An hour later, Rin reentered the Cursed Temple. The penned monsters studied him with the same unblinking stares he remembered. He brought up their titles using Identify to double-check their levels and types.

Level 32 Scout of the Undead (Death Type)

Level 49 Shadow Weaver (Steel Type)

Level 65 Banshee (Sound Type)

Level 79 Fireburst Palomino (Fire Type)

Level 88 Giant Southern Skink (Ash Type)

Level 94 Murder Chicken (Lightning Type)

With the boy’s Charisma at level 50 and the morsel from the rabbit he’d caught outside, it took mere seconds to tame the spider-like level 49 Shadow Weaver.

You have charmed a Level 49 Shadow Weaver (Steel Type)

Duration: 5 minutes

The boosts to his attributes were impressive, particularly Dexterity and Magic. Most exciting of all were the monster’s three Grade E Inherited Abilities.

Rin Cartwright

Level 49 Shadow Weaver (Steel Type) [CURSED] Level 6 Potato Farmer

Attributes:

Strength: 61 (+48)

Dexterity: 105 (+90)

Perception: 86 (+71)

Stamina: 72 (+57)

Toughness: 78 (+70)

Current HP: 780/780

Recovery: 62 HP/min (+50)

Magic: 105 (+95)

Current MP: 1045/1050

Absorption: 94 MP/min (+89)

Charisma: 50

Inherited Abilities:

Snare: Grade E

Shadow Cloak: Grade E

Mana Weaving: Grade E

Snare turned out to be a projectile steel web that would entangle prey. With some experimentation, Rin could cast it to specific locations where it lurked invisibly, just like a spider’s web would. Yet, since the creature was a steel type, the web was both sticky and resilient. Its strength meant it could be used for far more than simply snaring animals, like bonding elements together to build things.

As an experiment, Rin turned human, then used Partial Transmutation to change his right arm into the skeletal wing of the Scout of the Undead. With a simple conjuring of his Wing Blades memorable outfit on top, he struck at the steel web he’d created, taking special care to hit it via the blade’s sharp edge to avoid entanglement.

After several blows and plenty of loud clanging, it was clear the web wasn’t yielding. It was then the boy realized he didn’t need his arm partially transmuted at all. He could simply conjure a new type of sleeve on his human arm with a bladed edge of its own.

I still don’t get it though. Partial Transmutation is lame, even with its low MP cost.

Moving on to test the spider’s other abilities, Shadow Cloak was a stealth ability, cloaking him in a sheet of darkness that muffled sound and any mana-based perception of his whereabouts. It would make him stick out like a sore thumb if used at noon in an exposed position, but it would prove invaluable for night stalking.

And finally, Mana Weaving, undoubtedly the ability Craven was thinking of. Rin activated it, and instantly his spindly spider limbs began twirling in their own accord, forming a beautiful weave from glowing wisps of mana. He triggered the ability again and again, emptying his mana pool several times as he practiced, becoming lost in the rhythmic repetition of weaving. Over an hour later, he exited the entranced state with a much better understanding of how to create mana weaves.

To Rin’s relief, the knowledge stayed with him even after reverting to human form, and his first attempt at conjuring a mana weave in human form was a resounding success. It wasn’t as compact and durable as the one he’d created as the Shadow Weaver, but it was a start. The discovery also meant there were abilities he could practice when transmuted that he could retain in human form.

What other abilities can I carry over?

He studied his growing list of available creatures and found he was losing track of their abilities. There were so many! He’d have to train extensively with every monster to get a firm handle on their skills and imprint them in his memory. But once he did that, he’d likely complete another dungeon and have to start all over again. The list of abilities and their combinations was overwhelming.

Better to stick with a few tried and true monsters for combat. Utility monsters are lower priority.

