Mix And Match

The sudden change in the atmosphere after the elite spiked locust was defeated caused all of the smaller spiked locusts to flee. Not that they could escape the attacks from the nearby soldiers and warriors. 

The number of people rushing to assist had only grown as the elite spiked locust had been harmed. Now that it was defeated, the forces were able to much more easily defeat them. Easily repelling this enemy. 

Malik stood for a moment, the ice fading from his talons before his eyes focused on Ellen who was standing with the aid of a healer who had just arrived.

Her eyes were wide open. Stunned by what she had just seen. Especially since Malik had randomly waved his hand to touch the elite locust and it disappeared. The ice had already even flaked off and disappeared. None of it made sense. 

Malik's head snapped up and his eyes focused on her though. "Ellen! Are you alright? You need to get healed!" His words were full of worry. They were trembling just enough that it seemed he was about to lose his will to stand there, let alone had just been in a battle against an elite monster. 

The healer that had rushed over with the protection of a few light warriors awas already healing her though. He knew well that this was not something he could do. But he had grasped light mana and had the affinity, he just had to grasp it more. Then he should be able to learn a healing skill too. He could be able to help Ellen if she ever got hurt. 

"What were you-" 

"Lady Ellen, with the death of the elite locust, the additional forces are rushing to the other elites that were discovered. There were a total of five which is abnormal for one swarm. The smaller locusts are in disarray. We will retreat with those that need healing." Another light warrior reported to Ellen stopping her from what she was about to say to Malik. 

"I will help you carry them back. Ellen is safe now, so we need to help the farmers. I can't call myself a farmer if I don't help my own people." Malik had somehow relaxed a bit. But his mind was racing a little more than it had been before. 

After killing the elite locust, a clarity came through his mind. He could recall more about his life. Waking up before the sun rose. Looking out at the soft breeze of the fields. His father growing older and needing more help so he could retire sooner. 

A little sister that caused trouble here and there. One that always tried to steal his bread off his plate at dinner while his mother snuck an extra piece to him off the table. The seven young neighbor kids that met up in the morning to pick beans or cherry tomatoes for the guard's meals. 

All of this came back to him like he had seen it just yesterday. In his village, when someone got hurt or fell ill, everyone would turn around to help them. Even dropping their own work. That was just the life of a small village. They were all dependent on one another. 

If the blacksmith was ill, then someone had to help him heal up. Feed him good meals so he could get back to the forge. He made their nails, their horseshoes, and tools. The same could be said for their wooden wall guards or the apothecary. Without her, they wouldn't have potions for the babies to gain better nutrients or for the raised monsters that got injured. Let alone a life saving healing potion given at the right time. 

"Malik!" A hand grabbed his shoulder. The light warriors and other warriors nearby had cleaned out the locusts nearby. "Lady Ellen said to escort you with us. We have handled this area." The healer holding him looked worried. She knew very well what the signs of mana deficiency were. 

The lost look in the person's eyes. The slightly pale skin. The sweating around their forehead. It all added up along with the fact that there was no energy in the body. It was a dangerous condition for someone to fall in to when they were in the wild fighting for their life. 

"Mana boost!" The name of the magic skill was said out loud to help boost the feeling behind it. The healer saw the sweating stop on Malik's head and his skin grew a shade brighter. It was no longer looking like the blood had been drained from it entirely. 

The hustle and bustle as a carriage was brought over to carry the injured away was enough to get Malik moving again. While his body was slow, his mind was still racing. Naturally, he felt a little more like himself, minus the fact that he could tell his entire being was different. 

Ellen was resting with the help of another healer. Her side bandaged up and a healing potion being dripped in to her mouth. It was also clear that she had suffered from using her mana too much as well. 

'It is recommended to look upon your updated stats. Many things have changed due to your sudden battles.'

The guide responded and Malik couldn't just ignore it this time. He mentally called the system stats up. 

''Name: Malik

Race: eldritch vessel

Age: 3 days

Class: none

Level: 7, 27%

Attack: 17

Defense: 22

Intelligence: 20

Health: 48

Charm: 16'

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Skills: passive

'Scholar elephant memory, Siren's cord, mental fortress, Spirit veins, Humanoid slime stomach, desert camels second stomach, angelic eyes.

Skills: Active

Wyvern talons, basic dissection, water mana manipulation, ice mana manipulation, experienced dagger arts, basic cooking, tiger step.' 

'Due to the various levels of strength gained, your body has better adapted. Your soul is able to better tether to it.'

The guide was still sharing details about things here and there. But when Malik looked at the increased stats and the various skills, he wondered just how strong he had gotten. Compared to what he remembered, he was never this strong. He also didn't believe that a normal person at level seven would have this sort of skill list. 

There were so many passive skills. Most people would have three to five, but he was getting higher and higher than that. Every skill was also based on monster, other race's, or even unique beings like the spirit race. It couldn't make any sense. 

'Using the angelic eyes all around appraisal will assist you in understanding your own body.'

Now this was something that malik hadn't thought of after had had looked in to this new skill. He had seen the benefits in spotting weaknesses. He could even see colors much better while he sat on the carriage. To be honest, the world was breathtaking. Like the most vibrant painting everywhere he looked. 

'Eldritch vessel

This race is a one of a kind being. After parts of various races, monsters, and otherworldly beings were taken, they were fused together with various magics. 

The manas, divinity, and unique materials are the reason why this being can exist. The mimic's blood is the key to adding the adaptability within the physical aspect of the body. It allows resistances and changes overall. 

The angelic eyes allow better sight, the hidden wyvern talons a viable attack skill, the two stomach…'

Malik couldn't do it. He was too disgusted with himself. It made him lean over the carriage side and vomit. He was a monster. A horrible mix matched monster that wasn't even naturally born. His soul had been forced in to this body just because some ritual had been messed up. 

'Mimics' blood- passive

Allowing adaptability, a mimics' blood is able to resist and allow various forms of mana to flow through them. This leads to a growth potential that can be considered above all other races. While dragons boast the strongest resistance overall to magical and physical attacks, the mimic blood allows equal and powerful resistances to be learned over time based on exposure. 

This also allows various monster body parts to work seamlessly with one another. They all need various different nutrients that the mimic's blood is able to adapt to while feeding those parts. The spirit veins being one aspect that the mimic's blood constantly adapts to since it allows the elemental mana affinities to grow…'

The explanation from the guide about the mimic's blood made him want to be sick again. His blood wasn't even blood. It was taken from a monster known for changing its form and hiding in wait. So that it could kill and eat whatever came too close to it. 

"Hey hey hey, take deep breaths. The cart is just making it worse, I know. But you are very low on mana and this is normal. Just breathe slowly and allow your body to recover." The healer who saw Malik being ill tried her best to soothe him. But if she had known what he was losing himself over, she would have looked at him in horror. Or at least that was the thought going through Malik's mind.