As soon as I woke up the next day, I reviewed the things I had to do.
Number 1, I have to get a weapon to make money. There's nothing more useless than a magic swordsman without weapons, especially for someone like me who knows nothing about this.
I went straight to the guild, asking to borrow a sword that they sometimes sell. I also bought a small wand that will help me as a secondary weapon, as well as for practice.
"Last night, several creatures entered the forest. If I don't want to die a horrible death, it would be best to hunt the creatures in the surrounding area."
The low-ranking creatures that entered only did so to steal food and resources. All of them had to fight for food, which will give me permission to kill them all.
Now that I remember, I haven't checked my status window. Thinking about it, a blue window materialized in front of me, showing the characteristics of this new body.
Name: Grey (Lukas)
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Race: Oni
◇ Health: 1400 / 1400
◇ Stamina: 150 / 150
◇ Mana: 400 / 400
◇ Qi: 400 / 400
◇ Body Type [High-Rank Oni]
✦ Attributes ✦
ᚠ Strength [STR]: 85
ᛗ Mana [MAN]: 100
ᚱ Stamina [RES]: 150
ᚹ Vitality [VIT]: 140
ᛋ Speed [SPD]: 90
ᛏ Reaction Speed [REA]: 100
ᛇ Intelligence [INT]: 80
ᚾ Mental Strength [MEN]: 200 / 200
Hmmm... The stats are all almost identical to before. Mental Strength is four times higher than in my second body, which is to be expected given the training he must have undergone. I was beginning to get lost in reviewing my stats and how he looks in action, before I saw something else at the bottom of the window.
[Main Skills]
Lunge: LVL 2
Cut: LVL 2
Qi Control: LVL 5
Magic Skill: LVL 3 (Earth Magic LVL 2, Water Magic LVL 2, Fire Magic LVL 3, Wind Magic LVL 3)
This is something new, I don't remember having this in my previous system... Didn't this guy unlock divine magic? How is he supposed to eliminate spirits? Ever since I learned about people who specialize in mana and melee combat, I knew it would be no comparison to someone who specializes in one specific type. But this is too much.
I'm going to the forest, I have a lot to do. I left the guild with the weapons I got and went straight to the outskirts of the forest.
<<<>>>
"The fights over the scraps were worse than I thought, huh?"
I said, looking at the mountains of corpses that covered various parts of the place. There were creatures such as piles of Stalkers, Giant Spiders, Suicide Dragonflies, and even Slimes of various elements. Although I have to admit, it's hard to tell if they are, they are so torn apart that most of them are unrecognizable.
"I hope I find some living creatures, this whole place smells like blood and yet I don't see any living ones."
I could search faster by running around and taking advantage of my increased stamina. But that's not a smart thing to do. The corpses of these types of monsters should be inside, not outside. That can only mean one thing: another creature is waiting for them and hunting them in droves. I don't understand the thinking of the person responsible. If you can hunt all these creatures, you can enter the forest and fight the strongest ones.
Unfortunately for me, I quickly found the culprit. A horse-like spirit was resting in a tree, its body awkwardly slumped over a thick branch. This will cause several problems, especially since I don't have divine magic.
The spirit began to move, changing the position of its limbs to the point of bending them at abnormal angles and standing up on top of the tree. It stared at me for a few seconds before its neck stretched out and it approached me, remaining suspended a few meters away.
"You know, I only know one horse that can do that, and it only warns of danger. Are you the same?"
I said, taking a step back and smiling awkwardly.
The spirit looked at me for a few seconds before its neck retracted and returned to its original state. The creature looked at me for a few seconds before falling asleep in the tree and ignoring me.
"If that guy had wanted a fight, he would definitely be in big trouble."
I hate spirits. The fact that they can modify their bodies makes them very annoying, and their hypnosis magic skills are among the strongest.
Since the spirit wasn't going to attack me, I went in the opposite direction, patrolling the rest of the surroundings. After a few minutes of searching, I found one of the worst creatures to fight in a 1-on-1 battle.
"Ugh... A glutton."
The creature in front of me looked like a normal Qilin, except it was standing on two feet and its stomach was open, revealing a large mouth.
"I hope you're a young glutton. If you're a teenager, I'll have a better chance of dying than winning."
One of the things I like most about fantasy worlds is shape-shifters. Thanks to all the fantasy I've read, I can divide shape-shifters into two categories: those who transform into one creature and those who can transform into more than two at a time. Gluttony falls into the second category.
