Chapter 1

Consciousness crept into my mind like a slow, encroaching fog, and I became aware of my cramped surroundings. A claustrophobic feeling washed over me as I attempted to stretch out my limbs, only to discover I could barely move. It was as if I were swaddled in a thick, unyielding blanket that pressed against me from all sides, muffling my senses and weighing down on me. Panic rose from within, but I forced myself to calm down and think. Who was I? Where was I? Why couldn't I remember anything?

Darkness engulfed me, impenetrable and suffocating. Yet, amidst the void, a cluster of glowing letters appeared with a blinking bar next to them. The words "Name:" hovered in the air, their luminescence casting eerie shadows on the otherwise pitch-black void. I tried to focus on them, desperate for any form of distraction from this suffocating confinement. I searched for something, anything, to call myself; to anchor my existence in this oppressive darkness.

"Name?" I pondered to myself. "What's in a name, anyway?" My thoughts wandered aimlessly, grasping at straws in the dark. The more I strained to remember, the more elusive the answers seemed. It was as if I'd been born anew, devoid of any past. But despite the lack of memories, I felt as though there was still something there.

My mind whirled, desperately searching for a glimmer of recognition. Embers of memory ignited in my veins: the taste of ashes on my tongue, the feel of dust coating my skin, the heat from a dying fire searing my flesh. Suddenly, the name "Asher" leapt into my awareness, like an instinctive understanding. At the time,I did not know why, but somehow it just felt right. Like a symbol of rebirth from the ashes of a forgotten existence; with its utterance came clarity and purpose.The blinking cursor stopped abruptly, and a new screen materialized before me. Incandescent letters and numbers displayed various categories, such as HP/MP, Stats, Species, Level, Skills, and Essences. I gazed in awe at this mysterious window that seemed to hold the mysteries of my entire soul.

[Name: Asher]

[Level: 1]

[Species: Stirge]

[HP: 5, MP: N/A]

[Stats:]

[Strength: 1, Agility: 5, Constitution: 1, Intelligence: 10, Perception: 6, Willpower: 5]

[Skills: Limited Flight, Feed]

[Shards: N/A]

Confused and even more frightened, I found myself peering into an array of strange words and numbers. My health points were there, but N/A for mp, did this mean I couldn't cast magic? What did all these stats mean?

Strength, agility, constitution...intelligence. I focused on the last one, feeling a small sense of pride at the higher number beside it. Perhaps my higher capacity at thought could help with whatever was happening here.

Skills...limited flight? Feed? As I attempted to make sense of these words confusion only deepened inside me. What did these terms mean? What would I feed on? And why was my flight limited?

I read on, but nothing was listed under 'Shards'. Another mystery that needed solving. But for now I accepted these revelations about myself as I concentrated my energy on freeing myself from this cramped confinement. I had to get out if I wanted to breathe, discover who or what I was, Asher the Stirge.

I sat for a while staring at the screen in front of me, taking in every detail, committing every piece to memory. With an instinct I didn't know I had, I willed the screen to vanish and was plunged into complete darkness once more. I gasped as I was pulled under. As the final piece of information on my stat screen vanished, I focused on the darkness surrounding me, drawing in a shaky breath, as the last of my surroundings dissolved around me. I had a name now, something to cling to in this sea of uncertainty: Asher. I repeated the word quietly within my thoughts as if trying to rekindle some long-lost memory. But nothing came, the void remained.

I focused on those stats, attempting to draw power from them, I concentrated on the concept of strength, although minimal, perhaps I could break free from this prison. The dull ache in my bones began to fade as I summoned every ounce of willpower within me.

Willing my body to obey, I stretched my limbs out. Slowly at first, then more confidently as I felt the resistance of my prison weaken. As I felt my arm break through a surge of triumph coursed through me, only to quickly be be replaced by a disorienting sense of vertigo. I was weak, my body unsteady and unfamiliar, but I refused to be cowed by these challenges.

As I emerged, I found myself in a gloomy, frigid chamber. The scent of rot and death clung to my nostrils as the incessant drip of moisture resonated through the cave. My delicate ears perceived a cacophony of screaming and squabbling that sent chills down my spine. The sound was reminiscent of a battleground or more aptly, a feeding frenzy. Blinking away the blurriness in my vision, the sight that treated me shook me to the core.

A multitude of creatures surrounded me, their small bat-like forms swarming over a large writhing creature. Their leathery wings flapped wildly as they fought for their share of the spoils, razor-sharp pincers tearing into flesh with predatory abandon. The feeding frenzy that had taken place around me was a chaotic maelstrom of violence, stirges fighting one another, desperate for nourishment. Each fighting desperately for some piece of the dying beast. Some even turned on the other stirge nearby, likely believing them to be an easier meal. There was no matriarch or similar to direct this chaos. Only a mad scramble for survival as they swarmed.

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Instinctively, I drew back, recoiling from the scene before me. I glanced down at my body, finally able to take in what I had become. My new body was small, winged, and covered in a sleek, black fur. A long, needle-like proboscis extended from my face, twitching as if it were eager for sustenance. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and horror at the sight of this monstrous form.

