Nightmare Paradise : Starting as a Doctor

Meticulously studying his body, Lynn traced the defined contours of his musculature. To his initial surprise, all outward traces of spiritual pollution had vanished completely.

His skin had regained its healthy glow, the color having returned through his flesh. There were no more porcelain white blotches marring the surface or unnatural textures to the touch.

Even the gaping wound in his chest fully healed, leaving not a single scar. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, filling his lungs. The air felt invigoratingly clear as it passed through, awakening heightened sensations.

Every cell buzzed with power as though supercharged. To test the changes, Lynn violently clenched his fist. The veins abruptly contracted and bulged sharply, causing a pressure burst to escape from between his fingers.

"Such strength..." he murmured in awe. "It's almost on par with the boost I get from [Cell Proliferation] without activating my talent." As he reflected, other peculiarities began to catch his attention.

The clothing retrieved from his inventory fit tighter than before, the fabric pulling taut in places it had previously hung loose. His body seemed to have been altered by the ritual, growing an inch or two in height.

His muscles had also filled out subtly, adding definition without sacrificing grace or agility. Running a hand through the dark hair revealed it had lengthened significantly during the ordeal.

"Interesting," he contemplated, his gaze narrowing as he continued his examination. The warring forces of the [Distorted Flesh], [Bestial Heart], and [Cursed Doll] had disappeared.

Their once-distinct essences had thoroughly intertwined within, melting together to forge something novel - a unique synthesis that transcended the individual components.

This transformation was most pronounced in his heart, which now beat with a potent rhythm, each pulse sending waves of energy throughout his body. It was as if an entirely new organ had been birthed alongside the original, their functions integrating intricately.

"The assimilation was a success," he nodded with a hint of satisfaction when he noticed the differences. The ritual exactly culminated as Nightmare Paradise deduced, and he had emerged from it with new potential unlocked.

With a thought, Lynn summoned the personal information panel, a feature he had recently ignored due to his stagnant force. The translucent screen appeared, filled with rows of text and numbers.

[Player: Wandering Doctor]

[Authority: E-Rank]

Class: [Flesh Stitcher lv11 (0%)]

Talent: [Gemini Soul]

Attributes:

[Strength 21] [Dexterity 24] [Constitution 23] [Intelligence 24] [Perception 23]

Class Skills: [Cell Distortion] [Spirit Threading] [Mimicry Heart]

General Skills: [Evaluation lv2] [Swordsmanship lv4] [Spiritual Vision lv2] [Quickstep lv3] [Meditation lv2]

His eyes widened in excitement as he saw the attributes that had remained locked at their maximum of twenty for so long rising, and the increase was substantial, equivalent to multiple levels.

After the long stagnation period, there was finally visible proof of growth. The strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, and perception stats surpassed their previous caps, each improving by one point at least.

Additionally, he could not help but be thrilled by the change stated in his class slot. Where it had previously read [Doctor], the panel now showed [Flesh Stitcher], indicating a significant evolution in specialization.

Lynn silently repeated the name multiple times, allowing the words to roll off his tongue with a peculiar weight. That was no mere title but rather - a profound declaration of his transformed identity and capabilities.

It represented a unique advancement, delving into the dark arts of necromancy and flesh crafting. Recalling the wealth of knowledge that had flooded his mind at the end of the assimilation process, he felt a sense of exhilaration mingled with apprehension.

An intermediate profession that transcended the boundaries of conventional healing, blending medical expertise with forbidden knowledge to manipulate the living and the dead.

"It is probably because of the characteristics of the sublimation materials I used," he calmly deduced after suppressing his emotions, their fusion and integration irrevocably shaping the growth of his class.

The implications of this speculation were profound. “Since I used the [Bestial Heart], can I now use all the tamer knowledge in my possession?” he wondered, the possibility filling him with anticipation.

As he studied the panel further, Lynn discovered that this promotion had also improved his previous class skills. Not only had their effectiveness increased, but new effects were also added, and the consumption had significantly decreased.