Their ability to digest the souls of creatures and modify their own at will makes them dangerous enemies. It is rare to encounter this creature, as shape-shifting puts great pressure on their souls and bodies, and they often kill each other when they are young in order to strengthen themselves.
"How many creatures have you devoured?"
I asked, drawing my sword and holding the wand in my other hand.
"Kieek... Human... You look more delicious than the others..."
He can't speak fluently, so he must be a child. In any case, if he can already form sentences, then he has devoured at least 10 people.
"You must be only 5 years old, it's incredible that at your age you've already killed several adventurers."
I got into a fighting stance, before summoning several pillars of earth around the creature and throwing it upwards. I propelled my body in the same way, creating platforms with air magic, managing to walk on thin air.
Seeing me approaching at full speed, the Qilin bent backward, opening its stomach completely and letting out a green bag full of liquid. It exploded instantly, creating a green rain.
"That bag is from the Teio. I never thought that the abilities of small insects could be used on such a large scale."
I reacted quickly and created a sphere of water that completely covered me. Just as I thought, the green liquid turned to steam as soon as it came into contact with the water.
The Teio's bags contain an acid strong enough to melt small snakes. It reminds me of the suicide dragonflies I found in the forest of my city's guild.
"Exposing yourself like this is very foolish."
The pillars that had previously surrounded the creature separated from the floor, changing shape and becoming two thick walls.
"You take a while with each transformation, that's enough for this."
With as much effort as possible, I directed the walls toward the creature, crushing it and turning it into a mass of flesh.
-Chiiik!
When I separated the two walls, I could see how the creature had reduced its size and penetrated the wall, creating a small opening where it could take refuge.
"I didn't expect that."
I let both walls fall to the ground, destroying what little remained of them. I went down as well, throwing myself at the glutton.
"W-wait!"
I raised my sword in the air, ready to deliver the final blow.
"Your soul... It is strong! Let me serve you."
The creature opened its mouth, pulling out a piece of paper covered in saliva.
My sword, which was just inches from its head, stopped instantly.
"A taming contract?"
"Yes! I will serve you."
The small mass spoke, forming small arms and raising them.
I left the sword suspended near it and lifted the contract with Qi, making it float in front of me.
"Where did you get this?"
"I devoured the owner... And stole it."
It is speaking more and more slowly and is no longer forming words; it must not have much time left to live.
"Raising a Gula is more difficult than raising a Wyvern or an Amphiptere. Why would you do it?"
"I will serve you well!... I don't want to die..."
Hmmm... I wouldn't usually think of killing a creature, much less one that could be of use to me. But Gulers are very different. Their ability to change shape makes them difficult to detect among other creatures. Besides... These things are highly sought after by the Tang sect.
I'm lucky that the names of the most well-known sects are the same as in the novels. The bad thing is that several were eradicated long ago.
Mount Hua was wiped off the face of the earth long before the green tide, the Jade Palace was destroyed by the Demonic Sect, and the subjects of the Celestial Sword had several problems with the kingdom they were in, leading to several small fights until their extinction.
"I'm getting off topic."
I got rid of the distractions, thinking about the creature in front of me.
"Your ability to mimic the poisons of creatures is very useful, as is your ability to hide. If you're not useful to me in combat, I'll squeeze every last drop out of you financially."
"Yes..."
I snatched the paper from his hand, scrolling down to the important part. Specifically, this contract had to be signed with blood and both parties had to willingly agree to it. The part where the creature would have to sign already had his blood on it.
"You already had this saved as your insurance, huh?"
I made a small cut on my finger, signing my part. Instantly, the paper vanished into thin air, illuminating us both with a faint light.
"Done. I'll take you to the corpses so you can regain your strength."
I lifted the creature in my hand, carrying it to the dead creatures I had seen earlier.
"Now that I think about it, you're extremely weak for a glutton. You froze when I formed the walls."
"I'm two years old... We don't live long... The paper, surely..."
"If something went wrong, you thought you'd offer yourself to any other creature."
"Yes..."
"Hmm... How many adventurers did you kill?"
-Villagers... Never fought... Devoured 5
"Anyone else
would kill you upon hearing that you devoured civilians. I am different. My life has already gone too far astray. If it continues like this, killing civilians will be normal."
I hope it doesn't end so badly.