---BOSS ENCOUNTER!---
Creature: Troll (LVL 10)
HP: 80/80
WILL: 35/35
Hat {Legendary} currently under [Status Effect: Paralyzed]
Brace for impact, Theo!
Theo did so, but when the hulking arms of the troll came down to slam into the rat’s fluffy little body, it was Ethan who felt the pain.
Shit!
Ethan went flying with Theo against the far end of the bone-covered arena at the very base of the mine, little bloody droplets smearing themselves across the dusty remains of the troll’s eaten enemies—the miners.
[Rat {LVL 25}] HP: 8/15
We might be a higher level than him, Ethan thought as the grisly beast’s four eyes found them in the darkness of its lair. But he’s way chunkier than we’ll ever be… but when has that ever stopped me from trying something crazy?
Ethan smiled internally as he shook off the pain from the troll’s strike and watched it barrel toward them again.
Now, Theo!
Hide {Grade E} Activated
The troll smashed nothing but the already beaten bones beneath its feet, craning its muscly neck as it prospected the spot where it could swear a (very fashionable) rat had just been lying. A creature that should now be dead.
Then, the piercing pain radiating up his left ankle forced him to fall forward, slamming into the chewed innards of the miners whose flesh now sat in his stomach.
Behind him, the silver-toothed rat skittered away back into the darkness.
Nice one, Theo! Ethan roared. Now, we just gotta keep him guessing.
As the troll roared again, throwing spittle and dried meat from its fangs, Ethan kept his distance. His gambit had paid off—it looked like the troll’s [Roar] ability not only required a charge-up time, but had an effective radius of effect. Evidently, keeping to the outskirts of his little boney arena was the best way for Ethan to deal with him.
Alright, Theo, he commanded as the troll threw a cloud of bones into the dark. Let’s go in for another nibble!
Theo was driven toward the hulking troll once again, his silver tooth glinting in the dreary darkness of the depths. The tooth struck true—sinking deep into the troll’s left ankle and successfully hobbling the beast. It fell, grunting and thrashing around, desperately trying to slash at its feet while Ethan once again slipped away into the dark.
Again and again, Ethan launched his string of sneak guerrilla attacks at the troll of the dilapidated mine, taking more chunks out of its ankles and feet so that eventually his fangs began to leave a trail of black blood and bile in their wake. The troll, meanwhile, flopped around like a fish caught on a line, becoming more pissed off by the second.
Now we’ve got you, ya big hairy ape! Let’s see just how you’re looking now…
Creature: Troll (LVL 10)
HP: 47/80
WILL: 15/35
Almost there! Ethan declared. All we need now is another nibble and then it’s time to catch us a fresh troll.
But as Ethan went in for his final strike, driving Theo with the tenacity of a Formula One superstar, the four beady, onyx eyes of his foe met his in the dark.
---BOSS ENCOUNTER: PHASE 2!---
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…eh?
Instantly, the troll let out a piercing wail that forced the walls themselves to shudder and buckle. Ethan flew back, keeping close to the shadows, before realizing that this was no normal roar. No, this was a sound that signaled something far more sinister.
New mechanics…
He looked to the skies as he heard it: the distinct, thundering sounds of rocks falling from above as the chasm literally began to tear itself apart at the troll’s command. Ethan reeled Theo back, activated [Skitter], and began zigzagging between each falling rock toward his prey, intent on finishing this thing before any more insane moves were whipped out.
A multi-phase Boss fight. Really? You kept that one from me, Mr. oh-so-snarky System!
Oh. Apologies.
This System can only provide information that its User has asked for.
Bull. Shit! Ethan spat in his mindscape. But I’ll deal with you later!
Just then, a boulder the size of a burlap bag rebounded off another and cascaded toward Ethan, knocking him against the side of the arena and drawing a pained squee! from his host.
[Rat {LVL 25} HP: 5/15]
The pain was sharp, but it was nowhere as terrifying as the sight Ethan then looked up to behold.
The troll was looking straight at him.
Skitter! Ethan’s brain commanded. Skitter, skitter, skitter, skitter, skitt-
[Skitter] duration: 10 seconds.
Cooldown: 20 seconds.
Fuck you, too!
In the next instant, the hulking beast was upon him, literally smashing through the hailstorm of rocks as the chasm continued to tear itself apart. Ethan watched it coming, his brain consumed with nothing but the thought of impending death as the troll cleaved through rock and boulder alike to stomp out his tiny life.
