Merging Skills To Reach The Top

Shay watched the crimson-ish beast fleeing with the orange light, running through bushes and hitting trees on its path. Since the wolf was half blind, the chance of it ambushing him again was minimal. Thus, he took a minor break, seating by the den's entrance.

[Skills]

[Growler's Sight] - Grants the ability to see in dark environments and enhances reflexes during combat.

'I wonder if I can combine it.' He leaned against a mud wall, his eyes narrowed and focused on the range of possibilities. The system processed his intentions, moving his skills inside the concrete category.

[Skill Merger]

[Growler's Sight + Danger Sense]- [Compatible]

[Do you wish to proceed?]

'Fuck yes! Finally!' He screamed in his thoughts. His peepers twitched, eagerly awaiting the outcome.

[Predator's Awareness] - Grants the ability to perceive threats within a 10m radius. Enhances dark vision and reflexes during combat, allowing the user to predict enemy movements.

After reading through the texts, he thought about the system's rules and limitations. Since he was unable to fuse root skills with the regular ones, there might be other usage restrictions.

Shay couldn't help but sigh. Other questions filled his mind, as the mystery tangled more when giving it a deeper look.

'I have to fight and hunt more. Just then, I can experiment with my capabilities.'

The sun started hiding behind distant western mountains, capping the land with shadows. His skill provided him with clear, colorless vision, blending some elements together. It was far from perfect. As he scanned his surroundings, everything had a darker outline, but that was all. Faraway objects were undistinguishable from the closer ones.

Luckily, some light was present, which assisted the gaps in his view, allowing precise travel. He stood and prepared to rush back to the encampment. More wolves crept around, but he avoided them with his new talent, arriving at a yellow illumination that became larger with each step. Faint chatters and cheers resonated from its inner part, revealing figures of different heights.

Before reaching the camp, something caught him by his backpack, leaving him running in the air. His skill didn't detect it, which meant malice behind this occurrence was out of the question.

Shay turned his head and saw a giant, its facial structure resembling Blarken.

"Hey kid, let's talk a bit before you enter," He said, walking toward a laid log, encircled by trees, bushes, and slightly enlightened. It was a perfect spot to chill and speak in secret.

"Let us go straight to the point. Are you human, or son of a devil?" Blarken asked, sitting on the dry wood. Serious expression crossed his face, hiding behind his enormous palms.

Shay gazed at his eyes, saying nothing.

"At first, I assumed you might have been a late bloomer with a bloodline mastery, accumulating strength overtime. That's why I gifted you the weights. Yet, you proved me wrong when I saw your fight. Something dwells inside you, and I hope it's on humanity's side. I know we had a small talk about destroying the hierarchy. However, you can take that as slaughtering or changing it."

This sudden predicament engulfed them with silence. Although he expected an answer, he remained motionless, waiting with patience.

"I am human. Being friend or foe depends on others." Even though he gained the trust of two people, would anyone else accept him fairly?

Blarken let out a heavy sigh, ending the conversation with, "I guess that's a natural answer, considering your personality."

After that, they parted, and Shay walked to the center, searching for Flint. There was something fishy about him partying up with someone else. Was he forced to be their healer? Did they treat him right? Those were the questions running through his head. It's Shay's strange trait that developed recently, being obsessed with his friend's wellbeing.

After spending multiple days chatting and exercising together, he never wanted loneliness to overwhelm himself again.

However, he thought about it, too. The increase in intelligence helped him with various tasks. Be it puzzles, logic of different topics, and also self development. Sudden realization occurred before him.

'When did I become so weak minded? He can have others to talk, work, and enjoy his time with. Did he feel strange being near me? Is that why he felt weird on our travel here?' Exhaustion overtook his sanity, forcing him to wobble around with piercing pain inside his head.

With his sluggish movements, he bumped into one person he least expected to see at the moment. Flint, that was chatting with four other people, stumbled forward. One of the others supported him, staring at the dumbass wreck right behind him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean—

An immense danger sign pressured his consciousness, fastening his heart rate and breath. A red, flaming, non-physical aura surrounded one of the guys, concealing his appearance. He could only make out a black human shape inside.

'My sense… he's stronger… but exponentially.'

Shay was locked in place on his four before a palm reached out to him. Flint gave him a hand to get up, but wasn't even looked at.

Without getting a reaction, Flint tilted his head as he observed his pitiful 'friend,' his lip corners went down. "Em… I suppose you don't need my help… Sorry to bother you, I guess."

The group then changed positions, leaving the motionless Shay. After a few seconds, others avoiding him, he regained movement, slamming the ground in that instant.

'And I am supposed to be a demon, right? How fucking cruel!'

Before deep thinking, a loud, high-pitched voice transmitted throughout the camp, "Students, since we all gathered, it's time to go back through my teleportation."

It was the charming teacher that treated Shay. Pink long hair streamed over her left shoulder, and her green eyes were dressed in kindness, noting each student's presence. Her negligible lips wore the same wild color.

A while ago, when all muted, she lifted her arms, creating an imaginary triangle with her thumbs and index fingers. As her energy fluctuated, she created an instant passage to the academy.

"Alright. Now, I want you to step in one by one. After finishing the procedure, you will hand out your findings. Right after, we will reward you with a grade and finances."

Everyone started forming a thick line, passing through the blue-ish portal. Since it lacked transparency to the other side, most people waited a few seconds before entering it. Shay cared little about his position, standing in the middle of the row, getting closer.

Some time passed, and it was his turn. However, after closing the distance, the passage became unnoticeably thicker, and then turned purple. Since Shay was too close to notice it, he made a step.

"Who ho whaaa!!!" He screamed while falling down on a gigantic treetop, hitting firm branches that scratched his skin and changed his rotation.

It kind of helped him slow his way down, but what followed, he couldn't expect.

"Water?! I don't know how deep it is! Fuuuck!!!"

Luck smiled at him as he dived two meters underwater, burning his body from the sudden impact. After that, he threw his arms around randomly, hoping it somehow brings him to the surface.