Chapter 6: Decipher

After a couple of hours, Ned and Master Will rode a boat from O'rriadt to a hidden island called Abada. South of O'rriadt Island.

Abada Island was covered with a mist. Its size was just half compared to O'rriadt Island, but one thing was unique about Abada. It's home to a different kind of Magical Creatures.

Ned's task was to tame one of the Magical creatures on this island. Taming monsters take time. Its either you befriend them first then tame or the fastest way was to pummel them then force them to subdue. Either way, it needs proper planning.

According to his Master, Magical creatures are grouped according to their intelligence, strength, and how they use their skills. From grade E being the lowest, followed by D, C, B, and A. And next were S, SS, and SSS. Being Rare, Epic, and Legend monsters, respectively.

But there were Magical creatures that do not belong to a group. These mysterious creatures were called Mythical Creatures. These creatures were one of a kind and less was known about them.

According to Master Will, in two days, I need to tame one of the three Magical beasts. Also, I need to survive with only a rusty knife as a weapon and a crude hunter's clothes. Ned pondered. "ICE, how many times I can use Overclocking?"

[According to your body constitution. You can only use Overclock one time per day for only three seconds.]

One time and it only lasts three seconds. Ned sighed. "That's the only ability I have. It's my only trump card I guess. Plus, I collapsed after I use Overclocking."

[That was due to your body's first time experiencing Overclocking. Don't worry the next time, you'll just feel fatigued. Also, you're forgetting something unique to your body.]

"Did I forget something?"

[Decipher. The second point unique to your body. Since you`re an advanced clone, your body was highly modified by the Empire's Engineers. This modification led your body to a highly adaptable one. With my help, your body can read other living organism's DNA structures.]

"That's it! I did forget about it. So how does it work?"

[Reading Creature's DNA requires you to absorb it.]

"Absorb?! By absorbing you mean to eat them?!" Ned was surprised but remained calm.

[Yes Ned. Since you do not have magic, I can only gather information through your senses. What you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell are all recorded in my system. So in order for me to read other's DNA, you need to eat their Core.]

[After eating their Core. I will then read their DNA structure. Reconstruct them then combine them to your own DNA. And that's where your body starts to modify its muscles, enhance your senses, and adapt to changes. In short, you will acquire the skills of the monster you ate. But be aware, the skills you acquire are limited to your body level, so be careful about using them.]

So that's it. Ned thought. "How about we test it. I saw Rabbis not far from here. But first I need a weapon. A bow will do."

After he cut branches and gathered some strings. He then started to make his crude bow. And with some selected part of a tree, he carefully selected sticks to be used as an arrow and stone as a tip.

Then, he slowly approached a group of Rabbis eating weeds.

Years of training using different weapons, both from his past life and his current. Ned had no problem adjusting his accuracy and precision.

One single move and the arrow swooshed right to Rabbi's head and it fell to his demise. Munching his last weed. The rest of the Rabbi ran to hide from an unknown enemy.

Ned approached the dead Rabbi and used his rusty knife to cut it open. Ned precisely hit its head so that the Core in its chest remain intact.

After carefully cutting the Rabbi, Ned unhurriedly ate its Core. The Rabbi Core felt like a gelatinous sphere melting on his tongue.

"Ah! I prefer roasted."

ICE started to evaluate the DNA.

[Foreign DNA detected.]

[Reading DNA Structure.]

[DNA Confirmed.]

[DNA is compatible with the Host.]

[Proceed with linking?]

[yes? Or no?]

"Yes!"

[Linking confirmed.]

[Possible skills to learn: Leap, Hide, and Burrow.]

[Linking Complete.]

For a moment, the system tooted on Ned's head.

[Leap skill learned.]

[Leap skill can be used 17 times. Depending on the host's constitution, leap skill usage may increase from 17 to 20 times.]

[Leap skill increases the host jumping power and distance.]

[Your body needs more training Ned. As of now, skill usage depends on your body's development.]

ICE explained.

It's time to use it then. Ned murmured.

"Leap!" Ned cried, but in fact, he only needs to think of the skill for it to activate.

Ned's normal leap was only about two to three meters. But after he activated Leap, he jumped for about ten meters greater. Ned was amazed at how his body adapted.

Now with the new skill learned, Ned was ready to take the task his Master left him.

