Kaito moved slowly through the suspended corridors of Lumeris Central Library, the Inner Tome quivering at his side. The air was thick with magic, and the glowing threads seemed to shift as if observing his every step.
"Dust, books… and wriggling threads. Looks like they're really out to get me today," Kaito muttered, shaking his head.
Thessa floated alongside him, an ethereal smile gracing her lips. "Remember, Kaito… every thread, every page, can be either friend or foe. You'll need to learn the difference. Today, you face a creature unlike any you've seen before—far tougher than a drake or a ghoul."
Kaito groaned. "Great… a new, deadly creature. And I'm only Lv.1. Why can't tutorials be slightly less lethal?"
Thessa chuckled softly. "Because you're a librarian reincarnated into a fantasy world. Enough talk—your opponent is waiting."
From the shadows, a figure slowly emerged. A Living Thread. Its body was a writhing mass of intertwined glowing filaments, its eyes pulsing like green lights, long, flexible tentacles wriggling with sinister intent. The creature hummed an unsettling buzz, its threads curling and striking like ready-to-strike snakes.
Kaito took a careful step back. "Okay… not exactly friendly. Time to take it down if I want to copy its power."
The Living Thread struck first, hurling tentacles that hissed through the air. Kaito dodged with agility, drawing on his experience with drakes and ghouls, but the assault was relentless. Each tentacle that missed barely grazed him, vibrating the suspended floor beneath his feet.
"Focus… maximum focus," he muttered, clutching the Inner Tome. "Weak Bite Lv.1… Weak Flame Lv.1… let's see what we can do."
The creature lunged again, tentacles flailing to entangle him. Kaito dodged one, then another, spotting a small opening in its writhing mass. He aimed Weak Bite Lv.1 at a dense knot of filaments that seemed particularly vulnerable. The strike tore a brief gap in the creature's form, but not enough to defeat it.
"Perfect… now for the combo. A bit of fire should melt it like snow," Kaito thought.
Channeling energy into his arm, he cast Weak Flame Lv.1 at the enemy. The flames licked the threads, forcing the creature to recoil. Kaito seized the opportunity, striking again with Weak Bite Lv.1, targeting the weakest point. The Living Thread let out a sharp, buzzing shriek, sparks erupting among its filaments, yet it remained standing.
Thessa observed quietly. "Good… you're learning the strategy. Force it to reveal its weakness, and only then can you strike and copy its ability."
Kaito inhaled deeply, eyes locked on his opponent. The Living Thread's moves were unpredictable, yet patterns emerged he could study. He dodged a wrapping tentacle, rolled to the side, and struck with Weak Bite Lv.1, carefully watching its reaction. The threads twisted and snapped back, slower now, injured, confused.
"Alright… decisive moment," he thought. With a precise combination, he unleashed Weak Flame Lv.1 followed by Weak Bite Lv.1, aiming for the central knot. The creature emitted a high-pitched buzz as the knot snapped, leaving it weakened. With one final strike, Kaito drove Weak Bite Lv.1 straight into its heart. The threads shivered, green sparks scattering, and the Living Thread collapsed lifelessly.
The Inner Tome glowed, recording the new ability and updating Kaito's stats:
Copied Ability: Energy Tentacle Lv.1
Type: Magic/Melee – Energy Tentacle
Power: Strikes the enemy with a pulsating energy tentacle; can slightly paralyze
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: 5 sec
Limitations: Moderate damage, short range
Side Effects: Minor fatigue if used repeatedly
Stat Increase: +1% to all stats
STR: 10.9 | DEX: 10.9 | INT: 12.9 | MAN: 8.9 | RES: 10.9 | CHA: 9.9
Kaito exhaled, exhausted but satisfied. "Perfect… finally, a new, interesting enemy. Energy Tentacle copied… stats increased. I can already imagine the combos."
Thessa floated near him, nodding. "Well done, Kaito. You faced a completely new creature, defeated it, and acquired its ability. Your Inner Tome is stronger now. The next step will be to face tougher, smarter opponents. But for today… ready to return to the city?"
Kaito smirked. "Of course… new day, new defeated creature, new power… and maybe, finally, a proper cup of tea. After the next victory, perhaps."
The library's ceiling shimmered in a thousand hues, the threads seeming to breathe and watch him. For a fleeting moment, he felt part of this strange, dangerous ecosystem. He had learned to kill, to copy abilities, to combine them—and it felt strangely satisfying.
"Next goal: survive something even more complex," he muttered. Then, with a grin: "And maybe find a gigantic enemy… so we'll see if tea is needed before or after the battle."
Taking a deep breath, Kaito resumed walking the suspended corridors, the glowing Inner Tome at his side. His adventure in Lumeris was only beginning—and Aetheryon had yet to realize how fortunate it was to have a librarian so… determined, lethal, and ever-evolving.