《Souls Online: Mythic Ascension》 Miracle Leo couldn''t comprehend how it happened. He couldn''t stop himself from vomiting the blood welling up in his throat, his vision tinged a murky crimson as the sea of voices echoed and battered at his mind and forced him to his knees. ''PICK MEEEEEE! I SHALL GRANT YOUR DEEPEST WISH'' ''SUBMIT! SUBMIT! SUBMIT! I DON''T CARE WHAT YOU WANT! YOUR BODY WILL BE MINE'' ''Just give in dearie and I shall lay the world at your feet~'' The voices were incessant, drowning out even his own thoughts as they threatened, cajoled and cooed, trying to make him choose them. Yet he knew that he couldn''t stay here like this. Not only would he lose his mind but his death would be all but guaranteed. Even now, in the corner of his eye he saw an ominous clock counting down. [Remaining Time : 7 minutes, 42 seconds] He only had been given 10 minutes to make a choice. One that could be the difference between life and death ''No. I am not going to give up now. I''m not going leave Luna alone. I can''t! I WON''T'' he howled. He struggled to stand, his knees threatening to give way at any given moment. Looking around him, he found himself in the midst of an endless aisle of display cases. Each case displayed some sort of mystical weapon, armor or accessory. He had no idea where to start and too little time. ''This Quest is Bullshit!'' he mentally groaned, afraid to speak aloud lest he vomit more blood. The task he had been given? Find a piece of equipment that has the power of adaptation or evolution and bind it to his ''soul'' so that he could continue to live. The catch? He couldn''t have any information on the item until he picked one. He had to make a choice based off luck and his own intuition? ''How am I supposed to choose? ''Follow your heart for it knows the answer~'' That so called Goddess just spouted some mystical bullshit!'' Despite his complaints, he began walking forward following his gut instincts, each step labored and unsteady as if he was about to be crushed by gravity itself. He only made it a couple steps before he doubled over, retching up another mouthful of blackened blood. He felt dizzy as if he was about to pass out. Yet despite it all, his will remained strong even as the voices continued to gnaw away at his mind, as if billions of ants were swarming his body and devouring him little by little from the inside. He instinctually felt that it would be mere moments until he would collapse when suddenly ''SILENCE!'' A majestic roar, akin to that of a massive lion ripped through the space. Leo could feel his heart skip a beat as the whole world became quiet. It took him a moment to realize that even the voices were gone. "Wha-heuk heuk" He instinctually tried to speak out of surprise but wasn''t able to manage uttering a proper word anymore. His breathing was becoming more and more haggard and he had a feeing that if the time on the clock hit zero, he would most likely be dead. Both here and in reality. With no solid lead, Leo once again hobbled forward, praying that following his heart was not just some bogus advice. Ever so slowly, he traversed the aisles leaving a trail of blood with each and every step. Each display case featured some sort of mystical item like a Greataxe made of moonlight, A shadowy crown or a Chestplate made of light. While pleasing to the eye, there was something about them gave Leo the feeling that they were not the one. As if they weren''t good enough. ''Why the hell am I being picky?!'' He knew he needed to choose fast but something deep inside of him was restricting him from just choosing any random case. [Remaining Time: 42 seconds] He could barely breathe now. It felt like his lungs were caught in a vice. ''Shit! Am I really going to die because I was indecisive at the last moment?!'' Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Leo felt despair slowly sinking in but his feet refused to stop moving. It was then that he noticed something different about one particular display. While the other ones were perfectly manicured as if they were museum pieces, this one was covered in dust and dirt. An unknown feeling surged from the depths of his being, screaming at him ''This is it! That''s the one!''. Through the grime of the glass, he could faintly make out a pair of what could only be described as ancient bracelets laying there. Honestly, they didn''t look impressive in the slightest, A mixture of rust and age gave it the impression that they would crumble to dust with the slightest touch. Leo was more than a little skeptical about it, They certainly did NOT look like what he needed but he didn''t have time to look elsewhere and could only trust in that unknown feeling that seemed to beckon him towards the bracelets. He hobbled as fast as he could to the dirty display but all the blood loss made him stumble and fall at the base of it. No matter how much he tried he couldn''t lift himself off the ground, he had lost the ability to even support himself. ''No¡­! I can''t fall¡­.Not here¡­Not Now!'' Scraping together the last bit of his waning strength and fraying willpower, he used the base of the display as a support and began dragging his body up, reaching out to put his hand on the glass. Remaining Time: 0 Seconds. Just as his hand touched the glass, Leo''s eyes opened wide as he couldn''t breathe feeling his lungs completely shut down. In what seemed like an eternity, he slowly collapsed backwards, his hand reaching for the glass where a bloodied palm print remained. There was an incessant buzzing in his ear that he couldn''t quite place. Was it the doctors fussing over him again? He couldn''t understand as even his mind began to fade away ''I failed..? I¡­I am sorry¡­Luna. Forgive me...It seems your foolish brother is going first." The last thought that passed through his mind was that of the only family he had left as his heart stopped and his body crumpled to the ground with a thud, head bouncing off the concrete floor. His unfocused eyes remained open, staring at the sky, the unwillingness of accepting his fate etched on his face. ''What a Tragic Child. Following his heart even in the face of death. Was it Fate that led him to us? Or was it something else?'' Melodic voices heard by no one echoed in unison throughout the space as the case around the bracelets shattered. The seemingly ancient and fragile bracelets began to radiate a rainbow light from somewhere deep within as they began to float into the air above Leo. ''Ahh but to be sought out means we are linked. We must not let him die, no matter the cost. It is now our duty to see the future he yearns for. Today shall not be the day where this childs'' story ends'' The bracelets melted into a stream of resplendent light akin to that of a massive water droplet before falling and engulfing Leos broken body. The dazzling light coursed through his body like a stream before settling at his heart. Through his skin, his chest began pulsating a prismatic light. Soon even that light faded and the room fell silent once more. Mercys Grace Teaching Hospital was in chaos. Doctors and nurses who had been in charge of a young man confined to a bed with a mysterious illness were running around crazily when the patient suddenly began convulsing on his bed while playing a VR game his sister had brought for him. The sister had demanded the doctors let her brother play a Neurological VR game and that it could possibly help heal him. The young doctor in charge had scoffed at the nonsensical conviction the girl had but he couldn''t tell her no. He knew just who was behind her and he was not willing to put his career and maybe even his life on the line to reject a simple request. After all, all he cared about was that he was paid. Now that same doctor had cold sweat dripping down his face as he failed to pry the VR Headset Console from the young mans head. It was as if the console had been grafted and fused to his face. He didn''t want to be the one to be held responsible for this. Why was he dying on his watch?! "Kyah!" A relatively new nurse who had often looked after the boy, often finding herself laughing at the young patients humor and charming remarks covered her mouth and turned away, muffling her cry as she was unable to watch any further as blood dripped from beneath the console. "Damn it! Damn it!" The doctor screamed in frustration as he was forced to give up ,his patient was bleeding out and had no choice to ignore the headset. "He is losing too much blood! We are gonna lose him at this rate!" Another nurse cried as she wiped the blood from the boys nose and mouth with shaky hands. The once white rag had long since been tinged a horrifying pink "What the fuck is this illness?! It''s like he''s suffering from a rejection from an organ transplant ... .But he has never had surgery!" The doctor felt like he was going to tear his hair out. He glanced at his mentor who was grading him on his performance. The old man had a frown on his face as he looked down at the convulsing young man, his jaw tight as he too didn''t seem to understand what was going on nor how he could help. The loud sound of an EKG flatlining interrupted both Doctors thoughts. The mans pulse was gone, if they didn''t do something now, he was as good as dead. "Charge the Defibrillators!" the young Doctor shouted at a nearby nurse. WIth the paddles in his hand, he placed them over the patients chest. "CLEAR!" *Bzzz* The young mans body arched briefly from the electricity coursing through his body but soon collapsed onto the bed again, unresponsive. "Damn it! Again! CLEAR!" *Bzzz* Again there was no response from the young man confined to the bed. The old man sighed as he shook his head softly. His heart was heavy that they had lost a patient who was so young. He should have had such a long time to live. He had seen this too much, suffered for too long. Perhaps after today he would finally hand in his resignation letter to the Board. "Call Time of Death" His voice was heavy, The weight of not knowing what could have been done differently to save the man was yet another weight on his soul. He would probably need to drown himself in a bottle of whiskey after this. The young Doctor grit his teeth as he glanced at the clock. He was both scared and angry. He didn''t want to deal with the boys sister nor did he want such a bullshit failure to remain on his record. If he wanted to make a lot of money working in the private sector, he needed to have a good track record and this boy was an irreversible stain that would haunt him throughout his residency. "Time of Death is 17:02. Cause of Death is Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Nurse please contact next of Kin" The young doctor stormed out of the room. He didn''t want to be here when shit hit the fan. He could probably get another residency at another hospital in a different city. He wouldn''t let the dead patient ruin his future! The atrocious demeanor and behavior of the young doctor didn''t escape the old mans notice yet he could only frown as he noted it in his evaluation. Turning his head slightly, he saw one of the nurses curled up in the corner silently crying. ''Must be the first patient she''s lost'' The nurse had forgotten the cardinal rule of working at the hospital, you couldn''t get too attached to a patient, they would eventually go and leave the nurses and doctors behind...one way or another. That grim reality had been forgotten by that poor nurse who had spent nearly 2 years looking after the now deceased patient. The old doctor looked at the patients medical file and clicked his tongue. Orphan, Only family member is his sister Luna. Parents died in a car crash. The old man was about to leave the room and make the call that he always dreaded when suddenly the flatlining noise of the EKG vanished, instead replaced by the sound of a pulse. "What¡­.? WHAT?! EVERYBODY, COME BACK! H-HIS PULSE! HE"S ALIVE" The old doctor shouted in shock. The young man had come back from the grave! While the young mans body was still frail and barely clinging to life, His pulse was faint and thready at best but was rapidly improving out of the blue. The young patients chest began to rise and fall in a steady motion, meaning even the boys damaged lungs were improving. Nobody, not even the old man seemed to notice the faint rainbow light flickering in the young mans chest beneath his skin. The old doctor was flabbergasted, he had heard of the Lazarus effect happening before but in all of years of practicing medicine, it had never happened with him. The sudden upturn in his condition was so preposterous that he could only call it a miracle. Game Start Leo slowly opened his eyes to see what he could only describe as the roof of an old wooden cabin. Panic and confusion surged as he sat up abruptly from the bed he was laying on. . ¡®What the?! I thought I was dead! Where am I?!¡¯ Is this heaven?!¡¯ His brain couldn¡¯t understand what had happened or where he was. The last thing he remembered was the counter hitting zero and both his lungs and heart stopping. The sickening feeling of death that experience invoked sent a shiver of fear down his spine. It took him a minute but the idea that a wooden cabin where he was all alone was heaven seemed a bit ridiculous to him. He could only assume that he was alive somehow. He patted his body, making sure that he was in one piece but he was not relieved in the slightest when he felt bits of himself that shouldn¡¯t exist. ¡®Why the hell do I have Cat ears and a tail?!¡¯ He now had an extra set of ears on the top of his head and a cute fluffy tail reminiscent of a small kitten. What sort of sick twisted joke was this?! He could only groan in frustration as he had too many questions and not enough answers. Swinging his feet off the bed, he quickly stood up with a hop. A small smile involuntarily formed on his lips as he looked down at his feet. It was only a few days ago that he was unable to lift his head, let alone stand or walk. While his arms were still slender for an 18 year old man, it was far better than having his muscles atrophied to the point he was practically skin and bones. ¡°I can¡¯t stand here all day. I need to figure out where I am¡±. Seeing nothing in the room that could help him figure out where he was, Leo could only make his way to the door. He reached out to the doorknob when a mysterious semi transparent screen appeared right in front of his eyes.
-Welcome to Ascension of Souls Online. -You have now entered the World of Melodia. -You are currently in the Beginner Village (Beastkin). -Please Confirm your Status and set your Character Name. -To check your Status, Please say [Status] -Please Note. Due to the Blessing granted by the Forgotten Goddess: Discordia, your body is currently in the process of being upgraded. Until the upgrade is complete, you will be unable to log out. -Remaining Time until Completion: 163 hours, 14 minutes, 57 seconds
¡®That¡¯s like a welcome message for a video game..¡¯ Leo winced as his memories came back to him. He was in fact inside of a Neurological VR game that his sister Luna had bought for his 18th birthday. She had taken the time to explain some of the nuances of the game and character creation to him but at the time he didn¡¯t really listen nor care. After all, he was terminally ill with a disease so rare that they would probably name it after him when he died. The last thing on the mind of a man about to die was how to play a video game. But he could never tell her that. How could he turn down the kind intentions of the only family he had left in the world. Luna had practically raised him for the last four years, the least he could do was indulge her desire one last time. That was the mindset he had going in but things took an odd turn when creating his ¡®character¡¯ he was approached by a large but really weird faceless puppet in a penguin tuxedo. The puppet had acted like a cute little girl despite their masculine frame. Perhaps if he had ignored it, things wouldn¡¯t have panned out the way they did. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡®Oh my~! Do I have something on my face my dear boy~? If you keep staring at me, I might blush~¡¯ ¡°What face?!¡± ¡®Hoo? You can see through the illusion?! Hahahaha. This is getting interesting~!¡¯ He would never forget the way that puppet had laughed so eerily before melting into a weird ink like egg. Nor could he erase the woman who had ¡®hatched¡¯ from the egg. A beautiful fairy-like woman who claimed to be a goddess. ¡°Did someone figure out a way to slip drugs into a game console? How else would I be tripping balls right now?¡± ¡®H-How Rude! I am a Goddess you lil brat! The name is Discordia!¡¯ ¡­¡­. His mouth twisted into a scowl, his brows furrowing as he realized he couldn¡¯t recall anything after that. It was as if there was a fog obscuring his own memories that he couldn¡¯t see through. ¡®It''s best that you forget about that woman for now. You won¡¯t be able to find out anything now as you are¡­¡¯ ¡­.. ¡®Am I going crazy? I thought I just heard a voice that wasn¡¯t my own in my head¡­.¡¯ ¡®No. You¡¯re not going crazy my child. We are a Persona or ¡®Ego¡¯ of the Bracelets on your wrists. The Equipment you chose with your life on the line¡­¡¯ Leo was stunned as he looked back down at his wrists where a plain somewhat silver set of cuff bracelets were wrapped around his wrists. ¡®What in the world? A lot of people are going to be checking in to the mental hospital if they hear that.¡¯ ¡®That''s very rude. We are not so common that the average individual will be graced with a presence remotely close to us.¡¯ Leo was skeptical about that but he chose to ignore the voice as he reread that notification. ¡°Body upgrade? What is that supposed to mean? Wait¡­ I can¡¯t log out for almost a week?! If I wasn¡¯t already on an IV, I would be dead from malnutrition long before then!¡± ¡®Your body in the other world shall remain safe. It is undergoing a metamorphosis to adapt to our power¡¯ ¡°Okay¡­ Yeah, I have gone insane. A video game affecting reality is just nonsense. Fine, I will play along for now. Arguing with an AI schizo voice won;t help me either.¡± ¡®We have no idea what ¡®AI¡¯ or ¡®Schizo¡¯ voice mean but we feel like we are being insulted¡­ you are a very rude partner¡¯ ¡°Take it however you want to see it. Lets see¡­. Ahh. [Status]¡± Another large screen appeared before his eyes, a detailed description of the current stats of his Avatar.
-Character Status -Name: [Not Set] -Race: Adaptive Beastfolk -Title: N/A -Class: N/A -Age: 18 -Level: 1 (0/100exp) -Status: Sickly (Body Upgrade in Progress) -Health: 70/70 -Mana: 30/30 -Attack: 20 -Defence: 10 -Dodge: 38 -Strength: 4 -Endurance: 2 -Agility: 10 -Dexterity: 9 -Intelligence: 7 -Wisdom: 3 -Charisma: 10 -Luck: 10 Free Points: 0 Skills: Chimerafication (Innate Racial), Invocation of Evolution (Sealed), Bond of the Zodiac (Sealed), Appraisal (Innate), Battle Sense (Innate) Equipment: Star Bracelets (N)(Growth)
Oh? For a child who has stood on the doorstep of death for so long, your status is quite impressive¡­Wait what? Why is our grade Normal?! Quickly [Appraise] us Child! The crazy voice seemed a bit unnerved by the (N) next to the name of the only equipment he had listed. With nothing to lose, he opened his mouth. ¡°[Appraise]¡±
Star Bracelets (N) A pair of bracelets that have a trace connection to the stars. Potential for Growth Innate Skills: Invocation of Evolution (Sealed), Bond of the Zodiac (Sealed),???,???,???,???, Stat Bonuses: N/A Uprade Status: 0%
[...... We are going to go cry now. Don¡¯t bother us] He could hear the despair tinged in the soft ¡®voice¡¯ of the bracelets, leaving him somewhat bemused. After a few moments of silence, he turned his attention to the door leading outside once more. ¡°Alright, if my name needs to be set before I go out, I will just go with the name everyone calls me: Leo¡±. A confirmation message showed up, wanting to confirm that Leo wanted his name to be [Leo]. Without hesitation, Leo confirmed his choice. A loud ding akin to that of a bell rang out inside of the cabin and the door in front of him slowly swung open. On the other side of the door, there was a beautiful scenic village akin to one you might find in the countryside. Taking a step out, Leo couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the realism as he could feel the heat of the sun on his skin and could smell the fragrance of flowers on the wind from a nearby garden. Taking a deep breath, He couldn¡¯t help but smile broadly. While it may be just a game, this was his first step outside in years and he was going to make sure he enjoyed every moment of it. With bold steps, he set out to explore the village and begin his journey. This is where his game would start. First Fight It didn¡¯t take long for Leo to find himself in the center of the village where an old man holding a cane was sitting on a bench in front of a small decorative fountain. The elderly mans head perked up when he noticed the young man approaching him. ¡°Welcome Young lad to our humble village. I am the village elder of this quiet village. My name is Sssamuel. If there is anything you need, I will do my besssst to assissst you acclimate to thisssss village.¡± Leo could see that the man had a long grey beard and when he got closer, he also saw that the elders skin was covered in small scales, indicating he was a reptile of some sort. ¡°Oh my, A youngling like yourssself is quite rare around here. I can ssssee a bright future ahead of you. Feel free to explore the village and complete the villagers requests and receive rewards in exchange. When you are ready to journey out into the world, please consider helping ussss reduce the goblin population on the outskirtsssss before you go. Its been so long ssssince we have had an adventurer here. The goblin horde has gone untouched for too long. If nobody takesss care of them, we may be overrun!¡± Despite his advanced age, the village elder spoke quite a bit. He also appeared to be extremely anxious about the potential dangers that surrounded the peaceful village he called home. ¡°Leave it to me! I will wipe them out for you!¡± Seeing the elders distress, Leo couldn''t help but feel motivated to assist as he let out a fierce growl before charging towards the nearby forest. ¡°W-wait! I dont think you are ready yet!¡± The elder was stunned by the bravado of the Level 1 newcomer. However by the time the man yelled it was already too late as Leo had already rushed out from the village centre. ¡°The child doesn¡¯t even have a weapon. Oh Goddess, please let that child survive¡±. Clearly shaken by the young boys¡¯ unfounded confidence, the elder could only mumble a simple prayer. ¡°Hahaha! This feels so nice~!¡± Leos voice was tinged with glee as he ran, loving everything about this in the moment . He felt so free, the soil beneath his feet, the sun upon his skin, the scent of fresh plants and the wind rushing past him were nostalgic feelings that he had almost forgotten after being confined to a hospital bed for so long. ¡°KIIIIIEEEEEK¡± Leo came to a stop in a small clearing when a small green humanoid leapt out from behind a tree. Startled slightly about the monster in front of him, He couldn¡¯t help but look at it a bit more closely. It was the size of a small child, sickly pale green skin with a head that was far too big for its body and wearing nothing but a dirty loincloth. Its head was misshapen with pointy ears and with its mouth open, Leo could see that its teeth were jagged, its tongue hanging out a bit as it drooled. But when the cat boy looked into the monsters beady little eyes, confusion quickly turning to horror and disgust as the young man recognized the goblin was staring at him lustfully! ¡°OH HELL NO!¡± he instantly recoiled from the deviant beast in front of him. He hated to admit it but his slender arms and legs, his demure height, somewhat long hair as well as his cute kitten tail made him look like a cute and adorable little girl. The monster lunged forward with a feral intensity, acting as if the person before it was merely easy prey it could pin down. With that and his own masculinity being questioned by a mere monster, Leo felt something in his mind snap. Like lightning, Leo sidestepped the goblin as it charged last him, spinning in a tight circle, using his own arm as a whip to lash out at his attacker. Leo felt something on the tip of his fingers catch briefly before continuing on with a splash of blood. ¡°Oh this is cool!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but remark when he glanced at his hands where claws had sprung from the tip of his fingers like a cat. Turning back to the goblin, he saw Two notifications fading above the goblins head. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. -[Critical Strike] -[-60!] The goblin was holding its throat as blood began to bubble from between its fingers. It slowly collapsed to its knees as it tried to speak but no words came out. It reached out for Leo with one bloodied hand but slowly collapsed forwards and became motionless -[Level 1 Goblin Defeated] -[+20 Exp] ¡°Heurp-¡± Leo instantly felt nauseous, retching a bit as if he was about to throw up. The realistic nature of the game with the blood made it feel like he had just committed murder. When the body slowly disappeared into particles of light,he feIt a slight relief was over him. Within seconds, the body completely disappeared, it left a single copper coin on the forest floor. With a moment to breathe, Leo briefly marveled at how his body had reacted the way it did, it had been years since he had been in a fight but the ease that he had fought scared even him a little bit. Deciding to forgo thinking about it too much, he walked over to pick up the copper coin when he heard the rustling of leaves up ahead. Looking up, he saw 3 more goblins enter the small clearing, coming to a stop about 20 feet away from him. Unlike the previous one, these 3 were equipped with weapons, albeit crude ones in the form of clubs and wooden shields on their backs. ¡°KIEK!KIEK!¡± ¡°KRAAAIIE!¡± ¡°SKREE!¡± Leo felt his rage being reignited despite the cries of his opponents that now outnumbered him. Those bastards were staring at him with the same lustful gaze that the first goblin had! However it seemed that the three goblins were smarter than its companion as they looked around briefly, checking to see if Leo had any reinforcements. ¡°You lil shits!¡± Leo took the initiative to attack first, rushing at them and launching himself into the air so he could use his knee to strike the goblin in the leads face. -[-25] The monster let out a startled shriek as its head snapped back, blood gushing from its broken nose, its two companions letting out their own confused cries before raising their clubs in an attempt to swing at Leo. In response, Leo used the remaining momentum from his attack to flip his body over the bleeding goblin, his hands grip the monsters head as he swings his arms. The result was the goblin lost its already unstable footing and was used as a makeshift blunt weapon that smashed into one of its companions causing both of them to collapse in a heap. -[-35] -[-40] -[Level 1 Goblin Defeated] -[+20 Exp] ¡°KYEAH¡± Only one goblin shrieked in pain while the one that hadn¡¯t been hit was stunned by the unexpected violence. In the heap, the goblin that had been weaponized had it¡¯s neck twisted in an unnatural way, its dull eyes betraying its fate while the other was pinned beneath it. Before it could pull itself out from beneath its kindreds corpse, Leo was already by its side, his leg coming down like an axe, his heel digging into the goblins skull with an audible crunch. [-40] [-10] [Level 1 Goblin Defeated] [+20 Exp] ¡°Damn it¡­¡± A curse slipped from his lips as he winced from the pain shooting up his leg, his heel had been injured from breaking the goblins skull. The remaining goblin took a step back, intimidated by the ferocity the small boy had displayed. However, instead of fleeing, the goblin raised its club and charged with a snarl. With his foot damaged, Leo was unable to dodge in time so he could only raise his arms in an attempt to block the blow. The goblin swung the club and unfortunately for Leo, it struck one of his elbows. ¡°AHHHHHH¡± -[-27] -[Maimed!] He screamed in pain.as one of his arms fell to his side, broken at the elbow. With a damaged leg and arm, Leo was getting desperate. Without thinking, he instinctively used his remaining arm to grab the Goblins wrist, pulling it towards him before it could swing again. Off Balanced, the Goblin stumbled forwards and Leo crouched before launching himself forward, tackling it to the ground. [-5] Scrambling to a kneeling position after knocking it down, he was able to mount the goblin but with no immediate means to kill it, he used the only weapon that he had left. Using his one good hand, he pushed the goblins head to the side before lunging in and biting down on its neck before fiercely pulling away, tearing out its throat. -[-71!] -[Critical Strike] -[Level 1 Goblin Defeated] -[+20exp] He felt the heavy taste of iron on his tongue as the goblin underwent its final death spasms beneath him, blood spraying wildly from its torn throat, covering the young man in it. Unable to bring himself to stand up, Leo continued to kneel in place as the mounted goblin began to fade into particles of light, trying to catch his breath and allow his mind to comprehend what he had just done. ¡®Child, I don¡¯t know if I should call you brave or foolish. You killed 4 beasts with your bare hands. That alone is worthy of praise. As expected of someone we chose to be our partner¡¯ ¡°What the hell did you do to be so great?!¡± The immediate snap back at the compliment betrayed his agitation. How could a pair of bracelets who had played no role in the fight praise itself while he himself had to taste the flesh of goblin meat. If anyone asked him what it tasted like he would tell them this: It SUCKS!. Even now, he kept spitting, trying to get rid of the disgusting aftertaste akin to licking a toilet brush out of his mouth. ¡°I had no help here! Also why is this so hard? How the hell are people supposed to clear this?!¡± There was a moment of silence before he heard a reply that made him jerk a little. ¡®You entered the forest alone with no equipment or armor. If you had listened to that old elder, you probably could have grown stronger before your first fight¡­.¡¯ Each point made Leos ears twitch as he realized that every single thing that was said was indeed factual and a result of his own impulsive behaviour. He could only lower his head in defeat. ¡°I get it¡­ its my fault this time¡±. When his head was lowered, he noticed that the loot dropped by the goblins this time was more substantial than a single copper coin. This time there were 2 wooden plank shields, a bottle with faint pink liquid inside and 4 copper coins ¡®Oh? We could make use of those. Shall I teach you how to make us stronger? That wooden trash shall be the start of our rise! HAHA!¡¯ The boisterous laugh coming from the ¡®bracelets¡¯ caught Leo off guard. The way the bracelets laughed was a bit crazy to him, perhaps it had a bit of a complex at being labeled as a Normal Grade item. ¡°I don¡¯t know which is crazier, me or the voice in my head.¡± Lily and Luna Soluna ''Luna'' Haronyu put her phone into her pocket, cold sweat dripping from her forehead and her hands were shaking slightly. The doctors had called her to give her an update about her brother and how he had almost died. They still didn''t know the cause of his sudden crash of his condition but were even more confused about his currently stable state. The doctor in charge had even told her that Leone''s body was slowly but steadily improving and it was possible that he may make a full recovery. Exiting from a nearby alleyway, she reached inside of her jacket pocket to pull out a cigarette from a carton, she inhaled deeply before letting out a puff of smoke. She looked at the sky, relief washing over her as she stood there. Her brother was going to be okay. Her prayers had been answered. "Ms. Luna, Smoking is bad for you! You know how I feel about it¡­it stinks and makes you smell like an old man. I don''t want my best friend to smell like some old fart!" Luna turn her head in the direction of the lively voice to see a blonde young lady in a light lilac one piece dress puffing her cheeks up in a pout. However, the pout quickly faded into surprise as she noticed the change in Lunas'' expression. "Luna? What happened? Was it something good?" The young lady tilted her head as she approached Luna who was a similar age to her own "Ahh. Young Lady. It is nothing you need to concern yourself with- " Luna bowed to the young lady in deference but somehow there was a bit of joy and mirth mixed in with her words. But before she could continue, the Young lady interrupted. "Don''t gimme none of that Young lady crap. It''s just the two of us, you don''t need to act like my bodyguard, before anything else, we''re friends!" She looked into Lunas eyes with the sternest gaze she could muster but to Luna, all it did was make her look cute. "Haha¡­Lily you really are stubborn" Luna sighed, her eyes beginning to water up, threatening to spill tears as her lips twitched slightly upwards in a small smile. She took her cigarette and flicked it to the ground, snuffing it out by grinding it into the ground with her shoe. "That was the hospital calling me-" Luna turned her head, not looking Lily in the eyes as she spoke only to be interrupted again.. "Something happened to your brother?! Do you need to go see him?! We can go there right now if you want!" Seeing Lily visibly panic, Luna let out a soft chuckle Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "No he''s fine. I mean they said he was in a dangerous spot but he is okay now. In fact they said there is even a chance he could make a full recovery!". The thought of that alone made Luna break into a wide smile, tears streaming down her cheeks in relief which was a stark contrast to her usual stoic expression. Lily covered her mouth at the shocking revelation before cheering "YAY~! That''s so good to hear! Maybe we should drop by the hospital when he is better and I can introduce myself to him~!". Near the end of her statement she narrows her eyes, intent on teasing her best friend. "Absolutely not." Lunas bright smile instantly disappeared, replaced by her usual cold expression as she wiped her eyes after her immediate response. "Ehhh~?! Why?!" Lily was shocked at the immediate refusal from her best friend. Luna glanced over her friend. She had waist length blonde hair that accentuated her baby blue eyes, A petite stature but with an hourglass figure alongside her beautiful white jade like skin and plentiful ''assets''. Luna then looked down at herself with her own more modest figure, disappointed in herself. "I''m protecting him from indecency." The tone was cold as ice as she turned and began to walk away. "Eh?! Indecent? Me¡­ Indecent? Is this how you''re gonna treat me? W-wait for me!" Lily was both confused and somewhat offended but chased after her friend, afraid to be left alone. Neither of them bothered to check on the dozen or so foolish men who lay wasted in crumpled heaps in the alley, having been viciously beaten for coveting a couple of beauties and attempting to kidnap them. The fools were unaware that the girls they targeted was a famous bodyguard who had recently risen to infamy in certain circles of the underworld as the [Rabbit of Carnage] and the lady she protected. . The two walked down the street illuminated by street lights, the two bantering back and forth, but Lily was all too quickly finding herself running out of breath, unable to maintain the same speed as Luna due to her own lack of exercise. "Luna! Stop walking so faast" Why are you in such a hurry? Are you trying to get rid of me?" Lily was whining, her cheeks puffing up in indignation as she also tried to catch her breath. . "Your stamina is still as trash as ever, perhaps you should exercise more often. If you want, I could train you¡­" Luna came to a stop after she gave that offer for the umpteenth time, hoping that this would be the catalyst to convince Lily to attain some level of fitness. "You train me?! NEVER! I would rather die! I dont want NO Spartan Training!!!" Lily eyes widened in a bit of fear. She had seen the intense training Luna put herself through and wanted no part of it for herself. If she wanted to torture herself, she would swap out her pop for the diet version and have sugar free snacks. "....Hopeless" Luna could only sigh, her head drooping down in defeat and dismay. Her lazy young miss was just like a fat cat, only wanting to eat, sleep and play to her hearts'' content. "Rude! Is this how you talk to the person who got you a headset for you and your lil bro?" Lily crossed her arms, her ''assets becoming far more pronounced when she did so as she glared at her friend with a smug smirk plastered on her face. . "Tch" Luna instinctively clicked her tongue in displeasure when she glanced at her friends chest but she quickly shut her mouth. Based on her own experiences, it was more than likely that the headset that saved Leones life. Taking a deep breath, Luna bowed her head "I will never forget that and you will always have my thanks¡­" "Hey Hey. None of that. You and me, we are friends. That won''t change for anything!" Lilys voice was soft as she put her hand on her friends shoulders, reminiscing about the past. Origins of a Friendship Born Liliana Franscesa Gattioni, Lily was the sole daughter of the head of the Gattioni Family. Formerly known as a Crime syndicate, they had turned over a new leaf, sponsoring multiple nonprofit organizations and charities. They had since distanced themselves from committing crimes as her father Lucian followed the wishes of his late wife who had been a police officer. He had raised her with great care but due to his past reputation, parents had instructed their children not to play with her, leaving her isolated. The children who did approach her though were off putting as even the young Lily could tell they had ulterior motives for being her friend. They wanted to be her friend because of her family, not because of who she was. She grew used to being alone and thought it would be okay but Luna was the one who changed her mindset. Lily and Luna met in their first year of high school and by chance had ended up sitting beside each other. Lilys first impression of her classmate that her given name of Soluna was interesting. Also the way she didn''t smile all that much and was so serious, her short chocolate brown hair and eyes gave her a cool impression like some sort of Prince. Instead of cracking a joke, she instead put on her smiling mask "What a pretty name~! My name is Liliana Gattioni. Nice to meet you~". She thought her name would get some reaction out of the girl, making her show her true colours. "Thanks¡­.and uhh nice to meet you¡­?" Luna seemed uninterested, responded with a tilt of her head as if to say ''So what''. She was absolutely unaware of the significance of her name. Her classmates however reacted at the name, some clambering to make their acquaintance with her, talking about how they wanted to be her friend, asking about her family and any plans they had that Lily knew about. Lily could only continue to fake her smile, afraid to reject their advances outright, instead rebuffing them in the vaguest ways she could. While she and her classmates laughed, she began to feel even more alone. "So annoying. You girls are so fake¡­. You aren''t trying to be her friend, you just want to take advantage of her because of her family. A true friend doesn''t care about crap like that. Now buzz off!" Lunas sudden berating growl stunned both Lily and her classmates. "H-how dare you! We aren''t like that! You know that Ms. Gattioni?!" The classmate whose name Lily had long since forgotten had their cheeks flushed in embarrassment when they were called out like that. "You don''t even dare call her by her first name? Some friend you are. Class is about to start. Go away now or you can spend the first period in a hospital! Luna couldn''t help but scoff at such shallow behaviour. She quickly glared at the other party and threatened violence, her narrowed eyes and cold gaze resembled the gaze of a fierce beast. The classmate was so scared that Lily thought she might pee herself, the reaction was something Lily couldn''t help but find refreshing. She didn''t think she would ever be able to do something like that. She began to grow more curious about her seat neighbour but unable to bridge the gap herself. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Let me know if they bother you again, I don''t mind chasing them away...Also I think your name is cool." Luna sudden whisper caught Lily off guard, she turned her head to Luna only to see that the other girl had already turned her head away to look at the front. Lily didn''t know what to say about the sudden compliment but she quickly noticed that the tip of the girls ears had become a bit red. ''She''s embarrassed? That''s so cute!'' "Hehehe~. Well in that case, please take care of me~! You can call me Lily, that''s what my family calls me!" Lily leaned in to whisper that while class was underway, not wanting to draw attention to the two of them again "...Luna..and likewise" The soft response was how their beautiful friendship began. Lily eventually became more extroverted, willing to put herself out there and make friends, even if it was only at a superficial level while Lunas cool expressionless face had made her quite popular with the girls. Some girls even went as far as calling Luna a ''Prince'' while Lily was the ''Princess''. Of course, Luna was outraged by such a nickname but she didn''t have the energy to constantly complain and bicker about it out loud, resorting to grumbling about it when the two of them ate lunch together. Deep down, Lily believed that her friend would never know how much their first encounter had meant to her. She had saved her from the darkness of isolation, bringing light and colour into her world that had been so dominated in shades of grey. Two years flew by when tragedy struck Lunas life. One day without notice, her parents vanished. There was no note, no reported accident, they were just gone as if they had disappeared into thin air as if they never existed. She had been left to raise her little brother alone. She could no longer hang out after school, needing to find a job to provide food for her family. Lily had tried to help but Luna''s pride had pushed her away, threatening her with never talking to her again if she tried to bring money into their friendship as she didn''t need any handouts. Left with no choice, Lily could only back away at the time, not daring to step on her friends'' toes even though it hurt her to see Luna like this. To make matters worse, less than a month later, Lily found Luna bawling her eyes out in the stairwell. It turned out that her little brother had contracted a mysterious illness with no cure and needed to be hospitalized. Never before had she seen her friend, someone who seemed so calm and collected all the time crumbling. Unable to hold herself back, Lily hugged her friend and whispered in her ear "I''m here for you. Let me help¡­. Please!". Her heart ached for her friend as their tears soaked her shoulder. It took about 20 minutes of consoling for Lunas tears to stop. Once she had composed herself, Luna had flushed in embarrassment and tried to assure Lily that she was fine and didn''t need help. "Lily..I''m fine. Really. Things will work themselves- ouagh..?!" A strong flick between the eyes caught her off guard and interrupted her attempt to talk.. "DON''T GIMME THAT! I''M HELPING AND THATS FINAL!" Lily inadvertently shouted that in Lunas face as she held her hand, her finger stinging in pain. "If your pride wont let me help you for free. Fine. Then I will just hire you! Whether it''s as a bodyguard, secretary or companion, it doesn''t matter! You and me, we are friends. That won''t change for anything!" "Lily¡­." "Also why the hell is your head so hard?! I feel like my finger might be broken!" She added, holding up her finger which had started to swell. "....." Lunas touched expression faded, a sigh escaping her lips before she let out a soft laugh "Hahaha ... .You really know how to kill the mood huh!" "Eh? How did I do that?" Lily eyes widened innocently, completely oblivious to why her friend was laughing at her. "So should I be calling you Young Miss going forward?" Lunas voice was tinged with a teasing tone as she pat Lilys head as an attempt to console her for hurting her finger. . "Bish, you dare?!" A growl slipped from Lily as she glared at her best friend like she was a mortal enemy but the head pats quickly melted her expression into a somewhat sloppy smile. "Girl you are really hopeless¡­" Luna sighed in disbelief but deep down. she hoped that Lily would never change. In a world where it felt like the world around her could slip away without a moments notice, she was grateful that she had such a soft and loving best friend. From that moment onwards, the two best friends were practically conjoined at the hip, always hanging out together whenever possible. Lily did not encroach on Lunas'' personal time with her brother, even going as far as never having met him in person. Spark of Hope Lily would have been content with their relationship as is but Luna was not. She had taken Lilys statement all too seriously and had decided to act like a true bodyguard in public settings, even going as far as signing up at a famous gym to train her body. She had apprenticed under a retired pro boxer and researched other martial arts in her spare time which resulted in teasing from Lily calling her things like ''Macho Lady'' and ''Tiny Terminator''. However, each stupid nickname earned Lily a flick to her forehead and always ended with Lily tearing up as she held her head in pain, promising never to do that again only to repeat her behaviour a few days later. It was Lily who had first heard about Ascension of Souls and had pestered Luna to play it with her, trying to come up with various schemes to get her to play. Luna had felt like it was a waste of money for a sketchy game but relented when Lily showed up with 2 consoles. "What should I set my username as?" Luna fidgeted with her helmet while sitting on her friends couch, across from the bed where Lily sat examining her own helmet with barely concealed excitement. She was unsure about playing a game but still somewhat eager for a welcome distraction from her situation. "Muu¡­. What about Lady Killer? You were popular with the girls no? and you can kick most boys asses too yeah~?" Lilys suggestion made a vein on Lunas head throb, not pleased with being called a Lady Killer. Lily had a mischievous smirk on her face as she kept her distance, believing that she was safe from her friends lethal finger flick. What she forgot though was that Luna had a good arm as well, a pillow hitting her squarely in the face, eliciting a small squeak from Lily "In that case, your name should be ''Piggy'' or Chonk!", "Thats so Rude! I am NOT FAT!" Lilys cheeks puffed up as she cried in outrage. However her complaint fell on deaf ears as Luna had already put on the helmet. Grumbling in annoyance, Lily put her helmet on as well and entered the game. The two girls had found themselves in two very different areas for the creation of their characters. Lily found herself in the middle of a tropical rainforest, the muggy heat teemed with life and put her mind at ease plus her guide had been a cute lil animal eared boy who guided her through the process. He had been so cute that Lily had wanted to hug and squeeze him as if he was a teddy bear. In the end, Lilys Avatar ended up being from the so-called [Wood Tiger] race which had modified her figure and hair. She went from being Blonde to a vibrant green akin to a luscious leaf alongside cat ears and a tail of the same colour. She thought it was so cute that she was tempted to act like a cat and talk with a Nya every now and then!. Luna on the other hand was placed in an open grassland. However, various weapons were scattered across the field, The scent of blood hung heavily in the air which somehow made her heart beat quicker as if she was some sort of hunter seeking prey. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. However she felt her heart drop when her guide appeared. He had looked eerily familiar to her brother but the mannerisms were all off, he was too calm and unfeeling as if he was some sort of robot. Ignoring the nausea that came from looking at him, her race was set as a [War Bunny]. Her already cute appearance became even more accentuated when her hair became snow white and her eyes became a dark red, reminiscent of blood. With a certain outfit, she would look like the perfect bunny girl but she mentally scoffed at the idea of wearing one, it was far too embarrassing to even think about. The two of them had both started in a Beastkin village but had taken different approaches to exploring, agreeing to meet up when they were done. Lily had chosen to seek out the alchemist in the city, hoping to learn how to make potions to earn money to learn a taming skill while Luna found the Lumberjack, hoping to use the experience as his apprentice as a way to train. The two of them had spent about a day training in their respective fields when they decided to log out to have food. Feeling somewhat hot after taking off her helmet, she asked. "Lily what do you want to eat? I will have the chef make it for you¡­what is it? Whats wrong" Lunas eyes furrowed when she saw Lily looking at her with a horrified expression, looking around to see what sort of danger had her so shocked. "Y-y-your Eyes! H-hair too!" Lily was stammering, unable to properly explain what was wrong. "What?" Luna was confused by her friends incoherent stammering and walked over to her friends bathroom to look in the mirror. "WHAT?!" Luna scream rang out from the bathroom when she saw her own reflection. At some point while playing the game, her short brown hair had become a flawless snowy white while her eyes had gone from chocolate brown to blood red, reminiscent of rubies. It was almost identical to her in-game appearance! KRRRRSH The sound of the granite sink countertop cracking followed her scream. Looking down, Luna saw two massive spiderweb cracks on the counter spreading from the centre of her hands, even her own monstrous strength had increased massively in comparison to before! Shock overcame the young womans mind as she struggled to comprehend why her appearance and strength had changed so drastically. It took her a few minutes to compose herself, needing deep breaths to prevent herself from having a panic attack. It was then that she noticed a change that sparked something she hadn''t felt in a long time: Hope. Part of the reason why she had agreed to play the game at the time was that she had injured her knee and had been ordered by a doctor to rest it for about 2 weeks or it could become much worse. Of course she didn''t tell Lily as she didn''t want her friend worrying about her more than she already did. With every step she took, she felt her knee twinge in pain but refused to show it, pretending everything was okay. Now though, her knee felt better, in fact it felt even better than ever. If this game could fix her knee, could it also fix her brother?! Without thinking too much beyond that, Luna turned to her friend and shouted "Lily! Could you get me another console please? I- I think this could help my brother!" Lunas hands were shaking. She didn''t want to get her hopes up too much as she feared that if this hope was dashed, she would be left even more devastated. Lily had of course granted her friends wish without even a moment''s hesitation and had waited outside of the hospital while Luna delivered the birthday present to her brothers room. Lily even drove the car home when she saw her friend was on the verge of tears after leaving the hospital. The phone ringing again brought Lily out of her reminiscence about the past that led up to this point. "Hello? Speaking¡­" Lunas eyes furrowed as she mouthed the word ''Hospital'' to her friend. Lily brought her hands to her mouth, nerves getting to the both of them as the thought of it being bad news inevitably crossed their minds. Luna was silent as she listened to the doctor on the other end while Lily waited on pins and needles. All of a sudden Lily jumped in surprise as Luna shouted. "My little brother is growing a WHAT?!" Cruelty of Man Leo sat in the forest clearing with his arms crossed, praying that no other goblins showed up as he waited for his health to regenerate after drinking the faint pink potion. In front of him were the spoils of his first fight: 4 copper coins, the empty potion bottle and two plank shields. ¡®Child¡­ Those two shields shall be the foundation of your strength. Put them in front of us and place your hands on both of them.¡¯ While skeptical, Leo did as he was asked, he moved and placed both of his hands on the shields. All of a sudden, ¡®Haha~! Time to feast!¡¯ The bracelets roared excitedly and before Leo could say anything, his hands turned pitch black interspaced with faint dots. The shields instantly shatter into fragments before being absorbed into his hands as if they were a black hole. Seeing this Leo couldn¡¯t help but shout. ¡°What the Fuu¡­.MY LOOT?!¡± Where is it. Where is my loot! What did you do?!¡± Leo glared at his wrists while shaking his arms, making him look like a small child throwing a tantrum trying to get an answer from his so called ¡®partner¡¯ ¡®BURP¡¯. Leos eyes froze after hearing the bracelet making a burping noise. His brain seemingly shutting down, unable to comprehend that the useless bracelet ate more than half of the spoils of his first fight. ¡°Y-you a-ate it¡­..?¡± His eyes were swimming and ears twitched while his tail swished in the air annoyed. ¡®C-child. Please wait a second. I-I just need a moment¡­¡¯ The bracelet was nervous upon sensing just how angry its partners had become. Leo opened his mouth but he didn¡¯t get a chance to say anything before he saw a screen appear before his eyes as a swirling sensation could be felt on his wrists.
Star Bracelet (N) has attempted to use Sealed skill: [Invocation of Evolution] Low Grade Materials detected, Skill use granted. Result: Successful 2 Goblin Shields have been consumed. Star Bracelet (N) has reached the evolution prerequisites to use [Star Shield Gauntlets] as its base combat form. Do you wish to proceed with Evolution? [Y/N]
¡®Child, you just need to accept it and you will see!¡¯ Leo could tell somehow that despite lacking a proper face, The bracelets were somehow giving off a smug expression. He sighed as he had no choice but to accept this Evolution. Mentally saying Yes in his mind, the screen disappeared and his bracelets melted into a smooth but sticky silvery gold liquid. The liquid began spreading up his forearms and covered his hands, once up to just below his elbows were covered with the mysterious liquid, it began to glow, obscuring its overall shape and bubble like boiling water but Leo didn¡¯t feel any heat, instead the experience was pleasant like soaking his arms in lukewarm water. After a minute, the glow of the liquid faded to reveal thin but solid gauntlets covering both of his arms. They were extremely light with faint but ornate stars engraved into the metal and due to its structure they did not restrict his arm movement in the middle. Leo noticed that there was a curved blade along the outer edge of the gauntlet, with the thickest part being by the wrist. The gauntlets even covered his fingers up to the knuckles but was soft and malleable, allowing him to move his fingers dexterously. He felt a little bit of awe seeing this new form and even the bracelets themselves were eager to show off to him. ¡®Child, put your arms together as if you are going to block an attack! Do it quickly!¡¯ Suppressing a small smile, he did as was requested once more. As if by magic, the gauntlets seemed to melt a bit before fusing together, forming a large shield in front of him. The shape of the gauntlets on both of his hands was actually 2 halves of a massive bladed shield?! ¡°That¡­.That¡¯s so cool¡¯ Stars seemed to shimmer in Leos eyes at he inadvertently thought the feature was extremely cool. Before he could continue to admire the change, another notification appeared.
Star Bracelets (N) has evolved to Star Bracelets (R) Stats Adjusted to fit Upgrade Sealed Skills have been Partially Unlocked. Star Bracelets (R) A pair of bracelets that have revived a small connection to the stars. Potential for Growth Innate Skills: Invocation of Evolution (Low)[New!], Bond of the Zodiac (Low, Currently Unavailable)[New!],???,???,???,???, Bound to Player: Leo Stat Bonuses: Def+ 10 Atk+5 Uprade Status: 0% Star Bracelets (R) has met the requirements to be named. Bonuses will be applied based on Affinity of the name with the nature of the Ego. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
¡®See Child! We ARE Useful. Feel free to shower us in praise¡¯ Leo had to admit that the bracelets had indeed surprised him as message windows popped up from the upgrade. Yet still he furrowed his brow as he had one more problem he needed to deal with before continuing on this partnership. ¡°Yeah yeah. You aren¡¯t useless but you and I need to get one thing sorted out. I am NOT a child and I am already sick of you calling me that .How would you feel if I called you [Brat] all the time?¡±. His annoyance at the overconfident bracelet was evident but quickly switched to amusement when he saw yet another notification screen
Do you wish to set the Ego name of the Star Bracelets (R) as ¡®Brat¡¯ [Y/N]
He could feel gauntlet squirm and panic through their mental connection as it quickly replied with a stammer. ¡®Ch-child¡­ No Leo! Please don¡¯t! We won¡¯t call you that anymore! Please! Dont do this. You will destroy our dignity if you name us that! WAHHHH!~¡¯ He hadn¡¯t expected it to plead or even cry but he could tell that they were genuinely begging him. If it had a human body, it probably would have been clinging to his leg with tears in his eyes. A wry smile flickered across his face when he pressed No. ¡°As long as you understand. You call me by my name and I shall call you by yours okay?¡± ¡®Sniff Sniff okay¡­.¡¯ Due to its childish behaviour, Leo felt like he was making a deal with a small child and it made him feel guilty that he made it cry. ¡°Well in that case, I look forward to working with you. [Astra],¡± ¡®Astra¡­..? Thats a pretty name¡­.is it really for us?¡¯ The voice clearly liked the name but was hesitant to accept such a pretty thing after being left neglected in a case for god knows how long.
Do you wish to set the Ego name of the Star Bracelets (R) as ¡®Astra¡¯ [Y/N]
¡°Of course its for you¡± If what you told me is true, we will be together for a long time. I cant be calling you ¡®you¡¯ all the time right? Besides, a pretty name suits such a pretty weapon~!¡± Leo chuckled as he patted a gauntlet covered arm with one hand with a wry smile on his face. He could feel a surge of heat course through his mind when he pressed Yes, clearly a sign that he made his companion embarrassed.
Star Bracelets (R) Name has been set as ¡®Astra¡¯ Compatibility: 100% Bonuses Being applied. Please wait¡­
Leon felt the heat surge through his arms again as Astra squirmed again, the feeling of discomfort being passed through their mental connection. ¡®AHHHHH¡¯ Astras sudden scream caught Leo off guard but he quickly noticed the engravings of stars became more pronounced. Leo noticed 12 spherical indents being made on the surface in a perfect circle, 6 holes on each gauntlet with lines criss-crossing, connecting them in various ways.
Bonuses applied. Unique Skill: Elemental Conversion (Growth) Description: Distinct Elements gathered through the unique abilities of ¡®Astra¡¯ shall allow Player ¡®Leo¡¯ to convert their personal element into chosen element. Skill Lvl: 1/?? Usage Limitations: Can Only use (1) Distinct Element at a time. Distinct Elements Available: 0 Cost: N/A Note: As Player Leo is of the ¡®Void¡¯ Element, Element Conversion will drastically affect the appearance and abilities of the Player. Drastic Changes will result in Pain. Overloading Skill will result in multiple side effects which may permanent damage and or Permanent Death.
