Chapter 8: Fusion
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Hours bled into each other as I stared at the shimmering holographic display of 'Grotesque Physique,' its spectral text a stark contrast against the dim cavern.
My gaze then flickered to the list of my own meager skills, a faint metallic taste lingering in my maw from my last meal.
The problem was, I didn't have skills of the same type, be it passive or active.
And I didn't want to mess up my skill fusion by randomly combining them, expecting to get some overpowered ability or something.
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Grotesque Physique [Unique]
A Grotesque Physique, warped by an unknown force from the Whark's biology, lets you absorb external abilities (skills not native to your race). These skills permanently lose their growth path, becoming fixed internal components. They're categorized by Ascension, reflecting their integration as adaptable physical components. Compatible skills fuse into layered bodily alterations. This living physique constantly redefines your body with each absorption and fusion.
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I dismissed the hologram before me with a decisive flap of my tail.
My gaze was now fixated on the 'Feral Gorefang' ahead.
Its predatory gaze swept across the vast, echoing expanse, tracing the jagged silhouettes of mountain-like columns and sheer cliffs as it searched for prey.
My eyes darted across the immediate surroundings, a low hum vibrating in my bones, as I pondered if I could finish it before any other Whark found this secluded place.
A predatory grin stretched across my lips, my form rippling into a haze before blurring into an indistinct streak.
A viscous, glowing saliva, burning faintly as it left my maw, infused the water around me with a faint hiss as 'Thorn Spittle' Activated.
The lone 'Feral Gorefang' thrashed, its powerful body spasming.
Where the acid touched, its tough hide sizzled, a faint, acrid smoke rising from its dissolving flesh.
A low, guttural shriek tore from its throat as the agonizing bite of the corrosive liquid struck deep into its nerves.
Crash!
The Gorefang slammed into the cliff face, sending debris and blood erupting into a crimson fog.
Its maw latched onto my fins, it's thick muscular jaw coiling as it tried to rip them apart.
But it was futile, it couldn't use mana to enhance its bite force, nor was it physically superior to mine.
My maw lodged onto its head, and with a twist.
Spash!
Its head was decapitated in a matter of seconds as I applied a crushing pressure with my jaw.
Crash!
Its skull was pulverized with ease, cruelty gleaming in my eyes.
Even without 'Devouring Maw' activated, my jaw strength alone was enough to crush it.
The sweet, coppery taste of victory flooded my maw as I let out a chuckle.
A mere Stage 1 monster without a core was no match for me.
A hologram shimmered into existence as I licked my lips.
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[You have slain.]
• S: 1 | T: 1 | Level 2 | Feral Gorefang [2★]
[You have gained.]
[5,000 - EXP.]
[You have gained a level.] x1
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[You have devoured.]
• S: 1 | T: 1 | Level 2 | Feral Gorefang[2★]
[You have gained.]
[+ 3 - Health.]
[+ 4 - Stamina.]
[+ 0.14 - Physique.]
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[Skills Devoured.]
• Gore Rend [Tier 2]
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[Grotesque Physique would like to devour this skills.]
• Gore Rend [Tier 2]
[Yes] / [No]
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Gore Rend [Active | Stamina - 5 | ▪︎]
A powerful, tearing bite attack that focuses on inflicting deep, ragged wounds designed to cause massive blood loss and internal trauma.
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Quite a description, but now let's fuse these two skills, 'Devouring Maw' and 'Gore Rend,' to acquire a more powerful ability.
I inhaled, then dragged those skills into the fusion table, gazing at it for a second before nodding.
As I clicked 'Yes.'
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[Would you fuse this skills?]
• Devouring Maw + Gore Rend
[Yes] / [No]
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[You have gained.]
• Sunder Maw [Ascension I]
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Sunder Maw [Active | 8 - Stamina | Ascension I | ▪︎]
This Ascension skill manifests as a devastating bite that simultaneously delivers immense crushing force and vicious tearing power. It effortlessly pulverizes tough defenses and inflicts severe, deep wounds, causing significant internal trauma and considerable blood loss, making it exceptionally effective at debilitating any target.
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I opened my maw, then snapped it close with a satisfied clack as I let out a low chuckle.
Hahaha... the increase in power is more than three times!
And with this new Ascension skill, perhaps reaching new heights won't be a dream, but a reality.
This 'Grotesque Physique' is truly compatible with me.
But still, my teeth are too weak to handle the biting force of my 'Sunder Maw.'
Just a few activations of it, and my teeth would fall apart from the immense pressure of my bite.
It wouldn't be a problem, though, if I could get an 'Ascension I' skill capable of withstanding it.
So I moved through the shadows, searching for a monster that possessed a passive skill related to teeth.
Then I felt a sudden, violent flicker rip through the water, a blur of darkness faster than my eyes could track.
It vanished and reappeared in an instant, its maw already tearing at the behemoth I'd encountered earlier.
The water churned and roared with each of its blistering movements, sending powerful shockwaves vibrating through my own body.
The behemoth, a colossal mass of stone-like armor, let out a deep, resonating bellow that echoed through the depths, a sound that resonated with primal terror and sent an icy chill down my spine.
I shivered, watching the one-sided fight unfold, the shadowy Whark utterly dominating this duel.
The behemoth, covered in granite-like armor, as it screeched, but was silenced as a straight, clean line appeared on its gills.
Splash!
Its head tilted, then blood gushed out, severing its head in a breeze.
That's when I truly saw it.
Its skin was a terrifying, ink-black void, absorbing what little light filtered down, making its sleek, hydrodynamic scales almost invisible.
A cold, prickling sensation, far more chilling than the frigid water, ran across my spine.
Its predatory irises was locked into me, as it glowed for but a brief moment, showing pure killing intent, before its gaze flickered back to the carcass before it.
Its maw dug into the flesh, searching for something.
Then seconds passed, and a pulsating, opalescent core, the size of a fist, shimmered into existence within its bloody maw.
A sickening crack echoed through the water as its jaws clamped down, crushing and devouring the glowing orb in one swift motion.
Before I could react, it disappeared in the next second.
That guy was probably only after the core, since devouring a monster's core could significantly increase your mana reserve.
A wide smile curved onto my face as saliva dripped onto my lips.
Lucky!
My form flickered, and my mouth struck the resilient flesh of the lord-class entity.
Its flesh was tough, dense and fibrous, but I devoured it whole.
Hours passed.
Then a hologram flickered into existence as my lips curved into a satisfied smile.
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[You have devoured.]
• S: 1 | T: 1 | Obsidian Hulk Whark [4★] x3
[You have gained.]
[+ 4 - Health.]
[+ 7 - Stamina.]
[+ 0.24 - Physique.]
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[Skills Devoured.]
• Crushing Granite Bite [Tier 6]
• Granite Shell [Tier 5]
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[Grotesque Physique would like to devour these skills.]
• Crushing Granite Bite [Tier 6]
• Granite Shell [Tier 5]
[Yes] / [No]
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Crushing Granite Bite [Passive | ▪︎]
The Whark's powerful jaws are lined with rock-hard teeth that can splinter stone and shatter steel. Any creature grappling with or constricted by the Whark suffers continuous bludgeoning damage.
Granite Shell [Passive | ▪︎]
The Whark's granite covering provides exceptional protection, granting it significant resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. It is also immune to poison.
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