Chương 3: Transformation

[Choice accepted. Please note that this is irreversible.]

[Your body will now undergo a transformation to accommodate the class' abilities.]

[Beginning procedure...]

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

An indescribable pain suddenly assaulted Derrick's body, as he felt like the fabric of his very self was being destroyed and remade.

He, who had just suffered from the backlash of obtaining said new body, realized he'd just made a terrible mistake: he was still too weakened.

Still, he could only grit his teeth in agony and endure. But, as had been the case before, it became too much and he lost consciousness.

***

"Ugh..."

A groggy Derrick slowly woke up, dizziness assaulting his senses. He had never expected the process to be so violent and immediate.

"That's what happens when you don't think things through... My stupidity nearly cost me my life! Oh well, everything's done. Let's see what I got! System, show me my stats."

[Derrick Tarlin, 16 (Body) & 37 (Mind) — Human]

[Class: Necromancer]

[Strength: 2.0]

[Agility: 0.8]

[Endurance: 1.2]

[Vitality: 1.8]

[Magic Power: 5.0]

[Traits: Enhanced Body, Enhanced Vision, Death's Valet]

[Skills: Appraisal, Contract (0/2), Summoning (0/1)]

[New trait! <Death's Valet> gives you the ability to interact with the soul of every dying creature near you before they're lost to the void!]

[New skill! <Contract> gives you the ability to make a contract with a recently deceased entity. This skill may evolve with the user's growth!]

[New skill! <Summoning> gives you the ability to physically summon your contracted souls! Their original, or at the moment of their death, stats will be amplified by 10%, with the user allowed to hide them in his shadow once summoned. This skill may evolve with the user's growth!]

"Shit! I knew it... I damaged myself quite a bit. Still, I gained a lot in other areas."

After resting and comprehensively reading through everything, Derrick finally started to wonder about his location.

"All of this is nice, but I still need to leave this cave."

He then started poking around, and after fumbling in the dark for the better part of an hour, he found a little hole in which he could barely fit. What he saw next, however, was a cave completely different from the one he had just been in.

It was absolutely enormous, its center dominated by a small lake fed by a water fall, its presence also explaining the large stalactites around it, a sign it had existed for a very long time.

But the best change, at least for him, was the increase in ambient light. It was simply incomparable to before, allowing him to see much farther.

"So big... This definitely has to lead outside. I just have to find the exit, and we're all set."

But despite his desire to leave as soon as possible, he wasn't in any rush. You see, Derrick had realized, following his transformation, that his new body, or class for that matter, had lessened his need for food. In fact, he estimated that he could last months in his current state, a miraculous feat that no normal human should be able to accomplish.

As his gaze began exploring the new surroundings, he suddenly saw dark red eyes looking in his direction, their maliciousness sending shivers down his spine.

"What... what is this thing?!"

For the lack of better terms, it looked like an evil experiment between a bat and an eagle. Its body, covered in glistening black feathers, was Derrick's size while also sporting a wingspan of more than 6 meters. Its fangs, long and sharp, gave him further goosebumps, although no more than the ridiculously horrifying meter-long beak.

"System, what the fuck is this!???"

In the face of such monstrosity, Derrick was panicking. His fighting prowess was still laughable, on top of his two skills being currently useless.

His options, he immediately realized, were to either run or fight to the death.

[Using <Appraisal>...]

[This is a Nightmare Bat. Thought to be extinct. Here are its stats...]

[Nightmare Bat]

[Strength: 4.0]

[Agility: 2.5]

[Endurance: 3.0]

[Vitality: 1.0]

[Magic Power: 1.0]

[Trait: Echolocation (Allows it to locate prey without using its vision)]

[Weakness: Afraid of water]

"Are you kidding me?! What am I supposed to do with a weakness like that???"

[The skill <Appraisal> may evolve and give more details then]

"That's one passive-aggressive system right there... Seems like I'm fucked..."

After seeing his opponent's strength, Derrick's remaining confidence had gone down the drain, his retreat already being planned in the back of his mind.

This fight was already over…

But just as he thought he had settled on a plan of action, an idea slowly crept into his brain, and the more he thought about it, the crazier it seemed.

"High risk, high reward as they say..."

With his gaze not leaving the mutant, he started inching ever so closer to the lake. He had about 100 meters to go before reaching its shore which, he thought, would take him 10 seconds in a mad dash.

This meant that every inch he gained right now would drastically increase his chances of success and, more importantly, survival.

*SCREECH*

Out of nowhere, the Nightmare Bat hissed loudly, seemingly guessing his plan. Of course, this also resulted in it taking flight and diving in his direction.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH! WHY THE HELL DID I DO THAT!!!"

While screaming his lungs out, Derrick dashed like a mad cheetah towards the body of water, his earlier gambit half successful, as he had managed to place himself between his destination and the creature, giving him a head start.

What he hadn't anticipated, though, was the demonic speed at which it closed down on him, quickly erasing the gap with its huge talons now pointed at his back, ready to mince him into bits.

But just as they both reached the edge of the lake, he jumped while doing an aerial 180, leading him to face the now surprised bat.

"YOU'RE COMING WITH ME FOR A SWIM HAHAHAHA!"

When the creature realized his true aim, it was already too late.

Before his timely maneuver and their collision, Derrick had positioned himself to aim for one of the bat's wing, which he now firmly held with no chance in hell of letting go.

Realizing its mistake, the monster howled in regret as it fell from the sky, its lift gone.

*SPLASH*

With the beast's velocity, they both smashed in the water, their entanglement remaining.

The hybrid's struggle was fierce, but short-lived. In its panic, it had opened its mouth and thus flooded its lungs, leading it, a minute later, to already start sinking. This was what Derrick had been waiting for, leading him to finally let go and swim to the shore, where he dragged himself before breathing heavily on his back.

"This was insane... Why did I do that..."

But just as he began questioning his sanity, a window suddenly appeared.

[Would you like to use the skill <Contract> with the Nightmare Bat?]