¡®Wow! We feel so much stronger! It is entirely possible we can restore ourselves to our peak of power! Maybe even surpass it!¡¯ Astra was surprised by the surge of newfound power and even Leo couldn¡¯t help but chime in after seeing the updated skill. . ¡°That Unique skill is kinda scary though. What does it mean by Overload? And what do you mean will result in pain?!¡± ¡®My dear boy~! Overloading is where you use a skill at a level beyond your current ability. So dont try to use 2 elements to convert to at the same time!¡¯ Astra explanation gave more questions than answers but it didnt seem to notice as it was still on a high from the newfound potential power that it had gained from having a new name. ¡°My dear¡­.. boy?¡± Leo narrowed his eyes, glaring at his arms, conveying his annoyance to Astra who let out a small cough in response. I mean Leo!.....So petty It was a grumbled response in a small voice, Its self esteem deflating a little bit from the narrow mindset of its partner. Just as Leo was about to ask a few more questions, his head jerked up as another goblin entered the clearing. This one was equipped with an iron sword in hand and was a bit bigger than the ones from before. It appeared to be looking for something as looked around the clearing ¡°Kek! Kiek! Kiii! Kree!¡± it called out as if it was barking orders before its eyes settled on Leo. Unlike the ones before it, the goblins eyes were vigilant as it eyed Leo, perceiving him as a threat. From its back, it grabbed a small buckler and raised it up, on guard for any attack Leo might throw at it. Seems we are out of time! You ready Leo? . ¡°I¡¯m all good to go¡± Leo leapt to his feet bounced a bit on the balls of his feet as he punched his palm, a lust for battle washing over him, acclimating quickly to this world of violence. His wounds had long since healed thanks to the potion he had drank earlier. With a snarl, the goblin lunged forward, stabbing its blade towards Leos heart, in response, the young man shifted his weight to the side, using one of his gauntlets to parry the blow, while he used another to throw a punch at its head. [Parried!] [Blocked!] The goblin grunted as it tried to recover from the parry. While off balanced, it managed to raise its buckler in time and blocked the counter but was left stumbling backwards. Leo however did not chase after it, instead flipping his arm, opening his palm and beckoning the goblin to come at him in a taunting manner. The goblins forehead twitched as it grew aggravated, it roared as it charged again, swinging its sword down in a heavy chop. Leo once again sidestepped the blow, using his left foot as a pivot, he spun counterclockwise and sent a backfist to the Goblins temple. [Miss!] [-20] This time, the blow connected cleanly with the goblins head, causing it to jerk to the side after it was hit in the side of the head. The gauntlet covered blow stunned the goblin, causing it to stumble as it tried to regain its bearings. Not missing the chance this time, Leo then used his right foot to pivot back, using the bladed edge of his gauntlet to slash at the goblins chest [-30] A loud scream filled the air as blood splashed from the goblins chest. The goblin took a few steps and took a deep breath. Having a bad feeling about what would happen if he did nothing, Leo launched himself forward at the goblin, using one of his legs to try and kick the goblin in the chest to cut off its breath. [Critical Strike!] [-40!] Leo had miscalculated the distance as he was still unused to his new speed, getting much closer than he had intended to and before his brain could react to it, his leg was already rising to kick. The goblins face contorted in extreme pain, silently screaming as it was deprived of its breath as the sound of eggs breaking reverberated through the forest. Leo had unintentionally kicked the goblins crotch so hard that its legs lifted off the ground. Even Leo grimaced at the brutality he caused accidentally. Leo felt extremely guilty as the goblin looked at him with its beady eyes somehow looking pitiful. ¡®We know that the goblins before it were degenerate scum¡­.but this one acted like an honourable warrior. Our Partner is a cruel man it seems ¡°It was an accident! I swear. Nothing deserves to be kicked like that! Even Goblins! Astras casual remark made Leo feel even worse about himself as he watched on, trying to find some sort of justification as he could only watch on as the goblin, unable to stand any longer, fell over holding its crotch, tears streaming down its face as it whimpered in agony. However that noise soon faded to nothing. ¡°No one has to know right Astra?!¡± ¡®We wont tell a soul¡¯ [Level 2 Goblin Supervisor Defeated] [+30 EXP] [Level UP] [Title Achieved: Cruelty of Man] Leos face slowly unfroze from the shock as he had to try come to terms with the fact that he had just killed a goblin by kicking it in the balls really really hard. Trying to distract himself from what even he himself considered to be inhumane, he turned his attention to the new title he had gained.
Title: Cruelty of Man Description: Granted to players who have taken a life by destroying the liferod of a man. Perverts be warned, They will crush your balls! Effect: Fame +5
¡°@*&#^*#&@^¡± Swear words reverberated through the forest, Level 2 It took a while for Leo to stop swearing, cheeks flushed with embarrassment from the ¡®achievement¡¯ that he viewed as shameful. First Goblins had challenged his masculinity and now he had a bit of fame for crushing balls?! ¡°Stupid game¡­.¡± ¡®It''s done now¡­You can¡¯t change the past. Just don¡¯t end any more bloodlines and it will be forgotten...probably? That was the seventh time he had grumbled that in the last five minutes. Astra tried to console him. but was clearly not very good at it. ¡°Shut up about it!¡± The fur of his tail puffing up, showed his extreme agitation as he hissed like cat. ¡®Umm¡­ uhh, well you did level up so maybe take a look at that? That might cheer you up¡¯ ¡°Ahh?! Thats right!¡± Leos eyes gleamed with interest, anger almost completely forgotten when he remembered that there was a notification that had said he had leveled up. Somewhat excited, he opened to his status to see how it had changed.
Character Status Name: Leo Race: Adaptive Beastfolk Title: Cruelty of Man Class: N/A Age: 18 Level: 2 (10/200exp) Status: Sickly (Body Upgrade in Progress) -Health: 70/70 ¡ú 90/90 -Mana: 30/30 ¡ú 40/40 -Attack: 20 ¡ú 30 -Defence: 10 ¡ú 25 -Dodge: 38 ¡ú 44 -Strength: 4 ¡ú 5 -Endurance: 2 ¡ú 4 -Agility: 10 ¡ú 12 -Dexterity: 9 ¡ú 10 -Intelligence: 7 ¡ú 7 -Wisdom: 3 ¡ú 4 -Charisma: 10 ¡ú 11 -Luck: 10 ¡ú 10 Free Points: 2 Fame: 5 Resistance: None Skills: Chimerafication (Innate Racial), Invocation of Evolution (Low), Bond of the Zodiac (Low), Appraisal (Innate), Battle Sense (Innate), Elemental Conversion(Unique), Shield Arts (F) Equipment: Astra (R)
Leos tail twitched as he saw that dreaded title on his Status page but was quickly distracted by the other changes. He realized that stats like Attack had correlations with other stats like Strength and Dexterity but didn¡¯t know what Fame did nor how to obtain a class. With no one else to ask, he turned to Astra with some hesitation. ¡°So do you know how Free points work? I have a vague idea but I could be wrong¡­¡± ¡®Hohoho~! Our time to shine! Just call us Teacher Astra! Our Pupil shall shine under our guidance!]¡¯ ¡°Nevermind. I will go back to the village and ask¡± Astras self esteem skyrocketed only to plummet immediately. Leo had no intentions of entertaining the egotistical brat he was apparently bound to. ¡®W-wait! I¡¯ll explain! Let me do it!¡¯ ¡°Alright. I¡¯m listening¡± Leo could only sigh, feeling like he was bullying Astra but knew that if he wasn¡¯t tough now, they would most likely become unbearable in the future. ¡®Free Points are Free Points. You can use them however you want!¡¯ . ¡°.....Are you an idiot?¡± Leos expression changed, His gaze towards Astra holding some level of pity as if they were mentally challenged. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡®H-how Rude! Learning Skills, Investing in Stats, Trading for money. You can do all that with Free Points! You can also receive Free Points as rewards from Quests!¡¯ Leo remained silent as he digested what the offended Astra had just told him. If his deductions were right Astra would become incredibly versatile in the future so he had no need for other weapons. What he would need though were skills that complimented those various weapons! Mentally taking note that he would most likely need to save up Free points to learn skills, he chose not to invest them at the moment. Preparing to leave the clearing, Leo noticed a shabby looking necklace made of teeth and animal bones in the grass and picked it up.
Obtained Goblin Necklace Quest item. Description: A necklace of a Goblin Supervisor that was recently defeated in the Beginner Forest. Turn into Village Elder for a reward.
He was surprised when a screen popped up stating that the necklace itself was not equipment but something that could get him a reward despite not receiving an actual quest from the Village elder before. With his curiosity burning him up inside, Leo took off in the direction he had come from, humming a tune as he ran off at a brisk pace. Leo had been lucky that he had left when he did as not even a minute after leaving, over 10 goblins charged into the clearing, each one wielding weapons made of iron like the Goblin Supervisor had been wielding. At their head was a goblin more than twice the size of the others and had adorned itself with a crown made of thorns and twigs while carrying a multitude of different weapons. ¡°KRAAAAAAAAA!¡± A brutal roar shook the air, bloodlust emanating from its whole body. When its voice was met with silence and with no evident leads, the crowned goblin turned back, heading back deeper into the forest, its men following behind obediently. The return journey was relatively uneventful from Leos perspective as he tried to communicate more with Astra, trying to see if he could hear anything about their past. Unfortunately, every time Astra tried to say anything of importance about itself, something seemed to interfere as all he heard was static noise. Upon exiting the forest, he saw the village and felt a strange peace wash over him. It was a quaint village but from a distance, it looked beautiful, calm and relaxing. A place to call home. Leo shook his head at that thought, shrugging away that notion as a passing folly since anything would be better than the hospital he had been chained to for so long. ¡°WHO GOES THERE?!¡± The booming voice caused Leos ears to ring in pain, flattening against his head as he turned to the source of the voice. He saw a burly bear of a man standing a short 20 meters away from him in front of a log cabin that lay on the outskirts of the forest . The man was shirtless which showed off his bare chest, though his chest hair and unkempt beard made him look a little bit grizzly. He held a massive lumber axe in his hand and radiated bloodthirst that made Leo feel a little bit scared. The man was clearly on guard against Leo. Leo wasn¡¯t sure why that was the case until he took a better look at his current appearance. His shirt which had been a thin white linen material had become dark red after being coated in blood. His clothing was also torn, making him look disheveled, having barely escaped with his life from the forest or in the worst case scenario, a bandit who had wandered into the village. Realizing this, Leo held up his hands, signalling he meant no harm as his gauntlets glowed before transforming back into bracelets. ¡°I just want to let you know the blood isn¡¯t mine¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized that was a horrible way of explaining himself, it only made him look more suspicious! He became flustered as the other man seemed to become even more vigilant of Leo. The young man could only hastily explain ¡°I-I mean I just came from the Forest. The blood is goblin blood!¡± ¡°What? Goblins? So close to the village? How can you prove it.¡± The man questioned, not bothering to hide his skepticism at Leos explanation. With no other choice, he pulled the necklace out of his pocket and showed it to the burly man. Seeing that necklace, the man scowled before breaking out into a boisterous laugh, the bloodthirst evaporating almost instantly. ¡°My apologies little one! I thought you were a bandit! I almost chopped you in half with my axe!¡± In a single moment, the man had gone from intimidating brute to easygoing guffawing giant. The man walked up to Leo who was still trying to comprehend the sudden shift in attitude and patted the young man on the head. ¡°Not many young ladies like you have the guts to go into the forest alone and kill goblins. Consider this uncle impressed¡± Hearing the man call him a lady with such a bright smile made Leo want to cry. Where was his masculinity? He didn¡¯t want to be cute! He wanted to be cool! With tears threatening to form in his eyes, Leo looked up at the man and complained. ¡°I am NOT a GIRL! I am a MAN!¡± The burly mans hand froze at that statement, his expression became awkward as he looked down at the cute young boy(?) before him. ¡°I am sorry young lad¡­I just thought you were a girl because you were uhh¡­cute?¡± The man said, retracted his hand to awkwardly scratch his head. Being called cute was like an arrow to the heart for Leo who felt like he was going through an identity crisis. He didn¡¯t like the idea of being considered cute by a macho man. ¡°The name¡¯s Barry. The local Lumberjack around these parts. Nice to meet ya kid. ¡± Seeing the mans smile holding out his hand for a handshake, Leo felt it would be rude not to reciprocate the handshake. He swallowed his frustrations for now, not wanting to offend the big macho lumberjack ¡°My name is Leo. Nice to meet you too. Oh and this is Astra¡±. ¡°Firm Handshake. I like it¡­I see¡­.well tell Astra that it is nice to meet her too¡±. Barry had confusion on his face as he looked at the young man pointing to his bracelet and saying it had a name. Soon his gaze towards the young cat became filled with pity Leo felt like something wasn¡¯t quite right with the way that Barry had begun to look at him but for his own mental sanity, decided to pretend he didn''t see it. ¡°I would offer you some food lad but I don¡¯t have much to offer you. I have sent out my newest apprentice to go pick up some supplies for me. If you want to stick around for a bit, this old man can teach you a move or two¡± Barrys soft laughter showed his kindness as he gazed off into the distance, perhaps looking for that apprentice he spoke of. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be too much longer. What do you say lad?¡±
Barry the Lumberjack has issued you the quest: Guidance Quest Details: Receive guidance from Barry (Gorillakin) on the method of using axes Difficulty: F Completion Reward(s): Axe Mastery (Passive), 1 Free Point Requirements: Strength 10, Dexterity 5 Quest Failure: None Additional information: Barry feels sorry for you. He mistook you for a bandit and then a girl. He is also wary of your mental state and feels it would be best to teach you something while you reside in the village Do you wish to accept the Quest [Accept/Decline].
Looking at the additional information, Leo couldn¡¯t honestly say that it didn''t irk him but the reward in itself was something that he couldn¡¯t quite possibly ignore. However the requirements broke his heart. The chance to prove himself to be a mans man was dashed just like that. He didn''t even meet half of the strength requirement Barry was looking for! Groaning, he looked Barry in the eyes, his own threatening to burst into tears as he said through clenched teeth. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t think I am strong enough to learn from you yet.¡± ¡°Haha~! No worries Kiddo. Feel free to come back when you think you can handle it!¡± Barry didn¡¯t take any offence but was unaware of Leo''s inner turmoil at being unable to initiate his quest. Barry smacked Leos back as a form of encouragement but his massive hands and strength made it feel like he smashed a block of wood against his back. ¡°Oh look who''s finally back. Took you long enough!¡± Barry turned and raised his voice when he noticed someone approaching the cabin. ¡°You really like to complain for an old man¡­Who¡¯s this? A guest?¡± The newcomer''s cool voice was something Leo knew all too well. Turning around, he saw a beautiful young woman wearing a brown leather vest, black leggings with 2 small axes attached to her waist standing there. One of her hands was on her hips, her face was frozen, eyes widening in shock when she saw Leo. ¡°Uhhh¡­Hi Sis..Hehe¡­.¡± A nervous chuckle escaped his lips. He never expected that the apprentice Barry was speaking of was his own sister! Family Reunion With a few exceptions, Luna looked almost exactly the same as he remembered when his eyes were still good. The new long rabbit ears on the top of her head and ruby red eyes accentuated her cuteness. Leo became nervous when his sister didn¡¯t say anything. He had forgotten to go look for her in the game up until now and his current state of dress was less than ideal. Barry was wondering what sort of relationship between the two of them and couldn¡¯t resist the urge to ask the question. ¡°Do you know that brat?¡±. ¡°Oh y-yeah. She is my SistAAAAAAAGHH¡± ¡°LEEOOOOOOO!!¡± Leos nervous confirmation ended in a scream as Luna launched herself at him, practically tackling him and bear hugging him as she loudly cried with tears streaming down her face. Gone was the cool and sophisticated yet still cute girl, replaced by a blubbering mess who cried at reuniting with her brother. She didn¡¯t want to let him go and squeezed him tighter. [-60] An alarming damage number flashed above Leos head as he felt his bones being crushed from her overbearing hug. Growing up with her, he knew that she was strong but this was ridiculous! One hug and he was almost dead. ¡°H-hey! Let go of him! He will die if you dont!¡± Barry panicked as he moved forward to try and pry Leo from Lunas grasp. It took a minute or so but Barry was able free Leo giving him a chance to breathe. The tears of a foolish sister only became stronger seeing her brother alive and well. The relief that washed over her seeing him alive and in good shape felt like a massive burden off her back was too overwhelming for her. She sank to her knees in front of Leo bawling, trying to wipe her eyes with her hands as they kept falling, even her nose began to run to run. ¡°Sis¡­its okay! I¡¯m okay¡­. We will all be okay¡± Leo consoled Luna, moving to give her a gentle hug himself while still trying to catch his breath. He gave Barry a look of gratitude for saving his life from what would have been an embarrassing death. It took nearly 10 minutes for Luna to stop crying and to compose herself. She stood up, dusting her legs as her ears burned a fiery cherry red, the shame of crying so uncontrollably was a big blow to her pride. She coughed a bit before growling ¡°Today never happened. If you even breathe a word about this, I will make you wish you were dead¡­¡±. Her voice fading as Leo began laughing softly. ¡°Whatever you say Sis. Your words are the law right~?¡± A bright smile plastered on his face. Even if today was just a dream and this was the end, to him it was still be a happy family reunion. ¡°Thats right. You should always listen to your beautiful and wise older sister! It is a little brothers duty to make their big sister look good¡­OK?!¡± Luna put her hands on her hips and tried to look serious. There was a brief moment of silence before both of them burst into laughter, their cheerful demeanour showing how much they loved and missed each other. To the both of them, it was almost like they had gone back in time to a point before everything had gone downhill. Barry watched his apprentice smiling and laughing so happily after reuniting with her sibling, something that he had never seen from before. He had thought the girl had been a little cold, every one of her smiles or laughs around him had felt forced at best. He was gratified to see that she could truly smile like a girl her own age should. ¡°So what do you think of the game so far? I¡¯ve only played for a few days but it has felt really intense. I feel like I have grown even stronger¡± Luna eyes showed just how curious she was about Leos own experience leading up to the village. Luna then noticed the bloodstains on Leos clothes. Barry and Leo felt the surrounding temperature drop several degrees and a rumbling noise came from somewhere within Lunas body. The light in her eyes dimmed and red trails of smoke rose from her body: Bloodlust given physical form. ¡°Who¡­ Who.. am I going to have to execute for hurting my baby brother!¡± Lunas voice was emotionless as she stared at the blood on her brothers clothes. Leo could feel sweat dripping down his back as he recognized that his sister was beyond furious now. Even with her adorable rabbit ears, both Barry and Leo couldn¡¯t help but be a tiny bit afraid. ¡°Sis it''s not my blood! ¡°It''s blood from the 5 Goblins I killed. I¡¯m Level 2 now!¡± Leo grabbed his sisters shoulders in an attempt to get her to focus on him before she charged off somewhere and caused unspeakable havoc. . Thankfully, his desperate plan worked as Lunas eyes regained some light ¡°You are Level 2 already?! I still haven¡¯t reached level 2 yet. Stingy old man doesn''t give much Exp to level up!¡± Lunas eyes turned to glare at Barry, feeling wronged that her little brother had surpassed her. ¡°I¡¯m not an old man! And it can¡¯t be helped. You are supposed to gather a foundation before you face off with monsters. Inexperienced hunters may die if they aren¡¯t careful around monsters like goblins. Not everyone can be lucky like your brother and survive an encounter with a..Wait a second, did you just say you killed 5 goblins?!¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Barry retorted, trying to justify himself but was instead shocked by the information Leo had nonchalantly blurted out. ¡°Yeah. It was really rough fighting 3 of them alone at the same time but I managed.¡± Leo shrugged. Barry could feel his jaw dropping as he looked at what he could only describe as a little monster in the making. Luna puffed up her chest with pride, giving the Lumberjack a smug grin as if to show off that she was proud to have such a talented little brother. Her anger quickly fading when she found out the monsters that tried to bully her brother were already dead. ¡°By the way Sis. What do your stats look like? I didn¡¯t really have a baseline to what is considered good¡± Leos curiosity rose as he looked at his sister with a pleading gaze. She could tell he wanted to see her stat page. Letting out a sigh conceded to his request. ¡°Oh what am I gonna do with you~...Alright [Status]. The status screen showed up before Lunas eyes and with a little bit of fiddling, it quickly became visible to Leo as well.
-Character Status -Name: Luna Race: Warbunny -Title: Lumberjack Apprentice -Class: N/A -Age: 19 -Level: 1 (79/100exp) -Status: Healthy -Health: 105/105 -Mana: 10/10 -Attack: 70 -Defence: 15 -Dodge: 30 -Strength: 10 -Endurance: 7 -Agility: 10 -Dexterity: 5 -Intelligence: 2 -Wisdom: 1 -Charisma: 7 -Luck: 4 -Free Points: 0 -Skills: Bloodlust (Innate Racial), Axe Mastery (F), Throwing (F), Appraisal (Innate), Rampage (Innate Racial) -Equipment: Hatchet(x2), Leather Vest, Leather Pants
¡°So how is it?¡± Luna asked, eyes shining brightly as she expected her brother to praise her for being so strong. ¡°It is exactly what I expected from you Sis¡­.¡± Leo smile was twitching as he, tried not to laugh . Having grown up with her, he knew that behind her usually calm cool exterior that she showed to others, Luna was in actuality an airhead. While she may be a genius in the sense of physicality, she was a lost cause when it came to academia. However, Leo did not have the guts to tell her that as he knew that it would end in one of two ways: He either gets punched or makes her cry again. None of those were ideal, especially the punch since he had almost died from a mere hug. The thought of taking a punch from her made him shiver. ¡®Nope. No way!¡¯ Leo mentally shook his head. It was always better to play it safe and compliment her. ¡°You are really amazing Luna!¡± Lunas cheek puffed her cheeks as if she sensed something was off with the praise Leo was giving her. She narrowed her eyes, shooting him a suspicious glare ¡°Is it because of my low intelligence and wisdom stats?¡± Leo gulped nervously, eyes trembling as he mentally cursed his sisters senses. Why the hell were they so unnecessarily sharp in cases like this?! Trying to hide his nervousness, Leo tilted his head and tried to act as innocently as possible ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about Sis¡­¡± Leo thought that his poker face was pretty good and had hid his expression well but Lunas suspicion became a fact in her mind as her little brothers tail was tucked close to his body and his cat ears were laid flat against his head, showing that he was nervous just like any other typical cat. ¡®He¡¯s so cute as a kitty!¡¯ Luna mentally took note of that as she glared at him. However no matter how cute he was, such a cheeky brat needed to be punished. She let out a bestial roar as she raised her hand ¡°Don¡¯t you lie ya little turd!¡± She quickly but powerfully flicked Leo between the eyes. A short scream came from Leos mouth as a loud bang akin to a gunshot rang out. [-19] [Stunned!] Leos head snapped back as the finger connected with his head. His feet left the ground and his eyes rolled back and his vision became white as he lost consciousness. Smoke rose from the spot where Luna flicked his head. Luna made a ¡®Hmph¡¯ noise as she crossed her arms, somewhat satisfied with the punishment she had doled even as Leo was laid out flat on his back. Slight twitching the only sign that he wasn¡¯t dead yet. Smoke rose from Leos forehead as Barry panicked seeing his apprentice nearly murder their brother in front of him Barry pulled out a potion and knelt down to feed Leo. Luna looked on without saying anything but deep down felt really guilty. How could she be grateful that her brother was alive only to nearly kill him herself! However, her pride didn¡¯t allow her to apologize. Instead she crossed her arms and growled ¡°Did you learn your lesson? Don¡¯t mess with the majesty of the big sister!¡±. As the potion rapidly recovered his wounds, Leo sat up coughing a bit. He felt wronged but didn¡¯t dare say anything. He had no desire of being beaten again. ¡®Would there ever come a day that a younger brother could triumph over his elder sister? He couldn¡¯t help but wonder yet he knew today was not that day. ¡°Thank you Mr. Barry¡± Leo said, turning back to face his saviour. ¡°You have saved my life again¡±. He said sincerely. ¡°No.No. There¡¯s no need to thank me. I can¡¯t let a young talent like you die before you have a chance to soar¡± Barrys reply was a bit sheepish, not willing to admit that his apprentice was scaring him a little bit as she reminded him of his own older sister. Despite not saying it, Leo recognized that look in his eyes, having seen it quite often on his own face. Leo held out his hand to Barrys and whispered ¡°Comrade..¡±. Barry looked at Leos hand then at the boy himself. When he looked in his eyes, he realized what he meant. He then firmly grasped the boys hand ¡°Comrade!¡±. The two of them had formed a bond of mutual understanding: Older Sisters are scary! Luna looked at the two men bonding and for some reason felt annoyed but chose to not act upon it. Instead she sent a message to Lily, telling her that she had found her brother in the game. Lily had almost immediately replied and said she would be there soon as her shift at the shop was over so they could party up and go questing together. With no other choice,she sat down and waited for her friend to show up. Her eyes began roaming over her brother''s body, especially in the areas around the ears and tail which looked fluffy and cute even to her eyes. Leo noticed his sisters gaze and approached her again. ¡°Sis. I have a few questions I have to ask. I need to know¡± he was nervous, afraid to hear the potential worst case scenario had come to fruition. He bit his lips from the anxiety of it all. ¡°What is happening in the real world? Am I okay? Or am I still going to die? Or¡­.am I already dead there¡­.?¡± Luna closed her eyes before replying in a soft voice ¡° The doctors say that you are getting better. They are seeing noticeable improvements in real time. Though there was one thing that surprised me.¡± Relief washed over Leo as he heard what he had hoped to hear. He place his hands over his heart with relief, The feeling of hearing his heartbeat had never been so comforting. A game had somehow managed to save his life. However, the last part of his sisters statement piqued his curiosity. With a tilt of his head he asked ¡°What was that?¡±. ¡°The doctors told me that it seems that you are growing a tail¡± Luna had a faint smirk on her face as she glanced at Leos tail. . ¡°Sorry. I dont think I heard you correctly. What did you say?¡± Leo blinked his eyes in disbelief. He shook his head thinking he must have misheard her ¡°No you heard correctly. Somehow you are growing a tail¡± She nodded her head confidently, as if it was a matter of fact before giving him a big thumbs up. ¡°You are gonna be even cuter soon!¡± Leo could feel his sanity rapidly crumbling when he heard that. His mind and expression was left blank, leaving only 3 words for him to say. ¡°WHAT THE FUCK?!¡± Im NOT crazy...Right? Leo was horrified at the news that he was growing a tail in reality. The thought of becoming a real life cat boy was mortifying in itself. Would he end up ending every sentence with a ¡®nya¡¯ or something? The thought of that alone made him want to throw up. ¡°It''s not all that bad right? It will just serve to make you look even cuter!¡±. Luna attempted to comfort him after seeing how hard he was taking the news. He in turn stared blankly at his sister, he knew it wasn¡¯t intentional but her words felt like she was kicking him when he was already down. ¡°Astra! What is the meaning of this!¡¯ With no one else to yell at, He turned to Astra and shook his wrists in frustration ¡®We don¡¯t know. All we did was pour our energy reserves into your body!¡¯ Astra was clearly nervous at the sudden surge of anger directed towards it. How was it their fault?! ¡°Well you clearly did something! A Tail? A tail of all things. I am going to look like a freak¡± Leo held his head and groaned as horrific scenarios played in his head. Even Astra seemed disturbed by what they were seeing. ¡®Gross¡­¡¯. ¡°Tell me about it!¡± Leo was slowly growing more fearful towards the day he would log out and be back in reality. Leo felt a tap on his shoulder, turning his head, he saw his sister looking at him with an extremely concerned look on her face. ¡°Umm. Who are you talking to Leo? Who¡¯s Astra?¡± Lunas expression showed that she was afraid that she had hit her brother so hard that he might have started imagining things. ¡°Astra is this. The bracelets on my wrists. They are my weapon and they are very talkative, a little bratty sometimes. Don¡¯t you hear it?¡±. Leo pointed to his wrists, somehow feeling wronged. This caused Lunas eyes to water a bit before she gave Leo a gentle hug, I am so sorry. Your sister didn¡¯t mean to hit you that hard!¡±. She was fully blaming herself for her brother to start hearing imaginary voices. ¡°No¡­ he was saying that before you hit him. He was mentioning this Astra before so it wasn¡¯t you who broke his mind¡­you may have broken his skull before¡± Barry interjected but his last words were closer to a murmur yet it still didn¡¯t escape Lunas hearing. Luna glared at her teacher accusatorily but decided to not pursue the matter. ¡°Wha¡­ Astra is able to speak! They are a soulbound weapon or something! C¡¯mon, tell them Astra!¡± Leo begged desperately, hoping that his partner would vouch for him. He didn¡¯t want his sister and her mentor to think he was insane! ¡®We would but it matters not. They wouldn¡¯t hear us anyways. It¡¯s not like we have an actual voice. You are hearing us inside of your head. We communicate via telepathy¡­¡¯ Astra reply was noncommittal and was like a bucket of cold water being dumped on him. He had thought Astras voice was coming from the bracelets. It somehow never occurred to him that Astra wasn¡¯t physically saying anything. No wonder why Barry had looked at him like he was pitiful when he first explained it. ¡°Soulbound weapon¡­.? Wait, I think I have heard about that sort of thing before¡± Barry furrowed his brow, as he tried to recall where he had heard that term before. When he remembered, his eyes widened in shock ¡°I-is it really a soulbound weapon?! I thought they were a myth! Each one is said to hold some earth shattering power. Power that can let one challenge even the gods!¡±. ¡®I like this one. He is aware of our greatness.¡¯ Barrys shocked and amazed remark caused Astras self esteem to spike Leo inwardly groaned seeing Astra getting full of herself but he did nod yes at Barrys question. Barry leaned in closer to inspect the bracelets ¡°Are you sure you weren¡¯t swindled? These look a little¡­ shoddy to be such a mystical piece of gear. What grade is it anyways?¡± His brows were furrowed as he looked extremely doubtful based off Astras appearance ¡®....Nevermind. We take it back. We don¡¯t like this ignorant gorilla!¡¯ Astra instantly flipped their opinion on Barry, offended that he called it shoddy. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Well if I read the description earlier, Astra is currently at the Rare Grade. I was the one to name them too¡± Leo decided to answer honestly believing that Barry might have more information about what sort of entity Astra was. ¡°Rare? That settles it, you were scammed. Lets go down to the village and find the scamming piece of trash who took advantage of you. I will help you get your money back!¡± Barry growled in rage. Luna nodded her head in approval at his suggestion. Barry picked up his axe and began storming off in the direction of the village with Luna following closely behind but stopped after a few steps. The sudden stop caused Luna to bump into him, the young rabbit rubbing her nose after bouncing off her mentors sturdy back. She shot him a dirty glare but Barry didn¡¯t seem to notice He began to slightly tremble While his back faced towards the 2 siblings, having noticed something off about the way Leo spoke of Astra. ¡°¡°Hold on¡­Did you say ¡®currently¡¯? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Astra was normal grade earlier but they ate 2 shields and upgraded to the Rare grade. Can even transform too!¡± Leo raising both of his arms, the bracelets shimmered briefly before rapidly transforming into the gauntlets. Luna thought the transformation was cool, growing a bit jealous, wanting a cool transformation weapon herself, staring at them with stars glimmering in her eyes. Barry on the other hand felt his body shaking in surprise. ¡°Go see that old fart Pyrs. He is the village blacksmith. He will be able to teach you more about your weapon I think. You should go now¡± He avoided Lunas gaze that screamed ¡®I want one too¡¯. He didn¡¯t have one and was not willing to admit that and embarrass himself in front of his apprentice. ¡°Ehh? Alright..¡± Leo had a confused look on his face. He wasn¡¯t sure why Barry was so intent on getting rid of them so soon. ¡°Alright Old Man, I will be back later. I will be going with my brother now¡± Luna waved goodbye to her Teacher who was slightly in awe when he turned to see Astra transforming back into a set of bracelets. Luna grabbed Leos hand and pulled him along and away from the log cabin and from her stingy mentor. Unable to break free from his sisters grasp, he waved with his free hand to Barry calling out. ¡°I will make sure to visit Comrade¡­ Bye for now¡± ¡°You too ... .take care. Also I am not an old man. I am middle aged at best!¡± Barry had a somewhat forced smile but still retorted to the rude behaviour of Luna. He had sent out his apprentice to grab him some supplies and she had left without handing them over. Once the two of them were out of sight, he let out a sigh. He shook his head at the thought of his silly apprentice but his thoughts kept drifting back to what Leo had called Astra. ¡°Pyrs will have a field day if that is really a Soulbound Weapon¡­If it¡¯s growth based too¡­. We may finally have some hope¡­¡± The murmur was heard by no one but the forestwhich had begun to grow darker with the setting of the sun. Hand in hand, the siblings arrived in the village relatively quickly. At some point during their walk, Luna managed to regain her composure, acting all cool and mature again but her own rabbit ears twitching betrayed her joy and excitement that was hidden. The two of them arrived at a small stone building with a large chimney, black smoke emanating from it, the scent of burning coal and metal hanging heavily in the air. On the door was a sign that said ¡®Pyrs Smithery¡¯ which meant they were at the right place.With nothing to lose, Leo pushed the door open and entered the shop, Luna following closely behind him. ¡°Whoa¡­.¡± Leo couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in awe. Along the walls were weapons of various types lined up along the walls. Behind the counter stood a bald man wearing a pair of heavy goggles with a grey beard and was covered in soot and ash. ¡°Oi Young Lass! What are you doing here! Did your teacher send you on another errand? That brat still owes me 10 silver for fixing that axe of his!¡± The man shouted in a loud gruff voice that was a bit grating on the siblings ears. ¡°He sent us here to talk to you Sir. Besides, my teacher said that he covered the cost of your tab at the tavern again. He said its you who owes him now. 2 silver was it?¡± Luna didn''t even flinch at the mans shouting and instead responded smoothly. ¡°HAHAHAHA¡± the man guffawed briefly before coming out from behind the counter. Leos eyes widened a bit in shock when he saw the man was actually a dwarf, barely over 4 feet tall with a strong muscular frame. Leo couldn¡¯t help but stare at the dwarf, something he had never seen before. His gaze while pure, seemed to agitate the man ¡°What are you looking at lil lady?! You have a problem with me?! Never seen a dwarf before?!¡± Being called a lady again made Leo frown in displeasure but before he could retort in anger, Luna interjected. ¡°Mr. Pyrs¡­ this is my BROTHER Leo. My teacher told him to come see you about his weapon. He said you may know something about it.¡± she had a slight smile on her face but while it did seem like she was being polite, her eyes were staring at the dwarf coldly, clearly not okay with her brother being treated so rudely. Leo could have sworn he saw the outline of a demon menacingly floating behind her. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. On the receiving end of his Sisters Death Glare, Pyrs didn¡¯t overtly react, simply turning away and saying ¡°My bad lad. Follow me to the back. I shall inspect this ¡®weapon¡¯ of yours¡±. Both of the siblings could see a bit of cold sweat forming on the back of the bald dwarfs head as he led them to the back. Somewhat happy that someone else had stood up to protect his pride, he flashed a grateful smile to his sister before following the stout dwarf to the back of his shop where he saw a decent looking forge, anvil and long table. ¡°I will be back in a bit. I am going to go meet my friend. When you are done we can go hunting in the forest and level up. Okay?¡± Luna didn¡¯t bother to listen to Leos response as she rushed out in a hurry, leaving him alone with the Blacksmith. ¡°Alright then. Show me the weapon. Though be warned if it involves pulling your trousers down, I will beat your skull in with my hammer¡± Pyrs arrogant warning left Leo appalled at the statement. ¡°Its not that¡­¡± Leo trembled slightly on the spot, suppressing the rising urge to try and beat the Blacksmith up. Instead he raised his arms, showcasing Astras transformation ability. ¡°Hohoho~! Now that is interesting. Where did you get this? What Grade is it? SR, SSR, UR?¡± the blacksmith eyes gleamed with interest, the transformation of Astra alone had now piqued his curiosity. ¡°Well it tells me that it is a Soulbound Weapon and it is Rare grade for now. It can be upgraded apparently¡± Just like Barry, Pyrs froze upon hearing those words. Without a word, Pyrs rushed closer to Leo, fully intent on studying Astra. He looked like a little kid opening presents on Christmas day. ¡° I have never seen one before but I have heard the legends and myths. Plus its a growth type? That¡¯s even rarer!¡± Pyrs was gushing, clearly believing every word Leo had told him. ¡°I shall use a high level analysis of that gear, what did you say its name was?¡± Pyrs tried to explain but remembered that he had yet to ask for its name. ¡°Its name is Astra¡± Leo was a little caught off guard by the sudden change in the behaviour of the gruff dwarf. ¡°Ahh. Astra huh. Pretty name for a pretty weapon~¡± Seeing a muscular dwarf cooing made the hairs on Leos back stand up in disgust but Astra didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡®Hehehe~! This one is much better¡¯ . It will take a bit to get the spell ready. Would you like a drink while you wait. I have coffee, tea, ale and water¡­ I mean I guess humans would consider it beer. ¡° ¡°I''m good. Thanks. I¡¯m fine¡± Leo said with an awkward smile, a bit uncomfortable with the sudden show of hospitality. Pyrus walked a short distance away to a corner of his shop as he prepared to do a deeper appraisal of Astras abilities. While Leo was waiting for Pyrus to finish, he noticed a small blinking mail icon in the corner of his vision. Someone had sent him a message. Opening it, Leos expression crumpled into a frown as it was a letter from a Pharmaceutical company.
To Mr. Haronyu It has come to the attention of Samael Pharmaceutical Corporation that you are experiencing a previously unseen medical phenomena. We seek your cooperation in the betterment of society and request that you donate your body to our medical research team. Please be aware that if you choose to deny our request, we will have no choice but to seek compensation for the unpaid medical bills from your sister. Please take your time and consider your options. We look forward to your cooperation in the near future. Regards, Anthony Samael.
¡°What the hell is this?¡± Adam Samael: Bastard Child The Samael Pharmaceutical Corporation or the SPC for short was globally recognized as one of the biggest sellers of medical technology, provider of life insurance as well as being board members of multiple different hospitals, including the one where Leo currently resided. When a notice was sent out about a patient who was experiencing a previously unseen medical phenomena, it inevitably reached the ears of the Acting CEO of the SPC.: Anthony Samael. A middle aged man with short black hair and grey eyes but he was by no means attractive as he was a known womanizer and quite chubby. In addition to that, he was petty, greedy and had trouble keeping his anger issues under control. Hearing about this medical marvel, Anthony came to the conclusion that he needed to monopolize this and immediately drafted a message to Leone who was stuck in the game. He was essentially telling him to die in the name of ¡®Science¡¯ but the reality of it was that he was just chasing glory and credit, something that would allow him to retain the seat of CEO when his father returned from overseas. He did not trust any of his 7 younger brothers and sisters to not try and backstab him to take his place. The only ones he ever called upon were his secretaries and the youngest ¡®sibling¡¯ Adam. Adam was unlike his other siblings, he was a child of a mistress and raised outside of the family for most of his life. Adams father might have never known of his existence if not for the terrible tragedy that had taken the life of the young boys mother. From the Age of 7, he was ostracised from his brothers and sisters, often being bullied out of his fathers sight by them as well. He had no reprieve at school either as both students and teachers alike made his school life a living hell in attempts to get into his siblings'' good graces. The reason they bullied and abused him was for a simple petty reason: He was the only among the 9 of them that had inherited their fathers golden amber coloured eyes. Fearing that if he was left unchecked, they had banded together to crush a young boy who just craved familial affection. Whether his father noticed it or not, he refused to help Adam, leaving him to fend for himself. All of this left lasting scars on Adams psyche but he refused to show it. He did not want to give the monsters he was related to by blood any satisfaction from abusing him. As time passed, his siblings grew bored of tormenting him. No longer viewing him as a threat, they turned on each other, dragging each other through the proverbial mud in often messy and savage schemes. Adam had been a witness to his 7th sibling Jeffery being arrested for the rape and murder of a young intern who had gone missing, her body having been dredged out of a river. Adam had not moved when his brother pleaded for his help with tears in his eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t murder her! I swear! You have to believe me!¡± Adam knew that was true¡­ Jeffery had only raped the girl, it was his twin sister Elise who had killed the girl and had it dumped in the river, knowing it would be found in an attempt to damn her brother in the process. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Yet he only had spent a day in jail before the family lawyers had him out on bail. Not even a day later, the charges too were dropped and journalists were bribed to bury the story, leaving the family to go about its business as if nothing had ever happened. None of them viewed life as something sacred, viewing themselves as being greater than the common rabble so the life and death of these ¡®ants¡¯ were nothing to them. Adam hated it with every fiber of his being, he missed the days he spent at the dinner table with his mother, just the two of them. He missed cuddling with her on the couch watching cartoons, he missed the way she read him books when he was sick. Now every day felt so cold as he waited to see what fresh new atrocities his siblings would cook up. While his eldest brother was the Acting CEO, their father had assigned Adam to be his brothers secretary and helping him out wherever he could. Anthony did not appreciate that and had dismissed Adam from the role almost immediately after their father had left, replacing him with a couple pretty girls to fool around with despite being married and even having a daughter who was only a few years younger than Adam. Adam did not attempt to reverse the dismissal, instead continuing to play the role as the family black sheep. He constantly flirted with women, openly acting like a degenerate playboy douchebag but he never laid his hands on any of them. He couldn¡¯t bring it upon himself to truly be like his siblings nor could he find it in what remained of his heart to love anyone. He didn¡¯t wish to drag someone he loved down with him while he plotted and carried out a scheme of his own: To tear down the Samael Family and the den of vipers that was the company. While Anthony had unfounded confidence that his letter would work, he nevertheless called his brother to the office. ¡°Listen here you lil bastard. I need you to do something for me. I need you to enter this game and make contact with whoever this Leone Haru or whatever his name is and have him agree to the request made of him by the SPC. An orphaned brat like him will fold like a rice cracker when a big company threatens to force him to pay his medical bill.¡± Adam narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing Anthonys request. Clearly he had not taken a close enough look at Leones file. He had failed to notice that the boy had a sister and that sister was well known as the closest confidant of Liliana Gattioni, the sole daughter of the Gattioni Family. While that family as a whole had turned over a new leaf, their origins were still stained with blood from countless crimes. They would most certainly protect one of their own and by extension, that boy most certainly was one of them. ¡°You do well here and I will make sure you are treated as a proper family member around this company and not just some scummy bastard. Do we have a deal?¡± Anthony gave him a disdainful smirk when he asked that question. He truly believed that Adam would be happy to be treated like a proper member of the family. Of course Anthony had no intention of following through on this promise, he did not wish to be associated with a urchin taken off the streets like Adam. He was far more noble than that and having someone with ¡®dirty blood¡¯ like Adam would be a stain upon his own dignity once he secured his position. Anthony knew that the news couldn¡¯t possibly be suppressed for something like this so he had to prepare a scapegoat to take the heat when things went south. Naturally his choice for that was Adam. Little did he know, The seemingly bullied and dull useless brother he planned to backstab could tell what he was thinking all too easily. Adam decided to go along with Anthonys plan for now but would backstab him first. He had no interest in Leone but he did have a plan for the connection to the Gattioni family. If he played his cards right, the Samael family could possibly be crushed for good. ¡°Sure thing¡­Brother¡± ¡°DON¡¯T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT! Adams response made Anthony throw the game console at him, his expression fierce as he hissed with uncontrolled fury. ¡°Sorry. Sorry~¡± Adam had a carefree smile on his face as caught the box with relative ease before leaving the office. He took the console home and laid down on his bed, Steadying himself as he prepared to load himself into the game. The Birth of ********* Adam quickly recalled the information he had gathered about the game, not entirely willing to enter it blind. The most prominent rumor that he had heard was that the Character Creation Area of a persons character was a reflection of their nature and personality. ¡°How¡­Fitting. I must really be of their blood¡± He had a self-deprecating smile on his face when he opened his eyes and found himself in a pit full of snakes of various species. Perhaps a normal person would have panicked and wanted to escape but he stood still, perfectly calm. He glanced up at the sky and he saw what he could only describe as a young girl cloaked in shadows sitting on the edge leaning over to gaze back at him.. ¡°Oh? A person in a den of snakes and vipers. You must be pretty twisted¡± The girl had a bright innocent smile but Adam could see madness and darkness swirling within the girls ruby coloured eyes. ¡°Well considering how I grew up, that sounds fair. But Im not some deranged psychopath. I have a goal.¡± Even seeing the disturbing sight, Adam didn¡¯t flinch nor did he turn his gaze away ¡°Oh~? Whats your goal then?¡± His calm demeanor despite his current situation seemed to peak the little girls interest. ¡°To destroy my so-called family!¡± The voice that slipped through his teeth was thick with venom. Surprise flickered in his eyes as he did not know why he spoke the truth without hesitation. It was like the girl was drawing out his answers from the depths of his soul. ¡°Hehehehehehe¡­HAHAHAHAHAHA~!¡± That¡¯s so crazy! I like it~!¡± The girl held her stomach as she giggled before bursting into uproarious laughter. She seemed to be thoroughly amused and entertained by his goal. Seeing someone laugh at his goal made Adam frown in displeasure. ¡°I like you boy. How about I lend you a hand~¡± The girl dropped a piece of paper into the pit which Adam deftly caught when it fluttered in front of him. He saw that it was an Black and purple ticket emblazoned with the words Soul Armory in a faint silver. ¡°Thats from my personal stash, take your time and pick your favourite~! I look forward to seeing how things pan out for you~¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The girl giggling faded as her body melted into thin air as if it was smoke taken away by the breeze. Swallowing his discomfort, Adam turned his head back to the task at hand. He felt that had to choose a snake to proceed. He pondered for a moment on how he would choose but then a daring thought came to his mind: Why choose one? Couldn¡¯t he technically pick multiple if he provoked them into attacking him instead? A crazed smirk spread on his face as he decided to test his theory by trying to punch and kick at the snakes in the pit with him. If he could have more power to fulfill his desire, why not try it! The result was as expected: dozens of snake fangs plunged into his flesh, covering his arms and legs, their venom raced through his veins, slowly destroying him bit by bit. Yet he didn¡¯t stop and continued to provoke the snakes even as he began to vomit black poisoned blood. Soon his entire body was drowning in snakes as they punctured every inch of his body, even his eyes were not spared. their combined weight forcing him to the ground. The pain was too much for him to even scream. His only remaining eye quivered briefly before the final snake in the pit sunk its fangs, puncturing it with a wet pop leaving him blind. Unspeakable agony racked his body as the venom seemed to be melting his muscles, organs and bones into a bloody soup. The agony continued for what seemed forever but suddenly all the pain in his body disappeared as if nothing happened and newfound strength began to course through him. The snakes that tormented him melted into blobs of purplish black liquid and entered through the holes they had punched in his body. A screen appeared in front of him as even his eyes regenerated and his vision returned to a state that was even better than before, confirming that his choice had been the right one.
