My six eyes open to the sight of sunrise accompanied by the rumbles of movement. I blink several times as I allow the warmth to wash over me.

Nice! Looks like I’m alive.

Leaning up, I take a gander of my surroundings.

Looks like I’m still on top of the crab’s shell. That’s good. I was afraid I might have fallen off.

Standing up, I’m immediately bombarded with different stimuli. My body reacts faster but also stronger. Sight, smell, touch, and hearing are slightly improved too. Glancing at my body, the first thing I notice is the change in color of my fur.

Huh, I’m violet now. I guess that makes sense. The scorpis venom was turning that Buxon’s skin purple before he died. Maybe my fur turned purple during my transformation? Or is high mana regeneration causing the color purple?

The ground rumbles again as the crab takes another slow step.

Right. I can figure that out later. First, let's see what other changes.

Moving my body further, I immediately notice more changes.

I’m an inch taller. Muscles are tighter but my bones seem larger too.

I create a fist and feel a bit of tightness.

Gauntlets are a bit tight now- but still workable. Hopefully Emma can modify them for a better fit.

Extending my claws, I find that they are slightly thicker, longer, and sharper. They also seem to have some kind of sheen on them.

Are my claws poisonous now? Can I scratch people and infect them with scorpio venom? That would be useful.

Then I see the shadow of myself. I reach up on my head and feel another set of horns.

Damn. I was hoping to wear a hat and vizor so as to come off as a wolven. These horns are going to make that idea impossible. Then again, I don’t think wolven have naturally violet fur. Maybe I can dye them?

The ground rumbles again.

Right. I should start moving soon. What else has changed?

Further testing reveals that my tail has more spikes and muscles, allowing easier movement. I also notice that all my scars are gone. The recent punctures, cuts, bruises, and even the big scar over my biceps are completely gone. In essence, my body is in perfect condition.

Looks like that's all the changes for now. Time to move.

I look about, check my position, and find the unmoving spiral that is my destination.

I could head there straight, but I wouldn’t be able to make it in time before dark. And traveling through the dark involves fighting swarms of scorpions. I’m stronger now and probably immune to their venom, but I doubt I can deal with armies yet.

I glance at a spiral between my current position and my final destination.

I guess I’m crab hopping.

I bend my legs and take position. As soon as I feel the crab take a step, I extend my legs. Like a bullet, my body accelerates away from the crab, traveling an easy hundred meters before I touch sand. But, when I do, I hear the crab stand up. Large powerful legs turn the crab's mouth in my direction.

Hmm. Seems like it can sense vibrations.

I start to sprint away with my head slightly turned so that the eye on the side of my head has vision of the crab.

As soon as I see its tongue escape its mouth, I hop to the side and dodge the projectile. I do this several more times until I am outside its range. Once I’m outside its range, I slow my speed to something of a fast jog so as to conserve energy.

After several hours of running, I feel a rumble. Not a rumble of an enemy or some kind of earthquake.

No, it is far worse.

I wonder how long Fenrimorphs can survive without food.

____________________________________________________________

Looking up, Irmgard stares at Valentine ship. A massive Battleship that dwarfs all other ships at port in both size and especially firepower. Forty cannons dot a single broadside, with each cannon having three barrels, and each barrel is larger and longer than Timbergroves cannons.

In a single broadside, the Bone-Leviathan can swarm a single enemy with over a hundred powerful projectiles, decimating a singular target until nothing remains. How Myers expects to create a viable distraction against such a ship is beyond her.

Taking a breath, she checks herself to make sure she is properly presentable. Her coat is clean, hair is pinned, and the raven cutlass is perfectly in place to be unsheathed. Not that she expects to win any fight if there is a need.

Head held high and spine straight, she walks up the plank to the deck. Several [Pirates] notice her presence, but most turn away except for the one guarding the plank.

The [Pirate] glances at her and stops leaning on the railing. He retrieves a gold engraved pocket watch, and then whistles. “[Captain] said evening, and you’re here on the dot.” He looks her up and down with a grin. He stops when he notices the raven cutlass head.

“Heh. [Bounty Hunter], eh. Nice coat, I don’t suppose I could get to know you without it on?”

Irmgard looks the man up and down. A mere [Pirate] he may be, but the man is higher in level and his gear is all runed too. Still, she can’t help but lay a hand on her cutlass.

“I believe I have a meeting with Valentine.”

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The pirate chuckles. “I’m sure the [Captain] can wait.”

She stares at him for a moment, then removes her hand from the raven head.

She half turns around. “I see. If Valentine can wait, then I’ll return tomorrow. If there is a problem, I’ll inform him of your words.”

The [Pirates] panics.

“Wait! Shit, alright. I’ll take you to him. Cmon.”

She turns back around and allows herself to be led.

The inside of the Bone-Leviathan Is well-lit, homely, and spotless. The walls are made of ivory bone and a dark wood. The dark wood is covered in runes that glow and illuminate the walls. As she gets deeper, she can’t help but be impressed by how clean the inside is. It reminds her of her own prison, where every particle of dust would be met with severe punishment.

Eventually, she is led to the [captains] quarter. The [Pirate] knocks at the door.

“[Captain], the girl is here.”

“Send her in.” Valentine calls.

The [Pirate] grabs the handle and opens the door. “Go on.”

Irmgard gives him a look, and then enters through. The door shuts behind her. With a slow turn of her head, she looks at the room in its entirety. The [Captains] quarters are a good fifteen hundred square feet. The walls of the room are twelve feet tall and are smothered in the heads of monstrous beasts. To the right of the room is a couch where a naked woman rests. The woman is Min Daiyu, the Lightning Toss. Noticing Irmgards presence, the woman licks her lips and spreads her legs erotically.

