[Manifest]
Riku didn't hesitate. The moment the system confirmed the skill, he activated one of the Dark Crow's abilities.
"This will consume nine mana from my pool... but I can restore it afterward," he murmured, bracing himself.
Replenishing mana in this world was simple in theory. Mutants could restore their mana by drinking a vial of blue liquid, much like the mana potions in the games he had played. Stronger potions, often looted from powerful monsters, could even increase the size of one's mana pool.
If you didn't have a potion, natural recovery was the only option—but it was painfully slow. Based on research by scientists in America, the average rate was roughly one mana point every thirty minutes.
Beyond potions, rigorous training offered another method. Pushing one's body and skill usage to the limit forced the mana pool to expand, slowly but surely. The process was grueling, yet necessary for anyone seeking real power.
Riku exhaled, letting the information settle in. "Alright... let's see what this skill can really do."
Riku's mana pool was nearly empty, leaving the energy flowing through his body thin and fragile, like a delicate thread. He positioned his left hand near the monster's exposed wound, knowing he had to maintain absolute focus to avoid breaking the mana current—a single mistake could ruin the skill.
"Stay calm, Riku... you've got this," he whispered to himself, steadying his nerves.
A soft blue-white glow began to coalesce around his hand. The monster's dark red blood reacted almost immediately, simmering and bubbling as though heated by some invisible flame.
Boiling? Why?
He refused to let surprise disrupt his concentration. The reaction of the blood confirmed that the skill was working, but it demanded precision. Slowly, the liquid began to swirl, gathering into a pattern around his palm.
He knew the effect he wanted, yet executing it was far more complicated than he had imagined.
Splash... splash... splash...
The monster's blood crept toward his hand, some of it spilling onto his pants. The splatters stung, a sharp, burning reminder of the skill's strain. Pain radiated up his arm, and he felt the tension building with every second.
"What the hell is happening?" he muttered, tempted to step back. But retreat wasn't an option—not now. A failed attempt would mean waiting hours before he could try [Manifest] again.
"No... I can't stop. I won't stop."
He gritted his teeth, forcing his focus deeper as the blood continued to swirl toward him, responding to his will. Every second felt like an eternity, but Riku refused to let this first attempt slip through his fingers.
Riku's assessment had been correct—his mana pool barely held 15 points. Any misstep now would trigger a grueling two-and-a-half-hour cooldown. Overexertion in this strange, hostile forest was not an option.
The monster's thick, viscous blood clung to his hand, slimy and pungent, but the discomfort it caused paled in comparison to the agony coursing through his arm. He couldn't ignore it. The pain screamed through him, tearing a scream from his throat.
"Ahh! I—I can't take this... what's wrong with this skill?!"
He collapsed to the ground, writhing, rolling, clutching his left arm. The sensation was like molten fire being drawn into his veins, scorching his flesh with every pulse.
His pupils widened, a crimson ring forming around them. Saliva escaped his mouth as his fingers scraped against the forest floor, each breath labored, each heartbeat a torment.
The [Manifest] skill—meant to copy a monster's genes through its blood—was far more brutal than he had anticipated. His body screamed in protest, yet it was clear: the Tibber's genes were rooting themselves within him, evolving inside his body.
-2
-2
-2
The pain drained his HP further, dropping an additional six points.
[You've been injured!]
Even as the system's screen glowed before his eyes, a haze of exhaustion overtook him, and he collapsed under the shade of a towering tree.
Time passed, yet it felt like an instant. Forty-five minutes later, Riku slowly opened his eyes. The excruciating pain had mostly faded, though his head still felt like it weighed a ton.
[The [Manifest] skill was successfully cast!]
[Acquired Copied Skill: Fire Claw]
Fire Claw: By invoking this skill, you deal +35 damage and inflict a +2% burning effect, causing the target to lose 1 HP every two seconds. The burning effect lasts 10 seconds. Skill cost: 4 mana.
A pale blue screen shimmered before him. He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw potential in his hands.
