Mimic Awakening

Chapter 24: Awakened Abilities

(You just got even more powerful. This rate of growth is just terrifying.)

(To think that I was just a weak mimic before. But gaining more power slowly strips away parts of me.) He says the latter with melancholy in his voice.

After defeating and consuming the archdragon, the final boss of the dungeon, Azrael, who is still in the dungeon boss chamber, is in the form of the massive archdragon testing out the new abilities he just got. It was the second time Azrael saw and consumed a deep purple magic core after Claire.

(Strips away parts of you?) Claire asks. freewёbnoνel.com

(Yes. I feel like I am getting less empathic lately. Like, I barely feel anything after killing something. I did not hesitate to kill those humans before.)

(Hm... Losing empathy, huh? I could only think of one thing. Could it be that you have had your second awakening?)

(Second awakening? What’s that?)

(So you really are clueless about everything. Let me explain it to you. First with the basics. You know magic, yes?)

(Well, yes. Consuming mana to cast magic spells. There’s also this wild magic I have heard from you.)

(Wild magic is basically the magical abilities that monsters can do. The difference between it and magic casts by humans is that wild magic requires no incantation or magic circles to cast.)

(Is it because monsters can’t talk?)

(That is one of the theories people come up with.)

(I see.)

In this world, only intellectual races such as humans, demihumans, and so on cast magic spells with incantations, whether it is verbally or mentally. Though silent casting greatly reduces the output of the spell.

Their advantage over monsters is that monsters can only cast a very few abilities limited by their physiology while intelligent races can learn as many magic spells as they can. They are only limited by their mana reserve as well as their mental capacity.

(Aside from magic, very few people possess something that we call awakened abilities. This power allows them to gain all new abilities that are entirely and fundamentally different from magic.)

(You think that I have awakened mine?)

(Undoubtedly. I have never known a magic spell that can physically transform oneself into entirely different races. Even mimics only copy inanimate objects. Your ability to transform into anything you consume is definitely an awakened ability.)

(So it’s an awakened ability, huh?)

(Only a very few people possess awakened abilities. Awakened abilities can be acquired by pushing your limits through intense training, experiencing extreme emotional trauma, or being lucky to be born with it in the first place.)

Azrael is taken aback upon learning that his transformation ability is actually an awakened ability, a power system that is different from magic. He immediately assumes that he got it as soon as he was reincarnated in this world.

(You also felt like you were getting less empathic, right? If I’m not mistaken, you have probably experienced the second awakening. Can you tell me when you started feeling like that?)

(If I remember correctly, it was the first time I fought a greater dragon. I knew my faith was about to end there. Then out of desperation, the world suddenly went slow. I can perceive my surroundings faster than ever. It was as if my rough mind became as calm as a tranquil lake.)

(I see. You definitely had a second awakening. That probably explains why your mindscape is so empty.)

(Have you awakened yours as well?) Azrael asks plainly.

Claire is thinking whether she should reveal that to him or not. But in the end, she decides that she has nothing to lose and her life entirely depends on him anyway. She has no room for error that might sever his trust in her.

(Well, I am actually a second awakener just like you. I already got it the moment I was born. Just like you, I had my second awakening in a life and situation, through strong emotional trauma.)

(Interesting. Using tragedy as a catalyst, huh? Emotions are such a powerful and mysterious force after all.)

(The fear of dying and regret for being not strong enough to protect my friend pushed my mind and body to go beyond my limits. Then I found out that it was not actually necessary. But I am satisfied that I became stronger.)

(I don’t pry into your personal matters so I won’t ask any further. So may I know what your awakened abilities are?)

(Verily. Awakened abilities don’t actually name themselves so we can name them whatever we want.)

(Is that so? Continue.)

(I named my first awakened ability Magic Mastery, an ability that allows me to efficiently cast magic spells in all ways. Silent casting, simultaneous casting, rapid casting, and more.)

(That’s actually a very helpful ability.)

(As for my second awakening, the ability actually named itself. It is called Gramarye, the power that grants me wisdom to all of the existing magic spells in this world.)

(All of the magic in this world?!)

Azrael is genuinely shocked by Claire’s words. If he were to ask, he might say that it was more impressive than his ability to transform into anything he consumes.

Being able to cast any spell equates to infinite possibilities. Magic spells to solve every possible scenario is truly a convenient power. Azrael really needs that kind of overpowered ability to survive in this new world.

If possible, there might be something that can help him go back to his previous world. Until he reaches that point, he will venture into this world and take his time to decide whether he would go back or stay here.

However, he is not even sure if he can actually absorb a person’s unique awakened ability. Even if there is a possibility he can, he does not think he can take that from Claire, especially when he needs something to teach his everything he needs to know about this world.

(Thanks for this ability that I am able to understand your language and speak to you seamlessly.)

(A spell to understand and speak any language? God’s Tongue, right? How convenient.)

Claire feels that his words are filled with a bit of annoyance.

Deep inside him, Azrael regrets that he does not have that kind of skill in his previous world. He has many mangas and novels to read but some of the volumes or Chapters were not translated yet. But there is no need to think about that right now.

(Did you also use a spell to invade my soul space and plan to take over my body?)

(I can’t deny that. Indeed, I am planning to take over your body, but that plan is no more after learning that I can stay here as long as you permit. The name of that spell is Astral Invasion, also an ultimate-tier magic spell.)

(I see. I still have questions.)

(Go ahead.)

Azrael and Claire talk for a while regarding her awakened abilities. After that, Azrael looks around the empty boss room before he asks Claire something unrelated to their last conversation.

(So what do we do now that the dungeon boss was defeated? Is there anything after this?)

(Hm?) Claire is baffled by his question but she immediately bugs it off. (Normally, after defeating the dungeon boss, the party usually collects anything they could loot from the monster’s body, which you already did in your case.)

(Do dungeon bosses respawn?)

(Yes, around a shadowturn after killing it. Do you plan on challenging it again?)

(Well, since it’s the most powerful monster here, it is a good source of EXP for leveling up? But what the hell is a shadowturn?) he mumbles the latter sentence.

(Ekspee?) Even with God’s Tongue, Claire does not seem to understand modern terms.

(Well then. We’ll come back here later. Remind me when the boss respawns.)

(I understand..? While we are at it, can we pass a certain spot?)

(I don’t mind, but why?)

(Actually, there were five people pursuing me before stumbling upon you. I managed to kill one of them on a floor above. The body might be still there. I want to retrieve it for you.)

(I think it’s not bad to collect one more. Alright, let’s move.)