-Congratulations on achieving the Hidden Snakekin Race: Myriad Hydra. -Additional Unique Skill Generated. -Poison Resistance (B) has been generated. -Fame +20
¡®Hahaha it worked¡¯ It was a random yet desperate gamble that had ended up working out for him in the end. He stood up and looked at the ticket, he was suspicious as he had never heard of a Soul Armory ticket but he was willing to do anything to fulfill his goal, even if it was to make a deal with the devil. Without another second of hesitation, he tore the ticket he had been given. In a flash of purple light, Adam disappeared from the pit. He could have sworn he heard the little girls maniacal laughter for a moment before he found himself in a dimly lit cave. Was she toying with him? He didn¡¯t know nor could he really find himself to care. His own wellbeing was not important if he succeeded. The sound of dripping water and the damp murky atmosphere were unnerving yet Adam chose to push on. After a few steps, he noticed there were various ominous looking pieces of equipment hung from stalagmites, each one looking extremely eerie as if they were cursed or possessed. Adam could feel alarm bells going off in his head as he looked around. He needed to pick something quick and run away or something bad would happen. It took him a moment but he ended up picking a curved dagger, the blade a sickly obsidian color attached to a large spool of thread. Tugging on the string, he felt that while it had a bit of stretch to it, it was extremely durable. Having made his choice, he felt his body begin to turn into smoke just like what he had seen with the little girl. When only his head remained, he noticed a large amber coloured stone resembling an eye looking directly at him. The cave began to rumble as the stone pulled away. Adams'' own eyes widened in horror as he realized that stone that was more than 10x his height didn¡¯t resemble an eye, It actually was the eye of a gigantic snake like monster! Adam found himself waking up on a bed inside of a log cabin sweating uncontrollably as he tried to calm himself down. Taking deep breaths, he quickly regained his composure and stood up. He looked at his body in a mirror to see what changes had occurred. While he had grown a few scales all over his body, the most eye catching change was his eyes. They remained the same wretched golden amber color, the same as his father but now there was a vertical slit for his pupil, resembling that of a venomous serpent. When the notification appeared asking him to select his name, only one came to mind when it involved his ultimate goal. If he wanted to destroy the company and his family, he would most likely have to consume himself in the process. ¡°My name will be [Ouroboros]¡± Fangs and Claws
Character Status Name: Ouroboros Race: Myriad Hydra Title: N/A Class: N/A Age: 19 Level: 1 (0/100exp) Status: Healthy Health: 125/125 Mana: 50/50 -Attack: 60 -Defence: 40 -Dodge: 38 -Strength: 5 -Endurance: 10 -Agility: 10 -Dexterity: 9 -Intelligence: 5 -Wisdom: 5 -Charisma: 9 -Luck: 1 -Free Points: 0 -Fame: 20 -Skills: Regeneration (Innate Racial), Appraisal (Innate), Poison Blood (Innate Racial), Poison Resistance (B), Serpents Eye (Innate) -Equipment: Arachne (Unique)
Ouroboros had a small but proud smile as he stared at his stats. He had done his homework prior to jumping into the game. As a starting point, a base stat of 5 was considered the average for an adult. So having an Endurance of 10 meant that he had the ability to endure pain twice that an average person would be able to take. Attaching the large spool of thread to his waist, he left his cottage. He had a job to do. He wanted to make contact with the Gattioni family and work out an alliance with them to help take down his family. He didn¡¯t dare imagine that he would be able to get away from this scott free. Once he stepped out into the open, the serious look on his face was replaced with a flippant one. A button on his linen shirt was open as he walked with a bit of a slouch, making him look like a flippant little hooligan. As he wandered about the village, he began to take mental notes of the layout of the buildings and the people that called it home. He realized that this behaviour was akin to that of a lowly criminal but he couldn¡¯t afford to care, he still needed to cover for all possibilities. Failure was not allowed as far as he was concerned. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. After walking through the village a couple times, he walked towards the alchemy shop, intent on becoming an apprentice there to make use of poisons since even his blood was apparently poisonous. A bell rang as soon as the door to the shop opened but no one greeted him. Looking towards the counter, he saw the person manning the counter was a pretty young girl who had light green hair and was seemingly asleep, a small puddle of drool was forming near her mouth. He poked the young girls shoulder softly. ¡°Hello?¡± There was no response from the shopkeep who continued to sleep peacefully. In response, Ouroboros raised his voice and shouted in her ear ¡°HELLO! CAN I GET SOME HELP!¡±. That barely worked as the young girl stirred. She picked her head up off the wooden counter and stretched her arms lazily above her head, somewhat accentuating her voluptuous chest. ¡°Nya~ I only put my head down for 5 minyates boss~¡± the girl rubbed her eyes, still not fully awake. Seeing someone with cat ears actually saying nya in their sentences was a bit of a surreal experience. He wasn¡¯t sure if he should be laughing or feel embarrassed from the second hand cringe. ¡°I¡¯m not your boss but I wouldn¡¯t be adverse to you calling me Daddy~¡± he gave her a wink, choosing to act in the way that felt most natural to him. When the girl heard him say that, the sleepiness in her eyes disappeared almost immediately. ¡°My Daddy is my Daddy and you are not my Daddy¡± The girl smiled innocently while deflecting his halfhearted attempt to flirt with her. Ouroboros couldn¡¯t help but think he had seen her somewhere before but he couldn¡¯t recall where. He had a sense that this girl might be more dangerous than she let on. ¡°How may I help you today sir~?¡± ¡°I was hoping to speak to the boss. I was gonna ask to learn from him. I will need to learn a few poison recipes for what I plan to do in the future.¡± he was being honest in his intentions, his senses were telling him that lying here would do more harm than good. He then leaned forward, putting his elbow on the counter cooing ¡°But after meeting you, I hope they will teach me how to make love potions too~¡± ¡°I am pretty sure the boss doesn¡¯t know how to make a potion like that. She is a healer after all¡± The casual reply of the girl that completely ignored his attempts to close the distance between them made even him groan internally. However when she said he was a healer, the young man couldn''t help but reply with a hint of seriousness in his voice. ¡°Every medicine is poison in the wrong dose and poison can be used as a cure when used correctly¡± After all that was the story of his life. A family that was supposedly dedicated to the better of man fed off of them like bloodsucking parasites. They were the perfect example of medicine becoming poison. ¡°Fair point I guess. ¡°The boss was called out to help an old friend with something. She should be back soon. You are more than welcome to wait here.¡± the girl admitted with a shrug while pointing to a nearby chair a bit away from her. ¡°Alright~! I would be glad to do so if it means I can get to know a sexy girl like you better.¡± To his surprise, the girl giggled this time, covering her mouth with one hand as she did so. ¡°Oh silly snake, we already know each other very well~¡± Hearing that, Ouroboros immediately glanced around looking for an emergency exit in case he had to make a speedy exit since it seemed that he had walked into a trap of some sort. However, it was too late as by the time he heard the door open. he felt the cold touch of a metal blade pressed up against the back of his neck. Without turning around, he finally realized why he felt the shopkeeper girl felt familiar to him. ¡°What I want to know is why is the youngest of the Samael Family sniffing around here. Care to explain before my friend here decides to cut your head off~?¡± The green haired young lady had a soft smile as she asked her question but her eyes were as cold as ice as if she was staring at scum. ¡°Hah¡­.¡± he sighed but maintained a calm smirk, clearly not afraid even with a blade to his neck. He didn¡¯t even bother to raise his hands in surrender, instead tapped a finger on the counter in front of the young woman. ¡°Can you tell your friend to put their weapon away? I¡¯ll talk okay? I¡¯ll tell you whatever you want to know¡­.Liliana Gattioni¡± A Deal is Made Lily hadn¡¯t expected for a Samael family to show up at her teachers shop. The reputation of the family nowadays was at an all time low since the Family head had stepped away for an unspecified reason. Seeing how cooperative Adam was, Lily silently signalled for Luna to stand down who did so begrudgingly. ¡°One step out of line and I will be cutting you up and making wine with your corpse!¡± Luna growl was cold and filled with malice but she still pulled her axe away from the Snakes neck. ¡°Haha, feel free to come at me anytime~¡± . Ouroboros flicked her a wink alongside a provocative smirk. Luna gripped her axe a little bit harder, the urge to throw it at his head growing every second she looked at him. ¡°Cut the crap and start talking Adam¡± Lily was displeased as she frowned with disgust at the mans frivolous behaviour. ¡°Well considering lil miss bunny is here too, I presume you know what my family wants right?¡± Adam acted as if it was no big deal but Lunas eyes burned with rage, she glanced at Lily, begging her friend to give permission to slaughter him and honestly Lily was tempted to concede as she too was disgusted. ¡°I¡¯ll be frank. My brother Anthony wants the Bunny Girls brother but he just skimmed his background. I have no intention of fighting either of you on this honestly. In fact I hope he takes it too far so he gets crushed!¡± Both Luna and Lily were taken back by the sudden confession and the venom tinged in the mans voice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you family? Why would you wish for that?¡± Lily couldnt help but ask as she remained skeptical about the mans true intentions. ¡°Family? You really believe that shit? Those parasites view me as nothing more than the Bastard Child. If I died today, not one of them would shed a tear for me.¡± Ouroboros'' chest rose slightly in anger at the thought someone believed he would take their side for anything. ¡°I find it hard to believe¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s totally lying! Don¡¯t trust him! He¡¯s just trying to ingratiate himself with us so he can get close to my brother and take him away!¡± Luna roar exposed the rage simmering within her, she wanted nothing more to kill him right there on the spot. ¡°It¡¯s the truth. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. I personally would love to work with you lovely ladies.~¡±. he simply shrugged in response, unphased by Lunas unbridled rage. Lily furrowed her brow at that remark before she asked the question that was gnawing at her. ¡°What is your end goal here Adam?¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The man narrowed his eyes and gave her a sly grin and an electrifying intensity burned in his eyes. ¡°I plan on dragging down my enemies and their supporters so they can be buried 6 feet deep! Oh and my name here is Ouroboros. I don''t want my siblings tracking me down here too easily, okay?¡± From that, Lily knew the man''s frivolous scumbag reputation of his was definitely a persona he used to hide himself behind. She could tell that there was more to the story but did not dare to pry. Lily took a few moments to respond ¡°We will work with you¡­¡± ¡°LILY!¡± Luna was both appalled and outraged at the decision her friend was about to make. ¡°On two conditions¡± Lily glanced at Luna with a look that pleaded for her to trust her. The nonverbal communication between the two of them didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Ouroboros. Instead he tilted his head with a wink ¡°Sure. Whatever you want Sweetheart~¡±. ¡°First is you promise to leave Lunas family alone, at the first sign you try to doublecross us, the entire strength of the Gattioni family will be mobilized to crush you!¡± Ouroboros calm smirk didn¡¯t falter in the slightest at the thinly veiled threat behind her words. ¡°Are you trying to scare me with that? Well Mission successful, I am shaking in my boots here~! I will be a good boy~! Lets get along Ms. Hoppity¡± Luna who scowled but did not say anything, instead choosing to continue to believe in Lily. ¡°The second condition is I want your help investigating a case that has grown cold. This made Lunas eyes widen in shock as she realized what Lily was after. ¡°If I can be of any help in tracking down a lead, I will do my best to help. Whats the case?¡± Ouroboros¡¯ brow lifted up as he turned back to face Lily, he curious what piece of dirty laundry his family had attracted the attention of the Cunning Tigress of the Gattioni Family. ¡°A man who has been working for my family for years recently received news that his estranged daughter''s body was recently found. From what we know, the girl was raped and murdered after going missing for weeks while working for your family. We want the killer!¡± Lilys rage burned brightly in her eyes. ¡°What will you do with them when you get them?¡± ¡°We will ¡®deal¡¯ with them. Whether they are ever found or not is up to the grieving fathers wishes¡± Lily reply to the Snakes curiosity was cold and despite it all, he couldn¡¯t help but find it slightly amusing. ¡®Ahh¡­ A tiger can¡¯t change its stripes so easily after all¡¯ He took a moment to think and plot how to best take care of this in order to make the situation work better for his own plans. ¡°The father believes it is the work of the Eldest son. However due to his personal security, he is planning on taking an eye for an eye and will most likely target his daughter¡±. The frivolous look on Ouroboros face disappeared in an instance as he slammed his hands onto the counter, fully baring his teeth at the woman in front of him. ¡°DON¡¯T YOU DARE TOUCH PENNY! She is innocent!¡± His intensity matched Lunas own a few moments ago, he would not tolerate anyone harming the only decent human being left in that godforsaken family. ¡°Then who was it. You need to tell me. For the sake of our cooperation and that girls life¡± Lily voice was calm and flat, completely unflinching in the face of the Snakes'' unconcealed rage. ¡°....There are 2 culprits. The rape and murder was done by two separate people.¡± He took a few moments to breathe to calm down before he elaborated. . ¡°My 7th ¡®Brother¡¯ Jeffery raped her and his twin sister Elise killed her to make him look bad in order to damage his reputation in the family. They¡¯re all fighting for the seat of CEO¡± Each word he said made his tone grow colder and colder while Lily looked into his eyes. She could instinctually tell that every single detail he spoke of was the truth. It also surprised her that a man who was considered the black sheep of an already twisted and unhinged family had hidden himself so deeply. ¡°I will relay what you told me. We look forward to working with you¡­¡± Lily offered a hand in a handshake but Ouroboros refused, clearly in a horrible mood. ¡°Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have some errands to run and I will need to compose myself before I talk to anyone else.¡± He turned around and headed to the door which he quickly but came to a stop in the doorway. He glanced over his shoulder and slowly spoke . ¡°Do me a favour will you?¡±. ¡°What is it?¡± Lily was curious to see what the Snake would ask for. ¡°Tell your guy I am sorry for what happened to his daughter¡­ and when he gets his hands on them. Make sure they Suffer!¡±. The last word was full of barely controlled murderous rage. Even Lily was taken back by it for a brief moment. ¡°Sure thing¡­¡± ¡®So his niece is his reverse scale huh¡¯ There was clearly much more to this ¡®Bastard Child¡¯ and she knew that with time, his secrets would probably see the light of day. The only thing she knew right now for sure was that Ouroboros had someone he cared for and that alone was enough to set him apart from the rest of his family. [Detailed Analysis] Seeing the message from this Samael guy, Leo couldn''t help but panic. How had his sister paid for his hospital fees for so long? She had always dodged that question when he asked her before. Did she take out a loan? What if she borrowed money from some sleazy old man!. His mind was spiraling into darker and darker possibilities from the mere thought that his only family member was in danger because of him. Navigating the menu, he sent a message to his sister.
Hey Sis. I just got this weird message from a guy named Anthony Samael who said that he would charge you for unpaid hospital fees if I didn¡¯t donate my body for science. What the hell is this about? How did you pay for the hospital?
However there was no immediate response as Pyrs returned with a tall middle aged woman who had feathers peeking out from behind her ears and wore a shawl while also wearing an old pair of horn rimmed glasses. ¡°Pyrs, if this turns out to be a waste of time, we will have a very serious problem¡± The woman seemed to be annoyed with Pyrs and even threatened him but he remained unfazed. ¡°Rori, it will be, trust me. Have I ever let you down?¡± Pyrs smacked his chest while showing the woman a fierce but confident smile. ¡°3 times this week alone¡± The womans immediate response caused Pyrs facial expression to freeze, making him appear a bit dejected. Leo turned to face the newcomer with a bit of anxiety on his face. The woman not knowing the cause of his unstable mental state, simply smiled gently at him and spoke in a gentle but reassuring voice ¡°Nice to meet you young man. My name is Rori. I run the alchemy shop in this little village.¡± ¡°Y-yeah. Nice to meet you¡± Leo knew it was rude but he couldn¡¯t stop checking his messages, unable to concentrate on finding out more about Astra. ¡°This old sack of dwarf bones doesn¡¯t know how to use advanced appraisal magic so he came and got me¡± The callous treatment of the dwarf made Leo almost pity the dwarf but he naturally preferred Rori over Pyrs. After all, Rori noticed that he was a boy from the beginning. A notification came back from his sister at that moment. The message itself was short but it did relieve him a little bit. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Bit busy at the moment. Long story short is everything is fine. I have a friend who I work for. She paid all of your bills. I am with her right now. We will see you soon. I¡¯ll explain more then.
Leo sighed in relief. He knew his sister would never lie to him about something like this. With that relief, Leo was able to focus on Rori and Pyrs. ¡°Sorry. I was just getting a message from my sister¡± He bowed his head a bit in apology but Rori shook her hand in a dismissive matter ¡°It is alright child. Family is the most important thing. Now may I see this weapon that needs to be appraised?¡± ¡°This is it Ms. Rori¡± Leo held out his wrists, nodding towards Astra. Rori looked at the bracelets before glaring at Pyrs, silently wording ¡®Are you kidding me?¡¯ with her gaze. ¡°Well might as well since I am here¡± Rori was less than enthusiastic, thinking the dwarf had made her waster her time yet again but decided to proceed regardless. She held her hand above Leos wrist, mumbling something that seemed like a lump of gibberish to him. He did jump a little bit when Rori suddenly shouted. ¡°[Detailed Analysis]¡± Suddenly A large status screen appeared before the 3 of them and the results caused each one of them to feel stunned at the results.
-Skill Level Inefficient -Skill Partial Failure -Partial Information displayed. -Weapon Type: Soulbound (Growth Time) -Star Bracelets (R) Max Potential: ??? Grade -A pair of bracelets that have revived a small connection to the stars. Potential for Growth Innate Skills: Invocation of Evolution (Low),Bond of the Zodiac (Low, Currently Unavailable),Ego Creation (Low) [New!],???,???,???, -Bound to Player: Leo -Stat Bonuses: -Def+ 10 -Atk+5 -Upgrade Status: 0% -Upgrade Requirements: ??? -Upgrade Materials: Any Weapon/Armor/Accessory -Invocation of Evolution (Low): Summon the power of the void to consume Materials. Materials used will be used to evolve ¡®Astra¡¯ and unlock additional forms -Bond of the Zodiac (Low) : Bonds formed from companions you have shared life and death with can be connected to each other via the power of the stars. Affinity based. (Max use is 12. Currently 0/12 in effect) -Ego Creation (Low): Create an ego to be inserted into a weapon. Weapon grade will be reset upon successful integration. Failure will result in weapon destruction.
The three of them were surprised by different things that they saw. Leo was surprised at Astras versatility, capable of becoming a weapon, armor or accessory. Rori was surprised by the fact that despite using relatively advanced magic, she still failed to fully appraise a pair of bracelets. What stunned Pyrs though was Astras potential. It seemed like there was no cap on it and one of its skills was capable of turning other weapons into Ego Weapons! It would be a lie to say that Pyrs wasn''t interested in taking Astra for himself but he knew better. He deemed it would be impossible for Leo and Astra to be separated, they must have incredible affinity to have a potential like this. ¡®Do you see our Greatness now? We are impressive no?¡¯ Astra was seeking praise yet again but this time Leo couldn¡¯t help but agree. What he saw was indeed impressive. ¡°Yes yes. Very impressive¡± he stroked his wrists in an awkward but affectionate manner. His words drew curious looks from Rori and Pyrs. Now accustomed to such stares he knew the question they were both thinking and answered in a matter of fact manner. ¡°Astra can talk, but only I can hear her¡± Pyrs nose flared, his interest rising, wanting to know even more. But before he could say anything, Rori covered his mouth ¡°You should go now. If you don¡¯t leave now, this old man is gonna yap so much your ears will fall off.¡±. Not wanting to waste any more time, he nodded his head at Rori in thanks before saying ¡°Thank you sir. I will drop by again another time¡± before rushing out of the room, heading to the village centre in search of the chief. He had the necklace to turn in for a quest reward. Vital Quest Leo sent another message to his sister, asking her to meet him in the village centre with her friend. When he arrived, the old village chief was still sitting there, seeming to enjoy the fresh air. Turning to the newcomer, the elder saw the young man who had run off without listening to him covered in copious amounts of blood. ¡°Oh my poor child. Sssseems you got lucky in getting away from those monsterssss¡± the old man stood up and approached the bemused Leo who was somewhat surprised when the elder put his hand on his shoulder. Leo could tell that the man thought that he had been lucky in escaping from the goblins after suffering some serious wounds ¡°Lucky? I killed the ones I came across¡± Leo huffed, was quickly growing tired of people assuming that he was incapable of defending himself. Did he really look that weak and pitiful? . ¡°I even came across a bracelet and thought I should give it to you.¡± he pulled out the Goblin Necklace and held it out to show the chief with a bit of expectation in his eyes that there would be some sort of reward like Free Points or Experience Points. ¡°A necklace? Oh no¡­¡± the old man sighed in distress. ¡°The Goblins have a new Leader and it¡¯sss getting clossser to our village. We need to wipe them out!¡± the old mans legs wre quaking with fear as he tried to head off somewhere but very quickly halted in his tracks. ¡°You said you killed them right? Will you help usss?¡± Leos own eyes widened when the village elder pleaded for help with tears beginning to form in his wizened eyes.
-Samuel has issued you the Vital Quest: Goblin Extermination -Quest Details: News of a goblin settlement has been spotted too close to the village. Form a party and wipe them out within 24h. -Difficulty: B-S -Completion Reward(s): 1 gold. 10 Free Points, 3000 exp -Requirements: Party of 4. (Current Party 1/4) Quest Failure: Village Destruction Additional information: If the village is destroyed, all players within the village will have their characters deleted. Do you wish to accept the Quest [Accept/Decline]. Note: Declining the request will result in Village Destruction
The reward for handing in the necklace was a surprisingly serious ¡®Vital Quest¡¯. Leo became incredibly nervous when he saw the requirements. Even with the addition of his sisters friend, it would only be the three of them. With no choice but to accept , he began to think about what to do and how to find a 4th member when a loud voice called out to him. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Leo! We¡¯re here¡± Turning around, he saw Luna shouting and waving her arm at him as she and her friend got closer. Leo saw that her friend was a beautiful woman with green hair that reached her waist with ears similar to his own which gave her an overall sophisticated appeal that distracted him for a moment. He quickly averted his gaze though as while she was extremely pretty to him, he didn¡¯t want to come across as the kind of guy who would hit on his sisters friends. Plus he was somewhat scared of what his fate would be if he somehow offended his sister and was accused of ogling the pretty Catgirl. When the two of them got closer to Leo, Luna turned to her friend, acting as a mediator of sorts for the meeting ¡°Lily, this is my brother Leo. Leo, my friend Lily¡± Despite the friendly tone, Leo noticed that Luna was glaring at Lily for some reason before she turned her gaze to glare at him. ¡®What did I do?!¡¯ ¡°Pleasure to meet you Leo. I am your big sisters best friend. Lets get along!¡± Lily had an amicable smile on her face but beneath the surface she was trying her best to not break out into a sloppy smile as she looked at the cute cat boy in front of her. ¡®Oh. My. GOD. He is SOOO CUTE!¡¯ she was squealing mentally but covered her mouth just to ensure she wasn¡¯t actually drooling. Lunas ice cold attitude towards her about her brother now made perfect sense to Lily, if some other girl tried to steal such a cutie from her, she would want to kill them too. ¡°Please take care of me and thank you for looking after my sister¡± Leo bowed his head a little in Lilys direction in a sign of respect but in doing so, Luna puffed up her cheeks in disapproval, already regretting letting the two of them meet. Leo had lots of questions to ask but the quest from the old man standing next to him took priority at this very moment. ¡°So ladies, I will need your help with something¡± ¡°What is it? This Big sister would be happy to help¡± Lily replied immediately with an eager expression on her face while Luna scowled at her words, clearly not pleased with Lily calling herself a big sister. ¡°So I just came across a quest¡­ and it requires a party of 4. Failing the quest will result in the destruction of this village and the deletion of our characters. To make matters worse, I can¡¯t be sure but my gut tells me if my character gets deleted, I might die for real¡­The systems says I can¡¯t log out for almost a week¡­¡± Glancing at the new clock counting down, he took a mental note of the remaining time.
Body Upgrade In progress. Remaining Time: 150 hours, 29 minutes, 12 seconds Unable to log out until Time reaches 0. Note: Leveling up will reduce the Remaining time.
Luna and Lily exchanged shocked looks at the unexpected confession but they quickly nodded at each other, coming to a mutual understanding. ¡°We won¡¯t let that happen¡± Luna was adamant, showing her brother absolute confidence as Lily turned away for a moment. ¡°We just happen to know someone who can be our 4th. Lily is calling them over now¡± ¡°Oh? What kind of person are they?¡± Leo was curious but grew apprehensive when his sisters expression shifted to one of disgust. ¡°He is a jerk. The way he talks to girls bothers me. He is so fake.¡± Luna was growling in displeasure just by thinking about him. She clearly wanted nothing to do with him but was willing to make sacrifices if it was to ensure that her brother remained safe. Just as Leo was about to ask for clarification, a tall slender man with black hair slicked back and Amber eyes approached their group. ¡°Oh my~! When you called me over, I thought it was for something serious. Did you call me to act as a guard for this party of pretty flowers~¡± The man flashed them a wink, the action causing Leo to feel an instant aversion to the man. He was the textbook definition of sleazy but something felt off about him. Despite the mans attitude, Leo couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the way he acted was unnatural, as if everything he did and said was manufactured in some sort of act. ¡°So Ms. Bunny. Since when did you have a sister. She is just so cute. Kind of makes me want to steal her away for myself.¡± Leo¡¯s expression became frosty as he glared murderously up at the man. Never before had he thought a face could look that punchable. A Party is Formed If the quest didn¡¯t need four people, Leo might have picked a fight with the man. However since he was needed, he could only swallow his anger for now and try to ignore the remarks from the man. Instead he chose to share the quest details with the 3 of them. Ouroboros had a drop of cold sweat drip down his forehead as he realized that he had made a mistake. He felt both hot and cold when he stood in front of Leo. On his right, Lunas fiery gaze was locked on him in a silent threat: ¡®Say one more word and I will crush you¡¯. On his left, Lily glared at him with ice in her eyes. If it was possible, she would have left him as a block of ice with just her eyes. ¡°My bad, My bad. I presume that you are the little brother?¡± he scratched the back of his head before trying to salvage the mistake with a light hearted remark ¡°It¡¯s just that you are so cute, my brain couldn¡¯t think of you as anything but a cute lil girl~¡±. Bloodlust bloomed from the two girls while even the boy in question glared at him like he wanted nothing more than to tear him apart. Despite the tension, he put a confident smile on his face, pretending as if he wasn¡¯t a little bit terrified of the three of them. ¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t call anyone else?¡± Leo asked, turning his head towards Lily hoping to replace this rude snake with someone who didn¡¯t irritate him but she just shook her head in disappointment. ¡°It seems that this village has no other players. Beast Races are apparently pretty rare. So for better or worse, we are stuck with him.¡± . ¡®Tsk¡± Leo clicked his tongue in disapproval. Instead he turned away from the irritating snake, irritation leaking from his voice ¡°Fine then. Lets go to the forest and get this quest over with!¡± ¡°Wait a second Leo. I have a present for you¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Lunas sudden interjection caused Leo to look back to see her pulling out a small paper bag from what looked like a void in space. Perhaps it was how Players inventory looked from an outsiders point of view. ¡°I bought you a change of clothes . You can¡¯t keep going around like that. We don¡¯t want them to mistake you for a bandit or something.¡± she explained with a small smile on her face. Leo looked at his own blood stained clothes before looking at the bag in his sisters hands. Realizing there was some merit in what she had said, he flashed her a bright smile and said ¡°Thank you sis!¡± before taking the bag from her hands. Without a second thought, he mentally thought to equip the new clothing as it was actually proper gear. In a split second, his bloodied clothes were replaced with a new outfit but the clothing in itself horrified the young man. He now wore what he could only describe as a short leather vest that fully exposed his midriff and upper arms while also exposing part of his chest in addition to a pair of black shorts that had a hole in the back from which his exposed tail fit through perfectly. The overall ensemble made his already adorable appearance appear a bit more sensualized which made Leo feel ashamed. A wordless cry of embarrassment escaped his lips as the 3 people in his party had different reactions. Ouroboros was trying his best not to laugh, his facial expression twitching as he made a calm but clearly mocking remark ¡°You look very nice in that. Super adorable.¡± Seeing the young man on the verge of tears was quite amusing to him. He did feel a twang of sympathy for Leo as he was technically being bullied but it was most likely unintentional. Even still, Ouroboros had no intention of ever stepping in to help him out on that front, he wouldn¡¯t want to sabotage his fun. Luna was relatively expressionless but she gave Leo a big thumbs up, her nose flaring with pride as she thought the outfit looked great on him. She was oblivious to the reason why Leo was staring at her with tears in his eyes. She thought he was in tears from getting a gift from his big sister, unaware that he was screaming ¡®SIS YOU IDIOT!¡¯ in his head. Lily didn¡¯t overly react to the sight at first glance. She simply covered her mouth with one hand to cover her smile before turning her head away. Her mental state was a complete mess as she felt like she was on the verge of getting a nosebleed from the cuteness. While saying nothing, she scoured through the menu options, trying to find the camera function so she could take pictures of the incarnation of cuteness before her. Leo tried to manipulate the menu to change back but found out he couldn¡¯t as the clothes he had been wearing were labeled [Destroyed] and one couldn¡¯t re-equip destroyed items after taking them off. Leo wanted to go find something else to wear but Luna reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him along ¡°Lets go complete that quest!¡± Luna clearly excited to finally go out into the forest and fight let out an enthusiastic shout. ¡°Noooooo! Let me change!¡± Leo howled in misery as he was dragged away, even when he dug his feet in, he was unable to stop his sister from pulling him along. Lily let out a small laugh as she followed along. She felt comfort in knowing that Leo was also unable to stop Luna when she became excited ¡°Poor lad~¡± Ouroboros softly laughed before following behind them with both of his hands on his head in a relaxed manner. ¡°By the way Ms. Lily, it would probably be best you dont tell the Bunny that you are taking candid photos of her brother. Might ruin your friendship~¡± . ¡°You can shut your mouth¡± Lily growled back with a frown upon hearing the snake whisper in her ear. Still, she did take his advice into account and turned off the photography function for now. The party of four was set and their journey into the forest was about to begin as the moon rose high into the sky. Bonds of the Zodiac After about 15 minus of walking from the village, the newly formed party found themselves standing at the edge of the forest. Lily held her wooden staff in a vice like grip, her knuckles turning white as the anxiety of a dimly lit forest was nerve racking to her. ¡°Are you sure we are going to be okay?¡± She peered into the depths, looking to see if she could see anything through the foliage but was unable to really do so. ¡°There are 4 of us here. We should be fine. Though if you ladies are ever scared, know that you will be safe in my arms~¡± Ouroboros attempt at teasing them to reduce their anxiety resulted in a glare from all three of them. ¡°Sheesh. Tough crowd¡± He could only back away holding his hands up in surrender. He didn¡¯t want to be torn apart here. Leo took this time to issue the warning that had been simmering since he met the man. ¡°Listen here¡­.you! Don¡¯t you get any bright ideas about my sister or I won¡¯t let you off!¡± Leo quickly realized that he didn¡¯t know the mans name nor had anyone really introduced him. He was just..there. Ouroboros, took a glance at Luna as Leo tried to get in his face to defend her. She had a cold indifferent expression on her face but her ears were a cherry red. She was somewhat embarrassed but also happy that her brother was standing up to someone for her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry lil brother, I value my life¡± His answer was calm yet honest as he smirked a bit back down at Leo. After all, if he ever seriously tried to do anything to her, she would probably kill him herself. ¡°The names Leo. Not ¡®lil brother¡¯¡± The smile didn¡¯t leave the Snakes face as Leo approached him, trying to appear intimidating but failing miserably. ¡°Well then ¡®Leo¡¯, my name is Ouroboros. But you and the lovely ladies can call me ¡®Horo¡¯ here¡±. With nothing more to say to him directly, Leo nodded his head with a soft grunt before he turned away from the man and began addressing the two girls as well. ¡°So I want to try something. The Blacksmith was able to get some help and reveal a bit more information on Astra. Some of its skills are party based apparently but I don¡¯t know how long it will last. You two won¡¯t mind right?¡± he asked, holding up his wrists as their party officially formed with Leo as the party leader due to him being the highest level among the four of them. ¡°Hmm. Astra? Who is she?¡± Ouroboros had a somewhat confused smile yet was curious upon hearing a new name out of nowhere. ¡°Astra is not a person, its his bracelets¡± Luna scoffed at the snake like he was some sort of country bumpkin which made Horo feel a bit offended. How was he supposed to know that?! She quickly turned her back to her brother with a bright smile on her face. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Absolutely! We won¡¯t mind. Anything to make us stronger right?¡± Lily did look nervous at the thought of combat but she too nodded her head saying it was okay. ¡°Well my vote doesn¡¯t matter at this point does it?¡± Even Horo gave his okay, seeming to imply he was okay with whatever the party decided if it was in a majority agreement. Leo took a deep breath to steady himself he then called out ¡°[Bond of the Zodiac]¡±. To Leos surprise, his voice came out far deeper and more majestic than normal. The party blinked in surprise at the unexpected voice before A large screen appeared in front of Leos eyes followed by 3 smaller ones.
-Bond of the Zodiac has been used. -3 Individuals have been detected to have High Affinity with a Zodiac Bond -Up to (3) Zodiac signs can be given out in total. -Maximum number of Zodiac Signs players can have outside of Skill User is 1. -Displaying Current Affinities
-Player: Luna -Level: 1 -Highest Affinity: Rabbit -Element: Beast -Bond: Family (High) -Player: Ouroboros -Level: 1 -Highest Affinity: Snake -Element: Poison -Bond: Acquaintance (Lowest) -Player: Lily -Level: 1 -Highest Affinity: Tiger -Element: Wood -Bond: Friend of Family (Low)
Leo was surprised to see something like this. He was also reminded that his Unique Skill also revolved around the usage of various elements. Beyond that, there wasn¡¯t much detail. The only thing that he learned from this was that the Zodiacs were identical to the Chinese Zodiac symbols of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. After assigning the party their respective Zodiac that they had the highest affinity for, Leo closed the screens. Moments later, faint silver lights floated up from Astra before splitting into 3 beams, striking each of his party members in different areas. Luna was struck on the thigh, Lily on her shoulder while Ouroboros was struck on his chest where his heart was supposed to be. The three, while surprised, didn''t feel any discomfort from the light. They turned their gaze back to Leo who too didn¡¯t understand what was going on. ¡®Bond of the Zodiac is a long term buff. The longer you have it, the greater the effect.¡¯ Astra seemed exhausted somehow as Leo could even swear he heard a yawn while Astra explained. [We feel tired so we are going to have a rest. Do not miss our voice too much while we are gone. We will be having a quick nap¡¯. Leo was surprised by the fact that a piece of equipment needed rest but didn¡¯t say much about it. WIth nothing else left to do, the party of 4 entered into the forest, starting their quest on wiping out the goblins. However a few steps in and Leo became stunned. Another notification appeared before his eyes.
Elemental Conversion in Progress. Detected Bonds to Players with different attributes. Creation of Elemental Prism(s) underway. Current Prism Progress Beast Prism: 1% Wood Prism: 0% Poison Prism: 0%
Leo was stunned because his unique skill had begun to activate, forging these so-called prisms based on the Elemental characteristics of his party members. Ouroboros, noticing Leo standing still, stopped in place himself and called out with a teasing expression on his face. ¡°You coming along Boss. Or are you scared of the trees~?¡± ¡°You wish!¡± Leo immediately retorted before walking forward once again, this time with a small smile on his face. ¡°Why did you just call me Boss?¡± ¡°Why not? You are the party leader no? Technically you are the boss of this party¡± Ouroboros shrugged as the playful nature of his disappearing as he began to look around. Keeping an eye out for any potential danger. ¡°Do you not like it or something? Want me to call you something else?¡± ¡°No¡­No I like it. Thanks Horo. Feel free to keep calling me Boss¡± Leo soft laughter caused him to feel a bit closer to the snake-like man who gave a small smile in response. Luna seeing her brother getting happy over a single word made her shake her head ¡°Boys will be Boys¡­¡±. The party ventured deeper and deeper into the forest, the sounds of wildlife slowly fading as they did so. Lily kept looking around, feeling a bit panicked as she stood near the back of the party. All of a sudden, the other 3 members of her party came to a dead stop. Luna glanced at her brother and Ouroboros, the other 2 nodding before they readied their weapons. Leo readied his gauntlets while Luna and Horo pulled out their own weapons. Leo stared into the darkness as his voice served as an announcement to rally his party. ¡°Brace yourselves¡­..Here they come!¡± Rampage in the Forest The forest was dead silent for what seemed like forever to Lily. However, the sudden noise of multiple tree branches breaking heralded the arrival of the goblins. There were about a dozen of them hollering and screeching as they charged their group head on. Lily cast appraisal on the monsters, curious about their abilities. The goblin in the lead with its misshapen head was frothing at the mouth with 3 of its kindred, charged at the group with reckless abandonment.
Goblin Level : 1 Class: None Health: 60/60 Mana: 0/0 Attack: 17 Defence: 7 Dodge: 3 Resistance: None Goblin Level : 1 Class: None Health: 60/60 Mana: 0/0 Attack: 20 Defence: 5 Dodge: 5 Resistance: None Goblin Level : 1 Class: None Health: 60/60 Mana: 0/0 Attack: 26 Defence: 2 Dodge: 1 Resistance: None Goblin Level : 1 Class: None Health: 60/60 Mana: 0/0 Attack: 12 Defence: 15 Dodge: 15 Resistance: None
Their stats were slightly varied but overall they were quite similar. The goblin in the lead had its head snap back as an axe became buried in its head. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [-60!] [Critical Strike] Luna charged forward herself, having thrown one of her axes and killing the goblin. She didn¡¯t know why she was doing this, instinctually she felt something wasn¡¯t quite entirely right with her mentality. She didn¡¯t know how to explain it but something was bringing out her more base and feral instincts. All she really knew right now was that the violence felt good. Really good! Leo who had followed closely behind her, swung his arm at the goblin that attempted to use its club to swat at his sister while she tried to retrieve her axe. [-55] The bladed tip of his gauntlet stabbed into the goblins eye, causing it to squeal in pain. ¡°Gotta be careful Sis¡± Leos chastising remark fell on deaf ears as he yanked his blade out at an angle, finishing the goblin in the process. Luna didn¡¯t say sorry nor apologetic, she simply gave a small smile as she stood up, burying her hatchet into another goblin with a powerful swing. [-62] ¡°Remind you of old times?¡± Her smile was growing wider as her calm demeanor began to shift towards a more maniacal and almost savage state, reveling in the thrill of combat and bloodshed. She knew that she shouldn¡¯t but the feeling was almost addictive in nature ¡°Last time I checked, Beating up bullies in a parking lot outside of my school didn¡¯t involve murder!¡± Leo was a bit horrified to see his sister acting like this but Lunas gleeful laughter echoed through the forest as she continued to swing her axes ¡°But it was just as fun~!¡±. Just as the other goblins reinforcements were about to reach the two of them, Lunas ruby eyes glowed eerily ¡°[Rampage]!¡±. Her hands began to emit a red fog as the sclera of Lunas eyes became pitch black. With one fluid motion, she stepped on the goblins foot and threw an uppercut. The strength behind the blow was far too great for the goblin to withstand as its head was ripped off its body, showering the rabbit girl in blood. [-94!] [Critical Strike] ¡°Hehe~¡± Luna giggled as her white hair was being dyed a light pink because of the goblin blood raining down. Leo was briefly rooted in shock to see his sister going crazy like this. He had never seen her become this unhinged in a fight before and it honestly scared him a little bit. No..It scared him a LOT. Despite being such a fragile looking girl, she was well on her way to becoming a totally feral berserker. Even still, he was determined to not be left behind and became more aggressive himself in an attempt to match Lunas ferocity. The screams of goblins dying rang out in the night as they fell under the might of the siblings. Lily too was surprised to see her best friend like this but was even more surprised when her panicked mind instantly cooled down when the battle actually began. Turning her head, she saw Horo stab his dagger into a tree before quickly retreating towards her, leaving it behind. At first glance it looked like he was running away but she noticed there was a spool of thread attached to his back that connected back to the dagger. The goblins didnt notice though as they charged at her, 3 goblins having successfully flanked the siblings at the vanguard. As the goblins squealed and shrieked in delight, thinking they were just about to catch a delicious kitty as their prey, their bodies became stuck, unable to move. The thread had caught their throats. They panicked for a brief moment before deciding to try and charge forwards anyways, thinking the trap was just meant to slow them down. Pushing forwards caused the Dagger embedded in the tree to come loose and like magic, began flying back to the source of the thread while spinning in a circle like a Saw Blade. Each of the goblins that had been caught in the trap had their throats sliced by this spinning dagger, blood splattering everywhere. When Horo caught the dagger upon its return to him, the blade was spotlessly clean. Lily saw the Snake wink at her and mouth the words ¡®You¡¯re welcome¡¯ before turning to confront the last goblin on their side. He readied his dagger about to face off with the monster in 1 on 1 combat when from out of nowhere, a wooden spike shot out of the ground, impaling the goblin. The spike pierced through its entire body, unable to even close its mouth in death as the wooden spike peaked through it, soaked in the monsters blood and perhaps other bodily fluids. Turning back slowly, the Snake saw the Tigress glaring at him with a cold smile, mouthing the words ¡®You¡¯re welcome¡¯ in return. He wordlessly turned back after giving her a confident wink, checking to see if there was any other goblins, not daring to look back at her again. He realized that he could potentially suffer the same fate as that goblin if he pissed Lily off at the moment. Getting impaled like that was not something he wished to experience. Lily once she was satisfied that she had scared Horo, she in turn refocused her attention on supporting Luna as she tore through the Goblins with unbridled savagery while the Snake threw himself back into the fight as well. ¡®Why the hell are these girls so scary¡¯ It was at that moment that Ouroboros and Leo shared the exact same sentiment. Looming Danger After approximately 15 minutes, a veritable pile of goblin corpses lay before the party of 4. The two men sat down catching their breath as the 2 girls talked about how much fun that had been. Leo and Ouroboros looked at each other, an understanding had been made between the two of them. As long as they were in this party together, they needed to be united as the girls were far too scary to fight against alone. The party then heard the androgynous voice of the system ring out. [Goblin Squadron Defeated. Remaining Squadrons 5/6] [+180 exp]
Quest Updated. Quest: Goblin Extermination Quest Details: News of a goblin settlement has been spotted too close to the village. Form a party and wipe them out within 24h. Difficulty: B-S Completion Reward(s): 1 gold. 10 Free Points, 3000 exp Requirements: Party of 4. (Current Party 4/4) Quest Failure: Village Destruction Additional information: If the village is destroyed, all players within the village will have their characters deleted. Status: 5 Squadrons of the Goblin Leader remain. Wipe out the other 5 squadrons before confronting their boss.
There was a faint ding as Lily, Ouroboros and Luna glowed in a faint light, signalling they had leveled up while Leo calculated that he was on the cusp of going up another level himself. ¡°So we have to do this 5 more times and then fight a boss? That sounds like fun.¡± Luna said with a small grin, still covered in bloodstains from the monsters she had slaughtered so cruelly. Leo was growing more concerned with his sisters seemingly casual view on slaughter like this. ¡°A great source to level up too! We are going to get our class soon too yeah?¡± Lily agreed with an innocent smile, a stark contrast to her earlier image as she skewered goblins so nonchalantly as if she was out to make shishkabobs. However, having grown up in her family, she had become somewhat desensitized to such gruesome violence. She didn¡¯t see an issue with Lunas newfound aggression. ¡°Boss¡­..Girls are scary huh¡­¡± Horos mumble was just loud enough for Leo to hear. In response, Leo hugged his legs close to him as he nodded softly in agreement. ¡°Yeah they are. Downright terrifying¡­..¡±. Okay Huddle up Boys. We need to check everyones stats to see if there is anything we can do to improve¡± Lily beckoned for the two boys to come closer so begrudgingly, they both stood up and did as the Tigress requested. They each opened up their status screens to each other so they could see more detailed information now that they were all level 2.
Character Status Name: Leo Race: Adaptive Beastfolk Title: Cruelty of Man Class: N/A Age: 18 Level: 2 (190/200exp) Status: Sickly (Body Upgrade in Progress) -Health: 71/90 -Mana: 40/40 -Attack: 35 -Defence: 35 -Dodge: 44 -Strength: 5 -Endurance: 4 -Agility: 12 -Dexterity: 10 -Intelligence: 7 -Wisdom: 4 -Charisma: 11 -Luck: 10 -Free Points: 2 Fame: 5 Resistance: None Skills: Chimerafication (Innate Racial), Invocation of Evolution (Low), Bond of the Zodiac (Low), Appraisal (Innate), Battle Sense (Innate), Elemental Conversion(Unique), Shield Arts (F) Equipment: Astra (R) , Cute Boy Outfit
Character Status Name: Luna Race: Warbunny Title: Lumberjack Apprentice Class: N/A Age: 19 Level: 2 (159/200exp) Status: Healthy -Health: 34/105 ¡ú 140/140 -Mana: 00/10 ¡ú 15/15 -Attack: 100 You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. -Defence: 20 -Dodge: 36 -Strength: 10 ¡ú 12 -Endurance: 7¡ú 8 -Agility: 10¡ú 11 -Dexterity: 5 ¡ú 7 -Intelligence: 2 -Wisdom: 1 -Charisma: 7 ¡ú 8 -Luck: 4 -Free Points: 2 -Skills: Bloodlust (Innate Racial), Axe Mastery (F), Throwing (F), Appraisal (Innate), Rampage (Innate Racial) -Equipment: Hatchet(x2), Leather Vest, Leather Pants
Character Status Name: Ouroboros Race: Myriad Hydra Title: N/A Class: N/A Age: 19 Level: 2 (94/200exp) Status: Healthy -Health: 121/160 ¡ú 190/190 -Mana: 31/50 ¡ú 60/60 -Strength: 5 ¡ú 6 -Attack: 70 -Defence: 50 -Dodge: 54 -Endurance: 11 ¡ú13 -Agility: 12 ¡ú 13 -Dexterity: 12 ¡ú 14 -Intelligence: 7 ¡ú 8 -Wisdom: 6¡ú 7 -Charisma: 10 ¡ú12 -Luck: 1 -Free Points: 4 -Fame: 20 -Attack: 80 -Defence: 45 -Dodge: 54 -Skills: Regeneration (Innate Racial), Appraisal (Innate), Poison Blood (Innate Racial), Poison Resistance (B), Serpents Eye (Innate), Stealth (F), Trap Setting (F) Snake Venom(NEW!) -Equipment: Arachne (Unique)
Character Status Name: Lily Race: Wood Tiger Title: Alchemist Apprentice Class: N/A Age: 19 Level: 2 (114/200exp) Status: Healthy -Health: 70/70¡ú 75/75 -Mana: 31/150 ¡ú 180/180 -Attack: 90 -Defence: 5 -Dodge: 5 -Strength: 2 ¡ú 3 -Endurance: 1 -Agility: 3 ¡ú4 -Dexterity: 9 ¡ú 10 -Intelligence: 9 ¡ú 11 -Wisdom: 10 ¡ú 11 -Charisma: 9 ¡ú10 -Luck: 8 -Free Points: 1 -Fame: 0 -Skills: Wood Magic (Racial Innate) , Appraisal (Innate), Plant Growth (Innate Racial), Alchemy (F), Tiger Blood(Innate), Fire Magic (F), Compounding (F) -Equipment: Wood Staff, Robe
All four of them widened their eyes in surprise at the status screen the other 3 displayed for various reasons. [Thoughts on Leos Status] Ouroboros: ¡®Those are his stats while being sick?! His strength is almost on par with mine and his agility is higher? Plus he has a unique skill already? This kid is far more dangerous than he looks¡­¡¯ Luna: Body upgrade?! Is that what¡¯s making my brother grow a tail? If he is growing a tail¡­. Does that mean he might grow a matching set of cat ears?! Wait¡­.Does that mean I might grow a bunny tail and ears in the future?! Lily: Cruelty of man? What sort of title is that? Also what is that Agility¡­.He¡¯s like that old saying. What is it again? Ahh yeah¡­ Fast as fuck boiiiii. [Thoughts on Lunas Status] Leo: ¡®Wisdom is still 1 huh? I always thought Sis loved to stand up for the weak¡­.but maybe shes just a battle junkie? I better not say that or she might beat me up. I see nothing¡­..I see nothing wrong here. Ouroboros: ¡®For someone so small, she is a complete beast in a fight huh? What a stark contrast to that cold face. I may need to hold back on teasing her a little. If I cross her bottom line, she might just crush me¡­¡¯ Lily: This spartan lady was already scary. Even this game recognizes that. She is strong and fast. This only confirms I will never exercise with her! [Thoughts on Ouroboros Status] Leo: ¡®This guy. He has the highest Endurance and HP of all of us but he is acting like a thief?! What a waste for someone who can naturally tank? Also that dagger is a Unique Weapon? Interesting¡­ Luna: ¡®How did this jerk get a unique weapon?! I only have these 2 shoddy axes! I wonder if it would drop if he dies¡­.Nah Nevermind, I dont like wimpy weapons like daggers. Plus it looks complicated to use. Not my style Lily: ¡®Dont basic skills start at F rank? How does he already have a skill at B Rank? What did this snake endure to get such a rank so soon? Does it have something to do with that Poison Blood Skill he has? [Thoughts on Lilys Status] Leo: She is the standard mage. That really fits her image. A smart girl like her has such a large mana pool. In a typical game, that would be a great start for a mage or druid. Sis is the Brawn, she is the brains and they share the beauty. Maybe she has what it takes to become a great alchemist too! Luna: This girl. She is so weak and slow. I really need to get her to exercise. Otherwise she is going to expose herself as the lazy couch potato that she is. Tigress of the Gattioni Family? More like their fat cat! If she doesn¡¯t shape up, she might start being called the Chonky one! Ouroboros: The Tigress is smarter than I give her credit for. The Tigress is not to be trifled with¡­. Wait. What the hell is that Strength Stat? Does she not have muscles? Even the weakest goblin is physically stronger than her! Lily was the first one to speak, faking a cough to distract everyone who was looking at her stats. ¡°So we need to kill 5 more groups of Goblins like this? That seems quite simple, yeah? Something tells me that can¡¯t be true.¡± Lily furrowed her brow as she checked the quest details with Luna nodding in agreement her ears twitching as she looked around ¡°Yeah, my gut is telling me the same. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s cause of my new animal instincts but I just can¡¯t shake the feeling that somehow¡­. We are being watched¡± Ouroboros¡¯ ears perked up hearing that so he quickly looked around with his amber eyes glowing brightly for a brief moment ¡°Your senses are really sharp lil bunny. There is 3 heat signatures watching us from a distance. I estimate about 300 feet to our left, give or take¡±. Despite his teasing nickname, his expression and tone of his voice was deadly serious. Leo cracked his knuckles with a confident smile on his face. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Lets go over and confront them!¡±. Luna grabbed her brothers shoulder with a bit of fear in her own gaze. ¡°No we cant. Not yet! We aren¡¯t strong enough yet!¡± ¡°What do you mean by that Sis?¡± Leo frowned, noting that his sister who had seemed so vicious moments before had suddenly become a bit nervous as she looked towards where Ouroboros was looking. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel it?¡± Her tone was etched with terror as she had cold sweat dripping from her cheeks ¡°They are much stronger than what we just faced¡­.If we try to fight the four of them now¡­We will die!¡±. Leo was skeptical of what his sister said so he tried to focus his senses in the direction that Horo had mentioned. Almost instantly, he felt his hair rise in trepidation. As the cold bloodlust emanating from the forest mixed with amusement washed over him. Whatever it was out there viewed them as prey but had settled for watching them in amusement now. Lily gulped nervously and quietly murmured ¡°Whoever they are, it seems they wont attack us for now..But If I was to hazard a guess, they may be the boss of these Goblins. It clearly doesn¡¯t view us as a threat and will probably attack us the moment we defeat the last squadron.¡± The rest of the party could only agree with her. They each grabbed their weapons and set out to hunt the rest of the squadrons down. They were now walking on a tightrope, hovering between life and death on the whims of a monster. It was a race against time and they didn¡¯t know how much longer until it ran out. Zodiac Bond: Rabbit Perhaps because they were part of a quest, The goblins corpses did not disappear, the stench of blood becoming thicker with each passing minute. With the exception of Horo, the other members wrinkled their noses, their animal characteristics seemingly amplifying their senses. Luna was secretly alarmed that she wasn¡¯t actually adverse to the smell. In fact it seemed almost..pleasant? Horo kept glancing back in the direction of the threatening presence, a bit nervous about what that entity could be. He inadvertently let out a soft chuckle, in disbelief at this quest which he could only describe as some sort of sick joke. ¡°Any ideas on how we can possibly beat this? I don¡¯t know about you guys but this game feels so real that dying is probably gonna really suck.¡± Luna scowled and stepped towards him, poking his chest as she glared up at him with her ruby eyes. ¡°ZIP IT. If you have any bright ideas, why don''t you share them instead of making stupid jokes!¡±. Ouroboros narrowed his eyes in response, meeting Lunas glare with one of his own, unwilling to back down. ¡°Why? Is it ¡®cause you can''t think of anything? Your brain is just another muscle after all~¡± Perhaps due to the tension of the bad situation they found themselves in, even the usually calm Horo was agitated as he in turn took a step forward to stand toe to toe with Luna as he sneered back with venom dripping from his words. Lily was panicking seeing the party starting to fall apart. She didn¡¯t want to see the two of them fight but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to try and stop Luna even though she believed that Luna was in the wrong for acting like that first. ¡°Stop fighting! Sis, you both need to step back¡­¡± Leo had a frown on his face as he stepped between the two of them, pushing them away from each other. With his hand on the Snakes chest, Leo looked him in the eyes ¡°I get it that you are nervous, you don¡¯t want to see us get hurt but you need to apologize to my sister! She is agitated because of what this quest means to her. Please don¡¯t make the situation worse. Leo thought that his understanding of Ouroboros inner thoughts would reach the mans heart and that he would apologize for his careless words. However there was silence. Leo noticed that the mans eyes had widened in shock, looking past him. ¡°....Leo¡± A voice that was colder than a blizzard reached Leos ears. Like a rusty robot, His head slowly turned to face Luna, his eyes widening in absolute terror as he realized where his hand was. Luna was staring at him, fury blazing in her eyes as her whole face was cherry red in embarrassment. Leos hand was placed directly on her chest. She knew that Leo didn¡¯t mean to but she had long since developed a complex on their small size in comparison to the likes of her best friend Lily. ¡°L-Luna. Y-you know this wasn¡¯t intentional right?! RIGHT?!¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Leo shouted desperately as his eyes swam with utter panic, his hand retracting at a speed that was almost undetectable to the human eye. ¡°Leo¡­.I¡¯ll remember this~¡± The soft voice mixed with the fury burning even hotter than the sun in her eyes was paramount to a death sentence for Leo. He couldn¡¯t mutter a word, frozen as Luna turned away and stormed off somewhere, most likely to search for another Goblin Squadron . Lily and Ouroboros watched the rabbit run off before moving to stand in front of Leo, clasping their hands together in prayer, lowering their heads. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Leo tilted his head curiously as he tried to calm down, the cold sweat flowing down his back sent shivers up his spine. In response Lily kept her head bowed ¡°We won¡¯t forget your sacrifice Leo¡± Without missing a beat, Ouroboros followed up ¡°We won¡¯t forget to add fresh flowers on top of your gravestone~¡± ¡°You know what? The both of you can go fuck yourselves!¡± Leo snapped back in annoyance, showing both of them the middle finger before he chased off after his sister. The Tigress and the Snake glanced at each other before bursting out into laughter, ¡°No matter what it takes, I want to see Luna act like this more. Her brother is her whole world and his fate is tied to his character. We can¡¯t fail¡± Lily walked after the brother sister brother duo with a faint trace of smile on her face. Affection seeping from her eyes as she saw her best friend acting all embarrassed. Horo looked at Lily with a somewhat confused expression before letting out a sigh. He then scratched his head as he stood on the spot ¡°Alright alright. You win. We just gotta win and not die yeah? We got this¡±. Seeing the man assure her, Lily gave him an appreciative look before she picked up her pace, trying to catch up to the siblings. She stopped for a moment to call out to the snake once more.. ¡°Lets go Horo! We can¡¯t let our friends run off too far ahead without us¡± Ouroboros was stunned, not used to the idea of genuine appreciation could be directed towards him. He suppressed the corners of his lips that threatened to curl up if he relaxed. ¡°Friends huh¡­Doesn¡¯t feel bad at all¡¯ The soft murmur was heard by no one as he chased after his party, his steps far lighter than they were before. Leo and Luna were unable to look at each other for a while as they looked for the goblins. However, all of a sudden, a screen appeared in front of both of them.
-Bond of the Zodiac: Rabbit has reached 10% Completion. Buffs will be applied accordingly. If the player wishes, they may also choose to permanently bind the Bond to the chosen player. Doing so will result in Zodiac Bond : Rabbit shall be permanently bound to Player: Luna. Zodiac Bond : Rabbit Growth shall become uncapped. Total Available Zodiac Bonds shall be reduced to 11. -Do you wish to bind Zodiac Bond: Rabbit to Player Luna? -[Y/N]
Both Luna and Leo saw this screen and Leo immediately pressed yes without hesitation. Luna and Leo had been together for practically their entire lives and had been each others support when they lost their parents that one fateful day. Even if the world came to an end, he knew that his sister would have his back as she was his only family left and the bond between them was unbreakable. Even with some hiccups along the way , they truly cared for each other and nothing would change that.. As soon as Leo pressed yes, Luna felt a sharp pain on her thigh as a light burst forth. When the light faded, there was a large hole in her leather armor but on her flawless skin, a faint outline of a rabbit made with a yellowish green light was tattooed there.
