A Hope? Nope, an aeroplane?

"Phew~"

It's been a busy few days, and I can feel the fatigue settling in, even with all the leveling up I've been doing. Maybe it's time to take a breather and assess where I'm at.

"Let's look at my stats."

Name: Parasite Worm

Level: 37, Rank: J

HP: 78/78

MP: 124/124

STA: 67/67

STR: 24

AGI: 26

INT: 49

EDU: 39

DEF: 19.5

M.DEF: 19.5

LCK: 55

Skills:

[Rapid Digging LV II] [Regeneration LV II] [Camouflage LV I] [Parasitic Domination LV III] [Detect LV III] [Greater Agility LV I] [Night Vision LV II] [Throw LV II][Abyssal Mimicry LV I] [Endurance LV III] [Quick Flight LV I] [Alert Call LV II] [Venomous Bite LV I]

Title:

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Looking over these numbers, I can't help but feel... underwhelmed.

"You know, compared to the creatures around here, I'm still pretty below average."

Sure, I've made progress, but it's clear there's still a long way to go. On the bright side, my [Parasitic Domination] skill has leveled up to III, and with that comes some nifty upgrades.

[Parasitic Domination LV III]

Not only drains the host's HP and stamina and grants control over the host's body and mind, allowing the user to temporarily dominate the host's actions. Plus, you can also transfer your own HP and STA to the host.

"This means more playtime—I mean, experimentation—with my hosts," I say, trying to sound convincing.

Right now, I'm in a goblin, taking it for a spin. These guys may not be the brightest bulbs in the box, but their bodies are surprisingly versatile for exploration purposes.

I spot another goblin nearby and decide to test the waters. Feeling playful, I walk up to him and throw an arm around his neck, pulling him close like we're old pals.

"Hey, buddy! Guess what? We've got more time together now!" I say with a grin, trying to sound casual.

The other goblin looks at me, clearly confused. His brow furrows, and before I can say anything else, he starts getting mad.

"I thought we were friends—why you mad, bro?" I ask, but I know I've pushed it too far.

Before he can react, I give him a quick bonk on the head, just enough to knock him out and swap bodies before my current host gives out. As he stumbles back, I feel the transfer kick in, and just like that, I'm in a fresher goblin body.

"Much better," I think, already planning my next move.

With the ability to funnel some of my own HP and stamina into my hosts, I can now maintain control for much longer—three times longer, in fact. Levelling up really does make a difference.

Right now, my mission is to find a substantial water source—a lake, preferably. Trudging through the dense forest in this goblin body is a bit of a chore, though.

"I think this body has worse posture than I did back on Earth," I grumble, adjusting my hunched back.

Back then, I spent most of my time sitting in a chair, glued to screens. I tried fixing my posture once by following YouTube and TikTok tutorials, but years of slouching are hard to undo with a few stretches.

"Maybe I should've taken those exercises more seriously," I muse, sidestepping a protruding root.

I've been walking for what feels like ages.

"How vast is this forest exactly? I think I've covered at least 5 kilometers and still can't see the cave walls."

Just as I'm contemplating giving up and turning back—if I could even remember the way back—I hear it. The unmistakable sound of rushing water.

"Wait, is that... a river?"

I pick up the pace, pushing through the thick underbrush until I break through to a clearing. There, shimmering under the filtered light, is a wide, flowing river. The water is clear, with small fish darting beneath the surface. But what really catches my eye is the large creature by the riverbank.

"A lizard?" I whisper, squinting for a better look.

But this isn't just any lizard. It's massive, easily the size of a small car, with smooth skin and a huge tail. It's hunched over the water, slurping up fish like it's noodles in a soup.

A grin spreads across my face.

"Hello, potential new host!" I say, excitement bubbling up inside me.

Controlling a creature like this could be a game-changer. Not only would I be able to navigate water with ease, but the high HP and sturdy build would open up a whole new range of possibilities.

Without wasting another second, I disengage from the goblin body, my true worm form slithering swiftly across the ground toward the lizard. As I get closer, I prepare to launch myself using [Quick Flight], hoping to latch onto it before it notices me.

"Here goes nothing!"

I propel myself into the air, aiming straight for the lizard's back. But just as I'm about to make contact, the lizard's head snaps up, its eyes narrowing as it senses something amiss. In a flash, its massive tail swings around with alarming speed.

"Uh-oh—"

Before I can react, the tail slams into me with the force of a freight train, sending me hurtling through the air. I crash into the ground several meters away, pain shooting through my tiny body.

"Ugh... that hurt," I groan internally, struggling to regain my senses.

From the corner of my eye, I see the lizard looking around, clearly confused. It sniffs the air, trying to locate the source of the disturbance, but seems to lose interest quickly, returning to its meal by the river.

Meanwhile, I'm lying there, body aching and vision swimming.

"Note to self: be more careful when approaching giant lizards."

The world around me starts to blur, darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision.

"Great... just great," I think as consciousness slips away.