Chapter 8: Perfect Gambit!
The silence in the clearing felt heavy, broken only by Daniel's own ragged breathing and the faint, unsettling dripping sound of blood pooling on the azure grass. He straightened up, pushing through the post-battle fatigue that lingered despite the invigorating rush of his level-up. A glance around confirmed the carnage: five colossal Veridian Constrictor corpses lay scattered amongst the remnants of a desperate, failed defense by three fellow aspirants.
Urgency pricked at him. He recalled snippets from their Verge theory lessons, snakes, even alien ones, often possessed strong familial or territorial bonds. Defeating these five might attract others, potentially larger or more dangerous members of their species. He needed to harvest his spoils and vacate the area quickly.
First, the Assimilation Charges. He checked his Nexus Interface.
[Soul Assimilation Charges: 10/10 (Limit Increased!)]
His gamble had paid off beyond expectation. Leveling up hadn't just refilled his charges; it had doubled his maximum capacity from 5 to 10. This was a massive boost to his operational efficiency, allowing for more frequent enhancements and assimilations between rests or level-ups. The SSS-Talent continued to reveal layers of power.
He immediately focused on the nearest Constrictor corpse, initiating the assimilation process.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Veridian Constrictor.]
[Gain: Strength +3]
[Gain: Vitality +2]
[Gain: Agility +3]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (9/10 Remaining).]