[Skill Siphon: Activated]

Congratulations! You have successfully transferred [Hide: Grade E] from Rat {LVL 25} to Troll {LVL 10}

What was that you said about not being callous?

Hey, hey, hey, Theo doesn’t mind, do you, little guy? Now, go on, young one. Go forth and spread the word of your might. Become a king among your people!

Theodore-the-now-autonomous rat shook slightly as its skill was taken from it, cocking its twitching nose at the newly hatted troll.

It sniffled slightly, its tiny eyes looking not at the four dead beads set into the great beast’s face, but at the blinking demonic eyeball of the hat it was wearing.

Oh, look, don’t go all Lassie on me. Go on, little guy, go! Live your life to the fullest!

The rat twitched its blood-soaked whiskers at him again.

Go! Just… just go! Before I change my mi-

CRUNCH

Ethan brought up his left claw to see the puncture mark Theodore had just gouged into it.

Um… ouch?

Theodore then spat out a tuft of bloody hair before scurrying back into the darkness from whence Ethan had met him.

Honestly, are you really so surprised that happened?

Theo… did you hate me the whole time?

Well. You did possess him against his will, after all.

Out of necessity only, Ethan reminded the System.

He looked at the tiny droplets of blood the rat had left in its wake, straightening his new, muscly back and sighing through his new, massive fangs.

Ah well. It was a fun starting adventure for a while. But now—now we’ve traded up for a deluxe model. This thing’s a badass.

He looked at the mighty claws and his hair-covered chest clotted with the blood of the miners this beast had obviously disposed of.

Well, shall you be giving a name to this new Host of yours?

Ethan thought about it, scratching his thick-set chin with satisfaction.

You know something? I don’t think so, this time. It gets you too attached, y’know?

Believe me, I do.

I really, really do.

Come on, Sys, Ethan replied jovially, having completely forgotten that he had only five minutes ago resigned himself to death. Check out these muscles. Check out these teeth! Y’know, for an ugly bastard monster living in a ruined mine shaft, this guy really had some great dental care…

As he did a few stretches, the System menu appeared before Ethan with a brighter sheen than it ever had before.

…Sys?

Yup, Ethan replied, picking at a stray piece of skin lodged in his back teeth. I figure since we’re in this together for the long haul, I might as well give you a sweet nickname. You don’t mind, do ya?

This System is programmed not to care about how a User refers to it.

Sys it is.

Perfect, Ethan replied, blinking up at the dark chasm above his head. And, look, from now on, call me Ethan, alright?

Naming Conventions: Updated

Well, Ethan. Dare I ask what your next course of action is?

Ethan smiled a gory, truly trollsome smile, even as he realized that he wasn’t out of the woods yet.

Stolen novel; please report.

[Time until Bounty: 16:00:00]

It’s time to get outta this mine, he thought. I don’t like the idea of being funneled into a dead end or a chokepoint when critters come to find me. I gotta establish a base of operations… maybe find a hole I can hunker down in. After all, if there’s a whole world coming for me, then that basically means free Spirit Cores, right?

If you can slay them all, Ethan.

But I must tell you, there’s more out there than just opponents.

Ethan narrowed his troll eyes.

What?

I told you that every creature in Argwyll will know there’s a Bounty on your head.

I did not tell you they would all try and kill you.

You mean… there’s folk out there that might wanna find me for some other reason?

If my historical records are truthful, that is exactly what I think.

Who? Ethan asked (momentarily suspending his anger at the fact Sys hadn’t mentioned this before).

Apologies. That information is considered [CLA-

Forget it, Ethan huffed. Let’s just find a way out of this mine. If there’s a world out there ready to hunt me down, I’m gonna have to get ready for it.

Ethan quickly perused his skillset and picked the one that caught his eye:

[Skill Activated: Climb {Grade F}]

You latch onto solid, earthen surfaces with your claws, and ascend as long as you are not also being attacked.

Ethan then began an ascent that would finally take him far from the great mine shaft that would serve as the beginning of his legend, leaving behind the bones of the dead, and the sole rat that remained in the entire makeshift dungeon.

