Mangowo

Chapter 24: The Sudden Scuttle

Ah, the sweet scent of progress! I could practically taste it—no, not the kind of taste that lingers after chomping down on a dungeon critter—but the taste of victory, of growing stronger by the day. It was quite a simple notion, really. I was becoming more powerful, something I'd fancied for ages.

Learning magic, carving out a path, and wielding strength all my own—something I had always wanted! And even though mana was still playing hard to get, I was advancing, impro...

Interlude 1: Heralas - The Anomaly

Heralas paused the flow of magic, a scowl darkening his face. "Bloody hell," he muttered, snapping at himself before forcing the mana back into the circle. His shift was nearly over, after all—no time for cock-ups now. Both hands were firmly pressed against the runes etched into the wall, each one glowing an obnoxious red as he funneled his mana into the runes.

Something was definitely off. By now, the ritual should've been wrapped up. The resistance he'd felt when he first started t...

Chapter 23: The Sap

A sudden, sharp sting shot through my paw—ah, yes, the cheeky little beast had bitten me, and with enough gusto to pierce through my scales, no less! I squinted at the bite marks, something rather peculiar caught my eye. My wounds were drenched in the glowing sap beneath me, and... good heavens, was this stuff alive? Tiny, glistening tendrils were slowly inching their way up toward the bite.

Naturally, I did what any perfectly reasonable creature would do in such a situation.

...

Chapter 22: Evolution

Ah, the ol' brainbox, a right mischievous bastard. Like a bloody puppeteer, yanking the strings of perception with wild abandon, all based on the absolute cacophony that bombarded one through their senses. What we saw, what we heard, what we felt—it all came charging at the brain like a herd of stampeding manaroes, a chaotic flood of perception squeezing through the narrow gorge of our noggin.

And the mind, ever the eager beaver, couldn't wait to start spinning a bloody yarn, craftin...

Chapter 21: Werewolf on a Mission

As I stood there, right at the threshold, it all made sense, didn't it?

Those cunning cultists had found a way to keep the dungeon beasties at bay, and of course, it was enchantments! What else could it be? Some device must be cloaking the place or sending the monsters packing. That was about as far as my imagination was willing to stretch at the moment.

Now, smack dab in front of me, was the entrance to cultists' lair. No grand door, no flashy entrance—just the outline of a s...

Chapter 20: The Real Dungeon

[Morphogen source assimilated.]

[Morphogens acquired: +2.]

[Extra Morphogens acquired: +4.]

Six Morphogens from one turtle, eh? Quite the haul! I reckoned that extra bit was courtesy of that survival mission reward.

Odd, though—triple experience didn't seem nearly as generous as these Morphogens. Perhaps it's because the turtle was a level beneath me, which would explain the scanty experience. Still, the whole business was a bit of a head-scratch...

Chapter 19: Progress

The tunnel was as quiet as a church mouse, at least for the moment. I had two choices: one, to toddle back to the earlier ritual site. There had been so many people there—well, not anymore, what with them all ending up as Barn's midday snack.

Still, I was keen to see if they'd left any, er, loot behind. That dodgy bloke who kidnapped me, I was absolutely certain he had a ring with a spatial enchantment.

These lot were filthy rich! But, the trouble was, the monster from earlier...

Chapter 18: Into The Dreaded Tunnel

The tunnel was just as it always was—same old rubble scattered about, same spider beasties scuttling around, sniffing like a pack of overly enthusiastic hounds. But the roof? Yeahhhh, that was a different tale altogether.

It was unnervingly still, so much so that one could easily overlook it, as did the spider creatures, utterly oblivious to its presence. It was camouflaged to perfection, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. If not for those bright, shifting hues, I reckon I mi...

Chapter 17: Functional Peepers

Ah, it seemed I had a bit of a blunder—just a teensy one—conveniently forgetting the rather unsavoury business that erupted the last time I used Morphogens.

Thus what followed was a wave of panic, and I promptly screwed my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable agony I was absolutely convinced would make an unwelcome return.

Except... it didn't. Not in the slightest. Instead, a peculiar, icy tickle tiptoed its way into my brain—only for a moment—and then, ju...

Chapter 16: A Lover's Kiss

With claws like retractable blades, I clung to the wall beneath me as Stephen dangled me from the hole above. Honestly, every time I use these little beauties, a voice in my head can't help but chime in: "Blimey, those are sharp!" It's as if I've got a set of hidden knives, ready to spring into action at any moment.

Freaky, but oh, what fun!

And so, the first phase of my cunning plan commenced! I started scratching at the wall with all the frantic energy of a feral cat. My eyes ...

Chapter 15: The Scheme

I gazed once more at the skittering shadows as Stephan hoisted me up, their creepy-crawly forms darting away in the dim light. "What do you reckon these blighters are?" I whispered as he gently set me down.

Squinting into the gloom did little to help; my eyes still couldn't fully open thanks to the blinding hues that lingered all around me.

"They seem like spider-like monsters, but I've never seen any this size," Roland remarked, peering into the darkness. "They're swarming the ...

Chapter 14: Eat to Survive

Awakening was the usual caper—slipping back into reality from the embrace of dreams. In my dreams, I felt no different than in reality, save for the delightful thought that pain couldn't touch me there. So, when I roused to a symphony of aches and pains, I knew I was unmistakably alive.

I was greeted by the curious sensation of... hands?

It took a tick for my eyes to adjust—those peculiar, slit-like eyes of mine felt so strange. Upon opening them, I immediately regretted it....

Chapter 13: La Creatura

What did I imagine a soul to be, I wonder? Perhaps something ethereal, like a wisp of mist, or maybe a tangible essence, like a sparkling gem. Honestly, I never thought to ask anyone, not even Lotte. In hindsight, that was a blunder of monumental proportions. I really, really should have asked her.

