Man, it was morning already, I could feel the sunshine filtering into our nest and shining on my black fur. I didn't wanna wake up, I was way too comfortable sleeping in a croissant position—but there was stuff that I had to do today.
[Ugh... only if I could turn back time, I just need a few more hours of sleep.]
My eyes remained closed as I felt the small frog sleeping on my stomach. Thank god none of my brothers and sisters ate him; that would've been horrible.
[Might as well just get today over with.]
I had some things planned. First things first, naming the frog sleeping on my chest, then second, going out to explore around the swamp to get the hang of our neighborhood. And last but not least; see what the hell does my title mean as King of the Swamp.
[[Notice. . .]]
"Huh?" I lifted my head before opening my eyes, squinting at the sunlight. "Oh, it's you again, Spiritus." I could see a holographic hub hovering in front of me.
[[Titles can only be acquired by meeting specific conditions. Additionally, they're known to grant Special Skills in this world.]]
"Special skills?" I whispered, quietly. "What's that? I'm not particularly fond of the whole system, you know? Are there ranks for skills? Like for example; common skills being the weakest and special being the strongest?"
[[Answer. There are no ranks of skills, you must simply level them up to make them stronger. Known Skill-types are:
— Intrinsic Skills: Skills inherited at birth, based on one's physiology or species.
— Common Skills: Basic skills that can be acquired by repetitive actions or at birth.
— Special Skills: Exclusive skills possessed by those with certain titles, or divine blessings.
— Epic Skills: Skills chosen by the Spiritus Mundi to best fit an individual.
— Divine Skills: Skills that enforce the individual's deepest craving onto the world, overriding the laws of reality in their image. Known as the rarest skill-type.]]
"H-Holy crap, that's a lot to take in..."
I tried rubbing my eyes with my paws to fully wake up, but I wasn't exactly a morning person. Dropping my jaw onto the nest beneath me, I tilted my head to the side.
"So what does my Otherworlder and Swamp King Title grant me? I didn't see any special skills from them."
[[Answer. You have yet to bring up your titles and claim your Special Skills.]
"Huh? I have to do that manually? You should've told me that sooner, or something at least!"
Seriously dude? If I knew I had Special Skills waiting on me in my Status Hub, then that fight with the Boss Frog could've been a whole lot easier.
[Titles, open!]
As if the system read my mind, my status hub poofed into existence, appearing before my eyes. In front of me were my titles I've earned; both the Otherworlder and the King of the Swamp.
[[Otherworlder: Samsara awards all of those who have been reincarnated. Thus. Fate bestows you great fortune, causing the world to bend around you to aid you in dire situations.]]
[[King of the Swamp: Title granted to the one who has slain and usurped the previous ruler of the Swamp Domain. Any and all swamps recognize you as their sovereign. All creatures and elements within swamps shall instinctively acknowledge your presence as superior.]]
My ears perked up before I widened my eyes.
"These passive abilities are overpowered! And wait, sovereign? As in... actual king king?"
[[Affirmative. The title grants you authority over all beasts within the Swamp Territory. In addition, you have Special Skills for each title. Would you like to claim?]]
"Hell yeah! Let me see!" I was wide awake now. All of that sleepiness was replaced by excitement.
[[Special Skill Acquired — Poison Manipulation (LV: 1): The user can manipulate the shape and properties of any poison. User can wrap their poison around people or objects for defensive and offensive purposes.]]
[[Special Skill Acquired — Venomous Blessing (LV: 1): Resistance to poison, disease, and decay increases drastically. Poison-based attacks are absorbed and converted into stamina.]]
[[Special Skill Acquired — Reincarnated Soul (LV: 1): When the user approaches death, they gain a temporary increase in magic power to prevent their demise. Additionally, bestows the user with Meta Magic]]
I widened my eyes reading the last sentence.
"Huh, Magic? That exists? I thought it was only skills."
[[Notice. Magic is a supernatural phenomenon that requires the Common Skill, "Magic Control", and or "Magical Dominance". Magic may be separate from Skills, but it does require skills to be used.]]
I blinked a few times, still trying to process everything the Spiritus just dumped on me.
"Bruh, hold up, magic is real, but I need a skill just to use it? So, it's like... downloading an app just to open another app?"
[[Comparison is acceptable.]]
