The pouncing creature batted aside Sage’s spear with ease, its large claw raking across his chest knocking him to the side. Sage felt the warm blood rush down his chest, standing and snarling he slashed out with his knife cutting the creature's hind leg, its own roar matching his own as it pounced away circling Sage. Twig skittering beside Sage, mirroring the large animals stalking in a circle.

Pointing his spear, awkwardly with one hand, he planted the butt end in the Earth, positioning the tip at the Apex, when it struck the second time, his spear landed true, striking its shoulder, but snapping from the immense force it charged with Its body slamming into Sage, and slamming him on the floor, his breath leaving his chest. His arm wielding his arm trapped, as the Apex moved to bite down with its considerable fangs.

A desperate bid for survival Sage latched his own teeth hard onto the Apex’s leg and attempted to hold it in place, Twig doing the same on its hind leg to much more success. Its yowl signaling their success, its heavy kick launching Twig a distance away, landing hard, and its lashing claws doing a number on Sage before finally releasing him. His breath coming in ragged and desperate, the iron, sweet smell of blood thick on his nose from his mouth, and his breath coming so hard it felt like his lungs would pop.

With a hacking cough he stood unsteadily, his knife held before him, eyeing the Apex, he noted the wounded shoulder, a haft of spear still poking out, a chunk of its flesh missing where he bit and a large puncture wound where Twig made his attack. Concern flashed in his mind about Twig, but from his periphery he saw the large ball of fur moving unsteadily, the Apex now with a heavy limp on its rear leg still circled, its intelligent amber eyes flicking toward Twig, only a heartbeat but Sage rapidly rushed toward Twig, his quick reaction the only reason he could meat the Apex prior to it assaulting Twig, his charge changing to a tackle as he bodily throws himself against the creatures side. Driving the knife into its stomach, his shoulder feeling like it separated from his body after the hit and his ears ringing.

The force of it turning and latching its jaws on his upper arm and tossing him to the side once more drove the air from his lungs. The dagger he held onto tearing out of the Apex’s stomach cutting a long jagged line. His arm released from his jaws but a sharp snap and radiating pain, making his arm nearly unusable, thankfully the Apex’s follow up halted by its new injury, as it limped over toward Sage, its cold amber eyes vindictive as blood poured from its stomach wound.

Lunging toward him its jaws wide to end him, saved once more by Twig latching onto the same leg, further puncturing this time on the lower leg, the creature leaping and kicking once more. Turning Twig once more into an aerial creature, as it flew landing a long distance away, the hard thud made Sage see red. The Apex, limping even more disregarded Sages pathetic form, unable to catch his breath, and turned its attention to Twig, its deep growl sending a shiver up Sages spine.

His rage rising to new heights, changing his knife to his off hand, he charges and leaps on the Apex’s back bringing his dagger hard on the back of its neck. Its thrashing nearly launched him off, using his teeth and legs once more the hold on, he pulled his dagger out once more and stabbed again and again, his arm radiating an ice cold pain that complimented the fiery rage of his anger, stoking it higher and higher. Riding the Apex to the ground, his knife snapping in his hand, the warm blood of the Apex causing his hand to slip, cutting a long gash on his palm. The large gashes in his chest, and punctures in his arm allowing his blood to flow freely, his vision darkening he looked at Twig laying still he reached his hand out, wanting to comfort his friend, his blood mixing with the Apex’s below him.

A blinking message the last he saw before going unconscious:

Trial 3 Completed, you have mixed your blood with the Apex’s reward, assigning augment points, special reward body augment: Blood of the Apex affixed.

Aavang: Move forth my little lion, may you reach the Apex.

Waking Sage felt strange, laying on the Apex he attempted to recall the message he saw but his senses were rapidly overloaded. The world seemed more clear, he noted some colors missing, his ears picked up noises from the forest but overall he felt… strong. Standing, looking down at the Apex, he was sickened, its body appeared gray and decrepit, looking almost drained of life and dried in the sun.

Eyes focusing on Twig, Sage sprinted forward moving much faster than usual arriving at his friend's side, the shallow breaths and shaking causing some concern. Lifting Twig, quite easily, and gently, he sprinted through the forest taking what took him most of the morning in almost half the time even while carrying twig. Arriving back at the camp he laid Twig down, tending to his wound and grabbing his friend's water and pulping some of the broad leaf to add to the water.

With Twig taken care of the best Sage was able, he finally had a moment to collect his thoughts on what happened, looking down at his hands, he noted his forearms seem large, his hands larger and his nails broader and sharpened. Moving to the river he stared down at his reflection, his once bright green eyes now amber, his short messy hair now long and golden. He may have even been taller and broader than he already was. Touching his chin, he also noted hairs sprouting from his chin, his arms and chest carrying much more hair, and his arm and scars seemingly healed.

What happened to me? Sage stared at the strangers reflection in the flowing water, the sights and sounds of the forest even more vibrant than he originally took in. Closing his now amber eyes, the eyes of the Apex, he breathed deeply, he would take this, he would have his answers, he wouldn’t stop until he had his answers. Sitting down and eating berries, he noticed something strange, each berry he ate his mind expanded, knowing the properties, its uses, its plant structure, its best growing conditions, more and more entered his mind, and quickly only a handful of berries remained his feast ravenous.

