LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 9 – Those are a lot of tasty cookies
I opened my eyes, and a slew of messages filled my head.
However, I didn't have time to read any of them.
Because...
CRASH* Ta* Ta* Ta* Ta*
The sound of glass shattering sounded from the shop, followed by running. It was more than just one.
"Shit! I screamed for real?!" - My face contorted.
But quickly, I got my priorities straight.
"Trod! Buy me the Sanitization Power!" - I screamed at the Amulet since its full name is a mouthful.
Perhaps it gained more freedom and flexibility or sensed my urgency, but it didn't do the previous mechanical bullshit and just did it.
{Power: Sanitization Unlocked.}
{Enhancement Energy A: 29-> 4}
Bang* Creech* Bang*
There was a banging and scratching sound on the metal door to the basement. I didn't have much time.
I didn't even bother checking the message that explained the power and yelled.
"Activate Sanitization and send me home!"
{Affirmitive.}
Black flames engulfed me, and my vision tunneled.
I vaguely heard the door breaking, but I didn't stay long to witness it.
My world went black.
Hello, my friends! Its me, the fucking author! Yeah, I know, I know... Its annoying to see this time and again, but what can I say? I am protecting my intellectual property, and you, so that slimy conmen won't copypaste it and you would lose a few dollars reading it on kindle.
Anyways, if you really paid for it, you have been HAD. Go read on scribblehub, where it rightfully belongs. Original name, Reality Smuggler. And inform me, so I can take legal action. Cheers, and thanks for reading!
Moments later...
Bang* Ta* Ta* Ta*
The banged-up metal door's hinges finally collapsed before sliding on the stairs.
Four monstrous creatures flooded the basement.
Iver would recognize them as Cowardly Bosses, better known as Stalkers.
When they entered, they started sniffing and looking around. But all they found was a lit flashlight and signs of human activity.
They started communicating with their beastly language.
"Where did the human go?" - One of the Stalkers asked.
"Not sure. It's like it disappeared into thin air." - Another Stalker said.
"I only smell one human! How did it even enter the town? Don't they travel in packs?" - A third Stalker asked.
"It smells like a normal human. How did it kill two Soldiers and a fellow Stalker...?" - The first Stalker muttered.
"Smells delicious..." - The fourth Stalker drooled.
"Silence, you fool! Don't covet the leader's prize!" - The second growled at it.
After being reminded that, the fourth stalker started trembling in dread.
To it, the leader was like how it was to the mindless Minions. In front of it, it could only be a pawn or, if unlucky...
It shook even harder at the thought.
"Continue the search! The smell is still fresh. Perhaps it is hiding here somewhere." - The third stalker urged.
The others agreed and continued searching, going as far as overturning anything even slightly suspicious.
A few fruitless minutes later...
The four Stalkers were suddenly jolted, pausing their movement as they looked at the entrance. An authoritative creature slowly descended the stairs, not bothering to cover its presence.
It looked like an evolved version of the Stalkers. It was larger, close to 7ft tall, full of compact and sleek muscles, with skin the color of the night and claws like ebony. Also, instead of having a crystal on the back of its head, it was on its forehead, like a third onyx eye.
"Leader!" - The four stopped what they were doing and kneeled to their superior.
It was not out of respect but fear. It was not just stronger than them but could also control them to an extent through the crystal in the back of their skulls.
The leader didn't answer. Its two dot-like golden eyes stared at its pawns before shifting to the basement, still lit by that detestable human technology, a flashlight.
The place was overturned, and every nook and cranny was searched. But that scent, that unmistakable and delectable fresh scent of humans!
It once feasted on one back when it was a mere Stalker during an ambush led by its leader on a human convoy. That meal allowed it to break the shackles of its evolution and evolve into a higher level, becoming a Shadow Hunter on the same level as its leader, coming under the service of its current lord.
As a vassal of its lord, it was granted this town as a fief, responsible for raising soldiers and stalkers and harvesting crystals for its liege. However, recently, an incident happened. A human crashed in and killed around 2,000 of its flock, including two Soldiers and a Stalker it left as guards. What is more detestable is that it took all the crystals! It was directly damaging its income!
Sure, Minions grow fast, only taking a month to grow in the tens of thousands, but Soldiers are different! A Minion has to consume over a hundred corpses of its fallen brethren to evolve! That takes three-and-a-half months of careful rearing! And this is not discounting the chance of dying to mutated animals roaming the night and maintenance costs. Hence, it can only raise around two dozen a month, most of which are sent to the lord as tax.
