Exiting the dungeon, it was nighttime. Usually I would be concerned about this situation, but my mind was elsewhere. I still saw the images of the people of Zalus, being massacred so easily with no way to stop it from happening. Ash’s last moments of fighting, trying her best not to burn everything around her as she fought, being cut down. Even though I only knew her for a short moment, she was kind. Would she have treated me differently if she knew I was half monster and human?
Not wanting to think about these things anymore, I look around, the usually empty field was filled with monsters of various levels, the highest I could make out was 17. Turning around to look at the Temple of the Blood God, I saw that the doors had disappeared, in its place was a solid void-black wall. The System showed me something unexpected.
[This dungeon is undergoing mutation and is no longer accessible at this time.]
I was tired of not knowing enough about this world and the System. Wanting to go back to our resting spot and take a bath and sleep, I look at the others who looked just as exhausted. “Should we just return now?” Asking this question of everyone, Elizabeth and Sally nod as Olivia and Gray just sort of shrugged. Taking that as they weren’t bothered either way, we started moving towards where we came from, where the Orb of Salus was awaiting us.
Moving carefully through the field, a lot of monsters either avoided us or ignored us, while some attacked us. Not bothering to take the time to gather meat, we ended up just dragging the monsters we got back with us, none were able to pose a threat to us as long as we did not fight too many at a time. Remembering back when I was level 3 in a dungeon, I was shocked at how much power I’ve gained in comparison to back then. Thinking to test my strength on either wood or a boulder later, we kept moving.
Seeing the plateau in the distance, we speed up a bit, all of us eager to rest, with no one really willing to talk. Those memories were still fresh in my mind, a sight like that was something I did not want to see, and the same was likely for the others.
Arriving near the plateau there were no enemies around, we slowly ascended the plateau and after a short walk arrived where the orb was somewhat hidden behind the rocks and wood. Without a wood, I put my sack down, lay down and fall asleep without a word.
***
Waking up thanks to the light of day hitting me, I slowly get up and peer around. It was nearly the end of the daylight already. I see Gray cooking, Alice was sitting on his head, Olivia was checking her equipment. Sally, Pup and Elizabeth were missing. Getting up, I greet the two and head towards the lake. Seeing no one else here, I take my time bathing while thinking of our next move. Levelling to 20 is a priority, we can do that at any time. The next steps would depend on what everyone wants to do.
Thinking of our next step after getting to level 20, we had some options. Storm into Crater and demand the freedom of Hybrids. Thinking about this, it was not a good idea. We’d need to either bring them all back here or remain in Crater, both had their pros and cons, the best way forward would be to slowly migrate them here.
We could always massacre the city of Crater, leaving only the Hybrids, but I don’t want to kill those that weren’t involved in enslaving our kind. I don’t mind slaughtering those in power that had a hand in everything, but the humans living innocently didn’t deserve that, we’d be no better than The Order.
Coming up with a few ideas, I planned to discuss it with everyone after we levelled to 20. Getting out, I dry myself off, reclothe and put my armour back on. Taking my time on the way back, I explored a bit while thinking of what we needed to house Hybrids if we were to bring them back here. Food is an obvious one, while monster meat was fine we do also have the seeds that Elizabeth brought back.
Water was easily obtained, there is a river with fresh water here. The only other things were shelter and clothing. Hybrids were given scraps to wear, the humans hated seeing Hybrids naked so they clothed us with the bare minimum effort. Next was helping them level up, doing that with a few Hybrids would be easy, but the amount of Hybrids in Crater was in the thousands, with more being born daily.
Scratching one of my ears on top of my head, the road ahead was complicated, it wasn’t something I could just punch either, I wasn’t good at handling things like this. Sally and Gray would be in the same position, we didn’t have the experience in looking after so many people. Elizabeth might have that experience, it was unlikely for Olivia to know anything as well. Well, the best move was to take it easy.
Arriving back at the campsite an hour later, Sally and Elizabeth had returned and were eating with Gray and Olivia. Sitting down, I grab some food as Sally speaks.
“Lets level to 20 now, it’ll be best to do so sooner rather than later.” Raising her hand, Elizabeth spoke.
