Eldris stumbled through the dense forest, his arm throbbing with a searing pain that refused to subside. The toxic secretions of the Kinabalu Giant Red Leech had left his flesh raw and mangled, and every step sent a fresh wave of agony coursing through his body. Silver limped beside him, his once-gleaming fur now matted with blood and slime, his breathing labored. The battle had taken its toll on both of them, but Kyle knew they couldn't afford to stop. The forest was no place to rest, not with the constant threat of other creatures lurking in the shadows.
"Silver, we need to go back," Eldris said, his voice hoarse. The hyena let out a low whine but nodded in agreement. Turning around, they retraced their steps, the forest floor still slick with the remnants of their battle. The leech's lifeless body lay where they had left it, its grotesque form now still and silent.
Eldris knelt beside the creature, his stomach churning at the sight of its slimy, bloodied flesh. "Gia, let's hope that I am lucky, absorb" he said.
[Initiating absorption protocol. Place your hand on the creature's core and focus your energy.]
Eldris hesitated for a moment before placing his uninjured hand on the leech's body. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the pain and focus on the task at hand. At first, nothing happened. Then, he felt a faint warmth emanating from the creature, a subtle pulse of energy that seemed to resonate with his own. The warmth grew stronger, spreading through his hand and up his arm, until it felt like his entire body was bathed in a soothing, golden light.
[Absorption complete. Host has acquired the Kinabalu Giant Red Leech's Spark.]
Eldris opened his eyes, his breath catching in his throat. The leech's body had begun to disintegrate, its flesh crumbling into ash and dissipating into the air. In its place, a small, glowing orb hovered just above the ground. It pulsed with a faint red light, as if alive.
"What… is that?, why did it body disappear Gia?" Eldris whispered.
[The Spark contains the essence of the Kinabalu Giant Red Leech's abilities. By absorbing it, you have absolve all the essence of the Giant Red Leech. you have gained access to its regenerative powers and enhanced senses. However, the Spark must be integrated into your bloodline to fully unlock its potential.]
Eldris reached out and touched the orb. The moment his fingers made contact, it dissolved into a stream of red light that flowed into his body. He gasped as a surge of energy coursed through him, his wounds beginning to heal at an astonishing rate. The mangled flesh of his arm knit itself back together, the pain fading as if it had never been there. Even Silver seemed to perk up, his wounds closing as the Spark's energy extended to him.
"This… this is incredible," Eldris said, flexing his newly healed arm. He felt stronger, more alert, as if his senses had been heightened. The forest around him seemed sharper, more vivid, and he could hear the faint rustling of leaves in the distance that he would have missed before.
[Integration complete: Host has upgrade to level four of the sage stage]
[Integration complete. Host has unlocked the following abilities: Enhanced Regeneration, Enhanced Senses, and Toxic Resistance.]
After resting for some times, he then start to wander around the forest, looking for way to the city.
Eldris and Silver moved cautiously through the dense forest, their senses heightened by the newly integrated Spark of the Kinabalu Giant Red Leech. The forest seemed alive, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs amplified in Eldris's mind. His wounds were healed, but the memory of the battle lingered, a reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
As they ventured deeper, the air grew thicker, the scent of damp earth and decaying foliage mingling with something else—something metallic and sharp. Blood. Eldris's enhanced senses picked up on it immediately, and he signaled for Silver to slow down. The hyena's ears twitched, his golden eyes narrowing as he sniffed the air.
"Something's wrong," Eldris muttered, his voice low. "Stay close."
They crept forward, the forest canopy above casting dappled shadows on the ground. The sound of clashing steel and guttural roars reached their ears, growing louder with each step. Eldris's heart pounded as he peered through the underbrush, his breath catching at the scene before him.
A group of adventurers was locked in a fierce battle with a massive beast. The creature was unlike anything Eldris had ever seen—a towering, hulking figure with thick, matted fur and razor-sharp claws. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent red light, and its roar shook the ground beneath their feet. The adventurers, though outnumbered, fought with a desperate determination, their movements coordinated but strained.
Eldris counted five of them, each wielding weapons that gleamed with an otherworldly light. Their armor was battered, their faces streaked with sweat and blood. They were clearly experienced, but the beast was relentless, its sheer size and strength overwhelming.
Eldris then choose to ask gia.
"What level are they in gia? Eldris asked.
"Why do you ask this kind of questions, I am a sophisticated godlike a.i assistant design to help you by a god, and yet you are asking me this kind of questions. "Gia said.