"Okay, don't sass me!" I said, puffing my cheeks—well—as much as a cat could puff its cheeks. "Still, Magic Control and Magical Dominance, huh? Those sound fancy. How do I even get one of those?"
[[Answer. Magic-related skills are obtained through exposure to high levels of magic power, and meditation, connecting with the mana around you.]]
"Exposure to high levels of mana..." I said, rubbing my chin with a paw. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that when I live in a swamp? Sniff the mist or something?"
[[Correction: This swamp is saturated with mana. You are currently breathing it.]]
"Oh!" I froze, looking around the nest. The air looked normal, but the more I focused, the more I realized there was something else; like invisible dust in the sunlight. "Weird." I muttered. "So, if I just sit here and focus hard enough, I can learn magic?"
[[Affirmative. Magic is the most common concept across the Axis Mundi.]]
That was all the motivation I needed. I sat up straight and curled my tail beside me.
"Alright then. Let's do this!"
I closed my eyes and tried to focus, taking deep breaths in and out. The Spiritus said the swamp was full of mana, right? So if I just meditated for a little bit and connected with the mana around me, I'd be able to learn it in a jiffy.
At first, I didn't feel much of anything but the sleeping frog beside me, though I tried to clear my head and focus—hoping I could obtain it without much effort.
"Ribbit!"
"Hah?" My ear twitched at the sound, realizing my friendly amphibian had woken up.
"Ribbit!"
I slowly opened one eye and glared down; I could see the little frog that I saved sitting on the nest, staring at me with those big, dumb, curious eyes.
"...Dude." I muttered. "I'm trying to connect with the metaphysical flow of the universe. Can you not?"
He blinked at me as if he understood what I was saying, and with the nerve only frogs seemed capable of, he let out a longer, and louder Ribbit.
"RIIBIT!"
"Bruh!" I sighed through my nose. "You're lucky you're cute." I patted his head with my paw, smiling, or at least trying to as a cat. "Stay still, okay? No distractions. Your buddy here is trying to achieve enlightenment!"
He tilted his head but didn't move, that was good enough, I guess.
"Alright." I muttered, closing my eyes again. "Take two!"
I slowed my breathing and emptied my thoughts, and soon, I began to feel it; the swamp around me wasn't just air and mud, it was alive. There was a subtle feeling in the atmosphere, in the soil, and even in the oxygen I breathed, as weird as that sounds.
[That's... mana?]
It was faint, but the more I focused, the more I could feel it connect with me. My paws were even starting to tingle, like when your arm starts to fall asleep from sleeping on it too long.
And then, something warm started to swirl inside my chest, like a spark waking up after a long nap.
And then, out of nowhere there was a ZAP! A surge of energy shot through me like lightning as my fur puffed up in every direction as I yowled, "YEEEOOOW! What the hell!?"
The small frog croaked in alarm and hopped behind the nest for cover while sparks crackled around my tail. I looked like a freaking static-charged cotton ball!
[[Notice. Skill Acquired — Magic Control (LV: 1).]]
I blinked multiple times, panting a little as the static fizzled out. "That sucked!" I muttered. "B-But hey, I'll take it!"
[[Affirmative. Magic Control allows you to consciously direct the flow of mana in your body.]]
"Nice!" I said, smirking. "So I can, like, cast magic now? Maybe summon a fireball or something?"
[[Notice. You must learn your first spell beforehand.]]
"Wait, so I can't cast a fireball yet?"
[[Correction. Not yet.]]
"Well, that sucks."
[[Suggestion. Try combining Magic Control with your existing Special Skills to create a unique form of magic.]]
My ears perked up.
"Wait, I can combine skills?"
[[Affirmative. Skill Fusion is possible when compatible skills interact under controlled mana flow. Would you like to attempt a fusion with Poison Manipulation?]]
"You bet your dang omnipresent butt I do!"
[[Conducting Skill Fusion . . .]]
"Is it really that easy?"
From what I know about Mana flow, it can only be acquired when you achieve the 'Magic Control skill.' Mana flow allows you to connect with, and control your mana properly in order to use magic and skills more efficiently. I see why it was a common thing across the Axis Mundi.
[[Skill Fusion Successful. Acquired Magical Spells; Toxic Cloud, Poison Stream, Poison Fang, Paralysis Touch.]]
"Holy crap, it really was that easy!"