Thalion and his team moved stealthily through the dense jungle undergrowth of the first stage. Strange, bioluminescent plants cast an ethereal glow, lighting up the alien landscape in hues of green and blue. Towering trees, their leaves as wide as shields, blocked most of the sky, making it feel like they were walking beneath a green dome.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the canopy above began to thin, allowing sunlight to pierce through the leaves in dappled patterns. Eventually, the trees gave way entirely, and they stepped into a sunlit clearing. In the center stood a small, fragile-looking branch, no more than 1.5 meters tall, bearing three marvelous fruits. They resembled apples, but they were nearly three times the size, exuding a sugary, sweet aroma that made Thalion's mouth water.
"That's an Illusive Lure, Level 3," Emily said after identifying the plant. "Strange name... doesn't look like it should be called that."
"Maybe the fruit tastes horrible," Mike smirked.
Before anyone could step into the clearing, Emily pushed them all back, her finger pointing upward.
A creature glided gracefully toward the Illusive Lure, its body resembling that of a manta ray, with shimmering, bioluminescent patterns. It had three tails, each tipped with a red spike likely poisonous.
"It's a Lumina Manta, Level 2," James whispered, watching intently.
The Lumina Manta landed delicately on the twig holding the three fruits. It moved with precision, slowly consuming the fruit.
Suddenly, four massive leaves, camouflaged under the moss, snapped upward like a trap. The manta screeched in panic, attempting to escape, but it was too late. With a loud thud, the leaves closed over the creature, forming a tulip-like enclosure. The manta, still alive, flailed violently inside, its bioluminescence flickering as it tried to stab the leaves with its spiked tails, to no avail.
A squelching noise followed as the plant pumped digestive fluid into the enclosure. The fluid level rose quickly, and the manta's struggles grew frantic as it drowned in the liquid. Its light dimmed until it flickered out completely.
Thalion had seen enough. Seizing the opportunity while the plant was distracted, he conjured a fireball in his hand and hurled it at the Illusive Lure. The fireball hit with a small explosion, flames licking up the side of the plant, but then fizzled out. The plant stood nearly unharmed, showing only a few minor burn marks.
"Well, that was disappointing," Thalion muttered. He had been looking forward to casting the skill and how it would feel, but the effect was just meh.
The digestive fluid filled the plant entirely now, and they could no longer see the manta. Without hesitation, all three melee warriors descended upon the plant, hacking at its massive leaves. The illusive lure couldn't defend against outside attacks, which made this battle rather one-sided.
"Man, this reeks!" Mike grimaced as the fluid spilled from one of the large gashes he had made.
You have slain Illusive Lure, Level 4
You have reached Level 1
"Two levels for hacking up a plant?!" Mike cheered. "And it even leveled up after killing that manta lucky for us!"
Lukas and James both reached Level 2, while David and Emily didn't level up at all, likely because they hadn't contributed much to the fight.
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Thalion felt the surge of new power coursing through him as his level increased. He gained three points in intelligence and two in wisdom. He also gained two free points, which were placed into intelligence as well, with the hope to increase the potency of his spells. It was essential that he became more powerful. Most in the group felt happy about the kill and he also was relieved, but this was also not the time to get complacent. He needed to plan ahead for the fights to come if he wanted to become a powerhouse in the future. On another note, Thalion was pretty happy with his current group, though. There was not much arguing, but all tried to adapt as well as possible to this new world.
Still, he was frustrated. His Fireball had been almost useless against the plant. Maybe if I can channel more mana into the spell, I can make it stronger, he thought. The mana cost was negligible to him. He regenerated the mana for one Fireball in about three seconds.
He conjured another Fireball, watching as it grew in size. He tried to force more mana into the flame, pushing it from his hand into the growing sphere of fire. It worked briefly as the Fireball grew a little larger, but then it stagnated. No matter how hard Thalion pushed, the spell refused to grow further. Frustrated, he let the skill go, and the flame flickered out.
"I think we should take the remaining fruit from the illusive lure. Maybe we can use them to attract more mantas," he suggested, still deep in thought on how to improve his skill.
"Good idea. Do you have a telekinetic spell you haven't told us about? Because I'm not wading through this mud," Mike exclaimed, eyeing the pool of foul-smelling fluid beneath the plant.
Thalion considered his options. "Maybe I can use my Mana Barrier to grab the fruits." He activated the spell, summoning a mist-like barrier in front of him. "Hmm... that's not right," he murmured, dispersing the barrier. He tried again, this time halting the mana flow before it fully formed, creating a shorter, flatter barrier.
The others watched intently as Thalion summoned one barrier after another, experimenting with different shapes. But it wasn't working. He couldn't make the barrier move horizontally. However, he discovered that by holding the spell steady and pushing against the mana, he could move the barrier slowly forward.
"I could just shoot the fruit with an arrow," Emily interjected as sweat beaded on Thalion's forehead.
"Give me a little more time. I can make it move faster," Thalion insisted, still focused on the barrier.
Half an hour later, he finally did it. He could now move the barrier from his position to the plant and back without it dispersing.
"Okay, let's give this a shot," Mike said. "But please don't screw it up. I'd like to avoid smelling like this for the rest of my life."
Thalion summoned the barrier, and Mike held onto it as he carefully pushed it toward the fruit. Once the fruits were secured, Mike placed them into his spatial ring. Thalion then pulled the barrier back, pouring extra mana into it to keep it stable. After a few moments, Mike jumped off with a triumphant grin.
"Haha, we did it! Let's find another clearing and see if we can lure in more mantas," Mike said, his excitement contagious.
The others agreed eagerly, but Thalion interjected, "I'm all for it, but I need to rest for a bit. I've burned through most of my mana, and I think I've got some minor backlash from overusing it."
"No worries, mate. We'll wait," James said enthusiastically. "If the bait works, we could hit Level 5 and ascend to Stage 2 by tomorrow." This was important for all of them since the voice of the system had told them about the other races in this tutorial. Competition would be fierce and they needed to level fast.
Everyone nodded in agreement, though Thalion felt a strange emptiness. His mana reserves were low, and he felt sluggish, like his body couldn't pump enough energy through his system. At one point, he asked David to heal him, but after a quick examination, they gave up. The healing spell just didn't work, maybe because he had a full health bar?
Thalion tried a different approach. He focused on drawing in nature's mana from the surrounding environment, but nothing happened. He simply had no power over it and couldn't influence it at all.
The group passed the time in their own ways. James and Lukas engaged in a fierce arm-wrestling match, while Mike practiced different techniques with his attack skills. Emily, despite repeated failures, attempted to craft new arrows, and David amused himself by trying to "talk" with one of the large trees nearby, though the tree remained unresponsive. Thalion watched them sitting on the side with sorrow in his eyes. They were hiding it well, but Thalion saw that this new reality was much harder for them to accept and most of their actions at the moment were for distraction to stop them from thinking about it too much. They had their own life with friends and family, not like him, who had nothing in that regard back on earth. Of course he had friends, yes and he would be happy to see them again in the future, but nothing close to family. He just hoped that they would find their friends and family, but with only 200,000 humans in the tutorial, the chances were low. Maybe he should ask them about their life on earth later. People always said telling someone your problems helped. He had never understood that back in the orphanage, telling someone your weakness just meant that it would get exploited, but many people were still believing that the method worked. Thalion would definitely not ask them now as they were already struggling with this new reality, maybe in a week or so.
As the sun began to set, the group relaxed, eager for what the next stage might bring.
Everybody ready?" Mike addressed the team, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"I'm fully recovered," Thalion nodded, his voice steady. He couldn't wait for another fight, and if he wasn't in a team, he saw himself right in the frontline fighting powerful beasts. Okay, that was maybe a bit of a lie since close combat as a mage with a fireball that exploded wouldn't be that good. Yeah, but blowing stuff up with his fireball was totally something he would like to do, even if it was just from the backline. The only two things stopping him from running out there and finding a beast to fight were mainly two things. First, he didn't know anything about the beast roaming this jungle, and for now the group gave him safety. Secondly, he didn't want to leave them alone in the forest. He always had a big heart and back in the orphanage he had helped the younger kids who got bullied. Not that he had ever risked his life, but when it didn't hurt him, why not help? His team now was also great and fully focused on progress, so there was no real reason to leave them at the moment. Maybe at a later point in the tutorial when they had found out how it worked.
The others confirmed with nods as well. They had already discussed their next move. Emily had spotted sunlight breaking through the treetops to the northeast, so they headed in that direction. James and Lukas led the way, with the others following closely behind. After walking about a kilometer, they entered another clearing. Along the way, strange chirping sounds echoed above them, making Thalion think this place was much more alive than their last location.
