You have healed for 100% of your current Husk’s HP with Soul Siphon

You have completed the requirements of your husk.

You may now gain experience.

Racial trait Curiosity added.

You have gained 1st Life Force Source.

You have gained 1st Mana Source.

Curiosity (Racial Skill)

Slot: Racial Skill

Increase experience gain by 30%. This applies to character level, skill growth, and professions.

1st Life Force Source

Slot: Life Force Source

You may use up to 1st Life Force Skills.

1st Mana Source

Slot: Mana Source

You may use up to 1st Mana Skills.

HP

130/130 (+13/Hour)

STM

102/140 (+1.4/Second)

Overall STM

262/700 (+336/Day)

Life Force

97/120 (1.1/Minute)

Mana

61/120 (1.1/Minute)

His hunger for Souls was finally quenched. Nilbog never felt so much pleasure before, he didn’t even know such pleasure could exist, but it all felt dirty just the same. Spitting and cleaning with the cuff of his shirt only made it worse.

He hated it. Nilbog dispised how good it felt. If only he had vomited, or if the Souls had tasted like he was eating a burning log of wood, then the guilt would have lessened.

But it didn’t. He was a Shapeshifter, and Shapeshifters devoured people’s Souls with relish. Nilbog was no different in that.

Your Siren has begun casting Duel-Duet

Show me the weapon stats, Kara said as she entered his body. It was a weird sensation, as if he suddenly had a different heart. Inaudible echoes rang in his mind, though the more he tried the more elusive they became.

It would take some time to get used to.

Common Rusted Longsword

Weapon Type: Sword

Weapon Star level: ★

Slash: ★

Thrust: ★

Durability: ★

An old sword handed from one inexperienced soldier to another.

Not that one, she said sharply. The one next to it.

Nilbog nodded. She probably had some skill that gave her more information. He walked over and nudged it from the dead man’s hands.

Common Rusted Longsword

Weapon Type: Sword

Weapon Star level: ★

Slash: ★

Thrust: ★

Blunt: N/A

Durability: ★★

An old sword handed from one inexperienced soldier to the other.

He stopped and stared at the dirt blade for a few seconds, blood and dust stuck frozen to it. It was identical. “Uh…?”

Not all equally stared weapons are equal. Their range might be different, and are closer to breaking to the next star than others.

“So is the difference—”

It’s negligible, but an advantage nevertheless, she said, her voice becoming stronger. Caldain’s group is losing, as always. That fool’s luck is something not even I would be jealous of.

“Didn’t take you for the caring type,” Nilbog said. In fact, she seemed the opposite of the caring type. Oh well, she likely had reasons. “Are you going for that Rogue? One versus three should make it quick.”

That would take too much time. He would just run away. We need to help the frontline now. They’re outnumbered and exhausted, and our time together is limited.

“Strike them from behind, then? Wait, we?” Wasn’t the entire point of this was that she wanted control?

I’ll intervene if something goes wrong. Like this, Kara said, and suddenly his body began to run forward without his consent. Have it back, she quickly said, releasing her grasps.

Nilbog stumbled forward, cursing quietly. “Give me a warning!”

I have limited control, so don’t be lax. I’ll be able to cast various 1st Life and Mana skills, you’ll feel it coursing through your body.

“How? What skills, wait!” Nilbog said, but it was too late. Kara had already pushed him towards the enemy. A Wolf stepped to meet him.

“Greetings, young Wolf,” he said, bowing slightly. He was old, tall, and fit. There was intelligence in his eyes.

Sentient Killer Activated

I'm a Wolf? Since when?

First lesson. Always Scout the enemy before a fight. Kara whispered. A strange, warm sensation grew in the back of his head. Accent, age, clothes. It’s all information. Ever fought experienced fighters before?

Enough to run away, Nilbog thought back. The man did not seem intent on charging forward. He was likely recovering his STM, and would be on the defensive.

He’s a warrior, not some farmer. He seems in his thirties, he has more fighting experience than usual, though if he’s this old and only a Wolf, then it’s likely he doesn’t have anything out of the ordinary. Expect Sixth Sense and all basic combat skills to be filled. He might be on the upper tiers of Wolf. Also, I will be using 1st Life Clay.