His gaze settled on the familiar [Cell Proliferation], now renamed [Cell Distortion]. A slight frown creased his brow as he focused on the change, sensing the subtle yet profound difference.

Where the previous iteration only allowed him to accelerate the cellular proliferation process, this evolved version granted a greater mastery over the building blocks of the flesh. The creative potential seemed limitless.

Shifting his attention, he examined the enhancements to the [String Threading] technique, upgraded to [Spirit Threading]. The thin filaments of energy he could previously manifest had become an extension of his very essence.

Their range and flexibility had expanded, allowing them to span great distances or weave intricate, multi-layered patterns. Most remarkably, these spiritual threads could now serve as conduits for consciousness.

The combination and synergy of these two abilities opened up a vast realm of possibilities, unlocking new avenues for offensive and defensive application that would make him a formidable opponent.

However, the most captivating addition to his arsenal was the emergence of a brand-new skill: [Mimicry Heart]. The knowledge imprinted about it in his mind caused him to breathe heavily, momentarily losing control.

"This ability... it involves the most fundamental aspect of life - genetic information," he muttered softly; the sheer scope of what such a skill portended sent a chill down his spine.

By spending time resonating and understanding biological specimens and extracting their data, he could essentially 'mimic' their unique properties, characteristics, and abilities as if they were his own.

That made him remember the final boss of the last dungeon he experienced - Knott, a twisted individual driven by an obsession to create the 'perfect creature'. Now, Lynn realized he had unlocked a similar capacity.

He could gain potentially the strength of a mighty beast, the agility of a nimble feline, and even more. The possibilities stretched beyond his initial comprehension, blurring the lines between human and monster.

Without hesitation, he decided to test the limits of this newfound skill. His gaze locked onto the crushed corpse of the spider, recognizing it as the perfect experiment subject.

Extending his hand, Lynn focused his mind, channeling esoteric runes and symbols at his fingertips. Wisps of spiritual energy coalesced around his palm. Slowly, he pressed the glowing hand against the carcass.

For a moment, nothing happened. The bloody remains of the massive arachnid lay motionless across the cavern floor with angled limbs and shattered exoskeleton, giving no indication of the transformation about to unfold.

But then, a subtle tremor ran through the lifeless husk, a faint quiver like the echo of a distant heartbeat that gradually intensified. Inside Lynn, a deep resonance stirred in his heart as the skill began to work.

His eyes seemed to transform into a microscope, piercing through the flesh into the molecular structure. He saw churning masses of chaotic genetic information, a jumbled tapestry of codes and sequences.

Some strands were glowing like stars, thumping with vibrant power that seemed to beckon him to reach out and grasp them. Others lay dormant, obscured, and tangled within the cluttered chaos.

Intrigued, he focused his attention on one of the brighter lines, trying to exert his control over them. He willed his perception to merge with them, seeking to unravel and understand their secrets.

However, as he delved deeper, he found the task more difficult than anticipated. The information was not merely passive instructions but a living, breathing entity that resisted his attempts at manipulation. It was as if the very essence of the being was fighting back against his intrusion.

His brow furrowed in concentration as he struggled to grip the genetic sequence. Gritting his teeth, he redoubled his focus. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he poured more spiritual energy into the endeavor, refusing to abandon his efforts.

The glowing thread started to tremble and beat more rapidly as if sensing the threat to its autonomy. But just as Lynn felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough, the chaotic information suddenly became turbulent, thrashing against his hold.

Before he could react to the change, the section of flesh he had been focusing on rapidly melted, collapsing into a viscous puddle. Shocked, he recoiled, severing the connection and stumbling back.

Snapping out of the trance, he watched in dismay as the liquefying remains continued to break down, the biological structure disintegrating into an amorphous, unrecognizable slurry.

His fingers twitched involuntarily, still tingling from the energy he had poured into the effort. "This ability is far more difficult to use than I anticipated," he murmured, frustration evident in his tone.