A New Body

The river flows steadily beside me as I continue to follow it, its gentle rush a constant companion. After a while, the terrain begins to change, and I find myself standing at the edge of a cliff.

"It's a waterfall," I murmur to myself, staring down at the cascading water. Below, a pond glistens under the sun, the water clear and inviting. I notice a deer and a flock of birds taking a sip at the water's edge, unaware of my presence high above.

The cliff is about fifty meters high—too steep for me to simply drop down without a plan. "No way I'm getting down there from up here," I think, eyeing the sheer drop. There's no obvious path leading down, and even if there was, do I really need to go down there?

I stand at the edge for a moment longer, debating my next move. "Maybe I should just keep exploring," I decide. After all, I'm not here for a scenic tour—I need a new host, something that will increase my adventure efficiency.

It's been a while since I last swapped bodies, and while I can still use my skills while in a host, a new one might open up more opportunities. With that thought in mind, I crawl along the forest floor, my senses alert for any potential targets.

After some time, I spot something up ahead—a humanoid figure. My heart—or whatever serves as my pulse—quickens.

"Is it a human? No... a woman? Wait..." I narrow my eyes, taking in the creature's form. Its skin and face are both beautiful and unsettlingly smooth, with a rough, bark-like texture covering its body. The shape is undeniably feminine, but there's an otherworldly quality to it. "A dryad?" I wonder, as the creature sits there, seemingly lost in thought, its appearance like a strange, alluring blend of nature and human form.

No one would fall for this trap, right? But something about this body... It's the perfect host, I think.

Deciding to take the chance, I activate [Camouflage] and slowly make my way toward the dryad. My movements are careful, deliberate, as I approach from behind. When I'm close enough, I use [Rapid Digging] to burrow into its head, aiming straight for the brain. As soon as I'm in position, I activate [Parasitic Domination].

Instantly, I feel the connection take hold, and just like that, I'm in control. I stand up slowly, testing out this new body. Legs, arms... it feels almost human, and I can't help but revel in the sensation. It's been so long since I had limbs like these.

"Oh, how I've missed this," I murmur, flexing the dryad's fingers and stretching out her arms.

I continue deeper into the forest, marveling at how fluid and natural this body feels. The dryad moves gracefully, each step light and purposeful. As I navigate through the trees, I begin to notice something else—a connection to the environment around me. It's like I can feel the life in the plants and trees, their energy flowing through me.

After some time, I feel a new skill emerge: [Floral Regeneration LV II]. I can regenerate health by absorbing energy from nearby plants and flowers. Higher levels will allow for faster regeneration and can even extend the effect to allies within a certain radius.

"Oh my god," I breathe, excitement bubbling up. "A god-level skill" With this, I can stay inside this body indefinitely, as long as there are plants and flowers nearby.

I glance down at myself and realize, with some embarrassment, that this body is completely naked. "I don't know about you, but I'm not into exhibitionism," I mutter, feeling a bit self-conscious.

Focusing my thoughts, I tap into the dryad's power and begin to craft clothing out of wood and leaves. In no time, I've fashioned a simple, but functional, outfit that blends perfectly with the forest surroundings.

"The dryad's power is too good," I muse, admiring my handiwork. This body feels like a significant upgrade, and I'm starting to think I won't need to switch hosts for a while.

With this new form, I could go back to the swamp, but the thought of crossing that desolate, plant-less terrain isn't appealing. Besides, I'm not even sure I could find my way back.

"Maybe I should just keep searching for another way out, further into the forest," I decide. There's bound to be more to discover here, and with this new body, I'm more equipped than ever to face whatever comes my way.