As the essence entered Locci's mouth, it melted instantly, imparting a refreshing and cool sensation.

"It's as refreshing as a smoothie," he remarked. The flavor danced on his taste buds, reminiscent of a blend of tropical fruits on a hot summer day.

[Your soul has increased!]

[You have acquired Batsunix's ability: Traceless!]

Locci's eyes widened in astonishment as he discovered that his soul stat had increased. It came as a pleasant surprise, especially considering the rarity of soul type Nixes in the region.

Along with the boost in his soul stat, Locci also gained a new ability. Eager to learn more, he delved into the description.

[Name: Traceless

Passive: -

Active: Turn yourself invisible. This ability masks the user's aura, temperature, and odors, seamlessly blending them into their surroundings.]

'Perfect. With this ability, I can infiltrate that place without getting caught.'

Locci wasted no time and headed straight to the location guarded by the Wanderclaws. Activating [Traceless], he became invisible and approached the Wanderclaw guards. Standing before them, he waved his paws in front of their faces, but they remained oblivious to his presence.

Feeling secure in his invisibility, Locci passed by the guards and made his way towards the igloos.

Approaching the Iceries guarding the chosen igloo, he scanned the area for any wandering Wanderclaws. Satisfied that the coast was clear, he deactivated his ability and revealed himself to the two Iceries.

The Iceries let out cute squeaks as Locci suddenly appeared before them, their initial surprise quickly replaced by relief upon recognizing him. One of the Iceries uttered something in an unknown language, leaving Locci surprised.

'Huh, they can actually speak? What language is this?'

Not knowing how to communicate with them, Locci improvised. He scratched his leg with his nail, causing a shallow wound.

The Iceries scolded him and quickly covered his hand with healing light, mending the injury.

Locci repeated the action, eliciting pouts of anger from the Iceries. Seizing the moment, Locci pointed at his wound, then at the healing light emitted by the Iceries, and finally at his mouth, attempting to convey, 'Hey, I want an ability to heal injuries. Please, give me your essence.'

The Iceries exchanged glances before nodding at Locci. Gesturing for him to follow, they opened the igloo and ushered him inside.

To Locci's surprise, the interior was spacious and warm, a stark contrast to the cold temperature outside. He contemplated staying there if the Iceries permitted it.

The two Iceries led Locci to face a larger Icery, whose head bore a fruit. Speaking in its cute, high-pitched tone, the Giant Icery conversed with the two smaller ones, while they explained the reason for their visit.

Approaching Locci, the Giant Icery scrutinized him, its fruit-adorned head bobbing as it asked something.

Locci felt a knot form in his stomach. 'This is bad. I understand nothing he says,' he thought anxiously.

With no means of communication, Locci resorted to staring the Giant Icery in the eyes and growling. If conversation wasn't an option, he'd resort to intimidation. After all, violence was a universal language, understood by all.

The Giant Icery trembled in fear, prostrating before Locci and muttering what sounded like an apology. Sensing an opportunity, Locci pointed at his mouth.

Understanding his request, the Giant Icery plucked the fruit from its head and offered it to him with trembling arms. Ignoring any consideration for the Giant Icery's feelings, Locci promptly devoured the fruit.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Upon consuming the fruit, Locci felt a surge of energy coursing through him.

[Your mana has increased!]

[You have gained Giant Icery's ability: Heal!]

[Name: Heal

Passive: -

Active: use healing energy to heal injuries.]

Locci wasted no time in testing his new ability. Activating [Heal], a soothing green light enveloped his front leg. With a touch, his injured leg was healed.

"Good. I've acquired two essence abilities today. Seems like my luck is holding up. No need to stick around here any longer," Locci mused, preparing to depart. However, his plans were abruptly interrupted as two Wanderclaws barged into the igloo, growling menacingly at him.

"Come on, guys. Didn't I help you fight those monkeys? Can't you just cut me some slack? I promise I won't return," Locci pleaded, attempting to reason with them. Yet, the Wanderclaws remained unmoved by his appeal and launched themselves at him.

