Chapter 5 : Damned if you do ?

Sleep quickly took him, an inviting embrace that drew him in like a lovers embrace as the teen sank into slumber, deeper, deeper, until the metaphorical feet of his various minds touched down on a solid floor. The various aspects of Maik's conscious were just starting to take stock of the odd place they were in when he was unceremoniously yanked back to the waking world. The teen blearily opened his eyes to glare at the offending source of the interruption. He yearned to return to that place, hungered, lusted for it even.

James had an apologetic smile on his face as he nudged his friend awake with his foot. “Wakey, wakey.” There was zero apology in the jocks eyes when Maik glared at him, just the self assured smile and a hand to help the teen up. “Up and at em. Its not bed time yet. Besides, were relocating.”

Maik's incredulity shifted to confusion by the time he took the proffered hand. A heave later and Maik was upright, yawning and stretching to glance at the time, 4:35. Maik had just put his head down about 15 minutes ago. “Were moving ? Yawn. To where?”

James gestured towards Maik's belongings and then towards the door for the teen to follow. “You should grab your stuff first and come on. We brought back the majority of the football team so the teachers figured that things were going to start getting really crowded. To solve that issue they made some arrangements with a few of the other teachers and their students to switch places and now were relocating everyone up to the second story of the north most building sense its the closest to the stadium.”

James went into more detail regarding their groups earlier interaction as they and the rest of the class packed up and headed out towards their new destination. There were those who griped having to up and move, especially those who looked like they were approaching the point in their transformation that the teen had been at hours ago. Is Skip growing pointy ears ? Yep. It would seem so. This prompted Maik to look reflect that he wasn't in quite so much pain any more and when they were finally able to stop at the new location he was able to take a moment and look inwards. We are certainly past the midway point. Maybe 65-75%. Thank God. I don't know how much more of this I could stand. Good to feel better. James was giving him a look though, but Maik just brushed it aside.

Instead he addressed the news James brought. “So when is the first round of showers. I want to wash before dinner.”

James shook his head. “We need to make another 3 maybe 4 runs for floor mats first. Come on.”

A groan was Maik's whole hearted reply. “Are you serious ? Helping this many people fix their Chi isn't easy you know. My purple bar is at like...” The teen double checks and winces. “4%, if that. I need food, and sleep, and..”

“And a swift boot in the ass from the sound of it.” The loud and authoritative voice of the Coach drew everyone attention as it shut the teen complaining right up. “You may have been producing the best results towards helping people with the current problem but there are still others who have been very hard at work today and their helping. If this 52 year old man can still move mats after running 4 miles today then you can sure as shit help too, now move.” Maik was moving, even if he didn't like it.

James helped with some good natured jabs at Maik's complaining to put a smile on the teen face and they both gossiped about what a hard ass the head coach was until the 4th and final load of mats was being moved. On the way back they actually found themselves partially separated from the others, either too far ahead or behind them to really be within ear shot. The jock found that the perfect time to change the subject. “So whats up with you huh ? I saw you taking note of Skip's ears and I have to say that I cant be the only one to notice something a little different about you too. I'm just asking because I haven't decided how I'm going to use the point yet and wanted to learn as much as I could before hand, you know.”

Maik was silent for 14 steps while he mulled things over. Busted. There is no evidence to suggest that he knows out selection, only that he has observed that there is a change. Ohh yeah ? Glance down at how much our chest sticks out new and try that again. Go ahead, I'll wait. Busted. Let us suppose that it is obvious. Lets. Then the best course of action would be full disclosure. Apprehension. We could do that. We could do that... Or, we could just tell him that we're turning into a girl. I know that would be strange but hot hermaphrodite strange. Sounds.... okay ? No. If we even so much as insinuate that we are fully female then when they find out that we have a penis then they will assume that we chose this form in order to sneak up on them and slip them the D. It will seem like a deception. But was have a vagina ! Yeah !

