Chapter 5: Body Change

It seems like I am really strong, but I can barely use said strength because of my low dexterity. 'I guess that's why it is telling me to bring my DEX to 624, so the difference between it and strength will be less than 25%. 

What choice do I have? What's the point of leveling up a stat if you can't even use half of it? Right now, I have a strength of 801, but I might as well have a strength of 600. The drop was immaculate.

I guess dexterity isn't as useless as I thought. 'This wasn't in my game, but it makes sense in real-life context.'

Clicking the plus next to dexterity, its exp bar appeared.

[Dexterity: F 398 (EXP: 0/796)]

"Ah." This is the same. In my game, the exp needed to rank up a stat is calculated simply by [stats*(Rank+2)], but if the stats is 0, all you will need is 1 point to get it to 1. So, to get dexterity to level 398, you will need…

Using a cumulative sum from 1 to 398, the total EXP would be...

'I can't do this in my head.' Nope, I need to. I already started; I might as well finish.

About… "One hundred fifty-eight thousand eight hundred two!" I knew I could do it.

And to reach a strength of 801 at Rank 0, a total of… 640,800 EXP was needed. 

Already massive. Imagine if I was at rank 3. However, a wolf that was equal to me in stats gave 910 exp, so if I were to ride the bus, "That isn't possible." 

In Tower to Hell, there is also an exp reduction if the enemy is too strong compared to you, stopping you from hunting high-level monsters to quickly rank up. Even though I wasn't going to release it, I was thinking from a business perspective. I wanted my players to spend more time in my game.

I know it was a stupid idea, but I guess it will transfer onto this 'game' too.

Pushing that to the back of my mind, I pressed the plus next to dexterity, and it asked me;

[Raise (Dexterity) to level 401 with 2394 level exp?]

"Yes." I felt a cold rush go through my body, a rush that lasted less than a second. Clenching my fist, I felt no difference, but it was to be expected. However, now all my stats are F and above, and my level is 2790. "210 to go before three thousand." Then, leveling should become harder.

Looking up at the sky, I saw a new message.

[Congratulations! You have completed the tutorial!]

"Yay!" 

[Now, it is time to leave the tutorial area! But before that, to better fit into the world, you need a story and a background. First, do you need to remain a human or a different species?]

'If this is what I think it is,' I would rather change species. "Show me the species' options."

Something appeared in front of it, and looking at it, I saw it was a holographic version of myself with only boxers and a screen in front of it.

[Due to your default form being humanoid, you can only switch to humanoid species.]

I removed the screen, and another popped up.

[Due to your default form being sentient, sapient, and self-aware, you can only switch to species of a similar caliber.]

Next,

[Due to your default form being male, you can only switch to other male species.]

'Ok?' It was not like I was going to switch to a woman.

[All female-only species have been removed.]

Next,

[*Keep in mind that your stats level won't change or be redistributed to fit your new species; however, your story will be changed to fit the reason for your stats level. However, with different species, the same level of stats might yield different results.]

Makes sense. For example, a Rank 0 dwarf and an elf both have level 500 in strength; however, the dwarf will be stronger than the elf due to genetics. The other way around is magic. 

Stats aren't the ultimate deciding factor; species also are. And this is how it is also set up in my game.

'Next.'

[Available Species

Homo Sapiens (Current)

Boaz Sapiens

Bull Sapiens 

Bunny Sapiens 

Canidae Sapiens

Dark Elf

Demi-God (6th Prestige to unlock)

Dwarves 

Elf

Felidae Sapiens

Gargareans

God (12th Prestige to unlock)

Goliath

Hybrid (pick two species to merge)

Pallum

Raccoon Sapiens 

Sheep Sapiens 

…]

As I scrolled through these species, the holographic image of myself before me changed to show me what I would look like as those species. They were all different and unique, each with different sizes and shapes, different skin tones, and different eye colors, but they all had something in common.

Baldness and ugliness.

"I mean, come on." Even as an elf, I was bald and ugly. I looked so alien, that if I became "whatever this is," I would definitely be chased around with a pitchfork.

Like, what the fuck? "A cat man with no hair in my ears!?" What the fuck is this? Is this game trying to play with me? "Haah." Forget that. 

Ignoring all the species that required hair to look good, like dark and light elves and all the animal-human hybrids, I focused on the rest. "Demi-God." Only unlockable after my 6th Prestige. "So, prestige is still in this game." Well, I guess I won't be getting that species for a long-long-LOOOOONG time, since you can only complete your first prestige after rank 12.

'And God too.' When I scrolled to those two species, all it showed was a floating white ball, like the model hadn't loaded. 'Or is that how I will look?' Moving on, I continued through all the species. 

Hmm. I noticed that I couldn't pick the 'better' versions of most of these species, like High-Humans, High-Elves, High-Dwarves, or even the Barbarian, the higher species of the Amazons, Gargareans, and Goliaths. 

'At least, in my game.' For all I know, these species might not exist in this world.

There was one thing that drew my attention, though. It was the species Spirit. I don't know anything about it, and the model looks exactly like me. "A ghost?" If so, then no.

Let's look for something else. "Hmm…" Now, I am trying to pick between three species. 

Humans, Dwarves, and Gargareans.

You see, I am trying to go down the path of a warrior and mage. Well, mainly for warriors, the items I summon can take care of the magic part. So, the only options were these three.

Humans are humans because they are the 'base' species with an average affinity for magic, and their physical body is also average. From what I know, Dwarves have the third-best physical body, coming right after Goliath and Gargarean at first and second, respectively. Other species might be stronger, like the Boaz Sapiens, which also had a big body, but I am not sure since I have never seen a species like that.