"How do we make sure there's no hidden plant in the moss?" James murmured, eyeing the ground warily.
Lukas snapped off a small branch and threw it into the middle of the clearing. Everyone held their breath, but nothing happened.
"Looks safe," Lukas concluded. "There are even small flowers growing sporadically. If something dangerous were hiding here, it would have destroyed the smaller plants every time it attacked."
With the clearing deemed safe, they started setting their trap. Lukas drove a sturdy branch into the ground in the center, and Mike carefully attached one of the Illusive Lure fruits to its top. The air was immediately filled with its intoxicatingly sweet aroma. To amplify the scent, Mike squeezed the juice from the second fruit and poured it over the first. The fragrance intensified, saturating the clearing.
They then retreated into the cover of the jungle, hiding and waiting for their prey. The plan was simple: if a single creature came, they'd strike immediately. But if it wasn't alone, they'd wait and attempt to take them all down at once.
For two long hours, nothing happened. Thalion was about to suggest relocating the trap when it finally happened. Four Lumina Mantas glided gracefully into view, drawn by the irresistible scent of the fruit. The ethereal creatures circled cautiously, hovering about two meters above the bait. After scanning the area for any threats, one of the mantas descended, followed by the others in quick succession.
The moment all four were on the ground, the team sprang into action. Mike, Lukas, and James burst from the jungle, enhanced by David's buffs, while Emily unleashed an arrow, striking one of the mantas in the wing. Thalion conjured a fireball, launching it just above the creatures. The explosion scattered the mantas, sending them screeching and flailing. Two of them were hit directly by Lukas and James, who, unable to reach them in time, threw their shields with brutal force. One shield bashed a manta in the head, while the other shattered another's midsection, leaving both creatures burning and writhing from Thalion's flames.
The third manta, with an arrow in its wing, dodged the fireball but couldn't escape Mike's sword as it came crashing down on its head. Within moments, all four mantas lay dead, the ambush a total success.
A flood of notifications filled Thalion's vision:
You have slain Lumina Manta Level 5
You have slain Lumina Manta Level 5
You have slain Lumina Manta Level 5
You have reached Level 4
Skill selection available. Do you want to choose a skill?
Before diving into skill selection, they quickly poured the last of the fruit juice over the bait to mask the smell of blood. They stowed the mantas' bodies in their spatial rings and went back into hiding, hoping for more prey to arrive.
Thalion allocated his nine free stat points into intelligence, then turned his attention to the available skills:
Telekinetic Dash (Rare):
This skill allows the mage to propel themselves in a straight line using telekinetic force, offering a burst of speed for offense or defense. It grants more dynamic movement in combat and can be used to quickly evade or close distances.
Mana Leap (Common):
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This skill enables the mage to teleport short distances, either vertically or diagonally. It's perfect for quick escapes, surprise attacks from higher ground, or closing gaps in combat.
Magical Perception (Rare):
This skill heightens a mage's ability to sense and interact with magical energy. It allows for detecting hidden magical auras, seeing through illusions, and sensing the presence of magical creatures, offering greater spellcasting precision.
Thalion couldn't believe his luck, two rare skills to choose from! If you go by videogame standards, those skills should be a lot better than the common ones. The ability to move quickly with telekinetic dash seemed incredibly useful, potentially even leading to future flight. Magical perception was also tempting, offering an edge in detecting dangers and opportunities. After some thought, he chose Telekinetic Dash because he needed a strong evasion skill. That he could fight stronger beasts alone in the future might also be a reason why he chose the skill.
Just then, James whispered from across the clearing, "Guys, I got a rare skill! It's called Shieldbash, and it sounds awesome!"
"Hey, genius!" Lukas whispered back from another direction. "I got the same skill!"
"My man!" James replied, and they both quietly celebrated.
Thalion smirked at their antics. But their focus quickly shifted as they heard a low, ominous buzzing that grew louder by the second.
A tempest of chittering mandibles and shimmering wings erupted from the canopy a swarm of giant grasshoppers, at least 25 strong, each a meter tall. Their mottled green and brown exoskeletons glowed faintly, and their sharp, barbed legs were ready to tear into anything that moved.
Thalion immediately identified the creatures:
Colossal Grasshopper Level 3
He quickly scanned for higher-level threats hidden in the swarm but found none. The swarm descended, tearing into the Illusive Lure fruit with ravenous hunger.
Now or never, Thalion thought with anticipation. To fight those things should definitely be more fun than the battle against the illusive lure. The grasshoppers were tightly clustered, making them perfect targets. He conjured a massive fireball, infusing it with as much mana as he could muster, and hurled it into the swarm.
Boom! The explosion sent shockwaves through the clearing. Grasshoppers were thrown in every direction, many of their wings ignited by the blast. Oh yes, this was so much more fun, Thalion thought when he witnessed how his skill threw the grasshoppers around.
Lukas and James charged in with wild grins, shouting, "Shieldbash!" They both sprinted forward, holding their shields in front of them. They were a lot faster than a normal human should be. Was this an effect of the skill? Thalion thought as he observed the battle to find the right spot to throw another fireball at. The first grasshopper probably had the same experience as a fly hitting the windshield of a car on the highway when Lukas smashed his shield into its head. Lucas basically just ran through the beast and didn't stop there. James and Lucas's shields slammed into the grasshoppers, crushing them on impact. Thalion envied them for a bit as they both clearly had a lot of fun. Did he regret his choice to become a mage? No, of course not. Even if they had more fun now. He just saw more potential in a mage class and he was in for the long run after all. Also, when he liked battling and risking his life, he didn't do so without a plan that had high chances of succeeding. Did it take the fun away if you made multiple plans to win? Yes, a bit, but winning was always better than failing, which totally made the sacrifice of excitement totally worth it in his opinion.
Mike followed close behind, methodically slicing off wings as Emily fired arrows at the grasshoppers, which still attempted to take flight. Her shots were precise, but the swarm was relentless. After the initial clash, nine grasshoppers lay dead on the ground, and six more were grounded by the damage or burning wings. The remaining insects, now enraged, swarmed the melee fighters, leaving Thalion and Emily struggling to find clear targets for their fireballs and arrows.
James, Lukas, and Mike stood back-to-back, defending against the onslaught. Thalion conjured a mana barrier to protect Mike, who was struggling the most, but he could feel his mana draining fast. Mike took advantage of the shielded reprieve to cut down more of the attackers. With each swing of their weapons, Lukas and James smashed or sliced through any insect foolish enough to get close.
David joined the fray, casting healing and buffs on the warriors, while five grasshoppers took to the air, attempting to dive-bomb the group. Thalion quickly released his mana barrier, conjuring another fireball to intercept the flying creatures. Another explosion sent them crashing to the ground, their wings aflame.
The tide of the battle shifted. The grounded grasshoppers couldn't keep up with the relentless attacks, and with Thalion preventing the others from taking flight, the three warriors pushed forward. After one final synchronized "Shieldbash!" from Lukas and James, the remaining grasshoppers were swiftly finished off.
"What a fight!" Mike exclaimed, fist-bumping James and Lukas.
"Did you see that one with the brown dots? It almost bit my head off!" Lukas said, laughing.
"They all had brown dots, and all of them tried to bite you," David chuckled, still drained from his healing efforts.
"Guys, check this out!" Mike pointed to his arm, where the bite marks on his armor were slowly disappearing. "It's healing itself!"
David's eyes lit up in fascination. "That's amazing."
"David, don't even think about talking to the armor!" Emily laughed, and the group joined in.
After catching their breath, Mike asked, "So, did we all hit Level 5?"
Everyone nodded, except Thalion, who had been busy gathering the grasshopper bodies into his spatial ring. There was no way he would let them leave here on the ground. He had enjoyed the fight a lot, but the dead insects could attract bigger predators and there was no reason to risk anything now with some of their resources gone. "Give me a second," he said, opening his status screen.
His vision was flooded with notifications:
You have slain Colossal Grasshopper, Level 3
…
…
…
You have slain Colossal Grasshopper, Level 3
You have reached Level 5
Evolution available
Thalion grinned as he saw the notification. He had 29 kills and had finally reached Level 5, though most of the experience was wasted since he'd already hit the cap. Fortunately, his credit score skyrocketed from 90 to 610. After quickly assigning his points to intelligence, he turned to the group.