Looking at the broad leaves, he began the same, knowledge filling him, his knowledge expanding, after his feast he felt somewhat unsatisfied, he craved… meat. Since he had befriended Twig he hadn’t eaten the jerky of his kin but now his stomach growled for it, grabbing the oft ignored jerky, he ate it. Strangely, he learned Twig was a beaver, the musculature and bone structure interesting, the tail a safe fat deposit, his skull thickening, his jaws increasing in power, and his stomach changing, his whole digestive tract seemingly adjusting.

Even with this, he still had the craving, he wanted to dig, bite and claw fresh meat, the rush of blood in his mouth recalled from a memory, the flashes of battle blending together seeming to come from both himself and the Apex. Looking at Twigs resting form he unconsciously licked his lips, feeling parched and starved, shaking the dark thoughts beginning to form away as he strode into the woods, looking to eat, to hunt.

Traveling back South of the river, he quickly found a four legged, slim furred creature, drinking from a short pool, bone protrusions jutting from its skull. Approaching slowly, he realized he had no weapon, looking down at his hands, and feeling his sharp teeth, a deep rumble echoed through him, claws and fangs… a feast. The thought sounded in his ears a deep growl, more impressions than true words.

The creatures head bounding upward when Sage was nearly three lengths of himself away, their eyes met, his hunger driving him to action first, his bounding steps closing the gap. The prey’s quick turn and steps took it away quickly, for some time, he chased and prowled. Unconsciously Sage drove the prey to the river, toward the thicker forest, toward his domain. Until a poor turn caused the creature to trip over the thickening underbrush, landing hard with Sage following on its heels.

Launching himself forward, his claws and new found strength holding the beast down, his jaws closing on its throat. As the warm tang of its life blood met his tongue a strange event happened, he knew this creature, a stag. As he ate more information entered his mind, its musculature and bone structure, its grazing habits, more and more information. As he ate, he felt his body subtly warp, horns sprouting from his skull, the pads on his feet developing hard hoof material, his muscles twitching, and his ears ringing with enhancement. As he ate, as he transformed, a strange prompt took his attention:

Optional Fourth Trial: From Sortis

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Taste the forest, reach the Apex, before the second trial is concluded hunt and consume:

Mammals (2/3)

Sea life (0/3)

Plant Life (2/3)

Avians (0/3)

Reptiles (0/3)

Raising himself to his considerable height, he looked at the surroundings, his improved eyes spotting a fruit tree. Traveling towards the tree, he climbed the trunk easily, grabbing the strange fuzzy fruits and eating peaches, the name came unbidden, and its pit was able to make a powerful poison. Eating more and more of the delicately fleshed fruit, his eyes narrowed on a small bundle in the branches.of the tall tree. Approaching it slowly, smooth white speckled rocks appeared in the bundle, as he approached and picked up a few of the rocks their warmth shocked him. The swooping bird, hitting his head, shocked him and his hand squeezed, the warm rock shattering and covering his hand in a strange substance.

Swiping his hand much faster than the bird anticipated on its second swoop, it fell from the sky, landing hard on the earth below. Licking the strange substance off of his hand, information filled his mind. Eggs, a falcon, eating the other eggs, his eyes widened at the unique biology, strangely his body seemed on the edge of shifting, as if waiting for something… as the moment passed Sage, pinched his brow, he felt as if he could of done something, but he wasn’t sure what.

Optional Fourth Trial: From Sortis

Taste the forest, reach the Apex, before the second trial is concluded hunt and consume:

Mammals (2/3)

Aquatic (0/3)

Plant Life (3/3)

Avians (1/3)

Reptiles (0/3)

Sage climbed down the tree, and stared at the small bird, the falcon, he had been holding its babies, his powerful form that of a hunter. And when it attempted to defend, he struck it down without a thought, he had done this previously with the beavers, with Twig. His head rang, his body staggered, what is wrong with me? Why am I so… hungry? The birds still form on the ground made his stomach grumble, his mouth watered, is this what the Apex felt? Is this what I’ve become? His thoughts seemed secondary to his actions as he ate, as he devoured.

Continuing his hunt, Sage rapidly found a slithering long vine on the ground, stomping his clawed hooves down, and eating he learned, of snakes, of reptiles, and of venom… the claws on his hand receding into his finger tips, now able to launch with speed and inject this venom. Internally he screamed, this was not him, he didn’t want to kill like this, none of these creatures challenged him, none brought him true gains.

His will was too weak, the quiet voice berating him aten, by his cold wrath, fed by the pride of the Apex, Sage knew he was out of control, but he wouldn’t stop now, he needed answers, he needed that star in the void. Hunting more and more, he found another snake, this one able to constrict and squeeze its muscle and form unique, his fingers elongating, and strengthening, and a strange lizard with a unique ability to regrow its limbs a salamander.

