Chapter 28 - Ancestral Regression

⟪[[Due to forcefully trying to fuse with this blood, your potential ability had been unlocked]]⟫

⟪[[Potential Ability has formed into: 'Blood Fusion' Skill]]⟫

⟪[[Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked the hidden skill 'Blood Fusion,' from now on, you can attempt fusion and conversion of other compatible blood into your own blood]]⟫

…

⟪[[Attention, due to your unique skill, 'Blood Fusion' Skill, the fusion process is going smoothly]]⟫

…

⟪[[Notice: Due to the effects of your unique bloodline, you are given three choices between which ability to acquire, the possible abilities are as follows:]]⟫

⟪[[Perfect Transformation: The ability to transform your body to anyone just by analyzing their countenance specifically for facial transformation or taking a sample of their blood, analyzing it for complete transformation. However, this ability does replicate any energy that may exist within the body of the one being transformed into. And also, you cannot transform into the opposite sex when using the complete transformation]]⟫

⟪[[Ancestral Regression: This is the ability to regress to your roots. This ability heavily relies on one tapping into their bloodline(s) or lineage(s), as such, it might not be useful if one does not have a considerable lineage or background. Although, this ability may be useless if the one using it does not have any considerable background, however, if the one using this ability had a unique background or ancestors, then they would be able to awaken any hidden abilities of their ancestors that may be lying dormant in their blood. This process often involves transforming the appearance of the one using this ability]]⟫

⟪[[Gender Metamorphosis: This is an ability to completely transform yourself into the opposite sex. Which in your case, would be to completely transform into a female with all the assets of a female intact. Don't worry as there is a benefit to completely changing your gender, that is, the ability to learn techniques that only females can practice or developing a new talent. However, there would be a mild side effect whenever you transform into this state, that is, there would be a hormonal imbalance occurring to your new body for a few days until you finally adjust to the new body. Once you fully adjust to the new body, there would no longer be any side effects unless you undo the transformation and transform back again]]⟫

⟪[[Reminder: The second ability, 'Ancestral Regression' was not derived by the system]]⟫

⟪[[Please think carefully before you make your choice]]⟫

Randy was about to react to the last choice but when he saw the reminder, he calmed down and muttered, "Oh, I see. So, the second choice was not your doing…"

Randy pondered for a bit and then finally continued, "If it was not your doing, then is it perhaps related to that unknown power from before?"

[…]

There was no reply from the system but that did not matter to Randy as it just means that he had guessed it right with the hint given from the system.

"That unknown power again, huh? I wonder what it is and why is it that it seems to be trying to help me rather than harm me" Randy said after pondering and then smiled with anticipation.

After carefully skimming through the first ability choice, Randy hesitated.

'This was a unique ability for sure, the ability to turn into anyone and it even said 'complete transformation' is possible if a prerequisite is met. Doesn't that mean that one could completely transform into anyone and take their appearance, thereby assuming their identity? Although you cannot copy their energy, but nevertheless, you can still use this for infiltration if the other parties don't pay attention to extraneous details like the type of energy you're emanating." Randy analyzed the pros and cons of this ability and was filled with satisfaction.

Then he turned his attention to the second ability, 'Ancestral Regression.'

'This ability, just from the description alone, it means that you need to have some amazing family background or ancestors with unique or powerful abilities." Randy thought in understanding.

Fortunately, both of Randy's parents used to be amazing hunters and thus, their bloodlines should have powerful abilities; and those bloodlines now exist in his own bloodline waiting to be tapped into.

'Since there is no problem with my bloodline prerequisite, it means that as long I transformed into the specific ancestry, my appearance may change, for example the color of my skin might become darker if I tapped into my fathers' ancestry and my appearance might look more Asian if I tap into my mother's bloodline instead. And it seems that there is a chance to awaken any bloodline ability like my mother's innate ice affinity or my father's blood manipulation ability or something else entirely from their parents' generation. Although I kind of don't need the blood manipulation ability but it will be worth a try to see how it differs from my Blood Authority Skill.' Randy pondered deeply about this matter.

