The clearing fell silent, except for the faint, rhythmic pulsing that emanated from the cluster of egg-like sacs nestled at the base of the towering tree.
Daniel stood amidst the rapidly cooling corpses of the three Shadowscale Raptors, the raw power of his [Kinetic Hammer] still thrumming faintly in his fist.
The efficiency of the kill, the sheer destructive force he now commanded, sent a wave of satisfaction through him.
This was progress. This was survival turning into dominance, at least against these lower-tier threats.
But efficiency demanded follow-through. The EXP was banked, pushing him past the halfway mark to Level 2, but the true value lay in the assimilation.
He knelt beside the first Raptor corpse, the one he had obliterated with the initial [Kinetic Hammer] strike.
Focusing his intent, he activated [Nexus Assimilation].
A wave of dark, reptilian energy, infused with predatory instinct and surprising agility, flowed into him.
It felt sleek, fast, fundamentally different from the brute force of the Constrictors or the primal fury of the Hound.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Shadowscale Raptor (Level 2).]
[Gain: Strength +5]
[Gain: Vitality +4]
[Gain: Agility +7]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (6/10 Remaining).]
Excellent gains, particularly in Agility, reflecting the creature's nature. He moved quickly to the other two corpses, repeating the process. The flow of energy was consistent from each.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Shadowscale Raptor (Level 2).]
[Gain: Strength +5]
[Gain: Vitality +4]
[Gain: Agility +7]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (5/10 Remaining).]
[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Shadowscale Raptor (Level 2).]
[Gain: Strength +5]
[Gain: Vitality +4]
[Gain: Agility +7]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (4/10 Remaining).]
The total haul from the three Level 2 Raptors was impressive: Strength +15, Vitality +12, Agility +21.
His attributes surged once more. Strength hit 46.1, Vitality reached 40, and Agility soared to 50.3.
He felt significantly faster, lighter on his feet, his muscles coiled with even greater power.
The sheer speed of his attribute growth was likely unprecedented among the recruits.
He waited expectantly for any skill notifications. The Raptors possessed [Stealth Ambush] and [Rending Claws].
Would he acquire a skill related to stealth or melee enhancement? A moment passed, then his Nexus Interface chimed softly.
[Detected compatible skill resonance: Innate Ambusher Instinct (Raptor Essence), Ghoststeps (D-Grade - Noise Reduction Aspect).]
[Attempting Skill Fusion?]
Another fusion! This time, triggered by the raw essence of the Raptors interacting with an aspect of one of his existing skills. He didn't hesitate. "Yes."
[...]
[Fusion Successful! Skill Enhanced: Ghoststeps upgraded to Ghoststeps+ (D+-Grade)!]
[New Effect: Triples Agility for 10 seconds. Reduces movement noise significantly. Adds minor camouflage effect in natural environments (passive improvement to stealth).]
His core movement skill had been enhanced! It remained D-grade (technically D+ now, suggesting an improvement within the grade), but the addition of a passive camouflage effect, blending slightly with natural surroundings, was a huge boon for his preferred stealthy approach.
It synergized perfectly with his high Agility and cautious nature. While he hadn't gained a distinct new active skill like [Rending Claws], this passive enhancement to [Ghoststeps] felt arguably more valuable for his overall strategy.
His attention shifted to the nest itself. A dozen or so pulsating sacs, leathery and translucent, hung there, each roughly the size of a large melon.
Faint shadows moved within, suggesting developing embryos. They nestled amongst thick, mossy roots at the base of the colossal tree, emitting a low, resonant hum and a faint, organic warmth detectable even through his boots.
Were the eggs valuable? Could they be assimilated? Or perhaps they held nascent creatures he could... influence?
The thought was intriguing but felt premature. He approached cautiously, using [Aura Sense].
The eggs registered as living entities, but their signatures were faint, undeveloped. He reached out, touching the leathery surface of one. It felt warm, slightly yielding.
He focused his intent.
[Target: Shadowscale Raptor Embryo (Viable)]
[Warning: Assimilating viable embryo will yield minimal gains and terminate development.
Potential alternative interactions may exist with further Talent development or specific skills.]
[Proceed with Assimilation? Y/N]
Minimal gains and it killed the embryo. Not efficient. The warning about "alternative interactions" stirred his interest, could he potentially hatch and tame them later, perhaps using a skill gained from a Beastmaster-type Awakened?A future possibility, but not relevant now. He cancelled the assimilation prompt.
His gaze swept the base of the tree, searching for anything else the Raptors might have been guarding besides their clutch.
Tucked away behind the largest cluster of eggs, almost hidden by the thick roots, was a patch of shimmering, silver-leafed moss.
It grew directly on the tree bark, pulsing with a soft internal light distinct from the tree's own bioluminescence. It felt… different.
He reached down, carefully peeling back a small section. The underside was cool, almost metallic to the touch, and it emanated a faint, clarifying energy that seemed to sharpen his focus slightly when held close.
He scanned it with his interface.
[Item Identified: Argent Moss (E-Grade)]
Effect: Minor Spirit recovery stimulant. When chewed or brewed, temporarily increases mana regeneration rate by 10% for 30 minutes. Mildly enhances mental clarity.
Another resource! E-grade, but mana regeneration was incredibly valuable, especially with potent but costly skills like [Kinetic Hammer].
Having a way to recover mana faster in the field could be the difference between victory and retreat.
He carefully harvested the entire patch, securing the fist-sized clump of shimmering moss in his belt pouch alongside the Detoxifying Herb.
Should he assimilate it for attributes? He considered it. His Spirit was his lowest combat-relevant stat (15.2).
Assimilating the E-grade moss might provide a decent boost. But the mana regeneration effect felt more strategically valuable right now than a few points in Spirit.
Consumables offered choices: immediate attribute boost via assimilation, or retain their utility effect for later use. He decided to keep the Argent Moss for its intended purpose.
He took a final look around the clearing. Three dead Raptors, a nest of viable eggs left undisturbed, and a patch of useful E-grade moss harvested.
His EXP was climbing steadily (156/300), his attributes were monstrous for a Level 1 recruit, and his skillset had been refined with the powerful [Kinetic Hammer] and enhanced [Ghoststeps+].
His E-grade gear felt increasingly inadequate compared to his personal power, but upgrading required Assimilation charges, and creature/human assimilation offered faster raw power growth currently. Prioritization was key.
With a sense of accomplishment and growing power, Daniel turned away from the Raptor nest. He felt less like a scavenger now, more like a predator carefully carving out his own path to power.
The initial fear and uncertainty of entering the Verge were fading, replaced by a cold focus and the thrill of accelerating growth.
He reactivated [Aura Sense], expanding its reach, searching for the next challenge, the next stepping stone on his path to Level 2 and beyond.
The Verge was lethal, yes, but for someone with [Soul Assimilation], it was also a boundless hunting ground teeming with potential.