Bjorn jumped awake, hissing and confused. He needed to protect Freja from the wolves, they had to get out of there now. Why was he asleep, what happened? He couldn’t stand up, something was on top of him. He squirmed for a moment seeing double and his vision didn’t seem to be getting any clearer.
The last thing he remembered was breathing out the poison cloud, then nothing but darkness and pain. He coughed, his throat dry and scratchy. He tried to focus on his vision; he was still seeing double. It was starting to become more normal to him. It was less like an affliction caused by injury and more of a new natural. He crawled out from what he recognized was actually a bed. He was in a house although it looked as if an explosion went off.
His mind was swimming and he couldn’t really focus. That’s when he noticed his neck was touching something. He turned and saw himself staring back at him. Startled, his necks reeled back, getting a good look at what he was seeing. He was seeing himself from two different angles at the same time. He had sprouted a second head, which only made him confused.
“Failsafe?” Bjorn called for him mentally. “You there buddy?”
“Ugh, yeah, unfortunately.” Failsafe groaned. “I thought the last fight you put us through hurt.”
“Was this your doing? What happened to me?” Bjorn asked.
“Do what,” Failsafe was quiet for a moment. “No, it appears this is just a natural thing that you do now,” Failsafe responded. “You got our head bitten off and man did that suck. But hey, we aren’t dead. Let's not do that again though. Getting decapitated is not conducive to a long life.”
Bjorn felt his magic returning to him far faster than ever before. Maybe it had something to do with his new head. It was starting to be less dizzying to move them independently. It was instinctual in that way.
“Wouldn’t they just grow back?” Bjorn asked.
“Maybe, but probably not,” Failsafe continued. “It took way more magic than you currently have to do this. The only reason we survived this time is because the wolf died.” He squealed in excitement. “Wait-wait, I just thought of something.”
Failsafe went quiet, and shortly after Bjorn’s vision returned to normal. He looked at his second head, which was bobbing up and down without him doing it.
“Failsafe, is that you?” Bjorn asked.
“Yep I have a body now! Look out world,” Failsafe said in triumph. “Well, I have a head.”
“How are you doing that? Can you take control of me?” Bjorn asked, feeling uneasy at the development.
“No, the only thing I can do is take control of one of your heads, and only if you let me. We can switch if you want, or you can kick me out, but I call dibs on the right side,” Failsafe responded casually.
The answer was still worrying but there wasn’t much he could do right now anyway. Bjorn stood up, his movements didn’t seem to be impeded by Failsafe controlling the other head. He needed to know what was going on, where was Freja, and where were they? The house he was in was devastated, it looked as if something tore its way in, then blew its way out.
“Any idea what this is about,” Bjorn asked.
Failsafe bobbed up and down his eyes scanning the environment completely wonderstruck.
“Nope.” Failsafe responded simply. “We should look around more.”
Bjorn decided first he would locate Freja; he found the familiar bond and tugged on it. Far more power than he had ever received from the bond flooded back to him. It was nearly overwhelming. He had to calm his nerves and open his status menus to see what happened.
----------------------------------------
Status Menu
Name: Bjorn Salstar
Species: Unknown
+ Level: 2
+ Vitality: 15
+ Restoration: 25
+ Constitution: 6
+ Willpower: 6
+ Strength: 3
+ Dexterity: 10
+ Stamina: 5
+ Magic: 1
+ Magic Regeneration: 2 (+100 from bond)
Page 1 of 2
Skills Analysis
Reincarnation Failsafe
An incomplete reincarnation magic and your best friend that has your back no matter what!
Venomous Bite
Magic Cost: 0
You have a neurotoxic venom which can be injected through a bite with your fangs.
Poison Puff
Magic Cost: 1
With your right head you can mix your venom into the air using magic creating a small area of poisonous gas. This gas will reduce the health of those inside. The wider the area of effect, the less effective the poison.
Poison Scratch
Magic Cost: 1
You can infuse your claws with neurotoxic venom, making even small scratches fatal overtime.
+ Delta Familiar Contract
Magic Cost: -100
You are a bonded delta class familiar. You gain +100 to magic regeneration. Your bond has grown, allowing you to convey your emotions though your bond. Your bond is more resilient to outside influences and cannot be forcibly severed by outside parties.
