A single, long hooklike claw came from the left and Sarah ducked slightly and taped the arm from below, so it would miss her by a hair’s breadth. Not missing her opponent's slight loss in balance, she kicked into one of its legs, causing it to fall.

Before it even touched the ground, Sarah’s elbow thundered into its breast, shattering every bone in it. When it finally smashed into the ground, it couldn’t scream anymore. It just weakly gurgled and tried desperately to breathe.

Sarah stretched her aching body and stomped on the neck of the creature underneath her. She let out a content sigh and turned around to see how Neil was doing.

He was still fighting the two mutants he had taken on, but they were pretty much done for. Multiple broken claws stuck out of his body and he was covered in blood. But it didn’t even bother him. Throughout their multiple hunts over the last few days, he had gained the ability to completely ignore pain. His cockroach ability made wounds and pain non-consequential.

They both had trained how to use their abilities to their utmost and to generate some sort of fighting style best suited to them. His approach was to let his opponents' weapons get stuck in his own body and then hit and stab them to death with a heavy and hard stick he had found lying around. It looked pretty gruesome and took a while, due to his lacking strength, but it got the job done.

Sarah herself had to be more careful, as she didn’t have such a potent healing ability. In the beginning, she disrupted the nerve system of her opponents, which also injected them with her magic poison. Afterward, her fighting style revolved around either crushing her opponent instantaneously or if that didn’t work, slowly whittling them down with her poison, acid, mental magic, and small cuts from her claws.

During these fights, she had noticed, that her magic poison affected every individual differently. Generally, the most prominent aspect of their opponent's supernatural abilities had been somewhat inhibited. This hypothesis had been confirmed after she had tested it out on Neil. It had taken several hours for him to be able to heal properly again. Which caused him to develop a certain resistance to this kind of poisoning, so he hadn’t even been that mad at her. Well, at least afterward.

She looked at the carnage surrounding them and scrunched up her nose. These mutants smelled horrible. They had killed so many by now, that she thought she’d had to have some sort of resistance to the acrid smell. But it never got better.

“Maybe that’s some sort of skill? Or mutation?” she mumbled, but couldn’t bother thinking more about this question, which was impossible to answer for now. While listening to Neil beating the guts out of his opponents, she decided to study her status screen again.

Details:

Level: 29 (+9)

Name: Sarah Anna Fischer

Class: Nightmare

Race: Mutant

Status: Normal

HP: 450/475 (+180) SP: 266/475 (+180) MP: 698/870 (+360)

Achievements:

* How the hell are you still sane?: Resistance to mind damage increased by 10%.

* Poison gorger: Resistance to orally consumed poison increased by 30%.

* More than a human: Higher success rate on special mutations.

* Junior Reaper (upgradable): You are able to slightly sense weak points in your enemies.

Affinities:

Mind (Mid) Body (Mid) Energy (Low)

Specializations:

Mind (2/2)

Invasion

Nerve Control

Body (2/2)

Adaptation

Mutation

Energy (0/1)

Basic Stats:

Strength: 18 (+3)

Dexterity: 23 (+2)

Endurance: 23 (+3)

Resistance: 19

Intelligence: 24 (+2)

Force: 11

Special Stats:

Magic Power: 29 (+9)

Life Force: 86 (+36)

Mental Power: 58 (+27)

Active Skills:

Mind infiltration (Invasion): While using Magic Power, you can invade the mind of another being. Invasion is facilitated if the being has been poisoned by you.

Passive Skills:

Poison Body (Adaptation): You can increase your resistance to hazardous substances and reinforce your body with their properties in combination with your “Mutation” Specialisation.

* Poison and acid resistance: You are highly resistant to various poisons and acids. (Overcoming new or stronger poisons or acids strengthens this ability)

* Walking hazard: Your body liquids are highly toxic and acidic. You are now naturally producing a strong nerve toxin and acid inside your body. Consuming new or stronger poisons and acids strengthens this ability)

* Mutated glands: toxin and acid glands are incorporated in certain mutations.