-Zodiac Imprint Complete. The following buff(s) are currently in effect. -Skill: Rabbit Legs -Description: Increases Leg Strength. Attack +10% when using leg attacks. Jump strength +10%, Running Speed +10%. -Applied to: Luna, Leo
Both of the siblings were stunned to see the new skill that came about because of Astras skill. ¡°That is 10%? Wouldn¡¯t that mean the skill can be ten times stronger?!¡± Luna couldn¡¯t help but ask with an incredulous voice, her gaze turning to Astra. Even someone as bad at math at her could tell that this was an insane buff. Leo was equally surprised to see such a buff. However he then realized that this may be the point they could use as a trump card to break through. After all, he still had 2 more zodiac bonds. He directed a fiery gaze at the Snake and Tigress who were tilting their heads in confusion as he looked at them. ¡°Lets get going! We need to hunt some more. We should have enough time to awaken the Snake and Tiger Zodiac!¡± Leo loud declaration caused confusion for Lily. Were those the Zodiacs that Horo and Lily had. She decided not to question it any further though, instead choosing to have faith in her brother and his partner Astra. There was now a beacon of hope, Astra had become like a bright star in the darkness, the North Star guiding them to victory. The only question was whether they would be able to last on the road they needed to take to reach their destination. Rabbit of Carnage It didn¡¯t take long for the group to find the next squadron of goblins. Armed with a variety of weapons like clubs, swords, shields and daggers, the goblins charged the party of 4 head on. With a quick observation by Lily, she counted there were at least 2 dozen goblins this time around. Luna once again was the first to charge in, her hatchets flying from her hands to embed themselves into 2 reckless goblins who were at the forefront of the charge. Her status upgrade to level 2 had caused her already strong offensive ability to blossom even more, each of her blows proving to be lethal. Leo was not far behind her, twisting his body to use his arms as metal whips, often aimed at the weapons from goblins trying to flank his sister who had chosen to completely neglect her defence . The ear piercing sounds of rusty metal weapons scraping against Astras metal surface was akin to nails on a chalkboard, causing Leo to wince occasionally. Yet even then, he had no hesitation to continue this way, he would protect his sister no matter the cost. Ouroboros chose to separate himself from his party in an attempt to flank the goblins. Using the cover of trees, he successfully circled behind the charging squadron and began picking them off one by one. When a goblin noticed him by chance, he gave them a taunting smirk before disengaging, slipping behind a tree and disappearing into the foliage. With the limited mental capacity of the monster, it was instantly enraged and chased after the snake. What it failed to notice though was that it was being lured into a trap. The snake eyed human stopped running after about a minute, hand on his knees as if out of breath. This caused the goblin to grin and charge with its rusty iron sword raised high. Thinking it had won, it was careless and didn¡¯t notice the tripwire a few metres away from the man. Falling forwards, a wooden spike rapidly grew bigger in its eyes followed by a loud squelching noise as the goblins'' vision cut to black. Lily was working in tandem with Ouroboros to set traps for the goblins using her wooden spikes while also providing support for Luna and Leo. Lily could feel her brain hurting from splitting her focus in 3 separate directions. Nausea threatened to make her throw up as she used her innate wood magic to trip, maim and even skewer the goblin warriors but she did her best to hide it, she couldn¡¯t be the weak link that could get her best friends only remaining family member killed. She wouldn¡¯t be able to live with herself if she failed Luna now. Luna on the other hand was all smiles, the looming danger far from her thoughts at the moment as she indulged in the battle. She may enjoy the thrill of combat despite her cool and suave exterior, she was actually over the moon with joy that the system had recognized her bond with Leo and had granted them a unique skill that only the two of them shared. She entrusted her back to Leo as she adjusted her fighting style in an attempt to make use of her new [Rabbit Legs] skill. Her hatchets became mere accessories as she delivered powerful and devastating kicks to the weak points of Goblins like their neck and head. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Leo was fascinated by how fast Luna was adapting to their new shared skill courtesy of Astra. He couldn¡¯t help but admit that she was indeed a bonafide prodigy in the physical arts as he noted that now even her legs were quickly becoming drenched in the blood of goblins. ¡®Your sister is very fierce. We are very impressed¡¯ Even Astra couldn¡¯t help but make a remark about Lunas proficiency in the art of slaughter while Leo himself finished off a goblin by using his clawed hand to tear its throat. ¡®Such a vicious beast in a tiny package!¡¯ Leo had a moment of panic as Luna shot his wrist a glare. It was as if she had heard what Astra was saying. ¡®Oh god we might be in danger¡­. Please don¡¯t figure out what this stupid brat just said!¡¯ Leo could only pray Lunas senses weren¡¯t that sharp while he chastised Astra. Size was a taboo topic with his sister and a careless remark could be a death sentence for everyone involved. He looked around seeing if there were any more goblins coming as Luna dealt with the last goblin. It had tears in its eyes as Luna crushed both of its wrists with an iron vice-like grip. Luna then raised her leg and kicked it in the chest. With a sickening crunch, the goblin screamed in agony as its body fell apart, both of its arms ripped out of its socket, remaining in Lunas hands. The rest of the party was too afraid to admit but Luna was definitely the most scary member, her arms and legs were coated with goblins blood, splatters on her face making her once snow white but now eerily cherry blossom pink hair resembled a beautiful blood moon and her ruby eyes appear like beacons of liquid fire, her ice cold expression had melted into a wide maniacal smile having enjoyed the fight , no longer holding back. Ouroboros sidled up to Leo and whispered softly in his ear. ¡°Hey. I gotta ask about your sister¡­.Why is she so fucking terrifying?¡­¡±. Even the snake was unnerved by the bloodthirsty rabbit who had become a little unhinged during the battle. ¡°I have no clue. If you want to ask her yourself, be my guest. I won¡¯t help you though if she goes after you next. That will be on you.¡± ¡°Nevermind. I like my arms where they are right now¡± They may be a party but Leo was definitely not going to save Horo if he crossed Lunas bottom line and even the snake himself didn¡¯t want to test that today either. After the screams died down again, it took a few moments for Luna to calm herself down. She was unsure why she was feeling like this. Sure, she was someone who liked a good fight but she wasn¡¯t this bloodthirsty before. It made no sense to her that she was acting this way. The euphoric high of battle was acting like a drug, her heartbeat raced and it felt like the world was slowing to a crawl as she fought and even the sound of flesh being torn was like a symphony of music to her. She inwardly shuddered as she then remembered she had a skill called [Bloodlust]. Was it something that was amplifying her own bloodthirst? Didn¡¯t that mean the game was not only changing peoples physical features but also their own mentalities and thoughts? The thought of that alone terrified Luna but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to bring up now. They already had so much on their plate, the four of them didn¡¯t need another thing to worry about now. Tigers Dilemma
Quest: Goblin Extermination (Updated) Goblin Squadron (2) Defeated. Goblin Squadrons Remaining: 4 +190 EXP
A quest update notification was able to distract the party as everyone leveled up yet again and a new wave of strength flowed through their bodies. A few additional screens appeared in front of Leo
-Bond of Zodiac: Tiger (Status) -Through the process of growing stronger as a party, the Bond between Player [Leo] and Player [Lily] Has increased. -Current Bond: 9% -A Heart to Heart conversation is required to go beyond and reach 10%
-Bond of Zodiac: Snake (Status) -Through the process of growing stronger as a party, the Bond between Player [Leo] and Player [Ouroboros] Has increased. -Current Bond: 9% -A Heart to Heart conversation is required to go beyond and reach 10%
Unlike with his sister, The Zodiac bond skill required that Leo form a deeper bond with the other 2 members of the party. When he was about to open his mouth to speak, another message appeared before him, this one tinged in a yellowish green aura, identical to the colour of the energy emitted by Lunas tattoo.
Elemental Conversion: [Beast] Element Prism has been completed Elemental Conversion [Beast] Form is now Available. Recommended level to use is [Level 5]. Elemental Conversion Prisms In Progress: 2 Elemental Prism [Poison]: 12% Elemental Prism [Wood]: 9%
Luna and Astra began to shine with a yellowy green light. Luna looked at herself in confusion before letting out a short gasp of surprise as a small lump appeared on her thigh before separating from her body. All of them looked somewhat horrified as the mysterious glob began to float in the air in front of Leo. The unidentified mass quickly began to heat up in the air, becoming almost a pure ball of white light as it slowly flew towards one of the slots of the slot. When it entered the slot Astra and Luna stopped glowing. At some point that bizarre mass had somehow crystalized into a peridot gemstone. ¡°Well that was gross¡­.¡± ¡°What even was that?¡± Lily had a bit of disgust in her eyes. While Horo couldn¡¯t help but ask a question, his own expression matching Lilys¡¯ own. ¡°Yeah. That was not pleasant. Did I grow a lump of flesh that turned into a stone?!¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Luna rubbed her thigh where that unexplained had come from as even she was confused about what was going on. . ¡°That was uhh. My unique skill¡­¡± Leo had a sheepish expression as he too was equally disgusted by that display ¡°Elemental Conversion is my unique skill. The only thing I really know about it is that using it will cause me pain, It may kill me and that I can switch between different forms based on the innate element of my companions.¡± The other members were surprised by those details yet they had no idea what any of that meant. The idea of them each possessing an innate element was news to them and they would probably have to find out more from someone in the near future whenever they got out of the forest. ¡°So what is my element?¡± Luna pointed at herself, her eyes glimmering with interest at the thought of perhaps using magic in her fights. ¡°Beast¡± Leos succinct reply made Horo nearly burst out laughing as he saw Luna purse her lips, her dreams of having some fancy magical element being crushed before it could even begin. Yet on the surface, Horo was smart enough to simply nod his head, only the corners of his mouth twitching betrayed his inner ¡®turmoil¡¯. ¡°What about me lil brother~?¡± Lily had a gentle smile on her face but she held her staff tightly as she quickly glared at Ouroboros. He had a feeling that if he mocked her, he would be getting smacked with her staff. ¡°Lily you seem to have the Wood Element. Though that makes sense since your species here is Wood Tiger¡± Leo replied while scratching his temple, clearly not understanding what the criteria was for how innate elements were determined. ¡°Well that is interesting. I wonder what my element is¡­ I am going to guess that it¡¯s something like Shadow ... .or Blood~¡± Ouroboros was acting a little bit cheeky but Leo could see the curiosity and excitement in his eyes. ¡°¡°Chunni¡­.¡±¡± Luna and Lily simultaneous remark caused Ouroboros to flinch and blush a little bit in embarrassment. ¡°Horos element is apparently Poison¡± Leo felt a bit sorry for the man who was being stared at by the two girls with disgust in their eyes. Hearing that, the snake stopped joking and clenched his jaw. Poison, fitting for a snake like him and his family¡­. Only Leo noticed the anger in his eyes, but the loud gurgling coming from Lilys stomach distracted everyone and grabbed their attention. Embarrassed Lily blushed ¡°I think we need to eat something. How about we log out and convene in an hour and finish the quest?¡± Luna gave Lily a look of disbelief with eyes wide which caused the young woman to blush even further in embarrassment but Leo came to her rescue. ¡°Yeah that¡¯s fine. You guys could use a break too right? Go on, I will be fine here.¡± ¡°Absolutely not! We wont leave you alone in a forest full of monsters!¡± Luna shouted back almost immediately, scared by the seemingly careless consideration from her too kind brother who had a gentle smile on his face. ¡°Then take turns. One of you logs off and then takes a break to eat and answer the call of nature. I dont feel hungry so I am fine¡± Leo waved his hand in a dismissive manner as if his sisters concerns was no big deal. ¡°Lil Bro¡­You are such a saint! I will take you up on that offer¡± Lily flashed him a brilliant smile before opening up her menu to navigate to the Log off Option. However, Lilys smile froze and then quickly turned to horror ¡°We cant¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Leo tilted his head a bit confused. ¡°We can¡¯t log out until the quest is done¡­¡± Lilys face that was quickly draining of colour as she explained. ¡°Oh well we can try to finish up fast I guess¡± Ouroboros consoled halfheartedly, he himself wasn¡¯t all that hungry so the revelation didn¡¯t bother him. ¡°No. This is a really big deal. This is bad!!¡± Lilys making a scene like this caused the party to frown when they noticed desperation creeping into her voice. . ¡°Why? We can skip lunch, no?¡± Luna glanced at her friend with concern welling up in her eyes. What could be that bad about missing a meal once in a while? ¡°Its not the food!¡± Lily lowered her head as she revealed the reason for her desperation ¡°I need to pee¡­¡± The other 3 members of the party fell completely silent as they looked on in silent realization and horror It seemed there was another time limit in place, or the dignity of a lady would be soiled..in more ways than one. Mystery Unveiled To spare Lily from the embarrassment of her confession, Ouroboros let out a short but obviously fake cough to get the attention of his party members. "Ahem¡­. In order to speed things up, I suggest that we split into 2 groups to hunt the goblins. Individually, they are not that strong and with our most recent level up, it will be even easier to hunt them. It will help us finish things up before¡­ time runs out" Horo quickly glanced at Lily before turning away as he finished his sentence in a considerate manner. "How are we going to split up then?" Luna narrowed her eyes as she was still very suspicious of his motives. "We have 2 frontliners in you and lil Kitty boy here. Lily is clearly a support type mage so she has to go with one of you guys and I tag along with the other one" His response was casual as he seemed to not really care who he went with. Deep down though, he hoped that he didn''t want to go with the Rabbit, she was far too reckless and violent, he may end up dying because he said the wrong words to her. His answer put Luna in a dilemma. She couldn''t refute his logic as all four options were not ideal. She quickly played all possible encounters that came to her mind: Scenario 1: Luna went with the Snake, leaving Lily and Leo alone together. If Lily couldn''t hold it, Lily may want Leo to take responsibility! Leo would be confined to a marriage before he could get out of the hospital! No Good! Scenario 2: Luna went with Lily, leaving the Snake with her little brother. She hadn''t forgotten what that bastards family was after her brother. What if the Snake sunk his fangs into him! No Good! Scenario 3: Refuse to split up. Stay as a group. WIth 4 more squadrons to go¡­Lily definitely wouldn''t last and her dignity would be destroyed. That was No Good¡­.right? Scenario 4: Stick to Leo like glue. Refusing the Snake and demanding to go with her brother. That may leave the Snake bastard with Lily but such a sacrifice was something Luna was willing to make. Just as Luna was about to voice her opinion, Leo piped up "Alright. Then in that case, I will go with Horo. Luna sticks with Lily." Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Luna was shocked, feeling betrayed as Leo walked towards the Snake who nodded in response, secretly sighing in relief. Luna could have sworn that she saw Horo throw her a taunting smug grin, wanting to tease that her brother had chosen him over her. Fury rose from deep down within her as she growled "You better not do anything to him or I swear to god I will skin you and make you into snake skin boots!". Leo raised his eyebrow at that remark but Ouroboros simply raised a hand "You have my word I wont do anything to him. Scouts honour~". Leo frowned at that remark and chided the man "Will it kill you not to taunt people?!" He was in disbelief that someone could so brazenly taunt someone who had literally ripped the arms of a goblin. He began pushing Ouroboros, pushing him away before Luna decided to recreate that moment with the Snake as the victim "Maybe~?" Ouroboros chuckled but he didn''t resist Leos attempt to separate them. "See you ladies later!" he left with a small wave, leaving the two girls behind. "Luna¡­.I don''t think he will do anything to him. He came without hesitation when we asked. Can we¡­Can we give him the benefit of the doubt for a bit?" Lily was a bit hesitant to broach the topic but she trusted her intuition, Horo had no intention of hurting Leo¡­at least not yet. Luna furrowed her brow before turning away, pulling Lily by her wrist in the opposite direction. "I know that but that jerk just gets under my skin! I don''t know what he is thinking and honestly it really bothers me!". Once the girls were out of sight, Ouroboros turned to Leo with a hint of a smile on his face. "So now that we are alone, I think its time we settle some things. I bet you have more than a few questions for me right~?". Leo had a frown on his face but calmly replied " Yeah¡­you''re right. Who are you¡­and before you tell me some bullshit like a friend of a friend, my sister has never talked about you before." Ouroboros grinned at that remark "Straight to business it seems¡­. Oh well, it was bound to come up at some point. My real name is Adam Samael and I turned 19 this year, my blood type is AB and my star sign is¡­" "Samael?! As in Samael Pharmaceuticals?!" Leo wariness instantly turned to vigilance and aggression as he brandished his claws ready to fight the man. "Whoa whoa¡­" Ouroboros raised his arms up above his head, showing he had no inclination to fight. "There is no reason for us to fight! I may be related to them by blood but I have no interest in helping them" His calm tone confused Leo a bit but by looking into his eyes, Leo could somehow tell that the man was being truthful. Even knowing that, he couldn''t ignore the elephant that remained in the room. "Then why are you here? That message I got from your family was telling me to die and give them my body or my sister will be forced to pay all the medical bills!". Leo clenched his fists as raged surged from the bottom of his heart as he recalled the message Anthony Samael had sent him. "HAH! Did they really say that? I knew Anthony was greedy and short sighted but it seems he is far more stupid than I give him credit for!" Ouroboros couldn''t help but laugh in disbelief "What do you mean by that? What am I missing here?!" Leos voice was full of suspicion, still wary about the intentions of the snake in front of him. "They haven''t told you yet?" Ouroboros now had a hint of surprise in his voice. "There are no medical bills. They were paid in full by your sisters friend Lily. That one is a rich lady~" "Huh?! Lily paid for it already?! Why? Luna would never take money from a friend!" Leo was incredulous, not truly believing it. "Yeah thats true¡­" Horo had a half smile as he confirmed his statement as the truth. He then added in a noncommittal tone. "That''s why Lily pays her to be her bodyguard. The lil miss has a lot of enemies being the only daughter of a former mafia boss" "The fuck?! You''re telling me my sister works for the motherfucking MAFIA?!" Leo shout was filled with disbelief and anger at the very idea that his sister worked for the mafia. He didn''t want to believe it. Venom and Vows ¡°No. Former mafia. There''s a big difference. That little tigress is a good girl and her family is trying to wash their hands clean. It may take a while but they are genuinely trying¡­.¡± Ouroboross voice was a little wistful, his eyes a little unfocused as he corrected the small misunderstanding Leo was having. Leos gaze changed as detected that the Snake was once again being genuine but couldn¡¯t help but notice the way he spoke of someone else''s family invoked the feeling that he was¡­jealous. Ouroboros noticed the strange look Leo was giving him and turned away with a sigh and began to walk again. ¡°Seems I am not all that great at keeping myself in check when it comes to family huh?¡± Ouroboros floated a self-deprecating smile on his face as a gloomy aura settled around him. Leo, while still apprehensive, decided to walk beside him. ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad. I get that you have a terrible brother but they can¡¯t all be that bad¡­¡± ¡°Anthony is on the nicer side when it comes to the vipers I share blood with. They are the lowest of the low, treating regular peoples lives like fodder, they are the kings and everyone else are peasants¡± Leo was silently shocked as the snake scoffed and revealed some of the horrors that plagued the family he shared a name with. ¡°The head of the company is like their throne. They are willing to betray, scheme and use the lives of others as pawns to further their own ambitions. They are monsters wearing human skin.¡± The Snakes smile was amicable yet heartbreakingly sad as he opened up for reasons even he didn¡¯t know. ¡°As for myself, I am a child born out of wedlock, I don¡¯t share the same mother as the rest of them so they view me as some sort of filthy half breed. To them I am just some mangy mutt that they can berate and order me around as they please¡­.¡±. It was his eyes that betrayed his deep sorrow and heartbreak. It was as if his joking and lighthearted teasing persona was a puppet operated by a broken and sad child. He was able to act the way he did because he never let anyone in. Leo was stunned as he listened to the impromptu confession of the snake as they strode through the forest. He didn¡¯t really know what to say as the typical methods of consolation felt cheap and insincere. ¡°Hey¡­I won¡¯t pretend to know what it is like to go through what you have, your family sounds like hell in a handbasket honestly¡­¡± Leo took a moment to pat the mans shoulder as he tried to offer him some comfort. The pure intentions that Leo gave him was somewhat endearing to Horo. ¡°However, I believe that there is at least one person there that you care for. Otherwise you would have long since run for the hills no? You don¡¯t seem like the kind of guy to stick your neck out for people you hate.¡± The Snake burst out laughing as Leo hit the nail on the head directly with that remark. It was like the young man beside him could see through him. It was a bit unnerving yet somehow it felt nice for someone to see through to the real him. ¡°Hah! You caught me there~! But today is not the day we talk about them.¡± He admitted that Leo was right but shut his mouth right after. No matter how easy it was to talk to him, he wasn¡¯t going to lay all of his heart out like that so easily. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Alright¡­ Well the only thing I can say is that Family isn¡¯t all about blood. Despite what others may think, Family is for you to choose. If you want, this little makeshift party can be your new family. The choice is yours¡± Ouroboros scoffed at the cheesy sentiment but he had to admit it but it did make him feel better, even if only a little. He reached out a hand and ruffled Leos head ¡°You are not bad¡­for a kid that is~¡± ¡°Jackass! We are nearly the same age!¡± Leo hissed, feeling offended that he was being treated as a kid by someone he had sincerely just tried to comfort. . ¡°Oh? You are so tiny I thought you were like 15¡­at best~!¡± Ouroboros snickered before running off, having a feeling that Leo was about to snap and chase after him. And he was right. Luna immediately lunged and chased after him with a snarl ¡°You Motherf¡­¡­Luna is gonna be wearing a nice snakeskin jacket when I am done with you!¡±. ¡°Hahahaha! Catch me if you can then~¡± the Snake laughed boisterously with his teasing tone. The smile on his face was the most genuine one he had shown in a long time. After a couple of minutes of sprinting, Leo stopped running, trying to catch his breath, using a tree as support while Ouroboros had climbed a tree and was sitting in the branches kicking his legs in amusement. ¡°Out of breath already? The ladies wont like a man with no stamina~¡± ¡°Horo¡­ I swear to god, it won¡¯t kill you to just¡­.shut up now and then¡± Leo was huffing in annoyance. There were a couple of times he had almost caught the snake but he always slipped away at the last second. ¡°But thats not as much fun~¡± The smug grin of the snake looking down at him seemed to carry a different emotion than it had before. It was almost as if there was a hint of caring in it now. . It was then that a screen appeared before Leo and Ouroboros.
Bond Breakthrough: Genuine Connection has formed between the Bearer of the Zodiac : Snake. Zodiac: Snake Completion % Cap has Increased. Bond of the Zodiac: Snake has reached 10% Completion. Buffs will be applied accordingly. If the player wishes, they may also choose to permanently bind the Bond to the chosen player. Doing so will result in Zodiac Bond : Snake shall be permanently bound to Player: Ouroboros. Zodiac Bond : Snake Growth shall become uncapped. Total Available Zodiac Bonds shall be reduced to 10. Do you wish to bind Zodiac Bond: Snake to Player Ouroboros? [Y/N]
Leo looked at Ouroboros who also had a similar notification. His playful demeanour disappeared as he silently waited for the decision Leo made. Seeing him try to be expressionless, Leo smiled at him with a smirk of his own as he teased. ¡°What? No quips? You nervous I''ll say no?¡± ¡°Possibly¡­. Maybe I want to be chosen as a part of a new ¡®family¡¯...¡± Horo reply was soft as a hint of longing leaked out from his voice. ¡°Well then¡­.¡± Leo had a smirk on his face as he paused for a few brief moments. ¡°Welcome to the family then. Please take care of me~¡± When Leo pressed the Yes button, Ouroboros was stunned but was undeniably happy. However that notion quickly faded as he felt a sharp pain in his chest as an violet light burst from his chest. The suddenness of the pain caused him to lose his balance and fall out of the tree, landing on his back with a loud thud. [-60] ¡°Oww¡­.¡± he groaned in pain as he laid on the ground, having all of his breath knocked out of him. ¡°Are you okay?!¡±. Leo was concerned as he moved to help his companion up. ¡°Yeah¡­I¡¯ll live¡± the Snake grumbled as he looked at the faint snake imprinted onto his chest in a vibrant violet colour.
Zodiac Imprint Complete. The following buff(s) are currently in effect. Skill: Snake Venom Description: +10% Poison Damage. +10 Poison Production, +1% Poison Resistance, Daggers have a 0.1% chance of adding Poison damage equal to 1% opponents max health. Applied to: Ouroboros, Leo
Seeing the new skill that he got from getting a bit friendlier with Leo, Ouroboros gave him a slightly teasing smirk. It was nice to have someone he could talk to. ¡°I think you have a real good future as a therapist.¡± ¡°You can shut up now¡­¡± Leo growled back as he fought the urge to punch the Snake upside his head. ¡°SKREEE!¡± ¡°Well it looks like we will have to put this lovely chat on hold for now, we have some gobbies to kill~!¡± Ouroboros laughter was light as he pulled out his knife. ¡°Lets finish this fast, I don¡¯t want the girls to blame us if we are too slow.¡± Leo floated a confident smile of his own as he cracked his knuckles readying himself for the coming horde. The two quickly glanced at each other and with a mutual nod, they charged forward as goblins began to pour out from deeper in the forest. Between Friends There was an awkward silence between Lily and Luna as they walked. It was the first time since Lily met Leo that the two of them had been alone and she could tell that Luna was on edge. ¡°Luna¡­¡± Lily gathered her courage to speak which caused Luna to inadvertently perk her ears up, curious as to what she had to say. ¡°Is the reason you never let me meet your brother is because¡­.¡± Luna closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, afraid of the truth that she had kept hidden for so long would finally see the light of day. ¡°He is too cute?! Like were you afraid that I would try and hog that adorable lil guy all to myself and leave you behind~? ¡°You know me all too well. I really might have¡­.¡± Lilys eyes sparkled with bemusement as she made a daring confession, nodding her head as if she was agreeing with what she was saying as if it was a real concern. Lily opened her eyes and whipped her head around to stare at her friend as if she was some sort of idiot with frustration and bewilderment written all over her face. She had no idea what sort of twisted logic Lily had used there. She was supposed to be the smart one! ¡°HAH?! Did all that sugar go to your chest instead of your brain?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to meet him because I didn¡¯t want you to know that my brother is adopted!¡± The truth of her behaviour of practically hiding her brother from Lily came out unconsciously. When she realized what she had said, she stopped talking and covered her mouth aghast. ¡°Ahh so that''s it. I figured it was something along those lines¡± Lily giggled seemingly unphased by Lunas revelation. ¡°He may be cute but there were just too many differences to consider you blood related siblings.¡± Luna didn¡¯t know what to say. She had thought that her secret would have caused more of a stir than it had with her best friend and couldn''t help but ask ¡°How¡­What gave it away?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­If I had to say one or two reasons that gave it away, it was his eyes and personality.¡± Lily''s reply was relatively simple after she pondered about it for a moment. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°What?¡± ¡°So¡­¡­¡± Lilys began a complicated explanation that felt like she was saying Blah over and over again as Luna completely failed to understand anything her friend was telling her. Luna always seemed to forget that despite her sloppy and foolish demeanour, Lily was in fact one of the smartest people she had ever met. The technical jargon she spoke of on how she was able to hazard a guess about Leo almost made smoke come out of Lunas ears for ¡°So in conclusion, since You didn¡¯t mention anything about his green eyes, I assumed that they hadn¡¯t changed much unlike yours did. Unless someone like your grandparents had green eyes, the chances of him having that eye colour while being your blood related little bro is quite slim~¡±. Luna explained trying to give her a simple dumbed down explanation after recognizing Lunas eyes glazing over in confusion. ¡°Oh¡­okay¡­.I think¡­¡± Luna tried to respond confidently, acting as if she understood exactly what she had just heard but Lily could tell that she was still a little confused on the matter. They had been friends for years so she could tell that Luna was still totally lost yet decided not to call her out on it. ¡°So what''s the story? How did that lil cutie come to be your lil brother~?¡± Lily instead turned her attention back to the matter at hand, wanting to know the truth behind the secret Luna had held onto for so long. Luna glared a bit at her friend before she sighed and conceded to her request. ¡°There isn¡¯t much to tell. I was so small, I just remember dad came home one day holding hands with Leo. I remember mom telling me that going forward, he would be my little brother. I was against it at first I think, who would want a total stranger stealing their parents affection?¡±. Lunas face had a sombre expression, her round eyes seemed watery as if she was about to cry. ¡°I¡¯m not sure when but with time, we naturally got closer and calling him my brother felt comfortable.¡± Lily tried to keep calm while listening to Luna opening up about the past that she had never shared despite all the years they had spent together. Yet she could feel her heart breaking for her who had stoically held onto all of her pain in silence for all these years. ¡°When Mom and Dad died, I felt like my world was crumbling beneath my feet. Leo was all that was left of them¡­.of us and our family. Without him I would probably lose myself. I can¡¯t see a life without family. There would be no point in living for me.¡±. Lilys eyes widened as her friend confessed that she would most likely kill herself without her family. Her motivation was renewed with an even stronger conviction as she clenched her fist in front of her chest ¡°Then all the more reason to make sure he lives! We gotta get him all healthy and lively in the real world too. Go to college, get a girlfriend and settle down!¡± Lily spoke positively in an attempt to try and cheer up Luna. ¡°Yeah¡­thats right!¡± Luna agreed with a sniffle, her previous downtrodden appearance brightening up slightly. ¡°He has a nice life ahead of him, So lets find the rest of those goblins and kill them!¡± Lily added with increased vigor, appealing to the new bloodthirsty aspect that her friend had begun to showcase in the forest. Luna nodded her head, herself getting a bit pumped up as she clenched both of her own fists in front of her ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°That way you can start calling me Sister in Law too!¡± ¡°Ye¡­..What did you just say bitch?!¡± Luna caught herself before she agreed with Lily, instead calling and cussing her out for trying to lay a claim on her brother in such a sneaky underhanded manner. ¡°Tch!¡± Lily clicked her tongue, disappointed that her trick hadn¡¯t worked on Luna. Lunas gaze towards her friend became ice cold as she spoke in an uncaring monotone voice. ¡°Waterfall, Running Water, Toilet, Psssssssssh¡±. Lily instantly clamped her thighs together, eyes watering as the urge to pee strengthened. ¡°WHY?! WHY YOU GOTTA BE SO CRUEL!¡± Lilys cries were pitiful but it fell on deaf ears as Luna simply scoffed, clearly not sorry for what she had done ¡°Serves you right¡­¡±. Just at that moment, Lunas head snapped to the side, cold sweat starting to form as she growled in a soft voice while bending her knees, ready to pounce at a moments notice. ¡°Lily¡­two of those presences. They are on the move! They are heading right for us!¡± The two girls could only brace themselves as the enemy grew closer. Berserker and Mage ¡°SKREEEEE!¡± The sound of goblins could be heard in the distance which grabbed the attention of both of the girls. ¡°Get Ready!¡± Luna expression was tense, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong this time. Lily simply nodded and readied her staff, faint green strands of light raising from her hands as magic coursed through her body. The two girls put their backs together so they could keep an eye out in every direction. After a few moments, there was nothing. No sounds of goblins, just utter silence. Then suddenly, A large goblin holding a massive axe walked out of the forest in front of Luna. Unlike the previous goblins before that resembled small children, this goblin was closer to that of a teenager in stature. Red blood like tattoos were etched into its skin as it looked in Lunas eyes with the disgusting gleam of lust in its eyes. You seeing this Lily?!¡± Luna eyes were wide in disbelief seeing such a strange goblin in front of her. ¡°This is bad Luna¡­.¡± Lilys response was slow and heavy as her face grew darker. Another goblin had walked out of the forest and stopped in front of the Tigress. Unlike the other one, this one looked older and had a hunched back in addition to carrying a small cane. There was a clear look of intelligence in its eyes as it appraised the two girls in front of it ¡°Girls¡­Present¡­Leader¡± The old goblin voice was raspy and choppy. It seemed that the goblin could communicate but it had difficulty doing so as it was clearly unused to it. ¡°What¡­the..fu¡­¡± Luna was surprised as a curse slipped through her lips while Lily quickly cast appraisal on the 2 monsters.
Goblin Berserker Gorex Level : 5 Class: Berserker Health: 600/600 Mana: 50/50 Attack: 200 Defence: 10 Dodge: 10 Resistance: None Note: Consumed the flesh of its fellow Squadron 3 members to evolve into a named Monster. Goblin Mage Arou Level : 5 Class: Mage Health: 90/90 Mana: 700/700 Attack: 100 Defence: 10 Dodge: 10 Resistance: None Note: Consumed the brains of Squadron 5 to evolve into a named Monster.
While not at the level of being categorized as a boss, they were named monsters and were equivalent to facing an entire squadron of Goblins at the same time. ¡°You ready Lily?¡± Luna broke into a wild grin as her as the faint yellow light wafting from the zodiac imprint mixed with the visible bloodlust leaking from her body. This time she felt stronger, more in control. She could harness her Bloodlust! ¡°Do we have a choice?¡± Lilys nervous smile faded into a cold glare as she too was ready to start. She simply raised her staff and pointed it at the old goblin ¡°Listen here you old fart! We are not gonna be some present for some goblin weirdo! So you can fuck off or we wont show you mercy!¡± The old goblin Arou tilted its head before scoffing back ¡°Us¡­mercy? Leader¡­will..break you!¡± The Berserker did not speak but simply snorted in derision as it took a step towards Luna unafraid. ¡°Now!¡± Lunas roar caught the two monsters off guard as with a fluid motion, the two girls switched positions with a fluid motion. Lily launched a wooden spike at Gorex, catching him off guard and digging into one of its legs. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. [-40] Luna launched herself at Arou with a snarl, her axe coming down towards the goblins head but before the blow could connect, a faint blue light projected itself in front of her axe, preventing the damage. [Shielded] [-60] Before the old goblin could counterattack, Luna retreated to Lilys side who was showing a concerned expression as she stared at the berserker pulling the wooden spike out of his thigh as if it was a toothpick. ¡°Please tell me your side has it better than me¡± Lily had hopeful optimism that Luna had fared better with her surprise attack than she did. ¡°That old fucker has some sort of magic shield! I couldn¡¯t break it in one go. What about you?¡± Yet it was crushed when Luna hissed back, her eyes never leaving the goblin mages face. ¡°Muscle freak here is treating my spikes like toothpicks. I don¡¯t know if I can even slow him down, let alone kill him!¡± Lily caused Lunas face to darken with worry. Things were getting a bit desperate ¡°Well shit¡­¡± Seeing the girls realize the danger they were in caused the mage to cackle eerily. It raised its hand and a spark ignited in its hands. It then flicked that spark towards Luna. ¡°Lily duck!¡± Luna roared her warning as her instincts screamed at her that the spark was dangerous. She herself ducked as the spark flew above her head, a tuft of fur on one of her rabbit ears became slightly singed from the heat. Lily ducked as soon as she heard the words, not even a second later, the spark hit Gorex in the chest and a plume of fire bloomed. The mage had cast a fireball and had hit its companion instead. [-163] Gorex roared in pain as the flesh on its chest bubbling as its flesh cooked and carbonized. It let out a bestial roar and threw its axe at Arou in retaliation. The axe roared as it flew threw the air before colliding with the Mages shield. [Shielded] [-247] ¡°Fool!¡± The mage roared as its dumb companion, anger burning its eyes as the girls stood up ready to fight once more. Lily again appraised the beasts while Lunas eyes wandered to the axe that had fallen to the ground near the mage, choosing to appraise that instead.
Goblin Berserker Gorex Level : 5 Class: Berserker Health: 397/600 Mana: 50/50 Attack: 200 Defence: 10 Dodge: 10 Resistance: None Note: Consumed the flesh of its fellow Squadron 3 members to evolve into a named Monster. Goblin Mage Arou Level : 5 Class: Mage Health: 90/90 Mana: 373/700 Attack: 100 Defence: 10 Dodge: 10 Resistance: None Note: Consumed the brains of Squadron 5 to evolve into a named Monster
Berserker Greataxe A mysterious axe used by the Berserker Goblin Gorex. Attack +50 Dexterity-1 Skill: Execution Swing
Lily quickly did the math and told Luna the details she had gleamed about the 2 Elite Monsters. ¡°That mage uses its mana as a battery to protect itself. Hurt it and it cant hurt us!¡±. ¡°Easy for you to say!¡± Luna complained but nodded her head regardless as she glared at the goblin mage who had begun to cast another spell. ¡°Switch!¡± Luna shout rang out as they once again swapped positions. Lily spun around launching a spike up in front of the goblin, using the spike as a means to deflect the fireball. Luna charged at Gorex but locked her axes in front of her in a block when he was about to throw a punch. [-140] ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± Luna screamed in pain as she was launched backwards, her hatchets shattering from blocking the punch. ¡°Luna!¡± Lily screamed in fear, the shock of seeing her friend fall causing her to doubt herself. Had she made a mistake somewhere?!. Luna rolled on the forest floor near the goblin who looked down at her with a sneer. However its facial expression froze when it saw that Luna had a smirk on her face. Luna let out a roar as she launched herself to her feet, grabbing the axe with both hands before swinging it in a horizontal sweep [Shielded] [-152] ¡°Lily! Restraints!¡± Luna roared as she raised the axe above her head. Lily, shook off her self doubts for the moment as put her hands on the ground and vines grew from the ground, temporarily restraining Gorexs and Arous feet. With Blood dripping from her lips, Luna growled ¡°[Execution Swing]¡± before swinging the Axe down. She felt her mana draining into the axe, leaving her exhausted as it emitted an obsidian glow. [402!] ¡°AHHHHH¡± Arou screamed in agony as the axe landed on its shield only for it to quickly shatter like glass and now unimpeded, bisected the mage from head to crotch. With one of the two opponents vanquished, Luna turned to face Gorex who had broken free of the restraints. She tried to raise the axe again but she felt her knees buckle and her vision swim. She was barely alive and in no condition to fight. Even still, she struggled to get to her feet and help her friend ¡°Don¡¯t worry.I got this¡­.¡± Lily said softly to her friend, comforting her so that she wouldn¡¯t try and struggle so much. She may be physically incompetent but she was far from useless. Gorex seemed more intent on taking its axe back, not seeing Lily as a threat to it. However, just before it could reach Luna and the axe, its body froze, sensing impending doom. Turning its gaze, it saw Lilys body emitting a dark green light, the girl in question had blood dripping from her nose as she coldly smirked ¡°[Plant Magic: Overgrowth]¡±. Gorex tilted its head, unsure of what that was supposed to do. However, it quickly let out a scream of agony as from the original wound caused by the first wooden spike had a small sapling growing from it. The Berserker couldn¡¯t rip the tree out as the roots had wrapped around its femur and it felt itself growing weaker with each passing second as the sapling used its blood as nutrients. Within a minute, the goblin berserker crumbled to the ground as a desiccated corpse. Without a source of nutrients, the tree quickly withered into dust. [Squadron 3 and 5 defeated] [Mutation Bonus] [+1300 EXP]. [Party Members have Reached Level 5. Classes Unlocked.] [Base Class will be assigned based on Actions leading up to Current Point]. Seeing the notification of Leveling up, Luna and Lily felt their bodies rapidly healing in real time. Perhaps it was a benefit of leveling up that they returned to perfect health. ¡°That was close¡­.¡± Lily was exhausted, sinking to her knees as relief washed over both of them. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Luna agreed as she laid down on the ground, her hand still gripping the Berserker Axe which had yet to disappear. ¡°I wonder what class the boys got. What do you think they got?¡± Lily was curious and tried to talk a bit as they tried to recover their strength. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just ask them¡­¡± Luna reply was simple as she stared up at the sky, the moon was high in the sky, the moonlight was illuminating the forest but it made everything seem a lot more dangerous. ¡°Get up Lily. We need to regroup now!¡± Luna sat up, her animal instincts were ringing a warning again. ¡°That last monster that was watching us has begun to move! I think its heading towards Leo¡± Her voice was full of anxiety after spreading her senses to confirm. Lily quickly stood up and said with a serious expression of her own ¡°Lead the way¡±. The two girls then started to quickly run in the direction the monstrous presence had gone. Luna could only pray that her brother remained safe until they got there. Unsettling Observations Leo and Ouroboros were surprised by the level up notification and the fact that they had skipped an entire level to reach Level 5. It was quiet a shock to them that they had jumped straight from Level 3 to 5. ¡°The girls must have done something crazy¡± Leo had a bit of awe and concern in his voice as he wrenched his hands, snapping the neck of the goblin he had in a headlock, the last of the two swarms that the 2 young men had faced. ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Ouroboros sounded a bit distracted as he stood a small distance away from Leo. Turning around to face the Snake, Leo saw that Ouroboros was checking his updated status. It was then that Leo realized that he had also forgotten to check his own status. Opening up his status screen, he was taken aback by the change.
Character Status Name: Leo Race: Adaptive Beastfolk Title: Cruelty of Man Class: Fighter Age: 18 Level: 5 (270/1600exp) Status: Sickly (Body Upgrade in Progress) -Health: 104/127 ¡ú 136/136 -Mana: 50/50 ¡ú 60/60 -Strength: 7 ¡ú 9 -Endurance: 5 ¡ú 6 -Agility: 13 ¡ú 15 -Dexterity: 11 ¡ú 13 -Intelligence: 7 ¡ú 8 -Wisdom: 5 ¡ú 6 -Charisma: 12 ¡ú 14 -Luck: 10 ¡ú 11 -Free Points: 2 -Fame: 5 -Attack: 95 -Defence: 28 -Dodge: 56 Resistance: Poison (1%) Skills: Chimerafication (Innate Racial), Invocation of Evolution (Low), Bond of the Zodiac (Low), Appraisal (Innate), Battle Sense (Innate), Elemental Conversion(Unique), Shield Arts (F) Rabbit Legs(NEW!), Snake Venom(NEW!) Equipment: Astra (R)
Character Status Name: Ouroboros Race: Myriad Hydra Title: N/A Class: Rogue Age: 19 Level: 5 (164/1600exp) Status: Healthy -Health: 121/160 ¡ú 190/190 -Mana: 31/50 ¡ú 60/60 -Strength: 5 ¡ú 6 -Endurance: 11 ¡ú13 -Agility: 12 ¡ú 13 Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. -Dexterity: 12 ¡ú 14 -Intelligence: 7 ¡ú 8 -Wisdom: 6¡ú 7 -Charisma: 10 ¡ú12 -Luck: 1 -Free Points: 4 -Fame: 20 -Attack: 100 -Defence: 45 - Dodge: 54 Skills: Regeneration (Innate Racial), Appraisal (Innate), Poison Blood (Innate Racial), Poison Resistance (B), Serpents Eye (Innate), Stealth (F), Trap Setting (F) Snake Venom(NEW!) Equipment: Arachne (Unique)
Ouroboros had expected to be labeled as a Rogue based on his playstyle up until this point. For the most part, Instead of facing his opponents head on, he had harassed from the sides, using traps and the threads of Arachne to contribute to the party. Leo was a bit confused about his own class though. While it was often used as a gauntlet to slash and pummel, the base combat for Astra was a shield! It made no sense for him that his class was Fighter. As if sensing Leos confusion Astra spoke up. ¡®Thats just a basic class. You are assigned a class when you reach a fledgling status. You can unlock rarer jobs via quests or owning certain items and meeting certain conditions! Leo frowned upon hearing that new information for the first time. ¡°In that case, what are the basic classes?¡± Leo''s question caught Horos'' attention as the former tried to gather information from his Weaponized partner. . ¡®Oh thats simple. We know that there are 8 basic classes in this world. They are [Fighter],[Warrior],[Priest],[Rogue],[Mage],[Archer],[Merchant] and [Tamer]. Each one has its pros and cons but for us, all of them are far beneath us¡¯ Astras reply while full of enthusiasm was also filled with egotistical pride that made Leo sigh. He detected that there was something that was strange but dismissed it as his imagination, instead choosing to gather up the loot, dumping the dropped weapons into a pile on the ground. . ¡°Why do you want all the weapons in a pile here?¡± Ouroboros was curious about why they were doing this but only asked after they finished moving everything. From his estimates, the total amount of weapons were 13 swords, 10 stone axes, 12 shields and 17 daggers. ¡°I am sorry but its for this. [Invocation of Evolution]!¡± Leo looked a bit apologetic as he extended his right hand towards the pile. His hand quickly transformed into a pitch black void as an ominous looking mouth jutted out. It rapidly grew into a ravenous maw that swallowed all of the gear whole before the void like darkness retreated back into the bracelet as if it was never there. Ouroboros own jaw was agape for a moment as the gear disappeared without a trace. ¡°Umm¡­What the fuck was THAT?!¡± Horo shouted in disbelief after coming to his senses. ¡°Hehe¡­.its a skill of Astras that helps it grow and evolve.¡± Leo reply came with a sheepish smile as he used one of his fingers to scratch his cheek. ¡°Okay¡­Thats a bit creepy though ya know right?¡± Ouroboros directed a suspicious gaze towards Astra. What sort of weapon ate other weapons?! ¡®We are not creepy. He¡¯s creepy! Why are you staring at us like that?!¡¯ Astra retorted in complaint, how could a sleazy deceptive snake called it suspicious of all things. It was completely offended by Horos'' words. Leo could only chuckle in response ¡±While I may agree with how unsettling it is to see how they eat. Astra is my partner so I will trust them¡±. While he could feel the gratitude from deep within Astra for standing up for it, it was less than pleased at the sentiment part of it was ¡®unsettling¡¯. ¡°Alright fine, lets put aside the debatably cannibalistic nature of your bracers for a moment. I have 2 questions.¡± the snake remarked as he held up 2 fingers in succession. ¡°Okay¡­?¡± ¡°First is what is the gender of Astra? You keep referring to them as ¡®it¡¯ or ¡®they¡¯. While it may be a gear at the end of the day, it can still talk and think right?¡± Leo was in stunned silence as he heard that question. At first he didn''t understand the question. Astra didn''t have a gender, it was gear. But when he elaborated, Leo thought that it actually made some sense. He couldn''t be so impersonal with his partner right? ¡®What nonsense! We do not need such a title. We are completely fine as is!¡¯ Astra huffed seemingly uninterested yet Leo noticed that it was actually more interested than it was willing to let on. ¡°Just like men to name their cars and or precious items, isnt only fitting you do the same?¡± The snakes logic was something that Leo couldn¡¯t help but finding himself agreeing with him. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­.¡± ¡°Alright then. Tell Astra she needs to be a lil cuter when she eats~¡± the snake flashed a cheeky grin which made Astra act a little flustered ¡®W-we will eat how we please!...Stupid Snake¡­¡¯ Astra pouted but for some reason not able to stay angry at the man who had implied she was precious to Leo. ¡°She is totally insulting me right now. Am I right?¡± Ouroboros pointed his finger at Astra with a finger as he looked into Leo''s eyes. Seeing the two interact with each other despite Astras voice being only heard by him, Leo responded with a barely concealed laughter in his voice ¡°How did you know~?¡± The other party narrowed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders ¡°I seem to have that effect on the ladies, Why would it be any different with her~?¡± ¡® The two men looked at each other briefly before they burst into laughter. After a few moments, Leo was able to regain his composure ¡°So¡­.What''s your 2nd question?¡± Ouroboros stopped chuckling as he pointed to the bodies of the goblins that had yet to disappear. ¡°Have you ever tried to consume something like¡­.that?¡± Leo eyes widened in disbelief that the Snake was suggesting that they use a corpse as a means to evolve Astra. ¡®......¡¯ Yet Astras silence made doubt grow within him. Was this something he needed to do?! The Dark Star Awakens Leo instantly balked at the idea of consuming a corpse with Astra ¡°No I haven¡¯t, why would I do that?!¡± His expression twisted into one of horror, not wanting to imagine it at all. ¡°Well you said she would evolve by consuming materials right? Only our right hand changed when it consumed the inorganic gear right? What about your left hand?¡± The snake pointed out curiously. He didn¡¯t know why he was saying this. Horo felt a chill run down his spine as he spoke yet couldn¡¯t stop himself. Leos expression darkened as he realized that his line of thought actually made sense. He looked at Astra who remained silent despite the dangerous implication Horos had indirectly brought to light. ¡°Plus why would their bodies remain like this if they weren¡¯t considered materials? We consume the meat of animals to sustain ourselves¡± Ouroboros added as he grabbed the limp corpse of a goblin and held it up. ¡°Why would this be any different? We should just treat it as a material?¡± With a pit in his stomach, Leo nodded slowly, morbid curiosity slowly convincing him to attempt it. ¡°We will try one. I can¡¯t promise more than that.¡± ¡°Alright. Thats more than enough¡± Horos'' expression mirrored Leos own heavy demeanor. While he tried to consider it scientific curiosity, the humanoid figure of the goblin made this feel intrinsically wrong deep down. Horo placed the goblin at Leos feet before backing up a bit. Closing his eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath to stabilize himself, Leo calmed himself down as he held out his left hand ¡°[Invocation of Evolution]¡±. Immediately, Leo felt something was wrong as his hand immediately turned Obsidian, however there was a crimson tinge to it as the feelings of unbridled savagery coursed through his mind. He heard a sinister laughter as his hand turned into a maw once more reaching out to grab the goblin at his feet. Instead of the body dissolving, the monstrous mouth tossed the body into the air. Horos'' eyes widened as he saw the body flying through the air. He winced as he heard that little girls maniacal laughter again. Had she messed with his head?! He looked around but found no one. When the corpse was falling back to the ground, the monstrous mouth was wide open waiting for it. It snapped shut and loud audible crunching noises filled through the forest. Unlike the equipment that had dissolved, the goblin corpse was being chewed like it was actual food. The taste and texture of its flesh, bones, organs and bodily fluids were shared with Leo in full. The experience made him feel extremely nauseous and unable to hold himself back, he retched and vomited onto the forest floor. A blood red notification appeared in front of Leo as the Monstrous maw transformed back into a hand, blood dripping from it like it had just been drenched in wet red paint.
-Humanoid Corpse has been detected as a Dark Material -Dark Material has been consumed. -Hidden Conditions have been met. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. -Star Bracelets (Astra) (R) has undergone a mutation. Star Bracelets (Astra) (R) has split into 2 Aspects. -Star Bracelets have evolved into Star Bracelets of Life and Death (Unique) -The Original Personality of Astra has been assigned to the Bracelet of Life. -New Ego has been awoken as the main host for the Bracelet of Death -Class Change will take place after the New Ego has been given a name.
It was then that Leo heard Astra crying, his eyes widening in horror as he felt that there was another presence in his head. ¡®Hehehe. A nice good meal for the First time. Lets get something more delicious next time. Lets get along Boss~ The new voice was a heavy, dark and masculine. It was rough and savage yet Leo could sense an unbridled arrogance and pride radiating from it. ¡®Leo¡­ I¡¯m so sorry. I tried to keep it down but I was silenced¡¯ Astra cried with pain and sorrow evident in its voice. ¡°What the Fuck?!¡± both Leo and Ouroboros shouted at the same time, but for entirely different reasons. The Snake shouted because he felt that the mouth that had consumed the Goblin felt like it was on par with that monster in that cave. Was this something that the mysterious girl had engineered. He could feel its unbridled savagery and the hunger it radiated seemed like it would devour the world if it wasn¡¯t kept in check. Guilt rose from the depths of his heart. It felt like he had been used somehow. Leo was horrified to see the new presence, its violent nature fully revealed to Leo as it boldly expressed itself. It could have absorbed the goblin like Astra had done with the equipment but it didn''t. It CHOSE to chew, to crush and taste the Goblin, it didn¡¯t view life as sacred and everything was food to it. What Boss? You didn¡¯t like the taste? Pick something more delicious to eat then. The stronger they are, the tastier the meat~ The new Ego snickered with hunger radiating from its tone. Leo didn¡¯t know what to do as his left arm that had once been silver and gold began to take on a darker shade. Within moments, his left gauntlet had become an Onyx colour with a crimson tint. ¡®¡¯What are you¡­.¡± Leo couldn¡¯t quite explain it but he felt some sort of kinship with the monstrosity present in his arm as it intertwined with his very being. He knew that he shouldn¡¯t accept it but the dark temptation had taken root and he knew he couldn¡¯t turn back now. ¡®Me? If my sister is the light that illuminates the world, I am the Darkness that consumes it all. A Dark Star if you will. Now Boss, you can¡¯t get rid of me, might as well name me~ The dark voice came across as if it was amused. ¡°Astra is that true?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but hope his gut feeling was wrong but the nervous and ashamed reply of Astra denied him even that faint hope. ¡®Y-yeah it is¡­ But when we were bound to you, our power was drained and the dark side of us fell into slumber. I hoped you would never meet him Astras voice was soft as she was ashamed of herself for failing at keeping the darkness within at bay. ¡®Now Sister that is quite cold of you. Why would you try to keep me a secret. Where there is Life, Death must also be present! Besides, I only fell asleep because I consumed the Death within Boss¡¯ The other voice sneered, displeased about its sisters attempts to stifle it and keep it in slumber while at the same time revealing that it in fact had always been there beneath the surface. ¡°So I have to name you? Fine! Your name shall be [Mors]...But I¡¯ll make myself clear here and now! I do not enjoy nor will I ever enjoy cruelty like you have just shown. If you ever do that again without my express approval, I will cut off my own fucking arm if that means I get rid of you!¡± Leos expression was fierce as he glared at his left wrist. Even if this Beastlike Ego had a role in his survival, he didn¡¯t like the idea of his life coming at the cost of something dark and horrible. ¡®Hahahaha! As you wish Boss~! I will listen to you. I will help as best as I can¡­ You will need me for what I am good at one day soon~ Mors chuckled with delight as it alluded to knowing that there was something dark looming in the future of the young man.
