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Name: Cute Puffy
Description: A deceptively cute creature. Its adorable appearance lures victims in, and when successful, it balloons and explodes that can cause a bloody mess. It then feeds on the chunk of flesh of its victims, leaving behind a gruesome trail of destruction.
Danger Level: Green Threat Level
Ability: Explosion
Monster Affinity: Conjuration type
Unique Trait: Explosion resistance +50%
Number of monsters slain: 1
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Its ability and Unique Trait actually complemented each other!
''Tch, I won't fall on the same trick twice.'' Jax clicked his tongue as he uttered, ''I will never touch those cute pufferfish ever again!''
But the problem was...
The Cute Puffies were swarming everywhere on the land. Other monsters steered clear of them as well, as if they were already aware of the repercussions of tangling with the adorable creatures.
Jax could have coexisted peacefully with the Cute Puffies, as they would have simply ignored him if their paths crossed. But unfortunately for him, his fate took a turn for the worse when he eliminated one of the Cute Puffies — the same one that had exploded upon contact, injuring him in the process.
At that time, Jax had retaliated by unleashing his soul-stealing ability. Knowing the Cute Puffy would be momentarily stunned and weakened after exploding, Jax seized the opportunity to snatch its soul, ultimately emerging victorious.
Normally, Cute Puffies were timid and harmless creatures. However, after Jax killed one of their own, they suddenly turned aggressive towards him. Even spotting him from a distance was enough to provoke them, sending them chasing after him in pursuit.
Jax never anticipated that the Cute Puffies were vengeful creatures that harbored grudges. At first, he had assumed that their aggressive behavior was tied to the Danger Level of the monsters.
And indeed, he was correct. Upon consulting the Scroll, which displayed information on monster danger levels, he gained insight into what the Green Threat Level entailed.
Just how could he hunt properly with this anyway?
It had to be known that a single explosion had already left him severely injured. If not for the Cave of Resting, a sanctuary with restorative properties, his injuries would have been catastrophic that could potentially kill him.
Thankfully, there was a Cave of Resting nearby when he suffered from the explosion. And he also learned about its existence and purpose through the Scroll beforehand. That saved him from certain death.
Still, if the Cute Puffies were to swarm him all at once and explode, Jax would be guaranteed a fatal outcome.
''Thankfully, my ability to separate my soul from my body comes in handy in a situation like this. I can freely spy the area and see the places that have lesser dangers.'' Jax smiled as he settled into a cross-legged position.
Then, with something else in mind, he said, ''Scroll. Character Status.''
The Scroll floating in front of him rolled close and open again, showing the kind of information he requested.
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[Character Status]
Name: Jax Jabat
Conquered Ability: Vengeful Soul
Rarity: Forbidden
Grade: Forbidden
Rank: Forbidden
Affinity: Forbidden
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[Vengeful Soul]
Description: Use the power of soul and unleash the power of retribution. You can manipulate your own soul and bend the souls of others to your will. Unlock devastating potential, doubling the effectiveness of every skill you unlocked against those who have earned your vengeance.
• Phase 1 (Novice): Soul Form
Description: Separate your soul from your physical body and enter a realm beyond mortal constraints. In Soul Form, you become intangible, invisible to the naked eye, and free to move about with unparalleled ease. You can traverse space unhindered.
• Phase 2 (Novice): Soul Steal
Description: Establish physical contact to extract the soul from the living and draw it out of their mortal coil. The weight of the soul is directly tied to the target's strength. The more powerful the individual, the heavier their soul, while the weaker ones possess lighter, more fragile essences.
• Phase 3: ??? (Unlock requirements: Slay 1 Elite monster, Absorb 10 souls.)
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Jax focused on the ability he conquered, Vengeful Soul, and examined the condition needed to unlock the phase 3 of its ability.
"I've taken down two monsters so far," Jax muttered, his tone serious. "However, I didn't absorb their souls; instead, I bound them to my Quest..."
Jax couldn't help but shake his head in slow deliberation as he released a resigned sigh. His rational mind dictated that unlocking the third phase of his ability should be his top priority.
"Right, unlocking my third skill should take the priority," Jax declared, his eyes flashed with a determined glint. With a resolute nod, he made up his mind. "Who knows, maybe it will be helpful for me to progress faster?"
But faced with the daunting reality of his progress, Jax closed his eyes and concentrated. His ability's first phase had been accessible from the start, whereas the second phase was only unlocked after he achieved his first kill.
That said, he had two skills at his disposal. Still, Jax knew he had to push himself even harder to grow stronger and unlock additional skills.
And he needed to be careful.
After all, monsters here were dangerous and couldn't be taken lightly. One wrong step and his life could be in danger.
To stay alive, Jax had to exert immense effort, meticulously planning every move and resorting to deliberate, calculated actions. He had to consider every detail, every potential threat, lest he become the next gruesome meal for the monstrous fish lurking in the depths of the forest.
With a clear resolve, Jax made his move. His soul departed from his physical form and drifted out of the cave called Cave of Concealment. He began to scour the surrounding area, searching for a suitable hunting ground to test his mettle once more.
"Just you wait, Scroll! I'll complete your mission, and I'll escape this cursed land, no matter what." As Jax drifted off through Soul Form, he couldn't help but utter a cold, menacing whisper. A promise was forged in the fire of his unyielding determination.
The thought of being trapped on that island filled him with burning frustration, blinding him to see all the blessings he encountered thus far.