Black Swan Bay. A research base created by the Russian Government to conduct experiments on a Dragon corpse. It was built in Siberia Harbour and had multiple facilities. The base was an orphshudderedhere hybrid children were kept and experimented on.
Today is a special day for our MC Ariel. Today is her 6th-year-old birthday. Children are gathering in her cottage and celebrating her birthday.
"Ariel, try this cake. I baked this personally," Renata said proudly as she handed over a small cupcake to her friend.
"Thank you," Ariel said as she ate the cake in a bite. Renata scrunched her nose in disgust and glared at Ariel.
"Well, well, well, you don't even call me to this party, I am so sad," director Herzog appeared and said that in a cheeky voice.
"Director!," all the kids stood up and greeted him. Ariel also greeted tensely.
"Here, accept my gift for you," the director said to Ariel as he handed a snow globe with a miniature Black Swan Bay orphanage inside it.
"Thank you," Ariel accepted the globe and said it with a forced smile. Director smiled at her which made her shudder.
*Ding
[Level of the skill Sense Malice was increased by 1]
'Yep, Herzog is bad news, no denying it,' Ariel confirmed herself.
*Ding
[Congratulation on the host for surviving for 6 years]
*Ding
[You had been rewarded 100 stat points and 10 skills. Please, use them wisely]
The system continued to notify.
After that, she and others celebrated the birthday for a while and left. Now alone, she focused on the system.
'Status,' she called out in her mind. Suddenly, a white screen appeared in front of her.
[Name: Ariel
Title: Orphan
Race: Human
Level: 1
HP: 5600/5600
Chi: 5800/5800
CON: 56
DEX: 34
INT: 29
WIS: 32
LUC: 12
Stat Points: 0]
As you can see, She and other children in orphanage stats are higher compared to normal humans like Herzog. She attributed that to Dragon Serums Herzog was injecting toward the children. For her, the system absorbed them and boosted her. For others, they were turned into Dragon-Human hybrids. She saw these hybrids mutated and became monsters which Herzog killed more than once. Herzog simply lied to the orphans that they went to the city. Thankfully, her friends are stable but she hated it. But still, she had to tread carefully. She knew for a fact that whoever behind Herzog is powerful and dangerous.
If she wanted to protect her friend, she must have enough strength. Enough to rival a nation. And she will have it no matter what.
[Name: Ariel
Title: Orphan
Race: Human
Level: 1
HP: 18800/18800
Chi: 37600/37600
CON: 188
DEX: 188
INT: 188
WIS: 188
LUC: 12
Stat Points: 0]
Ariel immediately felt the difference. She felt so powerful as if she could destroy mountains with a punch, but she knew that this feeling was a mere illusion. But she was sure she could at least destroy a large boulder. She calmed down instantly and summoned skills.
[Skills
Gamer Body: level max
Allow the host to live like a game character in reality
Gamer Mind: level max
Grant all mental effects immunity
Chi manipulation: level 10
Allow the host to manipulate chi
Etc]
She can feel herself becoming stronger.
Z looked at her strangely.
"You seemed to have become stronger?" he asked, while she just smiled mysteriously.
7 years later,
[Name: Ariel
Title: Knight in shining armor (effect: CHA +10, STR +10 when protecting young girls)
Race: Human
Level: 8
HP: 38300/38300
Chi: 76600/76600
CON: 383
DEX: 383
INT: 383
WIS: 383
LUC: 12
Stat points: 0]
"Wake up Ariel, wake up!"
Ariel woke up with a shout, "Renata!"
"Nightmare?"
"Yes, sorry," she replied to Renata who looked worried. She was dreaming about what happened 2 years ago. At that time, Renata was attacked by one of the mutant monsters of the director. If not for her arriving quickly, she would have died. She tore apart that monster and minced its pieces. Ariel gritted her teeth in anger. Only at that time when she nearly lost her, she realized how much Renata meant to her. Strangely enough, after that event, Z came to her and said he approved of me.
"If you wake up, come with me," Renata said. She gave Renata a quizzical look.
"Don't tell me you forgot?! Director is going to get angry," she said in an exasperated tone.
"Put these on and get out quickly," she said as she pointed toward her clothes then left the cottage.
She quickly left the cottage and followed Renata. Everyone is running around preparing for Christmas. For them, this is a very special day choosing who got to go to the city. She walked toward the snow Foxes and fed them some jerky. Only after that, she walked toward Renata.
"Well, look at you all working like dogs for dog biscuits" He greeted in his usual way.
"As long as he left Renata alone, I can tolerate anything else," Ariel said.
"Come on guys, you are saying as if the director is a bad guy," Renata interjected.
Ariel and Z just gave her an impassive look.
"You are so sweet, Renata," Ariel said with a smile. "Don't worry, I will protect you from everything," she continued. She dragged Renata to the sledge and picked up the gifts.
They set off to the training area where the director would be waiting. When they arrived, they witnessed the scene of Anton blasting off the robots with his EX skill. One of the robots flew in their direction. As Ariel was about to act, Renata suddenly stood before her and stopped the robot, and fell to the ground. Ariel quickly offered her hand to the young girl.
"Idiot, it is my duty to protect you, not the other way round," she said in distress which Renata laughed.
"Renata, are you okay?" The Director came running toward them.
"I am fine, director," Renata replied.
"You are here too Ariel," he said with a smile.
*Ding
[Level of the skill Sense Malice was increased by 1 level]
"Hello director," she greeted with a neutral face.
"Now, where is Z? I believed I called him,"
"I am sorry, director. Z said he is sick," Renata, like an angel she was, defended Z.
When they were conversing, a helicopter made its way over their head. A blonde man came out from the helicopter.