Bracelet of Death (Unique) Name has been set as ¡®Mors¡¯ Compatibility: 100% Bonuses Being applied. Please wait¡­
Ouroboros roused himself from his guilty stupor as he felt a terrifying presence suddenly appearing not even 50 meters away from them. He dashed towards Leo the moment he sensed that presence approaching them while Leo was fully absorbed in the evolution of his bracelets. ¡°Leo¡­.something''s not right here. We need to leave. NO-AHHHH!¡± [-188!] Before he could reach Leo, a massive spear flew out from the forest, skewering Ouroboros at the waist, pinning him to a tree. The force of the blow was so strong that the Snake instantly lost consciousness. He was on the verge of death and completely unable to move, let alone fight. Leos eyes shook when he saw his friend practically disappear in front of his eyes, he saw a green skinned monster slowly step out from the cover of the trees. It was a staggering 2m tall and held a Greatsword that was bigger than Leos whole body in one hand.
Quest: Goblin Extermination Quest Details: News of a goblin settlement has been spotted too close to the village. Form a party and wipe them out within 24h. Difficulty: B¡úS Completion Reward(s): 1 gold. 10 Free Points, 3000 exp Requirements: Party of 4. (Current Party 4/4) Quest Failure: Village Destruction Additional information: If the village is destroyed, all players within the village will have their characters deleted. Status: 0 Squadrons of the Goblin Leader remain. The Boss has descended. Defeat the Boss: Goblin Weapon Master
Leo felt his scalp tingle, almost forgetting about the changes to Astra and Mors. Unless he got back up from Lily and Luna soon, he would have to face this BOSS monster alone. Shattered Hope As Leo stood facing off against the Goblin Weapon Master, he heard Mors lightly say ''Oh is Snakey dead? I kinda liked that lil guy'' as if Horos'' life meant absolutely nothing to him. ''Don''t scare Leo you bastard! He is still alive, barely. But we can''t hold out hope that he can recover and help us!'' Luna chastised Mors while she provided Leo with a bit of comfort that Horo was still alive, even if it was just him clinging to life. Leo let out a short sigh of relief as the boss glared at him. All he had to do was hold out long enough for Luna and Lily to make it back. He appraised the BOSS monster which unlike other goblins was dressed in short leather armour. There were a variety of weapons strapped to its back like swords, axes and a hammer. It was missing a spear but it had probably thrown its only one
Goblin Weapon Master Gaponex [BOSS] Level: 10 Class: Weapon Master Health: 1250/1250 Mana: 200/200 Attack: 350 Defence: 150 Dodge: 20 Resistance: Poison Resistance (10%) Note: The undisputed leader of the Goblin Horde, it has attained a basic mastery in every form of basic weaponry it has managed to get its hands on as well as a basic grasp of magic. It is on the cusp of evolving into a higher species. As you have defeated its army, it has decided to now face you head on to establish its dominance over its future kin.
''Careful Boss. Its coming~'' Mors warning came moments before the BOSS launched itself forward, swinging its massive sword with one hand. Unable to escape in time, Leo could only brace himself by raising his arms and engaging in the use of his shield. Despite that, the difference in strength and size made Leo slide back, his feet digging into the ground as he tried to stop himself. [-10] Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Leo was only able to stop when his back slammed into a tree. He grit his teeth to smother the groan of pain that threatened to leak out. However he didn''t have time to relax as the massive sword was coming for him again in a horizontal swing. Leo quickly ducked, successfully dodging the sword as it left a deep gouge in the tree in the place where Leos neck had been a mere moment before. From his kneeling position, Leo launched himself between the massive goblins legs, using the bladed edges to slice at its inner thigh. [-27] [-24] The goblin let out a grunt of pain as the blades knicked its flesh but it instead calmly dropped its greatsword, abandoning the large but slow and heavy weapon, instead choosing to pull out 2 small swords to use against its small but agile opponent. "GRAHH!" A brutal battlecry shook the air as its swung its dual blades in a haphazard manner. While it lacked any form of technique, the vicious attacks forced Leo to backpedal, dodging and deflecting each and every potentially lethal blow. ''Oh boss. You in trouble now~ Mors giggled with little to no concern as the monster stopped attacking for a moment to take a deep breath. ''[DODGE!'' Astra scream caused Leo to take more distance than he originally planned, giving up on blocking and following up with a counter attack of his own. Not even a second later, the ground where Leo had stood shattered, a massive warhammer had come crashing down. If he had tried to block it, he would have been crushed! The goblin looked disappointed that its surprise attack had missed. While it did carry around multiple weapons, the Goblin WeaponMaster was capable of using some simple magic and had used some of its mana to hold its swords in place while he quickly grabbed his hammer and slammed it down. "Fight like Warrior Tiny Furball!" The Goblin snarl almost caused Leo to stumble when he understood what he said. Instinctually, he shot back an angry retort . "Who are you calling a Furball ya Bastard!" The goblin stopped for a moment, equally stunned for a second "You. You speak our language?". Leo frowned. He heard the Goblin loud and clear but didnt know why it assumed that he was speaking its language. ''Oh about that. Since I ate that gobbie earlier. You can understand them now'' Leo was aghast as he realized that he had learned a monsters language because Mors had eaten it. What if he ate a chicken and could understand them going forward?! ''While that may be amusing. It doesn''t happen all that often. Gobbie brains are just so simple it was easy~'' Mors snickered in amusement at Leos distracted thoughts ''But do you really have the leeway to be distracted like this?'' The goblin had quickly gotten over its surprise and renewed its assault on Leo. Each blow that he wasn''t able to dodge or deflect caused shockwaves to reverberate throughout Leos body, leaving his arms aching and sore as if they would break if this continued. Taking a risk, Leo leaned to the side,barely dodging a downwards swing of a blade. He then swung his own arm, the bladed edge of the shield gauntlet slicing into the Bosses eye and partially blinding it. [-372!] [Critical Strike!] "Leo! We''re here!" Lunas loud voice rang out from behind him. Without thinking he turned and called back in relief "Sis! Thank God you''re he.." ''You shouldn''t have looked away!'' Mors morbid tone was alarming but it was too late to turn back as Leo felt a massive hand grab his head. Luna and Lily saw Leo from a distance fighting against a Giant goblin, the fight made Lunas hair stand on end in anxiety as she saw her brother barely dodge to land a devastating counter attack. Unable to hold herself back, Luna called out to her brother, wanting to let him know that he wasn''t alone any more and that he now had help. However when Leo looked back at them with relief on his face, her own expression became one of horror as the massive brute grabbed Leos head. Before she could even scream, Leos feet left the ground as he was hurled away like he was some sort of ragdoll. The brutal crack of his body breaking as it slammed into a tree was like a gunshot in her ears [-125!] [Paralyzed!] [Maimed!] "NOOOOOOOOOO" Luna let out a heart wrenching scream when she saw her brothers limp motionless body. She felt despair sink in as she felt the hope that had blossomed in her heart slip through her fingers. She had come so close to getting her brother back only to lose him now. Lilys eyes were glued to Leos body as she could only stand there in horror. She saw that his neck was bent at a horribly twisted angle, a sign that it was horribly broken. The only sign that he wasnt dead was the single digit of his HP but with his current condition, even that wouldn''t hold out for long. Lily could feel her heart sinking as the worst case scenario came to her mind: '' Would they fail here after coming all this way?'' A Beast Rises With inconsolable grief, Lunas tears streamed down her face as she threw herself at the Goblin BOSS, wholly intending to avenge her brother even if it cost her her own life. Yet despite that conviction, the BOSS was able to easily dodge her blows as her pattern had become easily predictable in her sorrow. Even Lily wasn''t much better as her hands shook as she saw the horrific state the boys were in. She was the first to see Ouroboros impaled and unmoving on a tree and now even Leos was on the precipice of death. With unsteady hands, her magic constantly misfired or missed the Goblin entirely. "Skreak kek~!" The goblin sneered as it looked down on the two girls whose coordination had come crumbling to the ground at the most crucial moment. Leo felt no pain as he laid there on the forest floor, his eyes somewhat foggy as he watched the two girls desperately attacking the BOSS monster. ''I can''t be lying down here. I gotta get back in there and help them!'' He was eager to jump back in to the fray and help his sister so he tried to stand up and move Yet no matter how he tried, his body refused to move, he couldn''t even make his fingers twitch. ''Why..Why?! WHY?! I GOTTA MOVE DAMN IT'' He wanted to scream but even his voice no longer worked. All he could do was try even harder/ Yet there was not even the slightest of movement from him. His body remained motionless as the horrific realization struck him. He was paralyzed from the neck down! ''Damn it! DAMN IT! NOOOO'' His howls were silent, stubbornly refusing to give up now and continued to try and find a way to stand as he could only watch as the girls slowly self-destructed after losing their composure. . Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "These females will do nicely to help me rebuild~!" The goblin sneering voice was heard by all but only he could understand it, even now he could see its eyes were full of lust as it deemed the girls not to be a threat anymore. ''Oh my~! Things are looking bleak for you and the girlies! That bunny girl is your sister yeah? You might be becoming an uncle to some goblins if you don''t do something~'' Even on the brink of death, The dark spirit of Mors was unperturbed as it mocked and sneered at Leos misery. ''SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!!!'' Leo''s rage was ignited as his emotions burned white hot with fury. He shed bloody tears as the Goblin disarmed Luna and slapped her across the face, causing her to hit the ground. Leo there is a chance to turn things around but¡­'' Astra wanting to warn Leo of what the chance she spoke of entailed yet Leo immediately interrupted with a savage roar ''I DON''T FUCKING CARE! DO IT! DO IT NOW! I WON''T LET THAT BASTARD LAY HIS HANDS ON HER!'' ''Okay¡­this will hurt. A LOT'' Astra was nervous as Mors giggled like a crazed lunatic. [THAT''S IT! HOLD ON TO THAT ANGER~! If you pass out now, its allllll over~! We need to have much more fun together, boss~!] Mors crazed laughter felt almost encouraging as a peridot glow radiated from Astra before it began to cover his entire body. Nobody seemed to notice as Leos fallen body anymore as it became completely encased in the yellowish green light, the muffled sound of bones being crushed as if someone was stepping on gravel was drowned out by the cries of the girls struggling in battle. Leo felt like his body had been dipped in lava while simultaneously being crushed under the weight of a bulldozer. He could feel each and every muscle fiber snap and melt under the intense heat. His blood literally boiled as his bones fragmented into dust. Yet despite facing agony that would kill dozens of men twice over, Leos mind refused to crack, the only thing on his mind was that he must protect Luna..No matter the cost. Lily sunk to her knees, her hands gripping her staff roughly as she felt utterly drained. She didn;t have any mana left and her physical strength would make her an even bigger detriment. She bit her lips so hard that it bled as she could only watch on helplessly and accept their fate. Luna sobbed helplessly as she fell to the ground defeated and drained of all her energy. Despite her desperate efforts, she had been unable to defeat the Goblin Leader. She felt helpless as the Goblin grabbed her by her wrist and lifted her up into the air, dangling her in front of him. She looked over to where Leos body was, hoping to look at him one more time before she took her own life. Yet his body wasn''t there. Her ears perked up as she looked around frantically. Where was he?! Just as an unknown panic began to set in, a deep masculine roar shook the forest. From behind the tree, a man stumbled out. He had long platinum blonde hair that reached his waist and resembled the mane of a lion. His clothing may have been mere rags but he had a figure reminiscent of a greek statue, muscles rippling slightly as his body released literal steam. He was quite tall but that was overshadowed by the heavy looking obsidian chain cuffs that were attached to his neck and wrists. His overall appearance was a mixture of regality and wild beast but that didn''t matter to Luna in the slightest. When she looked in the mans eyes that were the most beautiful of jade colour, she knew. "LEO!" Her brother was alive! She didn''t know how or why his appearance had changed but she didn''t care at this point. The fire of hope that had been snuffed out had been reignited. Leo bent his knees as he got into a fighting stance and glared at the Goblin Weaponmaster with a mixture of Bloodlust and Rage in his eyes. He opened his mouth and let out a taunting shout. "HEY Trashmaster! Put my sister down! We aren''t done here yet Ugly! Time for Round 2!" Fury Unleashed Gaponex was confused. It had heard the devastating sound of the cats bones shattering when it had thrown him against a tree. How was he standing there now? What was that strange new form? Luna was exhilarated as strength surged through her once more. While the monsters was distracted by her brothers taunt, she used her core to lift herself up and bit down as hard as she could on its finger, drawing blood. [-7] ¡°AHHK¡± The sudden unexpected pain made Gaponex drop her with a short shout of pain. He turned his head and lowered his gaze to snarl in the young girls face. Luna grinned back defiantly before she spat some of the blood that pooled in her mouth in its face. This instantly enraged the monster as it raised its fist, preparing to slam it down on Lunas head. ¡°GRAAA-HKH?!¡± [-200!] [Critical!] The monster''s head snapped to the side as a devastating punch connected with its cheek. The strength of the blow sent it flying, leaving scattered remains of broken teeth in its wake. ¡°Who the FUCK said you could hit her bastard!¡± Steam continued to rise from Leos body as he now stood where Gaponex had been moments before, his chain wrapped fist still extended. Fury burned in his eyes as he glared at the Monster struggle back to its feet. A seriously confused expression was on the monsters face as it failed to comprehend what had just happened. Nevertheless, its will to fight remained unbroken as it moved to pull a sword from its scabbard on its back. Its remaining eye was constantly trained on Leo who remained unmoving as it got into a defensive stance. However when Gaponex blinked, horror rose as Leo disappeared from his spot in that split second. It looked around frantically, hoping to catch sight of Leo but there was nothing. How could a puny Furball disappear into thin air? ¡°Im on your left!¡± KRAK! ¡°GRAAAAAAAH!¡± [[-120!] [Maimed!] The sound of Gaponex screaming in agony filled in the air as a Savage kick broke its leg at the knee. Unable to stand, it collapsed to the ground. Even still its will wasn¡¯t broken as it tried to swing its weapon wildly. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Now thats dangerous. None of that!¡± Another taunt from the Beastman sent a cold shiver of fear through Gaponex as he felt his weapon wielding arm caught in an impossibly strong grip. Seconds later, his face was slammed into the ground, his arm straining as the Savage Beastman pinned him to the dirt with its foot on his back. Another scream of agony filled the forest as another audible crack rang out. Luna winced a bit as she saw the new Leo snap the Monsters arm and shoulder blade with a sickening crack. The goblins'' screams became pitiful as it quickly lost any and all fighting capability. ¡®He must be really mad¡­¡¯ Luna noticed that at some point that Leo had transitioned from trying to kill the beast to torturing it. He was trying to ingrain as much pain and agony as he possibly could, slowly crushing it bone by bone. The fact that Leo had become so enraged on her behalf was extremely heartwarming to her yet she noticed a cause for concern, Leos condition was eerily similar to her own when she was fighting. ¡°Leo¡­..LEO! Its enough!¡± Luna had to shout loudly to bring Leo to his senses. He had begun to drown in his own bloodthirst. The once imposing BOSS monster had been reduced to a lump of meat, no longer able to even scream. Leo himself was drenched in blood as he stood up, shaking his head as he tried to shake off that disgusting yet intoxicating feeling that had washed over him. ¡®Very Nice Display Boss~! Felt good huh?¡¯ ¡®You okay Leo? You need to drink a potion. You only have 1HP left¡¯ The voices of Mors and Astra brought Leo back fully as he looked down at what he had done. Leo had taken down the boss on a single digit of Health, a single scratch would have killed him. The transformation from the use of Elemental Conversion had shifted all of his stats to Strength and Agility. He had become like an apex predator and the strength, the power felt so intoxicating and tempted him even now. ¡°Graa..aaa¡± A faint moan of unspeakable pain drew Leos attention as he noticed that despite the brutality, the monster continued to live! Almost out of pity, Leo simply raised his foot and stomped down on Gaponexs head, not wanting to let it suffer like that any longer. With a nauseating crunch, Gaponexs skull was crushed beneath his foot. Upon the death of the Goblin Boss, the Quest info flickered.
-Quest: Goblin Extermination -Quest Details: News of a goblin settlement has been spotted too close to the village. Form a party and wipe them out within 24h. -Difficulty: B¡úS -Completion Reward(s): 1 gold. 10 Free Points, 3000 exp Requirements: Party of 4. (Current Party 4/4) Quest Failure: Village Destruction Additional information: If the village is destroyed, all players within the village will have their characters deleted. Status: 0 Squadrons of the Goblin Leader remain. The Boss has descended. Defeat the Boss: Goblin Weapon Master STATUS: COMPLETED Report to Samuel to Receive your Reward(s)
[Level 10 Goblin Weapon Master Defeated] [Conditions met! Class Evolution from [Fighter] to [Weapon Master]] [+1300 EXP] ¡­. Relief washed over Leo as the fight was finally over. All that was left was to return to the village and claim the rewards. He slowly collapsed to his knees as fatigue creeped in, leaving him feeling extremely weak. ¡°Its¡­over¡± Luna slowly approached her brother who kneeled in front of the corpse of the Boss Monster. She could tell that whatever he had done to achieve that burst of strength had been intense. He may not have noticed but his body was slightly shivering With a hand on his shoulder, Luna was about to offer her brother some words of thanks and comfort when an unexpected voice caught her attention. ¡°Owwwww¡­Can¡­Someone get me down¡­? I don¡¯t like being skewered¡­.¡± The pained voice of Horo who had begun to stir and speak, calling out for help. Lunas eyes widened as she looked at the snake, realizing that she had completely forgotten about him! ¡°Lily! Come and help me get Horo down!¡± She called out as she frantically rushed to the tree where the Snake was pinned, guilt filling her heart Glitches in Reality Luna hesitated at the base of the tree, unsure of how to remove the spear that pinned Horo to the tree. Horos'' voice had gotten more clear and distinct as his innate regeneration took effect. ¡°Just for the record, this is not my ideal version of penetration..¡± Even as he made a coarse joke in an attempt to sound casual and aloof, he was gritting his teeth as pain coursed through his body. Luna scowled upon hearing that, losing all hesitation and guilt as she yanked on the spear shaft recklessly. ¡°Can you be serious for once?!¡± ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± Horo screamed in pain as she pulled out the spear, causing Horo to fall to the dirt with blood gushing from the hole in his waist. The wound was gaping, allowing for one to see through to the other side through his waist. [Bleeding!] Even though he got that status effect, there wasn¡¯t much blood. Luna noticed that Horos blood was actually purple and it was much more viscous than regular blood. Horos pained but teasing voice called out: ¡°You could have been more gentle, no?! That was my first time~....Sorry¡± He was indignant and tried to tease Luna as he forced himself into a sitting position. However he quickly apologized and shut up when he saw Luna wordlessly hold up the spear again with rage burning in her eyes, the tip pointed at his crotch. ¡°Hahah~! Horo I swear to god, your mouth will be the death of you. First thing you do after waking up is try to piss off Luna?! You are either brave or stupid my friend.¡± Lunas growl was cut short as Leo approached the two of them laughing, relief written over his face seeing that Horo hadn¡¯t died.While it was a game, there was an inexplicable feeling that dying in the game would have devastating consequences of some sort. ¡°Ummm. Who are you?¡± Horo was confused, where had this Greek God looking dude come from? He didn¡¯t remember anybody like that in their party. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Haha I guess this version of me is a bit strange, I¡¯m Leo¡± Leo saw Horos eyes widen in disbelief, In the time that he was incapacitated, Leo had grown up in various ways. Horo then looked towards Luna to confirm that this was true. He let out a short laugh when Luna nodded in confirmation that it was the truth. ¡°Damn¡­Kids grow fast these days. Isn¡¯t that right Lily~?.......Lily?¡± Horo turned his head to look at Lily, thinking she might appreciate his attempt at humor but froze when he saw the Tigress frozen in place, blushing fiercely as she looked at Leo. The danger of the Goblin Weapon Master had passed but Lily couldn¡¯t help but feel that she was in just as much danger if not more so. She had been a bit out of it when Leo was fighting the BOSS so she hadn¡¯t been fully paying attention to his appearance. Yet now that it was all over, she could barely look at him. It wasn¡¯t because she was scared of his new masculine appearance, in fact it was the opposite, he was TOO hot. The rags he was wearing barely covered anything and the regal presence he naturally radiated was intoxicating. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back!¡± Lily escaped from the situation by logging out leaving everyone speechless, she chose to run to the bathroom and think about what had just happened. ¡°Cutie¡­became a Hottie¡­.?¡± How was that possible? As far as she knew, Avatars in the game weren¡¯t capable of physical change like that. Lilys concerns only grew stronger the more she thought about it. A game that could save someones life? Change Eye and Hair colour? Growing a tail? All of those were in the realm of Fantasy. What sort of game could affect reality! ¡®Now that I think about it. No one knows anything about the company that made this game. I should have someone look into it.¡¯ Lily was washing her hands when she looked in the mirror and froze. She double checked her phone to make sure she was in reality before she looked back in the mirror. What was reflected was a green haired young woman. Almost identical to her Avatars appearance!. She felt her head and even more horror washed over her as she felt a couple of uniform lumps on top of her head. ¡®Am I growing cat ears?!¡¯ She couldn¡¯t deny it any longer, somehow [Ascension of Souls Online] was somehow altering people on a genetic level. She could only imagine the chaos that would ensue when more and more people played the game. ¡®I need to let them know!¡¯ Lily ignored her rumbling stomach as she immediately grabbed her headset and logged back in. When she found herself in the forest once more, she saw Leo, Horo and Luna sitting around a campfire not too far away. ¡°Leo, did you transform again? What happened to that Hottie version?¡± Lily was surprised to see Leo had reverted back to his previous form but his clothes were still ripped, giving him a homeless street urchin vibe. ¡°It was crazy¡­He shrunk after he started leaking this weird yellow light!¡± Horo was the first to report what had happened while she was gone. ¡°I see¡­. Leo, if something happens to you, let me know and I will do my best to help you out.¡± ¡°Lily, what do you mean by that? What happened when you logged out?!¡± Lunas voice was hoarse as her anxiety reared its ugly head, had something happened in the real world that would affect her brother?! ¡°Its not Leo himself that is the focus of this. I have reason to believe that the game is altering our reality. Horo tilted his head, concern slipping through his aloof disguise. ¡°What proof do you have? That is an ¡°My hair is now green and I have cat ears slowly growing on my head! The new revelation silenced the party as they took a moment to digest this new information ¡°So if that happened to me, it is possible it could happen to you as.¡± The Weight of Change ¡°Hold up, what do you mean your hair is green? I mean, yeah, your hair is green here. It¡¯s a game!¡± ¡°I am talking about in reality, Horo. I know I must sound crazy, but it¡¯s true.¡± Horo''s eyes flickered with disbelief as he dismissed Lily''s words as being absolutely impossible. She must have been playing this game so much that she was hallucinating. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, go take a look for yourself! There is probably going to be some sort of change with you!¡± Lily huffed with her arms crossed, an eye twitching as Horo dismissed what she had seen as a mere hallucination. Luna and Leo sat at the campfire, their gazes locked on the flickering flame, lips pressed together in silence. They couldn¡¯t outright deny what Lily had said because they had undergone changes themselves. Yet some part of them hoped that Lily was wrong. The world itself could descend into utter chaos if she was right. ¡°Fine! I will... but know that when I come back, I will be teasing you to hell and back, Princess!¡± ¡°GOD! You are so annoying! GO already!¡± Lily shouted, losing control of her emotions. Horo simply smiled, unfazed by her anger, as he navigated his menu to log out temporarily. Beneath the surface, he was worried for Lily. He could tell that something was wrong, but he knew his presence right now would only continue to aggravate her. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a few minutes. Don¡¯t miss me too much~¡± He flashed a smile at Lily and for the briefest moment, something flickered in his gaze. Was it concern? Doubt? She couldn¡¯t tell. With a faint flicker, he faded into thin air, leaving Lily staring at the empty space where he once stood. With him gone, Lily turned and trudged to sit by the campfire next to Luna. As the reality of her situation continued to sink in, she wanted nothing more than to cry. She leaned her head on Luna''s shoulder. Luna said nothing, simply raising her free hand to pat her friend¡¯s head in an awkward attempt to comfort her. She never spoke of it, but since she had lost her mom at a young age, her hair was the one thing that still connected her to her mother. Her mom had been a police officer who died in the line of duty. She couldn¡¯t help but remember that, despite her busy schedule, her mom always made time every Sunday so they could brush each other¡¯s hair. ¡°My little Kitten has such pretty hair~¡± How many times had she heard that growing up? Yet now there was silence. No more laughter. Her mom was gone, and now so was one of the last few things that tied them together. It was like she had lost her all over again. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay. We are here for you, Lily...¡± Luna''s soft, consoling tone pushed Lily over the edge. She let out a long, shuddering wail, her shoulders heaving as tears streamed down her face. She hugged Luna tightly, who could only sit there silently, letting her friend cry as much as she needed. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Luna had been in Lily''s shoes, and she knew that nothing she could say would help her friend through this. While she had lost her mother and father, she still had Leo to rely on. Lily didn¡¯t have that. Instead, she had a father who was often too busy to comfort her, choosing instead to quietly suffer so that he wouldn¡¯t worry her. Leo sat in silence, feeling helpless and angry at himself for being useless as he watched Lily cry. He clenched his fists as he looked at Luna. Her forlorn expression remained as she slowly patted her friend¡¯s head. There must be something he could do. He needed answers! His gaze turned to his bracelets. Astra and Mors had fallen silent after his transformation. Concern for them welled up inside him as well. He still felt their presence in his mind, but it was faint and weak, as if they had entered a form of hibernation. He would have to wait to ask them to wake up before he could get any answers. For a few minutes, the only noise in the dense forest was the crackling of the fire and Lily''s cries. Lily''s chest felt heavy when she finally stopped crying into Luna''s shoulder. She hadn¡¯t expected to break down like this, but she was grateful for her best friend, whose shoulder was soaked in her tears. She lifted her head and glanced over at Leo, who had been tending to the fire. His cute face was scrunched up in guilt and frustration. ¡°Why... are you frowning... Cutie? It will... ruin... your pretty face...¡± Lily''s voice was hoarse as she spoke, raw from crying, yet she still tried to smile and crack a joke to lighten the mood. She looked around at her friends, noting that Horo had either not returned yet or was hiding somewhere nearby. It was strange. Without him there, the space felt oddly empty. She expected Luna to flick her head or something, yet there was nothing. Looking back at her, she saw the ruby eyes of her friend filled with nothing but concern for her best friend. Luna hugged her as she whispered, ¡°You know that I will be there for you whenever you need me. We are best friends, after all. Right?¡± Lily''s eyes watered as she wanted to cry again, but instead, she simply reciprocated the hug with a wide smile forming on her face. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right!¡± Leo felt his mood lift a little, seeing the heartwarming moment the two girls were sharing. A small but quiet smile formed on his face as he glanced at the time display. However, that smile quickly faded. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry to interrupt, but I am getting worried about Horo. It¡¯s been 20 minutes, and he hasn¡¯t returned. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to check to see if there were any changes? That shouldn¡¯t take so long, right?¡± Horo had yet to return despite telling them he would be back in a few minutes. Could something have gone wrong in the real world? The girls'' eyes widened as well. What could have possibly happened to him that was keeping him from returning? ¡°Do you think he went to report back to his family?¡± Luna frowned with displeasure, her eyes glinting with rising anger at the thought that Horo had betrayed them. ¡°No. He wouldn¡¯t do that, Luna,¡± Leo said confidently. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°He told me that he and his family¡­.don''t get along... I don¡¯t know why he would do anything to benefit them.¡± While Leo sounded confident in his answer, he truly wasn¡¯t sure if he was right. He had seen Horo open his heart and wanted to believe in him, but he couldn¡¯t deny that there were seeds of doubt scattered in his mind. Luna''s eyebrow lifted as she heard something unexpected. Lily, too, frowned as something clicked in her mind. Her breath hitched, and she glanced away, suddenly uneasy. She hadn¡¯t fully understood before, but now¡­ now she did. ¡°So what do you think happened?¡± Lily was a bit anxious. She wanted to apologize to Horo for snapping at him the way she had. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but you guys might have to find him in reality if he doesn¡¯t come back soon. Let¡¯s give him another 10 minutes...¡± For now, all they could do was pray and hope that he was safe. Leo couldn¡¯t explain it but somehow, he felt that the darkness of the night seemed to grow a bit stronger. Lily looked towards the stars and mumbled under her breath, unease welling up in her heart. ¡°Horo¡­Adam¡­ What have you done..?¡± Hiss of the Unknown Twenty minutes ago, Horo opened his eyes to his familiar apartment. It felt cold¡­empty. There wasn¡¯t the constant chatter and banter that he had apparently gotten used to. He found himself wanting to log back in immediately. ¡®No.. Here I am Adam. I can¡¯t get too attached.¡¯ That''s how he lived. That¡¯s how he survived. In the end, he could only rely on himself. He shook his head as he sat up with a groan, resisting the urge to follow his instincts. He intended to just check himself in the mirror and then log back in and tease Lily about how she was going crazy. Just thinking about how Lily would probably throw a tantrum when he told her nothing changed brought a small smile to his face. His footsteps echoed through the empty hallway as he entered his bathroom, the light flickering briefly before illuminating the room. In the mirror, a tall young man stared back at him, amber eyes sharp, jet-black hair unruly. ¡°Heh. I knew she was crazy¡± Adam sighed in faint relief that there were no apparent changes to his body. ¡°I wonder what is going on with those 3 though to change like that¡­¡± His voice was like a low grating whisper as he scratched his cheek. It was then that he realized something was wrong. His skin felt smooth¡ª and cool like a snakes! He leaned in, his breath hitching. Horror flickered in his eyes¡ªfaint patches of snake scales glistened under the light, blending so seamlessly with his skin that they were almost invisible from a distance. First he didn¡¯t believe it, thinking he was just hallucinating or it was just a dream. ¡°What the fuck?! I must be dreaming! I gotta wake up!¡± He even tried slapping himself to wake himself up yet in the bathroom he remained. He felt his teeth cut open the inside of his cheek from the blows. His stomach twisted in revulsion as the taste on his tongue wasn¡¯t metallic but undeniably sweet. Sticky, thick like syrup. Wrong If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Stumbling to the sink, Adam spit into it, his breath catching when he saw that instead of the typical crimson splash of blood, his was a dark violet with the consistency closer to pudding. Was this his blood? No it couldn¡¯t be. What blood was purple? It must have been some sick joke his siblings were pulling on him. A new form of bullying. He tried to deny it, but the faint sound of hissing snapped him back to reality. The sink was melting. His blood wasn¡¯t just sickeningly sweet, it was corrosive. He gripped the edge of the sink, knuckles white. No. This wasn¡¯t happening. This couldn¡¯t be real. But the melting porcelain begged to differ. His stomach twisted. ¡°¡­Oh fuck. Lily was right.¡± The panic set in. His heartbeat becoming erratic as he released control over his emotions. He grabbed his hair, his breathing rough, erratic and uneven. He was freaking out, how could he not when his blood and skin had mutated entirely. Could he even be considered human still? Plus if his siblings found out about how he changed, he would find himself in a lab cage or on an operating table without question. ¡°Oh my~! Now you look like a mess~! What happened to your plan for murdering your family huh~?¡± A high pitch giggle reached his ears causing him to whip his head to the side to see a little girl sitting on the sink countertop. The girl''s body and face were obscured by shadows but he could make out a sadistic grin and her iris was an eerie white. Adam froze for a second, staring at the counter. Empty. Yet the girl sat there in the reflection, staring at him with an inhuman like grin. ¡°Little Snake, why are you so scared~? I gave you one of my toys and you have so far entertained me~! I have no interest in breaking you¡­.At least not yet¡­¡± The girl giggled again as Adams heart battered itself against his ribs. His mind had yet to catch up with this twisted reality. ¡°I must have fallen asleep. This is just one horrible dream!¡± He tried his best to deny reality which seemed to upset the entity in the mirror. ¡°Where is the confident man who was willing to do anything to achieve his wish? It was you who took my hand after all.¡± Adam turned his head back to the mirror to see the girl sitting in the reflection still. He blinked and suddenly she was pressed up against the mirror, as if it was a window and she was on the other side. ¡°Now get your act together before I kill you myself!¡± The shadows swirled in agitation, the little girls voice was grating to the ear. ¡°W-what is happening to me? What did you do to me?¡± Adam¡¯s breath hitched, his chest tightening under the suffocating weight of the entity''s bloodlust, like invisible hands crushing his lungs. Yet despite the panic and the threat of death right in front of him, the hatred for his family burned fiercely in his eyes. ¡°Yes that¡¯s the look~!¡± The entity giggled as it backed away from the mirror a bit, the shadows that made up its body began to fade like smoke ¡°I didn¡¯t do any of those changes to you Little Snake. You just synchronized very well with your ****¡± The last word was lost despite straining his ears to listen. No sound. No voice. Just an absence, an emptiness that sent a shiver down his spine. The entity had said something but it felt like the world shifted, refusing to let him hear what was said. Cold sweat flowed freely down Adams face as the entity continued. ¡°You best prepare yourself, This place¡­is unstable¡± The manic laughter faded into a soft whispered warning before the entity itself faded away into nothing, leaving Adam all alone. Adam sunk to his knees as relief washed over him. He was alive! But that cryptic warning bothered him as he glanced at his watch. ¡°Shit!¡± A curse slipped from his lips as he noticed a lot more time had passed than he had thought. He needed to get back now or his friends would start to panic. He rushed back to his bed and picked up his helmet, ready and eager to dive back in to escape the horror show that he had to call Real life. Torn Between Worlds Leo let out a sigh of relief when Horo finally reappeared, five minutes before they planned to seek him out in the real world. ¡°Thank God you¡¯re back, Horo. Any changes on your end?¡± Silence. Horo stood there, unmoving. No quip, no sarcastic remark¡ªjust an unsettling, heavy pause. Leo frowned as he observed the usually aloof and smiling snake was trembling on the spot in utter silence. Something must have happened, Even to the untrained eye, he looked terrified! Lily was the first to close the distance, reaching up and placing her hands on Horos cheeks so he would have to look into her eyes. ¡°What happened Horo¡­You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost¡± Horo flinched at the word ghost before he groaned. He closed his eyes for a few moments before he let out a strained chuckle. ¡°You know I might have seen something¡­..worse.¡± Leo and Luna expressions tensed up, nervous to hear what Horo had faced while Lily tilted her head, concerned. Yet Horo was determined to change the topic, refusing to elaborate any further. ¡°I have to say you were right Lily. I have changed in the real world¡­.¡± ¡°Oh? did your hair change colours or something?¡± Lilys ears perked up hearing that yet another person had experienced changes like she had. ¡°I¡¯ll explain¡­but can you let go of my face? A passerby might think we are about to have an intimate moment¡­¡± Lily released his head and jumped back, her face flushing bright red, embarrassed and angry that he was teasing her even now. ¡°You Bastard!¡± ¡°How did my face feel?¡± Horo didn¡¯t laugh, his smile was replaced with a rigid and cold expression. There was no sign of him joking or playing around. He was serious ¡°Uhh¡­it was really smooth and somewhat cool¡­Almost as if I was holding a¡­.oh god.¡± Lilys words faltered upon her realization as she saw a pained expression flicker across Horos face. ¡°Its not just that¡­my blood¡­it¡¯s corrosive apparently..¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Luna grimaced when she heard that. It sounded less than pleasant to say the least. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Well there are a couple of holes in my porcelain sink. Also last I checked, blood isn¡¯t supposed to be purple!¡± Horo snapped back, irritated that Luna was questioning him. Yet he shut up when he glanced at Luna. Hadn¡¯t he just done that with her? ¡°I¡¯m sorry Luna¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have snapped like that. It was uncalled for and you didn¡¯t deserve that.¡± Lunas eyebrows furrowed even more, looking somewhat disgusted. ¡°Gross. Who are you and what have you done with our Horo. That snake bastard is never this serious. I think I might break out in hives from that apology!¡± This reaction caused Horo to finally laugh, releasing some of the tension weighing him down. ¡°Haha. Luna you know you can be a real bitch right? But still¡­Thank you¡± ¡°H-hmph! I am going to go to tend the fire!¡± Luna spun around and hurried toward the campfire, her steps quick and agitatedLily and Leo snickered as they both noticed Lunas ears were red, She was really embarrassed. ¡°Sis¡­Awkward as usual hehe¡± ¡°Luna you are absolutely adorable¡± ¡°Both of you. Shut up!¡± Seeing them banter and bicker like this was heartwarming to Horo, the horrors that he experienced seeming to retreat to the back of his mind for now. ¡°Come on Horo, lets take a seat and relax for a bit¡± Leo called out to him as he approached Luna, patting a fallen log next to where he was sitting. A small smile flickered on Horos face. His reality may be a mess but here, he had friends. It was after a few minutes of jovial banter that Lily brought up a serious matter: What are they going to do now. With the revelation that characteristics of their avatars were being transferred into reality, there would inevitably be some chaos. None of them had any faith that the government would be able to contain the situation. ¡°I think we need to get stronger here. If we do that, maybe it will translate into the real world too.¡± Luna''s suggestion was focused on growth here. She had no evidence to back her claim, only a gut feeling. ¡°I agree with you Luna but we can¡¯t ignore the fact that my brother Anthony is after Leo. In fact I think we will all need to lay low for a while. We don¡¯t want him to find out about any of our changes.¡± ¡°Ugh I almost forgot about that¡± Horos reminder about the brutal man who was trying to get a hold of Leos body sent a shiver of disgust down Lilys¡¯ spine. ¡°What about you Leo? What do you want to do?¡± Luna turned her gaze to her brother who had been sitting in relative silence, lost in thought. ¡°Oh me?¡± he asked surprised, pointing at himself, somehow not expecting that ¡°Well first off I want to get out of the hospital and eat some real food for a change!¡± Lily nodded her head in approval. Food was love after all. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty short term goal. What about after that Boss?¡± Even Horo had shown an interest in what Leo planned to do. The thought that they cared about his plans was endearing to say the least. ¡°Well this game DID save my life. I might as well explore it whenever I can. If we have to get stronger, might as well have fun doing it right?¡± The sentiment caused Luna to grin broadly, Horo and Lily exchanged looks before flashing smiles of their own. ¡°It seems we are in agreement then. We are going to be sticking together for a while longer.¡± Leo smiled brightly hearing those words from his sister but suddenly he doubled over clutching his head. He failed to scream as he felt like his mind was splintering. Like a mirror being broken into hundreds of pieces. laid on the ground, in front of the fire, Luna instinctively reaching out to prevent him from rolling into the frames. ¡°What the fuck just happened!¡± Luna roared, fear causing her entire body to shake while Horo and Lils face were twisted in a mixture of horror and terror. Yet a moment later, the pain was gone. Replaced by a voice that was not his own. ¡®Zodiac¡­Bonds..Save¡­World¡¯ What was that?! Echoes of the Past, Shadows of the Future Leo¡¯s vision blurred, unfocused as echoes of a voice filled his mind. Not a hallucination¡ªno, this was a memory. But from when? From where? The warmth in that voice... it was comforting, yet heartbreakingly distant. He strained to grasp it, to hold onto the fading remnants. But the moment he reached for it, the memory shattered like fragile glass, slipping between his fingers. ¡°LEO! WAKE UP!¡± A roar tore through the void. Leo gasped as his body lurched awake, his pulse hammering against his ribs. His lungs burned, struggling to drag in air as sweat trickled down his spine. ¡°Leo?!¡± Luna¡¯s hands hovered inches from his skin, hesitant but desperate. Panic laced her voice. Her brother never cried¡ªyet here he was, trembling, his fingers brushing the moisture on his cheeks in disbelief. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± Leo murmured, his voice raw. ¡°I heard something¡­ someone. It felt so familiar, but I can¡¯t remember who.¡± Frustration clawed at him. He clenched his fists, willing the memory to return, but the more he focused, the emptier his mind became. His heart ached with an emotion he couldn¡¯t name. Luna opened her mouth, her expression twisted between concern and something unspoken, but before she could voice it¡ª A notification burst into existence before them.
Zodiac Bond has reached certain requirements. Hidden Aspect unlocked: Fragmented Memories of ???? Requirement Met: Strengthen bonds with 3 Zodiacs to 10% affinity. Continue Strengthening Zodiac Bonds to awaken more Fragments.
The glowing golden text pulsed¡ªslow, rhythmic, like a heartbeat. Not just light, but something alive. Leo¡¯s breath hitched. His hand twitched, drawn toward the message by some unseen force. Warmth spread through his palm¡ªthe same warmth from that distant voice. But before his fingers could make contact¡ª The screen vanished. Gone, as if it had never been there. A heavy silence settled over the group. Luna caught the conflict in her brother¡¯s eyes, scowling briefly before sighing. ¡°So, I guess we¡¯re gonna have to help you unlock these ¡®Memory Fragments¡¯ or whatever they¡¯re called, right?¡± Lily giggled softly, shooting Luna a teasing glance. ¡°Look at you, going all soft for your lil¡¯ bro~! Total softie~¡± ¡°You can shut up now!¡± Luna glared at Lily, but her friend remained unfazed¡ªshe knew Luna was only snapping back because she was embarrassed. ¡°Well, you can count me in, Boss! Sticking with you guys is going to be way more entertaining than whatever I got going on back home.¡± Horo chuckled at the banter before chiming in. He was more than willing to follow Leo and help him out. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°Even our lil¡¯ snake is getting tamed? Leo must have picked up a Beast Tamer class. Right~?¡± Lily turned her teasing on Horo now, smirking as his expression stiffened. He shot a glare at Luna and growled. ¡°Hey. What do you say the next time the princess needs to pee, we let her dignity water the soil?¡± Luna glanced at Lily, then turned back to Horo and held out her hand for a handshake. ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°H-Hey! Why is the first time you two agree on something when it¡¯s about bullying me?!¡± Lily¡¯s eyes welled with mock tears as she realized the two, who were usually at odds, had formed a temporary alliance¡ªagainst her. ¡°You should be more careful with your words then, Princess.¡± Horo¡¯s smile was sharp, cold, and utterly pleased with himself. ¡°Wahh! Leo, save me!¡± Lily wailed as she darted behind Leo, using him as a human shield against the two traitors plotting to ruin her dignity. Leo blinked, momentarily stunned by the absurdity of it all. A moment ago, they were dead serious. Now, they were bickering like nothing had happened. Then it hit him. They weren¡¯t ignoring his pain. They were grounding him. Keeping him from spiraling. A quiet chuckle slipped past his lips, then another, until he was laughing¡ªlight, genuine, relieved. ¡°Thank you, guys. You have no idea how much this means to me.¡± Luna rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t argue. Horo just smirked. Lily beamed. Yet, even as warmth settled in his chest, a whisper of unease lingered. These fragments¡­ they weren¡¯t random. They were pieces of him. Was this really a coincidence? Or had unseen forces been pulling him toward this moment all along? Leo exhaled, clenching his fists. It doesn¡¯t matter. If there are more fragments, I¡¯m going to find them. No matter what. A sudden weight draped over his shoulders, dragging him from his thoughts. He turned his head to see Horo sidled up next to him, smirking. ¡°So, what¡¯s next, Boss?¡± Leo¡¯s gaze shifted to Luna and Lily, their eyes locked onto him with quiet anticipation. A warmth spread through his chest¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just trust. It was proof of the bonds they had forged through battle, laughter, and unwavering loyalty. He took a steady breath, his resolve hardening. ¡°First, we turn in that quest to the Village Elder. That should give us the boost we need. After that¡­¡± A determined smile curved his lips. ¡°We start carving out our place in this world. Together.¡± Horo let out a short laugh, stretching his arms. ¡°Sounds like a plan to me.¡± Luna and Lily nodded in agreement. Without hesitation, they began packing up their things, preparing to move. ¡°We can check the loot from the boss when we get back,¡± Luna added. ¡°We¡¯ve been camped here for a while, but I think this forest is way more dangerous than we thought.¡± Her voice dropped slightly, her eyes scanning the trees. Something felt off. Leo followed her gaze, sensing the shift in her demeanor. His own instincts prickled¡ªsomething was watching them. ¡°We move quickly,¡± he said. ¡°Stay alert.¡± And with that, they set off, the weight of the unknown pressing against their backs. They walked quickly through the dark, only the rustle of the leaves were heard as they progressed. Something was wrong. The forest was too quiet! ¡°What is going o¡ª¡± Lily''s question was cut short as a Howl cut through the air. It was close! ¡°RUN!¡± Leo¡¯s roar cut through the night. Horo dashed forward, while Luna scooped Lily into a princess carry, sprinting after him. The mage was too slow to keep up otherwise. The pounding of paws against the earth sent shivers down Leo¡¯s spine. Shadows darted between the trees, closing in fast. Almost there¡ª! The treeline broke ahead. Beyond it, the open plains stretched beneath the night sky. They burst free from the forest¡¯s suffocating grasp, their bodies propelled forward by sheer adrenaline. The moment their feet hit the grass, the howls ceased. Leo risked a glance back. The beasts lingered at the edge of the trees, their glowing eyes watching numbering in the hundreds yet they did not cross the boundary. Horo exhaled sharply. ¡°Damn¡­ guess we weren¡¯t welcome.¡± Luna gently set Lily down. ¡°No kidding.¡± Leo took one last look at the darkened forest, then turned toward the distant village lights. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zodiac Imprint: Tiger "You know, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll miss forests all that much." "Horo... You do know we¡¯ll probably have to go back there, right?" "Way to bring the mood down. Right, Princess?" Leo smirked as he listened to Horo and Luna resume their usual banter. It had been so long since he could enjoy moments like this. The village was just up ahead when Leo suddenly came to a stop. A quiet feeling of anticipation stirred within him. He had a hunch that once he submitted the request, he¡¯d finally be able to return to the real world. He took a deep breath of the fresh countryside air, the scent of grass and earth grounding him, but it couldn¡¯t quite calm the nervous energy building in his chest. He shook off his thoughts and caught up to his companions, who were too busy chatting to notice his hesitation. Lily noticed him lagging behind and shot him a teasing grin. "What''s on your mind, lil bro~? Nervous to be walking around town with these beauties~?" Horo¡¯s ears perked up, and he immediately chimed in, "I¡¯d like to not be included in the list of beauties, please! Leo may be cute, but I don¡¯t swing that way!" Lily balked, while Leo burst into laughter. Even Luna chuckled at Horo¡¯s joke this time. "Nah. It¡¯s nothing like that¡­ I guess I just feel a bit nervous." "Nervous? We should be excited about a job well done!" Horo grinned, throwing a fist into the air in triumph. Yet, Leo noticed the tension lingering in his shoulders. Something was clearly bothering him, but he had no intention of speaking up¡ªnot yet. "Is it about the real world? Are you nervous to go back?" Luna picked up on Leo¡¯s unease and playfully punched his shoulder. Leo simply smiled. "Yeah¡­ That¡¯s right, Sis. You know me too well." Luna huffed in satisfaction, puffing out her chest while sporting a smug smirk. "Of course I do! That¡¯s part of being a big sister!" "That¡¯s the only ¡®big¡¯ thing about you." Silence. Leo felt his blood run cold as he processed what Horo had just said. Luna¡¯s head turned toward the snake with an audible creak, her ruby-red eyes narrowing with a deadly glint. "Oh fuck. You heard that?!" Horo realized his mistake the moment he met Luna¡¯s ominous glare. "You better start running¡­ I¡¯ll give you to the count of five." "I¡ªI¡¯m not scared. It was just a joke!" "ONE." "You¡¯re seriously counting?!" "TWO." Horo gulped. "Look, I¡¯m sorry for what I said. Please, have mercy!" He flashed a pleading look at both Lily and Leo. They both averted their gazes, pretending not to notice. "THREE." Desperation set in. "Oh wow, what¡¯s that?!" Horo suddenly pointed at something behind Luna. Curious, Leo and Lily instinctively turned to look. Luna glanced back as well. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "There¡¯s nothing there," Lily muttered, frowning. She turned back¡ªonly to find that Horo was already sprinting at full speed toward the village. Luna¡¯s ear twitched. "FOUR. FIVE! I¡¯M COMING FOR YOU, YA BASTARD!" Luna charged after Horo, her massive axe gleaming in the moonlight as her ruby eyes glowed like a Reaper in the dark. ¡°Do you think he will survive, Lil Bro?¡± ¡°At this point? It¡¯s doubtful. He better hide really well.¡± Both Lily and Leo chuckled nervously, watching the chase while leisurely walking themselves. Lily took a deep breath as she fiddled with a lock of her hair. ¡°Sooo¡­.¡± Lily¡¯s voice was tinged with awkwardness. This was the first time that she had ever been alone with Leo, and she couldn¡¯t find a word to say. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Leo turned his gaze to Lily, a genuine, heartfelt smile on his face, his jade green eyes seemingly illuminating the night sky. ¡°What are you thanking me for?¡± Lily was thankful for the dim light; she didn¡¯t want anyone to know that she was blushing. ¡°Thanks for being my sister¡¯s friend for all these years. I bet it was tough.¡± ¡°Not at all! Your sister has been there for me more times than I would care to admit. I am happy to be her friend!¡± Lily¡¯s eyes widened at that biting remark, and she defended Luna as if she herself was offended. ¡°Oh really? So helping her study for exams made you happy too?¡± Lily¡¯s mouth instantly shut, and her eyes went vacant as she briefly relived the worst moments of high school: tutoring Luna! Seeing that look, Leo burst out laughing. He felt gratified knowing that he wasn¡¯t alone in his suffering when it came to the education of Luna. However, that soon faded as his doubts gnawed at his mind. What if, when he logs out, nothing has changed and he is still at death¡¯s door? After all, could a game truly affect reality? He wanted to be prepared even in the worst-case scenario. ¡°No matter what happens, please continue to be there for her, okay? Promise me that¡­ please.¡± Lily was concerned when she heard that request, but she still flashed him a brilliant smile. ¡°You don¡¯t even have to ask. I would have done so without you asking!¡± Even when the world was giving them the worst it had to offer, the siblings always thought of each other. ¡®How sweet. I wish I had that kind of bond.¡¯ Lily''s eyes widened¡ªwas she... jealous? But before she could process that, a notification screen appeared before the both of them.
Bond of the Zodiac: Tiger has reached 10% Completion. Buffs will be applied accordingly. If the player wishes, they may also choose to permanently bind the Bond to the chosen player. Doing so will result in Zodiac Bond : Tiger shall be permanently bound to Player: Lily. Zodiac Bond : Tiger Growth shall become uncapped. Total Available Zodiac Bonds shall be reduced to 9. Do you wish to bind Zodiac Bond: Tiger to Player Lily? [Y/N]
¡°To be honest, I could have done this earlier but I wanted to speak with just the two of us¡± Leo gave her an awkward but charming smile. The limit on the growth of the Tiger Zodiac had been lifted when Lily had cried but it had not felt like the right time to bring it up. ¡°I see¡­So me crying my eyes out can make me the Tiger Zodiac? Thats weird¡­isn''t it?¡± ¡°Yeah but even I don¡¯t understand the rules this thing has.¡± ¡®I object to be called a Thing! I am so much more than that!¡¯ ¡®I agree with the Brat Boss! We are more than just a thing! We have so much killing potential! ¡®Mors! You are NOT helping!¡¯ The sudden voices of Astra and Mors echoing in his head was an abrupt but welcome news for Leo. ¡°Astra! Mors! What happened to you guys! I have so many questions!¡± Lily perked her ears hearing unfamiliar names. ¡°Oh right! The bracelets have egos. 2 of them. Astra is Life and Mors is Death apparently¡± The explanation left Lily with more questions but she chose to be silent for now. ¡®We can answer your questions. But first, don¡¯t leave a lady waiting!¡¯ ¡®You don¡¯t wanna get stabbed for ignoring a girl right? Say yes already!¡¯ Seeing Astra and Mors in sync on something felt a bit weird but he did agree with them. He pressed Yes on the notification screen. ¡°Kyah?!¡± Lily let out a surprised yelp as pain shot up her shoulder. Lifting up her sleeve, she saw that a faint emerald colored Tiger tattoo was emblazoned on her upper arm.
Zodiac Imprint Complete. The following buff(s) are currently in effect. Skill: Tigers Poise When Player remains stationary for 3 seconds, their next support spell (buff or crowd control) gains a slight bonus effect, depending on the type:
  • Buffs: Last 5% longer.
  • Debuffs (crowd control): Last 0.5 seconds longer.
