Chapter 13 - Gains_Chronicles of the Shifter [Shapeshifter LitRPG]

Chapter 13 - Gains

When I woke up, I didn’t remember anything after the tentacle receded. I opened my eyes and saw a tree canopy. Skadi was sleeping next to me, while Val was reading a book. Once she noticed that I was awake she smiled and said: “Congratulations! You finished your first Quest, cleared your first Dungeon, and met your first extra dimensional entity.” The tentacle thing I presumed. “Now go on and look at your notifications. I didn’t pull you out of there to not hear about the juicy rewards.” I was happy to oblige.

[Athletics]+5=>

[Gymnastics]+8=>

[Impersonation]+7=>

[Infectious Mana Manipulation]+4=>

[Internal Mana Manipulation]+2=>

[Shapeshifting]+5=>

[Stealth]+2=>

[Unarmed Combat]+6=>

Congratulations! For tracking, hunting and eating your prey with your Companion you have gained two levels in [Wolfperson](lvl 10). You have gained the class Perk [Face of Kin]

Stats have been distributed

Your class is ready to evolve.

[Face of Kin]

The more you resemble a species, the more members of that species will consider you as kin.

I asked Val about the name change of my class. She chuckled and said: “You can change your species. That means you could also change your biological sex if you want to. We’ll if you ever cut up a female and learned how the opposite side of naughty bits function. At this point the system considers you to not have an inherent race or sex, so it uses gender neutral language. I am pretty sure you can change that if you focus on it.”

That made some sense, although I really didn’t know how to change genitals, and I really didn’t want to kidnap and cut up a woman just to find out. Anyway, my ego wasn’t fragile enough to be rattled by the revelation that the system didn’t consider me as ‘male’ anymore. I knew who I was, so I continued.

Congratulations! You have fulfilled your Oath, therefore [Oath of Vengeance] has evolved into [Avenger of Betrayal]

[Avenger of Betrayal]

Whenever someone betrays you or someone you are close to, you may mark them as a Traitor. You will always know where a Traitor is relative to you. The traitor will know they are hunted. While pursuing a Traitor you will require only half as much food, water, or rest. Every slain Traitor grants +2 in every Stat (Currently +16)

So that perk works retroactively. But why 16? One Mage and six [Rangers] that is only … oh … It must also count the [Ranger] I kidnapped from the Village. I killed him after my Oath that’s right.

Congratulations! You have been given a gift by an eldritch being beyond your comprehension. You have been given the personal Perk [Touched by the Eldritch]

[Touched by the Eldritch]

We expect great entertainment from you. Do not disappoint us

That was ominous as all hell. But at least it wasn’t obviously negative.

You have consumed a dungeon heart. The mana is ravaging your body, you will die in… Error.

[Touched by the Eldritch] is absorbing the Mana. New Perk is being created. You have gained the personal Perk [Biomass]

[Biomass]

Nutrients, Digestion, Excretion these are concepts for Mortals. You have transcended the need for such petty considerations. All you need is Biomass. Raw, undiluted Biomass. If it is organic and made of matter, you can devour it to fuel yourself and your Abilities.

Woah. That was not expected. When did I eat a dungeon heart? I should ask Val after this.

Congratulations! You have hunted, fought, killed, survived and met an eldritch being together with Skadi. Your bond has strengthened

[Animal Companion(Skadi)]

You have bonded with Skadi. Both of you will be aware of each other's location and general well being. You will have better senses while your companion will be smarter. The connection to Skadi allows you to send simple Emotions and very short sentences to one another telepathically. This Perk will grow as your Bond with your Companion grows. Should you lose your companion this perk will disappear.

Your Class is ready for Evolution. Please select an option.

Class:

Requirements:

[Greater Wolfperson]

* [Wolfperson] at level 10

[Abomination of Flesh]

* Shapeshifting class ready to evolve

* [Transcendence over Form]

* [Touched by the Eldritch]

[Internal Mana Expert]

* Internal Mana class ready to evolve

* [Internal Mana Manipulation] at least at Adept Rank

[Aspiring Apex]

* Shapeshifting class ready to evolve

* [Transcendance over Form]

* [Biomass]

* [Shapeshifting] at least at Apprentice Rank

* One combat Skill at least at Apprentice Rank

* Is unchallenged as dominant creature in its territory

I looked the offerings over. [Greater Wolfperson] was just boring. Also general wisdom is that more and harder Requirements means a better class. [Internal Mana Expert] was also out. That was just not where I wanted to go. I pulled up the descriptions for the other two

