink cloud, Potent bioluminescence, Natural armor, Royal guard, Steel skin (27/48)
Social: Pheromone detection, Pack synchronization, Pheromone veil, Hive alarm (4/6)
Survival: Dig, Photosynthesis, Antidote properties, Pollination, Natural builder, Advanced regeneration, 3D movement (23/24)
Evolution: Cloud (Offensive), Enhanced nervous system (Body), Improved lung capacity (Survival), Impact absorption (Defensive), Thermal regulation (Survival), Muscle compacting (Body), Lightning (Offensive), Reinforcement (Defensive)
Events:]
—That is… unexpected — I tell myself as I notice my fourth special skill and realize my body is shrinking. I don't lose height, but my muscle mass decreases—although from the description, I know I'm not losing strength. In fact, by compacting my muscles, it actually improves my defense.
Going back to the special skill, it's… quite unique. In short, if I acquire a skill that contains some sort of independent will or thought separate from mine, this will eliminate that will.
Though I can't help but notice it says "eliminate in the most optimal way," not just erase it or something.
—I guess I'll find out what it means by "most optimal" when I use it… although I doubt I'll get to use it in this world… no wait, now that I think about it, the Fatalis armor description says its armor can possess the hunter who wears it — I fall silent before continuing.
—Although I'm still a bit far from being able to fight Fatalis… just a bit.
I look at the half-eaten body of the Anjanath I'm sitting on. Something I noticed is that I don't need to eat an entire body to gain its skills. I don't see much use for that now, but it might be helpful later.
One part of the body left is the head, and as I look at it, I think of something.
—I should use my claws — I tell myself as I look at my hands. —I guess my martial arts training has become obsolete for this body — Honestly, aside from my claws, I'm also underusing other parts of my body like my tail or my Fluidic Cloak, which should have some use in combat.
—...And I also wasted all the skills I got from the charge blade, except for Royal Guard—I didn't use any of the others.
I keep staring at my hands and say to myself —I guess I need to think less like a human.
…
POV Lyra
—The situation's bad, isn't it? — I hear a blacksmith say to a hunter as I eat at the tavern.
—Yeah, it's bad. That monster not only escaped the Master Hunter, but also nearly a dozen other hunters—and on top of that, it injured over half of them — replied the hunter.
—*Sigh* Plus, the Fifth Fleet is arriving in less than a week to make things even worse.
—So what are your orders now?
—Same as before. We're just preparing for the Fifth.
—So this new monster is our problem? *Sigh* Great.
The blacksmith puts his hand on the hunter's shoulder as he says —Cheer up. When the Fifth arrives, we'll have more hands for the problem.
—*Sigh* You know… I've got a feeling that when the Fifth shows up, they'll just bring more problems.
—Come on! Try to be a little more positive, you know...
I stop paying attention to their conversation at that point, and I can't help but remember how I've heard similar conversations all day.
News of the monster's escape and the injured hunters spread like wildfire. Seriously, when I returned from a mission in the Wildspire Waste, my handler told me what had happened before asking how my mission went.
And it didn't help that I was immediately called into an emergency meeting, where they explained what happened in more detail… I still can't quite believe what they told me.
From how the monster's appearance changed, to its capabilities, and… and the possibility that it can use weapons.
I get chills just thinking about it and I hope—I genuinely hope!—that the monster was just curious about the weapon.
—*Sigh* I hope the situation gets better.