5 Dark Crow

"Nrnnn..."

Riku's consciousness returned to its original state as he slowly opened his eyes. He found himself surrounded by green grass and tall trees. The wind blew strongly, carrying with it the gentle sound of rustling leaves dancing in the air.

"W-What the hell? Where exactly is this place?"

He placed his hands on the ground and slowly pushed himself into a standing position, his expression turning pale. As he looked around, memories of what had happened to him flashed in his mind.

"No way-"

Riku recalled the concerned expression of his fiancée as she looked at him.

This was precisely why his father had been against his transformation into a mutant. Becoming a mutant was akin to embracing death.

"Another world or dungeon?"

He wasn't particularly shocked after uttering those words. After all, no one had managed to uncover the origin of the dungeon and the monsters. What kind of world did they exist in? Could it be another realm? Or perhaps within this very place, he might find his mother?

Fuck! Frustration welled up within him. What was he supposed to tell his fiancée? His father? Or even Haru? If he couldn't find a way back, they would all consider him as good as dead.

At this juncture, the only commitment he could make to himself was the determination to find a way back home, no matter what challenges lay ahead in this unfamiliar world. As Riku surveyed his surroundings, he noticed the mana plate lying next to him. It seemed that when the pillars had pulled him in, they had also transported the mana plate with him.

Realization dawned on him: he was in an unfamiliar place, essentially a new world. This indicated a strong likelihood that formidable monsters might approach him sooner or later. With caution in mind, Riku decided it would be wise to assess his abilities before venturing beyond the forest.

"True, my ability! I managed to become a level 1 mutant, even though my physical strength hasn't increased, just like Haru said. Nevertheless, I believe it could still be of help."

Before he examined his ability, he observed that the mana plate had diminished in size, now small enough to be held in his hands.

Seeing that the mana plate was undamaged, he hoped it could still function as before, allowing him to use it as they had intended.

"How can I activate this?" Riku pondered for a moment before recalling something Haru had told him a month ago.

'Master Riku, if you manage to become a level 1 mutant and wish to discover any new powers or skills, as well as prepare for the second evolution, simply allow your mana to course through your body and channel it inward.'

'Haru, I'm not familiar with the sensation of mana. How can I possibly achieve that?' Riku inquired, blinking in confusion.

'Concentration. This method involves directing your mana to flow within your body. I believe in you, Master Riku; you've consistently exceeded my expectations.' Haru's reassuring words echoed in Riku's mind as he recalled the scene, which gradually faded away.

___

A smile tugged at Riku's lips as he appreciated the presence of Haru in his life over the years. Haru had taught him how to fight, how to think, and how to be a better person.

"Haru, I'm aware you'll go to great lengths to locate me. However, I've absorbed all the lessons you've imparted. Rest assured, I'll manage."

Taking a deep breath, Riku savored the crisp forest air, using this moment to momentarily set aside the notion that he was in a different world.

"Hmm... Now, I should test this mana plate to assess my abilities. There's no room for error here; if I fail, there's a significant chance this plate might be destroyed."

He made his way toward a tall tree and settled beneath it. Leaning against the trunk, he closed his eyes. Riku focused on clearing his mind, purposefully removing any distractions that could hinder his concentration.

"Mana, please flow within me..."

The sound of rustling leaves, the caressing warmth of the sun, and the gentle breeze against his face aided Riku in his concentration.

After a few moments, a faint blue-white light enveloped his body. Even though he couldn't see it, Riku sensed the flow of mana, accompanied by a subtle warmth.

It appeared that Riku had successfully triggered the flow of mana within his body. The next step was to direct it to the mana plate. However, his mana current was thin, akin to a fragile thread. He knew that if he severed this connection, complications would arise. He realized he must locate another mana plate before he could once again gauge his abilities.

Why hadn't he inadvertently broken the mana plate during his awakening? The answer was straightforward: his mana hadn't been active at that time. If an ordinary person had stepped on it, nothing would have occurred.

"Now, onto the next step: mana transmission. I'll need to focus on the specific part of my body where I want to channel my mana."

At this juncture, Riku concentrated on visualizing his hands. In this unfamiliar place, he pondered on where the mana plate might be located.

Ding!

Suddenly, an unfamiliar sound reached Riku's ears, causing him to lose his concentration and disrupt the flow of mana within his body.

Initially alarmed, he felt a wave of relief wash over him as he examined the details on the mana plate. Realizing he had indeed triggered the mana plate, he knew he could now assess his abilities.

"Yes! I did it, Haru! I'm grateful for heeding all your advice." Riku's smile dimmed slightly as he read the message on the mana plate.

[Do you want to view your abilities? Yes/No]

"Absolutely!" Fueled by his eagerness to uncover his newfound abilities, Riku promptly tapped the "yes" option without further hesitation.

Boom!

With his arms crossed, Riku watched as the mana plate exploded directly before him. Surprisingly, he remained unharmed; the explosion seemed to disintegrate into shimmering white particles.

In place of the mana plate, a blue screen materialized before him.

[You've been granted!]

[Skill(s) acquired!]

<Manifest > you have the ability to copy the monster's genes.

[Your based gene <Dark crow> 1st evolution]

"No way! Seriously? These are my mother's genes."