Nilbog inched forward. A warm, slick liquid began to gather around his left entire arm, concentrated within his palms. What she was doing was beyond any of his understanding. Things were escalating far quicker than Nilbog’s used to. He stepped forward and swung overhead.

The enemy knocked it aside and stepped forward, also testing Nilbog with a light attack.

Nilbog motioned his legs to step back and to knock the blade aside. It was the most basic thing to do. Scout the enemy, get a taste for combat, and then decide what to do. Even Nilbog knew that much.

Apparently, though, this was not the way Kara did things.

Nilbog’s legs lunged forward, and all he could do in his panic was meet the strike with his sword. Nilbog attempted a parry and then a counter, but the Warrior released a battle cry and pushed forward. He yelled a 3nd rank Life Force Pulse. Immediately a wave of Life Force erupted from his body, nearly knocking Nilbog off his feet. Nilbog began to lose strength in his shoulders, but worst was that his sword began to break.

His left hand, now covered in a concentrated amount of Life Force, suddenly caught the blade, moments before his sword broke. His other hand dropped his weapon and swung towards the sword's hilt of the enemy.

The additional Life Force that Kara sent to protect his hand did not last more than a second before the sword began to grind against his own flesh, but it had done its purpose. Nilbog’s hand would crush the Warrior’s fingers before the sword cut him.

The warrior yanked his hand back, letting Nilbog’s fist smash into the hilt. As his fist struck, Nilbog pushed towards the opposite direction with his other hand, causing the sword to spin in circles.

Deviation, Kara whispered.

The blade suddenly went from twisting in the air to jetting forward. The warrior stumbled back, and either through sheer luck or unimaginable skill, swung his fist. It struck the blade at an angle, redirecting the blade away from the center of his chest to only pierce his shoulders.

Penetration!

You have dealt 47 Pierce damage to Warrior’s Shield!

You have dealt 16 Pierce damage to Warrior’s HP!

You have dealt Minor Bleed damage!

He brought up his other hand in defense, the pain twisting his face. The one he defended with fell broken to his side. Ripples spread his Life Force Shield but it still held.

Nilbog had control over his body, once again. He was about to bend down to pick up his sword, but was surprised to see it already back in his hands, pointed directly at the Warrior—he lost track of how it had gotten there.

This time, with his own control, Nilbog stepped forward and swung, not letting the enemy pull their sword from their shoulder.

The enemy swung his fist at the same time, casting a 3rd Rank Life Clay, the same skill that Kara had used. His fist was covered with enough Life Force that Nilbog’s rusty blade was unlikely to slash through if they connected.

That was how large the difference was between Nilbog and others. His opponent was able to reliably hit the side of a sword mid-swing.

Going faster wouldn’t help. Instead, Nilbog strained his shoulders, slowing his attack for an instance, changing the timing of his strike.

The Warrior’s hand met with nothing but open air. His eyes widened, his calm demeanor crumbling into panic as Nilbog’s sword came down. It struck his head and bounced off, dealing 34 Shield Damage and leaving a small cut behind.

He grabbed the sword at his shoulder as he stumbled backward for space, but Kara took over. She lunged forward, striking his feet with a low kick, and kept spinning as she whispered Deviation.

Kara finished spinning before the warrior even landed—she even seemed to have slide forward while doing so. At some point she switched to a backhanded grip for her sword. In one fluid motion, she drove it back through the warrior's head. His legs bounced off her shoulders as he finally fell to the ground.

Critical Penetration!

You have dealt 29 Pierce damage to Warrior’s Shield!

You have dealt 351 Pierce damage to Warrior’s HP!

Killing an enemy twice your level has further increased the experience gain.

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You are now level 26!

“Holy shit,” Nilbog said. It was all he could say as he stared at the corpse lying under him.

You can gain experience now? Kara said with such a nonchalant tone that made Nilbog feel silly for being impressed.

I needed four more Souls to full-fill the requirements of a human body.

Good. Next target now—get moving!

Right, Nilbog thought, swallowing. His heartbeat widely, drowning out all other sounds. He could feel the blood furiously pumping through the veins in the side of his forehead, and he could feel the vibrations coursing under him.

"Huh? Vibrations?"

Off in the distance, in the center of the field, the earth began to rise.