“I don’t know much about level 20, from what I’ve heard the System apparently changes, to what extent I do not know. However, rumours in Crater say that level 20 is a huge step up in terms of power. It was said those that hit level 20 could destroy boulders with a single blow, or defeat monsters lower level than them with a swipe of their hand.”
Listening to this, I couldn’t help but feel gloomy. I remember the power Jin and Anita had shown in their final moments. Within a single breath, Jin had surrounded everything near him with spikes, killing hundreds within a breath, those who were much higher level than we were. We needed to surpass that power to truly be able to stand against any threat.
“Let's do it in turns. We don’t know what this entails and we need to prepare in case Sally, Gray or I lose control. Elizabeth and I go first, then Olivia and Gray and finally Sally. Sally had the best control over her monster side, Gray is similar, only I…”
Not finishing my sentence, I worried about what was going to happen. Sitting next to me, Elizabeth pats my shoulder. “It’ll be fine. Don’t be scared, that monster side of you is a part of you. We’ll still accept you, even if you change.” Pursing my lips, I look down and take a breath.
“Shall we just proceed now?” Elizabeth asked this to the rest of the group, I nod and see the others doing the same. Getting up, Elizabeth sits a bit away, guessing this was to prevent anything from conflicting, I look at the others and nod. Closing my eyes, I whisper the words that may change my life.
“System level to 20.”
[Level 20 process underway.]
[Detected Alisha as a Demonic Fox and Human Hybrid. Evolution is possible.]
[Before the System can continue, Alisha must face her inner monster.]
[Demonic Fox Awakening skill has risen to 100%.]
[You must face the monster within.]
Feeling a tug in my mind, I found myself in a grassy plain, a familiar sight…it was Hound Hell. All around me were people fighting…Hybrids, this was the day…the day Alice died. Feeling something within me rising, an anger so hot I wanted to release it, a bloodthirst so hungry it wanted to feast and a sadness so deep I wanted to crawl into a ball. Conflicted with emotions, I found Alice as the Hound pounced at her, biting into her shoulder. Watching from a distance, I see a younger version of myself running towards Alice, panic in her eyes.
[Sally’s PoV]
Seeing the two close their eyes, I knew that whatever process there was had begun. Keeping my eyes on Alisha, I hoped everything was going well with her. Gray, who was next to me, was also keeping an eye on Alisha. All of a sudden, a deep red aura erupts around her as her tail grows out, a deep bloodthirst coming from her. We knew this was possible, and unless it started going on a rampage, we would not interfere.
As the aura strengthened, a new more calm aura came out, a light silver aura started pushing the red aura back, slowly until both were about equal. Alisha’s hair came out of its ponytail and started floating like it was picked up in the wind. Gripping my arm, I hoped that she wouldn’t change from this.
[Alisha’s PoV]
Seeing Gerald stab into Alice’s chest, anger welled up in me. I had nearly forgotten how I felt at this moment, powerless to do anything to prevent her death or get revenge for this human killing her. A voice speaks near me.
“Good, remember that feeling, the pain humans have inflicted on us is deep. We Hybrids have suffered for generations, all to fuel these disgusting humans, we have always suffered at their hands. Never strong enough to change it from happening.”
I didn’t need to turn to know who spoke, but I did anyway. Standing there within arms reach was me, the other me. Red eyes that glowed with anger, a tail that was waving in hatred, this was my monster side. Something I couldn’t accept, in this moment I found I couldn’t disagree with it.
“You reject me, I do not reject you. You are me, and I am you. You can not deny this.”
“I’m nothing like you, I don’t want to mindlessly kill.”
“You never needed to. Kill those that threaten us, that’s all you need to do.”
Watching as a hound pounced towards Alice’s corpse, the scene ended, and another appeared. I saw myself, much younger this time, when I was first brought out of the cells that they kept Hybrids in for years after birth. I was dragged into a pit, my job was to bury Hybrids that had died. It was a deep pit, on the far edge of the slums, near where monsters would approach.
This was a moment in my life I had repressed. Memories resurfaced of times where they would throw Hybrids into the pit, and I along with others were forced to dig graves for them. Many times there were those that were still alive, weak and unable to move, they were killed in front of us. I didn’t understand when I was first forced to work there, but I had met Alice here.
