Chapter 65 : Polymorph Skill Fruit
Chapter 65. Polymorph Skill Fruit
The moment his hand touched the gem, he experienced a strange illusion. It was like an expansion of the senses. Yul had gained a portion of human sensation.
The act of breathing in and out, seeing with eyes, hearing with ears, and feeling a pulsating heartbeat.
[The higher rule of contract, Communion, is activated.]
【Communion】
[Current Status: Communion Level 1]
[Resonance: A portion of the souls has been connected. Mutual understanding increases slightly. Seaborn can now consume Skill Fruits.]
[Seaborn Effect: Increased magic recovery rate]
[Human Effect: Some senses can be synchronized with the Seaborn.]
‘An additional ability? The effects are different for each side.’
Through this Communion, Yul realized it was a system where both sides benefited.
And to raise the Communion level, all one had to do was spend a long time together while understanding the other.
‘So the key is maintaining close proximity.’
It felt like there might be other ways to raise the Communion level as well, but for now, he didn’t know them.
-So this is Communion……. It feels like my senses have expanded, like something has broadened.
-Hmm. My magic recovery rate increased slightly, too.
It felt like roughly a 10% increase. But since his base magic recovery was already high, that tenth felt substantial.
-I’ve never done Communion before. Even at the university, not many students have gone through with it.
-Really? Why so few?
-To establish Communion with sea creatures, you have to go out to sea. Or you have to Communion with Seaborn that can operate outside the sea.
-That makes sense.
-Yul, may I take a look at your skills?
-Is that possible?
-Yes. Since we’re in Communion, I can see them.
Yul found it fascinating and agreed. He wondered if Lucian was digging through his 【Status】 window, but it seemed Lucian perceived it in a different way.
-Your skill slots…… eight of them?
Lucian’s eyes widened in shock.
Up to now, the skill windows of known Seaborn usually had only two or three slots. Some exceptional Seaborn were said to possess four skills.
Moreover, every single skill was something he had never seen before. At the very least, they were fundamentally different from the skills possessed by any Seaborn known so far.
-Why?
-You truly are a Mythic rank creature, Yul.
-I told you, I have a main body. You’re synchronizing some of my senses right now, right?
-Yes.
-Then want to take a brief look through my main body’s vision?
Yul focused his mind on his still-slumbering main body. Then, he slightly opened its eyes, waking it just a little.
-W-what in the….
Lucian was overwhelmed by the colossal sensation. A presence like a god’s might. A sense of scale that felt as though it could split the world apart.
Sensing Lucian’s condition worsening, Yul immediately put his main body back to sleep.
-Got the idea?
-So this is the power of a Mythic rank creature…….
-But I can’t move it. They say I need more time and experience.
-Then your main body is sleeping?
-Most likely.
-That’s for the best. If it moved even once, the world would be shaken.
To shake off the overwhelming feeling, Lucian turned his thoughts elsewhere.
-Ah, right. Come to think of it, Yul, do you know about Skill Fruits?
-No, I don’t.
-All Seaborn have special abilities—skills, you could say. But for Seaborn you’ve Communion with, there are special fruits that can fill empty skill slots or replace existing ones.
-Skill Fruits?
-Yes. These Skill Fruits are said to grow in the sea, or sometimes bear fruit on special islands.
Hearing it, it sounded like the Devil Fruits from a certain manga, but listening more closely, it seemed closer to the Technical Machines (TMs) of the Pocket Monsters.
In any case, Yul did have a couple of empty skill slots.
-And I actually happened to obtain a Skill Fruit. I brought it along on the ship I arrived on.
-Why did you get it?
-Ah. I made a bet with a rich classmate at the university and won. I even took him down to his underwear.
-Wow.
-Just a moment.
Lucian immediately went outside and returned carrying a large wooden box.
Inside the box was a strangely shaped fruit emitting brilliant, multicolored light.
-But this is an unregistered Skill Fruit. Until you eat it, you can’t know exactly what skill it grants.
-Why would your friend even be carrying something like that?
-I don’t know. He said he bought it from a merchant who briefly visited his family.
-Hmm. So once you eat it, it gets registered in a skill slot?
-Yes. And skill slots can always be cleared by eating another fruit later.
-Hooh.
Looking at the two empty slots he still had, Yul decided to try eating it.
-Give it here.
As he opened his mouth and consumed the fruit, a new skill appeared.
[7. Polymorph: Transforms the body into another creature.]
-Oh!! Polymorph.
-Polymorph? I’ve never seen a skill like that.
-This is exactly the ability I wanted!
At the description stating he could transform into other creatures, Yul couldn’t hide his excitement.
Having undergone Ascension so haphazardly, he had almost given up on the idea of becoming human, but now he could transform using a skill.
-Wait, I’m going to try the skill.
-All right.
Yul focused his mind on the newly acquired skill. Having obtained it, he could use it immediately as if it had always been his own, so proficiency was not an issue.
He closed his eyes and pictured the being he wanted to become. Drawing on memories of his previous life, he transformed into a human.
As his body shrank, his form shifted.
“Wow, what is this?”
Yul couldn’t stop the rush of excitement at finally having arms and legs.
His hair turned a cool-toned blue-black, and arms and legs formed.
And surprisingly, that dangling thing also appeared. Yul felt an immense thrill. It was a sensation he hadn't experienced since becoming a sea creature.
“I can feel my arms and legs.”
“Y-you can even talk?”
Lucian felt conflicted as he looked at Yul, now transformed into a human.
“Ah, but the gem is still embedded in your forehead.”
“Huh? Oh, you’re right. Lucian, do you have a mirror, by any chance?”