The very moment I granted Barn permission to nibble on these unfortunate souls, the air turned frightfully cold—much colder than it had been. With three swift clicks of his jaw, tiny speck...

Chapter 12: The Soul Devouring Serpent, Barn

The exit led us into a tunnel, where a line of glowing runes was embedded in the walls, making me think of enchanting on a rather grand scale. I cast one last glance at the portal stone formation. Similar lines adorned the floor, lines I hadn't noticed before. It struck me that this portal wasn't just a portal but had some other purpose I wasn't aware of. Blast this alien script; I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

But alas, my curiosity was fleeting.

We stumbled into a vast h...

Chapter 11: Dragged Along

The carriage jolted along the cobblestone street, its wheels clattering in a most ungentlemanly fashion. There I was, sprawled on the floor, gagged and tied like a poorly wrapped present. Beside me, on a really plush seat that would make even some wealthy green with envy, sat an armoured fellow.

Not exactly the chatty sort, he was. Silent as the grave, no matter how much I squirmed or pleaded with wide, imploring eyes.

Oh, I tried, trust me. I wiggled, I whimpered, hoping he'd a...

Chapter 10: The Cruel Smile

"Barn, don't go killing anyone or even showing yourself. Just keep my vitals intact with that invisible force of yours," I instructed, pausing momentarily. He had saved me from being tossed about and choked, but could he fend off something more sinister? "Could you manage that?" I inquired.

Three affirming clacks of his jaw answered me.

Splendid. The men were advancing now, likely intent on whisking me away as one of their comrades had done earlier. Barn, in essence, could wipe ...

Chapter 9: Kidnapped?

The day was dreadfully humdrum, as it happened. It was Selene Day, which meant no Alchemy classes for poor old me. Instead, it was the usual drudgery of spell craft theories. When lunchtime finally rolled around, I realised I'd not brought a morsel with me. I figured, if anything significant were to happen, it could jolly well occur at any time. So, why bother? A lapse in judgment, perhaps.

My stomach let out a rather disagreeable grumble. Clearly, the morning's soup and bread were ins...

Chapter 8: Kill or Clean?

Morning had the cheek to arrive all too promptly. I shot a glare at the intrusive sunshine streaming through the window. Really, it had no business showing up so soon. My eyes were sleep-starved, though I felt oddly refreshed—a bit of a paradox, that. Perhaps it was more of a mental quirk than a physical one. Maybe the sheer dread and paranoia about the day ahead had settled in my bones.

I wrapped the sheets around my head like a fortress of fabric, determined to stay put. I didn't w...

Chapter 7: The Loophole

I dismounted, feeling the solid earth beneath my feet. The stark contrast between this serene hill and the hellscape we'd left behind was almost jarring.


"Lotte," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "What on earth just happened back there?"


She coiled her massive body around me, her serpentine head resting on the ground as she settled. Her voice echoed in my mind with a hint of amusement. "Oh, nothing much, just showed a little intruder its place."


"I know w...

Chapter 6: The NetherBeast

"What in the absolute BLAZES??"


The sound was enough to rouse Giles from his slumber. He groggily rose from his bed and reached for his sword. A solitary magic circle flickered to life before his eyes, enhancing his vision in the dark—unless, of course, he banged his head like the last time. It had been a bother to learn, especially for someone like him, but he'd managed.


He made his way to the mage's room, the source of the commotion. Opening the door, he dispelled th...

Chapter 5: The Spectre

'Parda' was sacred, a term the Church of Thalador used to denote the fabric of reality. It wasn't merely a single fabric but rather a weave, comprising different dimensions. According to the Bible of Thalador, seven dimensions existed within Parda. I was familiar with the Astral Plane and the Abyss, though I couldn't recall the others.

Nevertheless, they all existed in a certain harmony, governed by specific rules. The church upheld the sanctity of these rules.

And here I was, o...

Chapter 4: The Summoning

I jolted awake.

No. Nonononono.

Whatever Lotte was planning, it wasn't happening! Her words still echoed in my head: "Not Alchemy but a Summoning."

Yet, despite my resolve, I found myself at the table, pulling out a sheet of white parchment. Dipping the quill in the inkpot, I began writing the summoning process, drawing runes, following Lotte's every recommendation.

Of course, I had no intention of actually going through with it. Summoning was banned in the empire,...

Chapter 3: Lotte

After tidying up the unholy mess I'd made earlier—scrubbing away every stain left by those ghastly, slimy faeces—I finally gave myself another wash. Partly because I still reeked, and partly because one ought to be squeaky clean before slathering any concoctions onto their skin. Magic beast feces was a whole different kettle of fish. Hopefully, this salve would banish the stench too.

Ah, that reminded me—I'd left my bag at school. And Elise, with her merry band of blasted witches...

Chapter 2: The Illicit Poison

Without waiting for his response, I rattled off my list. "I need a vial of nightshade essence, five dried thorns from the bloodthorn bush, three drops of venom from a shadow asp, a pinch of crushed bone from a wraith's finger, and a sprig of netherbloom petals."

Mekhael's frown deepened, and his eyes narrowed. "Who are you, really?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.

I hesitated. "Just someone who needs these ingredients," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

His...

Chapter 1: The Girl With The Horns

Keeping my focus was becoming a Herculean task.

Mister Kendon was in his element, passionately unraveling the complexities of an illusion magic spell. He had a knack for taking the most convoluted concepts and attempting to explain them by comparing them to mundane things, often complicating the issue further by adding irrelevant details. His methods didn't always hit the mark, but that never deterred him.

In a desperate bid to entertain myself, I balanced my quill p...

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