This effect resets if Player moves before casting. Applied to: Lily, Leo
Leo was in awe of this skill while Lily was busy inspecting the tattoo. After a few moments Lily tried to flex her muscles in front of Leo. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this make me look like a Gangster~?¡± If there was an award for the least intimidating gangster, Lily would have won it easily. The silly girl definitely had a few screws loose. Leo then realized why Luna and Lily were such great friends. ¡°Birds of a Feather flock together¡±. His laughing mumble was heard by Lily who tried to act tough in front of him but failing miserably. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?!¡± ¡°Nothing! Don¡¯t worry about it. Plus we are back. Lets go turn in the quest!¡± They had arrived at the Village Gate. Return to Reality The village gates that had been shut during the night creaked as Leo and his party pushed them open, the torches lining the entrance flickering against the night breeze. The sounds of laughter and faint music from the tavern carried through the air, a stark contrast to the eerie silence of the forest they had just left behind. Horo, panted, fear lingering on his face from his near-death experience with Luna. He threw his arms behind his head with a dramatic sigh. "I think I lost five years of my life back there. That was straight-up abuse, Luna." Luna brandished her axe and growled. "You should be grateful you still have any left." Horo flinched, eyeing the axe warily before muttering under his breath. "This is what I get for speaking the truth..." ¡°What was that?!¡± ¡°NOTHING!!!¡± Leo and Lily exchanged amused glances but didn¡¯t comment further as they made their way toward the Village Square. There they found the Village Elder staring wistfully at the moon. He seemed to be lost in thought until he noticed the presence of Leo and his companions. ¡°OH! Welcome back. Wassss your quest sssuccessssful?¡± Samuel greeted, his forked tongue flicking between his lips. Horo groaned and snapped, ¡°OI! Old man! Quit it with the gimmicky nonsense. It¡¯s embarrassing!¡± Samuel froze mid-hiss, his expression shifting to one of mild embarrassment before he coughed into his fist. ¡°Ahem. My apologies¡­ Were you able to eliminate the goblins?¡± Leo gave a firm nod. ¡°Wiped them out. There won¡¯t be any more threats from them.¡± Samuel¡¯s usual quirky demeanor faded for a brief moment, his sharp eyes scanning the party. ¡°You really did it, huh? I half-expected to be dead by morning.¡± He reached into his robes and pulled out a thick scroll, unrolling it and muttering to himself as his eyes flicked over the system notifications. Then, with a wave of his hand, a bright golden glow enveloped the party.
Quest: Goblin Extermination] Quest Details: News of a goblin settlement has been spotted too close to the village. Form a party and wipe them out within 24 hours. Difficulty: B-S Completion Reward(s): 1 gold, 10 Free Points, 3000 EXP Quest Status: Complete Completion Grade: S+ [Accept Rewards: 1 gold, 10 Free Points, 3000 EXP]
A rush of warmth spread through Leo¡¯s body as the golden glow faded. The familiar sensation of leveling up surged through him, invigorating his muscles and sharpening his senses. Similar lights surrounded his companions as they received their own level-ups. Luna cracked her neck. ¡°Not bad.¡± Lily stretched lazily. ¡°Finally, a proper reward.¡± Horo flipped a coin between his fingers and smirked. ¡°You sure you didn¡¯t miscount, old man? I wouldn¡¯t mind a little extra for almost getting murdered.¡± Samuel scoffed . ¡°I counted perfectly, brat.¡± Then, after a pause, he added in a more thoughtful tone, The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°You lot are different. I can tell.¡± His golden eyes studied Leo and the others before he tapped his temple with a wrinkled finger. ¡°From what I have heard, most of the Outsiders are¡­ reckless. Arrogant. You actually took this seriously.¡± ¡°Well not everyone has to do it with their lives on the line.¡± Leo grumbled quietly in a somewhat annoyed voice since he doubted anyone else had Character Deletion as a consequence for failure. For a moment, it seemed as though the Elder wanted to say more. But then, a warm glint returned to his eyes as he flicked his forked tongue in Horo¡¯s direction. ¡°Now scram! Go celebrate or whatever it is you Outsiders do.¡± Horo grumbled something under his breath but didn¡¯t argue. Leo glanced in the corner of his vision and saw that the clock that hung perpetually there had turned golden. Focusing his gaze on it, a small screen appeared before his eyes.
-Body Upgrade has been Completed. -You may now Log out at any time. -Please retain your connection to the Game World. Prolonged Separation may lead to the Player¡¯s body regressing to its previous state. -The Forgotten Goddess wishes you Luck.
His breath hitched, eyes wavering as that message floated in front of him. He could log out now. He wasn¡¯t trapped anymore. While the idea of his body regressing lingered in his mind, he couldn¡¯t care less in that moment. ¡°I-I can log out now¡­! I can log out!¡± Leo¡¯s voice cracked with hysteria, but Lily and Luna only grew more ecstatic as they rushed toward him. Luna picked him up and gave him a bear-like hug. [-50!] ¡°AHHHHH¡± Leo''s cries of Happiness turned into screams of agony as he felt his ribs cracking from his sister''s hug. Lily winced, tapping Luna¡¯s arms urgently. ¡°Let him down! You don¡¯t want him to die just before he gets back to Reality do you?!¡± Luna was embarrassed but quickly let Leo go. ¡°S-Sorry. I got a bit excited¡­.¡± ¡°I-its okay Sis¡­just be a little gentler next time¡± Luna looked so downtrodden that Leo couldn¡¯t find it in himself to reprimand her. He was about to log out when Horo¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°I get that you are excited and all. But we need to talk before we all go back¡± His voice had an unusually serious tone as even his typical laid back expression had disappeared. The shift made all three of them somewhat nervous. ¡°When you wake up. Do not trust any of the doctors, especially the young ones. All of them will sell you out in a heartbeat to my family..¡± Leo felt some anxiety bubbling up from somewhere inside of him as even the words Horo was speaking was serious now. ¡°Wait for Lily and Luna to come and pick you up. Do not go anywhere. They can get you discharged and you should be safe with them. At least for a little bit. Right?¡± Horo¡¯s gaze shifted to Lily and Luna who both nodded with a serious expression on their face. ¡°They can have him over my dead body¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get some of my Dads men to act as extra bodyguards! Nobody will dare mess with us then.¡± Luna cracked her knuckles with a growl while Lily held up both of her tiny fists, her attempt at looking fierce only making her seem more like an angry kitten. ¡°What about you?¡± Leo was concerned about what Horo was planning to do. ¡°Me? I am going to cause a little chaos before I run away. I will have to lay low for a bit so you guys won¡¯t see me in the real world for a bit.¡± Lily had a look of concern but wasn¡¯t able to say anything before Horo glanced at her with his usual smirk spreading on his face. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. I am a slippery little snake. I will see you guys soon,¡± Having said what he needed to say, Horo flashed his new friends a bright smile before he disappeared from the spot¡ª he had logged out before anyone had a chance to stop him. Luna and Lily flashed each concerned glances before they turned back to Leo. ¡°All we can really do is trust him now. Whatever that crazy bastard has planned, it will most likely be pretty messy.¡± ¡°Agreed. Don¡¯t worry about us lil bro. We will log out after you and get ready. We will be there to pick you up within an hour okay?¡± ¡°B-But what if I am still not well? Like if this game is just toying with me and I am still dying?¡± Leo could no longer hide his anxiety as the moment approached. Luna took a step forward, placing her hands on his shoulders and placing her forehead against his. ¡°Have faith. You will be fine¡­ I promise.¡± ¡°Sis¡­¡± ¡°When have I ever broken a promise?¡± ¡°Never¡­.Alright.. I¡¯ll have faith..¡± ¡°That¡¯s the brother I am proud of!¡± Leo felt his heart warm as his sister encouraged him. With one final deep breath, he navigated to the log out button and pressed it. With that, he no longer felt the cold air of the village night as his vision instantly cut to black. Suspicious Nurse At first, Leo thought he was dead. He couldn''t see anything¡ªjust an endless void. But then, a steady thump echoed in his chest. The dead don''t have heartbeats¡­ right? His dulled senses stirred. A coarse blanket draped over him. Cool air brushed against his skin, tinged with the sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant. He was back. The same hospital bed where he had wasted away for years. Fear coiled in his chest. He didn''t dare look at himself. Was he still the same? Still weak, emaciated? What if the Body Upgrade had been nothing more than a cruel joke? His breath hitched¡ªbut even that faded. Something was different. The pain. Or rather, the lack of it. The agony that had tormented him for years¡­ was gone. With shaky hands, he reached up, fingertips brushing against cold metal¡ªthe VR console. A lump formed in his throat. Slowly, he lifted his head and pulled it off, keeping his eyes shut. He took a deep breath. Then, cautiously, he opened his eyes. Light flooded in¡ªclear, sharp, vibrant. A slow smile curled his lips. He could see. But¡­ something felt off. It wasn''t just his vision. His hearing and sense of smell were sharper, too. Beyond the closed door, he could hear the distant shuffle of feet in the hallway, the quiet murmur of voices. Even the soft, steady breathing of someone nearby. His nose caught the faint trace of perfume¡ªsubtle, floral. His gaze flickered to the corner of the room, where a nurse had dozed off in a chair. Weren''t nurses supposed to be working? Why was one sleeping here? His fingers curled around the bedsheets Relief flooded through him¡ªuntil he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the VR console. His ears twitched. Wait¡­ Slowly, he reached up. His fingers brushed against fur. Soft. Real. Moving. ''No. No, no, no¡ª'' The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He had ears. Cat ears. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His breath caught. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. "Oh, fuck¡­" Something tapped against his back, a flicker of movement at the edge of his vision. Luna''s words echoed in his mind. "You''re growing a tail." Dread pooled in his stomach. His gaze snapped downward. A kitten-like tail fluttered behind him, the fur standing on end. ''Horo and Lily are going to mock me for life over this!'' A strangled noise clawed its way out of his throat. "¡­GODDAMN IT!" His voice startled the nurse awake. "I''m awake! I wasn''t sleeping!" The woman jolted upright, nearly toppling out of her chair. Blinking groggily, she hurriedly straightened her uniform and looked around, as if expecting a supervisor to berate her. Leo stared. The nurse''s eyes flickered to him, and for a brief moment, she didn''t seem to register what she was seeing. Then realization hit. Her mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again¡ªlike a fish gasping for air. Leo raised an eyebrow. "Hello¡­?" The nurse flinched. Leo tilted his head, watching her sputter like a broken engine. This was¡­ bizarre. He didn''t recognize her, and in all his years here, he had never heard of a nurse like this. "Umm¡­ hi?" The nurse blinked. Then, as if a switch flipped in her brain, she gasped. "Oh, right! I''m supposed to call the doctors if you wake up!" Leo''s tail flicked in irritation. He wasn''t sure he wanted a bunch of doctors poking and prodding him right now. "How about you don''t?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Miss¡­ what''s your name?" "Rachel," she said, rubbing her eyes. "Honestly, I''d love to do nothing. I barely get the chance to sleep! But what happens if my boss walks in and sees you awake? I''ll get fired on the spot!" Leo narrowed his eyes. There was something off about this woman. "¡­You sound weirdly casual about all this." Rachel yawned while sounding utterly nonchalant. "What can I say? I''ve seen some shit." Leo furrowed his brow "So you aren''t surprised at my ... .let''s say unique appearance?" "You have a cute set of ears? Did the hospital let you keep your accessories?" This confirmed Leo''s suspicion. There was definitely something off about this Nurse. He quickly climbed out of the bed while remaining vigilant of the nurse who had a lackadaisical smile on her face. "So who sent you?" The nurse tilted her head at the unexpected question. "What do you mean by that?" "I am asking who sent you to keep an eye on me¡­or is it that you are here to kill me?" Leo got into a stance, ready to run or fight if needed. Seeing him like this, the nurse started laughing. "Hahahahaha~! I am a nurse here. This is like my 2nd week here Mr. Leone. Please don''t say some nonsense that will ruin this for me~". Rachel smiled lazily, but something in her gaze flickered¡ªtoo sharp, too focused. Like a predator watching its prey squirm. Then¡ª The scalpel gleamed under the fluorescent light. Leo''s breath hitched. It was already there, inches from his eye. His heart slammed against his ribs. ''What the¡ª?!''"_ "Besides¡­" Her scalpel gleamed under the fluorescent light. "If I wanted to kill you, you''d already be dead~" Leo felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand while cold sweat trickled down his cheek. ''What sort of nurse has skills like this?!'' He hadn''t seen her move nor did he even have the chance to react. Yet before he could speak, the woman pulled the scalpel away with a smile returning back to her face. "I hope that you will keep what happened just now our little secret. Okay~?" Leo swallowed hard and nodded. Yep. This girl was absolutely insane. "Good. Glad we understand each other~! Now if you want me to keep quiet, how about you show me a little sincerity~?" "Huh?" Leo was so confused that an involuntary question escaped his lips. "You know what I am talking about Kitty Boy. I am talking about Moolah. Benjamins, Cash. You got this fancy room right. You must be loaded!". ''Oh god¡­is she trying to blackmail a patient?! A nurse is asking for a bribe?!'' Rachel saw the incredulous look on his face and grumbled. "What? Money''s tight this month. A girl has got her expenses!" "So you resort to¡­blackmail?" "I prefer to call it a barter of mutual interests" "Nah. That''s just extortion!" "Whatever. Are you gonna pay me or not?" "I don''t have a penny to my name. I am an Orphan. It''s my sisters friend who has been paying for this room apparently." The nurse was silent for a moment before she kicked her chair. "Goddamn it¡­I picked a dud.An Orphan of all things¡­I must be slipping" Leo was stunned by this woman''s antics. ''It seems anybody can become a nurse nowadays'' A knock on the door distracted both of them. "Leo you in there? Luna is signing your discharge papers! Let''s get going." Lily had arrived. A New Dawn, Reunion Once Again Lily pushed open the door, her eyes narrowing the moment she stepped inside. A cute nurse with long, silky black hair stood just a few feet from Leo¡ªwho, to her surprise, looked like a guilty kid caught stealing cookies. His wide-eyed stare practically screamed, ''I swear, it''s not what it looks like.'' For a split second, her eyes flickered to the adorable fluffy cat ears twitching atop his head and the kitten-like tail flicking behind him. ''Oh God. Even in reality, he''s stupidly cute!'' She nearly melted on the spot, but she quickly snapped out of it, crossing her arms with a dramatic pout. "Who''s this, Leo?!" Leo floundered to find an answer as his gaze flicked between Lily and the mysterious nurse. However before he could find the words to say, the nurse stepped towards Lily with a bright smile. "Nice to meet you Ms. You must be Mr.Leones sister. You are as beautiful as the rumors say. It is a pleasure to meet you~! My name is Rachel. Rachel Wu." Lily blinked, then grinned smugly, absolutely basking in the attention. "Hehe~! Beautiful and famous? I like this nurse." She tossed her now vibrantly green hair dramatically. "You''ve got a sharp eye, Rachel~." Rachel chuckled. "Of course. I''ve heard a lot about you, Miss Haronyu." Leo, still standing awkwardly, sighed. "Lily¡­ You''re not my sister." Lily froze mid-smugness. Rachel tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "Oh? You''re not related?" Her bemused expression only made things worse. Lily''s face immediately turned cherry red. She whipped her head toward Leo, flashing him an embarrassed yet furious look. Leo felt a deep, primal sense of impending doom. Lily, recovering fast, crossed her arms and huffed dramatically. "Ohhh, I see how it is. Trying to embarrass me, huh?" Then, her eyes glinted mischievously. "¡­So, should I tell Luna that the reason we aren''t leaving the hospital is because you''re here flirting with this pretty nurse?" The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Leo felt his soul leave his body. His ears flattened. His tail bristled in panic. "Y-You wouldn''t dare!" Lily smirked. Rachel, watching the exchange, let out a soft chuckle. "Oh my~. This is way more fun than I expected." Leo snapped his head toward Rachel and growled. "Well, I''m so glad you''re enjoying yourself, you crazy¡ª" He paused. His instincts screamed at him to shut up. Because he had just noticed the dark glint in Rachel''s eyes¡­ and the gleam of the scalpel between her fingers. "¡ªgood nurse." He forced a tense, polite smile. Lily snorted. Rachel simply smiled back, the scalpel disappearing somewhere out of Leo''s sight. Leo''s tail flicked stiffly as his survival instincts kicked into high gear. "We should go. Thank you for looking after me, Miss Rachel. Goodbye!" Leo spun on his heel so fast it was almost unnatural, grabbing Lily''s wrist as he practically dragged her toward the door. "Ahh. Right! Yes, Luna will be waiting at the front desk, I think." Lily stumbled slightly as she was yanked along, still basking in Rachel''s earlier praise¡ªuntil something about the nurse''s demeanor nagged at her. Her brows furrowed slightly. ''Wait a second¡­ something''s¡­ off about her¡­'' But before she could put her finger on it, Leo tightened his grip, practically yanking her out of the room. Lily let out an indignant squawk. "H-Hey! No need to run, I''m coming, I''m coming¡ªwait, are you scared?" Leo''s ears twitched. "No! Shut up! Walk faster!" Silence returned as Rachel stood alone, trying her best not to laugh. "¡­That Kitty Boy was cute." Then, her smile froze. "Wait a second." Her eye twitched. "His sister''s friend paid for the room, right?" Realization dawned. "Wasn''t that her?! Crap!" Her hand clenched into a fist. "I missed my chance to make money! Damn it!" Then¡ª "¡­Oh, shit. I forgot to tell the doctor he was awake." Rachel facepalmed. Her usually sharp mind felt slow, her lack of sleep finally catching up with her. After a long pause, she exhaled sharply, shoulders slumping. "¡­Damn it." She could only trudge out of the room and go tell the Doctor and take the inevitable scolding that was coming. Despite the strange encounter with Rachel, Leo''s mind was fixated on something else entirely¡ª He was walking again. The rhythmic tapping of his feet against the linoleum floor felt almost surreal. Comforting. Grounding. At the end of the hallway, he spotted a familiar white-haired beauty filling out paperwork. He blinked. ''Did she dye her hair? Come to think of it¡­ Lily said her hair color changed. Did that happen to Sis too?'' Before he could call out, Lily''s voice boomed through the hallway. "Luna! Look who I have!" Luna looked up. Her golden eyes widened as she saw Leo walking toward her. Even from a distance, he could see the tears welling in her eyes. She covered her mouth, her shoulders trembling as silent tears spilled down her cheeks. Leo flinched as a pang of fear shot through him. ''Is she crying because she''s happy... or because she thinks I''m a freak now?'' He didn''t have to wonder for long. Because in the next instant¡ª Luna tackled him. Leo staggered as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, her head burrowing into his chest. "I-I am so glad!" Her voice shook with emotion, muffled against his hospital gown. Leo''s own heart clenched. The flood of warmth in his chest drowned out any lingering doubt. But then¡ª A different kind of panic set in. Because his bones were creaking. "S-Sis¡­ N-Need¡­ to¡­ BREATHE!" He wheezed as Luna''s iron grip tightened. ''I thought her strength in-game was outrageous, but this is ridiculous! Is this how I''m going to die?! My sister''s bear hug?!'' Lily, unhelpful as ever, snickered. Luna, realizing what she was doing, immediately loosened her hold. She pulled back, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her jacket. "Sorry! I just¡ª" She sniffled, taking a deep breath. Then, with a wobbly smile¡ª "Welcome back, Leo." For a moment, Leo just stared. Then, slowly, he smiled. "I''m back, Sis." A Venomous Mind ''So you have decided to throw your lot in with the Lion Cub? How amusing~'' The voice slithered into Horo''s mind the moment he returned to reality. His gaze, however, was much steadier this time as he rose from his bed. ''Oh~? Have you already accepted my presence?'' ''Do I really have a choice in the matter? You live rent-free in my mind.'' Arachne let out a soft chuckle. ''Oh, Little Snake¡­ I just want to witness the first step to your grand ambition. , I could have wrested control of your feeble body long ago if I wanted~!'' "Well, that''s reassuring" Adam muttered, slipping on his coat. ''If you''re sticking around, you better make yourself useful. I don''t need distractions.'' ''Very well, little Snake. I swear on my name as Arachne that you shall have my aid¡­ for as long as I deem it necessary~'' Something in her words sent a chill down his spine. But he refused to show it. Instead, he grabbed his Go bag¡ªthe one he had packed years ago, always prepared for this day. He stepped outside, the crisp morning air greeting him. The city was still half-asleep, the streets painted in the soft glow of the rising sun. A perfect time to set the world ablaze. Adam pulled out his phone and made a call. A gruff voice answered, groggy and annoyed. "What do you want¡­" Adam''s reply was blunt. "That information I gave you a while back. Post it." There was a brief silence. "¡­Are you sure? Do you have something definitive to take them down?" A slow smirk curled Adam''s lips as he walked, the warmth of the sun barely reaching past the cold resolve in his chest. "They''ll be too busy putting out fires to notice what''s happening in the background." The man on the other end let out a low chuckle, suddenly wide awake. "Heh. You really are a crazy bastard. You sure about this?" Adam''s fingers tightened around the phone. "Post it. Make sure it spreads. And disappear afterward. You know what they''ll do if they find you." Another pause. Then, the voice softened. "¡­Your mother would be proud of you, kid." Adam''s steps slowed. Something flickered in his gaze, an old wound pressing against the edges of his mind. His jaw tensed, but his voice remained steady. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "You take care too, Old Man. If something happens to you, I don''t want Mom coming after me in the afterlife." A chuckle. Then silence. Click. Beep. The line went dead. Arachne''s voice returned, laced with amusement. ''What did you do, Adam? I have a feeling the chaos you just unleashed will be¡­ utterly delightful~'' Adam''s smirk widened into something almost feral as he continued walking, his steps even and steady. ''Oh, nothing much.'' His voice carried a mocking lilt. ''I just had an old friend release every dirty secret my family has ever tried to bury. Every bribe, every cover-up, every crime they thought would never see the light of day.'' Arachne purred in satisfaction. ''How delicious. And what, pray tell, will that accomplish?'' Adam chuckled. ''Oh, you''ll see. The real fun hasn''t even started yet.'' Adam suddenly turned into an alleyway and disappeared down a side street, a confident sneer on his face as he navigated the narrow back streets with utter ease. "Damn it! After him! Don''t let him get away or the Young Lady will have our heads!" A dozen suited men ran towards the alley, chasing after Adam but it was hopeless, he had escaped like smoke in the air, practically disappearing into the crowd as the morning rush began. ''We could have killed them. Why did you escape instead¡­Choose your words carefully.'' Arachne was clearly not pleased with Adam playing cat and mouse with mere grunts. She wanted bloodshed. ''Despite what you may think. Those guys are just getting paid to do their job. Unless I absolutely have to, I won''t kill the innocent. The Samael family? They deserve to bleed and I will make sure it flows like a river!'' Arachne''s tone was amused, but there was a slight edge to it. "A vendetta with a moral code? How¡­ interesting~" Adam''s voice was steady, but his eyes burned with purpose. "I may be the son of a monster, but does that make me one myself?" Arachne laughed mockingly. "You are trying to slaughter your own kin. You already have the makings of a beautiful monster~!" Adam grunted in displeasure but made no counter argument. He pulled the hood of his jacket up and slowly walked. Waiting for something. The sound of his phone starting to ring again was just the sign he was waiting for. He picked it up and answered cheerfully. "Hello~! Who is this~?" "Hearing your voice this early in the morning really wants to make me puke" "Good morning to you as well Sister Elise" "Since when did a mutt like you earn the right to call me your Sister?!" "Your personality is just as charming as always" "And you are just as boorish" "So what do I owe the pleasure of listening to you insult me this morning?" "Why did you run away from my men?" "Why did you have them following me in the first place?" "It was for safety¡­" Adam scoffed before he growled "Whose safety? Yours?" "...." ''Is it because you are scared that I will talk and expose your dirty little secrets?" ".....What do you want?" "I would prefer to have this conversation face to face. Let''s say at the Francesca Cafe in about an hour~?" "Why would I meet you there?" "Cause my lips may become a bit loose if I don''t see my Darling Sisters face~!" "You are INSUFFERABLE!" "Thanks for the compliment. See you then~" "We are not D¡ª-" Adam ended the call before Elise could say anything else. "Ugh.Talking to her is as nauseating as ever" He grumbled a bit coldly while he felt Arachne was thoroughly amused. ''Aha~! I see! I see~!'' ''And what is that you see?'' ''I see the reason for that maniacal smile on his face on your face~'' Adam moved a hand to his face and was surprised that he was indeed smiling with an almost feral intensity. ''I guess I am excited after all'' ''I bet¡­.After all, rather than raising hell. You are here hunting Snakes~! Adam''s true plan was to hunt down a member of his family and Elise was his target. Fangs in the Blood The Francesca Caf¨¦ was an Italian coffee shop on an isolated road, far from the chaos Adam had unleashed. His family wasn''t crumbling¡ªno, they were too powerful for that¡ªbut they were scrambling. Their empire bled as dark secrets spilled into the light, forcing them into damage control, hunting for the traitors who had exposed them. And now, Elise was coming. Not because she knew he was behind it. If she had proof, she wouldn''t be meeting him in a caf¨¦¡ªshe''d be handling things the family way. But she suspected. She had to. Adam had dirt on her, after all. Not the kind whispered in the halls of power, but the kind that, if revealed, could pull her into waters even she couldn''t escape. That was why she was coming. Not for revenge. As far as she was concerned, Adam was merely a whelp she could silence with force if needed. She had no idea that his fangs were already reaching for her throat. ''How can you be so sure she''ll show up?'' Arachne''s voice slithered into his mind, smooth as silk, sharp as fangs. ''For all her bravado and bluster, she''s too proud to back down. Especially against a so-called "mutt" like me~'' ''So you''re using her own arrogance to pull her in? Haha~! You know them well~'' Adam smirked, taking another sip of coffee. ''When you live among predators long enough, you pick up a few of their tricks.'' Arachne''s presence tightened, her amusement curling around his thoughts like unseen threads. ''Oh? So you''re hunting predators now? A cute lil'' thing like you wants to be an apex predator?'' Adam frowned in disgust at the thought and took a sip of his black coffee. The hot liquid burned as it trickled down his throat. ''Ugh. How do you stomach this bitter swill? It''s gross'' ''It''s an acquired taste¡­wait! You can taste this?!'' ''Of Course. I am linked to each of your senses. I see what you see, smell what you smell and of course taste what you taste!'' Adam had an incredulous but somewhat fearful expression flicker across his face. ''Well aren''t you a terrifying lil Parasite¡­" He felt Arachne''s presence coil in his mind as it growled back in response. ''You cur! You dare to call me a Paras¡ª'' Ding Arachne was interrupted as the door to the caf¨¦ opened with a soft chime, and a sharply dressed woman entered¡ªblack hair framing her face, dark brown eyes scanning the room with an expression of undeniable self-importance. She carried herself like a queen entering her domain, and her expensive, tailored outfit made it clear she wasn''t one to settle for anything less than admiration. Elise had arrived. She paused at the entrance, her eyes locking on Adam''s, and for a moment, an unspoken challenge hung in the air. Then, with slow, deliberate steps, she approached. No words yet. Her presence alone made the air in the room feel stale and heavy. Adam''s expression melted into a sloppy, exaggerated grin. He waved toward her with a dramatic flourish. "Hey, Sister~! Over here~!" Elise''s face tightened, her lips curling into a barely contained sneer. Seeing him try to act so casually made her skin crawl. She would never be close with the shameful stain of her family. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Do not waste my breath, Adam," she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "I do not have time to deal with a disgusting mutt like you. Tell me what you want, and then go do your damn job¡ªtrack down the whistleblower leaking our secrets!" Her voice turned colder, sharper, a final sting in her words. "Or are you too busy being a degenerate little hooligan? Is even that too much for you to handle?" Adam''s expression didn''t flinch as he tilted his head and calmly replied with a smile "No I was just admiring my Sister''s aura~! You really have that condescending princess vibe down pat. How about you relax for a minute and have some coffee. This place blends a delicious brew~" Elise''s brow twitched with rage, blinking a couple of times before she growled. "What did you just say to me brat!" Adam''s smile remained fixed on Elise as he replied "Sit down SIster. Have a drink. This coffee is almost as bitter as you!~!" "Y-You Dare!?!" Elise raised her hand to slap Adam but froze when he spoke again. "Do you want your little secret to see the light of day? Sit.Down." Adam had a smirk but his voice had grown an edge, causing Elise to falter. She didn''t want the secret Adam had to see the light of day. With no other choice. She sat down at the table across from him. She had never felt so humiliated before and was already thinking about ways to silence Adam for good once she left the cafe. But for now she had to play along. "So tell me Adam, what is it that you want for your silence over my little secret? Whatever it is, I will do it!" "Whatever revenge plan you have brewing in your mind won''t work on me Sister~" Elise''s gaze wavered as Adam had seemingly read her mind. Her mouth started flapping open and close, unable to find the words to deny it. Adam swirled his drink calmly as he continued to speak in a relaxed manner. "You know Sister, you have always been the sloppiest one in the family. You are cruel and heartless, treating the lives of others as mere pawns to further your own ambitions." "A-And what''s wrong with that?! It''s the peasants honor to be of use to me and our family!" Elise could feel her heartbeat quickening, something was horribly wrong but she couldn''t figure out what it was. "....You also don''t think about your actions, the consequences or do any of your homework. There are some things you shouldn''t do even as a Samael.." Elise breath hitched when Adam looked up from his coffee to meet her gaze once again. She saw none of the usual foolishness in his eyes. His gaze was cold. Calculated. "That Secretary that you ''dealt'' with. You didn''t do any digging into her background right?" "I-I don''t know what you are talking about. D-Do you mean the peasant that Jefferey was messing around with? You should be going after him!" Elise was starting to panic. What could she have missed? What did Adam know that she didn''t? "Jefferey will have his own demons to face. He raped her but you killed her. You framed him so you would have a better chance at becoming the Family Head" "S-So what?! Are you here to condemn me on Jeffreys'' behalf?! It was just one measly secretary! There are dozens more like her!" Adam sighed, this was the problem with her¡ª no the Samaels as a whole. "You still don''t get it! To you, everyone else is merely a disposable pawn but each person has a family of their own." Adam''s tone became even colder as rage of his own started to seep into his voice. Even that secretary you are so dismissive of. I am here not because of Jeffery but because of her!" Adam leaned back in his seat, looking at her with cold amusement, as if he were studying an insect caught in a jar. "Do you even remember her name, Sister? The secretary you killed in cold blood? She had a family, Elise. A mother. A father. A boyfriend. A child. Her boyfriend was desperate to find her, her mother kept calling the office, and her father... well, he''s been searching for months now. "And? Just give them money and have them go away! Why do you want to scare me like this?" Elise had cold sweat dripping down her face, anxiety bubbling up. What was Adam talking about?! "Oh my sweet Elise. Its not about money. You can''t put a price on a life like that. Besides, her father would never agree to such an abhorrent thing." He chuckled ominously, his shoulders shaking a bit as the soft chime of the door rang out, several suited men walked in, their aura was murderous as they glared at Elise. "And who am I to argue with the right for vengeance with a trusted subordinate of Lucius~?" "L-Lucius?! You don''t mean¡­" "I mean exactly that Sister. You murdered the only daughter of a man who works for Lucius Gattioni. YOU killed the daughter of a former Mafioso!" Color drained from Elises face as she rose rapidly from her chair, slamming her hands onto the table, desperation in her eyes as she glanced back at the burly men slowly closing the distance. "Adam! Please! PLEASE HELP ME. You will do it for your Big Sister right? Help me. We are family. Family helps each other right?!" All the bluster was gone as Elise began to babble, begging for Adam to help her on the grounds that she had denied almost her entire life: Family. Adams smirk widened into a wide grin as he glared back at Elise. "Now why would I do that? I was the one who called them to come and get you~" The revelation sent a shiver down Elise''s spine. He had done what? The smile on his face was bone chillingly cold and the gleam in Adam''s eyes was cold. Dark. Murderous. "Now what they do to you now has nothing to do with me. But Personally, I hope they make you Suffer~!" Elise froze on the spot. She had grown up being called a Monster by those that she had stepped on but looking at Adam now, she could only think those people had been mistaken. He was the true monster. Since when had his act begun. She didn''t and would never know. Adam sipped his coffee leisurely as Elise was dragged away. Her screams and cries were a beautiful melody to his ears. A Task Unlike Any Other Rachel couldn''t look any more annoyed as she slouched in the Director''s office chair, absentmindedly swinging her feet. "Ugh! Why do you have me waiting here in your office if you''re going to be late? Stupid old goat¡­" Her grumbling faded when she heard a stern, cold voice from the doorway. "Is that how you talk about me behind my back? How¡­bold." Rachel instantly shot to her feet, her eyes widening. She quickly bowed her head in the direction of the voice. "Grandfather! I¡ªI didn''t mean it! It was just a slip of the tongue! I mean no disrespect!" The man in the doorway, dressed in a doctor''s robe, arched an eyebrow at her. "Brat¡­ Maybe try looking guilty when you ask for forgiveness." "Hehe. Got caught~!" Rachel chirped, lifting her head to reveal a wide smirk. She stuck out her tongue playfully and tapped her forehead with her knuckles. The old man let out a sigh, his stern expression faltering. "What am I going to do with you¡­?" Rachel''s grin widened. "How about giving me a paid vacation and a raise~?" The old man raised a brow. "You''ve been here for what, two weeks?" "Two weeks and three days, to be exact!" "And yet your supervisors have lodged more than two dozen complaints about you. You''ve certainly made a strong impression." "Those old fogeys were so annoying. Why should I listen to them? It''s not like I''m here to be a doctor or anything." "Then you have no business being at this hospital then!" "What I want is to be part of our Family''s ''Other'' Business!" The old man scowled as his voice grew even more stern. "Absolutely not. You will not be joining in that business. Especially since you have no regard for the sanctity of life. How can you take a life without knowing the weight of a life!" The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Rachel rolled her eyes, clearly uninterested in his sermon. "But Killing people would be sooo easy. And make me a lot of money too!" "Life isn''t all about money, child!" "Well it makes the world go round! I won''t starve if I have more of it!" Rachel snapped as she yelled at her grandfather but she regretted it already. "Child..no..Rachel. You don''t have to struggle like you did before. You won''t be thrown back to the streets. There is no need for you to prove yourself through working in the Other Business." The old man''s eyes were forlorn as he gazed at his granddaughter. "You are my granddaughter and nothing can change that. Even if your talent disappeared, you would still have a home to return to." Rachel averted her gaze, somewhat embarrassed. She couldn''t truly fault her grandfather. He was the one to take her in when she was just a lowly street urchin trying to survive. She had shown an extreme talent in martial arts from a young age and was the old man''s pride and joy. Yet whenever she attempted to join the assassin guild, she was denied. Instead she had been forced to take this stupid nurse detail. The hours were long and the pay was abysmal compared to the work. She didn''t understand why anyone would want to do this? She had taken her grandfather''s summons as a means of escape from the monotony "So Grandfather. What did you call me for? You want me to tail someone or something? Rachel felt her curiosity rising as her Grandfather sat behind the desk. "Not quite..I actually have three tasks for you to complete. All of them will take some time to complete so I have already passed your resignation letter to your superiors here." Rachel''s eyes widened in surprise. What kind of task could require such a long time that made even her Grandfather seem on edge. "Your first task is to ensure the safety of that boy that was discharged today. He is under the protection of the Gattioni Family but the Samaels have grown restless and will be willing to do almost anything to get that boy in their grasp¡­" "Him? What''s so special about the boy? You let him keep his accessories. Is he the son of a politician or something?" Rachels guesses were reasonable but the truth was insane. "Accessories? That young man had no such thing¡­ "Hah! Wait¡­ are you saying he doesn''t have any accessories? That he actually has real cat ears and a tail?! Her eyes widened into saucers as her grandfather spoke. "It has been confirmed to be so, yes¡­" "Is he some sort of government experiment? How could this sort of thing happen?" "The government had no part in this. In fact they are the ones funding the operation I am sending you on." Rachels gaze flickered a bit as she could feel the hair on the back of her arms rising. If the government was stepping in already, whatever it was couldn''t be good. "Leone Haronyu is not the only one who has changed like this. However his case is the most prominent shift. He has gone from terminally ill to¡­what you saw". "Literal Cat Boy. I am very much aware now!" Rachel struggled not to laugh as she recalled the young man''s behaviour. It was all making sense to her. "So what''s the 2nd task? Protecting one Kitty Boy cant be that hard." It was the Director''s turn to chuckle as he flicked something towards Rachel. Without a change of expression, she casually caught it with a single hand. Glancing at the object, she saw it was a small bundle of photographs. With an eyebrow perked, she directed her gaze back to her Grandfather. "What''s this? A potential model catalogue? She looks a little young for you though Gramps." A sigh escaped the man''s lips before he growled. "You little shit! Those are photos taken of the individuals close to the Protection target! The first is Luna Haronyu. Leones only living relative." "She''s cute~" "She is currently working as a Bodyguard for the only daughter of the Gattioni Family: Liliana Franscesca Gattioni. Luna has garnered the name [Rabbit of Carnage] among certain circles for her brutal and savage combat ability." Rachel''s gaze flickered with disbelief, such a small and cute girl was the rumored Rabbit? That seemed a tad ridiculous. Barely restraining herself from voicing her doubts, she flipped to the next photo. It was a candid photo of beautiful blonde young lady wearing a pretty dress about to enter a limousine. ''That girl must be loaded. I wonder how much that dress cost? Probably more than what I make in a month as a nurse¡­wait she kinda looks familiar¡­'' Her grandfather''s voice interrupted her thoughts. "It''s my understanding that you met the Young Miss of the Gattioni Family earlier today." Rachels eyes shook in disbelief That pretty green haired girl was the same woman as the one in the picture? "What happened to her hair? What I saw was a vibrant green! It didn''t even look dyed¡­Wait are you saying she had a change too?" "That is exactly what I am saying¡­ Yet this change is nothing compared to Leones. Look at the next picture." With a slight tremor, she flipped to the last photo in the bundle but what she saw caused her to drop the photos altogether. "What¡­.What?! No. It can''t be. That boy¡­.That boy was him?!" "The one and the same." "B-but how?" How could she possibly forget him? This was the boy she had taken care of for the last week. She had laughed at his jokes even as his body rotted away from an illness that nobody understood. She couldn''t bear it when his condition suddenly nosedived. She had assumed he was dead but now it appeared that she was wrong. Mission: Protect and Exploit the Impossible All of the mirth and laziness that radiated from Rachel''s body disappeared, replaced by a bone chilling coldness that permeated the room. Her brown eyes growing darker as she glared at her grandfather. "Tell me who the sick bastard behind this is¡ªI''ll rip him apart myself!" She was furious, losing control of her own emotions. Her bloodlust poured out of her like an encroaching shadow swallowing the light, pressing against unseen throats like a phantom''s blade The Director perked an eyebrow of his own but remained unfazed. "Control yourself girl. I am not done speaking yet." "Control? You want me to control myself when some psycho is turning people into their own twisted experiments?! Are you losing it, Gramps?!" Rachel couldn''t stop herself from reacting rudely as her blood boiled. Even she didn''t understand why she was acting like this. The Director furrowed his brow tapping his finger on the desk once. "Silence yourself Child." His words were simple, yet they carried a weight that froze the air itself. In an instant, the room fell into an unnatural silence¡ªher rage, her very breath, smothered beneath his command. Rachel''s lungs screamed for air as she felt an invisible pressure crushing her, tears forming in her eyes as she stood her ground, glaring at her grandfather. With a sigh, the Director tapped his finger again and the pressure disappeared like it had never been there to begin with. Rachel''s knees shook as she took a step towards the Director. "Was that really necessary?!" "You were losing control and you didn''t let me finish nor answer your question.." She narrowed her eyes, aggrieved about how her Grandfather was treating her. He had not once been this heavy handed with her before. She rubbed her throat as she steadied her breath, her glare practically screaming ''Well. What are you waiting for old man? Tell me! Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "The answer to your question is we don''t know¡­" "Hah?!" "We don''t know who is responsible for these changes, nor do we know how they do it¡­" "Are you kidding me, Gramps?! You''re telling me that the head of one of the worlds largest underground intelligence organizations doesn''t know something?! That sounds like a load of bullshit!" Rachel scoffed at the answer that answered nothing. "What we do know is how these ''mutations'' have come to be. It appears that certain individuals playing a new VR game are the ones affected. Both Leone and Liliana have been reported to have played this game¡­" Rachel stiffened. A flash of memory¡ªLeone, practically fused to that damn headset as his body was bleeding out. "Are you telling me that a Video game is the reason for the mutations? Then why not go after the makers of the game?" "Do you think we hadn''t thought of that Child? We have looked into the Company. Care to hazard what we found?" Rachel''s brows furrowed as she thought about what could have happened. The stiffness in her Grandfather''s shoulders betrayed that even he was bothered by the results. "Could it be that you found nothing suspicious?" "No¡­It was far worse than that. We found nothing..at all. The company doesn''t have an office, no paperwork to help track them down. They have hidden themselves so well that even I can''t track them down." The Director averted his gaze while Rachel was stunned. Could such a company even exist? How were they getting away with it? "This is the Second task I have for you. I wish for you to delve into this game after getting close with Leone and his associates and see if you can track down the Higher ups or even the developers behind this game." "So let me get this straight Gramps.You want me to protect him and lead him straight into potentially dangerous territory??" The DIrector flashed her a smirk as he leaned forward, placing both of his elbows on the desk, his chin resting on his hands as he asked. "Is that going to be a problem?" Rachel broke into a wide grin and replied energetically "Not at all~! It only makes this more interesting~!" ''How could I pass up on such an entertaining and exciting mission~'' The Director slightly shook his head, where had he gone wrong in raising her that she turned out this crazy¡­ "Your third and final task is this: If you come across the method of how to control and implement these mutations, Do whatever you must to take it for yourself. If we can implement it, we can strengthen our family further¡­" Rachel frowned upon hearing the final task, a look of concern crossing her face as her Grandfather''s ambitions could prove dangerous not just for her but for everyone involved. She was about to speak about her concerns when the Director spoke once more. "If you do a good job with this task, I will entertain your desire to work for the ''Other'' side of our business." Rachel froze, her ears perking up at the incentive that was being offered. "Plus the Government has already put into place a salary for you plus a premium for the danger you will place yourself in¡­" Rachel disappeared from the spot, running around the desk to give the Director a kiss on the cheek and give him a big hug. "You''re the best Grandpa~! I love you~!" The sudden display of affection irritated the Director. He didn''t remember raising her to be such a money grubbing brat. "Enough! Get out of my office you Brat. I have sent a console to your apartment. I will make a call to some of my close contacts to see if they can provide you any support." "Okay~!" Rachel raised her hand and easily agreed, practically skipping towards the door, excited at the idea of being paid to play a video game while being both a spy and a bodyguard. Whatever happened in the future was definitely going to be interesting. Rachel had her hand on the doorknob when the Director called out to her once again. "Hey Ch¨CNo. Rachel. Please be careful¡­" It was awkward but her Grandfather was doing his best to convey his affection while hoping that she stayed safe. "No need to worry Gramps~! I have too much to die so soon~" The door clicked shut behind her as she left the office, leaving the old man to sit there in silence. After a few moments he couldn''t help but quietly chuckle. "Even without you here, your daughter has turned out just like you¡­" He was speaking to a photo on his desk of a woman wearing a bright smile, carefree and willful. There was no response nor did he ever expect one anymore. After all, he had lost her long ago. Now he was sending her only legacy into a fire of her own. He could only pray history didn''t repeat itself. Fashion Crimes and The Price of Trust With the heartfelt moment over, Leo couldn''t help but feel that everyone was staring at him. His cat-like features made him self-conscious, and he tried to avoid meeting anyone''s eyes. Thankfully, no one had approached him yet. Lily stood beside him in the lobby, her usual bubbly energy filling the air. She flashed him a grin, clearly not phased by his awkwardness. Luna had gone off to find him some clothes, and Leo couldn''t shake the feeling that trusting her with his wardrobe again might end in disaster. It didn''t take long for Luna to return, a mischievous grin plastered across her face. She was holding a large hoodie in her hands, clearly pleased with herself. "Here you go, Leo," she said, practically skipping toward him. "I figured this one would be much better than last time." Leo eyed the oversized hot pink hoodie with a mixture of dread and reluctance. "Better than last time? How is this better..?" Luna''s grin widened as she handed him the hoodie. . "Trust me, this time it''s perfect. It hides everything, so you won''t have to worry about your... extra bits." Leo grimaced. "Phrasing Sis! I guess this is better than the last outfit you picked" He took the hoodie with a sigh, but there was still something off about the bright pink fabric. Lily leaned in, giving him a once-over with exaggerated scrutiny. "Oh wow, Leo," she teased, her eyes twinkling, "I never took you for a hot pink kind of guy. But I have to say, it does suit you. It''s like, so... you." Leo groaned, crossing his arms as his cheeks flushed. "You''re loving this, aren''t you?" "Maybe just a little," Lily replied with a wink, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "But hey, at least you get to hide your new ''accessories.''" She ruffled his hair with a teasing grin. "Though, I gotta admit, the cat ears are pretty cute on you." Leo sighed but couldn''t help the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, yeah, keep laughing. I''ll get you back for this." Just as he thought it was over, Luna''s voice interrupted with an added dose of smugness. "And for you, Lily," she said, practically tossing a bag in Lily''s direction. "I got something to cover that green hair of yours." Lily looked inside the bag, her eyes widening with horror. "Luna, what is this...?" ''Oh my god¡­it''s hideous!'' She pulled out a garish, over-the-top headband that was studded with neon-colored beads, sequins, and way too many feathers to be considered fashionable. "Are you serious? What is this monstrosity?" Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Luna crossed her arms, her smug grin widening. "I saw this and thought you might enjoy this little accessory. It matches your personality to a tee¡ªbright, bold, and... a little obnoxious." Leo scoffed and remarked "That''s only a little obnoxious?!" Lily glared at her with mock indignation, her brow twitching when she heard her friend''s ''explanation'' "You''re cruel, Luna. This is just evil. How could you do this to me?" Leo couldn''t help but snicker, grateful that the attention had shifted from him for once. Lily sighed dramatically, holding the headband up to her hair. "Fine, I''ll wear it. But you''re not getting away with this. I''ll make you regret this so much, Luna." Luna chuckled smugly, clearly satisfied with herself. "You''re welcome, though be careful Young Miss. You and I can throw hands whenever you wish. I won''t show you any mercy then." "On second thought, this is pretty good!" "Coward¡­" Leo was surprised that someone could be even more spineless than him when it came to Luna. Even now, Luna stood a step back as if admiring her handiwork. "I''ll leave you two to your new stylish looks. Enjoy the attention while I go get the car. " Leo held the oversized hoodie, trying to suppress his laughter as Luna left to get the car. "Karma''s a bitch" ''There is justice in the world after all~'' Lily shot him a frustrated glare as she reluctantly put on the headband, looking almost as ridiculous as she had made Leo feel earlier. "Alright, Leo," she tried to laugh "We''ll make a great pair, don''t you think?" "Excuse me? Do I know you?" The attempt was immediately shot down. Leo put on the hoodie as Lily retreated to a corner, probably to cry a little bit. The oversized hoodie reached his knees but the arms were a bit too long for him. However when he noticed the graphic design that was on the front, he was horrified. There was a cat logo emblazoned on the front with the words ''I think I am purrrdy cute'' "Hey Lily¡­.I think we should ban Luna from buying anything fashion related¡­" "...Agreed" In the hospital lobby, two people made an ironclad alliance to prevent Luna from making any fashion decisions for them ever again. Luna had arrived at the parking lot when her phone began to ring. She furrowed her brow when she saw the caller ID but still answered it. "Uncle Marco What''s up? Now''s really not a good time¡­" "Sorry Luna but we have a situation of sorts over at the cafe¡­" "And what does that have to do with me? You are a big strong guy. Don''t bother me about this sort of nonsense." "Well¡­ the guy claims to be your friend." "Huh?" "He told me to tell you Horo has created the necessary chaos" Luna could feel a migraine coming on. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she took a deep breath. This snake-like bastard would probably raise her blood pressure. "So what did that idiot do?" "He claims to have sent out some techy mumbo jumbo that will damage the Samael family¡­" Luna was skeptical, was this Horo''s elaborate plan to get closer. Reputation could be manipulated after all. "He also lured one of the murderers of Anna. He had her come to the cafe¡­ it was a Samael.." Luna''s eyes widened in shock. Anna was Uncle Tony''s only daughter. She had run away from home and had ended up having a kid with a normal citizen and had got a job as a secretary. Luna felt her heart tighten when she had met Anna for the first time, she had just begun reconnecting with her family only to be raped and murdered a week later. That had destroyed Tony, he had lost his only daughter and she had left behind an infant of her own¡­ Luna clenched her fist tightly. Horo had delivered one of the monsters who caused such heartache? Was he truly betraying his family to side with them? She couldn''t help but start to believe in him. He was definitely unlike any other Samael. "Alright. We will be over soon to pick him up." "Please hurry up¡­He is an annoying lil shit¡­" Luna burst out laughing. "Yeah he has that effect on people. Don''t kill him, I''ll drive fast. Thanks for the heads up Uncle Marco" Luna ended the call and put her phone away. It seemed that a detour was in order. Smoke and Mirrors Lily wrinkled her nose at the sharp scent of disinfectant as she waited in the hospital lobby. She pulled out her phone, eager to check the news¡ªanything to avoid the incredibly awkward experience of looking at or talking to Leo That hoodie was just too much. Even now she felt the urge to snicker when she looked at the grumbling young man wearing a cat themed hot pink sweater. As she ignored the incessant droning of hospital staff coming and going, her eyes skimmed the articles, hoping to find some information even if it was only rumors about the changes that Soul Ascension was causing. However the trending articles had nothing to do with the game, they were all mentioning some sort of scandal. She didn''t know what all the fuss was about until one particular headline caught her eye. Samael Family Exposed¡ªA Web of Lies and Deception Unraveled. She blinked. Wait, what? Lily leaned forward on her horribly uncomfortable chair, narrowing her eyes at the screen. The headline was followed by a series of juicy claims¡ªbribery, racketeering, animal cruelty, sexual harassment. The Samael family, always poised in the public eye, was being dragged through the mud like a reality TV show gone wrong. Yet despite all that, Lily knew that this was merely a series of small fires that the Samael family could snuff out with enough time and a little bit of money. The goal of this wasn''t to ruin them¡­It was to distract them! ''Horo you crazy fool! Even you won''t be spared if they find out it was you!'' If he was caught, his body would be dredged from the river before the week was over. He was risking his life to save Leo from becoming an unwilling Lab Rat. ''You better keep your word and be safe! None of us will forgive you if you go and die on us like this. You are an asshole, not some sort of hero!'' Leo noticed her distress, furrowing his brow as he leaned in closer. "Lily..what''s wrong?" "It''s Horo¡­ He might be in serious danger¡­" "Why? What did he do? He may be a bit of a jerk but he isn''t the type to take unnecessary risks right?" The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. She didn''t say a word, instead handing over her phone so that Leo could read the article. ''It can''t be that bad¡­ right?'' He gingerly took the phone, afraid to see what horrible thing could make the ever cheerful Lily balk and worry. With each line he read, his heart sank further. Whoever leaked all of these dealings of the Samael family would have a target on their back. To a family like them, a whistleblower was another name for a walking corpse. "Lily¡­are you saying that this is Horo''s doing? Why would he do that?!" "To protect you. This is a smoke screen so that you can escape their eyes. At least for now" Lily''s gaze was somber and somewhat distant. Horo had proven that deep down he had a heart¡ªrisking it all for people he''d known for barely a week. Leo clenched his fist as he launched himself to his feet. "Then what are we waiting for?! We gotta go find him!" Lily too stood up, nodding seriously. "I agree. He is our friend and we don''t leave friends behind. Let''s go! Luna should have the car ready." The two of them left the hospital with determined steps where they saw Luna leaning against the car, a cigarette dangling from between her lips. "Took you two long enough to get out. We need to make a detour before we go to Lily''s house" "Well we won''t be going back till we make sure that Horo is safe and sound! He is out there and in danger!" Lily crossed her arms, trying to look as firm as possible but instead silently irking Luna as the crossed arms only further accentuated Lily''s plentiful ''assets''. Leo''s eyes lingered on the cigarette between his sisters lips. Since when did she smoke? He shook his head, he couldn''t be distracted by such thoughts now. He would talk to her about that later. "Horo is out there risking his life to protect mine. I won''t go anywhere until we can make sure he''s safe!" Luna inhaled deeply, tilting her head back before letting out a puff of smoke with a sigh. "That is exactly why we need to make the detour. That idiot is at your father''s cafe Lily. Uncle Marco and his men are with him?" "Hah?!" Why is he there?" Lily tilted her head in confusion, why would he be hiding at a place like that? If any of her dad''s men found out he was a son of Samael, there would be hell to pay!" Lily flicked her cigarette away as she shook her head, in disbelief herself "Well from what Uncle told me, that crazy fucker lured Elise Samael to the cafe as a ''sign of good faith''...He gave us Anna''s killer" Leo had no idea what was going on but he understood the gist of it based off the heavy atmosphere that surrounded the two women. "Lily? Who''s Anna?" Leo couldn''t help but ask somewhat hesitantly. His gaze wavered when he saw melancholy flash through the tigers eyes. "She was like an older sister to me at times. She was the daughter of one of my dad''s lieutenants. Leo felt like he had made a mistake, it looked like Lily was about to cry. "She was opinionated and headstrong. I wanted to be just like her. She¡­She had just come back into our lives only to end up raped and murdered while working for the Samaels." Yet her words slowly became tinged with rage and hatred. Lily opened the backseat and climbed in without another word. Luna sighed again before walking over to the drivers side door. "Get in Leo. I have to warn you though. While Lily may be sweet and bubbly, never cross her bottom line. While her family may have gotten out of the business. She is still the daughter of a Mafia boss." "What are you trying to get at Sis?!" "What I am trying to say is Elise better hope she dies before Lily get''s her hands on her. She will suffer less that way." Leo felt a chill run down his spine. It felt like everyone around him was harboring a monstrous side to them. The only thing that terrified him more than that was the feeling of belonging. How much longer until he was a monster in his own right? For that he had no answer. Beneath the Surface As they drove to the Gattioni family''s cafe, there was no sound as nobody talked.The tension in the car was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Leo fidgeted in his seat while Lily was gritting her teeth. Luna was silent as she drove but he could tell that she was agitated by how she gripped the steering wheel. "Lily¡­ I know you are angry but let''s follow whatever Horo has planned. He put his life on the line for me and made a plan that lured what I can only assume is a disgusting piece of garbage disguised as a human" "Hah. Don''t insult garbage¡­" Lily''s face scrunched up even more, her knuckles turning white. Leo''s heavy sigh filled the car as he turned to his sister, hoping she would help him calm Lily. Luna raised an eyebrow at him before glancing in the rearview mirror to check Lily''s expression. "Lily. I know how much you want vengeance but¡­ it is not ours to claim. You have to think of Uncle Tony. Anna was his daughter. You need to let him decide how he wants to proceed." Lily flinched before she bit her lip, gripping her legs. "....You''re right Luna¡­" "Besides, I am pretty sure that cunning bastard who gave us this ''present'' probably has a twisted plan that will be far worse than any physical pain~" Leo pondered that statement for a brief moment before he nodded his head. "I can see that happening. Whatever he has to say for himself will most definitely be interesting." "That''s right. Or he will piss off Lily''s guys and they might be beating his ass as we speak" Leo chuckled while Luna acted like she was offended "Without me?! How could they?! My feelings are so hurt I am gonna need a tub of ice cream!" "Hahahaha" Lily''s bright cheerful laughter echoed from the backseat, the siblings had succeeded in brightening her mood. Leo had a small smile on his face hearing it, a smile suited her far better. "Alright. We''re here. Hop out while I go find a parking space¡­huh?" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The car came crawling to a stop as Luna rolled down the window. Standing there was a man wearing a suit who looked really uncomfortable for some reason. "Danny? What''s the matter?" "Ms. Luna. How about I park the car for you. Can you please go in and deal with that lunatic? Pardon my french but that guy is fucking crazy!" Luna scowled in response. Did something happened to Horo? "That thing is testing blades on his skin. Is he even human?" "What do you mean by that Danny?" Lily interjected as she opened the door abruptly and stepped out of the car. "Y-Young Miss. I-I mean he has scales for skin¡­and his blood is purple. Are you friends with an alien?" "Don''t be silly. I don''t know any aliens. You guys must be getting pranked. Who is the practical joker?" Lily was dismissive of the story but her expression flickered with doubt when Leo too got out of the car. ''What if it wasn''t a joke¡­'' "Lily. Could this ''thing'' be Horo? He never really told us what his mutation was." "...You''re right" Luna got out of the car and tossed Danny the keys. "Go park it, we will go in." Her voice carried a voice of authority while her calm poise gave everyone in the surroundings a sense of calm. Leo tilted his head in surprise at her behaviour. The behavior his sister showed in the game world was that of a savage berserker. How was she acting so suave? His curious gaze was noticed by Luna who inwardly felt some indignation. She had an image to maintain, she would punish him later. The group of 3 stood outside the cafe doors with Luna in the lead. She took a deep breath to stabilize herself before she threw the door open, ready to fight whatever it was that had freaked out Danny. However, to her surprise, the only person inside was a young man sitting at a table alone with a pot of coffee on the table in front of him. With slicked back black hair, Luna saw that he had beautiful amber eyes. Luna forgot to breathe for a second as his calm attitude made him look like some sort of beautiful statue. She could feel her heartbeat skip for a second. ''Is this what they call love at first si¡ª'' "Oh hey guys! You finally showed up. I was getting bored waiting for you." The calm, almost serene expression of the man instantly shifted into a mischievous smirk. Luna would never forget the man who constantly had a smirk like that when he hung around them. "Horo! I am glad to see you safe" Luna trembled subtly in place, her head lowered in shame. ''Did I really just think that bastard was kinda hot¡­.?! After this I am going to go see a doctor'' She felt like her face would melt from the embarrassment but she could do nothing but shoot him a resentful glare. Horo felt cold sweat dripping down his back as Luna glared at him. ''I haven''t done anything¡­yet. Why does it look like she wants to kill me?'' Thankfully for him, Lily spoke up. "I thought your transformation was only your skin. Danny said your blood is purple? What was he talking about?" Horo flashed Lily a complicated smile "Well I was just testing the strength of the scales and doing some simple experiments about my blood¡­" Leo perked up an eyebrow. He noticed that Horo was hesitant to explain "And what were the results?" "The answer is complicated¡­My blood has become just as if not more corrosive than battery acid¡­" Luna shook her head upon hearing the somber explanation. "How did you test that? I don''t see any cuts on you" That remark caused Horo to flinch before he sighed. "Yeah it appears my mutation is more than just blood and skin¡­ I have one of my skills from the game" A chilling silence descended upon the group. "H-How do you know?" Lily was afraid to know how he found out. "Cause of this!" He placed his palm on the table before quickly grabbing a steak knife and stabbing it directly into the middle of his palm. Everyone else leapt to their feet. "Horo. WHAT THE FUCK?!" Leo was shocked and angry, how could he stab himself like that?! "Wait a second." Horo didn''t even flinch, his expression didn''t change as he slowly pulled the knife out. "Oh..my¡­god" Lily was horrified as the sturdy knife was coated in violet blood and it looked like it was dissolving in real time. His blood was indeed extremely corrosive! "No, it''s not my blood, look at my hand" Luna felt a wave of nausea threaten to overtake her as her gaze never left his palm. She was the only one to see that the moment he pulled the knife out, his wound began to bubble and mend itself. Luna stared into Horo''s eyes who was clearly conflicted about the changes to his body. Was the game stripping him of his humanity? All he knew now was that he had yet another mutation to deal with "I seem to have Regeneration" Monstrous Gifts The party was silent for a moment as they stared at Horo''s bubbling flesh as it stitched the hole in his hand back together. Lily covered her mouth, unable to find any words that could comfort him. Seeing that, Horo had a conflicted expression on his face. "Yeah..I know¡­ I am becoming some sort of gross monster." "N-No it''s not like that at all" Lily panicked a bit as she glanced at the knife that was dissolving in Horo''s hand. "I was just thinking that your ability is convenient¡­" "Convenient? Corrosive blood, Reptilian skin and wounds that close in real time is convenient? Are you kidding me? How the hell is any of this ''convenient''? " Horo scoffed in disbelief at that nonsense. However Luna nodded her head at Lily''s words. "She''s right though. In certain fields, your mutations would help you excel. I bet assassination organizations would love you. Your skin is like a natural armor, your blood can be used for torture and killing¡­" Leo was horrified at Luna''s remarks. The idea of working for an assassination organization was an appalling idea but he would be a fool to deny that what she said was indeed the truth. Horo did have the potential to become an incredible assassin, both in game and in reality. "To be honest. I am kinda jealous of your new talent. If I had Regeneration, I wouldn''t have to worry so much about being injured." Horo''s eyes widened at Luna''s confession that she was jealous of him. His mouth opened slightly as she shrugged her shoulders in a nonchalant manner. "Also I have a feeling that it''s not just you who has new ''Talents'', yours is just the flashiest one so far." "What do you mean by that Luna?" "Yeah SIs. Are you saying that you have something like that?" This was the first time Lily and Leo was hearing of this. Had she noticed something that they hadn''t? DId she have some sort of inkling on their changes? "Haha. Yeah I do. Just watch.." Luna laughed somewhat jovially before she stood up and approached another table. With a single hand, she gripped the table. "Luna I know you are strong bu¡ª-Oh my god¡­" Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Lily was about to dismiss Luna''s attempt to show off as just her not wanting to be left out but Luna casually lifted the table that was bigger than her entire body above her head. She knew Luna was naturally strong but this was far more than that: It was superhuman. Horo''s gaze flickered with both shock and awe seeing such a tiny girl lifting a heavy table like it was made of styrofoam. "See Snakey. You''re not the only one with Monstrous Gifts. Lily probably has something too. Leo too maybe" Their eyes drifted to Lily and Leo who were equally shocked at Luna''s unexpected display. "What could I possibly do? Are you telling me to try and use Magic here? That''s ridiculous!" Lily huffed with exasperation, that seemed impossible but then again, so did the displays that her best friend and Horo had just displayed. Leo felt a shiver down his spine as he glanced at his own hands. Was repairing his body with the extra accessories where it ended? ''No. There must be something else.'' He closed his eyes, trying to concentrate his senses, trying to notice anything else he might have missed. The din of Lily, Luna and Horo talking seemed to fade away as the world became incredibly still. His ears twitched as to both his horror and surprise, he felt his heartbeat slow to a crawl while he heard the powerful thumping of the four other hearts in the room. ''Wait¡­Four Heartbeats?!'' Leo''s head whipped to the side as he stared at an inconspicuous corner of the room. Lily was the first to notice Leo''s changes. "Leo¡­your eyes!" Horo and Luna glanced at Leo and noticed that his eyes had transformed into near vertical slits as he stared at somewhere. Luna was about to ask a question but before she could say anything. "It''s rude to eavesdrop. Show yourself!" A growl ripped from Leo''s throat, his hood slipping down to reveal that his ears were pressed against the side of his head. He looked like a predator ready to pounce. Yet there was nothing. No sound nor movement. "Are you okay Leo? Do we need to get a doctor to check you out" Lily placed a hand on his shoulder, intending to comfort him but she noticed all of his muscles were tensed. ''What could it be that has him on edge like this?'' "I won''t repeat myself again.. Show yourself! I can hear your heartbeat!" "Well that''s just cheating! I was planning to surprise you all~" The other 3 members of Leo''s group eyes all widened in surprise as from the shadows, a young woman with jet black hair sauntered out with her hands raised in surrender. She had a pout on her face as she shot a playful glare at Leo. Lily and Horo''s gaze fluttered with disbelief ''How long had she been there? How did she get here?'' "Aren''t you Miss Rachel? We just met at the Hospital, why are you here?!" Leo''s gaze was defiant as he bared his teeth. "What is a crazy bitch like you doing here?! I thought we had a deal!" "We did have a deal and we both fulfilled our end at that no~? This is different. I was given a different task. But before that, Kitty Boy, I really don''t like being called Crazy¡­ A little punishment is needed~". With a flick of her wrist, a shadow flew in Leo''s direction at a speed nearly undetectable to the human eye. However, to Leo''s surprise, the object seemed to slow to a crawl as it approached him. That shadow was in fact a tiny dagger. Leo tried to move his hand to intercept the dagger but it felt like his body was moving through a viscous pool of liquid. His hand wrapped around the handle of the dagger and then time seemed to resume. Rachel''s eyes widened in surprise. The little Kitty had caught her dagger like he was casually swatting away a fly. She had almost missed seeing him catch it. However before she could process it, a large table was hurtling in her direction ''Oh my. Did I make a mistake?'' Rachel lunged to the side to dodge the table, her nimble body barely dodging it before it slammed into the wall with a crunch. "That was dangerous. I could have died!" "Good. Now I am gonna tear your fucking arms off bitch!" Luna roared with rage as she launched herself at Rachel. How dare she try to kill her brother in front of her! "Wait! Luna! Don''t!" *Crunch* Rachel''s expression was conflicted as next to her head, there was a crater in the wall from Luna''s punch. If she hadn''t shifted at the last moment, her head would have burst like a balloon. "Why are you stopping me Leo!" Luna growled as she glanced back at her brother, Bloodlust wafting from her body. "She was aiming to scare me. The dagger would have missed me even if I didn''t move.." "T-That''s right. Why would I hurt who I am supposed to protect?!" Leo''s eyes furrowed at that revelation. "What are you talking about?" "The Government has taken an interest in your case and I am being paid to protect you¡­" Everyone''s heart sank, what was happening to them was shaping up to be much worse than they thought. Umbral Princess Rachel couldn''t help but find the gazes on her uncomfortable. Her pride had been shattered, she had always been praised as a martial arts prodigy and was always able to hold her own. Yet now she was crushed by a cute little girl with brute strength. Even her espionage skills had been seen through because the Cat boy had ''heard'' her heartbeat from across the room. ''These mad scientists must be so pleased with themselves. This is such bullshit!'' Despite her internal complaints, she flashed Leo a grateful smile before she glanced at Luna with a smile. "I mean no harm to you or your Lil Bro. I just wanted to scare him a little, You won''t blame me for that right~? Boys gotta respect girls older than him right~?" Luna frowned, the urge to punch this suspicious woman grew. Even though she was weaker, this pretty lady still radiated confidence and irreverence. Horo on the other hand was struggling not to laugh. "So let me get this straight¡­You..You were hired by the government to protect our Resident Kitty Boss but you wanted to scare him for calling you ''Crazy''?" His lips twitched and his shoulders shook. "You aren''t mad about him calling you a bitch though? HAHAHA" It finally became too much for Horo who burst out into laughter. This sneaky girl definitely had a few screws loose but her ability to snoop undetected was impressive. If what she said was true, she could be a strong ally. The girls all glanced at Horo, their gazes brimming with scorn. He felt their judgment crawl over his skin, instantly silencing his laughter. He shrunk a little bit, slowly moving until he stood behind Leo, using him as a makeshift shield. Yet due to the height difference, Horo''s head was sticking out. Leo groaned with annoyance at his male companion''s antics while Lily pouted, her eyes seeming to shout: ''How dare you use my human shield''. ''How did I end up as friends with these idiots?'' Fighting the urge to facepalm, he focused his attention on Rachel and growled. "You need to elaborate. Who are you really and what is your goal here?" "Oh? So you do have a backbone, Lil Kitty? That''s kinda hot~" Leo felt a headache coming on, his ears flicked with irritation. But before he could speak. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Stop fucking around!" Luna growled with barely constrained rage, her clenched fists cracking at some suspicious woman flirting with her brother, especially after trying to hurt him not even five minutes ago. Rachel''s eyes flashed with amusement as she tilted her head, her voice dropping a few octaves. "What~? You jealous? I would always welcome a cutie like you joining in on the fun~!" Luna froze, her face flushing deep red. She quickly stepped back, her stomach twisting with a mix of anger and embarrassment. ''This bitch is dangerous!'' Her eyes flicked to Leo, then back to Rachel, unsure how to respond to the teasing, which left her feeling both unsettled and strangely self-conscious. Leo himself was both embarrassed and in awe. He wasn''t used to the bold flirting of this suspicious woman nor did he ever expect that anyone could fluster and visibly embarrass his sister like this! Lily stepped forward, standing in front of Luna as if to protect her. "You stay away from her you pervert! Luna''s mine. You can''t have her!" Lily''s words caused Luna to balk as she instinctively shouted: "Lily! Phrasing!" Rachel was unperturbed by Lily''s interjection, instead running her eyes up and down her body "Well aren''t you a lil hottie" "E-EEK?!" Lily squeaked as she used her hands to cover her chest. Horo furrowed his brow. "Okay. That''s enough sexual harassment. Answer the Question!" Rachel shot a glance of disappointment at Horo. "What a party pooper. Fine" Luna and Lily gave an appreciative look towards Horo as Rachel began to elaborate. "So my name is actually Rachel Wu. That wasn''t a lie. But I am not actually a nurse.." "No shit. No Nurse would threaten patients with scalpels!" Leo interjected, clearly not impressed with her stalling. "Fine~! FIne~! The T L D R is my family is a semi secretive organization that does contract work for certain influential families and the government. My grandfather is the head of the clan and somewhat close with your fathers¡­Lily and Adam" Both Horo''s and Lily''s eyes widened in shock, the revelation of her origin was something they found almost unbelievable. "Mind on filling us in. What is she talking about?" Leo felt his tail bristling beneath his hoodie as the suspicious woman seemed to have a connection with both Lily''s and Horo''s families. "If..If what she''s saying is true, this is the Princess of the Umbral Moon¡­." Horo looked visibly nervous as he stared into Rachel''s eyes, who had a smile on her face as she nonchalantly replied, unflinching "A princess? I''m not some damsel waiting for distress~" Leo tilted his head in confusion. "What the hell is the Umbral Moon?" This time, it was Lily who responded. "It is a Clan that stays out of the spotlight. They have multiple businesses but the biggest three are Information, Medicine¡­and Assassination." "So she is an Assassin? All the more reason to kill her. She will try to kill Leo!" Luna raised her fists, eager to hit the irritating woman. "Unfortunately I am not one yet. My Grandpa doesn''t allow me to take on such missions yet" Rachel seemed annoyed when she brought that up but she still decided to wink at Luna who growled in response. Leo frowned as he stepped forward to put his hand on Luna''s shoulder to calm her down. He shot a suspicious gaze towards Rachel. "I am getting a little tired of your attempts at distraction. You have yet to fully answer my question. What. Do. You. Want!" "Tch. This is why Smart Boys are unpopular. FIne you win." Rachel clicked her tongue before she crossed her arms, a faint trace of boredom in her gaze. "The Government has given me two tasks. Protect the most blatant case of mutation. A one Mister Leone Haronyu. Both Luna and Leo flinched at that remark. They both knew that Leo''s survival was definitely related to this case. "My other task is find the makers behind the game you all play that has given you what I can only describe as super powers." "Huh?" Rachel''s eyes narrowed somewhat ominously "The Company behind this game¡­as far as we can figure out¡­Doesn''t exist." Luna blinked. "That''s impossible." Rachel tilted her head with a complicated smile. "You''d think so, right? But we''ve searched¡ªgovernment records, corporate filings, digital footprints. Nothing." She paused, then added, "It''s as if the game just... appeared." The words sent a chill down Leo''s spine. His mind raced, recalling the impossible abilities they had gained, Umbral Princess Luna narrowed her eyes. "Wait¡­ you said we. Who else is looking into this?" Rachel grinned. "Oh, did I forget to mention?" She stretched lazily, her tone deliberately carefree. "I''ll be sticking with you guys from now on. You wouldn''t turn down an elite infiltrator and intelligence expert, would you?" Silence. The group exchanged uneasy glances. Rachel clapped her hands together. "Great! Glad we''re all in agreement. Let''s get along, team~!" Leo groaned, rubbing his temples. This woman is going to be a problem. Shades of Grey "No way. Absolutely not! I refuse!" Luna immediately roared in defiance "There''s no way I am gonna be working with this...this pervert! It''s bad enough that we have to work with Horo! No offence. "Some taken" Horo was caught off guard and somewhat offended. Why was he catching strays when he didn''t even do anything wrong this time. Leo was inclined to agree with her but he could tell from the complicated look in Lily''s eyes that she had a different opinion. "I hate to say it, Luna but Miss Rachel can offer us clear benefits that we can''t ignore. The amount of intelligence her family gathers every day would make any standard agency blush!" Horo slightly nodded his head with a slight grimace. "Lily''s right. If she really wanted, she could probably find out the color of our underwear we are wearing¡­No. You be quiet." Before Rachel could retort, Horo shushed her sharply. Being told to hold her tongue made Rachel''s eyes flash with irritation. She huffed, crossing her arms. "Look, we''re at a crossroads here. We need all the info we can get if we''re gonna still be standing after the dust settles." Horo''s voice was firm yet weary, Rachel''s gaze hardened for a moment before softening into a wry smile. "So are you asking me to be loyal to you guys? No can do. The only things I am loyal to are myself and my paycheck!" Leo facepalmed again at the woman''s blatant admittance that she could be bribed. ''Am I really just going to be surrounded by psychos? Is this my curse?!'' Lily huffed as she put her fists on her waist. "Fine then. I will hire you on the grounds that you remain loyal to your mission." "It is a pleasure to work for you Boss~!" Rachel immediately saluted Lily with a big grin on her face which made the other girl feel like this had been her goal this entire time. "Fine. I''ll follow along with Lily for now but the second she steps out of line, I will crush her!" "Ooh~? Promise~?" Luna turned to Leo, her eyes pleading to him even as she radiated murderous rage. ''Can I kill her? I really wanna kill her!'' Leo''s gaze was firm as he mouthed the word ''No''. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Tch! Fine. I need to go out for a smoke¡­ I can literally feel my blood pressure spiking" She grumbled but relented, heading out the front door, slamming it shut behind her. "Take your time Luna, we have lots to discuss!" Lily fixated an angry glare at Horo who could only chuckle sheepishly in response. "What were you thinking releasing all that information?! Your family is going to hunt down whoever was involved. Even you wouldn''t be safe if they tracked it back to you." She lightly slapped his shoulder to illustrate her frustration. "L-Lily I had a plan in mind. Besides, the Samael family is too busy trying to put out the fires to focus on Leo right now. I think all things considered, my plan worked out pretty well." "But what now? It won''t take a genius for a family like that to find out it was an inside job. I appreciate you bringing your ''gift'' but it will be meaningless if you end up dead as a result!" Leo was silent, his head bowed as he felt guilt washing over him, he felt utterly powerless. Was Horo''s days truly numbered? However Rachel interjected unexpectedly. "Couldn''t you use this to your advantage?" Lily''s and Horo''s ears perked up at that. "...How?" "Huh? What do you mean by that? "Well it''s simple manipulation and misdirection. Use a scapegoat. Have someone take the fall." The unexpectedly simple answer caused Lily and Horo to trade surprised gazes. DIdn''t they already have the perfect scapegoat in Elise. Lily''s gaze snapped back to Rachel. "But what if she talks? I don''t think scum like that would go down without trying to drag a few people with them. ''. Rachel leaned in, her voice dropping to a honeyed whisper ."Oh that''s simple. Make it so they can''t talk. I can take care of that if you wish. Do you want them to have a numb tongue¡­or perhaps I should remove it~. All it is is a simple slip of the hand¡­ a sharp twist¡­ and poof, problem solved." Her grin widened as she twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers, as if discussing something as mundane as tea preferences. "Can''t we just call the cops? Have them protect Horo and keep him away from the Samael family." Hearing the naive question caused Rachel to chuckle more. "The world isn''t in black and white kitty. It''s in shades of grey. When you have as much power and influence that his family does, even a SWAT team could be bought or crushed.." Leo''s fingers trembled beneath the table. He clenched his fists, forcing the doubt out of his mind. He didn''t want to be this kind of person, but¡­ No. If he hesitated, Horo would die. If he backed down, they all would. His breath steadied, his eyes darkened. There was no other choice. "Alright Rachel¡­Do it. Cut out Elise''s tongue. But don''t throw it away¡­." "You have some weird fetishes but okay. I won''t judge Kitty "Shut it with the jokes. Can you stop monkeying around for 5 Goddamn minutes?!" '' Rachel didn''t say another word before she got up and walked away, looking for where the men had taken Elise. "Alright Leo. Care to fill me in on your master plan! Why not just kill her and be done with it." A dark glint flashed through Leo''s eyes, the emerald green flickering an ominous crimson red. "We release her without her tongue, let her roam the streets in a panic while you Horo go back to your family, give them her tongue and your ''proof''. Let the hunter be hunted down by her own family." Lily''s gaze was filled with concern. Leo had suddenly answered with a cruel and heartless suggestion. Horo on the other hand was in awe. He recognized that he wasn''t great at planning around himself as his preservation instinct was shot. Leo''s suggestion was dark and poetic. ''Leo...'' Leo shook his head as he felt a familiar noise inside of his head. He must be imagining it. ''Leo¡­'' ''Again? I must be going crazy! That voice is impossible!'' ''''''LEO! Can you hear me?!'' ''I can hear you¡­.Astra'' Somehow an in game NPC was in his head now. The Breaking Point "Astra?!" Leo''s heart skipped a beat when he heard Astra''s voice, his confusion surfacing in a rush. "Astra? Is this really you? What''s happening¡ªwhy can I hear you now?" Lily shot him a sharp, concerned look. "Leo?" Lily''s voice was tentative, edged with worry. She took a hesitant step toward him. The room fell still, a heavy silence pressing in as Rachel froze, uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she glanced over her shoulder. Horo, however, had his brow furrowed. He knew exactly what was happening. ''So it''s started for him too¡­'' He clenched his fists at his sides, resisting the urge to react to the whispers that had been gnawing at his sanity. Arachne''s voice had been a constant presence ever since he''d left the dungeon, her silky, mocking tone coiling around his thoughts like a venomous snake. ''It seems that the Light Star is speaking to the Lion Cub. Is the Dark Star Sleeping~? What a lazy boy. Even though I intervened to give him a chance!'' ''Arachne. Just shut up¡­'' ''So disrespectful¡­'' She let out a delighted giggle. ''You should be honored to have my voice gracing your ears, little snake.Yet you have the gall to ignore me?'' Horo''s jaw tightened, but he kept his expression neutral. The last thing he wanted was for anyone else to notice his struggle. Meanwhile, Leo''s breathing had quickened. He could still hear Astra''s voice, faint but clear, like a signal cutting through static. ''Leo¡­ you can hear me¡­? I don''t have much time¡ª'' His pulse pounded. ''Your mind is becoming unstable. You need to get back to us. You have been influenced by Mors right now¡­'' A wave of nausea engulfed him. Either his imagination was on overdrive or the voice of Astra was telling him the truth. Why else would he have asked Rachel to rip out the tongue of a woman he had never met! "Leo? I think we need to speak to Luna. We might need you to go back to the hospital. Y-you''re scaring me." Luna placed a hand on Leo''s arm, in an attempt to calm him, not understanding why he was suddenly so agitated. Leo took a deep breath trying to calm himself down by taking deep breaths. He turned slowly to Leo and spoke softly. "Don''t worry Lily..I''ll be fine¡ª-Urghk" No sooner had the words left his mouth he covered his mouth in an attempt to stop himself from vomiting. "LEO!" Everyone in the room was horrified as blood dark as ink leaked from between his fingers. It wasn''t just his mouth, bloody tears began to leak from his eyes. Lily was panicking while Rachel rushed to Leo''s side. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Rachel didn''t hesitate. Her hands were already on Leo, moving frantically as she searched for any sign of injury or illness. What''s happening to him? What did I miss? No matter what,I won''t let him die! I regret turning away from him last time. It won''t happen again!'' Despite her resolve, her limited medical expertise yielded her no results. She had no idea why his body was shutting down again. Horo''s face twisted in discomfort, his eyes narrowing as Arachne''s mocking voice slithered into his mind. He clenched his jaw, pushing the irritation aside. "Leo ... What did ''Astra'' tell you? We need to do whatever it says for now." "What the fu¡ªurgk" He vomited yet another mouthful of dark blood, horror and despair seeping into his gaze as he stared at the dark puddle forming in front of him. "She¡­.said I need¡­to go back." Lily, frantic, placed a hand on Leo''s trembling arm, her voice filled with panic. "What do you mean, ''go back''? What is she talking about?!" Horo''s eyes narrowed, his face hardening as he processed Leo''s words. He stepped closer, his gaze now fixed on Leo with a mix of concern and understanding. "The ''back'' she means¡­" Horo murmured, mostly to himself, though it was loud enough for Rachel and Lily to hear. "It''s the only thing that makes sense. Leo''s connection to the game¡ªAstra''s words..." Rachel, who had been quietly trying to process everything, looked up at Horo with confusion at first, but realization began to dawn in her eyes. "The game¡­ The VR world¡­It did save him once before right?" Her voice was soft and the question was more towards herself than anyone else. Horo met her gaze, nodding grimly. Lily, still feeling panic threatening to overwhelm her, looked between Horo and Rachel. "So if he has to go back in the game? How are we supposed to? We have no headsets here! Could something in the First Aid Kit help him in the meantime?" Horo shook his head, his expression tense as he looked around for his bag. "There''s nothing here in the real world that can help him right now. My bag has a headset in it. After my¡­''changes'', I made sure to always have one on hand." It was Rachel''s turn to shake her head. "That won''t work. Headsets are locked to one user per. You can''t give him your headset Adam." "Fuck! Where is Leo''s headset?" Lily''s back straightened as she remembered. "It-It''s in the car. LUNA!!" The door of the caf¨¦ slammed open, and Luna rushed in, eyes wide with alarm at the sight of Leo, drenched in blood. "Lily? What''s happening?!" she exclaimed, panic lacing her voice as she quickly made her way to Leo''s side. Lily, desperate, pointed toward the door. "We need Leo''s headset! It''s in the car! Please, go get it!" Without hesitation, Luna nodded. "I''m on it!" She turned and bolted out of the caf¨¦, not looking back as she sped toward the car. As Luna sprinted away, Horo stood frozen, his eyes locked on Leo, who was barely conscious. Rachel was trying to keep him awake, but his body was still shutting down, the dark blood continuing to leak from his eyes and mouth. "I won''t let you die, Leo," Rachel whispered to herself, clenching her fists. She glanced at Horo, her face filled with frustration and fear. "What if we don''t have time? What if she''s wrong? What if the headset doesn''t help him?" Horo didn''t answer right away. His gaze remained steady on Leo as he slowly crouched down beside him. "I don''t know but we don''t have another choice." His voice was calm but strained, and it was clear from his expression that his own thoughts were racing. The sound of Luna''s footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing louder as she returned, her hands clutching the headset tightly. She skidded to a stop in front of Horo, eyes wide with uncertainty. "Got it." Horo stood, taking the headset from her with urgency. "Let''s get him in it now," he said, voice firm. Lily''s voice quivered as she looked between them. "Is this really going to work?" "There''s no time to waste. Just trust me," Horo said, positioning the headset over Leo''s head, his face hard with determination. Rachel, still holding Leo steady, nodded. "Let''s hope it''s enough." Horo quickly adjusted the straps, securing the headset in place. "Leo. You need to start it yourself. We can''t do it for you¡­" Luna''s throat tightened as tears welled in her eyes, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. She fought to keep her composure, but the sight of Leo on the brink of death was pushing her to the edge. How many times will I have to watch him fall apart? Leo''s breath was shallow, his voice barely a rasp, but he forced the words out. "Game... start¡­" His body trembled as if the weight of the words themselves was too much to bear. Suddenly, Leo''s breathing slowed, and the blood leaking from his body began to dissolve into black acrid smoke. His twitching hands relaxed, and the bloodstained tears stopped. Rachel sighed in relief, but her eyes didn''t leave Leo''s face. "It''s working," she whispered, almost disbelieving and unnerved by the smoke. His life was saved once again. But for how long? A Place to Hide Rachel gazed down at Leo, still cradled in her arms. He was so eerily still, so quiet¡ªif not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, she might have believed he was already gone. Luna''s fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. A storm of frustration churned inside her. She was surrounded by people with extraordinary family backgrounds, people who could actually help her brother while she stood there, utterly powerless. ''What can I do? All I know is how to fight. Fighting isn''t going to fix this.. If only I understood more about the game¡­ If only I knew how to help. Lily was biting her nails, her mind going a mile a minute as she tried to make sense of everything. Leo''s wellbeing was tied directly to a game that even the government was looking into. ''This game¡­what is its real purpose? What could the developers stand to gain from throwing people''s lives into chaos? '' Horo bit his lips while the presence within him snickered, delighting in his turbulent emotions. ''Little Snake¡­Why are you worrying about a boy you barely know~? Are you so easy as to put your faith in these humans~? They will dull your conviction~''. ''You. Shut. UP.'' He howled in his mind but deep down, he knew Arachne was right. The longer he spent with these people, the worse off he will be when it came time to execute his final scheme. ''I am just using them to grow stronger. The stronger I get, the easier it will be to take the Samael Family down. Elise was just the start!'' All he got in return was a snicker. Doubt began to creep in. Why did he feel the need to justify his actions to it? Was he justifying his decisions to Arachne¡­ or was he only convincing himself to ignore the growing unease "So¡­..What''s the plan guys?" Rachel was the first to break the ominous silence, standing up and carrying Leo, cradling him in her arms. There was none of her jovial or teasing mannerisms, her gaze was soft as she continued to stare at Leo''s peacefully serene face. Even Luna, with all her skepticism of her intentions, could see the sincerity in Rachel''s gaze. She wanted to ask her something but before she could speak, Horo butted in. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "We need to maintain the smoke screen I put in place to keep him safe. Leo''s safety needs to come first. If we use Elise like he wanted, it buys us more time¡ªtime we can''t afford to waste. Rachel''s brow furrowed as she felt something off about Horo''s words. While doing so would be helping Leo, it would benefit Horo more. Yet now wasn''t the time to bring up her doubts. She obediently handed Leo over to Horo before she headed towards the back, irritated that she was being manipulated. Horo could sense that she had seen through his intentions, and a flicker of guilt gnawed at him, momentarily pulling at his resolve. But it was fleeting¡ªhe couldn''t afford to let it sway him. His agenda came first. "We will need a place to stay. Somewhere off the radar of the Samael family. Anybody got any ideas?" Luna took a slow breath, as if weighing the significance of what she was about to say. "We need to go home." Lily blinked, taken aback. "You don''t mean..? But you haven''t lived there in years. Not since your parents...." "That''s exactly why it''s perfect," Luna''s expression was firm, her shoulders trembled slightly as she thought about returning back to that place. It no longer held the warmth of her family but it was their best shot. "No one would think to look for us there. It''s just another nondescript house in the suburbs. No security, no surveillance,nothing that would make it stand out." Horo studied her carefully. "How far is it?" "Not far. Just a short drive from here," Luna replied. Her voice was steady but there was a hint of melancholy in her gaze as she seemed to be seeing something in the distance. Lily swallowed "It¡­ might actually work." She walked over to Luna and held her hand, giving it a soft squeeze as if to assure her that everything was going to be okay. Horo adjusted his grip on Leo''s unconscious form. "Fine. Let''s go." "Not so fast, pretty boy. You have another job to do~". Rachel reentered the room with a small and soggy looking bag. She tossed it onto the table nonchalantly before moving to stand in front of Horo. "You need to deliver this to your family. It will raise your standing and paint you in a good light. That also means you shouldn''t go with them or even know the location. Safer that way." Horo frowned upon hearing and seeing the casual way Rachel was speaking to him. It was as if she was looking down on him and making it seem like he wanted to be on good terms with his family. However, he quickly switched his expression to a smirk as he calmly glared at the woman. "Yeah you''re right Ms. Rachel. But aren''t you in the same boat? Why should we trust someone working for the government of all things?" Rachel scoffed as she met his glare with a steady gaze. "I have an interest in this that goes beyond a mere mission. While I may be a thrillseeker, I truly want Leo to be happy. Do you?" Horo flinched at Rachel''s question. He couldn''t help but remember that conversation that he had with Leo in the forest. "...Yeah. I do. This is stupid. We shouldn''t be arguing. I will do as you say¡­" Rachel accepted Leo''s unconscious body from Horo. He then picked up the bag and put it in his pocket. "I will see you guys later. I trust that you can find out my number right?" Luna''s expression was tense upon seeing the standoff between two people she didn''t fully trust. ''If either of them hurt Leo¡­. I will end them myself!'' "Umm¡­Luna..What was in that bag?" Lily felt nauseous as she came to a realization but was hoping that she was wrong. Rachel had a mischievous smirk on her face as she chimed in and crushed Lily''s hopes. "That was the tongue of a snake~! I hear it is a bit of a delicacy in certain parts of the world." Lily could feel the vomit rising up her throat while Luna glared at Rachel. "Quit it with the twisted dark humor. If you want to be like this. You can fuck off right now" "Fine~! Sorry Ms. Lily~!" Lily was barely able to hold it in, swallowing the bile back down. She flashed a grateful smile to Luna. "We should head out right?" "Yeah. We need to go~!" Lily shot a quick glare at Rachel but she didn''t say anything as they did need to go. Luna slowly nodded her head as she started walking, guiding them out of the cafe. It was time to go home. Deceivers Dawn Adam felt his heartbeat quicken as he stood outside the Corporate HQ of his family. The bag felt unbearably heavy in his pocket. He had finally begun his revenge and he was loving it. Even the giggling of Arachne echoing in his mind felt pleasing to his ears right now. ''Time for you to be a Grand Deceiver~! Place the blame for your own actions upon your own flesh and blood! A good show is about to unfold~!'' ''Do you ever shut up? I need to focus. If they figure me out, I am as good as dead.'' ''Very well Little Snake~! Do be a dear and entertain me~!'' Arachne fell silent after that and while he still felt it''s presence nestled in the corner of his mind, there was now an eerie silence. The silence made him feel more isolated, as though the world around him had frozen in time. He shifted his weight nervously, eyes scanning the towering glass structure before him. He couldn''t help but recall every conversation, every scheming plot, and every slight that had brought him to this moment. In the pit of his stomach, he felt the familiar burn of hatred rise once more, but this time it was mixed with a twisted sense of satisfaction. This was what he wanted. He took a deep breath to steady himself before he opened the door, striding across the lobby with relaxed and steady steps. He walked past the reception desk heading towards the elevators. "Excuse me Sir. Do you have an appointment with someone here? You need to sign in." Adam''s feet came to a stop as he turned to the voice that called out to him. Sitting there was someone he didn''t recognize. ''Someone new huh? Last one didn''t even last a month¡­'' He flashed her a charming smile as he approached the desk. "Sorry Sweetheart..You must be new here. Otherwise how else could I have possibly missed something as sweet as you~?" His eyes scanned her body, doing his best to act like a total sleazeball in order to irritate her. The receptionist''s face tightened as she tried her best to remain professional. Even still, Adam could tell she was both disgusted and annoyed. "I''m sorry Sir. I have a boyfriend so I am not available for what you seek." The receptionist took a deep breath to steady herself before continuing. Also if you were scheduled to have a meeting, I must apologize but the Senior Executives have been in an emergency meeting since this morning." "My siblings called a meeting without me~? How cold! What''s your name..Bianca? I will remember that~! Ciao!" Stolen story; please report. Adam slapped the table lightly before he resumed walking to the elevator, leaving the Receptionist speechless¡­and terrified. "W-What? Your siblings?! A-are you¡­.." Without looking back Adam called out "My name is Adam Samael~". The receptionist felt cold sweat dripping down her back. She had dared to stop a Samael and had even been slightly rude to him. There was no way she could survive here as a receptionist. She would need to find a new job for sure. Adam stepped into the elevator. The elevator doors closed behind him with a soft chime, and for a moment, the entire world outside seemed to melt away. The elevator''s smooth, metallic walls reflected his sharp eyes, and the hum of the machinery seemed louder in the silence that surrounded him. He barely noticed the subtle scent of polished metal and cleaning solution¡ªit was all too insignificant now. ''Now why did you do that, Little Snake?'' Arachne began to speak inside the elevator, unable to stomach its curiosity about why Adam had acted that way when he could have simply ignored her. ''I wanted to give her a way out before everything comes crashing down. She seemed like a nice lady, and I don''t want her to suffer at the hands of my more¡­ licentious siblings.'' ''Child¡­ You are far too soft. You will suffer as a result one day¡­'' ''When the dust settles, I don''t plan to be left standing. I will answer for my sins then.'' With a soft ding, the doors opened, and Adam stepped out. He was now on the top floor, where Anthony''s office and the conference room resided. The thick carpet muffled his footsteps as he walked toward the heavy double doors of the conference room. The atmosphere here was colder, more tense. The air in the hallway seemed thicker, as though the walls themselves were suffocating under the weight of secrets. The heavy doors to the conference room swung open with a sharp clang, and the noise in the room died instantly. The fluorescent lights above flickered once, casting long shadows over the long, gleaming conference table. All eyes turned to Adam, who stood in the doorway, his casual stance almost mocking the tense atmosphere that filled the space. For a moment, no one spoke. The half-siblings exchanged uncertain glances, their irritation palpable in the air like a storm ready to break. Adam''s presence alone seemed to send an uncomfortable ripple through the room. The sterile, glass-walled conference room felt more suffocating than ever, its cold, impersonal design accentuating the hostility. Jeremy, the 6th oldest, was the first to break the silence. His tone was dripping with disdain, a smirk curling at the edges of his lips as he sneered. "Oh, look who finally showed up. The family''s resident troublemaker. What, did you get bored doing whatever hooligans like you do?" He waved a dismissive hand. "This isn''t your playground, Adam." "Is that how you talk to the brother who you begged with teary eyes to help you when you got arrested for rape?" Jeremy''s face twisted in displeasure at that being brought up. His face was quickly turning red from anger when Kyle, the 4th child, cut in with a mocking chuckle. The smooth, white walls of the room seemed to grow colder as Kyle''s words echoed through the space. "Damn, Jeremy, you really don''t know when to shut up, do you?" Kyle''s eyes glinted with amusement, though his words had an edge to them. "But honestly, Adam, what are you even doing here? Don''t you know we''ve got important things to discuss? This is not the place for brats to play. Unless you''ve suddenly become an expert in corporate affairs." Melanie, the 3rd eldest, shot Kyle a look of irritation before glancing back at Adam. The overhead lights above her head cast sharp shadows on her face, intensifying her stern expression. "We don''t have time for your little games, Adam. This meeting is about the whistleblower, not your pathetic attempts to make us squirm." "Oh but Dear sister. I am here to help with that~" Adam flashed her a fearless smile, his body language still relaxed, and he gave off the impression that nothing they could say would affect him. The reality was that Adam could feel his heart hammering inside his chest, he was utterly terrified! ''Please don''t let them figure it out¡­''. "Hmmm? Do tell how you are going to help us?" Blair, the 2nd oldest and the most violent member of the family, leaned back in his chair, looking somewhat amused at the thought that the bastard child was trying to fit in now. His chair creaked ominously under his weight, adding to the tension in the room. Adam didn''t flinch and instead glared back at Blair before he pulled out the bag from his pocket and tossed it onto the table. The bag hit the surface with a dull thud, and a sickly smell of iron seemed to hang in the air. "What? Did you bring us lunch or something?" Blair laughed coldly, thinking Adam was messing around again, but his laughter was cut short. "Well, instead of wasting my time with meaningless bickering with siblings who hate each other, I went out and tracked down our little squealer." Anthony''s eyes widened as he looked at the bag. His gaze flickered toward the dark, reddish liquid leaking from the bag. The sterile lights in the room seemed to flicker as the smell of blood subtly crept into the air. ''I-Is that blood..?!'' "Elise was spilling all of our secrets. I noticed when none of her dark secrets were exposed¡­" Paul was horrified as he stared at Adam, who was acting too casual and relaxed as he strode further into the room. His voice was trembling slightly. "Adam¡­ what did you do?" Adam pulled out the chair reserved for Elise and sat in it before leaning back, placing his feet on the table. The sharp click of his shoes on the table''s edge seemed to cause everyone to flinch slightly. They were starting to fear him. "I took care of the issue. The rat won''t be spilling any more secrets." "Stop fucking around, man! What is in the bag?!" The savage smile that spread on Adam''s face sent a chill down everyone''s spines as he growled. "It''s the tongue of a rat." Homecoming Luna found herself standing on the porch, staring at the door handle. She knew that even if she opened it, the smell of her dads cooking or the sound of her mom''s gentle laughter would not be there. Even still, she had no choice. She needed to keep Leo safe. She unlocked the door with the key she wore on a chain beneath her shirt, close to heart. The door opened with a slow creak to reveal a dark entrance way, the house was eerily quiet. Nobody had been here for months yet everything remained untouched¡ªjust as they had left it. The air was thick with dust, and the faint scent of old wood and memories clung to the walls. Luna stepped inside first, her fingers still gripping the key tightly. Rachel followed, carefully adjusting Leo''s unconscious body in her arms. The VR helmet remained firmly on his head, its sleek surface catching the faint light that filtered through the dust in the air. Lily entered last, glancing around with wary eyes. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, Luna had been unable to step in this place since Leo had entered the hospital. Despite it being a spacious house, Luna had felt the place was too small, suffocating her. Luna didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she walked further into the dimly lit entrance, only the slight tremors of her shoulders betrayed her inner turmoil. "It''s the safest place I know¡­ No one''s been here for a long time. No one will look for us here." She finally spoke but she felt her mouth was dry, her tongue feeling like it was made of sandpaper. "That''s good and all Cutie but I have a question. Where do you want our lil Princess here? He''s pretty light but I can''t carry him forever" Rachel''s voice snapped Luna out of her thoughts, but she was still in a slight daze as she didn''t even react to the slight teasing. "This way," She led them deeper into the house. Each step felt heavier than the last, the memories pressing down on her shoulders like an unseen weight. Rachel followed, her steps careful as she carried Leo down the hallway. Lily trailed behind. She was worried for Luna. Lily trailed behind, worry etched on her face. She knew Luna was tough, but there was a fragility about her that no one could ignore¡ªnot after everything. Luna had lost both of her parents, and now, it seemed her only family left was on the verge of slipping away, too after coming back. Rachel grit her teeth, quietly seething deep down at the faceless company that was the cause of their situation. She couldn''t help but feel sorry for the girl who was the same age as her. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ''Those sick bastards. They''re treating his life like a damn Yo-Yo! They are ruining more than one person''s life¡­'' Luna led them through the familiar hallway, past doors that remained closed, each one a reminder of a life that was no longer. Finally, she stopped in front of one, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped the handle. She pushed the door open. Leo''s childhood room. The room was quiet¡ªfrozen in time, yet heavy with memories. The bed was neatly made, as if waiting for someone to return. Bookshelves filled with old fantasy novels lined one wall. A desk sat untouched in the corner, and the air felt dense, as if the room itself was holding its breath. Rachel''s eyes widened. "Didn''t expect his room to be so¡­ neat." Luna didn''t respond at first, her gaze lingering on the familiar sight of Leo''s room. How long had it been? She sighed deeply, a painful release of air. "No one''s been here for months," Luna''s throat tightened as she spoke, the words escaping in broken gasps. "I kept it clean. Hired someone to come by every couple of weeks¡­ just in case." She wiped her face with the back of her hand, trying to steady her breath, but the tears kept coming. She choked on her words, her chest rising and falling in short, sharp breaths." Lily stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Luna, pulling her into a tight, comforting hug as Luna''s sobs shook her small frame. "They haven''t been here for a while," Luna whispered between tears. "I let them go after the doctors told me... to prepare for the worst. I just wanted my baby brother back. But not like this." Lily''s embrace tightened, offering Luna whatever comfort she could. The silence that followed was thick, heavy with the weight of unspoken grief. "I don''t want to lose him¡­but I am powerless to help.." "That''s not true." Rachel''s words pierced the silence, and Luna froze. Her hand gripped the edges of her pants, knuckles turning white as her breath caught in her throat. She blinked rapidly, as though trying to make sense of what Rachel had just said. Having placed Leo gently on the bed, Rachel stood and turned toward Luna, her expression resolute, a smile barely tugging at the corners of her lips. "There is a way you can help him. We need to get to the late stages of this game. Whoever is behind these experiments must know how to cure your brother." Luna blinked, confusion briefly clouding her thoughts. Rachel''s gaze flicked to Leo''s limp form before returning to Luna''s eyes, steady and resolute. "You can get stronger through this game. Every level you rise, every quest you complete, you''ll probably gain more power. And when the time comes, you can make those bastards pay for what they''ve done." Luna''s heart beat faster as she processed Rachel''s words. The game had been a means of escape, a way to forget. But now, it could be the key to protecting her brother. Destroying the bastards who were behind this was just a nice bonus. Lily frowned as she appraised Rachel once again. "Sure that sounds good and all. But aren''t we going to be risking our own lives going after this shady company? What do you plan on doing? Guarding his body or something? I''m sorry but I can''t trust you." Rachel closed her eyes, it was as she expected. She couldn''t just join them without any suspicion. When she opened them, there was a resolute will burning inside of her gaze. "You ladies won''t be going alone. I fully plan on joining in on this.." Lily looked faintly surprised that the woman they barely knew was willing to go this far. "But if I mutate and look like the lil Cutie or the pretty Snake, please kill me. I don''t think I could handle the embarrassment." Lily was momentarily stunned, her mouth slightly agape. She hadn''t expected that kind of joke at a time like this. The absurdity of it caught her off guard, and she found herself facepalming as the tension lifted¡ªjust a little. "Seriously?" she muttered, a nervous laugh escaping despite herself. Drowning in Shadows Rachel had talked a mean game. She had convinced Luna and Lily to help her in her mission by using something they cared about. Yet she was still nervous. How could she not be? She was about to willingly step into the domain of some perverted mad scientists who were using their own player base for their experiments. Would she become one herself? Her fingers tightened around the VR headset, its surface cool and smooth against her skin. It was strange how something so deceptively simple could be the gateway to something so horrific. She took a slow, measured breath. There was no turning back now. "Here goes everything I guess¡­" She put on the Headset before she laid down on the bed Luna had provided her. The bed was soft but the smell of dust hung heavily in the air. She focused on her surroundings as her words came out slow and deliberate. "Game. Start" Everything snapped to black. No sounds. No touch. No scents. It was as if she had been swallowed whole by an endless abyss. Floating in a sea of darkness, she felt nothing. Yet her sixth sense was screaming at her. Something was there in the darkness, watching her. She couldn''t detect where the gaze was coming from but it was undeniably there. "If this is a test of some kind, you are one sick fucker. You know that right?" Silence. Yet she felt that there was something different about the darkness. Is it¡­moving? The more she focused, the more she realized the oddities. The darkness wasn''t whole, it was hundreds if not thousands of fragments forming a river of pitch black that flowed around her. She drifted in this void, weightless, untethered. The river of shadows swirled around her, shifting and writhing like living things, yet never touching her. It was unnatural¡ªshe wasn''t falling, wasn''t rising. She simply existed in this abyss. But something was wrong. Her mind, sharp even through the disorienting darkness, caught onto the details. The way the shadows moved¡ªnot like random chaos, but like a carefully designed system. The way she felt watched, yet no entity revealed itself. The way the silence wasn''t empty¡ªit was expectant. A chill ran through her spine. This wasn''t the game booting up. This was a test. Rachel''s eyes narrowed as realization dawned. The game had already started and her fate would be decided by how she proceeded. Her heart pounded, the shadows began to swirl faster around her, their cold, unnatural presence pressing in from all sides. The feeling of being watched intensified, gnawing at her from every direction, but she forced herself to focus, trying to shake off the panic creeping in. ''What kind of test is this?!'' She had been in dangerous situations before, but nothing felt quite like this. It was almost as if the darkness itself was alive, waiting for her to make a mistake, to stumble into its grasp. As the river of shadows wrapped tighter around her, she felt something click in her mind. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ''It wants me to conform. To go with the flow of the shadows and become one'' It was a surprisingly simple answer. Don''t resist and the trial will end and she can proceed onwards. The more she resisted, the stronger the presence of the shadows became stronger. ''Nah. Fuck that! I''ll forge my own way!'' Rachel kicked her legs, trying to swim upward, but the shadows clung to her like thick tar, growing more tangible with each motion. It wasn''t just resistance¡ªit was pulling her back in. The more she struggled, the more the abyss coiled around her, tendrils of darkness pressing against her limbs, tightening their hold. The test wasn''t just about conformity¡ªit was about submission. The realization sent a shiver through her spine. It wasn''t asking her to simply go with the flow. It was demanding she surrender to it. To belong to it. Rachel bared her teeth. "Yeah, no. I don''t do submission on a first date!." She thrashed harder, forcing her body to move despite the thickening mass around her. If the abyss wanted her to obey, then all the more reason to resist. The moment the thought crossed her mind, the shadows surged, shifting from an unfeeling force to something alive. They twisted, wrapped tighter, pressed against her like unseen hands trying to drag her under. A voice whispered¡ªnot in sound, but in sensation. A creeping thought that wasn''t hers, slithering through her mind like an intrusive parasite. Let go. There''s nothing to fight. It would be easier. A cold yet manic laughter slipped from Rachel''s lips. "Yeah I have never been one for the easy road. It''s no fun!" With one final jerk, she broke free from the grip of the shadows and her head broke through the surface of a dark ink coloured river. The water felt somewhat refreshing as she struggled to catch her breath. Rachel rolled onto her side, panting as she dragged herself onto the strange, shadow-soaked shore. Her clothes were damp with the inky water, but the moment she was free of the river''s grasp, the liquid seemed to vanish from her skin. Not evaporate. Not dry. Vanish. Like it had never been there at all. That wasn''t natural. But then again, none of this was. The voice that had spoken¡ªlow, commanding, and ancient¡ªechoed in her mind. "So you refuse to conform. You see yourself as a Defier? Do you intend to defy the Heavens and even Fate itself if they stand in your way?" Rachel forced herself to breathe through the adrenaline rushing through her veins. She was being watched. Judged. This wasn''t just some passive test. This was an evaluation. And whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªwas running it was waiting for her answer. She wiped her mouth, grimacing. "Okay, first of all, let''s not throw around fancy words like ''Defier'' before buying me dinner. Second, I don''t ''see myself'' as anything. I just don''t like being told what to do. Especially when I''m told to give up " Silence. Then, a deep, amused hum drifted from the void. "A mortal with a tongue as sharp as her will. Interesting." Rachel''s eyes narrowed. ''Mortal? Either those freaks have a serious God Complex or this voice ain''t human¡­'' The sky, if she could even call it that, remained an endless void. The shore beneath her feet wasn''t sand or stone but something in-between. Like a solid shadow, shifting ever so slightly, refusing to be pinned down by reality. "Alright creepy mystery voice," she said, dusting herself off. "Since you''re so interested in my life choices, mind telling me what the hell that little initiation was about? Or do I have to keep playing Guess the Cosmic Horror Cosplay?" The voice chuckled, the sound vibrating through the very air. "You have already answered the question, Defier. And in doing so, you have passed." Rachel stilled. The shadows around her seemed less oppressive now, their movement more fluid, more natural. Like they had¡­ accepted her. Passed? What would have happened if she failed? The thought made her stomach twist, but she shook it off. Great," she said, cracking her neck. "Now that we''ve got the creepy existential hazing ritual out of the way, how about you tell me who the hell you are?" A pause. Then¡ª "You may call me¡­ the Dusk" "And you, Rachel, are now marked as a Defier. Whether you accept it or not." Rachel froze. It knew her name. The air around her seemed to pulse, like reality itself was acknowledging what had just been spoken. Marked. She didn''t like the sound of that. But if this thing thought she''d back down just because of some ominous title, it had another thing coming. Rachel crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Well, I hope this ''mark'' comes with a free T-shirt, because I am not paying membership fees." The Observer''s laughter echoed through the void. "Take this staff child. May your journey be blessed." An onyx staff appeared with a snap, the grooves within the staff flickered with an ominous black light as if shadows were traversing through it. "What Am I supposed to do with this?!" "Wield it.. And you shall wield it well." Before she could ask anymore questions, there was another snap And just like that¡ª The world shifted again. Rachel barely had time to react before everything collapsed into a new reality. A Shadow Reborn Rachel felt her head throbbing as she sat up from the bed. What sort of sick twisted dream was that? Or was that ¡®trial¡¯ something more. ¡°These Devs take the term creepozoids to the next level¡­ ugh¡±. Glancing around, she noticed the unmistakable change: a long, fur-covered tail had taken residence around her waist. With a mere thought, the unexpected appendage uncurled and unfurled to its full, four-foot length, its prehensile nature hinting at the possibility of an extra hand if she could master its use. ¡°This is next-level monkey business,¡± she sighed, a blend of exasperation and disbelief lacing her tone. ¡°Who am I kidding? I really hope I don¡¯t have to deal with this in reality.¡± As she attempted to shake off the tension with a few deep breaths, even the simplest act of self-soothing felt futile against the surreal weight of her new existence.
