Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter because I really tried something quite unusual, for the writing of this chapter I immersed myself in the ln so as not to cause inconsistencies with the original univers !
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Right now, monsters of unparalleled power are appearing one after another at an unprecedented pace. I feel like the more I evolve, the more I'll encounter creatures with abilities that defy human logic.
Well, after all, I'm not even human anymore, so yeah, and anyway, it's not like I understand the workings of this world. Since my birth — or my rebirth, depending on the term you'd use for my situation — I've only ever lived in the labyrinth. Personally, I'd like to return to the surface to explore the world, but according to Senpai, my abilities are extremely weak.
Moreover, according to Gried and his group, the situation outside isn't any better than here.
[ Their information dates back around thirty years, it may be inaccurate and completely different from the real situation ]
"You're not wrong, Senpai. My human mind trusted them right away, without really questioning what they were saying."
[ It is advised to reach sufficient combat capacity before being able to or considering returning to the surface ]
I ended up sighing. He's not wrong. Compared to Araba, I'm nothing. He could crush me with a single paw. If he didn't care about me, I'd already be dead.
"Should I offer him a cult? After all, he let me live and just look at this…"
I look in the direction where the Baladorado died. Even though Araba shredded its corpse into tiny bits and its blood is currently splattered all over the walls, there's still a little flesh left — barely enough to fill a small plate.
"Well, if I gain a skill, then I'll offer him a cult. It's decided!"
Why am I talking like Master Yoda? No idea, but that was cool!
[ Offering a cult to a creature of that level is boundless stupidity. ]
Boundless stupidity? Is he serious? It's clearly normal to offer a cult to a boss who spared you. If I could, I'd even prostrate myself.
[ Didn't you say you wanted to be a legendary creature capable of inspiring fear in anyone? ]
"I…"
[ According to my analysis, the fear of dying to such a creature has made you less rational and less intelligent in your life choices. ]
He…
"Senpai… you're wrong! I'm fine!"
[ Your lie is considered an abyssal absurdity. ]
My lie… Am I lying to myself?
How is that possible? I'm always cheerful, and I have no reason to be afraid now, after everything I've faced!
"I almost died several times against monsters straight out of hell. I even came across a goddamn Queen Taratect who clearly outclasses this Araba easily, and you're telling me I'm scared?"
[ You are a human in a monster's body. ]
As I tried to speak again to argue against those words, no sound came. It's like my own brain couldn't find a flaw in what he'd just said.
Was I really that weak? I have no reason to be weak… This is a good life I'm living here… compared to my old world…
Without understanding why, my legs started to tremble on their own, and I ended up falling to the ground on my knees, while tears streamed from my eyes.
He's right.
I've gotten used to seeing death everywhere since my reincarnation, and I've ended up thinking it's normal. I've seen creatures straight out of the worst human nightmares and consider it standard…
Seeing humans get torn to pieces and eating like a savage the creatures I killed myself clearly makes no sense… Since when has my mind started to consider this normal?
As I began to think at high speed, the answer quickly came to me.
It was since I evolved into a Proto Oni. It's as if another personality was taking control of mine.
Is that what [ Proto-Oni - Instinctive Deviation ] meant?
That I will gradually deviate from my instincts and who I am as I evolve?
"Senpai…?"
[ Yes? ]
Did I make the wrong choice by picking this option instead of the other one?
[ Regardless of the choice made, whether [ Semi-Humanoid Oni - Harmonized Model ] or [ Proto Oni - Instinctive Deviation ], both had the effect of improving your combat power ]
[ The rest of the related information cannot be shared due to compliance with the rules established by the system ]
Rules, huh? So there's a list of rules that even the system must follow? I'll read it later if I have time.
"It's okay if you can't tell me, I'll find out for myself anyway."
I ended up getting back on my feet and, with a wave of my hand, wiped away the tears that were still falling.
Then I smiled. I should get going instead of creating a swimming pool with my body.
[…]
"Yes, Senpai?"
[ Oh no, nothing ]
His short but effective reply made me laugh. Even if he's a system without a consciousness, I have the feeling that ever since he fused with [ Co-Spirit ], he's gained a kind of relative awareness.