I will agree with one thing you said: the world out there is not ready for you.

And to be honest, neither am I…

[Skill Activated: Slam {Grade F}]

You pound an enemy or a spot of your choosing, delivering a sound blow that is capable of damaging armor.

DMG: 20 + STR

Spirit Cores required to upgrade {Troll} Skills from Grade F – E: 25

Ethan had long grown bored of skulking through mine shafts and corridors, plucking cobwebs from his four eyes and shuffling through broken mine carts. He almost missed Theo’s small, agile form, but the brutish strength of this troll had its own uses.

He had been staring at a pile of boulders that had been the result of a cave-in far above the troll’s lair—probably accomplished by the troll itself. It seemed to Ethan like the best way to trap the miners and force them into its humble abode for consumption.

Through the cracks in the stones, small beams of light shone and struck his blood-soaked skin.

Hm… I have a hunch… Hey, Sys, can you-

Right away, right away.

[Skill: Slam {Grade F}]

Grade E Upgrade: [Slam] can now be used to remove physical obstacles.

Success will be dependent on your STR Stat.

Upgrade Skill [Slam]?

You know it, Ethan mumbled as he danced happily atop the head of his dead-eyed troll puppet.

Congratulations! You have upgraded [Slam] from Grade F – E

Spirit Cores remaining: 5

Spirit Cores to Upgrade {Cave Troll} Skills from Grade E – D: 100

Ethan noted the notification, seeing that these upgrades certainly did come at quite the cost. But now, as a fully grown and healed-up cave troll, he had not only stealth on his side, but raw, naked strength to boot.

And with such strength behind him, he reeled back, grit his fangs, and let fly a [Slam] against the mine entrance blockade.

World, meet Ethan the {Legendary} hat! I’m only sorry it took me so long to meet ya.

Ethan’s [Slam] struck true, pummeling through the fallen boulders like they were pebbles on a broken road. What came next was a sight for four sore eyes: the world of Argwyll burst into brilliant life before him.

Woah…

He had to shield himself from the rays of sunlight that blasted his retinas. Luckily, his meaty claws managed to block out the sun with ease. He moved forward slowly, acclimatizing to fresh, clean air, and the generic sounds of peace: birds chirping merrily, a gentle wind rustling the leaves of the forest that stretched out before him. The ground was covered in a field of lush, fertile grass. Stepping out and feeling it between his twitching toes, Ethan would have been forgiven for thinking he’d just stepped out into an entirely new dimension from the one he’d been thrown into a day or so ago.

It’s… actually pretty chill out here.

Indeed.

You have entered REGION: GRENBELM FOREST in GLOBAL: KINGDOM OF WESTERWEALD

REGION: GRENBELM FOREST is known for its harmonious locales and the delicate balance of its ecosystem.

Shame we’re gonna have to change that right up, Ethan mumbled back to Sys. He then stretched his legs, deciding to take in the sights before he made his next plan. Though, hey, maybe I just set myself up as a casual farmer and live a nice, harmonious life here. It could happen, right?

It is not what you are.

It is not who you are.

You are only what you must be. As are we all.

Kaedmon’s Law.

Ethan furrowed his hairy brows.

You said some cryptic shit like that before, he said. What’s it mean? What exactly aren’t you telling me, Sys? In fact, don’t answer. I know what you’ll say.

He could already smell the scents of prey nearby. To his left—a glade of deer, totally unsuspecting. To his right, about five klicks from the mine’s location, a den of wolves that he could make his own.

He decided Sys's interrogation would have to wait.

Ethan stretched his massive limbs, his smile showing his still-bleeding fangs shining against the midday sun.

And in the corner of his eyes still ticked away the hours of his impending doom:

[Time Until Bounty: 10:00]

I’ve got a boss monster as my Host, a stealth skill that gets me double damage, a buttload of skills to improve, and 10 hours until this world comes to get me.

In the middle of the picturesque Grenbelm forest, Ethan the hat cracked his troll servant’s knuckles, before lumbering toward the general direction of a nearby wolf den.

Time to get to work.