"So do you know what level they are".
Gia was silence for some times until she answered.
"Yes I know what level they are at the sixth level of the sage stage. "Gia answered.
"That's what you would have said before..."Eldris said.
"Before what..... "Gia said.
As gia begin her tantrums Eldris choose to mute and ignore her, he just focus on the battle while ignoring the ringing in his head.
Silver let out a low growl, his body tense as he prepared to leap into action. Kyle placed a hand on the hyena's back, calming him.
"Wait," he said. "We need to be smart about this."
One of the adventurers, a woman with fiery red hair and a longsword, shouted something to her companions. Her voice was strained but commanding. "Focus on its legs! We need to bring it down!"
The others nodded, their movements becoming more deliberate as they aimed for the beast's lower body. But the creature was fast, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. One of the adventurers, a man with a spear, was thrown back, his weapon clattering to the ground as he clutched a deep gash in his side.
Eldris's mind raced. He was only at the third level of the Sage Stage, but the Spark had given him new abilities—abilities that could turn the tide of this battle. He glanced at Silver, who met his gaze with a determined look.
"We're going in," Eldris said, his voice firm. "But we stick together. No heroics."
Silver nodded, and together they burst from the underbrush, Eldris's enhanced senses guiding him as he charged toward the beast. The adventurers turned in surprise, their eyes widening as they saw the newcomer and his wolf companion.
"Who the hell are you?" the red-haired woman shouted, her sword still raised.
"No time for introductions!" Eldris yelled back, his voice carrying over the roar of the beast. "Let's take this thing down!"
The woman hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine! But don't get in our way!"
Eldris didn't respond, his focus entirely on the beast. He could feel the Spark's energy coursing through him empowering his bloodline, his body moving with a speed and precision he hadn't known before. He darted around the creature, his movements fluid as he aimed for its legs. Silver was at his side, his teeth bared as he lunged at the beast's flank.
The adventurers, though surprised by Eldris's sudden appearance, quickly adapted to the new dynamic. The red-haired woman took the lead, her sword flashing as she struck at the beast's chest. Another adventurer, a man with a bow, fired arrows from a distance, each one finding its mark with deadly accuracy.
Eldris's enhanced senses allowed him to anticipate the beast's movements, dodging its claws with ease. He focused on its legs, using his newfound strength to deliver powerful blows that staggered the creature. Silver's attacks were equally effective, his sharp teeth tearing into the beast's flesh.
The battle raged on, the forest echoing with the sounds of steel and snarls. The beast was powerful, but the combined efforts of the adventurers and Eldris began to wear it down. Its movements became slower, its roars more labored.
Finally, with a coordinated strike, the red-haired woman plunged her sword into the beast's chest, while Eldris delivered a final, devastating blow to its leg. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its body shaking as it took its last breath.
The forest fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the adventurers and the faint rustling of leaves. Eldris stepped back, his chest heaving as he looked down at the fallen beast. Silver stood beside him, his fur and spike matted with blood but his eyes still sharp.
The red-haired woman wiped the sweat from her brow, her gaze shifting to Eldris. "You," she said, her voice tinged with both curiosity and suspicion. "I know that without you we won't be able to defeat the beast. But I can't help but ask who are you?"
Eldris met her gaze, his expression calm but guarded. "Eldris, " he said simply. "And this is Silver."
The woman studied him for a moment before nodding. "I'm Lira," she said, gesturing to her companions. "This is Jarek, Tessa, Finn, and Dax."
"So Mr Eldris what are you doing here, all alone in the forest with a beast by your side? "Lira asked.
Kyle think In his head very well before he came up with a suitable lie.
"I was part of a traveler group, at a point in our travel we encounter a beast, that beast caused us a lot of trouble, during the fight I was injured, so the group considered me a liability, so they left me to die, fortunately for me I was healed. Since them I have been trying to find my way back to the kingdom, but unfortunately for me I have no sense of direction, so when I heard the sound of battle, I came running hoping to save you guys and hitch a ride back.
The other adventurers nodded in acknowledgment, their eyes still wary. Jarek, the man with the spear, winced as he clutched his side. "You've got some guts, kid," he said, his voice strained. "But you're lucky we were here to back you up."
Kyle didn't respond, his mind already turning to the next steps. He had helped them, but he knew better than to trust strangers in a place like this. The forest was dangerous, and so were the people who roamed it.
Lira seemed to sense his hesitation. "You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, her tone softer now.
Kyle shook his head. "No. I'm just trying to survive."
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