Totem Activation
"Feature Selection"
Minori's eyes narrowed in surprise.
What truly caught his attention about the skill Totem Possession wasn't just the activation itself—it was the extension options that followed.
As the totem tattoo etched itself into his arm with a faint green glow, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.
"+50 Physical Defense"
"So Hamsuke's totem grants physical defense..." Minori muttered.
It aligned with what he knew of the Wise King of the Forest. Hamsuke's strength wasn't speed or offense—it was survivability. The data from his experience in the Troll Gunna region had taught him the usual bonus range from a beast totem was around 10 to 50. That Hamsuke, a level 30 beast, maxed it out was expected.
Even so, the stat boost wasn't the main draw of the Shaman Mentor profession. Totem skills had a hidden layer—and he had just uncovered it.
"Specialization Choice"
Minori's gaze sharpened.
A ripple of light flickered across his interface, revealing the specialization options inherited from the Wise King of the Forest.
"Please select one of the following abilities. Your selection is permanent. Incompatible traits may lead to weakening or failure."
①: Alertness
②: Healthy Body
③: Night Vision
④: Blind Sense
⑤: Jungle Acceleration
⑥: Tenacity
⑦: Physical Armor
"...Physical Armor?"
Minori's eyes widened slightly.
He recognized the term immediately. It was a racial ability in YGGDRASIL, not normally available to human-type players. Cocytus had it. Shalltear had a partial version. Even Demiurge.
A form of organic armor—solidified from one's own body, flexible and strong, and healable through magic.
But...
"Isn't that a passive racial trait?"
In the original game, physical armor was static. Once obtained, it couldn't be removed. But here, in this world? This was different.
"Selected: Physical Armor"
"Warning: Compatibility Low. Skill Downgraded."
Skill Converted: [Physical Armor] → [Degraded Physical Armor]
Type: Active (Consumes 10% HP per activation)
Effect: Generate bone-plate armor over body or limbs. Prevents equipment use on armored sections.
Defense: Equals half of user's current defense attributes.
Durability: Equal to total defense score.
Minori blinked. "...A degraded version?"
It wasn't the same as the passive version in YGGDRASIL—this one could be toggled, which meant it wasn't always consuming a slot or blocking gear unless activated.
He narrowed his eyes in thought.
"My current armor options are nearly nonexistent anyway. And Cursed Knight gear corrodes rapidly... Maybe this is even better for me."
He whispered:
"Physical Armor."
A moment later—
[HP: 173 → 155]
A faint mist oozed from his pores, solidifying into a gleaming, grayish armor. It covered him completely, even his head—lightweight and seamless like it was grown rather than forged.
He moved his arm. Click. Click.
"Item Identification."
Degraded Bone Armor
Level: Low (11–20)
Durability: 138
Physical Defense: 84
Magic Defense: 54
Effect: None
Note: Cannot equip armor over the covered area.
"Half my own stats. So it scales with me."
He dismissed it. With a shimmer, the armor dissolved into mist and vanished back into his body.
Again, he tried activating it—this time only on his left arm.
[HP: 155 → 137]
But the stats didn't change. Same durability, same defense—no discount for partial use.
His expression twitched.
"So the cost is the same regardless... localized armoring is inefficient."
Still, the implications were fascinating.
It was weaker than the original, yes. But being able to toggle armor on and off? That gave flexibility. It was like a spell version of gear.
The potential for ambushes, stealth, or surprise counters increased dramatically.
Minori smiled slightly. "A degradation... that might actually be an evolution."
His thoughts cleared.
He turned toward the massive corpse of the Forest Wise King. With a tap, the body vanished into his item box.
"Flight."
With a flash of magic, Minori rose into the air, flying eastward—back toward the Ogre Gu territory.
Tob Forest: One Month Later
With Hamsuke's death, the once-unified southern forest fell into disorder.
But chaos never lasted long.
The Demonic Serpent Naga, a beast with ambition, led his kin deep into the forest. Under his brutal reign, order was slowly restored. The outer forest grew quieter—strong monsters retreated, the food chain shifted, and low-level beasts multiplied.
Ten Days Later – Forest Crack
A serpentine figure bowed low before the mouth of a mossy cave.
"My lord," the Demonic Serpent Naga rasped, scales shimmering in the dim light. "The depths have been cleared of most dominant beasts."
The demon snake Naga glanced nervously toward the mouth of the cave.A faint shiver ran down his long, scaled spine as a flicker of fear passed through his golden slit pupils.
Over there stood the ogre—Guu.
Or rather, what remained of him.
The ogre's once towering, muscular frame had visibly shrunk, his flesh pallid and sagging. His breath, which once rumbled like a war drum, was now weak and shallow.
But most disturbing of all—
Blood.
A steady stream flowed from Gunar's numerous opened wounds, trickling into the wooden barrel placed beneath him.
The volume was terrifying. And yet—
Guu still stood, gritting his teeth, muscles spasming.
If not for the ogre's naturally gifted regeneration ability, Naga was certain the brute would have bled out long ago.
"In that case, let's call it a day."
The calm voice came from behind.
Minori emerged from the shadows of the cave, holding the blood-filled barrel with ease.
He cast a friendly glance toward Naga and added with a smile:
"By the way, Lord Naga… would you be willing to contribute a bit of your blood as well?"
With that, he tilted his head toward the side.
There stood another wooden barrel—this one reaching halfway up an adult's height.
Naga's forked tongue flicked out reflexively.Then, his body slumped like wet rope.
"M-My lord… I-I don't have the regeneration of an ogre…" he whimpered, trembling slightly.
Minori blinked in realization, then chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
"Ah, right. I forgot.""I'll prepare a smaller one for you."
Naga froze.
His tail coiled tightly behind him, betraying his terror.