"So... evolution time?" he asked, grinning. The first day was a full success in his eyes and he was looking forward to what the future would bring. He should be able to fight in a closer range next time with his movement skill. Oh, he was looking forward to that.
The others responded in unison, "Evolution time!"
Remove
A screen appeared before Thalions face with all the options he had. After chosing one, he would get teleported to the second stage of the tutorial.
Time seemed to stop as Thalion scrolled through his evolution options. The sheer number was overwhelming. Before the tutorial, he'd had six class options. Now, there were easily over one hundred. After sifting through them, he managed to narrow it down to the ones he found most appealing.
Mage (Rare)
The Mage is a master of the arcane arts, wielding powerful spells to control the battlefield. They unleash devastating elemental attacks, erect protective barriers, and manipulate the forces of nature. While formidable in mana control, mages are physically fragile, relying on intelligence and mana reserves to keep enemies at bay. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 5 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Illusionist (Uncommon)
The illusionist is a master of deception, capable of creating incredibly realistic illusions. They can make themselves invisible, create doppelgängers, and even alter the perceptions of others. Illusionists are experts at psychological warfare, using their powers to manipulate and confuse their enemies. This specialization is focused on stealth and trickery, allowing the illusionist to outsmart opponents. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Chronomancer (Rare)
Chronomancers manipulate time itself, slowing enemies, speeding up allies, and even peering into the future. They excel at tactical combat and battlefield control, though their powers come with a significant mental toll. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 5 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Shadow Mage (Uncommon)
Shadow mages are masters of illusion and deception, drawing their power from the shadows themselves. They excel at stealth, infiltration, and manipulating the minds of their enemies. Their spells often involve darkness, shadows, and illusions, making them unpredictable and dangerous. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Pyromancer (Uncommon)
A Pyromancer is a master of fire magic. They summon fiery blasts, create walls of flame, and control the temperature of their surroundings. However, their reliance on fire makes them vulnerable to water-based attacks. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Water Mage (Uncommon)
Water mages control water and ice. They create water barriers, summon ice spikes, and control the tides. Often associated with healing and cleansing, they are also devastating in combat. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Wind Mage (Uncommon)
Wind Mages command the winds, creating powerful gusts, flying, and even controlling the weather. Their spells are less effective in enclosed spaces, and they are vulnerable to earth-based attacks. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
These were the natural upgrades for his current mage class. But Thalion also found some hybrid and unique classes that intrigued him.
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Battle Mage (Uncommon)
The Battle Mage is a formidable hybrid, blending arcane might with martial skill. Armed with enchanted weaponry or spells that bolster physical attributes, they are a force on the battlefield. Their magical arsenal supports their close-quarters combat style, making them adaptable in any situation. Increases intelligence, strength, and agility, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Warlock (Rare)
A Warlock is a spellcaster who has forged a pact with a powerful otherworldly entity, gaining extraordinary magical abilities at a cost. Warlocks are seen as enigmatic and mysterious, with versatile spellcasting that includes both offensive and defensive magic. Increases intelligence, vitality, and wisdom, plus 5 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Ranger (Uncommon)
Rangers are wilderness masters, combining archery prowess with a deep connection to nature. Their magic often revolves around controlling animals, tracking prey, and surviving harsh environments. Dangerous in both ranged and melee combat. Increases Strength and Agility, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Blade Dancer (Uncommon)
Graceful and lethal, Blade Dancers master both swordplay and elemental magic. Their movements are fluid and precise, and they are elusive in combat. Their ability to manipulate elements enhances their offensive power, making them a whirlwind of destruction. Increases dexterity, agility, and intelligence, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
Shapeshifter (Rare)
Shapeshifters can change their physical form and possess a unique ability called "Acquire Form," which allows them to take on the appearance of other beasts. They can store and recall up to three forms at will. The Shapeshifter and their forms share experience symbiotically, but the active form gains bonus experience. Shapeshifters also have enhanced physical abilities, such as increased strength, speed, or senses, making them formidable fighters. Plus 13 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.
There were plenty of classes focused on heavy combat or healing, but Thalion wasn't interested in those. He quickly realized that none of the upgraded mage classes really caught his eye.
Thalion narrowed his choices to Warlock, Chronomancer, Battle Mage, and Shapeshifter. He ruled out Warlock, as the mystery surrounding the pact entity didn't sit well with him. The description of chronomancer sounded more like a support class, and he wanted to be able to stand on his own two feet. That left Battle Mage and Shapeshifter. Both were appealing: Shapeshifter offered flexibility, while Battle Mage was pure power. After a while of contemplating, he decided to go with Shapeshifter. The idea of transforming into powerful beasts was too tempting to pass up. Battle mage would although be kind of a gamble as no one knew if they get weapons with the evolution or not.
Besides, he thought, "What if I manage to take the form of a large beast? That would be ridiculously overpowered!" The possibility of evolving from a fragile mage into a formidable shapeshifting creature sealed the deal for him.
"Yes! No more arrows!" Emily cheered. "My new class is the Arcane Gunner. This class looks amazing!"
"Haha, that sounds awesome!" Lukas laughed. "Guess who's going with the Bulwark Berserker? The system must've liked how I smashed those bugs."
"You're not alone, man," James chimed in with a belly laugh. "I'm picking Bulwark Berserker too."
The group shared their class choices. David was going for "Evasive Healer," a class that traded health for agility, while Mike decided on "Blade Dancer."
"I'm choosing the Shapeshifter class," Thalion announced.
"Wait, can you transform into the Mantas we killed and scout for prey?" Mike asked, hopefully. "Also, what happens to your current abilities?"
"I'm not sure if it works on dead beasts, but I'll need to perform a ritual to claim their form. I keep all my current spells, so my plan is to stay a mage in human form and acquire beast forms for close combat and scouting," Thalion explained. Yeah, Shapeshifter definitely was a good choice. He could already see himself throwing fireballs at enemies from afar and when they came close, he would transform into a beast that would overpower them quickly. This tactic should allow him to always stay in control of the battle and have some fun winning.
"Sounds great!" Mike said. "You might even be able to buy new spells for your human form when the system shop opens."
"How can we even talk, didn't time stop?", David asked, looking around in confusion.
"Dude no one knows how this works", Lukas laughed loudly.
"Alright, is everyone ready? Evolution on three?" Mike asked, checking on everybody.
"Yeah, let's go!" James exclaimed.
"Okay. One, two, three!" Mike counted down.
With that, they all triggered their evolution and were instantly teleported to the second stage.
They appeared in a forest that looked much like the last one, with bioluminescent trees casting an eerie, otherworldly glow. The canopy was so dense that sunlight barely penetrated, creating a perpetual twilight.
The first thing Thalion did was check his new status screen.
Status:
Name: Thalion Walker
Age: 30
Height: 1.93m
Level: 5
Race: Common Human (G)
Class: Shapeshifter (Rare)
Health: 100/100
Mana: 380/380
Stamina: 90/90
Experience points: 0/672
Stats:
Strength: 10
Agility: 7
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 38
Wisdom: 20
Dexterity: 5
Perception: 6
Toughness: 6
Vitality: 10
Fate: 3
Skills:
Fireball (Common), Mana Barrier (Common), Telekinetic Dash (Rare), Acquire Form (Rare), Shapeshift (Rare)
Titles:
none
Bloodline:
none
Emily, beside him, panicked. "This is bad! This is bad!"
"What happened?" Mike asked, concerned.
"Well, I thought I would get a gun, but it looks like I have to wait six days for the system shop," Emily muttered, calming down a bit.
"Don't worry, we're all awesome," Lukas assured her. "By the way, Thalion, can you transform into the Manta?"
Thalion took one Manta corpse out of his spatial ring and placed it before him on the ground. He placed his hand on the body of the beast and used Acquire Form. Mana pulsed out from his hand and traveled through the beast's body. After a while, the spell dispersed. It failed. "Maybe it's been dead too long," Thalion muttered. Not gonna lie, he had high hopes for the manta.
Next, Thalion checked his tutorial quests and frowned at the new additions. At least the first one was fine.
Tutorial Quests Stage 2:
Requirement to enter stage 3 reach level 25 and evolve to F grade.
Kill 30 humans reward 1.500 Credits
Kill 100 humans reward 6.000 Credits
Kill 20 orcs reward 1.500 Credits
Kill 80 orcs reward 6.000 Credits
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Kill 12 elves reward 1.500 Credits
Kill 35 elves reward 6.000 Credits
Kill 10 vampires reward 1.500 Credits
Kill 28 vampires reward 6.000 Credits
Lead a group of 25 survivors reward 700 Credits
Lead a group of 50 survivors reward 1.000 Credits
Lead a group of 100 survivors reward 3.000 Credits
Lead a group of 500 survivors reward 20.000 Credits
Lead a group of 1000 survivors reward 50.000 Credits
"This stage will be much harder. We need more levels, and the quests encourage a slaughter fest," Mike said after reading the tutorial quests.
