31 HelsB?rger (1/2)
Michael and his seniors were currently traversing something close to a haunted forest. All the grass was grey, all the trees were partially withered, having their once light brown wood turn into a lighter black color. Caleen told him this place was named the 'Pale corridor' Due to the grass being so rotten, the only thing you would try and step on was the crumbling stones.
He had kept walking next to the girl with glasses named Selin throughout this small adventure, and had started to try and befriended her. She was a real expert when it came to increasing elemental essence understanding.
”Well, you see Marss. Understanding what an element is, is like figuring out how it works. For example, you currently have 0% in all ofyours. To get at least 1% you have to meditate on what they are and what kind of property they hold.”
He listened to everything Selin said while trampling over the dead grass. When stepping on it, the weak needles would crumbled beneath his feet, sounding like they walked on some muddy sand. Despite this, Michael did not stop once. Sometimes looking where he went, and sometimes looking through her glasses.
She smiled a little when seeing how enthusiastic he was, as there were not many people who would talk to her back at the academy.
”So I should try increasing it when we get back?”
”Absolutely. If you find anything difficult just come ask me.”
They kept going on like this until Caleen stopped. Signaling everyone to halt with her hand.
”The so called 'Undead' is supposed to be here in a cave. Doesn't sound like an undead to me, but lets proceed forwards with caution. Marss, you are coming In front. When we spot it, just do what you usually do when fighting.”
Through the rotting grass laid a part of some a mountain complex. It's said this place used to be similar to the 'hellgreen woods' he had cut down, but it was leveld when two 'Ascended' layers fought a long time ago. Most likely one of the 'Earth essence' and one of the 'Dark essence'.
They sneaked closer to a cave opening. Inside, there seemed to lay some sort of creature sleeping around some bones. It was shaped as a naked human, only that the joints on it's body were stretched to a frightening degree. Almost as if someone placed several long sticks togheter.
It made no noise when breathing out. Only hiding the face beetween its long joins. You could actually tell this was to lure other predators inside.
When everyone saw the shape, they all began to sweat. Trying to not to wake this monster up.
Caleen whispered something meant for Marss, wanting him to back off with the rest.
”This thing is a wendigo, Marss. They are at the (high) general layer, and the highest one amongst us is at the (middle) general layer. Let's just inform the teacher and get out...”
She looked to her side, but there was nothing there. The rest also noticed that Marss had disappeared, looking around for where he had gone.
However, as they turned to look back into the cave, they saw Marss walk towards the sleeping beast. He didn't listen to what Caleen said, and just wanted to get this over with.
They all showed different expressions when they saw him approach it. Some ridiculed, some facepalmed themselvs, and lastly, Selin was worrying for her new acquaintance's well being.
When he stood near enough, Michael had a better view of this hideous thing. It had no hair on its body, only being covered in the grey skin which blended into the environment. further inside was some more bones. Most likely belonging to the farmes who went missing.
'If I remember correctly, wendigos are cannibals who died. Well, what this thing did before it turned is not my problem.'
He slowly cocked his leg backwards. Making some sounds as his bones cracked a little from not having battled for so long.
This, however, woke it up.
The wendigo instantly turned it's white head towards him. The skin and bone was bending like rubber. It had the facial expression of a maniacal smile plastered on a half rotting face, previously belonging to a woman. How did she end up like this?
It was going to jump at him, eating the organs and muscle from his corps.
[Mad dance of power LvL 1(strike): Increases damage by 1000% for one strike.]
But before it could move, Michael shot the tip of the foot into it's rotting nose. Planting his toes into the brain of the beast, as the skull gave of a brutal crack before sending its entire body into the ends of the underworld. The long limbs were flying around like kites before being implanted into the smooth, cold stone of the cave wall.
[Mad dance of power LvL 2(+1)]
”sweet!”
Very satisfied with his progress, he turned towards all his seniors. watching them outside the cave exit.
”Are we done her now?”
He shouted towards Caleen who only starred at him like he was some kind of monster.
”Y..Yes...G..Good job Marss!”
He smiled back, going to where the wendigo was stuck and pulled it out. After grabbing onto one of the broken limbs, he proceeded to exit the cave, now standing in front of the others again.
”I kind of want to look around here some more. Would you mind showing this to the teacher?”
The once angered Gelen was acting in a better mood, wishing to befriend this 'Marss' guy as he was certainly capable.
”Just leave it to us! You do what you want to, junior-brother Marss!”
Non of them said anything against him staying, not even the new friend he had made. As everyone now knew they could do nothing to change his mind.
He only saw them off, now walking deeper into the rotting woods.
After arriving in a part where the black trees were more abundant, he opened the skill he wanted to try out.
[Hel'Börger form]
Looking around at the lifeless area, he sendt out his [Bestial senses] but got no reading back.
Focusing on the transparent screen again, Michael tried asking the system a question before giving it a go.
”System, what does [Genetic combo] and [Genetic storage] do?”
[???????]
'figures...'
Immersing himself into the small transformation skill, another thought crossed his mind as he pressed it.
'The system never gave me a more detailed explanation about this race..wonder where they come from.'
[Transforming into Hel'Börger!]
Standing still while covered by the rust wind and the dead grass, Michael felt his body slowly morph itself.
His heart started to beat faster and louder. Sounding like chains of lightning bolts fell down from the heavens and struck in the same spot a hundred times.
The muscles were expanding a little, only making it so that he looked more muscular. However, black veins started to grow alongside every body part. It went up from his neck and over his face. Slowly fusing back inside.
As the veins disappeared, he hoped the pain would stop, but it only intensified.
Black scales were now bein molded out of his skin cells, covering all the places where the veins had resided.
As his skin became more scaley, the black hair his head began to curl up and harden. Turning into a ragged piece of black glassy armour.
The clothes which were previously made when he first evolved were fused into his skin. As this happened, the teeth inside his jaw turned sharper and more robust. His golden irises disappeared inside the yellow fire which took over the insides of his sockets.
As the transformation finished, the last thing that took place before the gruesome pain subsided was the lengthening of his nails. They were now five centimeters longer, making him look like a sort of haireless werewolf.
The cells stopped burning, clearing his mind a little. Looking upon this very familiar sight.
When deciding to speak out loud, he noticed that the voice was a little darker. His throat must have been shaped in some way too.
”This is not bad. But why are almost all my transformations similar? Was it because when my body was destroyed I was considered a 'Kings vessel' and not a real king? What is actually the limit of this worlds power...”
He moved the around the ashy grass, feeling the strength surge outwards.