9 Day 41 - 45 (1/2)
- Day 41
I ended up leaving the caves a little later than Rou because the girls wanted to ”say goodbye” so I didn't end up leaving until two hours after that black ogre. Before leaving I decided to test something by using {Inter-Dimensional Storage}. I found out that I can store my Golems within the space which, unlike Rou's bottomless treasure chest, my skill was more of a black hole that doesn't seem to have a beginning or an end. I stored 5 clay golems and 2 rock golems while leaving the stone golem on watch, protecting the cave. I made it so that Dou could order it with basic commands since I figured that he would be the least likely to abuse it.
After leaving the settlement, I came across a few different creatures from my past that used to pose a threat. Now, barely over a month since I've been born, they run away from me if I don't use {Presence Concealment}. I eventually came upon a small lake where I decided to relax for a bit. When I was about to doze off, a group of lizard men rose out of the water with the intent to kill. I used {Water Manipulation} to lift them up in bubble of water, then proceeded to use {Lightning Breath} to fry them. After eating their souls I learned {Lizard Men Language} and not much else. They were quite weak.
When I took a closer look at the lake, I could somehow feel the flow of the water beneath the surface. This is probably thanks to {Water Sense}. Swimming down to the bottom of the lake, I found a small crevice which seemed to lead into a cave down below. With a bit of effort, I was able to use a mix of {Earth Control} and {Water Manipulation} to make my way into the cave without causing a flood or collapse.
It was rather dark since the only light happened to be from the crack in the ceiling where I came in so I used {Pyrokinesis} to generate enough light to see my immediate surroundings. As I walked through the cave, I noticed an increasing number of rare minerals that I would place in my storage as I walked. Eventually I came across what seemed to be a small clearing that didn't seem natural. Searching around, I heard a noise grow closer before being assaulted by flames spewed from the mouth of a six legged, black, yellow and red lizard that would be about the same height as me if it stood upright. The flames were hot but I had enough tolerances and resistances that it didn't really hurt. I walked up to it and sliced it's head off, thinking that if I ever got a beast taming skill that I'd like to return here and find another one of these.
When I ate the soul I gained {Fire Breath} and {Dark Vision} which, coupled with the, albeit pretty lacking, dark vision I was born with, I no longer needed to keep my hand alight. Come to think of it, that lizard must have been pretty stupid to think that fire would hurt something currently using said element as a torch.
Looking around the room some more, I found a hidden area with a pile of yellow and black spotted eggs in it. Figuring this to be that six-legged salamanders' eggs, I used {Earth Control} to make sure they wouldn't be found until they hatched and created a goblin sized stone golem to protect them after they hatched.
Moving on, I found some more creatures but they were nothing worthy of note. Just a few spiders and snakes that didn't give any new skills. I did find something that looked like a gross, green, purple and white pustule plant that I named as such before taking its essence and gaining the {Burst} {Corrosion Resistance} and {Corrosion} skill which together, seems to allow me to make parts of my body explode and spread a corrosive acid that can at the very least melt through stone. I'm glad I ate it before it did that to me, I've had enough of my skin melting.
{Water Sense} kicked in again and after following it, I discovered a beautiful little alcove with a small lake and flowing waterfall. The stone ground was covered in a fluorescent, purple moss and glowing blue mushrooms grew all around. I gained the {Glow} skill from one of the mushrooms and it doesn't seem to be poisonous.
Just then, I heard the sound of water splashing and when I went to investigate, I saw a strange, female, humanoid figure lying behind the waterfall. I told her that I meant her no harm and was simply exploring when I noticed that, while the top half of her body seems to be that of a beautiful woman with long red hair, her lower half is that of a fish with sparkling blue and green scales. She's a mermaid. Another thing I noticed when looking closer is that she appears to be injured. Blood running down her tail indicates that it had to be something strong enough to pierce the scales.
When I told her I wanted to heal her and showed her that I could control water by making myself an entry to the area behind the waterfall, she seemed to calm down a bit, probably believing I had ranked up into something water related or had a water God's Blessing which, I actually do have.
Before anything, I synthesised {Minor Healing} and {Moderate Healing} which created {Major Healing} allowing me to restore the girl's tail back to its original, uninjured state with flawless accuracy.
Her expression turned from one of caution to bewilderment to joy as she embraced me in a hug. We stayed in the little area behind the waterfall for a while longer and spoke about things. I learned that her name is Cora and she's actually a Siren. When I asked if that had anything to do with the reason she was injured, she nodded her head sadly, stating that a group of humans deemed her a danger even though she had done nothing to them. They attacked her and one of the spears they threw managed to pierce her tail. I asked if she wanted revenge but she didn't believe it was necessary, saying that they would eventually get what's coming to them in one way or another. I suppose people here believe in karma too.
