Awakening, and Transformation

Awakening.

In today’s ‘Gate Era’—it’s the ultimate game-changer.

According to the stories of other Awakeners, a translucent window suddenly appears before your eyes, informing you of the abilities you’ve gained.

Just like the one in front of me right now.

[Trait Unlocked: Elemental Mage]

[Trait Unlocked: Transformation]

This is insane. It’s even a dual trait.

The abilities you awaken are called ‘Traits’. There are also ‘Sub-traits’ and ‘Skills’, but Traits are the hardest of the three to acquire. Most people only get a single Trait when they Awaken.

Now that I’ve Awakened, I have to check my status window.

The moment I thought it, the status window opened.

It opened just like that. I was about to shout ‘Open!’…

[Lee Han-gyeol

Trait: Elemental Mage
-Skill (A): Bloom (Lv.1)

Trait: Transformation
-Skill (A): Transform (Lv.1)

Strength: 78
Magic Power: 121
Mana: 1210/1210]

Skills are techniques attached to ‘Traits’ and ‘Sub-traits’. They consume Mana, and the (A) next to them seems to mean ‘Active Skill’.

Below the Traits is the stat window. It shows my physical condition in numbers, but there are only three: Strength, Magic Power, and Mana.

First, Strength is the stat related to physical power. The average adult male’s Strength is supposed to be 100… Hmm… 78? Seventy-eight?

The one silver lining is my Magic Power. I’d heard the average for a newly Awakened person is between 40 and 50, and for a ‘Mage’ type, it’s around 90 to 100. So, 121 is pretty high.

Mana is what’s consumed to use skills, which is why my remaining Mana is shown as a fraction, unlike the other stats.

Anyway, about the skill ‘Bloom’… I remember hearing it’s what determines which element you’ll use.

Just because you’re an Elemental Mage doesn’t mean you can control all the elements. They say you can learn to handle more elements later on, but it’s hard to match the proficiency you have with your first one.

My heart pounded.

I cupped my hands as if to hold water.

“Bloom.”

Fwoosh!

I felt Mana drain from me as a tiny flame ignited in my hands.

In that instant,

[Sub-trait of ‘Elemental Mage’ Unlocked: Element – Flame]
[Skill Acquired for ‘Element – Flame’: Element Creation]
[Skill Acquired for ‘Element – Flame’: Element Control]
[Skill Acquired for ‘Element – Flame’: Flame Immunity]

A series of notifications popped up with a ding.

I opened my status window again.

[Lee Han-gyeol

Trait: Elemental Mage
Sub-trait: Element – Flame
-Skill (A): Element Creation (Lv.1)
-Skill (A): Element Control (Lv.1)
-Skill (P): Flame Immunity (Lv.1)

Trait: Transformation
-Skill (A): Transform (Lv.1)

Strength: 78
Magic Power: 121
Mana: 1110/1210]

The ‘Bloom’ skill was gone, replaced by the ‘Element – Flame’ sub-trait and its related skills. ‘Flame Immunity’ seems to be a passive skill.

“Ah, so I only get one element.”

It would’ve been nice to get two elements since I got two traits, but honestly, that’s just being greedy.

In any case, the Flame element isn’t bad.

Its drawbacks are high Mana consumption, since it works by burning Mana itself, and the difficulty of changing its form.

But its immense destructive power more than makes up for those shortcomings.

I can just drink a Mana potion for the consumption, and form-changing? If you need to change its shape, you should probably ask yourself if you’re just not strong enough.

Plus, since it works by burning Mana, even water can’t easily extinguish it. Of course, that would probably make it consume even more Mana…

I raised my index finger.

“Create!”

A candlelight flame flickered to life at my fingertip.

I twirled my flaming finger, enjoying a little fire-spinning game for a moment.

“Control!”

The candlelight flickered, dancing faintly. As if sharing my joy, it swayed and bopped along.

How much Mana did that use?

The thought came, and ping!—only my Mana count appeared.

[Mana: 1099/1210]

Oh.

