The tired moanings of prisoners sifted through the jail cells like a laden breeze. In every sound, every creak and noise, I sympathized, the pain and soreness from a hard day in the mines still fresh. With every wince and flinch, I could nearly hear the squeaking rats being cursed under muttered breaths.

My eyes were closed but I was not sleeping. I was staring. At my first level, and all the things I saw with it.

[Name] :

[Level]: 1

[Race] : Stexpt

[Health]: 22/30

[Mana]: 57/80

[STR]: 4

[END]: 3

[DEX]: 5

[INT]: 18

[WIS]: 8

[Stat Points]: 3

[Titles]:

[Traits]: [Higher Functioning] , [Creature Study]

[Skills]: [Flesh Magic] 2 , [Genetics] 2

[Abilities]: [Flesh Magic]: [Mend] 3

I recognized my physical [Stats] for what they were. [STR] was the measure of power, the ability to lift things and damage others. [END] had to do with stamina, how long one could last, or how long one could take punishment. [DEX] measured the finesse of someone, the speed and nimbleness, the control of the body. [INT] measured the individual's mental prowess and problem-solving as well as magical power. And [WIS] dealt with the less physical control one needed for such endeavors, as well as the speed of recovery and size of the pool of mana an individual had access to.

As it turned out, [Health] and [Mana] were resultant of both [END] and [WIS]. 10 points of each for every point in their corresponding [Stat]. I wasn't surprised to find either my [Health] or [Mana] to be low, my body felt weak even after my castings of [Mend].

My [INT] was my highest [Stat] by far and that translated to my mental state. My [Higher Functioning] had already kicked in multiple times, the ability to see complex problems in my daily routines had saved me the effort of scouring the caves for crystals, or searching for Gral's stash.

It was the magical aspect that gave me pause. My [Flesh Magic] was deeply unrefined, and perhaps that had to with my own lack of control, but the power should've been there. [Mend] had only healed my rat friend a small amount, it should've been much higher. Had I not pushed myself enough?

I read through the description of the [Ability]. It seemed like [Abilities] fell under a certain [Skill] and were a more active tool to be used. [Mend] as it turned out fell under [Flesh Magic] in this case. The times I had used it on myself had been ever so slowly paying off. I was getting better at it.

[Flesh Magic]: [Ability]: [Mend] 3

Through gentle encouragement, the healing of all wounds can be minutely accelerated, both physically and magically. Affecting the flesh directly offers a measure of control degrees above mundane treatment. 

Effects:

Healing to the target based on injury and treatment

3% increase in healing efficiency

"Based on injury and treatment." I hummed. That made more sense, healing my cuts and bruises wouldn't help my overall health. It was no wonder [Mend] did so little for me despite my generous usage. In the case of my rat friend, perhaps her [Health] was simply not as high as mine. That would've explained the relatively low amounts of healing she had received from me.

My stomach rumbled, not for the first time being underfed, the feeling was a constant one. Even my body could recognize the garbage I was being fed, that we were all being fed. I was malnourished. I craved meat and anything but slop would've been heaven. It was comforting in the coldest of ways.

It meant I was alive, despite this hell.

These things circulated my mind, like birds aflight and migrating. My thoughts were free, my mind unshackled. At least there, I could spread my wings. I placed my remaining [Stat Points] into [WIS] on a whim. This brought my [Mana] to a solid 110.

I paused as a wave of clarity, as cool and calm as a tranquil lake passed through my system, pooling at my head. The feeling washed over me. Like I was standing on the shore of a great lake, while a wave of clear water buffeted me, wiping away the sweat and grime of the mines.

Before I fell asleep, she came again. The rat. Like the previous night, I watched her slowly approach. This time she was less frightened and as I laid my hand upon her I named her, red eyes regarding me. "I think I'll call you Bird." I said, content with myself. Some measure of pleasure in the short contact. This time, I felt more control in my magic, more sure as it moved through her.

Healed [Large Rat]  4 HP

And then, like a fluttering of feathers that was more pattering of feet, she disappeared among the stalactites hovering ever so ominously above my cell. 

I fell asleep truly this time and awoke again to the worst sound of my day. The Jailor's wake up call.

The Jailor was thinner than most troggs, at least of the troggs that were wardens, which were all of them to my knowledge. So perhaps there was some pleasure for him to bully us as we woke up. Muse and Kisz were silent today, although the gentle pressure of their stares upon me was evident. It was only curiosity that I sensed from them though. I was something to tear their minds away from the toil between days. As if I were a welcome distraction and curio to ease their burdened minds and bodies. I ignored them as best as I could and simply moved past them.