[Abomination of Flesh]

Give your Sanity for unimaginable power. Bring fear into the hearts of every living being. Become the end

Strength

+N/A

Agility

+N/A

Constitution

+N/A

Endurance

+N/A

Intelligence

+N/A

Willpower

+N/A

Wisdom

+N/A

Charisma

+N/A

Free Points

[Aspiring Apex]

You have tasted power and you will not be denied your next fix. Every enemy slain will fuel you. Every weapon used against you will be a new tool for your ascension. You will not be stopped, you will not be contained. Follow this path and every attempt to hinder your rise will only make it even more unavoidable. Challenge everything to claim your place at the top of the food chain. Should you survive that is…

Strength

Agility

Constitution

Endurance

Intelligence

Willpower

Wisdom

Charisma

Free Points

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Now that was not a hard decision. I very much preferred to keep my sanity. Thank you very much. I chose [Aspiring Apex].

You have chosen the [Aspiring Apex] class. [Shifting Warrior] has strengthened. [Wolfish] has evolved into [Ever Improving]. [Forest Hunter] has evolved into [Sense of the Apex]. [Unappetizing] has evolved into [Challenge of the Apex]

[Shifting Warrior]

Increases the Force of attacks made with altered Body parts such as Claws or Horns. Also increases the durability of such Parts. This effect doubles in strength when concerning Parts of Creatures you have faced in Combat Wolf-like Body parts

[Wolfish]

You find it easier to make your Body more Wolf-like and also to remove said changes.

[Ever Improving]

You find it easier to shift your Body into Body parts of creatures you have faced in combat.

[Forest Hunter]

When pursuing Prey through in the Forest, you gain a bonus to [Stealth], [Tracking], [Perception] and your senses become sharper.

[Sense of the Apex]

When pursuing Prey or fighting a challenger to your supremacy, you gain a bonus to [Stealth], [Tracking], [Perception] and your senses become sharper.

[Unappetizing]

Your natural scent, taste and appearance becomes revolting to any beast that considers you a meal.

[Challenge of the Apex]

No beast would consider attacking you for a meal. Any beast in your presence has to make a decision. Bow, flee or fight

Due to previous achievements [Aspiring Apex](lvl 12) immediately gains two levels. You have gained the Class Perks [Body of the Apex] and [Armoury of the Apex]

[Body of the Apex]

Due to [Biomass] you don’t need most Organs to survive. A Brain, Heart, Lungs and a Stomach is all you need. You have an instinctive knowledge of how you can remove redundancies and useless organs in forms you adopt. You also have an instinctive knowledge of how much space a form has for new additions.

[Armoury of the Apex]

You have an instinctive knowledge of how and where to fit offensive or defensive parts in a given form, such as poison glands, carapace, or retractable weaponry.

Stats:

Strength+2+2+5+5+16=>

Agility+4+4+5+5+16=>

Constitution+5+5-15+6+6+16=>

Endurance+3+3+5+5+16=>

Intelligence+1+1+3+3+16=>

Willpower+2+2+6+6+16=>

Wisdom+2+2+4+4+16=>

Charisma+1+1+3+3+16=>

Free Points+6-6+6-6+4+4=>

I was almost drooling on the floor when I finished reading all that. My Stats were insane. And these new Perks. I never have to shit again. I can dedicate almost all of my body to combat, because I don’t need most organs anymore. I was like an overexcited child while telling Val all this. She gave me a patronising smile and said: “Yep that’s how everyone reacts when they first evolve their class. Quick word of advice. Everyone gets promised the world by their class. The description doesn’t guarantee anything. What it says is what the class wants and/or expects of you. It is not a guarantee. In your case especially. You are given amazing tools to shape yourself into that ‘Apex’ but it is on you how to use those tools.” I didn’t let her negativity get me down. Although I calmed down somewhat and looked at my Stats again. -15 Constitution meant I had died after eating the dungeon heart. Or I was supposed to be dead, but my [Hard to kill] Perk kept me alive.

That. Left a bad taste in my mouth. I should be dead, yet I gained more than I lost. But I died, but I grew, but I died … That argument rattled around my head for a while. It wasn’t very productive, but as existential crises go I would rate it a solid 7/10. Decent subject, lacking in depth. And believe me, I’ve had a few.

Anyway after about five minutes of fruitlessly trying to rationalise the fact that I should have been twice over now - and that’s just the stuff I had in writing - I finally stabilised, so that I could continue with my life.