"We should get moving," Thalion said, already thinking through the possible scenarios. "It's already getting dark, and we need a safe place to rest. There will be groups out hunting for careless survivors at night."
"We could try to get up in the trees. Those leaves are big enough to sleep in", Thalion added checking out the near surroundings. „"Maybe people on the ground can't spot us when it's dark."
"I agree. We should make camp on one of those trees," Mike nodded while looking at the absolutely enormous trees in this jungle.
"We should take this one," Emily said, pointing at a giant tree. The trunk alone was 20 meters thick and it was one of the taller trees in the surrounding area. All in all, probably their best option.
"Okay, let's go," David nodded.
The others climbed the tree pretty fast. This system really did make people stronger, Thalion thought. He stayed on the ground because he wanted to lift himself up with the mana barrier. It worked for the first six meters, but then he lost connection to his spell and glided back down to the ground to try again.
If you do something, you should do it right, and he really wanted to get better at controlling his spells. At the moment, he didn't have anything better to do, and without a knife, he couldn't help cutting vines or leaves.
After an hour of trying, he managed to ascend all twelve meters to their camp. Their camp looked like a natural leaf bunker, as if a gust of wind had pressed some leaves together. They even prepared nearby branches so it wouldn't stand out. Probably even people higher up in the trees would have difficulty spotting them.
At first, they wanted to use leaves to sleep in, but after a test round, they decided against it. It would be clear to anyone on the ground that this was a hideout, and they agreed that stealth was more important than comfort. They used vines to secure themselves if they wanted to take a little nap on the tree branch.
This was also an important topic, no one felt tired. Maybe a bit exhausted, but most felt they could stay awake the whole night without a problem. However, they forced Emily to at least take a short nap because, with her skill, archer's sight, she was the most important member of their group.
Another topic was food and water. They debated whether they should use Thalion's fireball to grill some of the Manta meat, but in the end, no one was hungry, so they let that topic slide with a final comment from Mike that they would try to find water tomorrow.
Shortly before nightfall, Thalion slid down to the ground and placed six different grasshopper corpses in various locations. They cut eye slits into some leaves to watch those locations overnight and maybe discover what beasts were lurking in the area.
Thalion had a lot of fun using telekinetic dash to move around, and he loved the skill. It felt like someone threw you in a certain direction. The sheer speed felt amazing.
After a short time, Thalion was back at their tree and used mana barrier to lift himself up to join the others in their hideout. No one spoke as they all lay down in their positions, and with the passing of time, the fear became more tangible. With the preparation finished, everyone lay low, holding onto the same vine. If they spotted a beast or survivor in the distance, they would tug once if it was distant, twice if it was close, and three times if they were discovered.
For the night, they all agreed on three rules, no speaking, no sudden movements, and no identifying. They tested it, and you could really feel a little nod if someone was identifying you. The no fast movement rule was enforced by Emily, who argued that with archer's sight, it was easy to spot any movement.
The night came, and it wasn't as bad as Thalion first thought. Many plants still glowed with bioluminescent light, and although he could see much better in the dark, now probably a side effect of the evolution, he had no trouble watching his grasshopper in the distance.
It was clear to everyone that if they were discovered, it would be the end. Those hunting at night were most likely stronger, and even if they managed to defeat or escape them, the noise would alert every hunter in the area.
For the first hour, nothing happened. But then they came. Thalion felt two fast tugs as he was slowly checking his other eye slits. He saw them. Three giant Orcs, at least two and a half meters tall, with broad shoulders and muscles everywhere. They easily weighed over 200 kg. The blue bioluminescence of the nearby plants shone on them as they moved swiftly and silently with the precision of expert hunters.
The two on the sides had giant battle axes, while the one in the middle carried a massive mace on his back. What classes did these monsters have to earn such weapons? Thalion wondered. There was not even the slightest doubt that if those three brutes discovered them, their journey would be over.
He started to sweat as he saw them coming closer and closer. If they held their current course, they would pass within twenty meters, give or take. How could something this big move so silently? Thalion nearly had a heart attack as the orcs passed by closer than he liked, but after fifty meters, they stopped. One took out his axe, carved something into a tree next to him, then turned to the left and exited his line of sight.
After the shock wore off, Thalion returned to his favorite activity. Watching the unmoving corpse of the grasshopper. There better be a strong beast nearby he could take the form of, or things would get difficult. After half an hour had passed, the grasshopper was attacked by, of course, another grasshopper. After devouring one of its own kind, it disappeared into the jungle. Man, life could be depressing, Thalion thought with growing annoyance. At the moment he was not sure if shapeshifter was the right choice for a class. No, he needed to stay patient. His opportunity will come.
He signaled to Emily, who was lying next to him, that he was going for a little nap, and closed his eyes. This night not much happened on his side of the tree, but the others were signaling almost every hour that something or someone was close.
From time to time, they heard the sounds of battle in the distance. Thalion tried to remember the direction, but it was useless. Over the night, there were at least eight fights in different directions. As he checked the number of total survivors, over three thousand had died, and the number was still slowly ticking down. Man, this tutorial was evolving more and more into a slaughter trial.
When the sun rose, they discussed in hushed tones what had happened during the night and what to do moving forward.
"We should summarize what happened last night and make plans for today," Mike whispered, who looked worried after the last night.
"At the beginning of the night, I saw those massive orcs passing by, and later, my grasshopper got eaten by another grasshopper," Thalion said quietly. The part with the grasshopper did still annoy him since he had such high hopes to find a new form.
"Wait, you saw orcs?" David whispered, his eyes widening. "Did they look strong?"
"I saw them too," Emily added softly.
"Did they look strong?" Mike asked again, concern in his voice.
"Each one of them felt like they could kill us all without much trouble. Oh, and before they went out of sight, they marked that tree over there," Thalion answered, nodding toward the tree.
"That's very bad," Mike said in a low voice. "I saw even less than you two. The only thing that happened was that my grasshopper was eaten by some kind of gray wolf."
"Damn, that's great news! I feared at some point I'd have to take the form of a grasshopper," Thalion joked, trying to lighten the mood. "By the way, who was tugging the line like crazy last night?"
"I think it was me, Lukas, and James," David said clear unease displayed on his face. "We had a lot of people passing by."
"So, at first, there was a human party cloaked in blue robes walking by. Later, I spotted two vampires, but they moved so fast that I couldn't make out much. After that, I saw a group of five orcs, but they didn't look strong at all," David recounted, what had happend on his side of the tree.
"But about an hour ago," James interjected, "we saw a party of twelve elves heading in that direction, and they all looked very powerful."
Lukas and David nodded in agreement.
After a short pause, Mike asked, "So that was everyone?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Wait, what happened to your grasshoppers? Didn't you see any new ones?" Thalion asked Lukas.
"No, nothing," Lukas said, with the others nodding along.
"Well, shit... So, what are we doing now? Those powerhouses won't stop hunting during the day," Mike said, sounding worried.
"We should stick to the plan. Find water, and we need to level up. This won't get any better," Mike urged.
"If we manage to catch a flying beast, I could easily scout the area," Thalion added. Their current situation was not good at all, which meant they needed to be very patient and careful. He would love to battle some beasts, but the consequence could be death. It was important that he stayed calm and focused on his dream. He would go far to achieve godhood and when it was necessary to be extremely careful and avoid most fights, then he would do so. It was sad that now his chances for a new beast form were even lower than before.
"That would probably be the best outcome," Mike nodded, still deep in thought. The man probably also knew that their chances for survival weren't looking good.
"Okay, we should probably move out. Do you remember the direction the wolf was heading? I wouldn't mind getting my first form today," Thalion said, ready to go. Even when they had to be patient, it was important to scout the area. Hopefully they would find a hunting ground to gain levels. One thing was clear, they couldn't hide forever and no one knew how much time they had left to close the gap in levels to the people from the other planets.
After packing up and making sure no one was in the area, they set out on their journey.
As they traveled, Thalion couldn't help but think about what had happened during the night. The sight of those orcs was still fresh in his mind. They were far more powerful than anything he had ever encountered, and the fact that they had marked the tree made him uneasy. The others were also quiet, lost in their own thoughts.