Gargareans, though with more physical prowess than dwarves and equal to the Boaz Sapiens, in my game, didn't have the ability to bring their magic out of their bodies. They can only use it to buff themselves, but at least they had magic unlike Goliath.

Goliath has the best physical prowess, but they can't use magic at all. Their bodies can't absorb mana, and they can't utilize it in any way possible, even if they have an item that holds mana. 

This is why I didn't even consider them a choice. I will be so useless when I fight a boss who has 100% physical resistance.

'…' Wait a minute. I just got a crazy idea. Goliath had a remarkably similar reproductive system to humans, so maybe "Hybrid, Goliath, and Elf!" The 3-D hologram scrolled and stopped in the hybrid, which was now in the hybrid appearance of a Goliath and an Elf.

However, I wasn't sure if this was a good idea. Yeah, Goliath had the best physical ability, just as white elves have the best magic ability, but would merging them really bring a good result?

'Hmmm…' I decided to try something else out. "Goliath and spirit." The 3-D hologram changed, making the hybrid look perfectly like a Goliath, with no distinctive feature that might make it out to be a spirit. Just like when I picked the spirit species and it looked exactly like me. 

'Bro, what is spirit?' It sounds like a magic-based race. Maybe spirits are like the 'element itself?' Like faeries in my game? If that is so, then a Goliath and Spirit hybrid will make more sense since faeries have higher magic than even high-elves.

'But what if Spirit turned out to be something else?' I love gambling, but this wasn't a gambling matter. If I messed up here, I wouldn't be able to reach rank 12. No, even rank 9 might be impossible.

Hmm. I can't decide, so let's do the next best thing. "Horse, pick for me." I turned to my horse, raising my hands. It stopped what it was doing—it was trying to lick its own dick—and looked up at me. "Which hand?"

My horse stared at my hands before raising up its right foreleg and pointing at my right hand, "Neigh." It said, as it returned to its acrobatic ventures.

"Well, Goliath and Spirit it is." 

[Do you wish to change your species to 'Hybrid Goliath and Spirit?' Keep in mind that a change in species wouldn't be possible until the 6th Prestige or through evolution.]

"Yes."

[Do you wish for your mother or father to be a Goliath while the other is a spirit?]

Women Goliath are normally superior to men, so "Let my mother be a Goliath and my father be a spirit."

[A random spirit has been chosen as your father. 'Spirit of Gravity' has been decided to be your father. A story is being generated...]

'…' Interesting. It seems I was right about spirits being similar to the fairies in my game. "But gravity." Not good. Not good at all. Gravity can be considered a 'physical'-based magic, as it deals physical damage despite being a magic. 'Did I fuck up?'

If this is so, then I really need high-ranking 'catalysts' to make up for my lack of magic. "At least as a hybrid, even if I am a Goliath, I still have mana." That is good, I guess. It could have been better if my father was a fire spirit, but whatever. 

It is what it is.

[Your story has been created. "You are a simple child of a Goliath and a True Spirit, and a collector. Due to your collective nature, your father created a simple dimension where you can store what you collected."]

An interesting story. I guess it says I am a collector because of my summoning and inventory. If someone asks, 'how did you get that?' I can just reply, 'I collected and saved it in a separate dimension.' However, what is the name of my mother? My father? Where was I born? When was I born?

["On your journey to collect something, you found yourself in Labyrinth City, Orario. After sneaking into the deep floors of the dungeon, you got in a fight with two large wolves, which caused you to forget most of your memories."]

'…' Ok. That's good enough. 

This way, I wouldn't have to memorize useless things.

[Your soul has been disguised as a normal soul of this world. Your body will now begin its transformation... Transformation completed.]

'???' Huh? How—!

Oh. 

Now I notice my higher field of vision.

Looking down at myself, I found myself transformed into the 3-D hologram I saw earlier. 

My 6'3" frame grew to a towering height of 7'10" due to the bloodline of my Goliath mother, with my clothes changing to fit my new build. Un-equipping my clothes and sending them to my inventory, I got a better look at my appearance—my torn boxers hanging in strips around my waist.

My shoulders become broader and more powerful, the caps of my deltoids rounded and firm, tapering into well-defined triceps and biceps. The sinews in my arms were like steel cables, flexing with each movement, with my forearms robust and veined. Above, my pectoral muscles were prominent but not overdone, contributing to my chest's impressive breadth without compromising my agility.

The trapezius muscles at the base of my neck stood out, framing my thick neck, which flowed into a well-sculpted back where the latissimus dorsi muscles fanned outward, enhancing my already broad back.

My torso carved a distinct V-shape, narrowing at the waist but not tightly so, allowing my abdominal muscles to show through without the harsh definition of abs seen in bodybuilders. I didn't mind that I did not have a solid 'six-packs' all I cared about was my fat belly being on, and it was now, which is good. 

My legs were like pillars, with thighs thick and powerful; each muscle group was finely honed. My calves were solid and well-formed, supporting my large frame with ease, while my large feet provided a stable base.

My skin had darkened, becoming a rich dark brown that hugged my muscles tightly, highlighting each contour and shadow play across my body. My face was squarely shaped with a sharp jawline that was both pronounced and aesthetically striking, complemented by a notable ramus that gave my face a chiseled look.

Even with my jawline, I wasn't handsome due to my full and black lips, my hawk-like nose, and my rather large ears that lay close to my head. My eyes changed from blue to crimson red, my sharp eyebrows framing my face, and my head, like always, was bald.