Chapter 17

"[Configuration Complete ...… Generating configured Ai]," the system notified after Ginryu was done.

"Great, now tell me what happened," Ginryu asked, still unable to believe that 557 years had passed.

'I should check my body first,' Ginryu thought as he made his way outside the cave. He began inspecting his body for any changes but didn't get a chance to see much before the system notification came.

"[Greeting, host. I am your supportive Ai named Lucia. I will now answer your query]," Lucia responded.

"[Before the host bloodline awakening, I detected that the host had consumed a substance with Mutagenic properties before the awakening process. This affected the awakening process]," Lucia explained.

"[In addition to that, it was detected that the host consumed another substance with Mutagenic properties during the awakening process which further complicated things,]" the system added.

'Wait, isn't that the blue spider lily and Muzan's blood?' Ginryu surmised.

"[I also detected that there were hostile forces around, and the host was in danger, so I took a gamble to preserve the host's life,]" Lucia said.

"[By consuming a large portion of the available dimensional energy, I forcefully awakened the next stage of transformation temporarily to suppress the ongoing negative symptoms.]"

"Ugh, no wonder I became so strong suddenly. But does that mean the hibernation was a price for such power?" Ginryu asked.

"[Yes, the hibernation was necessary to resolve the complicated awakening process. In return, all dimensional energy was expended in the process,]" Lucia replied.

"Wait, first of all, what is dimensional energy?" Ginryu asked, seeking clarification.

"[Dimensional energy is a special form of energy required to travel through dimensions. It is passively accumulated by the system to enable all dimensional skills and functions,]" Lucia explained.

"Ugh, so much information," Ginryu grumbled.

'I am so old, yet my body is so young. Well, whatever. I'm sure I will figure things out with time,' Ginryu thought, trying to come to terms with his current situation.

"Bring up the status screen and add an explanation to all the skills," Ginryu requested, eager to understand the extent of his newfound abilities.

After watching enough anime and reading enough novels, Ginryu had a rough guess of what was going on.

But it still felt surreal to him. It was strange enough that he was reincarnated with unusual abilities from birth, and now there was dimensional travel, a system, and he found himself in an anime world.

All of this seemed similar to the reincarnation novels he had read in his past life. The biggest question that troubled him now was who or what made all these things possible.

Everything that was happening felt far from just being a coincidence.

Lost in his thoughts, Ginryu didn't realize that the system had already brought up the status panel.

"Hey, system, I mean Lucia. Is my birth mother still alive?" Ginryu randomly asked, not knowing why he asked.

"[Yes,]" Lucia replied, her voice calm and composed.

"Where is she?" Ginryu inquired further, wanting to know more about his birth mother.

"[According to the first system log, Lady Lucia has returned to the Core dimension,]" Lucia informed him.

"Wait, my mother's name is Lucia?" Ginryu remarked, surprised by the coincidence.

"[Yes,]" Lucia confirmed.

"I assume this Core dimension is not in this world?" Ginryu asked, seeking confirmation.

"[Yes,]" Lucia responded.

"How can I get there?" Ginryu pressed, now determined to reunite with his birth mother. There were so many questions that he wanted to asked her in person. Even though he only knew her for a short while.

"[Denied !!!, Level not enough to access such information]" Lucia replied.

"[I suggest that the host inspects the status screen for information]" Lucia suggested.

....................

Status Screen:

True Name: ?????? ????? ???? Lucian.

Current Name: Kuroki Ginryu.

Current Base Race: Mutated Demon Progenitor.

System Access: Level: 1

True Race: ???

Genetic Alignment: Beast

Age: 557

Condition: Healthy.

Health: 990/990

Stamina: 990/990

Neutral Energy: 9900/9900

Dimensional energy: 0/???

Calorie Bar: 3.64 M/???

Strength: III (99)

Constitution: III (99)

Dexterity: III (99)

Agility: III (99)

Neutral Energy: III (99)

Spirit: III (99)

Racial Skills:

Were-Beast Transformation (Stage One: 11%)+: A skill that enables the user to take the form of any ordinary beast stored within genome. Higher stages available when certain conditions are fulfilled. (Do note that the hosts transformations is limited to; Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes)

Form 1: Full Beast Humanoid Combat Transformation.

Form 2: Partial Beast Humanoid Transformation.

Form 3: Full Beast Transformation.

Calorie Storage (Max): Stores excess calories from consumed food into special cells for expenditure.

Bloodline Extraction (Max): By devouring the heart or blood of any beast, extracts their form and abilities.

Bloodline Storage (Max): Store information on various beast forms and abilities within genes.