King of the Reptiles
Passive Skill
Dragons, lizards, amphibians all show hesitation and fear around you, going so far as to run away from you. More study needed.
+ Head Regeneration?
Magic Cost: 40-ish (Was kinda decapitated at the time so numbers may be off.)
Currently only usable if fallen beasts powers the regrowth. Major wounds including decapitation can be healed. (More study needed but not recommended we try again.)
Page 2 of 2
----------------------------------------
A second pop up covered the first screen.
----------------------------------------
Unassigned Cultivation Points Distribution
You have leveled up 2 times before assigning your UCP.
You have 20 UCP
Please assign all UCP within 9 day(s) or UCP will be automatically assigned.
Assign [yes/no]
----------------------------------------
“Is there any reason not to put all of this into magic?” Bjorn asked.
“Your magic core is currently not capable of holding twenty points in magic,” Failsafe said after some consideration. “Your body is too immature right now. At most you can hold five points in magic.”
“Only five?” Bjorn asked.
“You are barely a week old,” Failsafe responded. “Six points maybe, but that would be pushing it. After all you’re currently the strongest newborn I know.”
“I am the only newborn you know… I guess you’re right, I don’t want to stress out this young body too much,” Bjorn stated as he thought about it. “That leaves sixteen points. Do I have any other limitations on where I can place them?”
“Yes, all the stats have limits,” Failsafe said.
“Add an automatic limiter to prevent me from being able to put more into one stat than my body can handle,” Bjorn ordered.
Failsafe responded cheerily, “That shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll make it so the first number is your current stat and the second is the limit with your maturation. If you ever reach a point that you level faster than your maturation I can burn the extra point, maturing you faster.”
“Sounds good, and what about the Familiar Contract?” Bjorn asked. “A hundred to my magic regeneration isn’t causing any issues?”
Failsafe responded in a dismissive way. “No, but that’s only because of the contract itself. Any magic you can’t absorb from it is just being recycled into the bond, making it stronger over time. You still have a while before it’s irreversible, but unless we get Freja talking about it, anything I say is based on observation.”
“What about my memories?” Bjorn asked.
Stolen story; please report.
“Next time we sleep we will get some of those too.” Failsafe said, though he looked to be half paying attention.
Bjorn rolled his eyes and selected [yes]. He placed his stats so he would be able to make best use of his body. He needed to be able to move faster and strike with his venom without being hit back in return. When he’d wrapped himself around the first shadow wolf it had managed to react and claw at him.
If he’d been faster he could have escaped the wolf before it would bite off his head. Then again he had his regeneration, which could even regrow his head. For now he needed to be all-around better. His pup body couldn’t keep up and at least for now a strong foundation would be the way to go.
----------------------------------------
Status Menu
Name: Bjorn Salstar
Species: Unknown
Level: 2
Vitality: 15 / 35
Restoration: 25 / 50
+ Constitution: 8 / 15
+ Willpower: 8 / 15
+ Strength: 6 / 15
+ Dexterity: 12 / 20
+ Stamina: 7 / 15
+ Magic: 5 / 5
+ Magic Regeneration: 3 / 20 (+100 from bond)
Page 1 of 2
----------------------------------------
“There, all set,” Bjorn said. “Let’s find out what’s going on.”
Bjorn stepped out of the splintered remains of the front door. There his eyes opened wide and his breath quickened. The steel wolf was in a heap but that wasn’t what caught his attention. He recognized the scent in the air. It is death, laced in nature magic. The creature he wanted to avoid at all costs. Why were they here? Why in this village of all places? He didn’t recognize it at first. The village had been completely reclaimed by the forest.
He felt something pulling at him through the bond. It was fear, determination, self sacrifice. He was feeling Freja’s emotions. She was in danger, she was fighting that thing. Somewhere in the village. He pulled on the bond and felt her direction like a compass pointing north. Now was not the time for hesitation, he ran as fast as he could.
Ahead, an explosion ripped through the air as a house erupted into a deadly array of spikes. Bjorn skidded to a stop, his heart pounding. The treant loomed near the wreckage, its gnarled form advancing. For a brief, sickening moment, he thought he’d lost her—until the bond pulsed again. Freja was alive. He caught sight of her then, springing from the wreckage with her wind-forged hand, her movements swift but far from practiced as she slashed at the creature.
