New Appearance

Lying down as he stares beyond the darkness of the garbage void he's staying in.

"So... How did you do it?"

Imuthis as usual always staring at Mike with curiosity.

Mike peeks a little at Imuthis and continues to stare at the black sky.

(What do you mean?)

"How did you tie that monster's inside even though you can't see anything. I didn't even know that you did it."

(You're asking me about that? Well... Go solve it by yourself.)

"Oy, did you just use my line just now?"

(...)

"*sigh* Your plan was full of risk that might destroy your body or even kills you. I expected some flaws from here to there so I waited to quickly cover it up but nothing appeared.

Usually, you can't tie the inside flesh just by having a tentacle alone but you perfectly managed to do it.

Not only it's dark out there but it's also slippery and narrow.

Even when I'm watching I can't fully comprehend what just happened...

I know your plan but I can't just help it to don't know how it went successfully without fail.

So... How did you do it, kid?"

Mike takes a peek at Imuthis rotten eyes and sees that he is seriously asking.

He didn't immediately answer as he continues to stare at the blank sky.

As he cannot take the pressure of question from Imuthis he sighed and take a deep breath.

For the first time in a while, Mike opens his mouth in the void.

"You see... I don't even know that I can manage to escape from that without getting wounded but for an hour of pulling myself out of there this happens..."

As he said it he stretches his hands towards Imuthis.

What supposed to be a normal human hand was now changed into a light grey hand with long sharp nails.

"I use this to rip the creature's flesh inside to make a hole to entangle the tentacle there. It feels like my grip strength goes up in numerous times when my hands change to this."

Imuthis was surprised. He also can sense what change happens to Mike's body but this is just new to him.

Mike continued; "It's not your fault not to notice it... It just appeared out of nowhere. Now looking at it clearly... The color of my hand is now grey. I hope I can retract the color for it to look normal before I go to the surface. If my classmates saw this they will surely call me in weird nicknames."

*BAM!*

Mike totally focuses on hands when there is a loud bang can be heard from the corner of the base.

(What was that!?)

Mike's face is surprised and takes a defensive stance as his grey hand is covering his vital organs.

Most of this place is still a mystery for him so it might not be a surprise if that sound can kill him here in this so-called safe place void.

Imuthis is at his side not giving a care to what happened just now.

(What is that!?)

"This is always like this when you are not here."

(?)

"That's the cause why this base is expanding."

(Ohhhh...)

"I feel something different from the usual let's go check it... Don't worry it's safe to go near from it so don't raise your guard too much."

(I see...)

Imuthis first to advanced as he carries his chest along with him.

Mike saw him and started to walk too.

While they walk they are having a short conversation.

(Let me carry that for you.)

"Thanks... Hey, Mike aren't you a bit goody two shoes right now?"

(Really? I think so too you too...)

"Well if you ask me why I am like this because I feel something weird in me since you kill that creature."

(Same here... Even my hands are throbbing for I don't know reason since I killed that creature.)

"Maybe you level up or something? Lol."

(If it is... Then I guess that creature is a boss level, huh.)

"Hahaha if that's the case that means you level up quite a lot. Lol."

As they continue to talk around before they knew they arrive at their destination. It takes about fifteen minutes of walk to get to the place where the sound came from.

What in front of them was something is unexpectedly new to them even to Imuthis.

(Now in games this might be called a loot, right?)

"Uh-huh..."

The expanded place was covered in a dark grey different color from the usual garbage color.

It's the color, shape, and shape are totally different from Imuthis. The size of the place is about the size when Mike first found Imuthis. A dark great cavern if one could call it.

The dark grey cavern was like an attachment to the new base where Imuthis is living from.

It's like completely new territory.

Mike is hesitant if he should take a step in the new place or not.

(Well... Just in case.)

He takes a step back and picks up a small metal scrap from the ground and throw it in the new area.

*Thud* The metal hit the ground and luckily nothing happened.

"It's kinda safe, kid."

(I guess I'm gonna take a step in, huh.)

Mike can choose that he will enter the new area but there is something inside that he cannot ignore.

There is something familiar in the middle of the dark grey cavern.

In the middle, a shining metal chest is there at the top of the pillar table.

It's not rotten or dirty like Imuthis's chest but it was more on side of ancient, a chest that's not been touched for thousands of years.

(Hey Imuthis. Do you have any idea what's that chest?)

"Hmm... I don't know. I don't know anything about chests except the one at the top of the mountain and mine."

(So a mystery a chest, huh...)

"Sound like a gacha game, right?"

(Haha, At least at the gacha games you know what kind of thing you are going to get.)

"Hahaha... Just shut up and go take a step already!"

Being urged by Imuthis, Mike takes the first step into the new territory.

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