The Cook cursed, a deep crunch coming from under her serving table. There was a sharp chittering squeal, too alien to be mammal. She raised a ladle and yelled something unintelligible before my ears started registering it. "What in the underworld's fiery flames?" She lifted her foot up and I could see the purple slime that ran up her leg.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

What was perhaps the largest cockroach I had ever seen was twitching, half-crushed under her foot. It had gotten into the cabinet where she kept the bowls and was about the size of the [Large Rats] around here. "Disgusting thing." She spat, before kicking the corpse backward.

That didn't stop her from serving everyone with the same bowls. The prisoners only grimaced at the purple slime that covered their utensils. I could do little but choose one less covered, though there weren't many like that left when I got there.

When I descended into what I now called the Crystal Caves a poor prisoner was being rattled by the Overseer. I quickly made myself scarce, too familiar with his moods by now. I moved higher into the mines in order to keep away from anyone who'd potentially disrupt me. My time in the mines the past few days had been a small boon. Being able to reliably find and stash away the crystals allowed me some measure of free time.

I found a nice dry spot away from the crystals and delved into my body. I reused [Mend] over and over again until not only my body itself weakened by the accelerated processes but my mind ached too. The small injuries I'd always garner over the course of the day were good practice in the very basics of [Flesh Magic]. And, with my higher [WIS] I'd like to think my control was sharper, my metaphorical hand, steadier.

"[Health] still can't get past 60." I said to myself. My [Mana] on the other hand had almost nearly depleted, and the odd fatigue I felt might've been an indicator.

Repairing torn muscles and epidermis seemed to be my specialty now. When that was beyond me, there was little I could do but align everything correctly so that the natural healing would take over. The body knew best after all.

Meanwhile, I examined my DNA, the encoded genetic information of my being that wasn't altered by the weird green crystals that grew from these caves. Simply because of my sheer curiosity. I doubted anyone could do what I had done, but my knowledge in [Genetics] and my ability to self-diagnose myself with my [Flesh Magic] allowed me such luxuries. Unsurprisingly, this information did not line up with how my body appeared. Given an ideal environment, I should've been more filled out, although that much could be said of anyone imprisoned here. My growth had been stunted here.

[Skill]: Level Up [Genetics] 3

I nodded at the information, wrapping up my inspection of myself. 

Over the next few days, the workings of the prison lab became routine. It turned out that the entrance to the Crystal Caves was regularly rotated. The crystals, called mutacite, apparently regenerated and so various access points were marked and circulated through so more could be harvested.

It was also important to note that no miners ever went past a certain point in the Crystal Caves. Any further than their personal limit and they wouldn't be able to find their way back to the prison. None ventured as far as I did. My memory was the only thing that allowed me to do so.

That was when I ran into my first wild cockroach. Or rather my first [Large Cockroach].

Exploring became my hobby, but beneath that cover, it was truly me searching for any clues, any way out of this place. The cockroach was so near motionless I suspected it was dead. It was the only thing in an empty cave, and it wasn't the first time I would've come across a dead body.

It chittered violently and came crawling right towards me. Before I could even react my pickaxe came point first on the things head. The resounding crack did nothing but slow the roach. The fact I hadn't even penetrated after putting a considerable amount of force into the point of the pickaxe made my mind slow. How strong had the Cook been to simply crush one of these things with her leg?

I backed away, fumbled away really, and repeated my efforts but chickened out at the last second and swatted the creature away. It bit and nibbled at my feet. It drew blood in more places than I would've done to myself over the course of two days. I screamed kicking the thing away, and when it was too close I dropped my rucksack on it. It struggled, its barbed legs catching on the rough fabric of cloth each miner was given. Quickly, I dropped my pickaxe on top of it and the weight of that was enough to pin it. It couldn't get its feet back under itself.

"Fuck." I breathed heavily into the cave. I clambered to the wall and tended to my wounds eyeing the creature's many legs scrambling hopelessly against the black rock of the cave. It squealed and screeched like the one the Cook had decimated.

[Skill]: Level Up [Flesh Magic] 3

I blinked at the sudden increase. It had taken days of constant, constant, [Mends] until some progress had been made. I ignored the level up and continued to tend to my many many bleeding wounds. I nearly fainted from the blood loss and found my [Health] to be less than half and sitting at 13/30. My [Mana] was worse, and the pounding headache might've accounted for it.