If that theory is true, then leveling him up could maybe improve Senpai's awareness.
Alright, let's forget the touchy subjects. If I keep staying in a place like this crying like a kid, some other creature way less merciful than that dragon will end up finding me, and I'll end up as steak and fries on the spot.
Let's start with what's left of the Baladorado. I shouldn't gain many skills, but let's give it a try anyway.
I ended up approaching a small piece of eyeball that was half crushed against a wall. So I took it in my hand and brought it closer to mine to observe it.
Am I really going to eat an eye? I have no choice. Finding corpses of creatures at this level is rare. Well… this level is relative, because I haven't fought many powerful creatures, I mostly spent my time running, like with the Arch!
So I opened my mouth and tossed it in, chewing it like it was gum. Like almost every creature in this labyrinth, it tasted horrible and itched my throat.
"I hope sauces exist in this world… Maybe I can start a business selling snake-eye gum with mayo?"
When I finally managed to swallow the eye completely, Senpai decided to speak.
[ The skill has reached the required level. The skill [Night Vision LV1] has become [Night Vision LV2]. ]
"So a vision skill?"
I slowly raised my eyes, and my vision drastically improved. It was much less dark than before, and I could see certain things in more detail, which was good news.
"Senpai, what are my chances of surviving if I go into the aberrant layer?"
[ Close to zero ]
I expected that. But if I don't want to end up spending 50 years in this labyrinth, I have to keep improving, even if it means risking my life.
So, direction: the aberrant layer.
I took a step into a cave different from the one Araba had taken. I wasn't dumb enough to follow a dragon into its lair. Well… I know some slimes gain extremely powerful abilities by befriending them, but yeah, not trying that technique in this world.
And just as I fully entered the cave, my heart tightened automatically. A kind of reflex pushing me to turn back, like it knew this was death. But I refused to obey and forced my body to move forward.
I kept walking for an undetermined amount of time. An hour? Two? I had no idea how much time had passed since. I could've counted, but I was too focused on staying alive and checking that no monster was nearby.
At that moment, music could be heard. Wait… I know that one…
That chant… wasn't that the one I heard the first time I landed here?
"Last time, wasn't there a giant arm in the wall?"
[ No idea, I was disconnected at that time ]
"Yet you wanted to prevent me from entering this zone."
[ Order of rank 1 imposed by the world's rank 1 system ]
Wow, even Senpai's sensei is straight-up forbidding access to this zone!
I decided to head toward that arm. Well… try to find it again. After all, it could tell me what's happening in this world and what it is, because I'm extremely curious by nature!
So I decided to follow the sound, because logically, it should bring me closer to the arm. After all, two weird things often stick together… well, Japanese high school girl logic!
The more I walked, the louder the sound got. That was a good sign — it meant I was getting closer to my target. So naturally, I wasn't going to stop so close to the goal.
I eventually reached a sort of intersection that, strangely, felt familiar. And when I turned to my left, there it was… the arm.
Still just as big and imposing, in a kind of state between decomposition and regeneration, like the arm refused to die.
I stepped a bit closer, as if my body was fascinated and moving on its own, and I looked at the glowing fluid running through the arm nonstop.
"Senpai"
[ Yes? ]
"Is it advisable to eat things that are extremely unknown and dangerous?"
[ Strongly not recommended! ]
He's right… but this might be a huge opportunity. Sorry, Senpai. Then I moved closer to the arm, which was stuck in the wall, and found the deepest and most breakable crack, and I stuck one of my claws into it. It slid in like butter, and the glowing fluid gently dripped onto my claw before sealing itself. In that crack, there was barely any more fluid, and the rest of the cracks seemed tougher.
So, out of courage or stupidity, I brought the blood to my mouth and let it slide down my throat.
Suddenly, the world vanished around me, as if it had never existed, and my body appeared in some kind of place I can't even describe.
Then a voice echoed:
"If we do nothing, this planet will die. The only way is to create a system capable of converting souls into energy. I will bear it."
"Sariel, are you truly ready to take on that burden? You know what it implies."