More birds followed his path of destruction, small doves, robins, pigeons, toucans, parrots, and crows. None providing much benefit to the form of the Apex, though he now knew if he wished he could change his arms for wings, to fly… that would be interesting, his beaked serrated jaw now a true force when it came to biting, taking chunks the size of his sizeable fist out of creatures.

His hunt brought him to ponds, and rivers in battle against a snapping turtle losing him a chunk of flesh, that slowly regrew even now but gaining him a hard carapace over his vitals, and a greatly increased biting capacity. The first fish he caught was a simple silver trout, though its flexible scales rapidly replaced the fur and feathers that lined his person, his long hair shifting to feathers that matched the colors of the forest and extremely effective at exhausting heat. Days and night blended together, and he consumed more fish and birds, some smaller reptiles but none to significant gain. He was unsure how much time truly passed, his gaze constantly calling up and focusing looking at the trial screen Sage as eyed the last of his prey:

Optional Fourth Trial: From Sortis

Taste the forest, reach the Apex, before the second trial is concluded hunt and consume:

Mammals (2/3)

Aquatic (3/3)

Plant Life (3/3)

Avians (3/3)

Reptiles (3/3)

He had seen smaller mammals, all weak, all not worthy of his time, of his attention, he wanted a challenge, the blood of Apex demanded a challenge. Until he spotted it, large gray, powerful, his nostrils complimented by a thick horn, and its wide thick, a truly worthy prey for him to complete this trail.

Its movements to the small watering hole far South even more South than the cave, near the starry void edge of this side of the forest. He stalked it, before moving to strike, his protruded claws unable to puncture its hide, his movements didn’t go unnoticed, its thick neck corded in muscle spun, hitting his chest and shattering his thin layer of carapace, his own blood flooding his mouth.

Standing to his full height, the large creature eyed him, stamping its leg as thick as some tree trunks, its charge barrelling toward Sage. Twitching his muscles he slides to the side, jumping on the beast's back, he sinks his needle like claws into its eyes, and injects his venom. Its below deep and thick only motivating him further, his jaws attempting to chew threw the thick hide of its neck. Slowly bleeding the creature, the blood bringing with it, strength, this creatures thick hide as scales, its musculature warping and enhancing his own, and his right hand changing, two of his fingers extending and calcifying, combing the sharp horn of the stag with the thick strong horn of the rhino, he sinks his new weapon into the back of the creatures neck, killing it in a swift stroke.

Sage was unstoppable, he felt powerful, and he liked it, the guilt at killing this peaceful creature unprompted still pleading in the back of his mind only making him hesitate a moment before continuing his consumption. The prompt in his vision bringing a smile to his toothy maw:

Optional Fourth Trial: From Sortis

Taste the forest, reach the Apex, before the second trial is concluded hunt and consume:

Mammals (3/3)

Aquatic (3/3)

Plant Life (3/3)

Avians (3/3)

Reptiles (3/3)

Calculating… Reward: 3 augment points

A familiar crystal now standing before him, he approaches, his large wide form reaching its hand out and placing it on the crystal, its warmth filling him. A second prompt entering his vision as Sage prepared to receive more power:

Augment Points

2

Current Attempt - Trial

1 - 4

Augment Type

Augment Cost

Cost to Choose

Save Augment Point(s)

0

Body Improvement

Variable

0

Body Augment*

Variable

1

Basic Item

1

0

Augmented Item*

Variable

1

Augmented Magics*

Variable

1

Familiar

4

1

Basic Magics

1

0

Training

1

0

Knowledge

1

0

Companion*

20

5

2nd…9th tier Item

3…10

1…8

2nd… 9th tier Magics

3…10

1…8

Custom Request

Variable

Variable

Recalling his initial information all that time ago, he prompted 2nd tier magics, accepting the random imbuement his lack of augment points would cause.

A golden wisp extending from the crystal seemed to reach out and caress Sage's cheek, before sinking into his mind, soothing his blood lust, and hunger.

Congratulations:

You have received the magics:

Centered Mind:

with a force of will master yourself, never be overwhelmed and remain calm.

When Sage awoke, he didn’t know but as his vision cleared another prompt was in his vision

Congratulations:

You have passed the second trial, the void has populated to a new forest, enter this forest for your reward and new trial.

Squinting Sage hurried back to his camp, his mind much clearer and fresh, his concern for Twig great, he left Twig alone, at camp… injured. His chest heavy and mind clear, he felt an exhaustion, his stomach at using his new magic, as he held it, his mind recalled the events as the last days, and he felt sick to his stomach, Sage wasn’t sure what he was anymore, if he was even still considered a Planetborn, but he knew for certain… he became a monster. The mindless killing he participated in truly sickening, the consumption and endless hunger, again he felt a strange windedness in his stomach as he used his [Centered Mind] he knew he needed to maintain it until he knew Twig was alright. Crossing the river, the fall of blood and viscera from his person made him sick, and pressured his hold on [Centered Mind] even more. Arriving at his former camp what he found broke his will to hold on to his new magic, and once more… the Apex took over.