Bloodline Enhancement (Level: 1)+: ????(Locked).

Enhanced Regeneration (Level: 1)+: By burning a moderate amount of calories or energy, user can heal from any physical wounds. (New)

Abnormal Resistance (Level: 1)+: Enables the user to resist basic grade abnormal conditions.

Selective Bloodline Propagation (Max): This ability enables the user to share some powers of his bloodline. By willingly feeding a creature that is both sentient and sapient users blood. User grants one inheritable beast transformation to target based on compatibility. (New)

(Secondary effect: An absolute instinctual hierarchy is created amongst those who are granted power from the users blood based on the potency of blood used to create them.)Warning, changes the race of the target.

Mutated Biokinesis (Level: 1)+: Grant's the user the ability to manipulate all body functions on a microscopic level. Effects extend to beast transformations. (New)

Aura of the Beast-Lord (Level: 1)+: Exude an intangible aura that intimidates weaker enemies and increases charisma to allies. (Current range 10 meters).

Acquired Skills:

Universal Language (Max): enables the user to understand and use various known languages stored within the system.

Dimensional Travel (Max)+: By expending a certain amount of dimensional energy, user can move to a new world within the system dimensional map.

Dimensional Home (Level: 1)+: A personal living space with various features in a special dimension created by the ??? Clan for members of the clan to live within when traveling between dimensions or are forcefully expelled from a Dimension.

Dimensional Storage (Level: 1)+: Creates a portable dimension around the user to store non-living things.

-10 slots available.

Clan Points Available – 0

Clan Quests: None Available.

.........….

"Tsk, I had a feeling it wouldn't be easy," Ginryu muttered in frustration.

Upon inspecting his status screen, he was amazed by his newfound abilities.

'So am I a demon or something?' Ginryu wondered, as he tried to understand everything on the status screen, though some details eluded him.

"So, what level will I have access to the information, and how do I increase my System Access level?" Ginryu asked Lucia for answers.

"[The host will have access to the information at System Access level 5,]" Lucia replied. "[The Access level will automatically increase as the host grows stronger.]"

"Ah, so it increases as I become more powerful," Ginryu mused, finding the explanation somewhat vague. However, he wasn't in a rush to uncover all the details just yet.

"I guess that's enough for now. One more question - what's with the 'race' thing?" Ginryu had noticed that the status screen indicated he was a Mutated Demon Progenitor.

"[The host's base race is determined by the appearance of the host's mother during gestation,]" Lucia clarified.

"[The system selected the strongest base form available at the host's current level, allowing the host to blend in with the population. This aligns with the survival protocols of your clan.]"

Ginryu nodded, appreciating Lucia's attempt to explain it.

"Okay, let's break it down further. So, my mother was in human form when she gave birth to me, which means my starting form was human, right?"

"[Yes,]" Lucia confirmed.

"Then, during the process of enhancing me, you decided that the demon form was a stronger choice that still allowed me to blend in with the population. Is that correct?" Ginryu sought clarification.

"[Yes, the demon form was acquired after the host consumed enough samples. The host can also change the base race at will once a certain level is reached," Lucia said, providing additional information.

Ginryu briefly contemplated his altered race, considering the tumultuous events that had led to his transformation.

However, he had two specific concerns he wanted to address. "Lucia, am I going to constantly crave human flesh like the demons I fought? And, am I impotent?" These questions weighed heavily on his mind. He had already determined that he had no weaknesses to sunlight.

"[The host's diet can consist of any edible substance with high caloric content,]" Lucia answered.

"[So, the host is omnivorous, per se. As for potency, the host race is not impotent and can reproduce with almost every race. Offspring from female members of other races are always from the mother's lineage, while within the same race, it will be from the host's lineage,]" Lucia informed him.

Ginryu took a moment to process this information.

He realized that these aspects of his transformation were not as dire as he initially feared, and he dismissed any lingering concerns.

"Well, at least I won't be starving for flesh and have the ability to reproduce with different races," he muttered, finding some solace in the assurances.

'I believe it would be best for me to stay in the mountains for a while to become accustomed to my newfound abilities,' Ginryu decided.

Ginryu believed that it would provide him with the opportunity to explore and learn more about himself.

With most of his immediate questions answered, Ginryu stood in place, feeling the refreshing breeze of the spring against his skin.

Lost in his thoughts, he stared at the sky, reminiscing about the past. As he did, he couldn't help but acknowledge that everyone he once knew was likely no longer alive.

He knew he had to move forward and start anew, but oddly enough, he felt a sense of calm and a renewed sense of self. It was as if he had been reborn during the time he slept till his awakening.