Maik's Logical mind the Walks the rest of his consciousness though it reasoning in a monologue. The penis, Objectively speaking is a terrifying thing. Its sole purpose in existence is to invade the body of another organism and inject that organism with biological material meant to produce another life form inside the host organism. On top of this the penis can send protein signals to the brain, making it release endorphins that make me and you creative, the both of us, drugged out messes that cant thing. This effectively subverts out collective moral compass in favor of letting primal take over our actions. We have experienced this creative multiple times. Added to this is the fact that the accompanying testicles also provide larger amounts of testosterone to mate the organism the penis is attached to physically stronger and then more capable of subduing other organisms once those endorphins have robbed the host of their higher mental function and moral compass. Yeahhhh. Okay. When you put it that way. Agreement. We should still make it sound like we got something cool out of it. Agreement.

His mind made up. “Soooo. I found some options. For modification. While I was in an altered state of mind, mind you. Like.....” Maik looked up and too the left in thought until suddenly snapping back to the conversation. “You know how Skip told us about hos different races get different stat affinities ?” James nods. “Well I didn't want to give up the versatility of being human but still wanted some sweet affinity bonuses. So I found an option that gave me that, made my alteration points go further..... And didn't remove my manhood.”

James threw his head back and around before bursting into a short bout of laughter and almost dropping his side of the load they were carrying. “....uhhHAaa Hahh hahahh. Uhhmm.... Well.” He sniffs loudly and clicks his tongue. “At least you have your priorities strait and your still a dude.”

Maik's tone was bashful. “Welllllll.” The look on James face could have used to make a meme that read 'Say what now ?' So the teen quickly elaborated. “I mean I still have my dick, no worries there.” And then proceeded to not elaborate further on the matter, even smirking to himself at how infuriated that answer was making his Jock friend.

Payback for waking me up bitch. Catharsis. I'm okay with this.

Back in the classroom Maik checked his status again to find that the purple bar was probably at 6%. So tired. Yuck. Our energy recover rate is abysmal. Its likely that the energy is mostly going towards our transformation. We haven't eaten nearly enough to account for all the extra biomass our hips and chest have gained. Don't forget the junk in our trunk. Tired ! (HUNGRY !)

Davis entered the room to let us know that food was available in one of the other class rooms which had been set up for dinning. A glance at the clock informed Maik that it was now 5:53 and the idea of showering before dinner was just too much effort at the moment but the teens body was complaining to the rest of him that it was literally eating itself for fuel and complaining loudly about the fact every second at this point so he shuffled his way to the eating area and actually demanded a second helping from when it came to his turn. “Just go ahead and give me a double order.” It was Stacy and Boyd who seemed in charge of serving. They looked at each other and then back at Maik with an apologetic expression and the teen cut them off. “I'm utter Chi deprived, Tired from manual labor and starving. Who's dick do I have to suck around here for a second helping ?”

Snorts and giggles resounded in the make shift cafeteria but there were a few who were curious as to weather or not Maik would receive any kind of special treatment. Boyd pulled out a couple protein bars and passed them over. Along with Maik's lunch. “Well I was wondering what to give you as thanks for your help so fare so if you really need a little extra that badly then I can oblige you.”

Maik took the proffered food without further a do before making his way to the nearest seat next to some one he knew, who happened to be Jose, and started eating. Despite how ravenously the teen was inhaling his food the Spaniard had to comment. “Dammmmn dude. You need to be careful with talk like that.” Maik just grunted in between mouth fulls.

After the meal Maik was well and truly done with today. Still Boyd delicately but strategically blocked the door to address. “Daley, as you know we picked up another group and I was wondering....”

Maik didn't so much cut Boyd off as he just turned away from the middle aged man, shuffled over to a corner and started slumping down to sleep right there. Only started because Boyd and Jose quickly moved to help him stay upright while Boyd apologized. “Sorry Daley, How about we get you to bed and we can talk in the morning.”

The teacher helped his student remove his shoes and then left him be, allowing Maik to drift back down into slumber. Down, down, down. On the floor of the strange place once more. It took some time for the various aspects of Maik to acclimate, just kind of standing there in a daze for a few hours while this strange place took distinct form and shape. It was primal who moved first but primal was never good with numbers so it waited for first creative and then intellect to rouse and begin exploring. The center of the room was a big cylinder that stood about 8 feet tall and was easily 20 feet in diameter that had door way opening at 2 opposing ends.. It displayed his character sheet and there were quite a few notifications but Maik collectively ignored those for the moment.

