After a while, master Jin ended the lecture and dismissed the class. Jayden quickly left the hall, ignoring the students who hailed and chanted his name. He didn't care about some dumb popularity, there were things more important.
Carl also walked away, thinking back to the match earlier. He kept pondering the possibility of Jayden being stronger than him, even in level. And that was his worst nightmare.
He swore in his heart to train harder and get stronger, to become the most powerful student in the entire school. So he could have his revenge on Jayden. But for now, he made a mental note to be wary of him.
As the students left the training hall, Jessica also lagged behind, her arms crossed. Her breathing hitched.
She had seen it all...
Every single second.
The yellow glow in Jayden's eyes. The change in his fingers and face. The unnatural bloodlust that had filled the air, thick enough to choke.
She wasn't crazy. Or was she?
"Oh, God. What's happening? Was I just hallucinating?" she pondered
Then her heart pounded as she recalled that moment, right before Master Jin intervened.
For a fraction of a second, Jayden had stopped looking human.
He had looked like... an animal. There was no way she had hallucinated that, it was definitely real.
Jessica bit her lip. "What the hell are you hiding, Jayden?"
She didn't know why, but for the first time.. she was scared. Scared of the possibility that Jayden was actually that thing everyone always called him.
Meanwhile, Jayden was in the school bathroom. It looked like he was staring at the sink mirror, but he was actually reading through the system interface.
*Hidden Quest Complete
[Ascertain dominance and prove that you are the rightful lord of all beasts, including overgrown primates: Defeat the oppenents trying to humiliate you] (3/3)
[You have received a reward of 30 Exp]
[Congratulations, you have leveled up]
[+2 stat points has been added to all stats]
[Ep: 20 >> 40]
[Hp: 100 >> 150]
*Random Quest Complete
[Level up once]
[You have unlocked the ability: Beast energy acquisition]
This messages had popped up immediately after master Jin declared him the winner, but he decided to put them aside so he wouldn't look like a crazy person in front of the whole class.
Jayden smirked with excitement as he went through the system notifications, he had received a lot today, including a new skill and ability.
It reminded him of the feeling he would get when powering up in those mmorpgs he used to play, only this was different. This was real life.
"Hmm, so the system truly works like those games. My health and energy points would increase with each level up , and so would every stat as well," he muttered, before opening the status interface to monitor his progress.
*Name: Jayden Starrk
*Race: ???
*Level: 2
*Exp: 20/60
*Hp: 150/150
*Ep: 40/40
*Strength: 27
*Speed: 27
*Agility: 22
*Stamina: 22
*Perception: 32
*Defense: 32
*Charm: 12
Stat points: 0
[Heart Rate: 50 Bpm]
*Health Regeneration [Passive]
*Beastlord Aura [Passive/Active]
*Telekinetic Force
*Beast Energy Acquisition:
Type: Absorption
Description:
As the true heir to the Beastlord's power, you possess the ability to absorb the very essence of beasts. A creature's energy is more than just raw power... it carries its genetic makeup, its instincts, and even its abilities. With Beast Energy Acquisition, you can assimilate these traits into your own being, growing stronger with every beast you conquer.
Mechanism Of Action:
*Genetic Absorption: [By absorbing the energy of a beast, you gain access to fragments of its DNA, allowing your body to adapt and evolve. Over time, these changes will manifest in physical enhancements, heightened senses, and transformations]
*Ability Assimilation: [If a beast possesses a unique ability, you will acquire the ability and make it your own. There is no limit to how many abilities you can take]
*Instinctual Integration: [The instincts and battle experience of the absorbed beast become a part of you, refining your combat skills and survival instincts]
Absorption Conditions:
*Defeated Beasts: Absorption is only effective when a beast is either slain or fully subdued. Because acquisition of it's energy will consume it's life force anyways.
*Willing Beasts: If a beast willingly submits, the process is smoother, and the assimilation rate increases. But this is rare and almost impossible.
*Partial Absorption: You can choose to take only a portion of a beast's energy, allowing it to survive while still gaining some of its traits. (This is impossible at your current level)
*Note:
–The stronger the beast, the more energy required to fully assimilate its traits. While some creatures may resist absorption entirely, even after being defeated.
–You can acquire a Beast's ability successfully, but absorbing it's DNA can sometimes be unsuccessful (More info will be disclosed when you unlock the skill- Beast Gene Integration.
–For now, you can only acquire the energy of lesser ranked beasts(E-Rank below). Level up and you'll be able to acquire higher ranked Beasts.
(More info will be provided as you begin using the ability)
______
Jayden exhaled in satisfaction as he read through the description of the beast energy acquisition ability. There was so much information about it but Jayden understood everything perfectly.
"Not bad. This allows me to obtain the abilities and genetic material of a beast," he muttered, clearly impressed with his new ability. "But for now, I can only absorb that of F and E-Rank beasts,"
[Not bad?!] Luna asked sharply. [Really? That's all you got... Not bad?]
Jayden scoffed. "Well, what do you want me to say?" he asked
[What do I want you to... This ability grants you the power to take the abilities of every kind of beast out there] Luna retorted. [With this, you can possess any and many forms of abilities; Super speed, fire manipulation, even teleportation. You name it]
[You should be jumping up and down with excitement, this is raw power] she added
But Jayden simply ignored her, he was truly excited. Who wouldn't be? Now he could hold multiple abilities from beasts, and also become one... I think.
Evolved humans could only have one ability throughout their lifetime and yet they were still formidable. Imagine what a person having multiple powers could do, they'll be a powerhouse.
But Jayden was having mixed feelings, he had recollected the events that happened when he was sparring with Carl. The rush of anger and bloodlust he felt, the way he was slowly going into a trance. A trance to kill and only kill, but it felt more of an instinct to him.
Though what was more disturbing was his little transformation, he hadn't seen his fingers turn into claws, neither did he see his face. But he had felt it, he knew his teeths and fingers had gotten sharper, he knew he had grown fangs. But the strangest part was, he knew how to use them.
It was like an inflow of instructions and memories on how to use his claws and fangs to survive... To hunt... To kill.
And he probably would have ripped Carl apart if it wasn't for master Jin, who interrupted just in time. Which ascertains a theory that the bloodlust can be stopped by some sort of distraction or interruption.
"What happened to me back there, Luna? I couldn't think straight... The only thing on my mind was rage, pure murderous rage," Jayden muttered softly, feeling a bit of guilt and remorse. At the same time feeling thankful that no one had seen his change in appearance.
"Was that some kind of... Beastlord instinct related to the system?" he added, thinking of all sorts of things he could use to explain that moment. "Or maybe it had something to do with the Beastlord aura, you know, to cause intimidation and dominance? Yes, yes that has be it, Right?"
But the reply Luna gave him was even worse than what he had expected to hear
[I'm sorry, Jayden]. she said softly. [But the system had nothing to do with any of it. That was all you]