According to Master Will. There are three territories in Abada Island. First was controlled by a pack of Wargs, resembling a wolf back on earth. The second was a group of Ursas; huge furry bears. And lastly the Butrikis, that looked like komodo dragons but standing on hind legs.

Ned's task was to tame one of the three monsters. Ned decided to tame the group of wolves since they are vicious and agile.

Ned pulls out a poorly drawn map of the Abada Island given by his Master. His current location was at the shore. Ned's target was on the left side of the map. According to his judgment, it would take him two to three hours to reach the wolves' den.

Ned's task was to tame, but it would not be a problem if he also killed some monsters along the way. Monster parts are necessary to make weapons and armors. The Cores could then be sold or eaten—he would only select monsters with strong abilities and the one that looks tasty.

Aside from the crude bow, Ned also made the weighted club to be used for pummeling, if things won't go on his way. Now with a rusty knife on his waist, crude bow on his back, and a club he holds, Ned traveled the Abada forests.

Not long after, he encountered two scouting Wargs. This was Ned's first time seeing a Warg. Claws are much bigger and sharper than a standard wolf and their eyes were bloodshot red. Covering their body was a thick gray fur. So these are grade E Wargs, Ned muttered.

Ned who was hiding behind a tree deliberately exposed himself. The Wargs were first startled but after they noticed that Ned was alone, they can't suppress their joy. They started to encircle him.

Charging its hind legs. The Warg from Ned's left made the first move. It lunged straight to Ned.

As expected, low-grade monsters will always be low-grade monsters. All they can think of was to eat. They do not know how to assess their prey. Unless one showered them with strength, they will never cower.

Ned raised his club. He exactly waited for the Warg to jump straight to him since it can't evade midair. The only way for it to win against Ned was the difference between their speed. But Ned was faster, with a swift sidestep to the left, the nape of the Warg boomed midair. It then swirled on the ground but it wasn't dead yet, with its thick fur, it was only knocked out.

Surprised, the last remaining Warg charged after the other Warg was knocked out. This time it didn't jump. It went straight to Ned's leg.

Ned saw the other Warg was charging, with his intuition, he jumped backward, clutched his club, and swing it like golf eyeing for the hole.

With Ned's speed, it was too late for the Warg to evade, it went straight to where the path of the club was meant to be. Its head boomed and was thrown off away from Ned, lifeless.

With it, Ned unsheathed his knife and stab the unconscious Warg on its throat. Blood flowed on the ground.

Ned's strength was stronger than the other with the same age as him and it was already a privilege that Ned was sent to Abada Island with the help of his Master. Because of its thick mist that acts as an illusion, Abada Island is difficult to find. Unless it was someone whose mind was stronger than the mist of illusion.

Ned then carefully cut the Wargs chest. Because of its thick fur, it took him trice the time to take the Core out.

This time, the Core was different than the Rabbi. The Warg's Core was rough and dry. It was like meat, sold in a market to the lowest price because no one was interested in buying it. And the taste was bland.

After Ned ate the Core, the system prompted.

[Reading DNA structure.]

[Linking Confirmed.]

[Possible Skills to learn: Maw, Sniff, Hide, and Howl.]

After a moment of tinkering with the DNA. System ICE prompted.

[Hide skill learned.]

[Hide skill can be used 4 times. Depending on the host's constitution, Hide skill usage may increase from 4 to 6 times.]

[Hide skill last 20 seconds.]

[Notice: Skill duration of Hiding skill increases from 20 seconds to 30 seconds during nighttime.]

Hide skill, not bad. Ned thought. So I can only have one skill per monster type.

Then the system prompted again.

[Howl skill learned.]

"Or not!" Ned cried.

[Howl skill can be used 1 time. Depending on the host's constitution, Howl skill usage may increase from 1 to 3 times.]

[Howl skill increases the host's body constitution. Increases muscle mass. Enhances the senses. And increases hair growth. At night hosts can see in the dark. Howl skill lasts 60 seconds.]

"What!" Ned cried. "Increases hair growth? I'm only thirteen! What kind of hair would I grow? And this skill basically makes me a werewolf."

Ned then cut some meat for food. Ned would like to cut its fur to be sold for a good amount of Pica but since he's on a quest. He decided not to. I'll come back someday. Ned thought.

Ned was about to cut the other Warg's Core when the trees rumbled in the distance.