A Cold-Blooded POV

Lies, I say!

They call me crazy… Labeled me as faithless, a heretic! The public think I\'m hopeless do they?

The famous maesters love their research so much do they? They\'ve spread information regarding the dungeon Outages, answering the citizens questions. Oh~ How respectable they are, deserving of titles fitting their names - and the Cathedral, for their meritorious service, they deserve the honorable donations from the innocent citizens.

WRONG! These people are frauds, their pushing a dangerous agenda that can endanger us all. All of us, I say! The entirety of human kind can be put out like a candle.

I\'ll leave you with this one question. Whether you choose to think with your own brain is up to you.

But sit down, look around you, analyze your surroundings vigilantly - and think about this:

Who, or what do you think is starting the dungeon Outages?

Excerpt from \'Agenda of ???\'. Page 9. By Milton the Heretic.

***

[Aptitude achieved, you have been awarded the skill Minor Heal]

Ethoss was shocked, not as flabbergasted as the first time this took place - but still caught off guard. This was simply an experiment on his part. He hadn\'t calculated earning another self-attained skill again so fast.

Similar to his previous self-attained skill, its title seemed very straightforward in what it\'s ability pertained to. Of course though, this wouldn\'t stop Ethoss from looking over his new gains.

Ethoss clicked into the menu of his mind and found the new skill sitting in his status sheet, from there he enlarged the skill\'s bio - showcasing its use.

[Minor Heal is a \'self-attained\' skill that allows you the ability to mundanely heal yourself. It\'s effectiveness is slight, however, just like other skills - it can level up given the appropriate productivity]

Hiss…

A low hiss rung from Ethoss mouth - his forked tongue tasting the dry air before getting sucked back into his mouth.

Ethoss was more than satisfied with this new skill. Although it was merely a minor healing skill and would most likely not be useful if and when he got seriously injured - with time this skill could become his life saver.

Just like the voice stated, productivity and usage would level the skill up just like his other skills. Just imagine how significant this skill would be once it leveled up 5 times—no,10 times!

Ethoss let out another hiss of joy, then closed the window to the skill\'s bio. This left him on his status sheet window. Ethoss took a glance at his stats and points…

Name: Ethoss

Level: 9(Red Core)

Strength: 60

Toughness: 55

Cunning: 50

Will: 27

HP: 48/54

MP: 0/36

Skills[Attack]: Lethal Venomous Bite(II) level 2, Reinforced Tail Whip(II) level 1, Pernicious Claw Swipe(II) level 2

Skills[Support]: Rapid Dash(II) level 3, Deep Night Vision(II) level 3, Discoloration Camouflage(II) level 3, Excavation(II) level 1, Mana Shaping(II) level 2, Mana Recycle level 4, Tunnel Sense level 1, Evasion level 1, Minor Heal level 1

Mutations: Unmasked Jacobson\'s organ +5, Absorption Legs +5, Mana-sight Eyes +5, Crystal Scales +5, Nocuous Claws +5, Noxious Teeth +5, Flamethrower Fire Gland +5

Species: Draco Aeternus Lacerta(Male)

Biomass: 12

Skill Point: 3

Ethoss had a total amount of 12 biomass and 3 skill points. Before, that was quite the hefty sum - however, now that just seemed like pocket change.

All of Ethoss\'s mutations, every last one of them, had reached +5. This meant that every time he mutated each one of these body parts, they would cost just as much biomass.

His 12 biomass currently could only get one of his mutations to +7, or get two of his mutations to +6.

\'I suppose I\'ll just use these little points I have right now, then stockpile another batch later\' Ethoss thought.

What Ethoss settled with mutating was his eyes. They were his main priority right now - if he could peer a bit deeper into mana, he felt that his view on the purest form of magic energy and it\'s hidden properties, would change drastically.

Honestly, he didn\'t know what to expect from it - but he knew it would be worthwhile somehow.

[Would you like to purchase Mana-sight Eyes +7? Will cost 11 Biomass.]

He accepted.

There it was. That sensationally frosty feeling. Ethoss typically enjoyed the the cool energy flowing through his body. However, when it was specifically concentrated within his eyes - it felt really uncomfortable.

It wasn\'t as painful as pain itself - but it was certainly unpleasant nonetheless. It made his eyes feel violated and unprotected, causing his to blur at times which in turn caused him to tightly shut his eyes.

Unfortunately, shutting his eyes didn\'t do much at all to cure the feeling. The mutations was taking place on the insides of his eyes - behind the sockets. It made his eyeballs feel like they would pop out!

\'I really hope my eyes will grow accustomed to this sooner or later…\' He wished internally.

A couple more seconds passed by and luckily, it faded.

Ethoss blinked his eyes a few times, growing accustomed to them. There weren\'t any major changes, his eyes far-sight vision did seem to had improved slightly though.

Ethoss eyes blinked sluggishly and slothful. He was still fatigued at the end of the day…

Glancing at the three cores that rested next to him, Ethoss decided to absorb these cores after he slept for a while. His territory should be safe - mostly. As long as nothing out of the ordinary occurred, he would be fine.

It was impossible to have complete safety anyway, and he understood this perfectly. This was the best he was going to get. Giving way to his tiredness, Ethoss dropped his head on a soft comfy leaf.

As he laid there, slowly breathing, resting his head on his foreclaw - he couldn\'t help but notice how quiet everything seemed to be. There wasn\'t even the sound of any monsters chirping or insects clacking. In fact, not even wind made noise anymore. This place was growing deadly silent.

His tiredness took the wheel and Ethoss\' consciousness drifted into the darkness.