I rested for two hours. The [Large Cockroach] hadn't stopped scrabbling the entire time. 

I came closer, close enough that I could reach out with my magic. What I found in the [Large Cockroach] was a roiling mess of cells that all wanted to do their own thing. It was absolutely volatile. It was like looking into a bubbling pool of lava, only this time it was a bug.

I gasped and stared down at the thing. "You look like a regular damn cockroach too. If not for your size." Gleaming black eyes stared up at me, completely oblivious.

I wouldn't have been surprised if Gral's own cells had looked something like this cockroach. It seemed that something about the cockroach's own DNA fought change on a fundamental level. It was a piece of dominating information in each and every one of its cells, not just the ones infected with these new instructions. 

"In any case, it doesn't look like you're in pain." I said, unable to grasp the preventing piece of genetic information. The cockroach got a leg half free scrambling across the stone and sliced my knee open. "Bastard!" I yelled, immediately working on my wound.

Angry, I exacerbated the processes of its infected cells, pouring [Mana] as I knew it into the cockroach. The chitin of the thing, its flesh refused the change incredibly resistant. Everything had a breaking point, and in my sudden bout of anger, I was determined to find this one.

A tearing noise came from the roach right as I felt something give. There was a sharp keening but I only backed away as I heard the sound again. Under the rucksack, purple blood dripped. I recoiled at the sight, something grew from the wound right at the base of its shell. More chittering clicking, I saw an entirely new head erupt from its neck in a spew of purple slime. It was coated in stuff and immediately both heads started ripping at each other.

The rucksack fell loose and I grabbed my pickaxe holding it in a defensive position as the roach came free. It scurried off, taking a drunken zig-zagged path. I stood dumbfounded as I watched it go. It was named differently this time. A [Mutated Cockroach].

[Genetics]: [Ability] Acquired: [Mutate]

[Genetics]: [Ability] Level Up [Mutate] 1

[Genetics]: [Ability]: [Mutate] 1

You are able to exacerbate and excite the genes in living organisms causing them to undergo changes in both form and nature. Through the use of [Mana] you are able to accelerate this process and alter the genome.

Effects:

1% increase in ease of mutation

1% increase of control of mutation

I stared at my hand and spent the rest of the day exploring in stunned quiet. I had just encouraged a cockroach to grow another head. I could have sworn I heard the chilling chittering of a cockroach over my shoulder multiple times. Any sound halfway similar sent shivers down my spine. I wondered how long it would survive.

Shaking my head, I let my mind focus on my original task. Food and water at a level sustainable enough to survive and perhaps eventually escape through these Crystal Caves. As with the previous days, little luck. Food was doable if I wanted to risk angering all the [Large Rats] by attacking one of their members. Although I had seen how fast they swarmed to aid each other, I wouldn't be trying to eat them anytime soon. It was likely to turn out the opposite way. As for water, no sign of it. That was the problem too, water was the key. If I located a source the food might follow.

I had been going further and further. So far in fact that the Overseer's call was nearly inaudible unless I were paying special attention. With [Mutate] and the [Mutated Cockroach] on my mind it was a strong possibility I would've missed it, so I decided to head back early. 

Exploring the Crystal Caves had yielded nothing concrete on escape the past few days. I had to inevitably return since the only source of food and water was the prison. That was one hint I hadn't had the time investigate. The nature of the prison lab's supplies was still a mystery. Days spent exploring further and deeper than anyone had ever gone and still, the caves were as unchanging as ever.

I returned with my rucksack of crystals conspicuously covered in purple slime. I didn't try to hide this. People had come back worse than this. The Overseer paid it no mind save for raising an angry eyebrow at my pace. I only stared blankly ahead. "Give me that, scum." He growled, ripping my items from me. He examined my things. "Hmph. Cockroaches. They're getting worse than the rats." 

Bird visited me again that night. The rat was visibly better as she approached me I found it hard to concentrate on the magic too distracted with my new [Ability]. It was something I would have to test. Only, who would be my subject? I stared at Bird. The term "lab rats" came to mind, but no, not Bird. 

I sighed. "One day." I said. "One day, I'll see something other than the godforsaken green glow of this prison."

I fell asleep, disturbing thoughts of cockroaches on my brain.