'The fact that an Orc's body could resist an Ogre's strength can be explained by the fact that it isn't 100% Orc, but this is still puzzling.' Jason thought as he crouched. 'I've never seen a female Orc, but it's common knowledge that they're weaker than their male counterparts.'
A female Orc resisting a male Ogre's strength made it quite a bit weirder.
In addition to the fact that Jason's Strength Stat was currently lower than where an Ogre's should be,
'I'm pretty sure that the Ogre I fought was a bit taller and bigger than I am right now.' Jason scratched his chin. 'This is all pretty weird.'
He did not worry about it too much however, since it could all be attributed to the "Modified" part of the Species.
"Rewards?" Jason asked.
[You have received 3 Stat Points.]
[You can assign them to the Stats of your choice.]
[The "Level Up" System Option is being Activated…]
[You have Defeated one "Modified Orc".]
[You have gained 250 Experience Points.]
[You have Levelled Up!]
[Level 0→ Level 1.]
[Your Perception Stat increases by 1 Stat Point.]
[You have Levelled Up!]
[Level 1→ Level 2.]
[Your Endurance Stat increases by 1 Stat Point.]
[You have Levelled Up!]
[Level 2→ Level 3.]
[Your Mana Stat increases by 1 Stat Point.]
'So Level Ups had Stats at random? That's useful.'
[Reaching certain Levels leads to different Effects.]
'I see.' Jason nodded. 'So Level 5 or Level 10 might give something extra. Now, the last Reward?'
[A Locked Skill is being Unlocked…]
[The Skill "Hawk Eye [D Rank]" has been Unlocked!]
[Perception Stat increases by 10 Stat Points!]
"Huh." Jason scratched his chin, his gaze moving from the System messages to the corpse in front of him alternatively. "Does that mean I'm part Hawk?"
The System did not answer.
"In any case, that's great." He shrugged. "My lowest Stat is now one of my highest."
[Name: Jason Wright
Species: Modified Ogre
Status: Stable
Health Points: 230/300
Endurance Points: 50/210
Stats:
Strength: 19
-Agility: 12
-Perception: 19
-Vitality: 30
-Endurance: 21
-Mana: 11
-Unassigned: 3
Skills:
-Predatory Core Absorption [S Rank]
-Ero Core Resonance [S Rank]
-Sublime Regeneration [A Rank]
-Poison Resistance [A Rank]
-Venom Resistance [A Rank]
-Hawk's Eye [D Rank]
-[LOCKED]
-…
]
'I'll use those three on Agility.'
[Your Agility Stat increases by 3 Stat Points.]
[Agility Stat: 12—>15.]
'Good.' Jason sighed, suddenly feeling more tired. 'Now that the danger is gone, Sublime Regeneration increased the output.'
Sometimes, higher Ranked Skills weren't necessarily "Stronger", but rather "Smarter".
Sublime Regeneration seemed that way, increasing the intensity of the healing at the right time, and prioritising Endurance Point regeneration at the right time.
"Before I dig in there," Jason said. "Now would be a good time to ask about those Skills. Predatory Core Absorption and… Ero Core Resonance?"
Thankfully, the System responded immediately.
[Predatory Core Absorption: S Ranked Skill.]
[Predatory Core Absorption allows the user to consume Monster Cores, extract their Lifeforce, and absorb it.]
[The absorption of the Life Force can have different Effects, including Stat Gain, Skill Acquisition, or Evolution Progress.]
[Results vary depending on the particular Core consumed.]
Jason's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So you want me to eat Monster Cores?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "Do you even know how much Monster Cores go for on the markets?"
A silent second passed, and Jason laughed out loud.
"Ha! Why should I care about money now? For all I know, this world might not even have such a concept."
He shrugged, amused.
"That explains one of them."
The System continued.
[Ero Core Resonance: S Ranked Skill.]
[Ero Core Resonance allows the user to establish a Resonance Link with the target's Core.]
[The Resonance Link increases in strength through physical and emotional intimacy.]
[Higher Resonance allows more access to the target's abilities.]
Jason blinked.
"So getting intimate enough will allow me to use my partner's abilities? That's pretty good." He frowned a moment later, gaze falling on the corpse in front of him and its lizard-like head. "Hope I'll find better-looking partners." He shrugged. "For now, let's see what Core you hold."
Jason crouched and drove his hand into the wound in the creature's abdomen.
'The Monster Core is usually held within the Monster's chest somewhere near the heart, so I made sure to stab through the stomach.' He felt something solid. 'Bingo…'
Jason's thought trailed off.
"Huh."
A moment later, he straightened back up.
In his hands lay three crystals.
[Orc Core.]
[Iron Scorpio Core.]
[Reptilian Core.]
"Three Cores in one…" Jason gulped. "That could explain its strength."
He stared at them for a bit, before deciding that thinking about it wasn't helping.
Without hesitating further, Jason lifted the Orc Core to his mouth, and swallowed.
A surge of power rushed through his muscles almost immediately.
[Your Strength Stat increases by 2 Stat Points.]
[Strength Stat: 19—>21.]
Jason flexed his fingers.
"Onto the next."
He grabbed the darker Iron Scorpio Core and swallowed it as well.
[Your Perception Stat increases by 1 Stat Point.]
[Perception Stat: 19—>20.]
Finally, he lifted the Reptilian Core.
[Your Agility Stat increases by 1 Stat Point.]
[Agility Stat: 15—>16.]
[You have acquired the Skill "Reptilian Night Vision[E Rank]".]
[Your Perception Stat increases by 2 Stat Points.]
[Perception Stat: 20—>22.]
"It's still early, but that'll come in handy very soon."
Jason stretched his arms.
"Predatory Core Absorption…" He muttered with a smile. "I'm loving it already."
[A Quest has been Issued!]
'Not even leaving me a moment to think about my next move, huh?' Jason chuckled. 'But with Rewards like that, yeah.' He cracked his knuckles. 'Keep them coming.'
[Quest: "Homecoming".]
[Rewards Upon Completion…]