And now, in just two days, an eighth of that was killed, just like that. It is a significant loss!
It was, without a doubt, angry, just like a human shepherd would for the loss of his sheep.
But quickly, the anger shifted to greed and hunger again. To get to eat another fresh human again, such a price was worth it. The flesh of a human can help remove some of its evolutionary restrictions. Although it might not evolve into a lord, it would be a step closer to it!
However...
"What is the result of your search?" - It asked one of the pawns.
"Reporting to the leader! We searched the entire basement but found no signs of an escape tunnel! It is as if it vaporized out of existence!" - The first Stalker answered respectfully.
"Vaporized? Humans don't just Vaporize. What is the meaning of this? Are you making fun of me?" - The leader glared.
"I-I dare not, Sir! We have overturned every nook and cranny in this basement but found nothing!" - The first Stalker hurriedly explained itself.
"... Does he speak true?" - The leader turned to the other three.
"Yes, Sir!"
"Yes, Yes!"
"It is true, leader!"
The three hurriedly nodded. If they didn't, their comrade might not be the only one to face the fate of entering their leader's gullet.
"..."
The leader remained silent, thinking of something.
"Did the human leave traces on purpose? Did it plant a timed recording device to alarm us to make us chase in circles?" - It conjectured.
The more it thought of it, the more plausible it felt.
"NO! I can't allow it to escape! But, just in case..."
"You two! Guard this basement until I say otherwise! If you find the human again, kill it and bring it to me! The rest of you, follow me! We HUNT!" - It Howled, revealing its ebony fangs.
"Yes, sir!" - The Stalkers complied.
The first and third Stalkers followed their leader on a fruitless hunt, while the second and fourth Stalkers stayed in the basement.
The two left Stalkers looked at each other in dismay. They might need to stay here for days to come.
A flash of black fire soundlessly appeared inside an apartment, forming a young man dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, stained with dried yellowish blood almost from head to toe.
The young man collapsed on his knees, went on his hands, and kissed the floor.
"I'm back, baby!" - I declared after removing my lips from my floor.
Even if it was slightly dirty, I didn't care. That was just how happy I was to go back home.
Gurgle*
Once the stress went away, hunger came.
"Well, shit. Im starving. I'll grab something quick and take a long, hot shower. I fucking need it." - I decided.
I then made myself a peanut butter & Jam sandwich. Sure, it isn't healthy, but it is satisfying and quick to make. I needed that.
After the quick dinner, I didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the bathroom and removed my smelly and dirty clothes.
And then, I took my long-deserved hot, fucking, shower.
Though it soon wasn't as relaxing as I thought.
"Hah? Why is my skin so pale?" - I muttered, looking at my hands, watering trickling from my skin.
"I remember having sand-colored skin. Why is it as pale as a vampire?" - I muttered.
But then, I noticed something even more terrifying.
The Amulet was gone, replaced by...
"Oh, shit!" - I cried and ran out of the shower to the mirror.
Wiping away the steam, I saw a familiar yet foreign face.
It was still my face in the basic sense, but some changes happened.
First, my acne was gone. Perhaps it was a part of the physical strengthening. Others would be happy about it, but I was tepid.
Sure, it's nice getting rid of my scars. It makes me look more handsome. Who doesn't like looking good? However, my face also reminded me of my womanizing horrible father. Ugh.
Second, my short rough brown hair turned raven-black and silky and smooth, my skin was as pale as a vampire's, and my dark emerald eyes were as dark as the night sky, shining with the luster of the stars. My facial hair was also gone, my thin eyebrows turned thinner, and my lips turned into a pale red.
If that was all... It would be acceptable, albeit disturbing.
Unfortunately, it wasn't.
On my sculpted hairless chest, my sternum, an onyx was planted. Skin and veins held it together like a growth fused to my body.
Of course, that was the Amulet, snuggly fused to my chest, not causing me any feeling of uncomfortableness.
"Bloody hell. I look like a goth model." - I muttered.
I wasn't being narcissistic, and it wasn't just my face. My body right now was like the body of a goddamn adonis, a Peak Body. If I didn't look like this, I would be disappointed.
Staring at the mirror for a few minutes, I couldn't help but start worrying.
"That's not good. If people see me like this, I will raise too much suspicion. Trod, can I hide this?" - I asked Trod.
{Yes. Use Power: Camouflage.} - Trod answered.