The ground beneath their feet was soft and spongy, cushioned by a thick layer of fallen leaves and decaying plant matter. They moved cautiously, their senses alert for any sign of danger. The forest was a labyrinth of twisting vines and towering trees.
After what felt like hours of trekking, the forest began to thin. The towering trees gave way to smaller, more widely spaced specimens, and the undergrowth became less dense. As they emerged from the trees, they found themselves in a vast, open grassland.
A pristine river, shimmering like a silver ribbon, cut through the heart of the grassland. Its width spanned roughly 50 meters, its waters inviting and clear.
The sun beat down on their backs as they gazed out across the endless expanse of green. Scattered throughout the grassland were small groves of trees, providing much-needed shade and shelter.
In exactly such a shelter, Thalion and his friends hid, crouching in a small hollow beneath one of the smaller trees on the grassland. They started identifying the beasts that roamed the area. They likely were unable to fight them anyway, but it probably was good to know what roamed the grassland.
A herd of six-legged, horse-like creatures with vines growing out of their backs grazed peacefully on the lush grass, their long, slender necks swaying rhythmically.
"Vinehorses, level 17," Mike muttered silently.
In the distance, they spotted a truly awe-inspiring sight. A creature the size of a elephant, its massive body covered in a thick, leathery hide. Its most striking feature was the pair of large, horn-like structures on its head, glowing with a soft, bioluminescent light. Its skin was a deep, iridescent blue, and its eyes glowed with a haunting green. It moved with ponderous grace, its massive feet leaving deep tracks in the soft earth.
Thalion identified it.
Glowhorn Level Unknown
Yeah, wouldn't have made sense to hunt that thing anyway, he thought. There were so many good forms here on the grassland, but they were too weak to fight even one of the beasts.
He moved on to a group of beasts standing in the shallow river waters, probably munching on some seagrass. Their bodies looked a bit like hippos, with bright orange skin covered in large warts that pulsated with blue bioluminescent light at irregular intervals. From their torsos emerged strong, two-meter-long wormlike necks that ended in big mouths that looked harmless, with tiny black eyes on the sides.
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Mudwallers Level Unknown
In the distance, he spotted another new variant. A cow-sized, boar-like creatures with sharp bone spikes emerging from their backs. Although their tusks were long and razor-sharp, their diet probably wasn't only vegetables and fruits.
Razorbacks Level 12
"Everything here is too high-leveled. We need to move on," Emily said, annoyed. She was the person of the group who wanted to take the route of maximal safety. Thalion had a different opinion. Every hour passing without any level gained meant that everything else would get stronger and their chances of survival would continue to drop. But she was right in this situation. They couldn't fight any beast here on the grassland. That would be a bad idea.
"No, not yet. Let's grab some water first. Even if we're not thirsty, we don't know when we'll get another chance," Mike interjected. "I think if the vinehorses slowly keep moving, we have a short window where we can sprint to the river and back without coming close to any beasts."
"I think we should wait too," James added. "If not for the water, maybe if some overconfident orcs are hunting here, we could finish them off after their resources are spent fighting one of those beasts. Anyway, our ambushes have worked best so far."
Everyone agreed on that. While they were hiding, three Razorbacks traveled by, but they decided against fighting them. It would definitely be a hard fight, and the noise could alert other survivors in the area.
They all decided that if they were going to kill something, it had to be quick, and afterward, they needed to move fast or find another hiding spot. They spent the better part of the day hiding, only occasionally going for a little drink at the river.
Thalion enjoyed flashing between the river and their hideout with telekinetic dash. That spell was so much fun.
As time passed, the sun began to go down, and nervousness spread through the group like wildfire. They had achieved nothing in terms of gaining levels that day, and the discussion about what to do next grew more heated.
"I say we stay and wait until one of these beasts starts sleeping, then go for a quick kill," Lukas suggested. "If we cover ourselves with grass or moss while lying down in this small hollow, we should be undetectable to other survivors."
"We don't have the high ground here," Emily argued. "They'll see us first."
"Last night, it took us almost two hours to prepare our hideout," Mike pointed out. "Today, it's just too late for that."
"I like the idea of taking out some beasts while they're sleeping," James said. "We need to level up. We got lucky yesterday with the mantas and grasshoppers, but eventually, everyone who's still in the first stage will move on to this one. With more survivors at this stage, it'll be harder to hide. We need every level we can get."
Before they could continue discussing, a giant beast burst out of the forest and, without any hesitation, charged directly at the massive glowhorn.
The beast had the muscular build of a tiger, with a mottled gray coat and a broad, powerful wolf-like head. Long, sharp claws extended from its paws, and its teeth were long and curved at the ends.
Shadowstalker Level Unknown
The glowhorn, a colossal creature, seemed startled but quickly recovered. With a bellow that echoed across the grassland, it lowered its glowing horns and charged the shadowstalker, the ground trembling beneath its massive feet.
The two clashed with a force that shook the earth, and the glowhorn bucked the shadowstalker off with a violent toss of its head. The fight continued to escalate, with each creature inflicting damage on the other.
The shadowstalker moved with a fluid grace that belied its ferocity. Its powerful muscles rippled under its skin as it slowly circled the glowhorn, eyes fixed on its target.
The two creatures circled each other, locked in a deadly standoff. Then everything happened in a blur. The shadowstalker exploded with power and speed, launching itself at the glowhorn, claws extended, and teeth bared. It narrowly dodged the glowing horns and leaped onto the glowhorn's back, sinking its teeth into the shoulders and tearing the skin with its claws.
The glowhorn tried to shake the shadowstalker off, bucking violently as the predator wrestled to bring it down, its jaws moving closer to the glowhorn's neck. Then, in a sudden burst of power, the glowhorn unleashed a wave of mana, throwing the shadowstalker off its back and sending it tumbling across the ground. With an enraged roar, the glowhorn charged at the fallen predator.
The shadowstalker quickly regained its footing and sprinted toward the glowhorn. At the last moment before impact, it dodged to the side, its teeth glowing with a gray hue as it bit down hard on the glowhorn's leg. Thalion could hear the bone crack with a sickening snap. The glowhorn screeched in pain, whipping its head around to pierce the shadowstalker's side with one of its horns, then flinging it aside. Blood soaked the shadowstalker's fur as it howled in agony.
But the injury didn't stop it. Though slower now, the shadowstalker resumed circling the glowhorn, dodging its horns and biting into its side, tearing at the flesh.
Thalion watched as both creatures grew weaker, the shadowstalker continuing to bite and tug while the glowhorn occasionally unleashed mana waves to fend it off. After observing the struggle for another minute, he finally spoke.
"Okay, let's go. This is our chance."
"What? Are you crazy?" Emily immediately protested. "We can't even see their levels!"
"No, I agree," Mike said. "We'll never get a golden opportunity like this again."
"Yeah, let's kill them," James added, nodding.
Lukas and David also nodded in agreement.
Thalion activated telekinetic dash and rushed toward the two battling beasts. This was the opportunity he had primed himself to wait for and he wouldn't let it slip. He conjured a fireball and hurled it at the shadowstalker. The explosion disrupted the shadowstalker's grip on the glowhorn, and the glowhorn took the opportunity to ram the predator with its side, sending it sprawling to the ground. That's when Mike arrived, likely using a movement skill to close the distance so quickly.
Mike slashed at the shadowstalker's eye, his blade crackling with electricity. The beast howled in agony as its eye was completely destroyed.
The glowhorn, focused solely on its opponent and charged again, ramming its horn into the shadowstalker and lifting it off the ground before tossing it aside. The shadowstalker landed on its back and didn't get up again.
At that moment, Lukas and James rushed in, using their shields to ram the glowhorn's broken leg, causing it to scream in pain and collapse. Meanwhile, Thalion hurled another fireball at the glowhorn's face, making it thrash wildly on the ground. Mike raised his sword for the killing blow, but Thalion stopped him.
"Wait, let me try to take its form," Thalion said quickly. He wanted to test if he could take the form of a still living beast too. That information could be very helpful in the future. Thalion could already see himself lightly touching the scales of a sleeping dragon while copying its form.
Thalion approached the glowhorn and activated "Acquire Form." He could feel his mana attempting to enter the creature's body, but the glowhorn resisted, pushing his mana back, the spell had failed.
"Okay, it doesn't work that way. Kill it," Thalion instructed, after his spell had failed.
Mike reacted instantly, plunging his sword through the glowhorn's eye, ending its life.
Thalion activated acquire form again. This time, there was no resistance from the beast, and his mana flowed through its body before returning to him.