It consumed 11 Mana. I couldn’t tell if that was a lot or a little. For a candle-sized flame, it seemed like a lot.

But then again, when I set a monster on fire, it’ll burn using the monster’s Mana as well as mine. And once it’s burning, it’s not like I’ll need to make the flames dance, right?

Well, I can figure that out later at the Awakened Center.

What’s more important is the next Trait: ‘Transformation’.

The ‘Transformation’ Trait is a fairly well-known one that other Awakeners have. It’s common enough to form its own class of abilities, but what you transform into is different for everyone.

A werewolf, a mermaid, a tree, a slime, or even a dragon…

The possibilities are endless, and once you transform, you essentially become a different kind of Awakener.

In other words, what you turn into is crucial.

If you can turn into a dragon, you’re instantly one of the top rankers.

A werewolf? So-so, I guess.

A mermaid? What’s the point of turning into a sea-dweller when I use fire?

A tree? Even with Flame Immunity, it feels wrong for a fire user…

A slime is just… no.

And a dragon… honestly, I don’t think I’ll be that lucky.

Should I just try it? I heard that in the beginning, your size doesn’t change much even when you transform…

I cleaned up my studio apartment, cleared as much space as I could, and set up a full-length mirror.

I stood there blankly for a moment.

Ah, right. Clothes.

The size might not change, but the shape will. Transforming with clothes on could ruin them.

I stripped naked and stood before the full-length mirror.

A height of 173cm—not too short, not too tall.

A rather lean body. I can’t remember my weight.

A fairly handsome face.

A beauty mark under my right eye.

And a not-so-small package down there.

The face in the mirror was flushed with excitement.

What will I turn into?

What if it’s something weird?

A flame-immune tree… that would be pretty funny.

What if I turn into a dragon? Wouldn’t I become a ranker overnight?

Ah, what will it be?

Please don’t let it be a slime. Please don’t let it be a slime. Please don’t let it be a slime.

It won’t hurt when I transform, right?

Oh, right. I heard some people transform into bugs.

…Please don’t let it be a bug either. Please don’t let it be a bug. Please don’t let it be a bug. Please don’t let it be a bug.

Please be something good. Please be something good. Please be something good.

Hooo…

I took a deep breath.

“Transform.”

I felt Mana drain away with a whoosh, and my body began to glow white.

Like a magical girl? No, maybe not.

Watching my body turn white, I slowly closed my eyes.

Whoosh.

It felt like I’d dozed off and then snapped awake, without realizing I’d fallen asleep at all.

With my eyes still closed, I tried moving my hands.

Huh, my fingers brushed against each other. The sensation was similar to before. Am I still human? It can’t be a human-to-human transformation… Did I become a beastman? But my thighs don’t feel hairy.

The moment I slowly raised my hand to my face…

Squish.

My hand bumped into something soft, yet firm and springy.

And I felt that sensation not only in my hand but simultaneously on my chest.

Huh?

I slowly opened my eyes.

My eye level was a little lower than before, but almost the same.

And there, in the full-length mirror, was my reflection.

A height of about 173cm.

A handsome—no, a beautiful face. Could a word like ‘beautiful’ even do it justice?

Long eyelashes.

The same beauty mark under my right eye.

A pale face, accentuated by striking, crimson lips.

Contrasting with that pale face was long, black hair that cascaded down in soft curves.

And a chest.

A chest?

They were huge. No, ‘voluptuous’ would be a better word. Even with my relatively small head, my breasts were as big as my head.

And they were beautiful. (I haven’t seen many breasts, but) they were the most beautiful I had ever seen.

And atop those beautiful breasts, like the perfect finishing touch, were pink…

I raised a hand and touched one.

It was incredibly soft and supple. A texture I’d never felt on a man’s body…

Gasp!

Startled, I pulled my hand away.

I looked back at the full-length mirror.

The pale body traced a beautiful curve.

A pelvis that matched the large, voluptuous breasts.

Long, slender limbs made the body’s proportions just as beautiful.

