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.

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As I gained three new Skills, I continued to consume the big pile of Mana Cores.

No one else was able to actually eat them, so they were all for me.

Benladann saw as I ate them, admiring how I crushed them inside my jaw and swallowed them.

She noticed that my body was exuding mana.

"How cool, I wish I could also eat Mana Cores…" she said.

"Well, I don't think you would need it, you are already super talented, and the Mold is strong too. You are easily catching up to me merely by cultivation alone," I said, as we walked inside the Ice Fortress.

Ding!

<You learned the [Body Size Alteration: Level 1] Skill>

Another one… And this one is… I can modify the size of my body? Well, that's certainly something…

Maybe I can now enter towns if I reduce my size and pretend to be a pet-winged lizard?

Ding!

<Skill [Dissolve] and [Absorption] have been integrated into [Devour: Level 1]>

Eh?

System! Why did that happen just right now?

<Answer>

And you can just do that?!

<Answer>

<Yes>

You've gotten pretty talkative. Wait, is this… Great Sage-sama?!

<…>

I guess it was too good to be true.

<Answer>

<The Unique Skill [System] has evolved similarly to your Unique Skill [Immortal Body] through your development and evolution. This new function has been created long ago, but because you never check the descriptions of your old skills, you were not able to see it>

Oh…

Okay, I am sorry! Don't get mad…

And it doesn't answer me.

It also seems to be able to read my thoughts.

Well, in some way, a System is like an AI, right? An interface after all.

So developing something of a mind by itself seems like the right next step.

Alright, Analyze [System].

<Analyze has been activated>

<Unique Skill: [System] has the following effects>

Status Panel: The Ability to see your own strengths and abilities as a Status Panel. It also grants the Title Function, amongst others.

Analyze: The Ability to Analyze anything within the System or your surroundings. The capacity to see anything through the System.

Extra Effect: You can also see other beings' abilities and capabilities through a status, despite them not having the System.

Ability Development: The Ability to develop other Abilities through a Level System, alongside repeated use, certain mastery and comprehension of such Abilities is needed, the growth speed of Abilities varies greatly.

Extra Effect: By training Abilities with others, their ability to learn new Abilities and Magic increases.

Artificial Intelligence: A special A.I. will assist you with anything regarding the System.

<These are your Abilities>

Oh, it's there… Since when?

<Answer>

<Artificial Intelligence Ability has been present since your latest evolution into Adult Winged Ice Dragon. Its activation required you to ask something to the system. As you were focused on your tasks and your companions, you never activated it>

Okay… Now you made me feel bad. I am sorry. Can you forgive me, System?

<Answer>

<There is no need for forgiveness. I am a System, a tool. I am not a person as you can perceive one. I am merely an interface to aid you>

So I should treat you badly then?

<…>

<Answer>

<The System would prefer if you were polite>

Alright then.

"Drake?"

Benladann kept glaring at me as I looked like I was lost in thoughts while being inside the Ice Fortress.

"Oh… Sorry, I was just… err… lost in thoughts," I said.

"I see… So what do we do now?" asked Benladann, resting over the floor.

"For now you go take a bath, I will clean myself over a river I detected a bit far away from here, I'll be back," I said.

"Alright! I am hungry, after that let's try out the jelly!" said Benladann, as she rushed upstairs and went to the Ice Bathroom. She needed to boil snow into the water to take a bath, so it would take her some time.

"For sure!" I said.

I quickly flew out of the Ice Fortress, the battle we had wasn't that intense, but I was covered in gooey slime, and I wanted to get it out of my body. Taking a bath in the nearby river was good enough for me.

I quickly landed over it and began to wash over it, as I started to ask a few things to the A.I. while catching fish.

"System, what day is it? What hour is it? Where are we?" I asked.

<Answer>

<Cannot process… Not enough accumulated information>

"So I guess you are not all-knowing," I said.

<Answer: I can only answer things based on the information within the system, based on things the user has discovered>

"I see…"

In the end, I checked my new Skills.

[Devour: Level 1]

Grants the user the ability to digest and consume anything, while gaining a certain amount of power from devoured things if they possess enough power. This can be manifested in stats, world source energy, or Skills.

[Mimicry: Level 1]

An Ability inherent to mimic-type creatures. Grants the ability to perfectly mimic the shape and form of a being in front of them temporarily. It does not grant any kind of change in strength, and it is often used to deceive others.

[Body Size Alteration: Level 1]

An Ability that beings capable of changing their size possess. Grants the user the ability to change its size up to a certain height by using Mana.

…

Huh… Devour looks quite overpowered, but it was something I already had anyways within Immortal Body, now it just became an official Skill, I guess?

"System, can you fuse Mimicry with Body Size Alteration?" I asked.

<Answer: It is possible. Do you wish to fuse them?>

So I can fuse Skills! Since when?

<Answer: Always, you simply didn't do it>

…

<Answer: Certain Skills cannot be fused together, or their results would be unsatisfactory, so it was not recommended at the beginning>

"I see… Well, fuse the Skills."

Ding!

<The Skills [Mimicry] and [Body Size Alteration] have been merged into the [Body Transformation: Level 1] Skill>

Body… Transformation?! I knew something good would come out of this!

If we fused the mimicry factor of changing one's appearance, and then the body size alteration ability to change your body size…

It's obvious that something cool would come out!

[Body Transformation: Level 1]

Grants the user the ability to change the size, and mimic the appearance of any being it can see (only temporarily), or any being it has consumed (as long as the user desires).

Increasing level enhances these effects.

…

"Does this means… I can take a human shape if I eat a human?"

<Answer: Correct>

Huh… What a way to make me want to eat humanoid beings now. But it gotta be justified.

At the very least a bandit or something, but I won't just storm a town and eat the people there…

Well, with this the possibility of acquiring a humanoid shape is possible… I just need to actually get to eat a damn humanoid first!

And no, not Benladann!

Wait, I did eat a monkey…

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