So, this is how it ends? he thought. I gotta admit, it’s a better way than I went out originally…
The troll’s eyes were getting closer with each passing second. Theo’s limbs began to twitch on their own. Even through the control of a demonic hat, the creature feared the death that was so swiftly approaching it…
Hey, Theo, Ethan mumbled. We had a good run, right? Sure, we committed the odd mass murder or two, but who can blame us? We both got a raw deal in life, eh? You, being born as a rat. Me, being born as a living failure of a human, who was then reborn as a goofy fucking hat.
A goofy fucking hat that can do nothin’ but take over the bodies of beasts who’re just as down on their luck as he is…
Ethan didn’t know what prompted the sudden thought that roused itself in his mind. Perhaps it was his own penchant for wallowing in self-pity when things got rough. Perhaps it was his innate desire to shove two fingers in the face of his perpetual bad luck. Or, maybe it was nothing more than the mind of the creature he was currently piloting, begging him to come up with something so that it could persist in this dank, dark world for just a little bit longer.
The troll headbutted solid stone and opened its mouth in a roar that would hold its prey down, this time, while Ethan stared wide-eyed at its massive form.
…you ain’t ready to go yet, Theo, are ya?
Another rock smashed against the troll’s head—and Ethan saw, as only his eye could, what he’d been waiting for:
Creature: Troll (LVL 10)
HP: 24/80
WILL: 9/35
…well, neither am I.
As the troll bared its teeth and readied its roar, Ethan gave what was to be his final command to his furry little flesh-puppet.
TOSS ME, THEO!
He came flying off the rat’s head just as the troll activated its paralyzing shout. Its eyes bulged, meeting the single demonic slit of the rat’s (again, very fashionable) hat that had suddenly and inexplicably snapped onto the top of its skull.
Alright, boy! Ethan screamed in his mind as he entrenched himself on his new prey. Time to heel!
The troll’s scream howled through the dank air of the shaft, powerful enough to split apart the remaining stones that thundered down on the dusty graveyard that was its home. It spun out of control, eyes rolling back in its head, as it attempted to resist the urge to give in… to submit.
Down, boy! Down!
[Possession: in progress]
Troll WILL: 9 vs Hat {Legendary} Spirit Cores: 10
I said: down!
Before Theodore the now-freed rat’s amazed eyes, the troll of the mine danced and flew through the air, its arms flying to scratch at the pointy blue thing that was affixed to its head, its eyeballs bloodshot and veiny, pulsing as though it were injecting the troll with some evil substance.
The troll dropped to its knees, its strength expending itself, until its shifting eyes began to glaze over.
That’s it… just… give it up!
The troll reached for the pointiest bone it could. From within its dying consciousness, Ethan could understand its intent.
Oh no you don’t!
He pulled. The troll resisted. He pushed. The troll gritted its fangs until they started to break.
And through it all, Theodore looked on with wonder and fear—his tiny rat soul unbound and able to witness the same horror that had been enacted upon it.
And when the hulking troll’s pupils faded away, and its great muscular form slumped to the ground, drooling profusely, the hat atop its head seemed to wheeze a sigh of relief.
…finally…
[Possession: Success!]
Trolls are strong and willful, but not clever. A solid Host for an Archon with a penchant for smashing things.
Congratulations! You have successfully possessed a {Troll, Lvl 10}.
Spirit Cores: +30
[Status Update]
Host: Cave Troll {LVL 10}
Stats:
HP: 24/80
MP: 0
WILL: 35/35
STR: 20
PER: 8
SPD: 10
CHA: 1
[Skills known]
* Slam (Grade F)
* Roar (Grade F)
* Climb (Grade F)
As this menu fizzled out, Ethan looked upon the boneyard of the mine with new eyes—eyes that showed him the form of a tiny, shuddering rat with a single silver tooth covered in copious amounts of black blood.
What? Are you telling me you don’t recognize your old friend, Theo?
The rat blinked up at his new form, probably still waiting for death.
Ah, come on. Even I’m not callous enough to take you out now, dude. You scratched my back, I scratch yours. Your life is now your own. Go on, frolic and hunt as the Silver rat of the mine. Find some supple lady rodents and build yourself a harem of legend. You’ve earned it, my little frie-
New Skill Conditions Met!
You may now employ [Skill Siphon]
Using this ability, you may transfer one Skill from your previous host to a new one.
…actually, Theo, maybe there’s just one other tiny little thing you could help me with.