Chapter 5 : Finding Shelter.
Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above as Selena stretched, arms arching toward the sky. Nyx padded beside her, tail flicking in rhythm with her steps, his sleek black fur catching golden glints of morning light.
Their stomachs full from a modest breakfast of fire-roasted fish, the forest felt less hostile today—almost inviting.
"Alright, let's go find a real shelter this time," she murmured, adjusting the strap of her satchel.
They hadn't gone far when a sudden squelching sound stopped them both in their tracks.
Blop. Blop. Blop.
Out of the underbrush oozed five slimes, their gelatinous bodies pulsing and wobbling as they bounced into the clearing. Each one shimmered with a faint glow—colors ranging from pale blue to deep violet.
> [Enemy Detected!]
Slimes x5 (Lv. 1–5)
Selena's breath hitched. "You've got to be kidding me."
Nyx snarled lowly, stepping forward protectively.
"Let's do this, partner."
---
Selena quickly brought out her steel knife from her inventory and got ready to fight.
"O lets give this new body a try."
Saying that Selena darted around the battlefield, using her now agile and powerful new body—while Nyx leapt, pounced, and clawed with calculated grace.
" It is surprisingly easir to dodge the slimes attack now."she thought to her self .
She kicked a Level 2 slime into a tree and ducked just in time as a Level 5 one lunged at her, only for Nyx to intercept mid-air with a powerful swipe.
Splatter.
Using that moment to her full advantage. She used her full strength in one final slash for the level 5 slime as soon as it landed on the ground. And effectively stopped him for good, after slashing its core.
After one by one she got through the other slimes surprisingly easily as Nyx made sure she didn't get hurt.
As the final slime melted away into the ground, a strange shimmer remained behind—floating like a glowing mist of stardust.
Selena stepped forward, squinting. "What the...?"
> [New Item Obtained!]
Slime Essence: A rare, mutable core of chaotic mana. Grants the user a random form-shifting ability.
Her eyes widened. "Could this really—"
Before she could finish, Nyx—tail twitching curiously—pounced into the mist.
"Nyx, no—!"
The moment his sleek form touched it, the essence flared with light and whoosh!—disappeared into him.
> [Companion Update!]
Nyx has absorbed Slime Essence.
New Ability Gained: Size Control.
Selena's mouth dropped open. "You what!?"
She turned to Nyx, who looked entirely unbothered. In fact, he gave her a mischievous grin—if a panther could grin—
"Can you change your size now." Selene asked in half worry and half excitement.
Nyx nodded at her and ...
Poof!
He shrunk.
Where once stood a proud, fearsome beast, now sat a tiny, sleek black kitten with wide golden eyes and twitching ears.
"...Nyx?"
He meowed.
Selena squeaked. "You're so freaking cute!!"
Without hesitation, she scooped him up, cradling the tiny cat in her arms as she spun in a little circle.
"You're so fluffy and tiny—like a plush toy!"
Nyx blinked slowly, purring. And after humouring her for a bit. He got annoyed. Then, with an elegant flick of his tail, he jumped from her embrace and—
Poof!
In an instant, he returned to his towering form, his golden eyes glowing down at her, head now even slightly higher than hers.
Selena stared up, mouth agape. "Okay… that's awesome."
> [Level Up!]
Selena has reached Level 7!
+10 Stat Points
+10 Skill Points
---
[Status Window]
Name: Selena Nightshade
Level: 7
Race: Human
Title: Author of Fate
Companion: Nyx (Shadow Panther – now with Size Control)
Stats
Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Intelligence: 7
Endurance: 11
Charm: 17
Luck: 10
Words Available: 2
Mana Affinity: Low
Aura Affinity : Unknown
Available Stat Points: 10
Available Skill Points: 10
Abilities
Word Manifestation Lvl 1 (Limited)
(1000 points required to Lvl up)
Inventory System (20 Slots)(required 1 skill point for one slot)
Animal Lover Lvl 1 ( 1 skill point required to Lvl up)
Beginner Combat Instincts Lvl 1 ( 2 skill points required to Lvl up).
[Locked]
[Locked]
---
As they pushed deeper into the woods, the air began to shift—colder, quieter, ancient.
They continued to move across the woods.
That's when they saw it.
A small stone cottage, overgrown with ivy, half-swallowed by the forest. Its wooden door stood slightly ajar. Dusty windows caught the light just right to make it feel like a place forgotten by time.
Selene quickly approched it in excitement.As she stepped inside the cottage .
Poop.
---
> [Quest Complete!]
"Find Shelter" Completed
Reward: 2 Words Unlocked
---
Selena's heart skipped. "Finally…"
She stepped inside cautiously, Nyx ducking behind her. It wasn't much—cobwebs clung to the corners, and moss crept in through the cracks—but it was solid. Safe.
"Home," she whispered.
Then suddenly another message popped up on her screen.
___
Shelter have been discovered. A new skill has been registered by the system "world map".
___
"O world map i wonder if I can finally find some people with this."
As she says world map a map pops up in front of her. With mostly empty areas but it showed some areas.
Like the river, where they caught the fish and their journey to cottage amongst other spots.
" O great so I can only see the places. I have actually visited."
But just in case she looked at the skill description.
___
World Map Lvl 1
Allows the user to view all the places they have been too.
_____
" well.. I guess it has , its own uses."
Nyx let out a contented huff and curled up beside the cold hearth.
After giving the cottage a much needed clean. Selene place some palm leaves on the ground.
Selena sat down beside Nyx, pulling out her notebook.
"Let's see what we can do with those two new words…"
But before she could begin writing, Nyx—now kitten-sized again—climbed into her lap and curled into a ball.
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.
Whatever lay ahead, at least she wasn't alone.
She decided to invest some of her stat points.
After alot of thinking she finally decided what she wanted to update.
____
Stats
Strength: 12 —> 14
Agility: 14 —> 19
Intelligence: 7
Endurance: 11 —> 14
Charm: 17
Luck: 10
Words Available: 2
Mana Affinity: Low
Aura Affinity : Unknown
Available Stat Points: 0
Available Skill Points: 10
Abilities
Word Manifestation Lvl 1 (Limited)
(1000 points required to Lvl up)
Inventory System (20 Slots)(required 1 skill point for one slot)
Animal Lover Lvl 1 ( 1 skill point required to Lvl up)
Beginner Combat Instincts Lvl 1 ( 2 skill points required to Lvl up).
[Locked]
[Locked]
_____
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