On the floor were several glowing lines that spread out from the central cylinder were glowing lines with little marking on the floor like limbs that sprouted off a tree and when make focused on them he he realized that they were skills, all the tier 1 and 2 skills were represented either by little dots on little leaf patterns on the floor. Then Creative spotted the first rod that emerged up out of the floor. Little more than a bump really but focusing on it showed Maik that it was the Calculus skill. Looking beyond, the Teen could see that the skill could be followed to an incredible extend as a sense that all the answers of the universe could be had if he but followed this path to its ultimate conclusion. I bet you runes are just math with magic. That is certainly a possibility. One we will need to investigate further. Another floor down here.

Unlike the path of math and bio chemistry, where so much of their futures were revealed to him, the other tier three and the even taller tier 4 skills futures were greatly obscured. What is this bullshit. What a fucking tease. We already had a fair understanding of where the study of mathematics could lead us. It would seem that this place doesn't actually show us anything we don't already know. Pointless. I disagree. Having a clear mental construct to keep our progress and skills organized could be quite useful. You have to admit that the aesthetic is pretty cool.

The nest floor down housed all the various races, which he could have changed into and were also tiered. Humans, strangely enough were a 3ed tier while the most basic of angels was a tier 5. Just past human was his current status as a hermaphrodite and a few new options including several tier 4 demon races and 1 tier 5 that were available ? These options seemed to be the result of him transforming into a hermaphrodite.

True Lilin – tier 5 – Young adult

The primordial Human, those born directly from the union of Gods original creations Lilith and Adam but who rejected the Garden of Eden and were thus branded as demons.

Lilin earn modification points by a factor of 5 per level advancement and have a minor affinity for all stats and skills.

Special traits

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Adaptive physique – A Young adult Lilin hasn't come into the full of their power. Sampling the essence or blood of other living being can allow the Lilin to replicate aspects or traits of the sampled creature.

Supernatural Charisma – The lilin can influence those around them to a greater degree and more easily through a combination or Auric projections that influence others moods and powerful pheromones that can make the lilin more likable.

Double checking the human race, it received modification pint by a factor of 3 and had no affinities and no special traits but also no aversions. Every point spent on a neutral affinity stat would just count as one. It would take 2 pints to advance the stat of a minor aversion but for every point spent on a minor affinity stats the stat would increase by 2. Okay, but what the deal with this factor of 5 none sense ? Too much maths. There is probably a difference in the quality of levels that can be obtained ? More research ? More research.

Attempting to go up to the floor above the skills floor yielded no results as that area seemed to be blocked off for now so the 3 aspects of Maik's mind that actually conversed focused on the notifications.

Tier 3 skill acquired – Mind body connection – beginner + 3 alteration points.

Tier 4 skill acquired – Chi body infusion – Beginner + 4 alteration points.

Tier 3 skill advancement – Mind body connection – Capable + 6 alteration points.

Congratulations. You have accumulated a sufficient combination of divers magical energy and experience manipulating those energies to advance your power for the first time. Level up. As a [human / young adult] you gain 3 alteration points this level.

Tier 4 skill acquired – Chi body infusion _ Beginner + 4 alteration points.

Tier 4 skill acquired – sending – Beginner + 4 alteration points.

Tier 4 skill advancement – Chi projection – Capable + 8 alteration points.

Level up. You have accumulated a sufficient combination of diverse magical energy and experience manipulating those energies to advance to the 2ed level. As a [human / young adult] you gain 6 alteration points this level.

Tier 4 skill acquired – Chi sight – Beginner + 4 alteration points.

Tier 4 skill acquired – Minor healing – beginner + 4 alteration points.

Hard work over your last awake cycle combined with adequate nutrition and rest has enhanced your attributes.

Endurance + 2

Ch + 4

Aura + 2

Some math and investigation later Maik discovered that the race tier determined every skill below the 4th tier took penalties to how may alteration points were awarded, with tier 1 skills getting a -3. On top of that his alteration point gain was multiplied rather than added.

