[Absorb Biomass for Chimera Reconstruction?]
[Error.]
[Target Grade too low.]
[Chimera Lord (Tier 0) requires Tier 2 Essence or higher to evolve.]
"Figures," Sunny scoffed. "I'm too strong for this garbage now. My body won't even accept it."
"Fine. If I can't eat you, I'll sell you."
He tapped his inventory ring.
"Store all."
[Processing...]
[Item Stored: Needle-Rat Corpse (Common) x52]
[Item Stored: Needle-Rat Core (Common) x52]
A whole Needle-Rat corpse sold for about 10 Credits as materials. The Core was another 5.
15 Credits x 52 Rats = 780 Credits.
"I'm going to take a shower in money tonight."
He walked over to the massive, headless corpse of the Boss. Even dead, it looked intimidating. The metallic spikes on its back gleamed under the moonlight.
"Come here, Beetle."
The Obsidian Spike-Stag buzzed down. It was covered in scratches, but its spirit was high.
"You want his armor? You want his range?" Sunny asked.
The beetle clicked its mandibles excitedly. Click-click!
"System, Fusion Level 2."
[Target 1: Obsidian Spike-Stag (Live - Level 6)]
[Target 2: Mutated Needle-King Corpse (Dead - Tier 2)]
[Compatibility: 92%]
[Cost: 50 Mana (Warning: Host Mana Low)]
"Take it," Sunny gritted his teeth. "Drain me dry."
He felt the mana rip out of his core. His headache returned with a vengeance, throbbing behind his eyes like a drum.
[Fusion Initiated...]
A dark, purple light enveloped the beetle and the massive carcass.
The King's massive body began to wither, turning into dust as its essence was sucked out. The metallic spikes on its back detached, floating in the air, melting into liquid silver streams.
The streams flowed into the floating beetle.
The beetle shrieked as its body was forcefully mutated. Its size didn't increase much but its shape changed.
The smooth obsidian shell became jagged. Rows of miniature metallic spikes grew along its back. Its horn grew longer, turning from black to a gunmetal grey.
[Ding!]
[Fusion Successful!]
[Critical Success! Trait Inheritance: 100%]
[Evolution Complete.]
[Monster Info]
Name: Iron-Barrage Stag
Grade: Rare -> Unique (Tier 2)
New Skills:
[Needle Storm]: Can fire a volley of hardened spikes from its carapace. (Ammo regenerates over time).
[Piercing Horn]: Horn attacks ignore 30% of target Defense.
[Iron Flight]: Flight speed increased. Can withstand high-G maneuvers.
"Unique Rank?" Sunny gasped.
Common -> Uncommon -> Rare -> Unique.
He had skipped a grade? The new Iron-Barrage Stag hovered in front of him. It looked like a drone designed by a serial killer.
"Test it," Sunny whispered, pointing at a standing wooden fence post about thirty meters away. "Shoot."
The beetle didn't move its body. It just angled its shell.
Three silver spikes shot out instantly.
The fence post exploded. The spikes went clean through and buried themselves deep into the dirt behind it.
"Holy shit," Sunny laughed, a sound of pure dopamine delight. "I have a machine gun!"
"Gah!" Nova waddled over, looking jealous. He poked Sunny's leg.
"Don't worry, Lava Boy," Sunny patted the Sprite's hot head. "I'll find you a volcano to eat later."
He recalled both monsters.
Sunny found a small lake a mile away from the village. The water was dark and cold, reflecting the stars.
He stripped off his blood-soaked Shadow-Step Vest and his pants, diving in naked.
The cold water hit his skin, sizzling slightly against his high body temperature.
He scrubbed furiously. Dried rat blood, mud, sweat, and ash clouded the water around him.
"Tier 2 pet," Sunny floated on his back, looking up at the fading stars. "Chimera Body Tier 0. Nearly 1000 Credits in loot."
He clenched his wet fist, watching the water drip from his metallic-looking skin.
He washed his gear as best he could, wringing out the vest. It was leather, so it would dry. He dressed quickly, shivering slightly as the morning wind picked up.
"Time to go back. Before I miss roll call."
Starfall Academy - Eastern Gate - 05:45 AM.
The Academy was waking up.
Sunny walked through the gates, his hood up.
The guards were changing shifts. They glanced at him a lone student walking in from the wilderness at dawn, looking damp and smelling faintly of iron.
"Rough night?" one guard asked, yawning.
"Morning jog," Sunny replied flatly, not stopping.
He walked through the campus. Students were starting to trickle out of the dorms, looking sleepy and soft.
They were complaining about homework. Complaining about the cafeteria food. Complaining about the early hours. Sunny walked past them. He felt like a wolf walking through a flock of sheep.
He reached the B-Class dorms. He climbed the drainpipe.. why bother with stairs when you have Agility 9? and slipped into his broken window.
Gorn was sitting on his bed, trying to scrub soot off the floor with a toothbrush.
"You're back!" Gorn jumped up. "Holy crap, Sunny. You look... intense."
Sunny threw his cloak on his bed. "I went for a walk."
"A walk?" Gorn eyed the dried blood on Sunny's boots. "Did you walk through a blender?"
Sunny tossed a small bag onto Gorn's lap.
Gorn opened it. Inside were two Needle-Rat Cores.
"Souvenirs," Sunny said, grabbing a fresh uniform. "Eat them, sell them, I don't care."
Gorn's eyes widened. "Dude... these are active cores. Did you rob a caravan?"
"Something like that."
[Ding!]
[Daily Schedule Update: First Class - Monster Theory 101.]
"Vex," Sunny smirked, straightening his collar. "She loves me."
"We gotta go, Sunny!" Gorn panicked, looking at the clock.
"Let's go then."