"That will be all for now. You guys should go help with Christmas preparations and Ariel, take this chocolate. This is a gift for Christmas so don't tell anyone, okay?" the director said. She nodded at that.
After that, she and Renata walked back toward the giant pine tree they usually use as the Christmas tree. After helping out, they were ready to start the party. Suddenly, she was tapped from behind. She looked behind and found out it was Vera.
Vera backed off a little and said, "well...the...ball tonight, will you be my date?" She asked shyly.
"Of course," Ariel smiled and replied. Vera beamed at the answer.
Ariel wandered around to find Renata, and she found her sitting at the edge of a cliff.
"What do you think it's like on the other side of the ocean?" She asked with a trace of melancholy. Ariel just stared at the ocean quietly. She didn't know what to say. Her primary goal was always been to become stronger to protect Renata and her friends.
"The people on the other side of the ocean are probably wondering too," she continued. Then, a leviathan jumped out from the ocean.
"You remember when you were sick, you said you wanted to swim freely in the ocean just like it?" She continued.
"If that day ever comes, I wish I will be standing right next to you and I would be really happy to have you by my side," she said then stood up.
"I want you to be at my side too," I said slowly as Renata looked at me.
"I love you Renata," I said finally. Renata smiled and replied, "I love you too Ariel". She had misunderstood her.
"Not like that, I love you romantically," Ariel immediately clarified as Renata's face became red. The previous atmosphere of melancholic disappeared completely.
"Right, let's go back," she said as she retreated back to preparations quickly with her face still red. Ariel quickly followed her.
Suddenly, Vera appeared and gave Ariel a beautiful flower.
"I...I really appreciate that. Pl...please take this flower as a...a Christmas gift...for you!" She said with a happy smile.
"Thank you," Ariel smiled and said, "here take this Chocolate," she handed over the Chocolate to her.
"Wow, This...is chocolate! My f...first ever Christmas gift! Thanks, thank you. I'll cherish it with all my heart!" She said happily. Seeing her being happy like this makes Ariel's heart warm.
"Look! The celebration is about to start," she pointed toward the sky as she began jumping in happiness.
Everyone looked in wonder at the Christmas tree, cheering happily. The party was fun. Director Herzog announced that Anton would go to the city. Of course, Ariel knew that by going to the city, he meant that Anton will be his new lab rat. Ariel grimaced at the thought. She is still powerless, so she can't do anything. They had fun till midnight and went to bed.
Suddenly, the chanting began.
"At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released from prison to deceive the heathens that are in the four quarters of the Earth. They assemble the army. Their number is as numerous as the sand in the sea".
She was wide awake now. So, she got up and looked outside. It was Z who was chanting.
"What are you doing Z? Unlike someone else, I have things to do tomorrow," I said as I glared at him as I looked at the name tag above his head.
[The Traveler
Ming·Z·Lu]
He remained nonplussed as he looked at me impassively." Follow me, I will show you something very interesting. Consider this as my Christmas gift for you," he said as Ariel looked at him in puzzlement.
"Don't ask me anything, just follow me," he said as he led the way.
He took Ariel to a large cave. He did something and the door opened. He gestured to her to go inside. Inside was a very large cave with scientific pieces of equipment. Ariel immediately knew that this was Dr. Herzog's base. She quietly made her way inside. There Dr. Herzog and a blonde guy were discussing about dragon blood. After that, the blonde guy warned Dr. Herzog that an organization called Secret Party was onto him. Dr. Herzog told the blonde guy to burn the orphanage to the ground. As they were about to kill Anton, Ariel leapt forward.
[EX skill: magic hand]
A telekinetic hand blasted the gun away,
but the blonde guy managed to hit Anton.
"Such power, you really can hide Ariel," Dr. Herzog said in a surprised tone, "But it doesn't matter. Black Swan Bay orphanage is finished," he continued and tossed a glass viral toward her, and it exploded.
[Name: Ariel (Status effect: Intoxication)]
She stared at her status effect in shock. Nowadays, very few things could affect her.
"Interesting, that poison can kill a whale in seconds. As expected of a Hybrid," Dr. Herzog observed. She growled and used her magic hand again.
[EX skill: Magic Hand]
A machine was destroyed, but she missed him by a large margin.
'Yes, I am intoxicated,' she thought while trying her best to remain standing.
The Director and the blonde guy had already exited the lab. She gave chase. Outside, there were many explosions and flames and gun fires that she felt like she was in an Apocalypse. She ran around to search for survivors. She saw Vera flashed in front of her. A group of soldiers was chasing her. She immediately ran to her as best as she could.
Ariel was too late as Vera was shot in the chest. The chocolate she gave to her dropped out of her chest, stained with her blood. Ariel felt anger, unbridled, unrestrainable pure anger. She didn't care anymore as she began to throw her EX skills everywhere.
[EX skill: Singularity] [EX skill: Thundaja] [EX skill: Blizzaga] [EX skill: Firaga]
She was hurling skills after skills that even with her reserve, she felt the drain. As she was hurling more and more without a care, someone managed to sneak behind her and about to shoot her. Renata suddenly appeared and tossed aside Ariel and was shot in her place.
"Live. You must live. I love you too," she said and then nothing. Ariel fell into the water and gradually lost consciousness. Before she lost consciousness, she saw a dragon coming toward her.
At the cliff, everything was over. Z slowly came toward the broken corpse of Renata and gently carried her.
"My little Renata, I will give you a gift. I will make a covenant with you. No matter where I go, I will always take you. We will not abandon each other until death does us part".
Meanwhile, within an iceberg in the frozen sea near the Siberia Harbour, a body frozen unconscious. Even as she was unconscious, her system did not.
[Congratulation host on completing the Tutorial]
[Quests unlocked. Currencies unlocked. Pet unlocked. Motors unlocked. You had given a cheat, Infinite Mana]
