Witch of Arcana

Blank. It was as if I were looking at an artist's canvas, bare and devoid of any inspiration. The menu that now floated before me was nearly as empty.

Shou HasegawaGhost Lv. 0 Ability:Possess Lv. 1

That was it. As if to rub salt into the wound, even when I visualized a full stats list, and although they materialised before my ethereal eyes; Strength, Agility, Power, all proudly displayed a grand total of zero. Brilliant.

Then my eyes were drawn to the solitary ability: Possess Lv. 1. What kind of ability was this, anyway?

Instantly, as though reading my thoughts, the 'Menu Stat' opened a popup window with the explanation."Possess. A unique skill owned by ethereal form Ghosts, to possess living beings."

I found myself rolling my metaphysical eyes; 'unique skill' it say? Isn't that the job description of every ghost in every lore, ever? It's like explaining that the unique ability of an ass is to fart.

But then again, why hadn't I ever thought of trying to possess these monsters? Then again, up until this point, I hadn't truly accepted my spectral state either. Now that it was confirmed beyond doubt, I couldn't help but feel a little... proud? Or was it sorrow?

My attention shifted towards the heap of monster carcasses, clearly annihilated by the group lounging before me.

There would be no harm in trying to reanimate a corpse and engage in some light-hearted banter with them, right? Maybe they'd be willing to believe me. After all, they seemed like nice folks. But... Wait, how does one even use this skill?

tried focusing my thoughts, even shouting (without sound, of course) 'Possess!' Nothing happened. Again, I looked at my stats menu, but found no helpful hints. I did need to voice it out loud? I doubted that, as the stats menu popped up simply by imagining it.

I aimlessly drifted around, attempting to possess every monster corpse within reach... until I came to a sudden realisation. Something so painfully obvious it was embarrassing... The skill explained that I could possess living creatures. A corpse, by all definitions, wasn't alive.

My gaze then returned to the group of five. Rienwald, in his drunken state, seemed like a good first target... Let's give this a shot...

'Possess!' A tiny pop-up message blinked before me. 'Rejected. Target level is higher.'

Just great! This was some cruel joke, wasn't it? My only skill, a pathetic one at that, required me to possess beings with a lower level!? My level was 0. A colossal zero! Every RPG game I've ever played at least started you off at Level 1. This was the first time I'd ever heard of someone starting at Level 0. Well, unless the character was an invisible ghost like me, I suppose.. Once again, the creeping sensation of frustration threatened to overwhelm me.

Crack! Another person's footsteps echoed through the cave chamber, emanating from a crossing corridor. In front of them, my vision caught a tiny shadow, a roach scurrying into a crack in the rocks... 'Oh, one thing I may have forgotten to mention, besides monsters, I also encounter regular, run-of-the-mill creepy crawlies that resemble those in my old world - worms, cockroaches, even rats - all living within the labyrinthine confines of this realm.'

The newcomer didn't seem to belong to the group. The cat-woman, who had been dozing off, instantly sprang to her feet, her posture reminiscent of a tiger ready to pounce, her gaze fixed firmly on the new arrival. The drunken warrior suddenly sobered up, taking on a flawless combat stance, his spear glowing with the firelight. The half-glasses gold-coin man and the crossdressing cleric appeared more composed but were equally on alert, protective of Renae, who was now gripping a short, blue-glowing staff.

It seemed that an exciting skirmish was about to unfold. However, I found myself preoccupied, scouring the rocky crevices for the cockroach from before. The group and the stranger began to engage in tense conversation, but I barely registered their words. For an invisible ghost like me, successfully possessing a lowly cockroach felt like a monumental triumph.

Ah, there it was! I found the roach cowering in the rocky crevices, a space even too tiny for a mouse. Its antennae twitched restlessly, seeming confused, seeking a way out. A strange sense of pride welled up in me that I, an intangible specter, had become quite adept at tracking down cockroaches.

I focused my thoughts... Possess!

'Rejected. Target level is higher.'

Damn it! My frustration peaked. I lacked the skill to appraise the power level of other creatures, but just how high could the level of such a tiny insect be? level 0.3? level 0.000001? On second thought, it was obvious it couldn't be 0, it was alive after all. So how am I even supposed to use this skill?? As far as I was aware, there was no possible way for me to level up, after who knows how long I've been wandering in this rotten cave.

beside me, a cataclysmic encounter just started between the band of five - Rienwald, Auro, Belize, Viana, and Renae - and a deceptively small, unkempt witch draped in an frayed cloak of black.