The fight wasn’t going her way. She landed a few blows, only to be swatted aside with brutal force. Her body hit a building with a sickening crunch before crumpling to the ground. Bjorn’s vision tunneled. The treant staggered toward her prone form, its jagged limbs reaching hungrily.
Not today.
Bjorn surged forward, mana igniting in his claws. Toxic vapor hissed and curled around him, eating at the ground as he leapt. His claws tore into the treant’s back, carving deep, sizzling furrows. The creature howled in agony, its wooden limbs twisting unnaturally as it thrashed, trying to dislodge him. Bjorn clung on, ripping and tearing with feral fury until a massive swipe nearly sent him flying.
Bjorn was already thankful of his increases in speed as he jumped from its back just in time. The treant was already chanting before he landed on the ground. Bjorn barely had time to register the danger before Freja, battered but standing, charged into the fray. With a cry of desperation, she swung the creature’s war staff, slamming it into the side of its head. The blow cut its spell short and staggered the monster. She had to run back as a retaliatory swipe of its hand barely missed her.
“Bjorn do it again!” Freja yelled. “The poison breath! Do it quickly, he is going to devolve and heal!”
She ran to Bjorn and dove behind him to get out of the way of the attack. She knew what to expect and Bjorn wasn’t going to disappoint. The creature turned to look at them. Its eyes darkened into hollow orbs as his wooden half started to spread over the flesh. It let out a guttural wail devoid of anything but the beast it was becoming.
Bjorn’s instincts roared to life. Heat built in his chest, molten and unbearable. His heartbeat thundered as mana surged through him, boiling in his veins. He drew in a deep breath, his throat searing as if aflame, and unleashed the magic.
The result wasn’t the expected poisonous cloud. Instead, a sickly green fire erupted from his jaws, consuming the air in a wide, violent bloom. The flames shimmered, shifting into a haunting purple hue, violet lightning crackling within the inferno as it expanded.
Freja cursed loudly, scrambling backward as the flames roared to life, licking hungrily at the village and forest. The treant shrieked, its form consumed in the toxic blaze. Bjorn collapsed to his side, his mana reserves drained, his body trembling with the aftershocks of the spell. The village and forest were quickly becoming alight with the inferno. Toxic purple flames licked at the air.
***
Freja couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed. Bjorn had breathed toxic purple fire. The unnatural flames erupted in a violent bloom, consuming everything in their path. She stood frozen, watching as the treant disappeared beneath the inferno, its form writhing and splintering into a sea of embers. Then came the wails. The treant’s agonized screams shattered the silence, jolting Freja from her stupor. The sound was raw, more a broken melody of pain than a scream. Freja sprinted toward Bjorn, scooping the small lizard under her arm.
“Bjorn!” she gasped, clutching him tightly. “Oh, I’m so happy you’re okay! I thought I lost you, baby.”
Her other hand gripped the war staff she had taken from the druid. Her legs burned, her lungs heaved, but she didn’t dare stop. The treant’s cries should have been fading, but instead, they seemed closer, louder. Freja risked a glance over her shoulder and her stomach turned.
The treant was crawling after them, its once-massive body reduced to a carbonized husk. Flesh and wood sloughed off its frame with every movement, flaking into ash. Despite the heavy injuries it dragged itself forward with unrelenting speed gaining on her with every pull of its arms. Its limbs scraped the ground, each motion punctuated by a hideous wail that echoed like a dirge. Its voice was ruined, a ghastly rasp.
Freja’s foot caught on a root, and she fell hard, the impact driving the air from her lungs. She tumbled, rolling over Bjorn in her attempt to shield him. Pain shot through her, but Bjorn recovered faster. The feral growl, the lizard launched himself at the treant. His claws and teeth tore into the scorched remains, forcing the creature to veer away from Freja as it thrashed to dislodge him.
Freja scrambled to her feet, the war staff her only support. Her vision swam, her body screaming in protest, but she couldn’t stop. Bjorn needed her. The treant’s arm lashed out, knocking Bjorn aside. Freja raised the staff and charged, adrenaline dulling her fear. She brought the weapon down with all her strength, aiming for the creature’s head. The impact sent a sickening crunch reverberating through her arms.
