"Ding! A domesticable animal has been detected. Do you want to domesticate it?"
The trainer system’s prompt rang clearly in Luciel’s mind. He glanced at the chameleon lizard before him. Its shimmering scales, constantly shifting in color, caught the sunlight. Impressive.
Today, his taming points had just refreshed—he could domesticate a second animal.
After midnight, taming points reset daily at 10 a.m.
"Tame the chameleon lizard," he ordered calmly.
"Ding! Level 0 Life: Chameleon Lizard detected. Domesticating..."
"Ding! Taming successful. 10 taming points consumed."
The chameleon glowed softly, stretching its tiny limbs in contentment. Within three seconds, it shrank to the size of a palm. Its scales now striped in vibrant green, red, and blue.
"Ding! Would you like to inherit the Three-Color Lizard talent: Mimic Color Change?"
"Inherit," Luciel replied without hesitation.
"Ding! Mimic Color Change is improving... adapting... inheritance complete."
A cool ripple ran across his skin, tingling pleasantly. Faint warmth coursed through his veins.
"System, show character attributes."
He scanned his stats carefully:
Physical Strength: 6.2 | Speed: 4.5
Strength: 5.1 | Spirit: 9
Lifespan: 24/110 years
Taming Points: 0 (resets daily, can be accumulated)
Abilities: Earth Rock Spike (Level 1), Mimic Discoloration (Level 1)
Rock Tortoise: Talent – Rock Spurs (Level 1)
Three-Color Lizard: Talent – Mimic Color Change (Level 1)
Luciel activated Mimic Discoloration. A subtle chill coursed across his skin, and his clothes and exposed body shimmered, transforming into rocky shades of yellow and brown.
Ten seconds... a minute... ten minutes... Half an hour passed, the effect holding strong.
He moved slightly—immediately, the colors vanished. The ability relied entirely on stillness and manipulating light.
"This could be perfect for stealth operations," he murmured, impressed.
Setting the lizard down, he watched it climb a nearby rock. It froze, disappearing entirely from sight. Though only Level 1, it would serve as a loyal companion for now.
Luciel retrieved his saber and continued his hunt. Two hours later, he had only caught small lizards, a few poisonous scorpions, and insects. Not enough to satisfy hunger, but enough for practice.
Then, a sound reached his ears—footsteps approaching, steadily growing closer.
Years in the special forces had honed his instincts to perfection. He pressed against a rock wall and activated Mimic Discoloration.
Four figures appeared. Familiar... yet slightly altered.
Mino. But now, a pair of long, blue bunny ears crowned her head.
"Hurry, don’t let her escape!"
"You dare steal our prey?"
"Catch her, or Daddy will kill you!"
The four lunged forward, brandishing bone knives and wooden spears.
"Cowards," Mino snapped, fury in her voice. "Since when did my prey belong to you?"
Luciel waited, patient and silent. Three passed—then the fourth. In a single fluid motion, he struck: grabbed the man’s chin and slammed his head into the ground.
The neck snapped silently. One second. One down.
He rose and pursued the others with lethal efficiency. Two left, unaware of their companions’ fates. Panic etched their faces.
"Who are you?!" one yelled, voice shaking.
Luciel stopped four meters away, invisible yet present.
Mino saw him and froze. "Huh?!" she gasped. Surprise registering in her eyes.
"Luciel, run! You’re an accomplice!"
The last two hesitated. Fear of a skilled hunter—one specializing in scavengers—gripped them.
"Kill him first!" one shouted, charging with a wooden spear.
Luciel sidestepped effortlessly, fluid as water. Using the spear’s momentum, he elbowed the man’s chest.
The sternum shattered. The man flew back, vomiting blood.
Luciel’s strength, already three times that of an ordinary human, was further amplified by the Rock Tortoise’s talent. Ordinary men were no match.
"You... strengthener..." the last one whispered, pale, clutching his bone knife, frozen in place.
"Run!" Mino shouted again.
The girl surged forward, her leg connecting with the man’s chest. Thump! He hit the ground, eyes wide with horror at his fallen companion.
"You can’t kill me! I’m the Blood Beard Boss!" he screamed, attempting to summon reinforcements—but it was already too late.