As the witch just starting to move its hand; Rienwald, the knight and master of the spear, moved with the cunning agility of a wolf. With an inebriated grin on his face, he commanded the wrath of lightning, the tip of his spear move even faster than jolt of lighting that aims to pierce the witch straight in the chest.

The witch swerved, narrowly dodging Rienwald's deadly strike. In the wake of her evasion, Belize dan Viana like teleported to the witch blindspot, seizing the momentum, launched into a perfectly coordinated attack. Belize, in his flamboyant attire, let loose a Holy Strike. His energy, radiant and deadly, transformed into a flurry of divine fists, threatening to pummel the witch into submission. At the same moment, Viana pounced, claws extended like lethal daggers, her battle cry resonating throughout the cave, making the witch stumble back.

While the cave rang with the sounds of battle, Renae's chants wove a harmonious counterpoint. Her hands moved rhythmically, tracing vibrant symbols in the air, bolstering her companions with shimmering auras. For a fleeting moment, it seemed as if the witch was teetering on the edge of defeat.

Auro, the towering elf, joined the fray. His greatsword, now glowing a molten red, left fiery trails in its wake. With a roar, he slashed at the witch, the ground splitting in response to the sheer force of his attack. The crevice glowed ominously, a testament to the might of his blow.And yet, against all odds, the witch remained standing, the tip of Auro's sword a mere inch away from her. In a strange twist, her pointed hat, as battered as it was, stayed fixed in place amidst the flurry of relentless strikes, as if untouched by the chaos around her. It was a sight that baffled me, a testament to the witch's eerie command of the battleground.

The witch's unexpected laughter echoed throughout the cavern, chilling to the bone. Reverberating against the cavern walls as she began her counterattack. Her slender hand swept across the air and the obsidian flames around her surged like a living beast. The witch’s persona shifted from the cornered prey to a predator waiting to strike, her eyes sparkling with uncontained mirth.

Auro, not to be outdone, swung his greatsword with all his might, the air hissing as the blade cleaved through it. Yet the witch was quicker, her shadowy form dissolving and reappearing at a safe distance, leaving Auro to stumble from his own momentum.

Belize and Viana, deciding to pool their strength, initiated a combined assault. Belize, his fists glowing with holy energy, launched a volley of strikes, while Viana lunged from another direction, her claws slashing viciously through the air. But with a lazy flick of her wrist, the dark flames around her coalesced into tangible tendrils. Belize, caught in the mid-air during his holy strike. The tendril wrapped around him, squeezing the breath out of him before hurling him against a cavern wall. He slumped down, unconscious.

Next was Viana, her predatory stance faltering as she saw Belize taken down. The witch took the opening, a lash of shadow cutting across the air, slashing Viana across her chest. The cat-woman yowled in pain before being swiped away, sprawling on the rocky ground.

Auro and Rienwald, seeing their comrades fall, redoubled their efforts. Rienwald lunged, his spear crackling with lightning, but the witch effortlessly sidestepped. As he struggled to regain balance, a massive hand, dark as the night and outlined by the witch wicked flames, materialized from her looming shadow. The giant hand engulfed in a dark fire clasp him, eliciting a scream that echoed through the cavern. His spear clattered to the ground as he collapsed.

Auro, the last line of defense, was a beacon of defiance. His greatsword radiated a brighter, almost blinding, hue - a manifestation of his desperate fury. But the witch, is unbothered, locked her glowing red eyes with his. With a quick, deliberate motion, she commanded her shadow hand to unleash a torrent of dark flames. The overwhelming wave extinguished Auro's flaming sword and swept him off his feet, sending him crashing down. His greatsword fell by his side, its light extinguished.

Throughout the grim spectacle, Renae's desperate chants filled the air. But before she could complete her spell, the witch commanded the shadow hand to surface from the ground beneath Renae. It ensnared her, lifting her off the ground, her voice cut short by the shock. As the witch floating approached, her cloak billowing ominously, Renae could only stare in horror at her fallen comrades. Now, she become the witch's next target.