Bathilda's view of the cosmos speeding passed her was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. A sight to behold in its own right. Never before had she witnessed something so breathtaking in all her life. Unfortunately, the dazzling spectacle was short lived as the journey took less time than it would to put on a pair of socks.

Damn. I wish I could have looked at that starscape for a little longer.

Before she could even begin to complain about the start of her second life, Bathilda's soul arrived at its destination full of anticipation. She could feel her new body growing at an atomic level, but just like before there was no pain.

Her body formed much faster than she had expected it to and a discomforting nausea spread over the nurse from another world. Panic and fear had also managed to creep there way in to her thoughts.

A new world! I'm actually quite scared. It's not as terrifying as facing down a Tornado, but I can't really compare one and the other.

With anxious thoughts flooding her mind, Bathilda opened her new eyes for the first time. The small sense of panic that had nested inside her suddenly jumped in size by epic proportions as she was unable to see anything. In fact, the only thing that greeted Bathilda was a surreal, pitch-black darkness.

Why is it so dark? Did something go wrong with my reincarnation? What if I'm blind?

Stumbling forward before falling face first on to the floor, Bathilda began to rationalise her situation.

No. He wouldn't do that, right? After all, he did let me keep my memories. I must be somewhere with no light. Like a cave or something like that. I'm OK. It's alright. First, let's see if I can work out what I've reincarnated as and then find the way out.

Bathilda tried to pick herself up, testing the reflexes of the new body she had been given at the same time. She had already anticipated having some minor mobility problems, based on possible discrepancies in height and weight, but that wasn't the case at all.

Instead, the problem she was having was that her new body clearly did not fall under the human-type umbrella, casting serious regret on the young nurse's choice to reincarnate.

Her hands, which could now only be described as sharp points, couldn't hold her weight as she struggled to get up. Bathilda fell over a few more times and even cut herself with her hands before finally managing to get to her feet. Even then her body swayed oddly as though her proportions were all wrong.

Not wanting to succumb so easily after only one failure, even though she was on the verge of tears, Bathilda tried to vent her frustration with another test.

Too afraid to touch herself, she would use sound to determine her gender. Sadly, her hypothesis of being a non-human reincarnation had been accurate and she failed to produce any tangible noise whatsoever. A grating, static-like sound emerged from what should have been her mouth, followed by a short set of angry clicks.

Why can't I speak? From most fantasy literature I've seen most creatures can talk to some extent, so why can't I? Even Goblins and Orcs can speak. Why is it so damn dark here!?

Worried that there might have been a problem with her reincarnation, Bathilda took the risk and began trying to feel out the rest of her body. If she could still call it that. The bountiful curves that were once featured on her chest were no longer present. Instead, she was covered in some type of soft, fur-like material from head to toe... or claw, as it would seem. The shape of her face had elongated and her mouth had more teeth than she knew what to do with. Each one small, but sharp.

Whatever she had become, she knew that they must have adapted to tearing food apart with their teeth. The two, little clawed fingers she possessed instead of hands wouldn't be much help in any context. She had never used them before, but Bathilda could tell they couldnt bare much strain.

Every proportion of what used to be her body was wrong. Altered in the reincarnation process to become something else.

Okay, there's got to be a good reason for why I feel like I'm wearing a onesie. The problem is, I can't see anything down here to figure out what it is. This is so frustrating!

After debating with herself for a moment longer, Bathilda tried to shout out as loud as she could. Even though she knew she couldn't communicate properly, she believed the attempt was better than doing nothing.

Amazingly, her idea paid off. Not in the form of spoken words, but in the shape of an X-ray. Somehow, her current location was being broadcast directly to her mind.

Bathilda was actually able to see quite a lot in a strange sort of holographic way. She was able to see each individual creature skittering around on the dirt floor. She could even see through the ground beneath her to a slight extent, the walls around her and even down the two adjacent tunnels heading away from her current location.

Oddly enough, Bathilda was able to see herself, but she put off looking at that sight temporarily. After feeling herself out, she was more than a little grossed out with how she felt and needed some time to adjust.

If worrying about her own appearance was the height of Bathilda's new problems, then the reincarnation process would be classed as 'not too bad'. Sadly, however, Bathilda's new X-ray vision also managed to show the outline of a much, much larger creature than herself in her all too close vicinity. Not far enough away to be missed, but just close enough to the fringes of where her sight reached, down the passage to her right-hand side and around the corner was what could only be called a monster.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Much larger than herself, Bathilda guessed that the beast was easily twenty times her own height. Coincidentally, she had only just realised how high the ceiling was in her own room as she couldn't see it on her X-ray.

Why the hell is it so high? And what the hell is that big thing down there? This is a far cry from what was explained to me.

Bathilda questioned her decision once again before she began stumbling, crawling and jumping towards the passageway on the left. Her small body's even smaller heart pounded away at the sight of the enormous unknown monster.

That thing is huge. Huge! Way bigger than little old me so it's unlikely to need my help. Yep, that thing can easily take care of itself. I'll just go this way.

Deciding that her only course of action was to flee in the opposite direction of the tower-sized monster, Bathilda began moving, learning how to get her new body moving the way she wanted it to.

This doesn't seem right, does it? Did I get tricked by those guys back there? Is this really how a second life is supposed to start?