After a while, he finally made his decision, both of these abilities are good, but he had to choose the one with possibilities rather than one with an instant gratification.

'As for the last ability? Who in their right minds would pick such an ability? I definitely want to remain as a man. Even if I can learn some techniques or gain some ability, I will still not turn myself into a female just for that. Not to mention those side effects, tsk, tsk, tsk, for a guy, that would be a horrible experience, so I'll pass on that one, leaving the remaining two choices as the only real abilities that are worth choosing from.'

With that thought in mind, he cleared his throat slightly, adjusted himself on his bed and responded with his thoughts.

'I have decided. I pick the 'Ancestral Regression' as my permanent ability.' Randy decisively spoke.

⟪[[Are you sure?]]⟫

"Yes" Randy confirmed without hesitation.

⟪[[Response Acknowledged!]]⟫

⟪[[Awakening the new ability. Please wait…]]⟫

Right after it said so, Randy could feel a slight discomfort as it felt like his blood was overflowing with warm currents as if it was boiling but strangely enough, it did not hurt like the last time when he consumed that wolf-like creature's blood; this feeling was rather more comfortable compared to that.

Perhaps because he had awakened as an ability holder and his physical abilities improved drastically, resulting in him not feeling the same pain he did the first time he consumed blood or maybe something else entirely is at play, he could not tell, but none of that matters to the current him who had his life turn around on that faithful day when he encountered those monsters.

As Randy was immersed in the eerie comfortable feeling just now, a sudden notification woke him up from his thoughts.

⟪[[You have successfully awakened the ability, 'Ancestral Regression' in a form of a skill]]⟫

⟪[[Please check your status screen for more information regarding this new ability]]⟫

"Ohhh!! Finally! I wonder what form I will take after using this transformation ability. Wait, it is already 9 o'clock in the evening; It is time for me to sleep. I think I'll have to check it out tomorrow. Hm? Oh right, I still haven't decided on what to do tomorrow. Should I go out to hunt some mutated beasts in the forest for knowledge points or practice combat using the virtual simulator now that I have my own ability?" Randy muttered in contemplation.

Randy had been using the virtual simulator to practice some basic fighting techniques that anyone could get their hands on. If one wanted better fighting techniques to practice, then they will have to wait until they enter university before they can receive some such techniques.

In any case, Randy had only been practicing some basic punching techniques in both the virtual and the real world for many years now, so he was very confident in his basics but that was when he had no ability.

However now that he had awakened his ability, he wanted to test out his punching techniques in the virtual world again to see whether there is a difference now compared to before. And also, there is another reason why Randy wanted to test out his abilities, that is, [Virtual Duel].

With the current technology that had been improved with the help of magic and other forms of energies, Virtual Reality itself was now a simple feat as there are spells and techniques that can create a sort of virtual world in a form an illusion where one could fight without holding back against each other but usually one needed to enter the illusion with their physical bodies.

But with the combination of these spells or techniques and that of science and technology, there was no need to physically enter the virtual world, one only need to just transfer their consciousness or mental form through the virtual machine, and one could use their abilities to the fullest and practice against others without actually hurting anyone or getting physically exhausted. It was the most effective method of practicing one's abilities and techniques mentally.

Naturally, it was still necessary to practice one's abilities and techniques in the real world to see the effects of your mental training.

And while all this is good, Randy wanted to practice a high-level fist technique rather than some basic technique that he had basically mastered a long time ago. And for that to happen, there was a necessity for 'Knowledge Points.'

The system mention that he could comprehend the recorded techniques using knowledge points, so it was obviously right for him to gather some knowledge points since he needed to kill an intelligent organism or one with high mental energy to acquire these points and he had not killed any intelligent life form before, so now is a good time to try his hands on that.

Essentially, he found out that he does not have any Knowledge Points when he last checked the system's display.

Randy looked in the void again to make sure that he was not mistaken the first time he checked the system's display.

⟪[[Knowledge Points: 0]]⟫

Sure enough, he did not see it wrong when he checked it before; it actually said he had zero points, which means he could not comprehend any of the techniques he had acquired.