Chapter 31 Welcome to the Jungle
Before me are trees as far as my eyes can see, spreading out in all directions. As I look around, I notice a massive golden colored tree that appears to be several miles away from me. The tree is so massive all the trees around it look like blades of grass.
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As I observe the massive golden tree in the distance I notice that the tree actually has a golden aura radiating from it and bathing the forest in its golden light. If I was to make a comparison it's almost as if the tree is the sun bathing everything in its light and illuminating the world. Looking around the tops of the forest I see a giant lake located between the shrine that I arrived in and the massive golden tree in the distance.
After taking stock of my surroundings, I head back down to the forest floor from the tree top that I have been sitting on. Once I make it back down, I decide that I am going to head to the golden tree in the distance. Being that it is the biggest thing on this floor and radiates so much light it makes sense that if there is an intelligent race on this floor, they would make their home as close to the tree as possible.
Soon after landing back on the ground I begin my several mile long journey to the golden tree, along the way I make sure to pay close attention to my surroundings so I don't get hit with a sneak attack. Since I don't know what rank the monsters are on this floor it would be best to keep a close eye out and gather as much information on the resident monsters.
Several hours of walking later, I finally make it to the lake that I saw when I scouted out the forest. From the tree top earlier it didn't seem like id should take me to long to reach the golden tree, yet it took me several hours just to make it to this lake. The lake itself appears to be around two miles in diameter and even with the water being crystal clear, I am unable to see the bottom of it. While looking into the lake to see how deep it is, I am able to see my reflection and get distracted by some of the changes my body went through when I evolved into a goblin shaman.
With it only being a few weeks since I reincarnated and even less time since I've now gone through two separate evolutions, I am not used to my new appearance. It appears that after my most recent evolution my face has gotten a more mature look than it did as a regular goblin. My jawline is more pronounced and I look to be in my early twenties, while before I looked like a young teenager. My hair is still a silver color but it appears to have more luster and shine to it whereas before it was a dull looking silver. My physique also went through some minor changes, my muscles have become more defined and chiseled and I seem to have grown about a foot in height.
"I didn't notice all the detailed changes my body went through after my evolution, when I was my reflection in Marbelium, until now. I look a lot my mature now compared to before and my body looks a lot stronger. I wonder if it's because my strength stat went up by so much," I muse out loud as I admire myself in the lakes surface.
(Correct, the higher your stats get the more your body will change and become more refined. Since your strength stat hit 250, your muscles have become stronger and more defined as a result. Also since your endurance hit 250, your skin has become tougher and it's harder to cut making your defense stronger as a result)
"Ah, that makes sense, it would be strange if having a high strength stat I still looked like a skinny week goblin," I say to Neph in response to his explanation.
(The higher your stats become the greater the changes. Also the more your soul advances the greater your stat growth will become also. You'll also gain more features from your system the stronger your soul becomes since they are directly linked to one another)
"How do I strengthen my soul? I know how to gain status points by absorbing monster cores but so far my soul hasn't gotten any stronger," I ask in a confused and curious tone.
(I was wondering when you were going to notice and ask about it. In order for your soul to get stronger you need to consume the souls of the monsters that you defeat. Right now the souls of the monsters are either going to waste or a part of their souls become the loot drops you sometimes come across after killing a monster)
"That makes sense, but how do I consume the souls of the monsters I kill? So far I have been killing them and only getting cores and the occasional item, I have no idea on how to consume their souls. Also if I consume their souls won't that stop me from gaining any loot from them?" I ask in confusion.
(You will have to create the skill, Soul Devourer, in order for you to consume the soul power of those that you kill. You won't lose the ability to gain loot items but you'll be able to use the remaining soul power that normally goes to waste once the loot item is created)
"If that's the case then let's make this skill immediately, I can't believe you didn't tell me this sooner and waited for me to stumble about and figure it out on my own," I say with a very disgruntled attitude.
(I can't spoon feed you every single thing, if I did that you'd never grow as a person and get stronger yourself. What good is strength and power that's just given to you? If you don't work hard to get it you'll never appreciate it in the long run)
"I know I know, it's just frustrating that it took me this long to figure out that my soul wasn't getting stronger and I just thought about how to make it stronger. I'm grateful for everything that you've given me and helped me with," I say sighing as I accept the fact that I wasted so much potential power.
"Go ahead and make the skill," I say to Neph feeling down.
(Creating Skill)
(Soul Devourer Skill Created)
Soul Devourer - This Unique skill allows the user to convert defeated enemies souls into soul essence and strengthen their soul. The stronger the enemy is than the user the purer the soul essence will be.
"Finally, I'll be able to start strengthening my soul now," I say in excitement as I read over the skills description.
Status:
Race - Goblin Shaman
Title - Nephelium's Successor
Soul Rank - Mortal (progressive)
D Rank
Strength - 250 (20)
Intelligence - 400
Stamina - 250 (25)
Dexterity - 250 (15)
Vitality - 250 (20)
Agility - 250 (25)
Magic - Infinite
Luck - Blessing of Fortuna
Available Attribute Points - 100
Skills:
Awareness Rank D
Slash Rank D
Appraisal Rank D
Sneak Rank D
Craftsman Rank D
Aegis Rank D
Hallowed Ground Rank D
Magic Bullet Rank D
Innate Skills:
Creation (Active) Divine Rank
Blessing of Fortuna (Passive) Divine Rank
Genesis (Active) Divine Rank
Unique Skill:
Mana Manipulation and Augmentation (Passive)
Lux Artis (Passive)
Soul Devourer (Passive)
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Now that I have Soul Devourer, my clone can utilize it in the Spider cavern under Murcrilium as he helps the dwarves combat the spiders. While I am continuing my exploration of the different crypt floors he will assist the dwarves for as long as it takes until they finally defeat the queen, eliminate the threat to Marbelium and recover the ancient city of Murcrilium.
I leave the lakes edge and start to make my way around the lake continuing to head to the golden tree in the distance. Oddly enough even though the lake doesn't appear to be very large, for some reason it is taking me a lot longer to travel around it than it should.
"Neph is it just me or is it taking way too long to travel on this floor?" I ask as I observe the lake and the surrounding forest.
(So you finally noticed, huh?)
"What do you mean", I ask
(This floor is special compared to the two previous floors. The golden tree you see in the distance is an Elder Space Tree, it has the ability to alter the spatial layers of its surrounding with the golden aura it admits.)
"So everything that is covered by its golden aura is being affected by it", I ask in surprise.
(Exactly, that's why it took you hours to reach the lake even though it looked like it would only take you a couple hours yet it took you several hours to reach it. It's also the reason that even though this lake appears to be two miles in diameter, it's taking you a few hours to walk around it.)