Race tier Plus skill tier minus Four equals the base number of alteration points earned and then that number is multiplied by the level of the skill.

Likewise, the Race tier is multiplied by the Races level. Do you suppose there are classes too ? Maybe that's on the 3ed floor ? Definitely something to look into. Later. Wait. Do we have enough ?

Creative rushes back down to the alter that represented the Lilin race change option. It would cost Maik 45 points to make the transition. Primal starts grinning. We will be more powerful. We should totally do it. Hesitate to just jump into another transformation right after we just finished our first. Pussy. Yes, we actually have one of those now, thank you for noticing. Burn. Still, a factor of 5. That's 2 more than our current advancement factor. Think of the power, think of other people with fewer reservation and their power. Must be prepared. Those are indeed solid points. Very well but lets put the remaining point into Charisma. I dislike odd numbers. Whatever.

With that finally settled Maik Selected that changes and accepted them only to feel the mental space he was in shift, blur and then fade to black. The next thing he knew Maik was being roused by a nudge to his shoulder. With a groan he slowly opened his eyes to see James annoyed face. This was quickly followed by the jocks annoyed voice. “Finally. I was seriously about to douse you face with water in another couple minutes. Everyone else has been up for a while and were already almost to the last rotation for breakfast.”

Breakfast sounded good but Maik wanted to check on his progress first before trying to get up.

Name : Make Alphonse Daley

Species : Human / Race : Lilin – Young adult

Age :18

Gender : Hermaphrodite

Height : 190 Centimeters

Weight : 80 Kilograms

Strength : 81

Flexibility : 89

Dexterity : 123

Endurance : 82

Durability : 76

Intelligence : 142

Smarts : 164

Wisdom : 126

Perception : 137

Charisma : 110

Chi : 175

aura : 167

Skills 3ed Tier

Bio chemistry – Beginner

Calculus – Beginner

Mind & body connection – Capable

Stills / 4th Tier

Chi body infusion. - Beginner

Chi projection – Capable

Sending – beginner

Minor healing – Beginner

Chi sight – beginner

It seemed that physical changes went much faster while one was sleeping sense his race was already lilin, a fact Maik was rather thankful for. That feeling lasted all of about 10 seconds as his pants started ripping when he started stretching. “...... Ohhh Damn it.”

The shit eating grin that spread over James's face filled Maik's heart with dread for the epic amount of heckling his friend was going to inflict upon him as a result of that ripping sound and the smug tone in the jocks voice didn't fall short. “... You Umm. Snort. You doing okay man ? Sounds like you might be having some trouble.”

The newly minted lilin just looked up at his friend with a flat look, sighed and then asked with a flatter tone. “I need some new pants. Any ideas ?”

James was not letting up that easily. “I mean, everyone could tell you had put on some weight yesterday. No judgment. I know you've always had trouble putting weight but to each there own.” Maik was confused as to where his friend was going with this but just as the lilin was about the ask James cleared it right up. “I would have put my alteration points into something like strength, dexterity, intelligence, heck maybe even wisdom but there your points and if you wanted to put them into increasing your weight.....” The jock just shrugs with palms up.

Flabbergasted and a little red faced, Maik tossed the rolled up empty back pack at the jock he had been using for a pillow. “Dude !”

But James was far from done. “Didn't expect it all to go right to your hips did you ? Figured that it would be more of an even spread huh ?”

Maik tried to jump and and go after the mouthy man but the sound of even more ripping halted Lilin in place to growl and glare. The pause was only temporary. As soon as he realized he could wrap himself in the large towel he had been using as a blanket the lilin was able to get to his feet. However that allowed his friend to take note of how much Maik's chest was sticking out, the sight leaving the jock taken aback.

Noticing where James, and a couple others were looking caused the lilin to sigh but there was little time to regret. “Look, where is Boyd ? I can just him about..”

James blurts out, interrupting Maik mid sentence. “The teachers have already started addressing clothes. Apparently there was a costume and tailoring group on campus and they have been brought in to help. You would know this if you had stayed awake for the after dinner meeting.” His eyes roamed over the lilins body and when their eyes met again the jock had a suspicious look on his face, though he stepped forward to speak softly. “Still have your manhood ? Or has that changed sense yesterday ?”

