28 Hel'Börger

Michael and his seniors were currently traversing something close to a haunted forest. All the grass was grey, all the trees were partially withered, having their once light brown wood turn into a lighter black color. Caleen told him this place was named the 'Pale corridor' Due to the grass being so rotten, the only thing you would try and step on was the crumbling stones.

He had kept walking next to the girl with glasses named Selin throughout this small adventure, and had started to try and befriended her. She was a real expert when it came to increasing elemental essence understanding.

"Well, you see Marss. Understanding what an element is, is like figuring out how it works. For example, you currently have 0% in all of yours. To get at least 1% you have to meditate on what they are and what kind of property they hold."

He listened to everything Selin said while trampling over the dead grass. When stepping on it, the weak needles would crumbled beneath his feet, sounding like they walked on some muddy sand. Despite this, Michael did not stop once. Sometimes looking where he went, and sometimes looking through her glasses.

She smiled a little when seeing how enthusiastic he was, as there were not many people who would talk to her back at the academy.

"So I should try increasing it when we get back?"

"Absolutely. If you find anything difficult just come ask me."

They kept going on like this until Caleen stopped. Signaling everyone to halt with her hand.

"The so called 'Undead' is supposed to be here in a cave. Doesn't sound like an undead to me, but lets proceed forwards with caution. Marss, you are coming In front. When we spot it, just do what you usually do when fighting."

Through the rotting grass laid a part of some a mountain complex. It's said this place used to be similar to the 'hellgreen woods' he had cut down, but it was leveld when two 'Ascended' layers fought a long time ago. Most likely one of the 'Earth essence' and one of the 'Dark essence'.

They sneaked closer to a cave opening. Inside, there seemed to lay some sort of creature sleeping around some bones. It was shaped as a naked human, only that the joints on it's body were stretched to a frightening degree. Almost as if someone placed several long sticks togheter.

It made no noise when breathing out. Only hiding the face beetween its long joins. You could actually tell this was to lure other predators inside.

When everyone saw the shape, they all began to sweat. Trying to not to wake this monster up.

Caleen whispered something meant for Marss, wanting him to back off with the rest.

"This thing is a wendigo, Marss. They are at the (high) general layer, and the highest one amongst us is at the (middle) general layer. Let's just inform the teacher and get out..."

She looked to her side, but there was nothing there. The rest also noticed that Marss had disappeared, looking around for where he had gone.

However, as they turned to look back into the cave, they saw Marss walk towards the sleeping beast. He didn't listen to what Caleen said, and just wanted to get this over with.

They all showed different expressions when they saw him approach it. Some ridiculed, some facepalmed themselvs, and lastly, Selin was worrying for her new acquaintance's well being.

When he stood near enough, Michael had a better view of this hideous thing. It had no hair on its body, only being covered in the grey skin which blended into the environment. further inside was some more bones. Most likely belonging to the farmes who went missing.

'If I remember correctly, wendigos are cannibals who died. Well, what this thing did before it turned is not my problem.'

He slowly cocked his leg backwards. Making some sounds as his bones cracked a little from not having battled for so long.

This, however, woke it up.

The wendigo instantly turned it's white head towards him. The skin and bone was bending like rubber. It had the facial expression of a maniacal smile plastered on a half rotting face, previously belonging to a woman. How did she end up like this?

It was going to jump at him, eating the organs and muscle from his corps.

[Mad dance of power LvL 1(strike): Increases damage by 1000% for one strike.]

But before it could move, Michael shot the tip of the foot into it's rotting nose. Planting his toes into the brain of the beast, as the skull gave of a brutal crack before sending its entire body into the ends of the underworld. The long limbs were flying around like kites before being implanted into the smooth, cold stone of the cave wall.

[Mad dance of power LvL 2(+1)]

"sweet!"

Very satisfied with his progress, he turned towards all his seniors. watching them outside the cave exit.