Reacting swiftly, Locci swiped his leg, unleashing a flurry of claws that sent one Wanderclaw flying. However, the other one dodged the attack and closed in on him.

Locci reacted swiftly, activating his [Traceless] ability to vanish from sight. However, the second Wanderclaw's claws struck him with a chilling energy, nullifying his invisibility. Meanwhile, the first Wanderclaw's howl echoed through the air, signaling for reinforcements.

Realizing the urgency to flee, Locci attempted to make his escape, but the lingering effects of the second Wanderclaw's attack hindered his movements. He quickly activated [Heal] to mend his wounds, yet the lingering chill continued to slow him down.

'Oh, no. What should I do?'

Locci's mind raced as he assessed the situation. He came to the stark realization that even a single Wanderclaw posed a formidable threat, possibly stronger than himself. The thought of facing an entire pack alone filled him with dread.

In a desperate move, Locci seized the Giant Icery and brandished it as a shield, threatening to harm it. To his surprise, the second Wanderclaw hesitated, refraining from attacking.

"So, this fellow means something to you, huh? Then stand down! Or I'll make good on my threat!" Locci's voice boomed with intensity as he used the Giant Icery as leverage. Despite feeling remorseful for involving the innocent creature, survival outweighed his moral qualms.

As the Wanderclaw reinforcements flooded into the igloo, Locci found himself cornered against the wall. Several of them attempted to close in, but Locci swiftly confronted them, still using the Giant Icery as a shield.

Amidst the chaos, the Giant Icery let out fearful squeaks, while the two smaller Iceries called out to it in distress.

Locci felt remorse for involving the innocent creatures, but luckily Locci's skill cooldown had finally elapsed.

Without hesitation, he unleashed [Frostbite Fury] against the wall, shattering it into pieces. Seizing the opportunity, he activated [Traceless] once more, vanishing from sight, and bolted away as swiftly as he could, leaving the chaos behind him.

Despite his best efforts to flee, the lingering effects of the slow ability hampered Locci's speed, and the Wanderclaws began closing in on his location. Desperate for cover, he hurled himself into a narrow gap between two igloos, concealing himself from their sight. With bated breath, he waited for them to pass before emerging cautiously.

Once clear, Locci wasted no time, making a beeline for the exit of the area. Thankfully, the slow effect had dissipated, allowing him to move freely once more. Determined to put as much distance between himself and the pursuing Wanderclaws as possible, he pushed forward with all his might.

Once safely out of the Wanderclaws' territory, Locci reached his burrow, relieved and exhausted. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he settled down and stretched out.

"Today was a good day," he reflected with a satisfied sigh. "I'll continue the hunt tomorrow."

With that decision made, Locci allowed himself to rest for the remainder of the day. His burrow provided a comforting refuge, shielding him from any potential threats as he drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

The next day, Locci geared up to venture back into Wanderclaws' territory. With his newfound stealth and healing abilities, he felt more confident in taking them on.

"There's no way I'm giving up on those wolves. They're crucial for my progression," Locci affirmed, determination burning bright within him. Activating [Traceless], he strolled leisurely into their domain.

As he wandered, Locci's ears perked up at the sound of two human voices. To his surprise, one of them was speaking in English. Intrigued, Locci stealthily approached the voices and spotted two men walking alongside each other. Behind them trailed two Nixes, one of which was Vizernix, while the other Nix resembled a penguin and went by the name Walski.

The first man, accompanied by Vizernix, spoke in English. "My Vizernix scouted the area yesterday and discovered the nest of Iceries."

The second man, followed by Walski, praised him in an unknown language. "Good job, Andre. I've known you to be a talented Nix Master ever since you tamed Vizernix, a notoriously difficult Nix to bond with."

"You flatter me, sir," Andre responded humbly. "But your own skills are remarkable too. It's an honor to befriend someone who commands an Overlord Nix."

Locci found himself in a state of bewilderment, his mind racing with questions. How were these two men able to understand each other despite speaking different languages? The fact that one of them spoke English made him wonder if he wasn't the only person transported into this world.

'I need to find out more.'

Locci wanted to unravel the mysteries about his transmigration. With careful steps, he followed the group from a distance.