"Was this...what I was? A Stirge?" I thought to myself as a torrent of emotions raced through my head, confusion and fear among the foremost. My only small measure of comfort was that all of the creatures in the cavern seemed to be distracted, either by the free meal lying on the ground or by each other.

My egg-like prison had been shattered and I shakily crawled through the remains of countless others like it, some were already picked apart and hollowed out while others were still whole; their occupants thrashing desperately to break free.

Despite my fear and disgust, I crawled deeper into the cavern, determined to escape the feeding frenzy. I tried to focus on my breathing, but it was difficult with the sounds of screeching and tearing echoing all around the cavern. The feeding frenzy was a horrifying spectacle, stirges latching onto one another, their proboscises plunging into flesh, drawing blood as they fought for survival. The hunger had gnawed at me too, almost blinding in its intensity. A primal instinct screamed within me to join the fray, to feed, but deep down I knew this wasn't what I wanted.

I muttered inwardly, steeling my resolve and determined to not become like those around me. Disgusting though the scene may have been, I was bound and determined to find a way out. Amidst the chaos, I noticed the dying creature on the cave floor; a large four-legged beast that had succumbed to my brethren's feeding frenzy. Its powerful legs quivered weakly, writhing as life faded from it.

Struggling for a moment of balance, I pushed off from the ground with my legs. My wings beat rapidly, and I felt a thrill as I took off for the first time. Swerving around the clashing stirges below, I felt a sudden rush of exhilaration. I quickly learned what the limited portion of my skill meant as I realized I couldn't stay aloft for long. Finally, I landed on an outcropping jutting from the wall of the cavern. I looked down at the creature below which now lay still, a mere husk compared to the beast just moments before. The other stirge in the cavern began to turn their attention completely on one another, the incessant hunger ever gnawing. There was a certain urgency to my thoughts now, a deep understanding that if I didn't leave this place soon, it would be my end. The air was heavy with coppery blood, and my throat burned with a repulsive desire to taste that blood.

I focused on the walls of the cavern, desperately searching for any possible escape route. My eyes landed on a small opening near the ceiling just big enough for me to pass through. Taking a deep breath, I readied my wings and propelled myself forward with all my strength. I zipped past other stirges trying to snatch me from mid-air as I raced toward my goal. With every flap of my wings, pain stabbed through me, but I couldn't falter.

Behind me, one of my kin was in hot pursuit, determined to drag me back into the carnage. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as instinct took over; I swerved and dipped in the air, narrowly avoiding its proboscis that sought to end my life. The echoing screeches of my brethren coupled with the frenzied flapping of my pursuer's wings were deafening. Taking a deep breath, I willed myself to beat faster and stronger than before. At last I managed to make it through the narrow opening and leave the macabre scene behind. Relief washed over me as I inwardly began to cheer for myself.

My reverie was cut short however as my pursuer came hurtling through the opening, diving directly toward me. I rolled to the left, narrowly avoiding being hit, and I watched as it slammed into the ground, dazed. Taking advantage of its confusion, I jumped forward and sunk my pincers into its flesh. It shrieked in agony, frantically trying to free itself from my grasp. The scent of its blood was overwhelming, and a deep craving seized me.

The thought of survival reverberated in my head, and without hesitation, I sunk my proboscis into the wounded stirge. The taste of blood was alien and yet familiar , disgusting yet strangely comforting. I felt a warmth encompass me as it's lifeblood filled me with fresh vigor. As my adversary diminished in strength, I released my hold and watched as it slump to the cavern floor. There was no time to take pleasure in my victory; leaving this nightmarish place was of utmost importance.

[Level 1 Stirge Slain: +25 Exp +1 BP]

I dismissed this new message just as I had the status screen before and fueled by the energy from the blood; I surged forward as my wings beat harder than ever before, each beat carrying me further away. The sounds of the feeding frenzy faded as I fled, replaced by the soft dripping of water against rock. Finally, I emerged from the cramped confines of the cavern, blinking in the dim light that greeted me. The world beyond was a vast network of tunnels and chambers, illuminated by patches of glowing fungi and populated by all manner of bizarre creatures. I had made it, I thought as I let out a sigh of relief.

A chill coursed through my body as I flew further into the depths of the mysterious caverns. The faint glow from the bioluminescent fungi cast dancing shadows on the walls, which impressed a sense of unease upon me. Strange alien scents filled my nostrils and echoes of unknown creatures reminded me that I was not alone in this place. My small, weak body did nothing to comfort me. I had only acquired a slight understanding of my capabilities. I already had a taste of what these caverns contained, a literal taste due to my unexpected first meal, and knew one wrong move would have dire consequences.

In the early days of the dungeon, I was both drawn to and repelled by the strange landscapes and creatures I encountered. There were moments of exquisite beauty, phosphorescent pools that glimmered like stars, delicate crystalline formations that tinkled softly when brushed by descending droplets. And moments of terror as well, such as the colossal, multi-legged beast that almost devoured me when I unwittingly ventured too close to its sanctuary. In the first days fear instilled my every action,

I always persisted on my journey into the unknown. Every flap of my wings brought me further from the tumult of the feeding frenzy and deeper into this magical new realm. And as fear and bewilderment gave way to thrill, I couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be more to life than just survival – that somewhere among these caverns, I might find a place where I truly belonged.