You have acquired a new form Glowhorn
"Yes, it worked!" Thalion cheered triumphantly. He then turned to the now motionless shadowstalker and activated his skill once more. Moments later, a notification appeared.
You have acquired a new form Shadowstalker
Thalion immediately opened his notifications and checked his status screen.
You have slain Glowhorn Level 25
You have slain Shadowstalker Level 25
You have reached Level 9
Status:
Name: Thalion Walker
Age: 30
Height: 1.93m
Level: 9
Race: Common Human (G)
Class: Shapeshifter
Health: 100/100
Mana: 60/380
Stamina: 80/90
Experience points: 678/2198
Stats:
Strength: 10
Agility: 7
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 38
Wisdom: 20
Dexterity: 5
Perception: 6
Toughness: 6
Vitality: 10
Fate: 3
Skills:
Fireball (Common), Mana Barrier (Common), Telekinetic Dash (Rare), Acquire Form (Rare), Shapeshift (Rare), Identify (Common), Echoes of Worlds (Common)
Titles:
none
Form:
Shadowstalker (Epic) Level 9
Glowhorn (Epic) Level 9
Bloodline:
none
So, the forms he acquired were always at his current level, Thalion thought. This was more than just good. Now they might have a fighting chance with those beast forms.
He currently had 52 free points, and since his class was heavily skewed toward intelligence and wisdom, he wanted to balance things out by investing in vitality and agility, perhaps even a few points in toughness.
Just then, he felt a faint nudge of awareness. Had someone identified him?
Before he could react, Mike's shout cut through his thoughts. "Watch out! Orcs!" Mike yelled, pointing over his shoulder.
Nine orcs emerged from the jungle. Two wielded bows with spear-like arrows, while another held a staff topped with a green gem, likely a healer. One orc carried no visible weapon but given his position between the archers and the healer, he was probably a mage. Leading the frontline were two orcs with massive wooden clubs and another with a giant battle axe. They were smaller than the ones Thalion's group had spotted the night before.
Thalion reacted instantly, allocating thirty points into Vitality, bringing his health up to 400. He put the remaining twenty-two points into Agility. Quickly, he stored the shadowstalker in his spatial ring before using Telekinetic Dash to flash over to Mike and store the glowhorn in his spatial ring as well. He then cast an Identify spell on the frontline orcs.
Orc Level 16
Orc Level 14
Orc Level 15
He didn't bother identifying the rest; it was clear they needed to run. Thalion chugged a mana potion, restoring 100 mana and bringing his total up to 160 out of 380. He quickly downed another, raising his mana to 260. Also, he put his mask back on so the orcs couldn't see his facial expressions. Hopefully, it would help in the fight and give him a small advantage.
"We need to distract them while the others run," Mike whispered to Thalion. "We're the only ones who are fast enough." They both stood over twenty meters before the others with the tension rising.
Then the orc mage spoke, his voice a deep rumble of malicious glee echoing through the clearing.
"Look at you, fragile little creatures, trembling like leaves in the wind. You thought you could survive in this new world? Pathetic! You're nothing but prey, scurrying in the dirt, hoping the predators don't notice. Well, guess what? We've noticed."
He laughed, a harsh, guttural sound that made the humans flinch.
"You probably had plans to find your loved ones, and instead, you end up here, at my feet, begging for mercy that will never come. I almost pity you, but I'll enjoy watching the light fade from your eyes too much."
He straightened up, his mocking grin widening as he raised his hand, a fireball forming in it.
"You face Brakor of the Iron Jaws, a mage of unmatched power. Your pitiful magic is nothing compared to mine. Don't worry, this won't take long. I've got more humans to hunt today."
With that, he hurled the fireball at Mike and Thalion and all hell broke loose. Mike quickly dodged to the right, shouting to the others, "Run! We'll hold them off!" The rest of the group instantly moved and ran for the undergrowth of the jungle to their right.
Thalion used Telekinetic Dash, dodging the fireball entirely before it had even traveled halfway. He took a different approach from Mike, taunting the orc leader with a mocking tone.
"Oh, mighty Brakor of the Iron Jaws, you're definitely the strongest of all the mages. If you actually managed to hit those spells, we'd really be in danger."
"What?!" Brakor roared in anger. "Kill that human first!"
Four orcs activated some sort of rage skill, their bodies glowing with a dark green light, and charged at Thalion. He dashed to the left while Mike circled right, drawing the rest of the orc group with him. With all the attention on Thalion, Mike engaged the lone orc, easily dodging the hammer aimed at his face and cutting deep into the orc's leg. Emily fired arrows at another orc while David buffed the group, though Thalion had already moved too far left to be within range.
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Thalion flicked a fireball at one of his attackers, who was turning to help his comrades, and then, in his usual sardonic tone, offered the orc leader some advice. "See? Hitting your target isn't that hard. Remember, keep your hand relaxed and your hip loose. It's impossible to miss then."
Brakor, seething with rage, conjured another fireball and hurled it at him, but Thalion dodged easily.
"Come on, that was nothing! You really need to work on your technique before you throw around such powerful spells," Thalion teased, laughing as he dodged yet another fireball with Telekinetic Dash. "Maybe try an overhand grip next time."
Brakor lost all composure, furiously throwing fireballs at Thalion while shouting commands to his fellow orcs. Thalion was near the forest now. If he could just make it, he might be able to escape. Normally he wouldn't take such a risk for someone else, but he had high hopes of escaping the orcs, so why not help a little?
Mike, meanwhile, had to abandon his efforts to kill the orc due to the healer mending every cut he inflicted. He also had to dodge the giant arrows from the orc archers. With the whole group now sprinting toward the forest, they narrowly avoided the arrows, only to have two orcs leap out of the trees, cutting off their path to safety.
Thalion faced a similar issue as an orc jumped out ahead, forcing him back into the open grassland, with the river at his back.
"Haha! You didn't really think we wouldn't have a backup plan, did you?" Brakor mocked. "It was obvious you weak, feeble humans wouldn't fight us. Now, you and your friends will die."
In the distance, Thalion saw Lukas and James shield-bash the two orcs blocking their way, allowing the group to escape. His party was safe, leaving him alone in the grassland. He smiled beneath his dark mask. At least they got out, he thought, with his determination rising. This couldn't be the end, but he needed a new plan and that quickly.
His situation was getting worse by the second. With two archers closing in, he needed a plan. Shapeshifting was too risky. What if it took too long, like in the movies? He couldn't afford to lose his speed. Stopping meant death.
Thalion had one option left, the river. As he ran, an arrow grazed his side, causing sharp pain. Redoubling his efforts, he sprinted faster, but another arrow cut deep into his leg. He instantly downed a healing potion to get some health back and to heal his wounds fast. They didn't have to use one so far, but if it worked like in the games, it was exactly what he needed right now. Thalion wasn't wrong as warmth flooded his body and he felt how the wounds closed slowly.
Then he felt a wave of dizziness. The arrow had been poisoned. Using telekinetic dash, he narrowly avoided another arrow and kept his distance from the melee orcs. Thank God they didn't put many points into agility, he thought. Otherwise he would have no chance of escaping now to the interesting part he thought with a crazy grin on his face. Those were the moments he lived for and loved even before the system. This time he had lost control of the situation, which was something he didn't like and would try to avoid in the future, but there still was no reason for not enjoying the situation right now.
"Oh, the little rat is going for a swim!" Brakor jeered.
Thalion reached the riverbank but wasn't planning on swimming. The water was crystal clear, and he spotted mudwallers, almost camouflaged beneath the surface. He conjured a mana barrier in the middle of the 20-meter-wide river. Ensuring no mudwallers were nearby, he leaped into the air and used Telekinetic Dash to land on the barrier, then dashed again to the other side of the river, sprinting toward the undergrowth of the jungle.
"No!" Brakor roared in fury. "I will find you! You will not escape me!"
An archer stepped into the river to get a shot, but a massive, worm-like maw burst from the mud, where a mudwaller lay hidden. The beast grabbed the orc and dragged him underwater, sucking the orc down like a tasty snack. None of the other orcs were fast enough to help him.
Thalion entered the forest and, after taking another healing potion, traveled roughly three hundred meters before climbing a large tree. Nightfall wasn't far off. After arranging leaves to camouflage his hiding spot and binding himself to the tree with a vine to prevent falling, he downed his last healing potion. The poison had brought his health down to twenty percent, but the potion raised it back up to seventy. His mana was almost depleted, with only 12 points remaining, and his stamina was down to 16.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes. Moments later, he was asleep.