"Are we done her now?"

He shouted towards Caleen who only starred at him like he was some kind of monster.

"Y..Yes...G..Good job Marss!"

He smiled back, going to where the wendigo was stuck and pulled it out. After grabbing onto one of the broken limbs, he proceeded to exit the cave, now standing in front of the others again.

"I kind of want to look around here some more. Would you mind showing this to the teacher?"

The once angered Gelen was acting in a better mood, wishing to befriend this 'Marss' guy as he was certainly capable.

"Just leave it to us! You do what you want to, junior-brother Marss!"

Non of them said anything against him staying, not even the new friend he had made. As everyone now knew they could do nothing to change his mind.

He only saw them off, now walking deeper into the rotting woods.

After arriving in a part where the black trees were more abundant, he opened the skill he wanted to try out.

[Hel'Börger form]

Looking around at the lifeless area, he sendt out his [Bestial senses] but got no reading back.

Focusing on the transparent screen again, Michael tried asking the system a question before giving it a go.

"System, what does [Genetic combo] and [Genetic storage] do?"

[???????]

'figures...'

Immersing himself into the small transformation skill, another thought crossed his mind as he pressed it.

'The system never gave me a more detailed explanation about this race..wonder where they come from.'

[Transforming into Hel'Börger!]

Standing still while covered by the rust wind and the dead grass, Michael felt his body slowly morph itself.

His heart started to beat faster and louder. Sounding like chains of lightning bolts fell down from the heavens and struck in the same spot a hundred times.

The muscles were expanding a little, only making it so that he looked more muscular. However, black veins started to grow alongside every body part. It went up from his neck and over his face. Slowly fusing back inside.

As the veins disappeared, he hoped the pain would stop, but it only intensified.

Black scales were now bein molded out of his skin cells, covering all the places where the veins had resided.

As his skin became more scaley, the black hair his head began to curl up and harden. Turning into a ragged piece of black glassy armour.

The clothes which were previously made when he first evolved were fused into his skin. As this happened, the teeth inside his jaw turned sharper and more robust. His golden irises disappeared inside the yellow fire which took over the insides of his sockets.

As the transformation finished, the last thing that took place before the gruesome pain subsided was the lengthening of his nails. They were now five centimeters longer, making him look like a sort of haireless werewolf.

The cells stopped burning, clearing his mind a little. Looking upon this very familiar sight.

When deciding to speak out loud, he noticed that the voice was a little darker. His throat must have been shaped in some way too.

"This is not bad. But why are almost all my transformations similar? Was it because when my body was destroyed I was considered a 'Kings vessel' and not a real king? What is actually the limit of this worlds power..."

He moved the around the ashy grass, feeling the strength surge outwards.

"Very interesting indeed....I wonder what the next evolution does."

Michael punch out into the air with the scaly hand. There was no wind resistance when moving. Was this originating from the teratorn peacock he had once created?

"Revert transformation!"

The scaly skin retracted, and his black clothes came back to cover up. Too bad his feet were only laying on some destroyed shoes thanks to the growth there.

"System, evolve me into the [Hel'Morder!]"

[Evolving host. Please wait....]

His usual average body changed a little as the system blurred out.

He was still the same, only now his nails were jet black, and two centimeters longer. Their sharpness actually seemed to exceed the previous [Hel'Bölger] form. Other than this, There were som small black horns on his forehead. But they were only small lumps, not close to the incomplete crown he once had.

"My body seems to have grown a little stronger too. System, transform me into the [Hel'Bölger] once again!"

The familiar pain once more emerged. However, this time was much sweeter. His body transformed into the same being. Only now, he had grown one extra finger on each hand, Two white horns from the lumps he just had on the forehead, and some white markings which outlined his mucles. The eyes were still in a shade of yellow, only with a vertical black line the middle.

"This...I feel just as powerful as when I fought that golden monkey! If this is only the second evolution...."