Yes, it answered my question, and I was not surprised. It is a semi-conscious remnant will, with the intelligence of an inflexible robotic and inhuman AI. At least, I wouldn't be able to have a proper conversation with it, unlike with Arly.
As for why it didn't talk like this before, it is because my connection with it was too weak. It could only use rigid system messages.
"Camouflage, hah?" - I said and activated it.
The gem was slowly absorbed into my body, and my skin, hair, and eyes regained their original color.
A few seconds later, I was back to my original form. My sand-colored skin was back, my hair brown and rough, and my eyes emerald green.
"But why aren't my acne scars back? Where the hell is my body hair?!"
Except for the hair on my head, my eyebrows, and some of my sparse pubic hair, everything was gone.
"Ugh... Forget it. I'll pass it off as laser treatment and skin care." - I sighed in resignation.
Then, I noticed something.
Before, using camouflage felt stuffy and uncomfortable. It was to the point I wouldn't use it unless needed.
But now, it felt okay. There was a slight discomfort, but I could live with it for the rest of my life.
"Now that's done, I can finish my shower." - I said and went to finish my goddamn shower.
Ha... It's good to be alive.
...
After the shower...
Now relaxed and comfortable, I lay on my couch in the living room, looking at the messages I received but ignored.
{Power Unlocked: Increase Compatibility 1.}
{The Owner has successfully reforged his body and soul to become more compatible with The Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod.}
{Merging with the Owner...}
{Merging, complete.}
{The Owner has now become the Host.}
{Congratulations, Host, on achieving stage 1 merging with The Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod.}
{Power: Camouflage(Self), changed to Power: Camouflage.}
{Unlocked new Power: True Tongue 1.}
{Unlocked new Power: Unreality Affinity 1.}
{Unlocked new Power: Void Affinity 1.}
{Unlocked new Power: Space Affinity 1.}
{Unlocked new Power: True Sun Affinity 1.}
{Unlocked new Power: Immortal Body 1.}
{Unlocked new Power: Immortal Soul 1.}
{Unlocked new Power: Divinity 1.}
"Wow... Okay, this is getting seriously fucked up. I get the True Tongue thing since I now know how to speak very basic Eldritch, but what are all those affinities for? Unreality? Void? Space? True Sun? Immortal Body and Soul?! Divinity?!! Good god. Are you trying to make me a god!?" - I retorted.
But soon, I came to my senses and remembered a simple fact.
"Oh, right, it is." - I said warily.
Taking a deep breath to calm down, I started checking them.
Camouflage: The Divine fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod passively conceals its and the Host's divine aura. When activated, The Divine Fragment of Ic'thotl'itrod will retract into the Host's body, and the Host will revert to his mortal form.
True Tongue 1: The Host has grasped the most elementary True Tongue. Although unable to change the world around him, the Host can affect the minds of creatures who hear him speak. The Host gains resistance to the negative effects of True Tongue. It also passively increases multilingual capabilities, enabling the Host to grasp Mortal languages quickly.
Unreality Affinity 1: The Host has gained the most elementary Unreality Affinity. The Host can now faintly sense the rules, elements, aspects, and concepts of reality and unreality and slightly manipulate them. The Host gains resistance to Unreality. Creatures of Unreality will view the Host as a fellow creature of Unreality.
Void Affinity 1: The Host has gained the most elementary Void Affinity. The Host can now faintly sense the void and its infinite emptiness and slightly manipulate it. The Host gains resistance to the Void.
Space Affinity 1: The Host has gained the most elementary space Affinity. The Host can now faintly sense Space and its infinite vastness and slightly manipulate it. The Host gains resistance to Space.
True Sun Affinity 1: The Host has gained the most elementary True Sun Affinity. The Host can slightly produce and command the True Sun Flames, flames that command fear even in existential-class creator gods. The Host gains resistance to True Sun Flames.
Immortal Body 1: The Host's body has taken its first step of shedding its mortality. Increases the Hosts lifespan, regeneration, and ability to withstand deadly blows.
Immortal Soul 1: The Host's soul has taken its first step of shedding its mortality. Increases the Host's Soul Fortitude, Soul Regeneration, Mental Energy, and Mental Energy Recovery.
Divinity 1: The Host has gained basic Divinity, a basic indicator of the Host's status as a divine being. The Host can use it to pressure creatures around him or resist the divinity of others.
"Wow. Those are a lot of tasty cookies." - I said blankly.