[Dr. Kerenski / Klint / Keps ]

I slowly sang [Conjugo-Anima], targeting the little hexagonal leukocyte-thing in front of me.

[Conjugo-Anima] was a Song-Spell invoking the very essence of the soul. It was a song of integration, of connection and of addition. Unlike the other two songs, it was a lot longer, more complex and had way more stanzas, way more parts to it. I had to sing it slowly and carefully because screwing this one up meant losing a little shard of my soul.

Thankfully, Klint knew this song by heart, having used it very often to add new artifacts to his magisteel-reinforced body. He also sang it every night to reinforce the tether connection between his mind and the artifacts as it decayed naturally over time.

Wielding the Song-Spell Conjugo I was making something foreign become part of me, claiming it with my soul. I had no idea how long it took me to claim the little leukocyte, but it felt like it took me more than a day since my skill was so damn low level.

I suddenly felt a little... warm something inside the hexagonal critter. Something... that was me and also wasn't.

At the same time my emerald-silver threads started to grow colder, weaker.

I reached out to investigate one of the carved up leukocytes and it almost instantly turned into silver mist that absorbed itself into my body upon contact. I felt marginally better.

So... I could feast on these little things to get energy and warmth. Interesting.

I shot the other remaining leukocyte with the [Identify] song-spell, even though my entire body chafed, urged me to eat the little critter.

[Phantom-Whale Lymphagon's remains]

Well... that's something? Guess I have to call these things Lymphagons now?

I prodded the little Lymphagon with a shard of my soul inside it.

It wobbled and twitched ever so slightly, as if it was sleeping. It needed... something to wake up fully.

I pushed it towards the cut up Lymphagon. The hexagonal carcass dissolved into my Lymphagon and my critter started to twitch. I felt it. It was mine. A part of me, but also... not really.

It felt very weird and awkward to control it.... Sort of akin to piloting a little, adorable killer drone. I practiced folding and unfolding it from flying to attack mode and made it eat the other half of the remaining carcass.

It clicked its pincers happily as it did.

So... even though I was a soul... I had to eat to stay alive. Both of us had to eat in fact.

Thankfully, there was a whale full of Lymphagons inside it for us to feast on.

I made a tiny incision in the wall and two Lymphagons fell out of the vein.

Both my drone and I attacked the pair, making quick work of them.

Yes!

"I'm going to call you.... Legonnie," I muttered as I looked at my new pal.

. . .

It went in the same manner for a long while.

Legonnie and I ate Lymphagons for breakfast dinner and lunch. Eating them didn't seem to give me any soul decay, which was good.

I occasionally sang [Conjugo-Anima] at Legonnie to make our connection stronger.

I didn't make more drones, as memories of Klint told me that at level zero I would struggle to operate one drone.

Stolen novel; please report.

It was true. Directly flying Legonnie around was painfully hard, because my Tether was so damn weak. I mostly let her defend me and fight on her own. Whenever she ate someone, I gained experience. Less than I when ate something myself, but whatever. I had to feed my cutiegon.

[50 Experience points gained!]

[57/50 Experience optimum reached! Initiate level up?]

The Soul-Song resounded.

[You have enough experience to level up! Leave your little shard a few weeks worth of food and get yourself stronger,] Keps commented.

I nodded and spend the next several days hunting Lymphagons until we had a whole pile of them.

[Initiate level up,] I ordered.

A strange feeling overwhelmed my small body along with a strange, ethereal, triumphant music.

[That's the "Song of Power and Dominion"! Enjoy your rest my lad,] Keps said.

The song stretched on, sounding like it was nearby and distant at the same time. It rang like a keypad password door beep in the Virology lab and also like Orthodox church bells. The music was memorable, refreshing, nostalgic and rewarding at the same time.

It suddenly felt like blinding bliss was emanating from within me, like stabbing all-consuming pain ignited all over. An indeterminate, entirely new sensation that I couldn't quite comprehend came over me and my consciousness folded in on itself.

----------------------------------------

[Congratulations on reaching : Level 1]

The Soul-Song resonated. Legonnie spun circles around me, pretending to do a happy dance with her triangular pincers.

Name:

[Evaluation error]

Age:

[Computational error]

Species & Subtype:

Astral Phantom [+ 2 in Agility & Dexterity]

Affinity: Alanian Legion [+ 2 skill channels]

Blessing of Emperor Celesar [+ Soul Song skill]

AEX [+Tether skill] Specialization: Soul hunter [+ Soul Devourer skill]

Experience:

7/200

Health:

1/1

Stamina:

1/1

Mana:

1/1

Mana regen:

1 m/hr

Strength:

0

Agility:

0 [+2]

Dexterity:

0 [+2]

Vitality:

0 [+1]

Charisma:

0 [+1]

Magic:

0 [+2]

Luck:

0

Intelligence:

0 [+2]

Wisdom:

0 [+2]

Soul:

1 [+2] [-2] [-3] [-1]

Skills:

[Soul-Song LV 1] [ON]

[Raising Spell efficiency by 0.2%]

[Providing detailed Soul-Stats]

[Translating the Soul-Song's Language]

Known Song-Spells:

[Tamus-Anima] [Sectus-Anima] [Conjugo-Anima] [Identify]

[Tether LV 1] [ON]

[Shards tethered]: 1 [Legonnie]

[Soul Devourer LV 1]

Affliction:

[Soul decay: - 2]

Investiture points:

5

Hmmm... now what should I invest these... magical points into? Any ideas, Keps?

[Invest in Soul and other things...]