"Ugh...Ngh..."
Damn! My whole body hurts, it's like I was smashed by a truck. As I slowly opened my eyes, I registered where I am. First thing I noticed was the rocky ceiling and the ambiant lighting around. I also felt cold and wet, no wonder since I was laying in a small stream soaking wet.
"Ugh...!"
Before I can even orient myself properly, another gush of pain hit my head. Following this, a rush of memories foreign to me filled my head. After what felt like hours of excruciating pain, I finally got some semblance of idea regarding my situation.
"Damn...!"
I didn't like what it one bit. Apparently, I was now in the body of Hajime Nagumo, someone I formerly know as a 'character' of a fictional work, not so fictional now though.
Now, it could be either of two things. One, I was transmigrated into this body for some reason. And two, I was reincarnated as Hajime Nagumo but I only just regained these 'previous' life memories. Of course it could be the others but I really don't want to complicate things it.
I'm inclined with the first option as I don't really feel any connection to Hajime despite inheriting his memories nor do I feel attachments to his important people.
Another reason is because of something that apparently came with my 'transmigration'. It's something that wasn't supposed to exist in this world, a unique skill from Tensura.
Unique Skill: Synergist, information about its abilities was imprinted in my mind. Among one of its abilities is Analytical Appraisal which lets me scan things. Using this, I scanned myself already and there are two souls in this body but both are connected. Though seems like one is smaller and this one is 'asleep'.
"...."
That big one is most likely mine and the 'sleeping' one is Hajime's. Yeah,it's most likely, I just robbed this poor guy's body. Not really in my control but that kinda makes me feel responsible.
"Haa...."
I'll just do something about it later after gather all age of gods magic, no actually, I just need metamorphosis magic to make a new body and spirit magic. Anyway, I'm not some sick guy so I'll just separate his soul later and return his body.
For now, I need to survive and get stronger. I'm not about to be stuck in this hellhole and wait to die. I still need to get home, for that, I most likely need the age of gods magic.
...
It's been at least a few hours since I found myself in this labyrinth. I used those hours to familiarize myself with my unique skill and it's also because I didn't want to risk encountering that bear monster. Also, I don't even know how this unique skill works outside the boundary of the Central World but whatever.
Anyway my unique skill seems strangely suited for an Alchemist or rather Synergist. Its abilities are the following:
Synthesis – Transform two differing targets into a single object. Used to chain the effects of several skills together, earning the user new skills with significantly less effort than would otherwise be required.
Separation – Releases the properties inherent to the target and separates them. Examples include but are not limited to; depriving a person of skill/s (with the exception of ones bound to their soul) and removing foreign objects-such as entities attempting possession or toxins-from the target's body.
Analytical Appraisal – releases waves that enter the target of analysis and perform a full scan of their composition, which is then sent back to the user. Through this, the user can gain information such as the material composition of the target, the amount of mana they possesses, and if they're under the effects of Skills or Magic.
Thought Acceleration - allows the user to greatly increase the speed of their thought process by a factor of one thousand. The user can adjust the level of acceleration as needed, as well as extend the effect to other individuals.
Predictive Calculation – It allows the user to calculate something and predict the outcomes based on their calculations depending on the user's ability.
Transmutation – The ability to alter and transform materials in any way or shape the user desires (for instance, transform scrap metal into ingots).
Spatial Storage – Gives access to a subspace where items can be stored.
All of these are pretty easy to understand but I noticed how these sub-skills are basically upgraded version of Hajime's skills along with the derived skills like ore appraisal being covered by analytical appraisal. With the exception of thought acceleration, predictive calculation, and spatial storage.
Not that I'm complaining since I can become stronger easily with these skills. Though it's unfortunate, I don't have an assistant like Great Sage or Raphael. Well, that's just my greed talking.
"For now I should start hunting for food and also for those delicious exp."
I stood up and carefully walked while blasting my analytical appraisal to detect dangers. What, you think it can only be used for appraising things?
Think again, its mechanism is sending of waves of mana from a certain range, as far as I know it's around 100 meters from me, so if it picks up a monster and it's information popped in my head then I'd know. I think the range depends on my mana reserves and overall strength, probably mastery too.
Anyway, that isn't important now, it just picked up something. I carefully walked and peeked over the wall I hid behind of. There it is, a small creature resembling a rabbit but with absurdly big hind legs in comparison to its size.
Analytical Appraisal didn't send me it's name since this isn't Tensura where the skill can connect with the Voice of the World and gain information. However, it did help me know it's composition like how much mana it possess or its skills.
Mana wise, it has higher amount than me and it seems to possess a skill, it's Air Dance if I remember correctly.
"Fuuuh~"
Calm down. Use predictive calculation plus thought acceleration to predict its future movements. After this, I put my all and rushed towards it, the distance is close to 30 meters.
When I was around 20 meters, it finally noticed me and prepared to attack. Luckily my perception of time is slowed due to thought acceleration and I can see it's next move using predictive calculation.
Unfortunately, to use my Transmutation skill, I need to be within five meter range.
"Chieeeekkkk!"
It jumped in the air towards me.
"You're freaking squeal grates my ears!"
I felt my heart pumping and adrenaline rushing through my body.
Distance is 15 meters....10 meters....5 meters!
"Now!"
I used my transmutation and manipulated the cavern floor to create spikes in front of me just as it lunged towards me. The little bugger quite literally jumped to its death by being impaled.
"Chieeeekkkk!....Chie...."
"Haa...Haa....!"
That was nerve wracking! Despite the small size of this creature, it was vastly stronger than me. And the only reason I was able to kill it was because of my skills.
"Well, at least I have something to eat for today."
I grabbed the now dead rabbit monster and head back to my temporary lair which was just a cave I dug in the labyrinth wall near that water source I fell into. When I got back, I made a makeshift knife using transmutation and cleaned the monster by the stream.
I the used 'Separation' to remove the poison from the meat. As for the fire, I made some using combustible stones I found using appraisal.
*Sizzzzz*
"Mmmm~!"
After taking a bite of the grilled monster meat, I was surprised. I thought it would taste bad since I remembered Hajime almost dying if he didn't have the ambrosia. Speaking of that elixir, I didn't see it.
"Well, even Hajime only found it by coincidence."
Not like I need it though since I can remove the poison through my skill. It would be a bonus if I could get it though.
"Anyway, let's see my status."
I took out the status plate in my pocket and see my current status.
•~~~~~~~~•
Name: Nagumo Hajime
Age: 17 years old
Sex: Male
Job: Synergist
Level 5
STR: 100
VIT: 200
DEF: 100
AGI: 600
MAG: 400
M. DEF: 200
[Skill]
–Transmutation
–Mana Manipulation
–Air Dance
–Iron Stomach
–Language Comprehension
•~~~~~~~~~•
"Hmm, it's different from Hajime's first stat after eating that wolf. Well, I did eat that rabbit monster so I guess that's to be expected. Though I plan to hunt that wolf later. For now, I sleep to rest."
And that's how my first day came to an end.