"Now... I have a skill that can actually deal real damage," he muttered, a hint of satisfaction threading through his exhaustion.
Riku wasn't surprised that he had gained only one skill from the monster. As a level 1 mutant, his abilities were still limited.
"I need to be careful with the [Manifest] skill," he thought.
He considered himself fortunate that no other monsters were nearby when he had lost consciousness. If even one had been, he was certain he wouldn't be alive to ponder the situation now.
A notification suddenly appeared on the screen.
[Answer!]
The excruciating pain you experienced while using the [Manifest] skill stems from your body's lack of compatibility with external genes.
Riku blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected the system to address his concern so directly.
"What happens if I manifest too many monster genes?" he asked, his gaze locked on the screen.
[Answer!]
If your physical condition isn't optimal and you absorb genes from multiple monsters, there is a high risk that your body will be consumed by the genes or undergo an explosive reaction. Since your entire body acts as the vessel, you must strengthen it before employing the [Manifest] skill.
[Dark Crow's Gene]: This gene specializes in the appropriation of other monsters' abilities.
Riku's eyes widened as realization settled in. The daily quest wasn't random; it had appeared to guide him after using [Manifest].
"How many times can I safely use this skill in my current condition?" he asked, focusing on the screen.
[Answer!]
Zero times. Forcing yourself to absorb a gene will result in death.
His eyebrows twitched as he absorbed the information. "I see... it's smarter to focus on the daily quest for now. The hunting quest doesn't seem to have a time limit anyway."
Gathering his strength, Riku pushed himself to his feet, hands braced against the forest floor.
"Wait a second!" he exclaimed, suddenly covering his mouth. A pungent, rancid stench assaulted his senses.
In just a short time, Tibber's body had begun to decompose, devoured by tiny worms no larger than Riku's index finger.
But the smell wasn't the worst part. The lingering, fishy odor from the monster's blood had spread through the surrounding forest, making the air nearly unbearable.
"No! This is a disaster!" he muttered, scanning the area anxiously. "I have only twenty minutes before I need to use [Fly]..."
Mana pool: 7
Riku assessed his mana pool. With only seven points available, he realized that using [Fly] would leave him dangerously close to depletion. To maintain control and avoid collapsing mid-flight, he needed at least one more mana pool.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Heavy footfalls echoed through the forest, growing louder with every second. Riku's heart sank. The lingering stench of Tibber's blood had acted like a beacon, attracting every nearby predator.
"Why did I make such a mistake? I've practically drawn every monster in this area to me. I need to move—now!"
Without hesitation, he sprinted to the right, ducking into dense undergrowth where thick bushes could conceal his movements.
"I can't fight two or three monsters at once with my current mana. They'd overwhelm me in an instant."
Swoosh!
He pushed through the foliage, parting the towering bushes to carve a path. The rancid smell of decomposing blood made him gag, forcing him to clamp a hand over his mouth.
Bam!
He stumbled, hitting the ground hard as his rear slammed into the dirt. "Damn it! Why is there a rotten ghoul here?!"
Before him lay a grotesque figure—a human corpse long past recognition, skin pulled tight over broken limbs, remnants of a body barely holding together.
[Rotted Ghoul]: Undead creatures that patrol dungeons, guarding particular areas. They feed on animal flesh, with a marked preference for human.
The stench hit him again, sharper than before. Five ghouls advanced, their hollow eyes fixed on him, radiating hunger.
[Rotten Ghouls Abilities]
• [Claw]
• [Bite]
• [Vomit Tar]: Expels a corrosive liquid capable of igniting a five-meter flame. Afterward, the attack requires five to seven seconds to recharge.
• [Fire Hazard (Passive)]: Generates intense internal fire; classified as medium undead.
[Rotten Ghouls HP: 170/170]
Riku froze, weighing his options. His mana pool was thin, the monsters were numerous, and retreat seemed almost as risky as engaging them. One wrong move could be fatal.