Abnormal Encounters

'As expected.'

A boar, at least twice as large as anything possible on Earth, was peacefully drinking some water by a small stream without making so much as a sound.

I could surmise a lot of information about the surrounding area from its presence and behavior alone.

The beast's presence by its lonesome would indicate that there are multiple water resources nearby; otherwise, the area would be much more populated by predators and prey alike.

In certain circumstances, where water is extremely limited in the surroundings, it was common for even 'wild' animals to come to a truce to ensure no harm would come to the lone water resource.

'Judging by how carefully the boar's drinking, there must be no such agreement in place.'

Although it was drinking 'peacefully,' I could tell that had more to do with its intention of staying quiet rather than anything else.

'Hmmm...,' there was no way in hell such a creature with jagged tusks, dried with blood, and a hulking, scarred body bristling with spines could be a gentle giant.

Thus, like any good research using the scientific method, I constructed my hypothesis.

'It's afraid of making noise, that must be it.'

And now, it was time to test my findings...

I grabbed a couple of sizable rocks without delay, carefully ensuring no sound leaked out while I did so, and threw them.

One landed on the ground, causing a heavy thud to break out, while the other pierced the boar's hide despite its armored skin, causing some blood to slowly pour out of the flesh wound.

'Interesting...'

Instead of being more concerned about finding its assailant or even assessing its injuries, the boar ran, ran with all its might, out of the area. I didn't have to wait long for my theory to be proven true, as the boar was forced to stop its retreat after a large python sprang out of the lake with lightning speed, seizing the boar in its powerful jaws. Its sharp fangs pierced the boar's torso, and it struggled within its grasp for but a few seconds before falling 'asleep'.

'Venomous,' not just its fangs but its eyes as well, as they constantly looked around trying to determine the original source of the disturbance.

'The eyes,' they were rhythmic in their pursuits. Easy to track and predict.

'[Flash]'

I used one of the trees as leverage and attacked its neck from the opposite direction to where it was looking, wrapping my entire body around it.

It was a perfect chokehold, for a human at least; all the snake had to do was smash its head against the ground to bury me under. Still, like any creature, it had weaknesses, one of which I had already identified before leaping into battle. Its body was armored in scales, indicating high resistance to attacks. I could use my 'ultimate skill' to destroy it from within, but that would be overkill given its glaring vulnerability.

"Its eyes."

'[Spear Hand]'

My arm crushed one of its gigantic eyeballs before coming out from the other one, effectively disabling the behemoth.

After biting into its neck to 'extract' some blood, I quickly jumped off my falling prey before it started its descent towards death, wriggling in its last breaths.

"HISSSS!!!"

'FUCK!'

I had underestimated the vitality of my opponent, as it was able to let out one final battle cry before I punched its snout, sealing its mouth shut forever.

"Huh, all that effort gone to waste." I had tried my best to end the battle swiftly and without making much noise, just in case I attracted some third-party interest from the surroundings.

The snake's 'roar' had made all of my preparations useless.

'Whatever, I'll just cut some of its meat and get going.' I needed to 'stalk' around longer before making any major moves unless I wanted to unknowingly attract the attention of some 'hidden monsters.'

However, just as I was about to go about my day, I felt a strange shiver run up my spine, despite not being able to sense anything but the forest.

'[Status]'

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[Status]

Name: Kuzan Rosan

Age: 16.5 years

Title: [Martial Master]

Strength: 1533/10000

Stamina: 1543/10000

Intelligence: 1201/10000

Dexterity: 1735/10000

Will-Power: 1556/10000

Perception: 1575/10000

Skills: [Earth Mastered Skills (5)] [...]

Martial Arts: [Earth Mastered Martial Arts (13)] [Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist (768/1000)] [Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist (548/1000)]

Genes Synced: (4/13) [Primordial Homosapien] [Evolved Homosapien (Demonic Path)] [Soulweaver (Psychic Medium)] [Serpent King (Growth Potential: Basilisk Queen)]

Transformation States: [Demonic Beast (initialized)] [Basilisk Form (initialized)]

WARNING: System is under attack by foreign influence...

[Recommended actions from data collected]

- Devour 'cheat skill' for system upgrade

[Initiated...]

