[Choice accepted! Body will undergo a transition to accommodate the abilities of a Necromancer! Beginning procedures!]""aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!""
An indescribable pain suddenly surged in Derrick"s body. It felt like every cell were being destroyed and recreated from nothing. He, who had just suffered from the backlash of getting a new body, realized he made a mistake by not waiting for a full recovery.
He could grit his teeth in agony and endure. After a few minutes, he finally lost consciousness.
***
A couple of hours later, he slowly woke up and still felt quite dizzy. He was still limp from the severe reaction of the transition.
""That"s what happens when you don"t think and get caught up in the moment... I almost lost my life because I was stupid... Oh well, now everything"s done. Let"s see what I got! System, show me my stats!""
[Derrick Tarlin, 10 years old]
[Cla.s.s : 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 will give you the ability to encounter the souls of every creature dying near you before they are lost in the void!]
[New skill! Contract is the ability to make a contract with a recently diseased creature. This skill may evolve as the user grows!]
[New skill! Summoning is the ability to summon one of your contracted souls as a body of fles.h.!.+ Its original abilities will be amplified by 10%. This skill may evolve as the user grows!]
""s.h.i.+t! I knew it... I damaged my body quite a bit by not waiting... However, I still gained a lot in other areas""
After properly resting and a.s.similating everything, Derrick started to wonder about his location.
""It"s nice to get all this, but I still need to leave this cave! Where is the exit?""
He started poking around the dark cave and finally found a little hole, in which he could barely fit his rather big 10 years old body. The hole lead to another cave, which was completely different from the previous one.
It was absolutely enormous. However, the light was still very dim inside. In the middle of it, there was even a small lake being nourished by a water fall coming from the roof. Large stalact.i.tes also protruded menacingly from it. The scene baffled Derrick.
""Such a huge place! It definitely leads to the outside world... I just have to find the correct path, and we"re all set""
Although it had already been a day since Derrick had "received" his new body, he was still not hungry. He estimated that he could last 20 to 30 days in his current condition, which was miraculous.
While discovering the entirety of the s.p.a.ce, he suddenly saw dark red eyes looking in his direction. The malicious gaze sent s.h.i.+vers down his spine.
""What... what is this thing?!""
It looked like a mix of a bat and an eagle. Its body was the same size as Derrick and its wingspan was around 5 meters. Its sharp fangs and long black beak were emitting a strange liquid, as if salivating at the idea of meal falling in its lap.
""System, what the f.u.c.k is this!???""
Derrick started to panic while facing the animal monstrosity. He still didn"t have a lot of fighting power and his 2 skills were currently useless to him. He would have to either run for it or fight to the death. Derrick had a second chance, and he was not about to squander it.
[Using appraisal skill!... 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 : Cannot swim]
""Are you kidding me?! What am I supposed to do with a weakness like that???""
[Appraisal skill will evolve and be more precise if its user grows stronger]
""That"s one pa.s.sive-aggressive system right there... AH! Curse this place!""
After seeing the terrorizing stats of his opponent, Derrick"s remaining confidence went down the drain. He was trying to figure out how he would play this out and fight to live another day.
Suddenly, a desperate idea crawled in his brain. His gaze still on the horrifying bird, he started inching in the direction of the lake. He had 100 meters to go to reach it, which would probably take him 10 seconds in a mad dash. Every inch he could gain right now would give him a bit of hope.
*SCREECH*
The Nightmare Bat howled loudly as if guessing the intent of Derrick and instantly charged at him!
""AHH! Why am I always in these stupid situations! AHHHHHHHHH!""
Derrick was das.h.i.+ng like a mad cheetah towards the water. He had managed to place himself between the water and the creature, which had given him a head start. The bat was flying at a demonic speed, making up most of the ground between them. It was pointing its huge talons at Derricks" back, ready to grab and finish the kill. They were almost over the lake when he decided to jump and spin in the air, facing the monster.
""YOU"RE COMING WITH ME FOR A SWIM! HAHAHAHA!""
When the chiropteran realized what was happening, it was already too late. Before Derrick"s jump, he had aimed for one of the bats" wing and was firmly grabbing it, not letting it go. The creature howled in regret as it fell from the sky like a rock.
*SPLASH*
With their velocity, they both arrived in the water. The bat"s struggle was fierce, but short-lived. In its panic, it had opened its mouth, flooding its lungs. After a minute, it started to sink at the bottom of the lake, which made Derrick let go. He swam to the sh.o.r.e and started expelling the water that had made its way in his lungs.
""I must have done something wrong in my previous life! Why the h.e.l.l is this always happening to me?!""
While he was cursing his luck, a window appeared.
[Would you like to make a Contract with the Nightmare Bat?]
Shock appeared on his face, followed by a sinister smile.
""This is what they mean when you get fortune from terrible situations...""