There's really no point in just standing here doing nothing... as much as I hate to say it, I'll have to quit halfway through in this dungeon expedition. I just need to find out what's happening, this is all way too confusing.

I begin climbing back down to the bottom, and after a little bit, I'm at a distance where my legs won't break from falling. So, I jump down onto the pillar I used before, then quickly sliding down using it as a way to slow down my descent. Finally, I had reached the dungeon once again, back in the circular room from before.

Alright, now, I just need to find my way out. I remember the way to go, so this should be simple.

Or, it would be... but, apparently I just can't catch a break. In front of me was a monster, a huge snake almost as tall as me. I haven't seen its kind before, must be way stronger than all the other monsters I've killed. Either way, it might be big, but it won't be an issue, I'll kill the thing in a minute or less.

Actually, because of a certain person, it might not be as easy as I would think. For some unknown but still incredibly annoying reason, I began to stumble backwards, a heavy feeling clouding over me...

"What the hell are you doing," I couldn't help but speak this out loud, referring to a certain someone.

'I'm sorry... just, it's--'

"It's what, huh?"

"I have a fear of snakes...'

Oh, great! Lucia here, the person I'm stuck with for an unforeseen amount of time, has a fear of snakes! The type of monster we're currently looking at here. This day seriously can't get worse... Fine, yeah, I'll just have to be a bit more forceful about it.

I tense up, attempting to take back control, which I fortunately do. However, that damned heavy feeling stayed with me, and my movements seemed a bit less controllable... this is so damn annoying. I take out my broad sword from its sheath, I'll just end this quickly.

The snake hissed furiously at me, its yellow eyes slanted into lines. Its scales were a dreary dark green with fangs long enough they could go straight through my arm and reach the other side. Although, for that to happen, it would actually need to be able to hit me, which it definitely can't.

The snake finally jumped at me, its mouth wide open, probably hoping to bite me. With that, it probably has some sort of potent venom... Either way, it's simple, I'll just easily dodge.

Well, that's what I want to do, but it seems Lucia froze up. What, does she have a death wish or something? Just because you're scared doesn't mean you should do this! Damn it, I can't move out of the way in time! At this rate, it'll bite me.

You have taken four damage.

Alright, I managed to regain movement moments before it would have bitten straight through my arm, but it still cut me with its left fang... and from the looks of it, in that slight second, it managed to inject some sort of venom into me...

You have been inflicted with status condition: Lesser Paralysis.

Paralysis, seriously!? I could feel my arm tense up even more as it became much more difficult to move. Damn it, this wouldn't have happened if just...

"You damn idiot!" I should probably get rid of that habit of speaking out loud to Lucia, but it doesn't matter here.

Before the venom fully took effect, I quickly made it to the snake monster. I sliced through its thick scaled neck clean through, killing it instantly. In the end, it was still weak, and my strength stat was higher than its defence.

Damn it, the venom spread throughout my body way faster than I expected, it's becoming much more difficult to move. Luckily, it's just a lesser poison, meaning it won't completely inhibit my ability to move or anything. Either way, I sat down, there's no point in trying to suck the venom out, especially for a snake-type monster.

'I'm sorry...'

Great, I almost forgot, if maybe for a second, that she existed... Don't apologize to me, we just have to work together here! If you keep doing stuff like that, both you and I are going to get killed.

'I didn't mean to.'

Right, right, of course, you didn't!

'I didn't! I'm confused and scared, alright/ And I'm sure you are too! I've... somewhat accepted it... it's just like you said, we're in this together.'

Well, she suddenly became much more confident... "You wanna run that by me again? Do you think I, of all the people in the world, are scared? Who do you think you are, huh?"

'You shouldn't try and act like you aren't... I don't really get it, but I can sorta feel what you are experiencing. Anger, annoyance... fear. I'm sure you can with me too.'

"Just shut up!" I stood up, "you don't understand a thing, stop acting as you do! All you have to do is be quiet, so, just stop talking to me!"

'I'm not...' She uttered those final words, and then went completely silent, not making a sound.