She taught me about what was happening, how to feel about it. She taught me a lot, in hindsight it was very little, but for me at this time it was a lot. Watching scenes of times humans slaughtered Hybrids like they were nothing in front of the younger me, the scene changed again.
This time, it was the massacre in front of the gates of the mutated dungeon, Cerberus’s Domain. There was no need for this to happen, they could’ve simply killed us and made their way back. Instead, we were used as entertainment, forced to kill one another in the hope that we made it back to Crater. I still don’t understand why this needed to happen.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I watched as Thomas cut me down, and my monster side came out for the first time. Seeing me use my claws to decapitate Thomas’s head, I was oddly calm and even a bit happy to see it.
“Don’t reject that feeling. We killed an enemy that day, there is no need for remorse.”
Biting my lip, I knew I couldn’t reject it, in fact I was glad this happened. If I hadn’t awoken my inner monster, Thomas would’ve killed me. Watching as I drink his blood and tear flesh off his body, I barely react. Wasn’t this natural, to devour my enemies for food. Seeing Sally move in, she strikes me with the pummel of her sword, forcing the transformation to end.
Once again, the scene changed, I was fighting the humans after escaping from the labyrinth. Seeing as I pierce the heart of one of the hunters, I saw my eyes. I may have been drunk at this moment, but my eyes were full of excitement, excited about finally killing a human. I saw myself turn to look at Gerald, recalling I wanted to kill him at this moment. Torture him for a bit before devouring him. That same feeling welled up in me.
“And why shouldn’t we devour him. He caused us pain, he took Alice from us. Hate him. Hate the humans like him, kill them all. We will devour them.”
Feeling the anger in me boil, I close my eyes, knowing she…I was saying the truth.
“I’m afraid…I’ve always been afraid of you. I don’t want to change, to become someone else.”
“I am you. You’re simply just repressing me. I, you, simply want to survive. I see no reason to lose all rationale either, that is something I, you, would fall to if you became too emotional.”
I knew that was the truth as well.
“Sally, Gray, they both don’t lose control in their monster forms. They accept themselves, you’re afraid because you might change. Did Sally change or become afraid when she started to need blood? Gray gained courage after accepting his true side. Only you seem to be this afraid.”
I knew now why I was so adamant of rejecting the monster side of me. I was afraid of not being me anymore. I knew that was a lie, I was always repressing the bloodthirst, there was no monster side, it was just me. It was another side of me that I kept repressed, I would need to discover who I truly was.
Slowly, I accepted this other me. I wasn’t as afraid as I once was. Reaching my hand out, I say “Maybe I’ll change, or I’ll become different, but that is something I’ll accept. I won’t repress myself anymore.”
The other me smiles, reaches out and takes my hand as I feel something within become freed.
[You have accepted your inner monster.]
[A Hidden Condition has been met.]
[Evolution is possible, checking Hidden Conditions.]
[The following Hidden Conditions have been met:
1. Killed a Mutated Guardian in a Dungeon solo
2. Be on the brink of death
3. Mutated Mana Pool and Veins (Lunar Mana)
4. Gained an understanding of your True Nature Magic, Lunar Magic
5. Completed the True Route of a Dungeon
6. Accepted your true self
Due to these achievements, you will be offered more evolution paths.]
[Identifying potential evolution paths.]
[Evolution paths available:
Eclipse Fox [A+] - 100% Compatibility
Lunar Shadow Fox [A] - 70% Compatibility
Lunar Wind Fox [A-] - 70% Compatibility
Ascended Human [B+] - 50% Compatibility
Hellfire Fox [B] - 30% Compatibility
Wind Spirit [E] - 20% Compatibility]
Seeing the choices before me, I elect for Eclipse Fox, as it is the most compatible according to the System.
[Eclipse Fox has been chosen.]
[Due to the energy within the Crystallised Tear of the Moon Goddess, the evolution path has been upgraded.]
[Evolving Alisha to Mystic Lunar Fox.]
A drowsiness overcame me, embracing it, I fell into a deep slumber.
***
[Sally’s PoV]
As I watched Alisha, the auras around her slowly stopped fighting for control and began merging together. It has been three hours at this point, and only now was the situation with her starting to calm down. Looking at the stars above, I was worried about my promotion to level 20. Just as I was thinking this, I saw a strange sight.