I gave my Character Sheet another once over before I started experimenting with my new powers.

Name: James

Race: N/A

Age: 17 Years

Class: [Aspiring Apex](lvl 12)

Statistics:

Strength

Agility

Constitution

Endurance

Intelligence

Willpower

Wisdom

Charisma

Free Points

[Aspiring Apex]:

Strength

Agility

Constitution

Endurance

Intelligence

Willpower

Wisdom

Charisma

Free Points

Personal Perks:

[Curious Child]

You never could say no to a secret or something hidden. You will not run out of those any time soon.

[Magic Shmagic]

You cannot feel ambient mana. That’s a fact. But if you somehow learn anyway you could use this: All magic effects produced by you are 20% more potent.

Should you manage to cast a 1st Tier Spell with ambient mana the downside of this perk will be removed and the upside will be strengthened

[Feather Fall]

You have greater control over your direction while in free fall. Your Body becomes better at distributing the energy of an impact after free fall. +5 Constitution; +3 Endurance; +2 Wisdom

[Iron Lungs]

You may hold your breath for twice as long. After oxygen deprivation sets in you have twice as long before damage sets in, both temporary and permanent. +5 Endurance; +3 Constitution; +2 Strength

[Flexible Insulation]

You may shift your comfortable, and survivable Temperature Zones down or up by 5 degrees. This triggers instinctively when near death. +5 Willpower; +3 Endurance; +2 Constitution

[Hard to kill]

You are exceptionally resilient. Whenever you would die you instead start draining your Constitution at a rate determined by the severity of your condition. Once your Constitution hits 0 you die for real. Constitution lost this way is permanently gone

[Lesser Night Vision]

You become slightly better at seeing in Darkness. This is about the level of Night Vision a Dog has.

[Thickheaded]

You really have to stop doing this. Your mind is now more resistant to involuntarily losing consciousness. You can now reach new heights of headache before you pass out. +5 Willpower +2 Intelligence +0 Wisdom

[Animal Companion(Skadi)]

[Avenger of Betrayal]

[Internal Immunity]

Your insides are impervious to harm. Anything trying to affect you from the inside, like Toxins, Diseases, or shards of glass in your Food, will be broken down, before any harm can occur. This Perk can be turned off and on, it has to be turned off, to enjoy the benefits of things like potions.

[Aura of Decay]

You exude an Aura of degradation. Anything within close proximity of you that is not naturally occuring, and/or alive, will suffer from entropy at a vastly increased rate. This Perk grows more impactful, as you grow stronger.

[Transcendance over Form]

You are no longer bound to the physical form you were born with. Your race is no longer Human, but whatever form you currently inhabit. Any negative effect that is based on race will not affect you, if you have achieved a form that would not be affected. Any positive effect that is based on race will affect you, if you have achieved a form that would be affected. +3 to all Stats

[Touched by the Eldritch]

We expect great entertainment from you. Do not disappoint us

[Biomass]

Class Perks:

[Shifting Warrior]

[Ever Improving]

You find it easier to shift your Body into Body parts of creatures you have faced in combat.

[Challenge of the Apex]

No beast would consider attacking you for a meal. Any beast in your presence has to make a decision. Bow, flee or fight

[Prepared Form]

You may have a Form you currently inhabit saved. At any time you can shapeshift into a saved Form without active concentration. Mental strain still occurs. Wounds are not affected by this skill. You may have one Form saved for every ten points in Wisdom you have. (Currently 3/3 Forms)

[Sense of the Apex]

When pursuing Prey or fighting a challenger to your supremacy, you gain a bonus to [Stealth], [Tracking], [Perception] and your senses become sharper.

[Face of Kin]

The more you resemble a species, the more members of that species will consider you as kin.

[Body of the Apex]

[Armoury of the Apex]

You have an instinctive knowledge of how and where to fit offensive or defensive parts in a given form, such as poison glands, carapace, or retractable weaponry.

Skills:

[Archery]

[Athletics]

[Forest Movement]

[Gymnastics]

[Impersonation]

[Infectious Mana Manipulation]

[Internal Mana Manipulation]

[Goblin Anatomy]

[Human Anatomy]

[Knives]

[Leporine Anatomy]

[Lupine Anatomy]

[Perception]

[Shapeshifting]

[Stealth]

[Tracking]

[Unarmed Combat]

Chapter 13 - Gains

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