Irmgard ignores the woman and instead focuses on the central desk. Behind the desk sits Valentine without his coat. Next to him is Gazania the Hurricane, clothed, unlike the Lightning Toss.

“Sit.” He points at an empty chair in front of him.

She complies with the requests and takes a seat.

Valentine retrieves a pocket watch, opens it, and then raises an eyebrow.

“You are very timely. I’ve only barely finished with Min.” He closes the watch and puts it in his pocket.

“I hope that is not a problem.” Irmgard answers.

“Problem? On the contrary, I’ve respect for those who respect time.” Valentine leans back into his far more extravagant chair. “Now, Irmgard Von Braun. Quite an interesting name. Very foreign. I’ve never heard anything about it. Mind telling me where you’re from?”

Without showing emotion, she makes eye contact with Valentine. “I was informed my presence is only required so that my class has not changed.”

“Oh, it is. But now I realize your name is rather foreign. You’ve peaked my interest, and good or bad that may be, it has peaked. Of course, I can't force you to talk, but do understand that I merely need you alive. In what way, well,” he grins. “That is for you to decide.”

Irmgard nods. “I understand. I am from the United States of America.”

“And where is that?”

She pauses for a moment, thinking of what response to give, but decides that dishonesty is far too dangerous to risk.

“Not from your world.”

Valentine frowns. “Gaza.”

“She tells the truth.”

He grins. “So, that fucking cat was hiding such a jewel. And I already made a deal with him. If only I’d known there is another one of those gods champions. Well, that's fine. Tell me, what is the name of this god that chose you?”

“I am not chosen.”

Valentine glances at Gazania.

“Truth.”

“You're not? But can you enter the tower?” Valentine questions

“I have not tried.”

“Truth.” Gazania answers.

Valentine strokes his beard. “I see. Then, when you return tomorrow, I will expect that you have tried.”

“Am I free to leave.”

Valentine chuckles. “You are an emotionless one just like Gaza. It’s quite endearing. You’d make a good part of my crew. Too bad your fate is either to be left alone or killed.” He waves his hand. “Now go, leave.”

She stands up, turns, and starts walking away.

“Min, come here. My urge is back.”

She opens the door and steps through. Just as the door closes shut, she hears a woman squeal.

_____________________________________________________

The day passes uneventfully. I traveled the desert, enjoyed the fresh dry air, and arrived at the next crab just as the sun was setting. Upon my arrival, the crab awakens when I am a certain distance from it. After a short game of dodging tongues, I land upon the crabs shell.

Immediately on my arrival, I activated [Shift]. My Fenrimorph form disappears and is immediately replaced by a cat. A quarter second later and my runed gauntlets clatter on the shell floor.

Holy hell, Fenrimorphs can get really hungry. I guess those muscles have a big caloric cost. Though, I’m quite surprised that thirst isn’t a problem yet considering I’ve been traversing an arid desert. Then again, maybe Fenrimorphs don’t use water to stay cool. For all I know, they can burn energy to reduce heat.

I yawn and stretch. I glance at the nearly set sun- a ball of fire slightly larger than earth's star.

Once it is fully set and the sky is now shrouded in darkness, I prepare to sleep. I push the gauntlets into a crevice on the shell, and then I lay next to them.

Then I hear it. The grumble of my stomach. My current stomach to be exact. The thing about my transformations is that they exist in perpetuity. Eating as a cat only fills the stomach of said cat. Eating as a Fenrimorph only feeds that form. The form currently not in use is placed in a kind of stasis where no growth or healing takes place.

“Damn. I thought I ate right before Valentine showed up… no, wait. I was going to eat but I didn’t get the chance.”

Fuck me. I guess I’m sleeping hungry tonight.

I yawn again, close my eyes, and then allow sleep to take me

______________________________________________________________________

The moment the sun reveals itself, I return to my Fenrimorph form and rush to my last location. Unlike yesterday, I feel more of a struggle. My body feels heavier and my energy levels have dropped. Regardless, I can’t slow my pace or risk not making it in time to my destination.

Every hour that passes, I can feel the struggle. Three quarters of the day through and after ascending a particularly tall mound, I see the base of the tower. Just like the crabs, the tower mimics the spiral shells of the crabs. But unlike the crab, the one I see now is made of metal and is sitting on a mound of stone.

Continuing on, my pace slows as my limbs become heavy, but I do not allow it to slow me down too much. With the sun beginning to set, I can’t risk being too far from the tower, otherwise I’ll need to deal with the scorpion, of which I’d rather not contend with in my weakened state.

Just as darkness smothers the sky, I finally reach the tower. Relief floods my being the moment my hand touches the tower- but only for a moment. Just because I’ve reached the tower doesn’t mean that the test is over.

Ignoring the exhaustion and gnawing hunger, I walk around the spiral until I reach the tower's entrance. More specifically, a locked metal door with a single large keyhole.

It’s locked? Why is it locked? Where the fuck am I supposed to get a key?

My mental inquiry is immediately interrupted by a loud rumble behind me.

I turn around to find a mound of sand shifting apart. The sand cascades and churns to reveal the mother of all scorpions. Where the usual scorpions are the size of sedans, this one in front of me is as large as a private jet. It has four pincers instead of two, eight stingers instead of three, far too many eyes to count, and a black carapace that looks to be more than twice as thick.

To make matters even worse, right on top of the monster's carapace and indented several inches into its armor is a very shiny key.