The Ultimate Skill System: Absorb, Upgrade, Create, Transfer-Chapter 10 - : Living Water

Keiran walked along the riverbank, his footsteps soft against the damp earth. The air was thick with the scent of wet grass and the faint tang of the river.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the water, which shimmered like liquid fire.

He had been hunting in the area for hours, his senses sharp and his movements deliberate. The river was a good spot for prey—monsters often came here to drink, and Keiran had already taken down a few weaker creatures. But he was always on the lookout for something more challenging.

As he rounded a bend in the river, something caught his eye. A large, dark shape rested on the bank, partially submerged in the water.

Keiran slowed his steps, his eyes narrowing as he approached cautiously. The creature was a turtle, but unlike any he had seen before. Its shell was jagged, lined with sharp, blade-like edges, and its mouth was filled with rows of needle-like fangs.

It was about a meter long, and its beady eyes locked onto Keiran as soon as he came into view.

[Common: Razor Turtle — Level 3.]

Keiran's mind processed the information quickly.

Before he could decide his next move, the creature suddenly lunged at him, its movements surprisingly fast for a turtle.

Keiran's instincts kicked in, and he sidestepped just as the turtle began to spin, its shell whirling like a deadly top. The sharp edges of its shell sliced through the air.

He didn't hesitate. As the turtle slowed its spin, Keiran stepped forward and activated his Iron Fist skill.

His fist glowed faintly as he drove it into the turtle's face with precision. The impact was brutal—the creature's skull crumpled under the force, and it collapsed onto the ground, lifeless.

With a thought, he activated Divine Inheritance, absorbing the skills of the fallen turtle.

[You have received 3 Skills.]

[Razor Spin (Active): The Razor Turtle withdraws into its shell and rapidly spins, dealing slashing damage to all enemies in a small radius. The spinning motion also deflects weak projectiles.]

[Hardened Shell (Passive): The Razor Turtle's shell is naturally tough, reducing incoming physical damage by a small percentage.]

[Bladed Edges (Passive): The Razor Turtle's shell is lined with sharp, jagged edges, causing minor recoil damage to melee attackers when struck.]

"Neat," Keiran muttered under his breath.

The skills were useful, especially the defensive ones. He was about to turn and leave when a strange sound reached his ears—a low, gurgling noise, like water being churned violently.

He turned toward the river.

Rising from the water was a massive, gelatinous creature. It was translucent, its body a swirling mix of blues and greens, and it towered over Keiran, easily three times his height. Its form rippled and shifted as it moved, and its eyes—if they could be called that—glowed with an eerie light.

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This was an evolved version of the Water Slime.

[Uncommon: Giant Water Slime — Level 30.]

Before he could react, the creature fired a massive ball of water straight at him. Keiran dove to the side, the water ball crashing into the ground where he had stood moments before, sending mud and debris flying.

The slime didn't stop there. It leaped out of the river, its body stretching and contorting as it landed on the bank. Its mouth—a gaping, swirling vortex—opened wide, and a powerful suction force began to pull everything toward it. Keiran felt the tug immediately, his feet sliding across the wet ground as he struggled to resist.

Thinking quickly, Keiran removed his red tracksuit.

His body shifted, his limbs elongating and his skin darkening as he became the Berserker Spider Monkey. His claws and spider legs extended, and he activated Blood-Crazed Swipes, slashing at the slime with all his might.

But his attacks passed harmlessly through its watery body, leaving no visible damage.

The slime retaliated, firing another water ball. This one hit Keiran square in the chest, sending him flying backward.

He landed hard, the breath knocked out of him. As he struggled to his feet, he noticed something strange—the slime wasn't focused solely on him.

It was attacking other monsters too, sucking them into its vortex and consuming them whole.

The riverbank had become a battlefield, with creatures of all kinds fighting for their lives.

Keiran's mind raced. The slime was immune to physical attacks. He needed a different approach.

As he scanned the chaos, he saw a small, black mouse darting between the monsters. It was no ordinary mouse—its fur crackled with electricity, and it released small bursts of lightning at the slime.

[Common: Electric Mouse — Level 3.]

The slime flinched as the electricity coursed through its body, but it quickly recovered. With a sudden leap, it landed on the mouse, flattening it instantly.

Keiran's eyes slightly widened. Electricity—that was the key. The slime was vulnerable to it.

Without hesitation, Keiran rushed to the fallen mouse and activated Divine Inheritance.

[You have received 3 Common Skills.]

[Static Jolt (Active): The Electric Mouse discharges a small burst of electricity at an enemy, dealing minor shock damage and briefly paralyzing the target for 1 second. Mana Cost 1.]

[Thunder Dash (Active): The Electric Mouse charges up electricity and dashes forward in a straight line, dealing damage to all enemies in its path and leaving a brief electric trail that slows opponents for 2 seconds. Mana Cost 1.]

[Conductive Fur (Passive): The Electric Mouse's fur naturally builds up static electricity over time. Each basic attack has a small chance to deliver an additional shock, dealing extra electric damage and slightly reducing the enemy's movement speed.]

[For acquiring three unique skills, you have received experience points.]

[You leveled up.]

[You have received 12 Stat points.]

[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]

Keiran felt a surge of energy as his body transformed once again. Black fur sprouted across his skin, and electricity crackled around him.

His eyes locked onto the Giant Water Slime, which was now fully focused on the other monsters, its vortex spinning wildly.

"Let's dance," Keiran said calmly, a small smile playing on his lips.

He activated Thunder Dash, his body surging forward in a blur of electricity. He passed through the slime's watery form, leaving a trail of yellow lightning in his wake.

The slime shuddered violently, its body convulsing as the electricity coursed through it.

But it wasn't enough—the creature began to regenerate, its form stabilizing once more.

Keiran knew he had to get it out of the water. The slime's Moist Absorption ability would make it nearly invincible as long as it was near the river. He needed to lure it away, to a place where it couldn't heal itself.

With his new skills and a plan forming in his mind, he prepared for the next move.

The dance of lightning and water had only just begun.