And the empty space down there.

Where something should have been, there was nothing.

All that was there was a smooth mound—

Excuse me?

…Well, it’s better to have nothing than to have something on a woman’s body.

I’ve transformed into a perfect, beautiful female form. Wouldn’t it be weirder if it was still there?

It’s just a ‘Transformation’ anyway, so I’ll change back.

Calming myself, I began to admire my new form again.

Wow.

As I slowly turned, I could see that every part of me was firm and full of life. I gave myself a light slap.

Smack.

It was firm, yet soft.

Looking again, it was beautiful and sexy. This is me? Insane.

“Ah, ah. Ahem.”

My voice was as beautiful as my appearance.

Wait, what did I turn into?

At a glance, I’m just a woman. A stunningly beautiful one at that.

But the problem is, that’s all there is to it, even though I’ve used ‘Transform’.

Just as anxiety began to creep in, several windows appeared along with my status window.

[Trait Unlocked: Succubus]
[Skill Acquired for ‘Succubus’: Essense Absorption]
[Sub-trait of ‘Succubus’ Unlocked: Optimal Physique]
[Skill Acquired for ‘Optimal Physique’: Body Recovery]
[Skill Acquired for ‘Optimal Physique’: Body Enhancement]

[Lee Han-gyeol (Succubus)

Trait: Succubus
-Skill (P): Essense Absorption (Lv.1)

Sub-trait: Optimal Physique
-Skill (A): Body Recovery (Lv.1)
-Skill (A): Body Enhancement (Lv.1)

Trait: Transformation – Lee Han-gyeol
-Skill (A): Revert Transformation (Lv.1)

Strength: 78
Magic Power: 121
Essense: 0/1210]

A succubus? The succubus I know from stories? Is the ‘Essense’ from the passive skill ‘Essense Absorption’ the ‘essence’ I’m thinking of?

The moment I had the thought, Ping!

[Essense Absorption: Absorb another’s semen that has entered your body and convert it for use as ‘Essense’.]

[Essense: A resource consumed by a ‘Succubus’ to use skills.]

!!!

But I’m a guy!

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Is this for real?

Ping!

[Essense Absorption: Absorb another’s semen that has entered your body and convert it for use as ‘Essense’. The amount of Essense absorbed is determined by the target’s magic sensitivity and magic power, the intensity of their emotions, and the proficiency of ‘Skill (P): Essense Absorption’.]

[Essense: A resource consumed by a ‘Succubus’ to use skills. Can be acquired through ‘Skill (P): Essense Absorption’.]

Unnecessarily helpful. Fuck.

What about the other traits? What the hell is Optimal Physique?

Ping!

[Optimal Physique: Always maintains the body in its optimal state. In case of injury, ‘Skill (A): Body Recovery’ can be used to quickly restore it to its optimal state, and ‘Skill (A): Body Enhancement’ can be used to strengthen the body.]

Huh, so does that mean I’m immune to aging? And this firmness will be maintained just like this? Oh.

…What am I thinking?!

I’m screwed. It’s a beautiful body, for sure, but I have to have sex with a man and use his semen—and it even says ‘entered your body’? That means getting cream-pied.

Anyway, a trait that requires me to get filled up just to use its skills is useless. There aren’t even any attack-related skills. You’re getting sealed away. Sealed.

Separate from that, my Strength and Magic Power are the same as my original body’s. It’s just that this form uses Essense instead of Mana.

I was so happy to get two traits, but one of them is a dud.

…Or is it? Maybe it could be useful for something.

It’s an excellent disguise, and oh, this is good…

Since I have high Magic Power, I can use it to enhance my body—ah, right. This body uses Essense, not Mana.

….

When I want to jerk off, I could just transform into this body and look in the mirror?

Hooo…

The more I think about it, the more absurd it gets.

I should just revert the transformation and focus on being an Elemental Mage. The moment I thought that,

[Insufficient Essense. Cannot use ‘Skill (A) – Revert Transformation’.]