Welcome to Ascension of Souls Online. You have now entered the World of Melodia. You are currently in the Beginner Village (Beastkin). Please Confirm your Status and set your Character Name. To check your Status, Please say [Status] You have been marked as a [Defier of Fate] You have been blessed by the God of Dusk: ???????? Reward: Umbral Embrace, Staff Arts (F), 3200 EXP, Mental Fortitude (D)
Rachel instantly shot to Level 5, a warm sensation coursing through her body. Another notification appeared in front of her.
Character Status -Name: [Not Set] -Race: Shadow Simian -Title: Defier of Fate -Class: Mage (Shadow) -Age: 20 -Level: 1 (100/3200 exp) -Status: Healthy -Health: 85/85 -Mana: 45/45 -Attack: 25 -Defence: 15 -Dodge: 40 -Strength: 6 -Endurance: 4 -Agility: 12 -Dexterity: 10 -Intelligence: 9 -Wisdom: 6 The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. -Charisma: 11 -Luck: 10 Free Points: 0 Skills: Appraisal (Innate), Umbral Embrace (Unique), Staff Arts (F), Mental Fortitude (D), Shadow Meld (Racial), Medical Knowledge (C) , Equipment: Duskbane (Unique)
Rachel stared at the screen floating in front of her, blinking in disbelief. Level 5? How am I already there?! This is too fast, too smooth¡­ Must be another part of whatever weird system the developers have going on.¡¯ ¡°Uh... ¡®Defier of Fate¡¯? Are they seriously calling me that? That¡¯s so cringe!¡± she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm and disdain. She couldn¡¯t help it¡ªthis entire situation was too much, even for her. The tail at her waist twitched again as if it had a mind of its own. She couldn¡¯t focus on it for long, not with the strange sensation still thrumming through her veins. The warm rush of energy had shot her up so quickly. "Well, guess that explains the sudden ¡®level up¡¯ sensation." She let out a dry laugh. "Freakin¡¯ Devs." She scrolled through the notification window again. The mention of the God of Dusk stood out like a sore thumb, and she had to pause for a moment, feeling that strange twinge in the back of her mind. ¡°So that Creepy Voice I spoke with is a ¡®god¡¯? Does that mean I can go tell people I have met god?¡± Rachel scoffed, shaking her head. "Yeah, because that would totally make me sound like I am completely sane." She stretched out her arms, still adjusting to the odd sensation of her new body. Her tail twitched again. It was unsettling. Not in a bad way, but in the this-is-way-too-weird-for-comfort kind of way. She focused on it, willing it to move. It curled in response, swaying to the side before she tried to lift an empty cup from the small wooden nightstand beside her bed. The tail managed to wrap around it, but the moment she tried to lift, she miscalculated the strength, sending the cup flying across the room. It hit the wall with a soft clunk before rolling onto the floor. Rachel sighed. ¡°Welp. Guess there¡¯s a learning curve.¡± With a deep breath, she turned her attention back to the status window. She squinted at the ¡®Skills¡¯ section. Shadow Meld sounded promising, but it was the ¡®Umbral Embrace¡¯ that really caught her eye. A new pop-up appeared.
Umbral Embrace (Unique Skill): Harness the power of shadows to enhance movement and attacks. Partial transformation possible.
Rachel tilted her head. "Partial transformation? The hell does that mean?" Before she could experiment, another message popped up.
You have received the following items from the God of Dusk: Duskbane (Unique) ¡ª A shadow-infused weapon, light yet durable. Feeds off the wearer''s mana to enhance darkness-related skills. Nocturnis Circlet (Unique) ¡ª A mystical circlet that sharpens perception in low light and enhances mana control.
Rachel blinked. A circlet instead of a cloak? She wasn¡¯t exactly complaining, but the last thing she expected was an accessory. She picked it up from the small inventory menu, inspecting it. The thin silver metal shimmered with faint traces of deep violet energy. It was so light that she could forget that she was wearing it and as soon as she equipped it, a strange clarity settled over her senses. It was like she was stepping into a dimly lit room and realizing she could see perfectly. She let out a low whistle, impressed. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s actually pretty cool.¡±
The God of Dusk has defied Causality. Relevant Memories will be Sealed.
A sense of foreboding overwhelmed Rachel. What did that even mean? Her breath hitched as an unnatural chill ran down her spine, a phantom sensation creeping into the edges of her mind. It was like something had been there¡ªsome knowledge, some experience¡ªonly to be yanked away before she could grasp it. Rachel clenched her fists. ¡°Wait... Sealed? What exactly did I forget?¡± No answer came. No notification, no hint, nothing. Just an eerie silence that made her stomach twist. Her tail flicked restlessly, mirroring her unease. Was it something important? Something about the trial? Or worse¡ªsomething about herself? A part of her wanted to shake it off, chalk it up to the Devs being cryptic as usual. But deep down, she knew better. This wasn¡¯t just some game mechanic. Something was missing. And she had no way of knowing what. For now, there was only one thing she could do¡ªmove forward. She had to explore, find Leo and the others. Start growing stronger. If there were answers, she¡¯d hunt them down herself. Rachel exhaled slowly, then glanced back at the floating system prompt. ¡°Oh right. My name...¡± A small smirk tugged at her lips. Let¡¯s go with [Nyx]. Unseen Threads Leo''s entire body ached as he lay on the ground, small rocks digging into his skin with an irritating persistence. ""What¡­the ¡­fuck" ''How is that I can go from dying to whatever¡­this is'' From bleeding out of every hole in his face to¡­ this? His body felt fine. No wounds, no blood. Just stiffness, like he''d been lying here for hours. He slowly sat up, looking around. He was back in the village square but unlike before, it was bustling with people. Users had started to appear in the village in full force. However, Leo felt that something was off about the others¡­ While Lily, Luna and Horo had appeared solidly, the other players seemed to have some sort of intangibility to them. As if they weren''t really there. They had physical bodies of course but it felt different. He couldn''t quite place it. He pushed himself to his feet, scanning the village square. The players bustled around him, chatting, trading, moving as they should, yet the sensation of wrongness persisted. It wasn''t their actions, nor their appearances, but something deeper, something unseen. He glanced at a nearby player in leather armor. There was something off about him¡ªhis movements smooth but hollow, like a puppet responding to distant strings. The way his head turned, the slight lag between thought and motion¡ªit was subtle, but Leo could feel it. He looked at another player, a woman leaning against a wall. She idly stretched, rolling her shoulders, but the way her body followed the motion felt unnatural, like it was catching up to her. A cold realization crept into Leo''s mind. These people¡­ they weren''t fully here. Their bodies moved, they spoke, they interacted¡ªbut something was missing. They weren''t synced, as if there was a gap between their consciousness and their physical forms. And yet, he felt fine. Why? What made him different? ''Ugh?!'' Just then, the sound of shattering glass resounded in his mind. A memory of the time he met that self proclaimed Goddess suddenly returned to him. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Yet somehow It was only her voice that came to his mind, her face and even her figure remained out of focus. "Astral Sync" It was only two words yet it was like a key to him. These other ''players'' didn''t have strong Astral Sync, it left them with a slight delay in their actions. ''Does that mean Astral Sync works both ways? Then my Avatar does affect my real self!'' Leo''s breath came slow and measured as he stared at his hands. His fingers flexed with precise, immediate responsiveness, no hesitation, no unnatural lag. He clenched them into fists, then released. Everything about his body felt right. But if what he was experiencing was "Astral Sync," then why did he have it while the others didn''t? His gaze drifted back to the other players, their hollow fluidity standing in stark contrast to his own movements. If Astral Sync was the key to the transformations he and his friends were experiencing in the real world, wouldn''t there be thousands if not millions more that could possibly be affected as time passed. ''I need to find everyone. We need to move. NOW'' He suddenly had a terrible premonition come over him. Something bad was going to happen. He and his friends needed to get stronger and leave this place sooner rather than later. "Level 7 already? That''s quick. He must know something we don''t." "Is that really a guy? Looks too cute to be one." "Let''s ask for his number, just in case." Leo could feel a vein throbbing on his forehead as he overheard the conversation between two guys talking about him behind his back. "Cutie? You really look the way you do in the real world~!" Shocked, Leo turned around to see a woman walking towards him. He quickly averted his gaze as he didn''t know where to look. She was wearing a form fitting cloth tube top that barely covered her chest, completely exposing her toned midriff while also wearing a pair of black short shorts and knee high black socks. The look gave her an unapologetically erotic appearance that left many men drooling. "Oh my god. Her friend is so hot. We gotta go over and talk to them now!" Rachel''s gaze flicked towards the man who made that remark before shifting back to Leo. She could tell that the way these men had spoken irritated him, even she was a little irritated that some randoms thought they had a chance with her. She flashed a subtle yet undeniably impish grin as she quickly strode towards Leo. "Rachel?!" Leo stiffened as she grabbed his head and brought hers closer. "Oh¡­ They''re together?" "Damn... crushed before it even started..." Rachel''s lips brushed his cheek, making it look like a kiss. The two men slinked away dejected as Leo growled at Rachel. "What the hell was that for?! Do you know how bad that could have been if someone saw ¡ª" "Leo¡­..?!" "Leo¡­?" "Oh shit." Leo''s heart raced as he turned to see Luna and Lily a few feet away, their faces red. They''d seen everything. Lily covered her mouth, stunned by the bold kiss. Luna''s gaze flicked between him and Rachel, anger flashing in her eyes. "So this is the relationship you have with my brother huh?! I knew I should have crushed you back at the cafe" "Wait, this is Rachel?! So you really were Leo''s lover? He didn''t say anything about this.." "Leo?! How could you! I thought we had something special" Rachel put her face in her hands as she pretended to cry, shoulders trembling, but Leo could see the smirk beneath. ''YOU CRAZY BITCH! YOU"RE GONNA GET ME KILLED!'' "Leo, you and I are going to have a conversation about you hiding things from me!" Luna''s gaze was frosty as she glared at her brother like he was some sort of scumbag. He shot a glare of his own at Rachel as he stepped towards his sister, hoping to explain the situation. ''I will have my revenge¡­'' The words he uttered in his heart were a vow to take Rachel down and embarrass her. He shook his head, he couldn''t get distracted here right now. "I think I know why we have experienced those changes in the real world¡­" The girls'' expressions stiffened, they all looked around before Lily spoke. "Let''s not discuss it here. Let''s go to my teacher''s shop. We can use their backroom." Astral Sync Leo and the girls walked down the street, keeping an eye out for any other oddities as they approached the Alchemy Shop. Nyx''s brow twitched at the men openly ogling them. She wasn''t used to this much attention and was about to say something when Lily quietly placed a hand on her shoulder. "It''s best to ignore them," Lily murmured. "Engaging won''t do us any favors. Besides, if they get too close, our lil'' Bunny will tear them a new one~." Luna shot Lily a sharp glare but didn''t bother denying it. Soon, they reached the Alchemy Shop and slipped inside. Behind the counter, Rori sat reading a book. Her gaze flicked to her student, Barry''s apprentice, and the young man with the mysterious bracelets. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Leo gave an awkward wave as they passed. Lily, as casual as ever, called out, "Hey, Teach, we need to use the backroom. You don''t mind, right~?" Rori sighed. "Brat, you''d use it whether I allowed it or not." "Hehehe~! Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission, yeah~?" "...Fine. Do whatever you want." "You''re the best, Teach!" Rori simply shook her head. Lily might have shown promise in alchemy and strategy, but her foolishness? That was something Rori doubted she''d ever understand. Rori shook her head as she rubbed her temple with one hand. "Just don''t touch anything. If I find so much as a misplaced vial, I''ll be testing my newest potion on you." Lily chuckled, waving her off as she led the group toward the back. As they passed through the curtain separating the main shop from the backroom, Leo felt the weight of their upcoming conversation settle over him. There was a lot to discuss¡ªand even more to figure out. The room was small but well-kept, with shelves lined with neatly labeled jars and a sturdy wooden table in the center. Luna shut the door behind them, her expression serious. Lily stretched and cracked her knuckles. "Alright, let''s get down to business." Leo took a deep breath. "I think I know why we''ve been experiencing changes in the real world." A heavy silence filled the room. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Nyx leaned against the wall, arms crossed. She was highly invested in the reason, it was a part of her mission. "Go on." Somewhat hesitantly, Leo opened his mouth and began to explain. "I don''t know how or why I know but the term that came to my mind is ''Astral Sync''. From what I can tell, it is the connection to our Avatars. Our connection with them is a lot stronger than those other players out there." His words hung in the air for a moment as the others processed them. Luna''s eyes narrowed. "Stronger? What does that mean, exactly?" Nyx clicked her tongue, arms still folded. "So you''re saying the reason we''ve been changing physically is because we''re more¡­ connected?" Lily tilted her head, somewhat confused as she tried to wrap her head around it all. "Wait, wait, wait. If our Avatars are more ''synced'' than the others, then does that mean we''re, like, actually part of the game? Or rather, the game is part of us?" Leo exhaled, rubbing his temple. "That''s what I''m trying to figure out. But from what I can tell, our reactions, our movements¡­ they don''t have that weird lag like other players." He looked at his hand, opening and closing it before adding It''s almost as if our minds and bodies are fully aligned with the game world, while the others are slightly out of sync." Luna frowned, gripping her sleeves. She didn''t understand a single word of what was going on but she could tell that this was bad. "But why us? What will happen if we die in game?" Leo hesitated, his jaw tightening. That was the question, wasn''t it? Nyx exhaled sharply. "We don''t know for sure. But if our bodies are syncing this much, I wouldn''t rule out the worst-case scenario." Lily clapped her hands together. "Alright, so we''re playing by hardcore mode rules. No big deal, we just don''t die~." Luna shot her an incredulous look. "That''s your takeaway?" Lily had a sheepish grin. "Stressing about it right now won''t change anything, will it?" Nyx, however, wasn''t smiling. Her fingers tapped impatiently against her arm, deep in thought. "This isn''t just about us, though. If we''re different, then that means someone¡ªor something¡ªmade us this way." Her gaze landed on Leo. "You said the term ''Astral Sync'' just came to you. Are you sure you don''t remember anything else?" Leo shook his head. "It''s like¡­ I knew it the moment I saw how the other players moved. The way they phase slightly when they walk, the lag in their reactions. It was obvious, but only after I really focused on it." Luna swallowed hard. "If this is real, then we need to be careful about what we do here right?." Nyx nodded solemnly . "We also need to figure out what triggered this in the first place. If we can figure that out, maybe we can figure out a way to control it." Lily frowned slightly at that odd statement. Why would they need to control it? Why not stop it? Leo leaned against the table, feeling the weight of it all settle over him. If their connection to this world was deeper than anyone else''s, then every step they took was a risk. He looked at his party¡ªLuna,Nyx, and Lily. They were in this together, but they needed answers. ''Oh Boss~! Good to See you! I just had a lovely dream~!'' Leo''s brow twitched as Mors awoke, speaking to him mentally as if he had just woken up from a nap. He was about to ask him a question but Mors voice became tinged in surprise. ''Boss¡­You are a crazier bastard than me! You have a Defier on your side?! If the Church of Fate ever finds her, they will destroy her and anything she has ever touched, you and me included!'' Leo''s eyes widened as his gaze shifted to Nyx. Was she the reason why his senses were screaming danger? "Hey¡­.I think you need to explain something to us too¡­" Nyx cocked her eyebrow, caught off guard by Leo redirecting the conversation to her out of the blue. "Yeah?" "Care to tell us what a Defier is?" Against the Script Nyx blinked, her usual unrestrained confidence wavering for the first time as her gaze faltered. "A Defier? I have no idea what you''re talking about." Leo narrowed his eyes. Mors might be a sadistic psycho, but he wouldn''t have reacted like that for no reason. "You know, for a princess of a super secret organization, you suck at lying." Nyx''s shoulders shrank as she lowered her head and grumbled. "But I really don''t know what it means¡­" "But you''re not denying that you are one?" "..." Luna and Lily exchanged glances. Luna suddenly slammed her hands down onto the table, growling in frustration. "Alright, let''s back up a second. What''s a Defier?" Nyx grimaced before sighing and telling them everything she knew. "I don''t know jack shit about what it means. Some disembodied voice just told me I was a ''Defier of Fate'' or some shit." She crossed her arms and shot Leo a suspicious look. "I''ve been in this game for all of twenty minutes¡ªwhy the hell am I getting interrogated already?! And how did you even know? Was there something that gave it away?" ''Boss, it''s her aura. She reeks of Shadows. The Church of Fate is a bunch of zealous lunatics¡ªit''s best we avoid her!'' Leo''s expression faltered as he relayed Mors''s words nearly verbatim. Lily tilted her head, confused. "I thought your weapon was called Astra¡­ Why is it Mors now?" Leo glanced between them, feeling the weight of the conversation shift. His mind raced as he processed Mors''s warning¡ªand the faint trace of fear in its voice. "I''m not sure how he knew. He said something about ''aura,''" Leo admitted, rubbing his temple. "But Mors¡­ that''s what my weapon''s calling itself now. It''s like it''s trying to make its presence more known. It''s different from Astra." He held up his left arm, the onyx-colored bracelet catching the three girls'' attention. Their gazes then shifted to his right hand, where a second bracelet, silver and gold, rested. "This one houses Mors, the ego that was just talking. The other holds Astra. But¡­ she hasn''t spoken yet." A pang of concern settled in Leo''s chest as he realized Astra had been silent since he''d returned to the game world. Lily frowned, eyeing the silver and gold bracelet. "That''s weird. You think Mors did something to her?" ''Tch. Don''t blame me, girl. That light-brained fool''s probably just in a deep sleep,'' Mors cold sneer ripped through his mind. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ''Not my problem. Also, tell Flowerhead to stop asking brain-dead questions¡ªIt''s like we know. Yes, you''re a blonde.'' Leo''s jaw tightened at the casual dismissal¡ªand endless complaints. "Mors isn''t exactly helpful¡­ or kind, for that matter." Nyx, who had been watching quietly, leaned forward and tapped her fingers on the table. "Okay, so your weapons have egos, and one of them''s being weird. But let''s go back to the important part for a moment¡ªwhat does any of this have to do with me?" Leo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mors said you reek of Shadows. And the Church of Fate¡­ well, let''s just say they wouldn''t be too happy about that." "Huh?" "Help me out here, Mors. We know next to nothing." ''Haha, sure thing, Boss~!'' At that moment, a low chuckle echoed in Leo''s mind, sending a shiver down his spine. Suddenly, Leo felt a surging spark of pain shoot up his arms. Luna covered her mouth as she struggled to suppress the scream that was building up in her throat. "L-Leo¡­your eye!" "What about the rest of me! Why am I suddenly hurting all of a sudden?!" His left arm felt wrong. Heavy. Foreign. ''Ahhh, much better¡­'' Mors voice returned with a purr, its voice laced with something disturbingly close to satisfaction. ''Don''t mind me, Boss. Just borrowing this for a bit~'' "Borrowing what?!" His own voice came out uneven, layered with something darker¡ªsomething that wasn''t entirely his own. Then, another voice. Sinister. Chaotic. "Rather than playing Broken Telephone, why not take it from the source~?" The girls stiffened, eyes widening. That wasn''t Leo. That was Mors. "Pleasure to meet you Ladies~! I am Mors and rather than using the poor boy to translate, hear it from me instead~!" Nyxx tapped a finger on the table, somewhat skeptical of the changes in Leo now that they had begun to discuss her. "In that case, tell us more about the Church of Fate and Defiers of Fate?" Mors'' laugh echoed through the room, dark and sinister, curling around the air like smoke. "Ah, asking the right questions now, are we? You''d like to know about the Church of Fate and the Defiers, hmm? Very well," Mors purred, savoring every syllable as his voice took on a mocking tone. "The Church of Fate is a group of zealots, true believers who follow the doctrine that everything is predetermined, that every single life, every event, follows a divine script. One they think they can manipulate, of course. They''re all about control, about ensuring that Fate plays out the way they see fit." Luna stiffened at the mention of Fate, her brows furrowed in confusion. "So, they''re like puppeteers, trying to make everyone dance to their strings?" "Almost" Mors'' voice sang with approval for once. "They don''t control the strings, they merely pretend they do. They enforce Fate, convinced that nothing¡ªnothing¡ªcan change the flow of time. That''s where you come in, monkey princess." He turned to Nyx, his tone dripping with mockery. "You''re a Defier. A contradiction to their precious script." Nyx''s gaze hardened as she leaned in, her fingers tapping on the table with a measured rhythm. "Defier¡­ A contradiction? What exactly does that mean?" "Ah, you don''t know, do you?" Mors''s tone deepened, and Leo''s body stiffened as though the words themselves weighed heavily on him "You''re a glitch in their precious system, someone who doesn''t belong, someone who wasn''t supposed to exist outside of their design. But now, you do, and that''s why they ''ll want you dead." Luna scowled, crossing her own arms as she asked "So what are we supposed to do to stop them?" "Hah!Stop them? Unless you''re a god. You would best run until you can fight gods on even grounds." Everyone could now feel it, there was a storm on the horizon. Truth Beneath the Skin Luna''s gaze was furious as she stared at Leo, no Mors who was smugly smirking back at her. "So you are saying we need to become gods? How the fuck do we do that.." She was furious. One of Leo''s eyes had a blackened sclera and an amber pupil, while the other remained a brilliant emerald green She wanted nothing more than to throttle Mors but all it would do is hurt her brother. Lily noticed that the eyes weren''t moving in-sync. There was panic in the green eye. Leo was still conscious! "This¡­is not ¡­what I¡­meant¡­you crazy¡­bastard" Leo''s voice was soft and labored; he could feel a strain on his brain from Mor''s asserting his presence. It was like there was a solid wall pressing against his thoughts, suffocating his ability to act freely. Every word was a struggle, forced through sheer willpower. Mors merely chuckled, his stolen half of Leo''s face stretching into a twisted grin. "Oh, come now, Boss~ Don''t be so dramatic. I''m just taking this body for a little test drive~" Luna slammed her hands onto the table, her fury boiling over. "Get out of him. Now!" Mors tilted Leo''s head, giving her an exaggerated look of amusement. "Oh my~! you wound me dear sister!. I''m just here to help~" Lily clenched her fists. "If this is your idea of help, then I''d hate to see what you do to your enemies." "He¡­eats.. Them" Luna and Lily''s eyes opened wide at Leo''s unexpected commentary. On top of that Mors made no attempts to deny it made him seem all the more terrifying. Nyx, who had been observing with narrowed eyes, suddenly spoke up. "You still haven''t answered the question ya creepy parasite. If fighting the Church means going against Fate itself, then how do we stand a chance?" Mors hummed, tapping a finger against Leo''s temple with deliberate amusement. "You have to think smart Chimpette~! As long as you don''t get close to a HIgh Priest, you should have some time to get stronger~" Luna scoffed, unimpressed. "And what happens when we do run into one?" Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Half of Leo''s face broke into a wide grin, teeth flashing like a lion baring its fangs. "Then you pray, little sister~ Pray that you''re strong enough to kill them before they ''enforce'' fate: Your Death and Destruction." A chill settled over the room. Nyx clicked her tongue, crossing her arms. "So, avoid the freaky fate priests, get stronger, and¡­ what? Magically reach a level where we can flip the script?" Mors chuckled. "Oh, I like you. You catch on quick." His tone dripped with amusement "This bitch¡­" Nyx muttered a curse under her breath, her glare sharpening. "You¡­really have a ¡­way with¡­ women" Leo could feel his heartbeat quickening, Mor''s could escape from this if he relinquished control but he could not. Mors just laughed, seemingly delighted by the hostility. "I''m just here to give friendly advice, and yet everyone treats me like some sort of villain." He sighed dramatically. "So ungrateful." The bloodlust of three women surged as they glared bloody murder at Mors while Leo was left with a cold sweat. "Get¡­back¡­on Topic!" He softly begged, terrified the girls would beat him up if Mors didn''t get to the point. "Fine~! As you wish Boss¡­.you don''t just need strength. You need knowledge¡­and Soul Weapons." Leo, still straining against Mors''s grip, managed to choke out "And¡­ let me guess¡­ you just so happen to know something useful?" Mors voice was practically purring in delight as he responded "Why, of course, Boss~! And So do you in fact~!" "I..do?!" "My sister has a skill you have yet to use, no?" Luna tilted her head confused. "I have something like that?" Mor''s amber eye rolled as he snapped back "No I didn''t say you ya Dumb Bunny! My sister, Astra" "What are you talking about? What does Astra have to do with anything here" Lily tilted her head at Mors'' words, curious but still annoyed with his word choice. "If I represent Death..Astra represents Life. She can create Egos for Soul Weapons." Nyx scoffed as she asked "So you''re telling us that this ''Astra'' can create weapons that are alive?" "Right again. You really are a smart Chimpette~" Nyx clenched her fist in response. ''Mors you idiot, you are going to get me killed!'' Luna grit her teeth before snarling. "Enough with the mockery you cocky lil parasite. What. Are. You. Talk.ing. A.bout?" Each syllable was said slowly and distinctly, everyone could feel Luna''s rage bubbling just beneath her very displeased expression. Mors'' expression faltered for a brief moment as he felt Leo''s heart skip a beat. Was she really that scary? Even still, he refused to back down and his smug smirk grew into a defiant smile. "Astra has a skill called Ego Creation.It lets dull, lifeless scraps pretend to be something worthwhile. A broken stick gets to be a sword, and a decent sword might dream of being something useful~!" "Gods¡­you are...Arrogant" "Not at all Boss. I am just confident~!" Lily tapped the table as she asked the one question that had been bugging her. "So where is Astra now? I know that she is an ego like this one but Leo hasn''t mentioned her in a bit. Is she okay?" Mors cocked his head and sneered. "She is sleeping now after using her ability to preserve our dear boss. I don''t know where you guys went but in that short time you disappeared, Our dear Boss'' soul was unraveling like a poorly-stitched rag~! Tsk Tsk~" Luna was agitated as she slammed her own hands onto the table. "Tch! You''re talking like souls are fabric¡ªlike they can just tear apart! That''s bullshit! We don''t even have proof that such a thing exists!" Lily moved to place her hand on Luna''s shoulder in an attempt to be reassuring and to calm her down. Yet she didn''t say a word as she did agree with Luna to a degree. They had no proof souls existed. "Oh of course it exists. I mean was it not the Boss having a body that was incompatible with his soul that he was left on the verge of death for so long~?" The silence that followed was deafening as the girls and even Leo himself reeled from the unprecedented reveal. ''My body wasn''t the problem¡­ my soul was?!'' Echoes in the Mirror "Hahahaha" Adam couldn''t help but laugh as he relaxed in his new office after it had been recently ''vacated'' by the previous owner. Even if she managed to come back, she wouldn''t be able to say anything about it. Or anything else for that matter. The Office space itself was tacky to say the least, filled with gaudy portraits of Elise, all showcasing her vanity and inflated self worth. He couldn''t help but recall how good it had felt to crush her like a bug ''Little Snake, You may have hunted one of your own but your goal is far from being complete, no~? I do hope that your show is not over yet'' ''Can you just let me relish this moment for at least a bit?'' Adam stopped laughing when Arachne questioned him, throwing water on his good mood. ''Pride comes before the fall little one~'' ''Huh? That almost sounds like you care about me¡­.?!'' ''D-Don''t be foolish you ignorant curr! You are merely a source of my entertainment! ''Yeah yeah. Seems you know how to act cute sometimes~!'' ''You bastard! You will suffer for this!''. ''I am already a walking body horror. My blood is corrosive and my skin is now scaly. You can''t do much worse than that, no?'' Adam felt a bit smug as for the first time, he established dominance over Arachne. Yet something didn''t sit right with him. Why would they care about him? It was a question he had no answer for and one that Arachne would undoubtedly refuse to answer. A sudden knock on his door dragged Adam out of his thoughts. Turning his head, he saw Blair glaring at him in the doorway. There was a mixture of indignation, fear and even a little respect in his gaze. "You did well in cleaning up the ''mess'' Elise caused. But don''t think for a second that this somehow makes you an equal to us. You have just proven yourself to be a hound, not a mutt!". "Great motivational speech Blair. You really know how to inspire me to work for you¡­" If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Adam''s voice was laced heavily with sarcasm as he met Blair''s gaze defiantly. No matter how violent he had been, Blair wasn''t half as threatening as a goblin horde. "You lil shiiii¡­No¡­" Blair swallowed his surging rage as he tried to humble himself, most likely trying to get something out of Adam. .."I am sorry Adam. I came here to¡­ask you to do something for me." Blair''s jaw clenched, his shoulders rigid. The words barely squeezed past his teeth, like a man chewing on glass. In response, Adam tilted his head,equally curious and amused that the violent meathead was coming to ask him for anything. "Oh~? The great Blair Samael, lowering himself to ask a mere hound for help? Careful now¡ªI might start thinking I''m a purebred." Adam could see the vein throbbing on Blair''s bald head, he was on the verge of bursting with rage at the taunts. Entertaining as it was, there was no profit in pushing Blair over the edge. Adam let the smirk drop, his voice turning cold. "What do you want?" Blair took a deep breath, exhaling sharply before trying to regather his composure. "I..have a client..that could benefit from what Anthony has you looking into. They have offered to provide significant investment including advertisements." Adam was caught off guard for multiple reasons. How did Blair know about Anthony''s ''request''? Why was Blair coming to him and who was this mysterious ''client''. Yet he didn''t ask any of those questions, instead directing a loaded glare at Blair. "That doesn''t answer my question. What do you want? Don''t make me ask a third time.." Blair gulped nervously before he straightened his tie and roughly snapped back. "I-I want you to come with me to meet this client. I want you to assure them that you can discover the cause of this mutation and utilize it to fix their problems.." ''What nonsense is he talking about?'' "...When is this meeting?" "...It was supposed to start 5 minutes ago.." Adam facepalmed as he was reminded once again that his older brother was similar to Luna in that their brain was just another muscle. ''Well, Luna is cute so that''s fine'' "Fine. Let''s go. I have my own things to do after this. Who are we meeting?" "Ari Eversong and his father Gerard Eversong of Eversong Entertainment." Adam narrowed his eyes, suspicious. "Eversong Entertainment? The rising talent agency?" Blair smirked, his irritation momentarily replaced with smugness. " The very same. And Ari''s their golden boy." Adam let out a low hum. That was unexpected. A talent agency had no business meddling in mutation research. Unless¡­ Something wasn''t adding up. Adam frowned. "Ari Eversong came to you?" Blair scoffed, shaking his head. "Not him. His father, Gerard Eversong." That was even more interesting. "Why?" Blair smirked, but there was something off about it¡ªlike he found the situation amusing in the worst way. "Because his ''golden boy'' has a¡­ problem. And dear old daddy thinks your little ''research'' might be the answer to all his worries." Adam leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping idly against the armrest. "Be specific." Blair hesitated for a fraction of a second¡ªjust enough for Adam to notice. Then, he let out a humorless chuckle. "The kid''s body isn''t keeping up with the image Gerard''s been selling. And let''s just say¡­ normal medicine hasn''t been enough to ''correct'' the issue." Something about the way Blair said that put Adam on edge. "And he thinks mutations will somehow ''fix'' it?" Blair''s smirk widened, though his eyes remained cold. "You catch on quick." Arachne stirred in his mind, practically purring. ''Oh, how intriguing~ A father so desperate to mold his child into his vision, he would reach beyond nature itself. Truly, your species never ceases to amaze me.'' Adam ignored her, his thoughts turning. Gerard Eversong had power, influence, and wealth¡ªthings Adam could use. But the way Blair phrased it, the vague unease in his voice¡­ something about this felt wrong. Still, he needed more information. "Fine," Adam said, standing up. "Let''s meet the bastard." As they stepped out of the office, a nagging thought lingered in his mind. Ari Eversong was hailed as a rising star, a perfect prodigy. But if his father was looking for a way to ''fix'' him¡­ What exactly was wrong in Gerard''s eyes? As they walked down the hallway, Ari''s latest song started playing over the stereo system. When you gaze in the mirror Tell me what you see Broken pieces glitter Is this all of me Splintered eyes are watching Shards of what we were In this scattered frame Only one voice heard Am I in pieces Or finding my peace Hundreds of whispers Echoes never cease Dozens of voices call From the looking glass In this cracked mirage Future meets the past Though we seem divided Fragments can unite In the shards of mirror Find the inner light Am I in pieces Or paths to release Voices all blending Peace in broken seas Adam thought the lyrics were beautiful but something was off. As if the voice itself was distorted. Blair didn''t react but he must know something¡­right? The Eversongs Request Blair and Adam came to a stop in front of the conference room door. Blair cleared his throat and gave a meaningful look. Adam in turn cocked his eyebrow, did this meathead think he would still be subservient? Blair looked flustered and adjusted his suit before he opened the door himself and walked into the room. "Mr. Eversong, I am truly sorry for making you wait. It took me a bit of time to locate our resident expert on the matter of our newly formed ''Mutation Science'' division." Both Arachne and Adam were surprised. ''When did that happen?'' ''What nonsense is that Bald Buffoon spouting? They have no clue what is causing these mutations and they have a ''Division''? How foolish¡­'' "Mr. Samael I hope you are not wasting my precious time. You approached us for help in regards to your PR nightmare yet you still have the gall to make us wait?!" "M-Mr. Eversong. I am truly sorry. Adam, get in here and greet our guest!" Adam was slightly taken aback by the subservient attitude Blair was showing. Usually he was the most arrogant person in the room but he didn''t even dare to defend himself from the man in the room. Nonchalantly, Adam sauntered into the room in a relaxed fashion. .He nodded his head towards a middle aged man who had a bit of a potbelly standing on the other side of the table. He was wearing a gaudy gold coloured dress shirt undone, revealing his hairy chest. He also was wearing sunglasses inside and his thinning hair was slicked back. He was clearly trying to flaunt his wealth through his attire. ''Who even wears sunglasses indoors? Is he allergic to natural light? Or maybe he thinks his wallet makes him immune to looking like an absolute asshat?'' Mr. Eversong. Pleasure to meet you. My name is Adam Sam¡ª" "You rude brat! How dare you act so nonchalant around me! Don''t you know who I am?!" ''Child¡­This fool is irritating. Shall we paint the room with his insides? That would be so cathartic~!'' Adam''s eye twitched as the man interrupted his introduction, acting as if he was so self important. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ''Let''s hold off on that¡­.for now'' ''No fun¡­ Just say the word when¡­'' His gaze shifted to Blair who was hunched over, groveling for the man''s forgiveness. He turned back and noticed that there was someone else in the room. A young pretty looking boy wearing a simple business suit. Their nearly shoulder length long hair was tied into a neat ponytail and their hands were on their knees, trying to make themselves appear smaller than they already were. ''This guy¡­is really pretty..Is that sorta thing really that popular with girls nowadays? What sort of problem could this person have¡­besides their father being a certified douchebag? "So Samael Brat. Can you really fix my Ari? A star like him needs to be ready for their first concert in 2 months time" "Absolutely SIr! This is why I brought Adam here. He has personally assured me that he will be able to fix all of the young Eversong''s issues. ''Hah?! When did I do that?'' "Besides, he has already been experimenting on himself!" Adam''s eyes opened wide as he looked genuinely surprised at Blair''s observations, only those who looked extremely closely would notice the scales! "Before this, he used to pardon my french be absolutely Fugly! Looking at him before caused people to want to gouge their eyes out with their hands. Now he is at least bearable to look at!" Adam''s quiet horror that he had been exposed shifted to anger and annoyance. ''This bitch! Someone who could blind a man if the sun catches his head at the right angle is calling me ugly?!'' ''HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA'' Arachne was cackling incessantly at hearing his appearance being mocked. Adam could feel a bit of heat on his face as he felt somewhat embarrassed. "Hmmm. You''re right. His face is passable. I could see some ladies would find him appealing. What do you say kid. After this, how about you quit and come work for me. I think I can market you somewhere." Adam could feel a vein on his head throbbing while Arachne''s laughter was intensifying. "I am sorry Sir but I have no interest in the entertainment industry. If I may be so bold, could we please shift the focus to the main topic of this meeting?" "Tch. Fine. My Child Ari has a certain issue. They lack the necessary components to carry on the family line." Gerard clicked his tongue before he placed one of his hands on the pretty boys shoulder. Adam was confused as he replied "So is it that he needs Testosterone? That doesn''t really justify a private meeting like this¡­" "No it''s not just that¡­Ari has an unfortunate defect that I¨Cno we hope you can arrange to have fixed via these supposed mutation experiments of yours." Adam furrowed his brow before he shot another glare at Blair who refused to meet his glare. While still staring at Blair, Adam asked Gerard: "Sir¡­What is this defect you speak of? I need to know more before I can offer any sort of help" Gerard grit his teeth, his hand on Ari''s shoulders growing stronger causing the boy to grimace in pain. "My boy doesn''t have the right tools to finish the job" "What job?" ".....eation" Adam furrowed his brows, turning his gaze back to Gerard who was looking away while gritting his teeth, the words coming out as a murmur that he didn''t quite catch. "I''m sorry sir. I didn''t quite catch that¡­" "My son is missing his dick! He needs one if he is to have sex and give me a grandkid when the time arises!" Adam felt his jaw was a little loose at that incredulous reveal. Ari looked extremely uncomfortable, their gaze trained on the floor as the blushed fiercely. Now Adam could understand why they looked like they didn''t want to be there. The revelation caused Arachne to stop laughing as even they found such reasoning unbelievable. ''What the fuck is wrong with this asshole. Missing? The poor child was clearly born without one because they were born a girl! ''Child¡­what are you thinking? Are you going to take pity on that child? They are in a cage of their own making¡­'' ''You may be right Arachne. But this child still deserves to spread their wings on their own, even if it''s only for a short while'' Adam''s lips twisted upwards into a polite smile as he held out his hand. "Mr. Eversong¡­I believe I can help but it will require that I take custody of the young Eversong for the next month or so to monitor their progress" Gerard frowned, shifting his gaze to Ari for a brief moment before he too held out his hand. "You have a deal Young man. Start immediately while I work out the details with Blair." "Yes Sir. Come along Mr. Ari". ''Child you are putting your own plan to the side again. You are too soft'' ''Maybe. But even a songbird deserves to spread their wings once in a while'' A Songbirds Struggle Aria Eversong was experiencing a myriad of emotions as she sat in the conference room with the man she called Father. He had raised her since she was young yet he constantly berated and screamed at her for looking just like her mother who had left long ago. In order to avoid his wrath, she had started to dress and act like a boy to appease him. Surprisingly it worked. He became invested in her and when he heard her sing for the first time, he quit his job and focused solely on her, pushing her towards stardom. She loved to sing more than anything so it was only natural that her devotion and natural talent made her a rising star in the entertainment industry. Yet things couldn''t stay bright forever. Her father prevented her from performing at any concerts or making any ''live'' content. He didn''t even let her attend college. If it was because she was a celebrity that would be one thing but no, He just didn''t want her ''defect'' to be exposed to the public. ''Is being a woman really that bad? Will I ever be free under Father''s shadow?'' Aria was not popular, she had nobody besides her father, it was Ari who was the one loved by all. The meeting with the Samael Corporation was something she hadn''t expected but left her horrified when Father spoke of ''fixing'' her defect. ''When will it be enough? How much do I have to be mutilated to satisfy him? Why can''t father just love me¡­for me.'' Yet there was no way she would ever be able to say that to him She could feel her heart in her throat when the two men showed up to the meeting, one she recognized as someone who had been meeting with her Father quite regularly, while the other was someone she did not know. She gripped her knees tightly as her father''s voice boomed beside her. "Mr. Samael, I hope you are not wasting my precious time. You approached us for help in regards to your PR nightmare yet you still have the gall to make us wait?!" If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He was just throwing his weight around, he lived for the feel of standing above others. "M-Mr. Eversong. I am truly sorry. Adam, get in here and greet our guest!" ''So his name is Adam? Someone as attractive as him is going to mutilate me? What is he going to do to me?'' Adam was undeniably handsome, his black hair and amber eyes alongside his smooth skin and confident demeanor gave him a striking appearance that made eyes naturally focus on him. Aria was in awe as he didn''t show any subservience to her Father unlike the other man, in fact he looked increasingly annoyed with each passing second. She even thought she had witnessed a spark of rage in his eyes for a moment. "Hmmm. You''re right. His face is passable. I could see some ladies that would find him appealing. What do you say kid. After this, how about you quit and come work for me. I think I can market you somewhere." ''Father¡­ Do you want to ruin yet another man''s life? Every man you have taken as a client suffers under your hands'' Even though the two middle aged men had mocked his appearance, her father had expressed interest in making Adam a part of his clientele, but thankfully he was rejected with a professional response. "I am sorry Sir but I have no interest in the entertainment industry. If I may be so bold, could we please shift the focus to the main topic of this meeting?" ''Thank god¡­Wait, why am I feeling relief for this man?!'' When her father began to explain what her defect was in a vague manner., Aria was mortified, the two men had confused expressions but after a few moments, she could see what she could only describe as pity in the eyes of Adam. Her heart went cold as she saw Adam''s gaze shift back to her father as his lips twisted upwards into a polite smile holding out his hand. "Mr. Eversong¡­I believe I can help but it will require that I take custody of the young Eversong for the next month or so to monitor their progress" ''Is he pitying me because I am being a guinea pig for whatever twisted experiments he wants to perform on me.." At first indignation soared in the depths of her heart but then she began to question herself. ''Take custody of? As in I would be free from Father for a month?'' She was conflicted, the idea that she would be the target of an experiment became tempting when it came with the condition of being separated from the abusive man she called father. Gerard''s gaze shifted to Aria as he glared at her intently for a brief moment as if to tell her Don''t do or say anything unnecessary! Before turning back to Adam and shaking his hand. "You have a deal, Young man. Start immediately while I work out the details with Blair." "Yes Sir. Come along Mr. Ari". Aria rose from her seat and meekly followed behind Adam as they left the room. She could feel her heart hammering against her chest, afraid of what was to come. They walked in silence for a few minutes before arriving at a spacious lounge. "Hey Ari.." "Y-Yes Sir?!" Aria''s body stood straight up at being called unexpectedly, sweat dripping down her back as the man turned to her. She felt her heart skip a beat as the calm and collected smile was replaced with a carefree smirk. ''That expression suits him more¡­Wait No! Don''t get distracted Aria!'' "I have a question to ask you before we begin¡­'' Adam walked to the corner of the room, scanning around, looking for something. "Y-Yes¡­?" ''Is he going to ask for me to write my will? Or is he going to try and save a piece of me from the mutilation?'' He walked back over to her and held out a small metal helmet towards her: A VR console. "Have you ever played a video game before?" "...." ''Haah?! What is he talking about?! Mysterious Sanctuary Aria grumbled to herself as she sat alone in the room. She was conflicted yet somehow annoyed with the behavior of Adam. She grit her teeth, her fingers tightening around the VR console as she stared at it. Her heart pounded, and she couldn''t shake the taste of bitterness on her tongue, the thought of Adam still lingering in her mind, despite her better judgment She shook her head to clear her head. She still couldn¡¯t trust him, but she was grateful for the break from her controlling father. In her hands was the VR console that Adam had provided her with. ¡®How is this going to help me at all? A video game..really? Is this a trap to catch me off guard? Will I wake up on an operating table when I take this thing off?¡± Her mind was racing trying to come up with answers to the questions plaguing her mind. ¡°Screw it...Hesitating now wont help me at all¡­¡± She sat on the couch and placed the console on her head before lying down. Taking a deep breath, her words came out somewhat tense ¡°Game¡­Start¡± All the mundane sensations she felt disappeared as her whole world became white. She could feel a fresh breeze on her skin. Huh? Since when were my eyes closed?¡¯ Slowly, she blinked, taking in her surroundings. The sky stretched endlessly in every direction, painted in soft hues of gold and violet, like the break of dawn frozen in time. Towering structures of ivory and crystal floated in the distance, suspended in the vast expanse of the heavens. Her breath hitched. ¡®Oh my god¡­ How is this possible?! This feels too real to be just a video game!¡¯ Before she could process further, a voice, smooth, elegant, and laced with an airy aura cut through the silence. ¡°Oh my. This is quite interesting. How did you get in here, child?¡± Aria¡¯s head jerked toward the sound, her pulse quickening. Perched upon an ornate throne of what she could only describe as white marble sat a woman unlike any she had ever seen. Draped in flowing silver robes, her presence radiated an air of regality and mystery as her face remained obscured . Long strands of silvery white hair cascaded over her shoulders, shimmering with an almost otherworldly glow. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­ This is insane.. Where am I?¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Aria''s eyes darted around, her breath quickening as her hands trembled. Her mouth opened and closed as panic rose in Aria¡¯s heart. The situation was far too weird for her to say definitively that it was just a video game. The woman on the throne tilted her head slightly, as if amused by Aria¡¯s confusion. Her voice carried a gentle lilt, like a breeze whispering through wind chimes. ¡°Where, indeed?¡± she mused. ¡°This place is a sanctuary.. A place of freedom for those who are trapped. This realm is for those who have the ability to soar but are locked away in a cage.¡± The woman tapped her finger on the throne as a gust of wind lifted Aria into the air gently, carrying her towards the woman. Aria¡¯s heart pounded as the unseen force cradled her, the wind both gentle and firm as it carried her closer to the enigmatic woman. ¡°A sanctuary?¡± she echoed, struggling to suppress the mix of awe and wariness bubbling inside her. ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­ What does that have to do with me?¡± The woman¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°You are the one who must answer that, child.¡± As Aria was set down before the throne, she felt the wind swirl around her, tugging at her clothes like playful spirits. There was something strangely familiar about the sensation¡ªcomforting, yet distant. The woman leaned forward slightly, her veiled face still obscured, yet Aria could feel the weight of her gaze. ¡°You have wings, but you do not fly,¡± the woman continued, her voice carrying an air of both wisdom and sorrow. ¡°You long for freedom, yet you hesitate. Why?¡± Aria clenched her fists. ¡°I¡ª¡± She faltered. She wanted to protest, to claim that she wasn¡¯t hesitant, that she wasn¡¯t shackled by anything. But the words caught in her throat, as if something deep inside refused to let her lie. The woman chuckled softly, as if she had already anticipated Aria¡¯s struggle. She raised a hand, and suddenly, feathers began to appear and float around Aria. ¡°I shall grant you my blessing Child¡­ I pray that you find your freedom one day¡­I wish you luck¡­Aria¡± ¡°W-wait! How do you know my name?! I didn¡¯t tell you that!¡± The woman¡¯s smile seemed to become sad, the words she spoke soft like a whisper. ¡°One day I will be able to tell you. Unfortunately today is not the day.¡± The throne started to glow with a bright blinding light, forcing Aria to close her eyes. When she opened them again, she found herself lying on a bed in a log cabin.
Welcome to Ascension of Souls Online. You have now entered the World of Melodia. You are currently in the Beginner Village (Beastkin). Please Confirm your Status and set your Character Name. To check your Status, Please say [Status] You have been blessed by the Goddess of Wind: ??????????
¡®Why is the name garbled? I can¡¯t read what it says¡¯ Aria stared at the text before her, her confusion mounting as she tried to decipher the garbled name of the goddess. She could feel a slight pull in her chest, an odd sensation, as if the very presence of the goddess was still lingering in her consciousness. ¡°Goddess of Wind?¡± she murmured to herself, her mind racing. ¡°What kind of game is this?¡± Despite her initial shock, she quickly forced herself to push through the disorienting feeling. The soft rustling of the wind outside the cabin seemed almost too real while the room around her was warm, the wooden furniture simple but comforting. It felt far too tangible to be a mere simulation. "Ascension of Souls Online," she read aloud, her voice a mixture of awe and uncertainty. "Is this really just a game?" She glanced at the message hovering before her, urging her to check her status. ¡°Status,¡± she said, uncertain if it would actually do something. A panel appeared before her, shimmering with ethereal light. It displayed her character''s basic information. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡®What the hell is this?!¡¯