Unsurprisingly, his shortened list of combat monsters was almost exclusively the ones with the highest levels:

Level 22 Bog Squirrel (Earth Type)

Level 24 Whirling Stick Devil (Wood Type)

Level 32 Scout of the Undead (Death Type)

Level 35 Dirt Stomper (Earth Type)

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Level 49 Shadow Weaver (Steel Type)

The Bog Squirrel made the list because of its incredible speed. Although weaker than the others, it was so fast he knew it would be perfect for evading attacks, or simply running away. On the other hand, the level 25 Dungeon Digger was a higher level, but Rin felt its slow and ponderous movements would be an outright liability during battle. It was still undoubtedly useful. Rin imagined its digging ability would be invaluable in carving out a defensive encampment, for example. But that didn’t mean it was battle worthy and he didn’t include it in the combat group.

I’m getting off track. Time to do what I came here for.

The boy held out the black bottle in his hand. It was still covered in freckles of sand from him dragging it behind him as a wriggler when he entered the temple. He’d been forced to abandon the rest of his things at the surface, including the ten gold coins.

I can’t wait to get a storage ring. Maybe this will help?

He lay on the floor, uncorked the bottle, and downed its contents, swallowing it in one gulp. A splash of a putrid, salty brine hit the back of his throat causing him to gag, but he forced it down. Within seconds, a strange heat permeated his chest, an unpleasant prickliness that spread from his torso into his extremities. When the sensation crept up into his brain, it triggered a notification.

You have imbibed an abyssal soul.

Would you like to consume it utterly or attempt to form a bond?

Express your will as ‘consume’ or ‘bond’ to decide.

What in the name of the gods? Bond with it?

A slight pressure formed within Rin’s chest as if the soul eagerly awaited his decision. He focused intently, putting the strange feeling out of his mind. Something about this choice seemed critically important, and he was determined not to be rushed.

But what to choose?

Consuming the soul might grant some benefit, a boost of some kind. But what type of boost would a soul grant? Perhaps he’d gain a spiritual affinity or a combat technique. He couldn’t deny that the prospect of more power was tempting.

Yet it was apparent Craven had given him this reward with a specific goal in mind: to provide him with a companion. The remaining question then was clear.

Do I trust Craven?

To which the answer was undoubtedly no. Craven was a god of unknown power, an enigma whose motivations were layered deep beneath artful scheming. The boy didn’t trust him one bit.

But did Rin trust the god’s judgment? Enough to receive a powerful gift from him? The answer to that was quite different. Even without knowing the god’s intentions, the Cursed class had led him to a powerful yet unorthodox path of strength. Sure, the god was a trickster at heart, but now that Rin was on his side, so to speak, the god had never done anything to sabotage what little power he had.

And truth be told, a companion would be nice. Meticulously checking every inch of a dungeon to find its secrets was a real grind. A companion would blunt the boredom and make his adventuring much more fun.

Rin made his decision, mentally expressing the word ‘bond’ to the Game of the Gods. Which promptly responded by shuttering his consciousness entirely.

An unknown amount of time later, the boy awoke with parched lips, bolting upright into a seated position and checking wildly about him. A phantasmal head rose from the floor to gaze at him. It was a ghost, an ethereal girl, appearing not much older than himself, with short-cropped hair and an angular nose. It was difficult to tell what color her eyes and hair were, for her body was transparent, made from a similar blue translucence to the magical smoke trails created when a monster died. Whatever their color, her eyes were wide and inquisitive, twinkling with intelligence and beset by pointed ears that flared out to the sides.

“You’re an elf?”

The specter tilted her head. “A dark elf. Is that a problem?” Her brow furrowed and her tongue licked her lips as if tasting the words that left her mouth. “I’m not speaking Elvish. Curious.”

“That must be because of the bond.”

“The what?”

Rin exhaled. “Ah. I was hoping you might know more about it. What do you remember?”

“I was running across the subterranean plains near the abyssal cliff. There was a rockslide and I fell over the edge. When the abyss engulfed me, everything went dark. The next thing I know, I’m here sitting beside you.”

“You’re not actually sitting though, are you?” he said, pointing out her phantasmal body still submerged in the floor.

The girl peered down and froze, her brow scrunched once again.

“Here, take my hand,” said Rin, rising to his feet and grabbing her hand without thinking. Her touch was oily and unstable as if her very substance was still shifting between the physical and spiritual planes. Despite the strange feeling, he could still pull her up to stand beside him. “There. Is that better?”

