The stench of damp earth and something acrid, almost metallic, filled my nostrils.
That hulking brute, the Fighting Bull-Frog, was everything I despised. Muscle-bound, crude, and predictable. He burst from the ground, a shower of concrete dust and debris marking his arrival. A Tiger-level threat, they called him. More like a Tiger-level target.
I shifted my stance, feeling the familiar coil of power in my legs. The Biting Snake Fist was my art, my life. Speed, precision, the venomous strike. That lumbering frog wouldn't know what hit him.
He roared, a guttural sound that vibrated through the ground. A pathetic display of aggression. He charged, a clumsy, earth-shaking lunge. Predictable. I flowed like water, avoiding his clumsy advance.
My hands, blurring into motion, lashed out. A strike to the exposed flank, mimicking the viper's bite. He stumbled, surprised.
Good. He was slow, so slow. I could dance around him all day.
Another strike, this time targeting the grotesque horns protruding from his head. They might look intimidating, but they were just bone and keratin. Vulnerable. The Bull-Frog bellowed in pain, swiping wildly. I chuckled inwardly.
His rage was his weakness. He was strong, yes, but strength without finesse was meaningless against the Biting Snake Fist.
Then, something strange happened. As I danced back from another clumsy swipe, I saw it. A bulbous, fleshy thing, almost like a glistening orb, extruded from the Bull-Frog's back. It pulsed faintly, then detached, floating lazily in the air.
[I frowned. What was that? Some kind of…spore? Gland? I couldn't place it. But the Bull-Frog was still raging, still a threat. I couldn't afford to be distracted. Whatever that thing was, I'd deal with it later. For now, I had a giant, angry frog to dismantle.
The fight was mine to control. It was only a matter of time before I sunk my fangs into his metaphorical throat and claimed victory.
The Bull-Frog finally succumbed, crashing to the earth with a resounding thud. Its grotesque form lay still, the fight finally over. I circled the carcass cautiously, my senses on high alert. Even in death, these mutated creatures could possess nasty surprises.
But nothing stirred. The air, thick with the stench of blood and damp earth, was finally still.
My gaze drifted back to the strange object I'd glimpsed during the fight. The fleshy orb.
I approached it cautiously, prodding it with the toe of my boot. It was…rubbery. And now, I saw there weren't just one, but three of them, floating gently in the air. They pulsed faintly, an eerie luminescence emanating from within.
Intrigued, I reached out and carefully grasped one of the orbs. It was surprisingly light. As I turned it over in my hand, I noticed markings on its surface. Strange symbols, at first glance. But then, they resolved into…words. The word on this particular orb was "Strength." I frowned. Strength? What did that mean?
My eyes darted to the other two orbs. They too bore markings. I reached for one of them and read the inscription: "Agility." And the third? Another "Agility." Strength…Agility…Agility… What were these things? Some bizarre byproduct of the Bull-Frog's mutation? Or something more? I felt a prickle of unease. This was far stranger than anything I'd encountered before.
As I touched the first orb, the one labeled "Strength," a voice echoed in my mind. It wasn't a voice I heard with my ears, but something…internal.
Ding! You pick 1 Strength.
The voice was clear, almost mechanical, and strangely…pleasant.
Before I could process what had just happened, the orb in my hand seemed to dissolve, its faint glow fading as it was absorbed into my body. I felt a strange surge, a subtle but undeniable increase in…something. Power? I flexed my hand, surprised by the sudden feeling of…robustness.
Then, I touched the first "Agility" orb.
Ding! You pick 1 Agility.
The same sensation, the same internal voice, the same absorption. This time, the surge was different. A lightness, a sense of quickness, filled me. My reflexes felt sharper, my movements more fluid. I felt…faster.
Finally, I touched the last "Agility" orb.
Ding! You pick 1 Agility.
The final absorption, the final surge. This time, the feeling of agility was even more pronounced. I felt like I could move like the wind, strike like lightning.
The echoes of the dings faded, but the Golden Finger's power remained, a thrilling hum beneath my skin.
Standing over the Bull-Frog, the reality of reincarnation and my newfound abilities settled in. It wasn't just about the fight; it was about what came next. The Golden Finger wasn't just a gift; it was a responsibility. I had a purpose now: to do justice, to fight monsters, bring down villains, protect the innocent. But I knew this power, as incredible as it was, wasn't enough. Not yet. I needed to be stronger. Much stronger. The Golden Finger gave me a taste of my potential, but it was a start. I needed to hone my skills, master this power, push my limits. I needed to train, learn, grow. The world was dangerous, and I couldn't protect anyone if I wasn't strong enough. I closed my eyes, picturing those who might need help. The innocent, the vulnerable, the helpless. They were counting on me, even unknowingly. I wouldn't let them down. I would become their shield. A symbol of hope in a world that desperately needed one.
Opening my eyes, determination surged. My journey had just begun. The Golden Finger was my key, but hard work, dedication, and resolve would be my tools. I would become stronger. A force for good. The hero this world needed.
I looked around at the devastated landscape, the concrete shattered by the Bull-Frog's rampage. This was just one monster, one threat. How many more were out there? How many more innocents were in danger?
The thought fueled my resolve. I needed to find a place to train, to hone my skills. I needed to learn more about the Golden Finger, its limits, its potential. I glanced down at my hands, flexing my fingers. The power was there, waiting to be unleashed. But it needed guidance, discipline. I would find that guidance. I would dedicate myself to becoming the protector this world needed. Starting now. My journey to true strength, to true justice, had just begun.