[[Conditions met. Orc child has been assigned name: Vyra. Restructuring body to accommodate additional magic power...]]
Ah! It hurts!
Didn't I have pain resistance?! What the hell!
Luckily, it ended quickly. For that brief moment, my body had been wrapped in light. Now that it has cleared, I can see that my eye level had changed. I’m about the same height as the other orcs in the hunting party. I also got the name “Vyra,” with the “y” as in “my.”
So… it's over. That little white fox that jumped out so suddenly was a magical beast. I killed it instantly without even realizing… I really wanted to pick my first prey myself though.
More importantly, that fox was fragile enough to die with one hit. Would the reward I got not be very good in that case? Or, if it really was a baby, do they go by current strength or magic potential?
Ah, whatever. It's slightly regrettable, but there's nothing I can do about it now. Meanwhile, the spirits seem to be chatting about something still.
[[Physical restructuring complete. Attributing magic power…]]
I felt a heat light up in my abdomen and suddenly felt full of energy. Frankly, it was the best I've ever felt in either of my lives. Magic power seems to be awesome, but I can't tell if this is a lot or a little compared to the other orcs,
[[Success. Verifying… Additional condition met. Assigning attribute… Success. Evolution complete.]]
Ah… I felt something exceedingly pleasant in my abdomen. It was different than magic power. I wanted to immerse myself in the sensation, understand it's nature and what sort of effects it would have on me, but there wasn't time for that.
It soon became apparent that the white fox had been fleeing from something terrible.
From the direction where the fox came from, came a deep howl. Every one of us gathered there felt a shiver go down our spines. While I was internally debating whether or not we should get the hell out of there, the creature was upon us.
It parted the foliage with massive paws. This thing… it looked similar to a wolf, but with fangs like a saber cat, dark matted fur, and blood red eyes. At the shoulders, it was five feet tall, and it was more than just intimidating. This monster had some kind of presence to it; a bloodthirsty kind of presence. It was something I felt an aversion to in my very core.
The monster seemed distracted by the corpse of the white fox, then it moved to chomp down on it with its jaws.
At that moment, I felt suddenly furious, and I moved on instinct.
I rammed the monster with my shoulder, staggering it slightly. The wolf locked eyes with me, and I thought I saw something like recognition before bloodlust filled them. It snapped its jaws at me, very nearly taking my shoulder. From my position, I could reach the monster’s throat. I fully intended to kill it, although I wasn't entirely sure why. It felt right, so I would do it.
I had lost my weapon earlier, but I could still fight. Activating trill like this… I would break my hand. Somehow, it didn't feel like a big deal. I just decided to go for it. Sending my quickest jab, I struck the monster’s gullet and channeled
Blood came out of the wolf’s maw, and it collapsed as it's spinal column had been damaged. Amazingly, it was still alive, and I somehow got the impression that it was quickly recovering.
My hand was broken, but it didn't hurt much thanks to
Still, the wolf’s recovery was faster. Already, it was trying to get back to its feet.
I have to destroy it!
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
This thing… I felt like I would never feel at ease if I didn't obliterate it here and now.
A method to eradicate this evil thing… I want it!
And then, the voice of the spirits:
[[Conditions met. Skill
Alright, got it! In that case…!
I raise both my hands and focus these burning feelings together with my magic power. A bright ball of light forms in front of my hands, about as big as my head. After forming, it shoots forward and crashes into the wolf with a hissing sound. The sounds are like the beast is on fire, but it looks more like it's evaporating. I feel that something was definitely burned and destroyed, but the wolf’s corpse is completely intact by the end of it.
Ah… so many things happened all at once. It's hard to process it all.
If it's too hard, then just don't do it. For now, let's just choose the next course of action.
“Should we bring these back? Tell the village what happened?”
The orcs from the hunting team seem just as muddled as I am. We agree to carry the corpses back for now, and sort the rest out in our heads once we’re safe in the village.
***
The villagers are surprised we came back so soon, but their attention is soon stolen by the huge wolf corpse several orcs had joined together to carry. I alone was cradling the corpse of the white fox, as if it wasn't a dead animal, but a friend.
During the walk back, I had some time to think. I believe I've pieced together some of the events that happened.
The fox I killed seems to be a magical beast with the holy attribute. Since it was considered my kill for the hunting ceremony, not only did I gain a portion of it's magical power, and a name with additional magic power, but I also took on its attribute.
The holy fox, meanwhile, had popped out so suddenly not to attack us, but because it was running from that wolf. That wolf seems to be a magical beast with the demonic attribute. This is why, after obtaining the holy attribute, I felt such an aversion to it. It seems the holy and demonic attributes seek to destroy each other.
I'm not totally sure if getting the holy attribute was a good thing or a bad thing.
On the bright side, the demonic wolf had a lot more magic power than the young holy fox did. I was able to defeat it purely because of my powerful skills, so the reward was more than what someone of my level should have been able to obtain. I still don't have a way to compare my magic power to others, but I feel that I've grown considerably stronger.
Along with additional magic power, the potency of my passive skills seems to improve. My broken hand has completely healed in just half an hour. It's really amazing.
Also, although I barely had time to digest this at the time, I'm an adult now. At least, my body is. Well, I've been an adult on the inside the whole time, but that doesn't really matter. The orcs in the village are all basically the same height, and so am I, at six and a half feet tall. The auto evolution seems to have given me the default body for an orc female, complete with potbelly and heavy, sagging breasts. It really is too different from my model-like body in the previous life. I intend to reshape this with effort. I don't believe it’s impossible.
Anyway, we set the corpses down in the middle of the village, and the chief comes to inspect them. He looks astonished, until finally:
“Tell me what happened.”
The orcs from the hunting party all look to me in unison. Alright, I get it.
“Yes, chief Durghan. Fox jump suddenly from bushes, so I killed it. Didn't know until after that it was magic beast. Spirits named me Vyra, and gave me same holy attribute that the fox had.
Then, demon wolf was chasing the fox. Thanks to new holy attribute, I kill it.”
“Hmm hmm…” the chief looked to be deep in thought. “These not magic beasts. This a holy beast and a demon beast.”
Oh, so they make a distinction there.
“Vyra, you became really strong. I give you permission to bear my children.”
Hah?!
The other orcs started gossiping as soon as that was said. Especially the women. And, from what I could hear, it sounded like it was an honor. Particularly because the goal of most of these women was to bear the strongest children possible. Mating with the chief was the surest way to go about that.
Whereas usually, the woman had to be stronger than the male to convince him to lie with her, I was directly given permission to sleep with someone stronger than me. It was an honor on the level that I would be treated with respect as if I was the chieftain’s wife.
But… well, the feeling isn't mutual. I don't mind bigger guys, really. No, to be honest, I prefer them. But I still have a type within that, and pot-bellies are a no. On top of that… Sleep with a pig? Are you kidding? I've been a virgin for two lifetimes now, but I'm not that desperate.
No, instead of not being desperate, it's that I am extremely petty and shallow. I put a lot of value into appearances… At least I admit it.
Still, he's the chief. I should be polite.
“I come over if I feel like it.”
Durghan nods. It seems he’s satisfied with that much.
Well, after the crowds have dispersed a bit, mom comes over to congratulate me. She locks me in a big hug, which is kind of gross since we’re both completely naked. Well, I can put up with it, since it's my mom, after all.
“Oolga so proud of you, Vyra!”
“Thanks momma… Say, can a woman be chief?”
“Hm? You thinking of challenging Durghan? Sure, if you is stronger, you will be chief.”
“I see… Momma, I will become chief. Okay?”
“Mm! My Vyra is the best!”