Thalion awoke to the gentle chirping of unseen birds. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the forest floor in dancing patterns. He felt remarkably refreshed; his health, mana, and stamina had fully replenished, leaving no trace of yesterday's wounds.
Yet, his situation was far from ideal. Separated from his group and out of potions, he was alone in this hostile wilderness. After a quick assessment of his surroundings, he decided to undertake a daring experiment. Driven by curiosity, Thalion yearned to experience the raw power of the shadowstalker and glowhorn. Without a second thought, he activated the shapeshift spell.
A wave of excruciating pain washed over him as his body began to contort and morph. His nose elongated, and his bones seemed to crack and realign. As his body contorted, Thalion struggled to maintain his grasp on the branch. His claws dug into the bark, his heart pounding in his chest. After what felt like an eternity, the transformation was complete. A surge of raw power coursed through his newly transformed body.
Status:
Name: Thalion Walker
Age: 30
Length: 3,02 Meter
Level: 9
Race: Epic Shadowstalker (G)
Class: Shapeshifter
Health: 250/250
Mana: 50/50
Stamina: 210/210
Experience points: 678/3400
Stats:
Strength: 40
Agility: 26
Endurance: 21
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 4
Dexterity: 11
Perception: 12
Toughness: 6
Vitality: 25
Fate: 2
Skills:
Bite (Rare), Devourer's feast (Epic), Acquire form (Rare), Shapeshift (Rare)
Identify (Common), Echoes of Worlds (Common)
Bloodline:
none
Titles:
none
Forms:
Glowhorn (Epic) Level 9
Human (Common) Level 9
No wonder he felt so strong with forty points in strength and an epic skill! Holy crap let's see what he can do with that.
Bite (Rare): Unleashes a powerful, feral bite that deals massive physical damage to the target. The attack also inflicts a bleed effect, causing the enemy to lose health over time. This skill scales with the user's strength, making it increasingly deadly as their power grows.
Devourer's Feast (Epic): The user can devour fallen enemies, absorbing their essence to permanently acquire a fraction of their stats or even unlock new abilities. This skill is rare and feared, as it allows the user to grow exponentially stronger by consuming the right prey, turning them into a true apex predator.
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A wide grin spread across Thalion's face. These abilities were incredibly powerful, especially Devourer's Feast. Curiosity piqued, and Thalion jumped down to the ground. He pulled the glowhorn's corpse from his spatial ring and tossed it aside before activating the spell.
Consuming the entire creature took a considerable amount of time. In retrospect, it seemed absurd that he could even manage to eat something so much larger than himself. Despite his initial disgust at the idea of raw flesh, he found the taste surprisingly delicious.
You have gained 7 Vitality
You have reached Level 10
"Okay, that was ridiculous!" He gained seven vitality and an entire level just from eating that thing. The level-up granted him seventeen free stat points. He put three into strength and the rest into agility, bringing it to forty.
Thalion pulled out the shadowstalker's corpse and prepared for a round of cannibalism. "Time to see what this one offers," he thought, activating Devourer's Feast.
You have gained 8 Strength
You have reached Level 11
These were, without a doubt, the easiest level-ups he'd ever earned. He dumped all seventeen points into Strength, boosting it to sixty-eight.
Afterward, Thalion used Devourer's Feast on the remaining grasshoppers and mantas stored in his spatial ring.
You have gained 1 Toughness
This message left him puzzled. He had consumed over twenty grasshoppers and all the mantas, yet only gained one point in toughness. It was likely related to the level and rarity of the creatures.
Checking his status screen, he noticed his human form had gained two levels, while the glowhorn had only managed one. Epic classes probably required more experience to level up. Curious, he decided to test his other form and shape-shifted into the glowhorn.
Status:
Name: Thalion Walker
Age: 30
Height: 4,20m
Level: 10
Race: Epic Glowhorn (G)
Class: Shapeshifter
Health: 1300/1300
Mana: 210/210
Stamina: 170/170
Experience points: 320/4680
Stats:
Strength: 50
Agility: 12
Endurance: 17
Intelligence: 21
Wisdom: 11
Dexterity: 5
Perception: 4
Toughness: 18
Vitality: 130
Fate: 12
Skills:
Verdant consumption (Epic), Natural Resilience (Epic), Mana Wave (Uncommon) Acquire form (Rare), Shapeshift (Rare), Identify (Common), Echoes of Worlds (Common)
Titles:
none
Forms:
Human (Common) Level 11
Shadowstalker (Epic) Level 11
Bloodline:
none
"Okay, this beast is just a stat monster. Let's see what its skills can do," he thought.
Mana Wave:
Unleashes a powerful wave of concentrated mana energy in all directions, dealing area-of-effect damage to all enemies within its radius. The wave disrupts enemy spells and can knock opponents off balance, leaving them vulnerable. The skill's potency scales with the user's intelligence and can be charged to increase its range and destructive power, making it a versatile tool in both offense and defense.
Verdant Consumption:
The user consumes specific plants or flora to permanently enhance their attributes based on the properties of the consumed plants. For example, ingesting a rare strength-enhancing herb permanently increases strength, while consuming a vitality-boosting flower grants a permanent boost to health. This skill allows the user to gradually build power over time by absorbing the natural world's essence, making them more formidable with each consumption.
Natural Resilience (Passive):
The user's body has adapted to recover gradually from wounds, drawing on the life force of nature itself. When in natural environments, the user slowly regenerates health over time. The healing rate increases when surrounded by abundant flora or near sources of pure water, making the user highly resilient during prolonged battles or survival situations in the wild. This passive skill ensures the user is always ready to endure and recover, even in harsh conditions.
Thalion stood in the clearing, utterly dumbfounded. After waking up, he hadn't seen a bright future ahead. Every injury would take time to heal without health potions. He almost considered waiting for the system shop to appear, but he dismissed the idea. Instead, he began identifying the plants in the clearing and those growing on the trees.
Moonberry Bush Level 7
Nightshade Rose Level 5
Ironbark Moss Level 8
Sundrop Fern Level 8
"They're pretty high level. How do plants even level up? Maybe they absorb energy from the ground," he wondered aloud. Thalion didn't wait any longer and began consuming the plants. After devouring the moonberry bush, he received a notification.
You have gained 1 Intelligence
The fact that the bush gave intelligence left him speechless. He slowly turned, scanning the area. There were easily over sixteen moonberry bushes in the clearing. "Well, hell, I know what I'll be doing for the foreseeable future," he thought. But first, he needed to confirm something.
Thalion transformed into his human form and stared in disbelief at his status screen. His intelligence was at thirty-nine. So, there it was. The permanent stat increases applied to all forms. That was almost too good to be true. Since the start of the tutorial he had seen himself become a powerful mage, but now... Could it be that he might rise to the top by being a vegetarian? Not that he cared that much as long as it works. This would probably just be one part of his life. When there was one thing he learned in his former life, it was that evolution always wins.
With that, he shifted back into his glowhorn form and began devouring the berries. By nightfall, he had consumed nearly every plant in the clearing. And oh boy, was it worth it. He had gained six intelligence points and reached level thirteen as both a human and a glowhorn. The shadowstalker only managed to level up once, reaching level twelve. The many transformations had already upgraded his shapeshift skill not in rarity but the transformation now happened instantly, still painful but now he was able to transform midfight.
This was undoubtedly the best day so far. Transforming back into a shadowstalker, he leaped into a tree to rest for the night. With the speed of the shadowstalker, he had no worries about outrunning any enemy. He was alone now, but in the end he was even better off with the two new forms.
The last two days had been the same for him, waking up and leaping from tree to tree in search of delicious moonberries. Then he would transform into his massive glowhorn form and indulge, munching on the berries to his heart's content. Life was good to him and he didn't need to fight to progress further. However, the landscape had become more crowded recently. He often spotted groups of people traveling nearby. Most of them were between Level 6 and 9, not too dangerous. He typically acted like the dumb beast they expected, either pretending not to notice them or simply ignoring them while devouring berries. Thalion sometimes thought about joining such groups, but in the end he was progressing the fastest this way, and with the form of the shadowstalker, he didn't need to go for safety in numbers. He also didn't need emotional support or something like that, as he had spent the first part of his former life without friends and only himself. His former group had adapted very well to the new reality; in his mind, most other humans probably didn't manage to stay that calm, and he didn't really want to deal with such people. His dream, after all, was to become a god and live forever.