More questions filled her mind as she fled in panic, scrambling her way along the dirt floor.

"Where the hell am I?" Bahilda tried to shout out once again, but only received an updated X-ray for her troubles. The picture had moved with her but this time, however, it was followed by something even more unexpected.

Skill (Echolocation) has reached Level 2

Bathilda has reached Level 2

Skill (Chomp) has been acquired

(Chomp)? Level 2? They didn't mention that either. What the hell did they turn me into? Am I a computer game character now? Am I supposed to go round helping people by chomping them to death!? What sort of sick joke is this?

Feeling overwhelmed due to the ridiculous amount of questions that were piling up, Bathilda pressed on through the dirt path. The strange notification about a level up had brought with it a sudden burst of strength and adrenaline. Using that, Bathilda managed to keep moving, getting further and further away from the large creature. She wanted to distance herself from that monstrosity as fast as she could.

So this world is more game-like than what they told me. I actually have a level and skills too. Not that I didn't have skills before, I was fantastic at my job. This strange variation on life was not what I expected when they sent me here though.

Swerving the now-visible rocks and foliage thanks to help of her game-like skill, Bathilda made good time scampering down the tunnel. After using (Echolocation) for a third time, she could no longer see the monster down the other path. Feeling her tiny heart finally calm itself at the prospect of escaping the unknown, Bathilda continued down the only available path.

Durimg that time, she managed to somewhat regain her composure. Now that fear wasn't the driving factor behind her motivation, the reincarnated nurse could make out where her vision ended and realised she had no need to use her mapping skill again until she got closer to the previous one.

Not long after she reached the boundary, the next use of her skill showed another split in the path further ahead. The route that led left had a large hole in the floor but a tunnel was visible to her senses on the opposite side. It was a jump she had no hope of making, once again forcing her to head in one direction.

If anything were to appear before her, Bathilda would be trapped between it and the other extremely large it behind her.

Stupid, scary tunnels. Why? Why was I reincarnated down here? Why can't I see without (Echolocation)? Why?

Bathilda steadied her nerves and headed further down the rabbit hole. Another scan granted a second upgrade for the (Echolocation) skill, which seemed to improve its radius, but that wasnt all it did.

Oh Shit!

With the range of her perceptive field of view broadened, Bathilda caught sight of her worst nightmare.

You're joking, right? Is God really that offended I didn't stay and join his harem? Why is this happening to me?

Slowly, Bathilda tried to edge back the way she came. However, the act of moving forwards in a still-unfamiliar body was proving to be a difficult feat on its own so when she tried to reverse direction the difficulty increased.

Praying she wouldn't stumble also did her no favors as moments later Bathilda tripped over her own claws and landed with a loud thud. Loud enough to set off her skill (Echolocation) once more and reminding her of the fact that something bigger than herself was in the tunnel before she was.

With full blown panic setting in and without attempting to even look behind her, Bathilda scampered back the way she came with as much gusto as her little body could afford without tripping over itself.

In her mind, Bathilda was praying that the large, snake-like creature that had been travelling in the opposite direction hadn't notice her approach. After a few seconds of crawling she afforded herself another look using (Echolocation).

"Shit. I shouldn't have looked. I shouldn't have looked!" she screamed, refreshing the image of the tunnel at the same time.

Attempting little jumps as she ran, stumbled and crawled with all the speed afforded to a tiny, fluffy, clawed demon, her arms, or wing-like appenditures that they were, gathered wind with each leap. With each one, Bathilda attempted to propel herself slightly further forward than the last.

Now I learn how to move properly? What the hell is up with this place? Why is it just full of monsters?

With the split tunnel just up ahead of her, Bathilda took the opening that didn't lead towards this planet's Godzilla and rounded the corner to the right just as the large snake lunged at her. It missed by inches, crashing into the wall and landing just passed the turning she had taken.

With precious seconds earned, Bathilda's heart was beating like a drum as she jump flapped her way towards the large hole she had seen earlier. Hoping against fate, her intention was to jump over the gap and use her wing-like appenditures to reach safety.

Skill (Fly) has been Acquired

Bathilda has reached Level 3

Skill (Chomp) has reached Level 2

How did (Chomp) get to Level 2? I haven't even used it? Is it because my teeth are chattering? And what the hell? (Fly)? Is that what I'm actually doing right now? Flying? Are these things really wings? I wish I wasn't in a dark cave being chased by a large snake, but fuck it. That skill is exactly what I need. Here I go!'

With those thoughts in mind, Bathilda leapt over the hole the best she could with her new body. As soon as she reached the apex of her jump she spread her arms wide. A strange weight pushed up against her and Bathilda's body began to glide.

The other side was insight as Bathilda fumbled through the air, struggling to keep her posture and losing momentum. The pain of muscles she had never used before coupled with a lack of knowledge on how to fly caused her to struggle immensely until she couldn't continue and then Bathilda began fall.

Bathilda was a nurse, who had become something else, and was now falling down an extremely-large hole due to not knowing how to fly. It couldn't be considered her fault. Odder than that, however, was the fact that the predator who had been giving chase to Bathilda was right beside her. The snake had foolishly decided to dive down the hole behind what it had deemed to be its dinner, after she failed her jump.

What a strange new life.