Zane swallowed.
[You must be able to consume the entire thing and then meditate. Activate your stigma, and the
The voice disappeared and Zane blinked in belated realization.
[Time limit for Naturist Communication lvl 4 is over]
[You've invested 1000 species into Naturist Communication]
[Naturist Communication lvl 4 > Naturist Communication lvl 5]
[The 'selected' creature may talk to you for 2 hours]
[ —the use of the stigma will eliminate the interference of other spirits for the next three hours]
"That's good," Zane said, taking the Dao out and holding it carefully.
[You've invested 500 species in agility]
[Agility lvl 3 > Agility lvl 4]
Zane focused his mana into the sword and took a few steps back before he ran ahead and jumped onto one of the leaves of the plant and then to the top where the flowers resided. He then paused at the fruit. Should he cut the entire stem off or should he take just the fruit?
Zane decided that there were numerous instances of plants being violent, so he simply took the fruit and jumped down, landing on a leaf and then on the ground.
[You've lost a chance of a veiled trial!]
As much as Zane would love to participate in a veiled trial, he couldn't. The System only allowed the players to do auxiliary trials once they'd reached the trial of the
[Had you cut the stem, the trial would have been triggered]
[The genesis, 'Hydrangea' is looking at you]
'This was the genesis?!' Zane blinked up at the plant, which rustled in the wind. It was bigger than whatever tree was known as huge in reality. He then glanced at the fruit in his hand, it was lavender, much like the flowers.
[You must cook it]
"And how is that?" Zane asked, glancing at Shen.
The bunny tilted its head at him. [Does this human not have access to the great chest?]
'The crystals,' Zane thought, and opened Clandestine Chest. Sure enough, he had fifteen 'fire' based crystals there. He quickly added Hydrangean to the Chest and stood up, looking around and beginning to gather some fallen wood.
[Directions to use an
To obtain the element, strike it against a mana-riddled medium
To use as a weapon: break it on the ground]
Once he'd collected enough wood, Zane summoned two of the fire-based crystals and transfused some mana into the Dao and struck the hilt of it against the crystal. Sure enough, the wood caught fire. "Wow…" Zane murmured, and suddenly he was aware that the sky had gotten darker.
[It's past dusk, human]
Zane merely nodded as he reached for the three wooden sticks which had been scraped off their bark-like material and were kept on a small piece of cloth that he had stored inside the pouch he had stolen from the clan. "What must I do with the fruit?"
The bunny hopped next to him and Zane summoned the Hydrangean and let Shen inspect it. [Cut it into three pieces, and let each of them cook for ten minutes with constant turning]
Zane did as he was told, cut the fruit into three pieces by using the Dao, and then ran the stick through them before sticking the empty end of the stick into the ground. He stared ahead and noticed that the sky had darkened quite much.
"How long has Shen been trapped here?" he asked.
The bunny made a sound close to a huff. [Why does this human ask about Shen?]
"This human has nothing to do for ten minutes," Zane replied.
[This human is odd indeed,] the bunny agreed, it's nose twitching. [How about… a century?]
"A century?" Zane asked, his eyes narrowing at Shen, who had tucked its feet under its belly and was twitching its ears. "Are you sure that is how long?"
[No, it must be definitely more than that]
'Of course, it would be. The repercussions would make it almost three hundred years if Shen was underestimating, 'Zane thought as he looked at the fire. The fruit was turning a nice red color, almost looking like meat.
[May Shen ask about this human?]
"Of course," Zane said, and brought his hand ahead to turn the wood.
[What is this human called?]
Zane paused. "This human is called Zephyr," he said. "Zephyr Mor, but he goes by Zane."
[Some
[
[
[
[
Zane realized they probably meant the insects that were around them. Zane could care less, after
[Zephyr… Zane…] Shen murmured, [Are you not here for a sword, Zane?]
"I think defeating one of the sole monsters is much more important, plus, I can keep upgrading this sword," Zane said, patting Dao. "If I earn another sword, that is great too."
[The creator of the lower-grade sword, [Dao] is flustered]
The Dao was such a common sword that people often failed to see that it could be used easily. It was compatible with any other sword, skill, or attribute. Once Zane got the third attribute of Wisteria, he could fuse it with the sword.
[I see…] Shen said, and then stuck its paw at the fire. Zane nodded, ten minutes were over. He took the three sticks and stuck them in the ground away from the fire. [You must take the peel off now]
Zane used the corner of his nail to slowly pull the peel away—and the moment he did, he was hit with an intoxicatingly sweet scent. "Can I eat it now?" he asked, his stomach suddenly rumbling as if it remembered that he was hungry.
[Of course] Shen replied.
Zane bit into the fruit. It was hot, also a little chewy and sweet. It was an odd combination but he couldn't complain because this was something he'd never thought he'd eat. Furthermore, it was delicious—so delectable that he didn't realize when he was biting into the second part. "It's so good!"
[Your mana is being replenished!]
[Some
Zane stopped halfway into the second piece of fruit. "Does Shen want some?" he asked.
The bunny blinked at him before it hopped towards him. [May Shen?]