The treant shrieked, its wooden skull splintering—but it wasn’t enough. Its grotesque body writhed as new growth spiraled over the injury, sealing the wound with unnatural speed. One of its legs lashed out, catching Freja square in the stomach. She stumbled back, gasping for air, her grip on the staff the only thing keeping her upright.
“Forest Father help me. Deliver me from this savage!” The treant called out in a voice that echoed with mana. “Curse her, strike her dead! Father…”
That wasn’t a good sign. It could speak again, it was healing faster than Bjorn and she could hurt it. Freja regained her composure and ran over; she lifted the staff again, aiming for his head and neck. She struck him again and again until he finally stopped moving.
Bjorn jumped off once the body stopped moving. She kept striking, her screams ripping from her throat as she let her rage, her fear, her grief pour into every swing. She didn’t stop until her arms burned, until the treant’s head was unrecognizable, its remains a scattered mess of gore, splinters, and ash.
Freja staggered back, chest heaving, the staff slipping from her trembling hands. She stared at the carnage, her mind spinning. The forest around her seemed darker, heavier, as if it were closing in. She turned away, nausea rising in her throat, and doubled over, dry heaving until bile burned her throat. Her hands and clothes were caked in blood and gore, the acrid smell clinging to her skin. Tears stung her eyes, but she didn’t understand why. He deserved it. He had to die. It was him or her.
She continued to try and rationalize it, but it came back around to the fact she just killed someone. A real person. Justified or not she killed him. She killed someone. A cold wind caused her to shiver as she attempted to wipe some of the blood and tears from her face.
Bjorn curled up next to her their bond now allowed her to feel his emotions. His care, his concern for her was just as warm as she had hoped. She walked a few paces away next to a tree and sat down. Bjorn joined her. She spoke softly, but even she didn’t know what she had said.
They survived, they won, and they’d killed an evil-evil man. The world went wobbly as tears again formed. She petted the lizard with a bitter smile across her face.
“He was going to kill us. His people are the enemy, right? So, why does it still hurt?” Freja asked, her voice trembling. “All of the veterans always talked about it like it was a good thing to kill a druid. Honorable. But that? Honorable? I should feel vindicated. I killed one of those… I mean they killed my sister.”
Her vision blurred, exhaustion pulling at her. Every bruise, every ache screamed for rest. She closed her eyes, the image of the treant’s shattered body burned into her mind. Desperate for distraction, she summoned the mental projection of her status. The familiar glow of her magic flickered to life, a hollow comfort as she tried to focus on anything but the weight of what she’d done.
----------------------------------------
Status Menu
Name: Freja Thundersky Salstar
Species: Wendigo
+ Level: 9
Vitality: 9
Restoration: 2
Constitution: 2
Willpower: 8
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 4
Stamina: 2
Magic: 16
Magic Regeneration: 25 (+100 from bond)
Page 1 of 2
----------------------------------------
She had risen another level, although she didn’t really know what that meant. Until the second pop-up appeared again.
----------------------------------------
Unassigned Cultivation Points Distribution
You have leveled up again before assigning your UCP.
You have 20 UCP
Please assign all UCP within 5 days or it will be automatically assigned.
Assign [yes/no]
----------------------------------------
“So, level has something to do with how powerful I am, or at least how many points I can use. I get points by killing things? The number of days I have dropped in half, too,” Freja mused out loud. “I don’t know much about cultivators, but I’m pretty sure my great-great grandfather was one.” She thought about it for a little while. “Yes.”
The status menu reopened; this time there were little plus icons next to each of her stats. She thought about the possibilities. Right now her main goal was to leave the country. She didn’t want to entertain the possibility of running into her family again. As long as she was in Yuhia there was always a risk. She just wanted to start over and actually learn magic now that she could. She wanted to increase her knowledge and travel the world. Hope filled her for the first time in a long while. She had options.
She placed her stat points with a focus on magic, but with an understanding that she was going to be walking a lot. So some strength and stamina was a given. She looked at her new stats and confirmed the changes.
----------------------------------------
Status Menu
Name: Freja Thundersky Salstar
Species: Wendigo
Level: 9
+ Vitality: 10
+ Restoration: 4
Constitution: 2
Willpower: 8
+ Strength: 5
Dexterity: 4
+ Stamina: 8
+ Magic: 24
Magic Regeneration: 25 (+100 from bond)
Page 1 of 2
----------------------------------------