A few times, he had to flee from stronger parties. He would escape their line of sight, transform into a shadowstalker, then climb a tree and watch as their frustrated leader berated the group for their incompetence. The best experience he'd had so far was when a group of four orcs got so angry at each other that, after a round of insults, that they started fighting. The battle grew more brutal by the minute until only one badly wounded orc remained. Thalion almost laughed out loud at the sight. At first, the orc celebrated, loudly cheering his own name. But as the realization of his situation set in and the joy drained from his face, Thalion leaped from the tree and bit off his head, killing him instantly. After a quick feast, Thalion gained three strength from this highly entertaining encounter.
His level had increased rapidly. He was now Level 19 in his human form, with the glowhorn at Level 18 and the shadowstalker at Level 16. He had also permanently gained 25 intelligence from the berries and 3 strength from orc meat. As he leveled up, his glowhorn form unlocked a new skill: Tectonic Slam. This skill allowed the creature to slam its massive limbs into the ground, sending shockwaves in all directions that topple enemies and create fissures in the earth. He hadn't had a chance to use it yet, but it sounded promising. He was a bit annoyed that he didn't get to choose a skill, but what could he do?
In his human form, he got an upgrade to his shapeshift skill:
The user's body dissolves into a swirling cloud of gray smoke. In the blink of an eye, the smoke condenses and reshapes into the desired form, completing the transformation almost instantaneously.
This was great and made it easier to escape if he was hunted again. The shadowstalker's bite skill had evolved into Savage Bite, a stronger version of the original.
Today, life was good. He was standing in the middle of a Moon Berry patch, thoroughly enjoying himself...
The night before:
Nestled in a clearing, shielded by towering trees, the camp was a makeshift haven in a world turned hostile. Over 210 survivors had gathered here, drawn by a shared desire for safety and companionship. At the center of the camp, a large bonfire provided warmth and light, serving as a focal point for shared stories, strategies, and dreams of a better future.
The de facto leader of the camp was a grizzled veteran named Kael, a man of few words but sharp wit. His reputation as a skilled hunter and tracker had earned him the respect of his fellow survivors. Under his guidance, the camp had managed to thrive, establishing a fragile sense of order in the chaos of the wilderness.
A chill was in the air, a stark contrast to the growing tension among the gathered adventurers. The Wanderers, the Misfits, the Renegades, and the Scholars had come together, their shared frustration with the elusive glowhorn a common ground.
The glowhorn had become a frustrating enigma. They'd encountered it multiple times, each sighting more infuriating than the last. It was a colossal, emerald behemoth, a gluttonous menace ravaging the Moon Berry fields. Oddly, it never fought back. Instead, upon sensing danger, it would flee with an almost comical haste, disappearing into the dense undergrowth. Yet, like a relentless phantom, it always reappeared where the sweetest Moon Berries grew.
"It's like it's taunting us," Kael muttered, his voice laced with frustration. The ranger had been particularly eager to test his skills against such a formidable opponent, but the elusive creature had always managed to slip through his grasp.
Thorwald grunted in agreement. "Smart, blue bastard," he growled, nursing a fresh bruise. Their last encounter had ended with the warrior being sent flying by a mana wave.
Elara, the party's seer, studied the fading light. "Perhaps it's not just about the Moon Berries," she mused, her voice filled with contemplation. "Maybe it's protecting something, or someone."
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"Or it's just really hungry," Zog suggested bluntly.
Pixie rolled her eyes. "While that's a possibility, I think we need a more strategic approach. We could use this opportunity to test some new gadgets."
"Or a well-placed arrow," Kael countered, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
Sarah, the alchemist, raised a hand for silence. "We need to focus on the practical. If it's consuming Moon Berries at this rate, I can't make any more mana potions. We need to act, and we need a plan."
"I don't know why you make things so complicated. That thing is stupid. I got almost within striking distance before it used that skill," Atlas, the hulking berserker from the Renegades, growled, his eyes lighting up with predatory excitement. "We just need more than one group so it can't run away."
"You're absolutely right, Zog," someone agreed. "We need those credits to upgrade our camp when the store opens in two days."
A murmur of assent rippled through the crowd.
"So, who's in for the hunt tomorrow?" Kael asked, his voice cutting through the low hum of conversation.
Over sixteen people around the fire nodded in agreement, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. They would track down the glowhorn tomorrow and bring it down.
<--
As Thalion was enjoying his berries, he noticed a group of humans hiding behind a bush out of the corner of his eye. He didn't like the way they were looking at him. Oh, he remembered that guy. The last time they clashed, he sent him flying with a mana wave before he ran away. The heavy warrior had a vengeful look on his face, but Thalion was confident in his abilities. A group of hunters with no one above Level 12 wasn't a threat to him. He'd even level up again if he managed to finish the bush in front of him, so he sped up his eating.
Thorwald seethed with anger as the beast noticed them, even giving him a look. There wasn't a trace of fear in its eyes. Instead, it just intensified its feeding frenzy. The others had better hurry up, he wanted to kill this stupid beast.
As Thalion watched the group while finishing his meal, something felt off. Why were they just waiting there? The answer came in the form of an arrow hitting his right side. It barely penetrated his hide, but at that moment, the group behind him charged, and another group emerged from the direction of the arrow.
Wait, they had teamed up to kill him? A lot must have happened in the last two days. When he was still with his former team, they never encountered humans from Earth, only those with blue robes and an emblem. Clearly, he had missed out on many things while hunting down Moon Berries. For a moment, he considered shifting into his human form, but no, he didn't know these people, and he wasn't about to negotiate from a position of weakness. For all he knew, they could be bandits, and revealing his abilities would mean losing a significant advantage if it came to a fight.
With that, he played the part of the stupid beast they expected. First, he turned around with feigned panic in his eyes, behaving as he usually did when attacked. But this time would be different. Maybe it was the anger rising in him or something else, but those people would pay the price for trying to kill him. Before the two heavy warriors could get in range, he released another mana wave, which didn't hit anyone, of course. He saw the warrior from last time with a sinister smile on his face as he charged forward. The other melee fighters, encouraged by the experienced warrior, charged without fear, likely believing they had already won.
Thalion continued to play the panicked animal, turning around and tossing his head from side to side. This served two purposes: it lured the melee fighters closer and made it harder for the archers to aim at his eyes.
The heavy warrior, now glowing with a red hue, swung his sword at one of Thalion's legs. Thalion chose this moment to activate tectonic slam. He stomped the ground with all his weight, causing the earth to tremble violently. The warriors around him lost their footing and fell. Immediately, Thalion began charging up a mana wave, power gathering around him as his skin burned with a blue glow. He released the devastating attack, sending the melee warriors flying in all directions. He saw at least three of the ten warriors slam into trees, their bodies snapping like twigs. With some annoyance, he noticed that the heavy warrior didn't hit a tree. Instead, he was flung into a clearing roughly 50 meters away.
There was no time for regrets, Thalion had to press his advantage. He charged at the archer, who was still shooting arrows at him. The archer, an experienced fighter, used a jumping skill to escape Thalion's reach, landing on a branch while reaching for another arrow.
Time for a different tactic. Thalion sped up considerably and rammed the tree with full force. The tree shook violently, and the archer lost his footing, nearly falling. At the last second, he managed to cling to the branch but had to let go of his bow, which fell to the ground. Not the ideal outcome, but good enough. Thalion stomped on the bow, shattering it completely. Those arrows didn't do much to his health bars, but the pain was still bad. So, good thing that the guy couldn't shoot at him anymore.
While he was occupied with the archer, the two healers had revived the surviving warriors, and another round of medium and light fighters was coming at him, with all the heavy warriors either dead or out of commission.
Natural Resistance was working at full capacity, healing the damage he'd taken. Then, a fireball and a lightning bolt struck his side, another group had appeared. How large was this alliance? It was time for an emergency escape plan, but first, he needed to thin out the waves.
This was easier said than done. The warriors were cautious now, only committing occasional stabs or slashes before retreating while the two mages bombarded him with spells. So, Thalion charged at the only two people who couldn't easily avoid him, the healers, who stood with wide eyes not too far from his position.
The two women screamed in fear as they tried to escape. Thalion wasn't particularly interested in them. He just wanted to bait the warriors into attacking. After a few steps, they tried to cut his legs with clearly charged attacks. Thalion released a light Mana Wave, primarily to push them back, and then repeatedly used Tectonic Slam, kicking up dust that blocked everyone's view of him.
Once he was obscured by the dust cloud, Thalion used his Shapeshift skill, transforming into his shadowstalker form. Fully utilizing his agility, he sprinted in the only direction from which no humans had yet come. In seconds, he shot up a tree in the distance, watching the battlefield as the dust settled.