"Of course," Zane replied, breaking a sizable piece and holding it out for the bunny to eat. Shen sniffed it before it bit into it.
[Shen misses having hands sometimes]
"I'm holding onto it," Zane simply said, taking a bite of the remaining fruit. It was over quickly and he had taken the third one into his unoccupied hand. He took another piece of it and held it out for Shen as he continued eating the remaining fruit.
[Shen is thankful]
"Without Shen I wouldn't have gotten the fruit," Zane reminded as he tossed the sticks to the side. His hands were a little sticky but he couldn't seem to mind.
[Now that Zane has consumed Hydrangean, he must activate the stigma and meditate for the next three hours] Shen said, as it hopped to sit on Zane's lap, making a small grumpy sound. [Shen shall sleep now so Zane can sleep later]
[
Zane nodded and activated the stigma.
[Stigma,
[You will be protected from external intervention for the next three hours]
Zane placed the sword near his right hand and closed his eyes, letting his hands rest on either of his thighs, being careful to not disturb the sleeping creature on his lap.
[You've begun interacting with your mana core!]
—
The man that now wore muddied white robes used a sword to cut strands of his hair. He was standing under the light of the stars as he took his bunched-up hair and dropped it, letting the wind carry them.
[Sacrifice has been received!]
[You may choose your skills now!]
Rhian's eyes narrowed.
According to the rules provided by the Contract Administrator, one of the most crucial ones was the sacrificial deal. It worked on multiple mediums, apparently. One could trade crystals, their body parts, species, or skills to use another skill. 'The old give-and-take shit.'
[Term 50: Sacrifice must be made to access all skills]
Rhian thought about the man who had been using his blood up until now. He swallowed. 'He has to be a psychopath.'
Rhian had understood by now that depending on the greatness of the skill, the price of repercussions changed. Typically, one with sufficient species would invest the money into the skills, but those without any skills could give up a part of them as well. Such as their hair.
Rhian had grown it long enough, up to the small of his back and could cut off bit by bit to let himself use skills. However… that nameless bastard was willingly sacrificing his blood. It just didn't sit right with him. 'Perhaps… he didn't read the terms?'
Rhian looked ahead, in the distance he could see a silhouette of a familiar creature… It was standing on its hind legs, the other two hands facing the sky as it bared its chest forward, despite being so far away, Rhian could feel the bloodlust that wafted off it.
'But he knows quite a lot for a foreigner.' Rhian swallowed thickly as he thought about the latter. 'Foreigners don't typically bother reading about the culture of some other Nation other than their own…' However, by the way things were progressing, it seemed like that man knew more than enough.
In fact, he knew whom to respect, whom to disregard just like any other discipline of the clan. Rhian let out an audible sigh and pushed his overgrown fringes back as he took an offensive stance.
[You've opened 4% of your mana core!]
[Triggering personal skill, 'Hymn of the Cursed Apostle!']
[Personal skill, 'Hymn of the Cursed Apostle' has agreed to transfuse with your mana]
[
[Transfusion in process]
Rhian opened his eyes. The grays of his pupils were replaced with an icy blue, similar to the aura that surrounded him. It felt like a cold layer was pricking at his skin.
[Your current status has breached the grade of the Trial!]
'There's a grade?' Rhian pondered.
[Certain hurdles have been added to adequately fit the situation]
[Transfusion complete!]
Rhian felt the hilt of the sword he held as he felt the presence of blood lust get closer.
And closer.
Until…
[Aahat! Another brat of that family!]
Rhian gripped the hilt tightly, not bothering to look behind him, as his skill burnt the surrounding ground.
[Last one, leaving the sisters alive, of course]
[
For once, Rhian could feel all sorts of remorse slip out of him as he triggered a recently earned skill.
[Skill, 'Alexithymia' lvl 1 is triggered!]
A dangerous smile came to Rhian's lips as he opened Clandestine Chest. That nameless bastard had mentioned this chest, so he really had no problem using it. From the inventory of it, he chose Executioner.
Rhian took a few steps ahead and then turned around once the Vin'nyla that had previously been in his hand was replaced by the dark blade.
A monstrous wolf standing on two legs greeted him—it was a horrifying sight if Rhian wasn't already prepared to witness it. He had read enough books while growing up to know this. This was the
[Oho, ahaaahat! You'll end up as your half-siblings]
The Lycaon laughed, and Rhian raised his eyebrow. Oh, this asshole did not want to go in that direction. "And you'll end up dead with your head in your hands."
A darker and much more dangerous expression ran across the wolf's face, but Rhian held firm. He simply opened his mouth again, interrupting Lycaon.
[Y—]
"If I don't kill you, make sure I end up like them."
The monstrous wolf laughed louder, the black and red fur quaking with the movement. Rhian just needed a little more time. Lucky for him, a message popped up right then and there.
Rhian's lips quirked into a smile.
[Personal Skill 'Hymn of the Cursed Apostle' and your mana core transfusion are responding to Executioner!]
Rhian locked eyes with Lycaon, staring into the green ones of the monster. "You shall die tonight."