The moon and stars suddenly brightened, so bright it gave more light than usual. As soon as it happened it stopped, I would’ve missed it if I blinked or wasn’t looking up. Looking at Gray, he was looking around with a frown. Before we could say anything, Alisha started to glow. Looking at her I could tell this wasn’t Moon Glow. The glow was growing brighter, and from under her a cocoon slowly formed upwards.
After a few minutes, it covered her completely, a silver cocoon. Feeling a lot of energy coming from it, I wondered what was happening. Looking at Elizabeth, nothing like this is happening to her. Looking closely at the cocoon, I saw imprints on it, imprints of stars and moons, like someone beautifully crafted it. Hoping this was a good thing for Alisha, I returned to waiting.
[Alisha’s PoV]
I am floating, surrounded by stars with a moon above me, I am just floating in this space. I felt at peace here, a peace I’ve never felt, like nothing bad would ever happen here. I felt energy from the moon and stars slowly entering me, I couldn’t explain how or why, but I knew this energy was slowly changing me from within.
Unlike the ritual to give me my mana back, this was not painful but calming and relaxing. Closing my eyes, I let myself drift. After some time, I felt a hand caress my face, and opening my eyes I saw for a brief moment a smiling woman with white silky hair, matching eyes, and a beauty that left me stunned. Blinking, I no longer saw her. Wondering if I truly saw her, I look around and see the stars slowly fading as their energy disappeared.
Looking at the moon, it had grown dim as well and after a few minutes, it slowly disappeared, as did the stars surrounding me, leaving me in complete darkness. Closing my eyes as I felt a tug, I saw the System messages come up.
[Evolution to Mystic Lunar Fox completed.]
[Race: Mystic Lunar Fox.
Grade: S+
A rare and unique monster form, this monster has been blessed by the Moon Goddess and possesses unmatched strength at night.
You gain +1 Stat rank to Intelligence and Agility.
Your Lunar Mana Talent now increases all Lunar type magic by 25%. Reduces the strength of other magic by 15%.
You gain additional strength at night, +20% to all stats during night. You will be weakened during the day, -20% to all stats during the daytime.
You have a stronger affiliation with Lunar magic.]
Reading all of this made me feel a bit lost. I would be weaker during the day, meaning I’d need to rely on others, but in turn I would be a lot stronger at night. Looking at the next lot of prompts, I see more messages from the System.
[You are now Level 20.]
[Stats have been updated to display Stat points. Stat rank determines growth of Stat Points per level.]
[You can now see Talents.]
[System now provides more information.]
[Class Up conditions have been met.
Previous Class: Demonic Dancing Fox Fighter.
New Class: Lunar Fist of the Wind.]
[Lunar Fist of the Wind: Uses the powers of Lunar and Wind Magic to empower you. Provides +1 Stat Rank to Strength.
You have a stronger affiliation for Wind Magic]
Feeling overwhelmed by the changes that have occurred, I request my Status and am shocked by what I see.
Status
Alisha, the Aspiring Hero
Race: Mystic Lunar Fox Level: 20 Experience: 0/100,000 Class: Lunar Fist of the Wind Class Level: 1 Class Exp: 1,000/50,000
Stats
Alisha, the Aspiring Hero
Strength: F+ 80 Agility: C-
210 (+100)
Intelligence: F+ 100 Toughness: F 50
Magic
Alisha, the Aspiring Hero
Lunar Magic: Wind Magic: Lightning Magic (Incomplete): Moon Glow Wind Explosion None Star Dust Fist Gale Armour Lunar Blessing (Incomplete)
Skills and Talents
Alisha, the Aspiring Hero
Skills Talents Lashing Fire Kick Lunar Mana Drunken Brawler True Monster Release
Blinking, I don’t see my health or mana. Just as I think of where to find them, they appear quickly before disappearing.
[Health: 1,000/1,000
Lunar Mana: 12,000/12,000]
No longer a part of the Status screen, they showed up whenever I thought of seeing either health or mana, something that could be useful for combat. Getting accustomed to all of these changes, I think about if I did truly earn such large changes. Seeing the message about Hidden Conditions, was this something the System used to determine if I've achieved something that should be rewarded? Suddenly, I feel a brightness coming through the darkness. Taking this as a sign I was waking up and that my evolution was complete, I relaxed and let myself awaken.