[Successful]

*Conditions Met*

*New system tab unlocked:*

Mystic Arts: [Light Magic (298/10000]

*New system skills unlocked:*

[All-Seeing Eye (master)] ➞ [Divine Vision (45/10000)]

[Warrior's Dominion (master)] ➞ [Warlord's Sovereignty (58/10000)]

[Null Embrace (master)] ➞ [Divine Indifference (25/10000)]

[Phantom Veil (master)] ➞ [Reaper's Shroud (38/10000)]

[Shadowstep (master)] ➞ [Walk of Grim (35/10000)]

[Trans-species Anatomy Mastery (master)] ➞ [Trans-dimensional Anatomy Mastery (56/10000)]

[Poison Mastery (master)] ➞ [Poisoncraft (303/10000)]

[Martial Language (master)] ➞ [Divine Tongue (21/10000)]

[Mirror Mimicry (master)] ➞ [Divine Reflection (12/10000]

[Ultra Instinct (master)] ➞ [Autonomous Ultra Instinct (3/10000)]

[Shadow Boxing (master)] ➞ [Martial Mirage (250/10000)]

[Buddha Realm Within the Palm (master)] ➞ [Divine Grasp (10/10000)]

[Surge (master)] ➞ [Light Magic (298/10000]

[Ethereal Transposition (master)] ➞ [Celestial Transcendence (locked)]

System Note (1): Suitable habitat for evolution detected. System upgrade initiated.

System Note (2): Foreign interference detected. Cheat skill given consumed for system upgrade. System upgrade complete.

System Note (3): Natural limit of body and soul breached through consumption of cheat skill. Energy converted into strengthening system stats.

System Note (4): Natural limit of system skills breached through consumption of cheat skill. Energy converted into strengthening system skills.

System Note (5): Natural limit of gene synthesis breached through consumption of cheat skill. Energy converted into strengthening host control.

- Hibernation period bypassed, host is able to utilize inherent gene skills and transformation states without consequence and the possibility of loss of control.

- Restrictions relaxed, upgraded ratio: 1:1 (Genes Synced Available to Martial Art technique mastered).

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'Hmmm...I'm not under any negative effects; otherwise, the system would tell me.' I had discovered during my training that no matter the type of hypnosis or effect, the status window would at least give me a warning.

'Nothing but nature...Ah!'

Although it was a long shot, I wasn't about to take the risk of being caught unprepared. Picking up some dried sticks from nearby, I quickly found some tinder and started the process of making a fire.

'I'd run away, but my instincts are telling me that it's the right thing to do,' however, just as I was about to light the first ember, it appeared, the source of my unrest.

"There's no need to do that, please..." I heard a nervous girlish voice from around me, despite still being unable to pinpoint the exact location of the source.

"Come out."

I threatened in a mellow voice, preparing for battle as I did so. My heart ignited in flame as my body transformed due to its recent addition in strength, which was evident considering the growth of my stats, especially dexterity, after biting into that beast.

It was a quick way to bodily strength, but I could tell that it was but one path that I would walk upon.

"I won't ask twice." I spoke while getting ready to start a forest fire by burning some nearby trees.

'Maybe an AOE attack will work.'

"STOP!" I heard again, this time right in front of me, as a 'being' slowly came into my view as if undoing some type of concealment magic.

"What are you?"

'Makes sense I detected nothing, what's there to pick up when the entire surroundings are under her 'control'.'

I had read enough manga in my previous life to at least be familiar with the regulars...

'Dragons, goblins, and ogres...'

'Would only make sense that I would find a Dryad in the forest.'

"What's your purpose?"

"Ahhh! Please, stop, stop!" the girl rushed forward towards the tree that I had just ignited with flame, while I continued to analyze her before making my escape.

'5'6'', blond hair, slender body type, weak muscles, wearing some type of white and green robe...' I continued to pay no attention to either her cries for help or to her beautiful face as I looked towards my next path for escape. 'I only sensed her here so she must have a certain range of detection.'

"[Water Ball]!" the girl shouted with great effort, making me stop dead in my tracks. Thankfully, it was only a small stream of water that she directed towards the tree, however it was enough for me to risk it.

I launched some dirt and small stones in her direction, which were barely noticeable to the girl in her triumph over the dastardly fire. Much to my joy, the pieces of debris struck her skin, not being blocked by some kind of barrier nor simply passing through her.

'[Flash]'

I utilized my new concealment and movement skills to perform a firm karate chop to the back of the girl's neck, causing her to fall unconscious within my arms.

Finally, I escaped from the area, taking great care of my new 'friend' as I continued to run while trying to find a suitable place to 'house' her.

'To think, I was expecting to live like a caveman...' I shook my head as I planned my next move, paying attention to both my surroundings as well as the sleeping girl...

'It's time for some research.'