Now that her entire body was exposed, he observed her strange clothing. A doublet made from a shimmering, shadowy fabric wrapped about her chest, bunching into a drawstring hood that hung loosely behind the nape of her neck. Her shoes were made from pliable, well-worn leather, secured by a knotted string that weaved around her flexible leggings to form a criss-cross pattern on her calves. Beside her hip was a short sword stashed in a black leather scabbard.

Again, her ethereal glow made it challenging to tell what color everything was. With Rin’s elementary education on clothing from the tailors, he could tell her garments were—or had been—very well made, although geared specifically for ease of movement and not in the least bit showy. If anything, Rin guessed the purpose of the shadowy fabric was to better conceal the girl, not flaunt her wealth.

She stared at her feet, noticing her ghostly body for the first time. When her gaze darted to Rin’s, her lips were trembling. “Is this the Great Beyond?”

“Uh, no. Sorry.” He scratched the back of his head. “I’ve never heard of the ‘abyss’ or those subterranean plains you mentioned. I’m guessing that’s deep underground somewhere. Here, we’re in the Kingdom of Hask.” Her head pivoted around at the statues of the gods and the central pool before perusing the monsters nearby. When she saw the spider, she leaped back and hissed, clinging to Rin’s arm. Her physical touch against his skin felt more substantial this time.

“Beware—it’s a Shadow Weaver!”

“It’s okay,” he said, patting her arm. “It’s tame. Well, not exactly tame, but it won’t attack.” He scratched the back of his head again. “I’m Rin, by the way.”

“I know,” she said with a look of shock and self-realization. “I don’t know how I know, but I do. I also know you’re a human, though I’ve never met one before. Just turned sixteen?” The boy didn’t respond, his jaw hanging loose, prompting a smirk from the girl. She held out her arms, studying them closely. Then she arched her neck to peer behind her, lifting each of her feet in turn, making sure everything was as expected. “I’m not sure how to say this. I should be hysterical right now. My mind knows that as a fact, but my emotions … they’re dampened somehow. They’re less.” She pointed at Rin. “You’re a total stranger from a species I’ve never met before, yet I feel quite safe and comfortable in your presence.”

“You know you’re, ahem, I’m not sure how to say this, but I think you’re, y’know … dead?”

The dark elf nodded slowly, eyeing her outstretched arms again. “Again, I know that to be true. Yet I’m not at all concerned by it.” She held up an arm, peering at Rin straight through its translucent surface. Then with a sudden swipe, she swung one arm so it bisected the other, swinging cleanly through to the other side. She didn’t seem at all surprised, giving a nonchalant shrug. “I’m Lellatrix. But everyone calls me Trixie.” Her growing smile turned upside down. “Or they used to. I’m having trouble with my memories. It’s like grasping sand that keeps slipping between my fingers. My memories are dimming by the second.” She turned to him. “How did I get here?”

Rin held up the black bottle. “You were in here. A gift from Craven. The god. He said I needed a friend to join me adventuring.” The boy was vaguely aware he was scratching the back of his head for the third time. “So, how about it? I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to. Would you like to join me?”

Trixie’s eyes glazed, and she stared into space.

“I just received a notification. It’s asking if I want to accept your bond or return to the abyss where my soul will be recycled, whatever that means.” Her gaze refocused on his face, and she appraised him up and down with an undisguised frown. “I have conditions.”

At the boy’s nod, she held up a finger with her other hand perched on her hip. “First, I’ve heard about you humans. You breed like rabbits! So no funny business!”

“I-I don’t even think that’s possible, what with you being—”

“SECOND, I require compensation. I won’t be your friend for free, you know.”

Rin blinked. Growing up, he didn’t have many friends, but he was sure that’s not how it worked. “Like what?”

Trixie peered down at her clothes, pulling at the fabric to loosen the folds near her shortsword. “I don’t know. Better equipment, for starters.”

“But you’re a ghost. How am I supposed to find—”

“And THIRD!” Her finger was in Rin’s face now. “And this is important.” She narrowed her eyes, bringing her face close to his. “Got anything to eat?”