Maik was frankly shocked by how forward his friend had asked the question, eyebrows raised. That expression quickly gave way to a smile and a reassuring nod. “Yep, Still have my willy. Now you mentioned breakfast. I'm hungry.”

The jock continued to pester Maik for more details but the lilin wasn't budging. Honestly he was getting a kick out of the mystique. Maik's other friends wanted to join in on the questions but were already busy with other tasks and only had time for a nod as they passed, having already eaten. Boyd was the exception, coming over to dismiss James to help the coach before taking a seat across form Maik while clearly assessing the teen. “Your looking a lot better today. We've observed that most people who chose there transformations early yesterday had finished them by this morning. I've been talking with several of them and the strange dreams they had last night. I would like to go over what your experience was to compare before I bring you up to speed on what was discussed after you passed out last evening.”

In between bites of cereal the lilin fills his teacher in on most of the details, everything except the race advancement really but that was more than enough to sate The middle aged mans curiosity, a fact evident in his tone. “From what we have gathered so far this morning that what we expected but as usual your insights bring greater clarity to the situation. Speaking of which, How are your Chi reserves looking ?”

The Chi bar wasn't ever present in his vision but it appeared in its usual place when he thought about it like a pop up bar when you move your mouse to the edge of the screen. Maik's voice was impressed. “Wow, its at about 82% ! I'm guessing there is a line of people ready and waiting to undergo the fast track ?”

Boyd fills Maik in on the proposed schedule while the teen finishes his breakfast and then starts updating him on what was discussed last night. “While we have certain crucial supplies like enough reserve diesel fuel to run the generators for 3 months, triple that if we ration the use but that's cut in half if we start running the busses around town. An option that I understand the head faculty might be considering. 3 months of stored food if we include the emergency freeze dried stuff. Wells on campus provide plenty of water and we even have a green house for the Botany course. Even with all this, there are a lot of amenities we need to sort out.” A pointed look at the towel Mail was wearing was used to emphasis the teachers point. “clothes being one of them. One of the students you helped so far was part of a tailoring course. More of an extra curricular course for making costumes and outfits but they take care of that issue at least. Me and the other 2 of the original trilogy will be going around the school and inviting those with needed skills.”

By this point Boyd had provided Maik with a couple clips to help hold the towel on and lead the lilin to another of the appropriated class room where coach Leavery and jocks were all reading the instruction sheets the teen himself had originally produced. “You might think that those experts would be the priority for you to help but we first need to keep order. So the first group your helping are coach Leavery here and some of the senior sports team students..”

Maik nodded agreement but leaned in towards his teacher. “If you would please to schedule an appointment between me and the tailors ? I could really use some new clothes.” Boyd simply nodded and left the teen to start his instruction. The lilin surveyed the room and the 26 other people in the packed class room until a man whom the teen figured must be the coach walked up to him with a look on his face like he meant to take Maik's measure. The lilin found this a perfect time to test out one of his new traits and projected his Chi in an aura around him that projected confidence in himself.

Leavery was not impressed with the person Boyd had brought. The... boy ? Girl ? That didn't matter. What mattered what that this student was wearing a towel for fucks sake. He was going to give this yahoo a piece of his mind but as he approached the youth suddenly radiated something like the kind of assured confidence his old commanding officer had back in desert storm. Not the same thing... something was a little... off. But it did give the former soldier pause.

Maik capitalized on that pause, strode forward and took the initiative by offering his hand and a warm welcome. “Coach Leavery I presume. I apologize for the current state of my attire. I have suffered a wardrobe malfunction and the rest of my clothes are back home so I'm making due until replacements can be provided.” Next the teen released pheromones while keeping the Chi bar in mind. The decrease was minimal, hadn't even dropped a single percent yet, so the teen added some Chi to the hand shake for good measure. No kill like over kill.

The full combination of effects had the admittedly tired and still recovering older man fully placated. The still wild Chi wasn't rampant in his body any more, as he seemed to have gained some innate control over night but against Maik's skills the former soldier was slightly more than defenseless. The teen repressed a hungry smile as he lead the coach back to his seat and started the session.