When I told her I was a Ghoul that had ranked up from a goblin, she was surprised but returned the favour when she explained that she started out life as a piranha. We spent the rest of the day chatting but when night came around, she said that she wanted to reward me for helping her. I told her that it wasn't necessary but she insisted that she could let me stay the night. This places cool atmosphere is rather nice and when I activated {Cold Blooded} I went straight to sleep.
Synthesis Results:
{Water Manipulation} + {Hydro Hand} + {Water Sense} = {Total Water Manipulation}
- Day 42
I woke up today with the naked body of Cora lying on top of me while her soft breathing blew on my neck. I was a little concerned about whether she had done something in my sleep but I still had all my clothes on so I think it's fine. After she woke up we parted ways when she showed me another way out of the cave and I promised her that I would keep in contact. In fact, I used this time to try out {Ally Communication}. I tried telepathically talking to Cora and if the surprise on her face was anything to go by, she heard it.
{Siren Cora added as an Ally}
Huh, That's useful. I should do the same with the others when I get the chance. On the way back to the settlement, I came across a strange bull with the face of a man and killed it without hesitation. I didn't gain anything but I just felt it had to die so it was fine.
When I returned to the cave, I learned that Sei's group, <Agony>, had gained some new members and when I went to check on them, I was able to learn a few things about magic, though my magic seems to have Ranks as well as Levels which even Sei wasn't able to properly explain. She still gave me a hug for returning and coming to visit and I added her to my Allies. I did the same with Emery, Fu, Dou and Rou which they appreciated and apparently got Rou thinking about something.
When I went to visit Emery, I found Rou plus a pile of scrapped knives and an annoyed Emery as Rou was happily swinging around a knife with flames coming from it. When I asked what they were doing, Rou said he was enchanting using {Job: Enchanter} while Emery said he was wasted good materials. I asked if I could try once using both {Job:Enchanter} and {Enchanting} and ended up enchanting a plain, wrought iron knife on the first attempt with a durability that could give the best steel swords a run for their money.
After Rou left me with the pouting Emery, I tried to cheer her up by showing her the materials I found in the lake cave. She stated that the minerals I collected were extremely rare and with enough time and effort, could certainly be made into a weapon worth bringing into battle. I hugged her tightly and her face turned sour. I asked what was wrong and she told me that I smelt of fish. When I told her the reason, she began angrily pouting until I promised to sleep with her and her alone tonight.
Today's results:
Golems: {3 Stone Golems}
Synthesis: {Presence Concealment} + {Presence Hiding} + {Conceal Status} = {Presence Erasure}
{Awareness} + {Presence Sensor} + {Presence Detection} = {Total Area Perception}
- Day 43
I've decided to spend today on two things.
I spent the entirety of the morning and a little bit of noon working with the minerals I found in the lake cave and I think I've finally created a body worthy of one of Velvets creations. Still unsure of whether or not I would succeed, I didn't tell anyone about what I was doing.
With the new, still small, enchanted body in front of me, I gathered the majority of Returners soul in my hand and slowly inserted it into my creation. A few minutes passed, then half an hour, then an hour until finally something happened. The little figure began to twitch and move before taking in a deep breath and falling to her hands and knees. I immediately checked to see if she was okay and, I suppose my concerned face relaxed her because she sat up and worked to regain her bearings before finally speaking. She asked about what happened which was to be expected so I told her about the golem related skill I received from Velvets ring and how that, plus my own skill, was able to bring her into this new body. She looked around the room, then at her own body, then back to me and smiled brightly.
I smiled back while picking her up and suggesting that we go say hello to the others. She agreed and we talked about her new bodies capabilities on the way. Through the use of wind spirit stones she has the ability to fly, I've made her body as durable as possible without hurting the flexibility and various other things to make her life easier.
The first place we went to of course, was the mines to see Gobue. She was surprised to see me but when I opened my hands to show a fully revived Returner shouting ”Surprise!” She broke down crying and the two talked for a while. Gobue thanked me profusely and I could feel a certain pair of eyes digging into my back because of it.
When we arrived at the human girl's area, Rou was flirting with all of them while receiving a death glare from Mi and the red head. They all turned to look at me when I called out and their surprised and shocked faces when they saw Returner was almost as good as Gubue. The look on Rou's face was especially fun considering he ate Returners last core.