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Finally, that took way too long. At least I won't have to listen to her for a while... I'm sure there's a way to reverse this, to separate. Until that happens, though, this is going to seriously be irritating.

Even though it's exhausting to move with this venom inside of me, it's a waste of time to just stand here doing nothing. I remember the way to go to get here, so, I'll just follow my memory until I get there.

Hm, it seems to be almost night, seeing how the sun is setting. That would be an issue if I wasn't inside the dungeon as I am now... Lucky me, by the time I get out of here, it'll probably still be night.

That being said, there are still some things I'm a bit confused about, honestly. Earlier, it sounded like I gained three different skills. I should probably check my status, you know, just to be sure...

Name: Blaine Skia Species: Human Class: Spellblade LV: 22 HP: 42 MP: 46 STR: 28 AGI: 28 VIT: 21 DEF: 14 INT: 24 WIS: 18 CHA: 12

Skills: [Wrath], [Lust], [System], {Mana Sense}, {Mana Absorbtion >LV 4<}, {Mana Operation >LV 4<}, {Duel Casting >LV 2<}, {Enchant Weapon >LV 3<}, {Sword Technique >LV 5<} Affinities: [Fire], [Water], [Trap], [Gravity]. Spells: {Pitfall}, {Exploding Fireball}, {Flame Ensnare}, {Paralysing Trap}, {Surrounding Flames}, {Flaming Sword}.

Well, looks like everything is normal... or not. Once we get to my skills and affinities, things just go down. For my skills, there are those three new skills I've never heard of. Wrath, Lust, and System... yeah, I don't get it. I'm guessing I got them because of Lucia or something, but I don't have much other to go on. Then, there are my magic affinities... yeah, something is messed up here. Usually, a human will only be born with two different attributes, but now, I have four... These two must be her attributes, so I'm not sure if I'll actually be able to use them. Fire and Trap were my attributes, by the way.

'Um, question... what are these weird screen things?'

Huh? You're seriously going to tell me you don't know what a status screen is? Damn, what are you, nine? Haven't even your status screen?

'Status screen...?' She completely ignored me basically calling her a child, 'speaking' with a confused tone, 'Like, in a game or something?'

We aren't talking about games here! There aren't even any games that have that kind of stuff... Oh, and once again, she's gone silent. This is seriously so annoying. Fine, I'll use this time to check what my new skills do. It'll take a while to get out of here, anyway...

Let's see.

Skill: Wrath Skill Abilities: Wrath grants greatly increased power at the cost of rapid use of the Holder of Wrath's soul. Depending on the amount of energy used, all stats will increase by a set amount, from 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x up to 10x. Along with the soul, stamina will be spent much quicker than usual. However, due to the increase in all stats, stamina is also increased. Even with this, stamina loss is much quicker than the excess fuel can provide. Notes: With extended use, the soul will burn out much faster than it should. Rest of abilities locked.

Skill: Lust Skill Abilities: Lust allows for the control of another's soul, however, to activate on a living entity, they must be incapacitated or consciously allowing for their soul to be controlled. Control of a soul will not only use the energy of the user's soul, but also the target's soul. Notice, only the true Holder of Lust is able to use this skill. Notes: Lust is still able to fail even if the target is incapacitated if their wisdom stat is much higher than the Holder of Lust. Rest of abilities locked.

Skill: System Skill Abilities: Information unavailable Notes: Changes based on user

Ah, right. That makes sense. Actually, on second thought, what? Look, this day has been exhausting and I can barely comprehend the words in front of me. Damn it, after I get out of here, I need to take a nice long sleep... and also break from work. Then again, with what happened, I probably won't even get that much.

So, these, uh, weird skills. They're interesting, to say the least. Once again, I'm brought to the topic of souls. A bit menacing how one of the skills uses my 'soul' or whatever as an energy source... and then the other can pretty much straight up control another person? I don't know, that's what it sounds like.

Oh, great, my thoughts are rudely interrupted by the incoherent thoughts of a certain person.

'This... this isn't Earth...'

What in the world are you talking about now?

'This isn't my planet...'

... what?