When he touched his forehead, he felt the smooth texture of a moonstone. It was embedded right in the center.
“Ah, a mirror. I-I’ll go get one right away.”
Watching Lucian dash off, Yul stepped out of the sea and set foot on land.
He could feel the rough texture of the cave floor beneath him.
“I finally have a human body…….”
To have his wish fulfilled in such an unexpected way.
Since he had no clothes, he was naked, and his body took the form of a young man.
He lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at the ceiling. The damp, moisture-filled back actually felt good.
Perhaps due to the flow of blood, that part also stood straight up.
‘Ah! Incredible! A sensation I haven’t felt in decades.”
At that moment, someone screamed.
“Um, I brought the items Ian left behind…… Kyaaaaaaah!”
Celestia’s scream echoed through the cave as she arrived carrying records in a small chest.
* * *
“S-so, you’re saying this man right here is Yul?”
The commotion involving the naked, mysterious man who had been lying on the cave floor with an erection was resolved as soon as Lucian returned.
Lucian brought clothes along with a mirror, allowing Yul to get dressed.
“As I said, it’s because of this Polymorph skill I just obtained.”
“D-does that even make sense? Can a skill actually change a creature's entire form?”
“Well, I’m not sure about the exact principle myself.”
Yul said while sitting cross-legged.
For now, the sensation of the Soul-Splitting Art hadn't vanished. He believed he could Polymorph back into his original body at any time.
Yul marveled as he examined his face in the mirror he received from Lucian.
“Wow, I look like some kind of celebrity.”
“Pardon? A clown?”
“No. Hmm. I guess this word isn't in the [Interpretation] yet.”
Yul fundamentally communicates through an interpretation function. If a concept doesn't exist for the other person, does it output the closest similar word?
“Anyway, I’m handsome. Right?”
“You’re so handsome it’s almost making me jealous. You’re going to have people flocking to you.”
Lucian said. He wasn't bad-looking himself, but Yul’s appearance was truly exceptional, the type that would attract countless women just by passing by.
“If I just show them this thing on my forehead, won't they leave on their own?”
“I think that might actually cause more problems.”
A moonstone was embedded in Yul’s forehead, and occasionally a soft bluish-white light, like moonlight reflecting off the gem’s surface, flowed out, exuding a mysterious charm.
“I’ll look at Ian’s records later.”
“Understood.”
Celestia was inwardly embarrassed that she had let out such a girlish scream despite her age.
If a naked mysterious man is in a cave where no one should be, of course, one has no choice but to scream.
She intended to return the box containing the records to its original place.
Gurgle.
“Oh? I’m hungry.”
Yul felt a sensation completely different from when he lived as a member of the Deep King Tribe. Hunger. Did such a thing as 'deficiency' even exist?
“Ah. Then shall we go up and have a meal?”
“Sure. Let's talk while we do that. I love this Polymorph skill. I think I’ll stay in human form for a while.”
Yul was so impressed by the sensation of finally finding his own race that he had no intention of returning to his Deep King Tribe form for the time being.
“Oh, was this island always like this? It's so different from before.”
Yul felt a strange sensation as he walked through the interior of the island. The island had developed much more than before.
There were windmills that hadn't existed, and many people. Cattle were being raised, and goats roamed about.
“What was it like before?”
“Uh. There was nothing.”
“That’s right. Even when Lucian was little, only the three of us in our family lived here.”
“Now there are four of us.”
“I suppose so.”
“Eh? Four?”
When Yul tilted his head in confusion, Celestia wondered why, then spoke as if she suddenly realized.
“Ah! That’s right. Since you parted with Ian, you wouldn't have been introduced to our second child.”
“What? There was another kid?”
“She was conceived before you left, so you wouldn't have seen her.”
Yul headed toward the Beltaine Family home. It used to be a modestly sized house, but now it has transformed into a grand lord's manor.
One could see just how visible the growth of the Beltaine Family was. Lucian spoke as he entered the manor.
“I’m a bit worried, though.”
“Why?”
“Once you see her, Yul, you’re going to get exhausted.”
“Huh?”
Just then, a new figure emerged from inside the manor along with some servants. It was a short little girl with red hair, who had grown her hair long to cover one eye. It wasn't that there was a problem with her eye; it was just fashion.
“Cecilia Beltaine, she’s the youngest in our house.”
“Waaaaah! Who is this person, Mom?”
Lucian stepped forward and spoke.
“He's not a person... he's a Sea Born.”
“Wow! Even cooler!”
She came over to his side and examined Yul from all angles.
Seeing her quite cute appearance, Yul naturally reached out and stroked her head.
“Hehe.”
“Cecil, stop bothering Yul and move away. Butler, please prepare a meal.”
“I don't want to! But is your name Yul?”
“Understood.”
Hearing the conflicting answers, Yul sat at the long dining table.
‘This is truly strange.’
The sensation of just sitting here and moving my hands was still fascinating.
The meal was served, and Cecilia, who had been clinging to Yul, was pulled away by her mother’s hand.
Yul picked up a piece of bread, put it in his mouth, and chewed.
‘I can taste it.’
His hunger was being satisfied, and he could taste the flavors. He kept feeling that same sensation he had when he first became an orca.
While he was eating with deep emotion, he felt eyes on him, so he stuffed a mouthful of bread into his mouth and looked around.
Looking closely, not only the members of the Beltaine Family but even the servants were staring at Yul.
Munch munch.
“Why?”
“Does it suit your palate?”
“It’s delicious.”
“Mom, I’ve never seen anyone eat so well.”
“I... I suppose so.”
“Give me more.”
Yul shamelessly asked for more food. He had already finished every bit of the meal in front of him.