"System, show me any changes made when in this form, also, show me my level!"

.

[Level: 1/17]

.

[New abilities learned while transformed]

.

[Hel'denger: Makes your fists and claws emit a corrosive substance which rapidly makes flesh break down]

.

[Hel'Beiner: Can harden the bones in your body, increasing impact damage by 200%]

.

[Hel'regner: You can spit out pressurized bullets of liquid. They will containt the same effect as the 'Corrosive Substance']

.

He looked at the information given by the system. Very satisfied.

"Must try to fight something while like this. If I am only feeling such strength at the second level..."

The transformed Michael spread out his powered up bestial senses. Finding something nearby.

Walking on the ashy grass felt somewhat better now, as he could not feel anything beneath the dense skin on the bottom of his feet. Passing through the broken forresten while stomping and crushing whatever slowed him down.

After this monstrosity travelled for a while, he arrived at the place where his senses had stopped.

Before him was another wendigo. There were probably some secret behind all the missing farmers that he should not know about.

The wendigo looked in the direction where It heard the grass be grinded against the dead earth. Finding a black scaled humanoid there, starring back at it.

As wendigos were only able to pick up objects that moved, it didn't even consider what was before it, only lounging itself through the air with the long white limbs.

"Such dumb animals..."

Michael did not even clench his fingers together, only sending an open palm slap towards the hideous creature attacking him.

Just when the wendigo was about to reach him, Michael's palm connected with the deformed and extended temple.

The skull of the wendigo did not even put up any resistance, turning into powder as the fingers smashed into it. The cracking sound was temporary, the dying scream of pain was eternal. Taking off into the surrounding trees and boulders.

After fully decimating it, leaving a hand shaped tunnel in it's head, he looked back at the system notifying him.

[Level: 3/17] (Level up!)

Seeing this, a fine grin was formed on the grotesque mouth he had, allowing the spiked teeth to be given the pleasure of sunlight. Showing their majesty to the ashen wilderness.

"I must evolve more... There is no limit to my growth!"

He once more sent out the bestial senses. This time, however, he found nothing.

"Even if I cannot find you now, I will not rest until my next evolution has been reached.."

A image played in his mind. The one about his original family on earth.

Then, a familiar voice shattered it.

"Your evolutions are too weak.."

The smile dissapeard. Locking the sawblades back into his mouth.

'I will go back. And I will have my wish fulfilled.'

He then set off deeper into the pale woods.

....

In an unrecognizable cellar, two people were currently speaking with each other. One was being covered in white iron armour while wearing a plain mask with two lenses on it. Bowing at a robed man looking down at it. It was a wooden basement of sorts, filled with old vine barrels and boxes. There was a aged and plain feel to the entire room. Only being a little 'well dressed' by the surrounding red candles which lit it up along with some dust.

"So you are telling me you found a 'Gold essence' bearer, and he is only at the master layer?"

The armoured figure did not speak, only nodding its head. Every movement made the equipment shudder, this was surely a very sturdy set.

The man looking down was very pleased with this, sending the servant off after giving the last order. He stretched out a white and wrinkled hand, signaling what must be done.

"Bring him here. He would be perfect for my future prodigy." The grin behind the robe could almost be felt, as the amount of excitement had been sealed down for a long time.

The knight stood up and walked away. Following the orders given by the master. The armour it wore made some constant rustling noises, and the suddenly stopping.

The robed man turned around. Hitting some worn down wooden boots onto the carved floor. Talking to himself as he was alone once more.

Even when he was alone, the robe did not go off even once, always covering him from the candles laying spread around. Not even taking the slightest chance.

Finding such a rare boy who was only at the 'Master layer' was almost seen as a gift from the heavens. Yet, as he kept thinking about how the plan would be executed..

"I keep having this bad feeling... Whatever, I have grown old, so it must be that."

He then went deeper into the room. Letting the candles burn out naturally.