* Poisonous Magic Power: Your Magic Power is slightly changed in its composition. If another being comes into deep contact with your Magic Power, or other energies converted from it, they will receive Magic Power poisoning.

Metamorphosis (Mutation, 48/86 Life Force used): You can mutate your body. The amount of mutations is dependent on your Life Force. Due to your “Adaption” specialization, there will be less Life Force needed and you will have fewer limitations. Your class “Nightmare” will influence your mutations.

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* Skin:

* Dense skin (1 LF): Dense and leathery skin. More force is needed to penetrate the skin and shallow wounds close up faster.

* Bone structure:

* High density bones (2 LF): Incredibly robust and dense bones. Higher stamina consumption due to increased weight.

* Predator teeth (1LF)

* Retractable claws (2LF)

* Vital organ shielding (2LF)

* Muscles:

* Strengthened fibres (1LF): Increased muscle strength. Muscles are slightly tougher and stronger.

* Magic Power reinforcement (2LF)

* Brain, nerve system and sensory organs:

* Predator’s eyes (1LF): Higher sensitivity to movement. Higher chance to spot camouflaged beings.

* Optimised brain structure (Battle) (6LF): Optimised structure, focused on movement and decision making.

* Decentralized nerve system (10LF): Signals can be transmitted, as long as one nerve-string still connects the brain to the respective body parts.

* Organs and processes:

* Magic Power nourishment system (5LF): Your body is adapted to run only on Magic Power. You are able to sense Magic Power in other living organisms and are able to feed on it. Most matter that enters your digestive system and lungs will be converted into Magic Power. Warning: High potential of cell breakdown if your Magic Power is empty for too long.

* Acid Gland (not recommended, 4LF): A gland located in the throat, which produces highly corrosive acid. Can be spit out with moderate pressure.

* Extension: Gaseous acid (1LF)

* Special mutations:

* Nightmare’s tail (class specific, 5LF): A long and flexible tail with an exoskeleton made out of spine-like bone segments. Can be stretched over its original length, but will leave the vulnerable muscle and sinew under the exoskeleton exposed. Poison gland incorporated in the tip.

* Nightmare’s horns (class-specific, 5LF): Two large and curved horns located on top of the forehead. Directly connected to your brain through nerve strings. Amplify mind-related skills and enable them to work without direct contact. Warning: Strong pain and disorientation if broken.

Suppression (Nerve Control): Your emotions will influence your nerves less. Warning: Instinctual behavior is also suppressed.

Struggle (Conditional passive): Your Resistance is increased in dire situations.

Slightly crazy: Most things won’t bother you that much. If certain conditions are met, however, there is a slight chance that you will go berserk.

Mean eye: There is a certain chance, that other beings will shortly freeze in fear when they look at you. Higher chance with sentient beings.

Her growth made her extremely happy. The increase in her basic stats was small in number, but they made a big difference in her fights. Every point gained felt like there was a little bit more power in her punches, a little bit more oomph in her mental assault, and a tiny bit more speed to outmaneuver her opponents. It was intoxicating.

To her annoyance, she was once again bottlenecked. The level 29 just didn’t seem to want to increase. But she didn’t know why, but she instinctively felt what she had to do. Fight a strong opponent. They had found the lair of the second elite enemy, though it had made no effort to search for them, nor had they dared to stick their heads into its layer. They only knew where it was, because Sarah had felt its insane mental activity from a long distance away. This was not an enemy, she had been keen to encounter.

You have gained an “Upgrade to one random mutation”. Due to reaching the hidden achievement, it will be upgraded to “Upgrade to one random special mutation”.

.

.

.

“Nightmare’s Horns” will be upgraded to “Nightmare’s Stalwart Horns”. The mutation will begin shortly.>

“Shit!” Sarah cursed and her head snapped towards Neil. “Protect me!” She shouted and even though he was confused for a moment, he didn’t hesitate long to run over to her. She didn’t wait for him, as she ran towards the nest the mutants had just stormed out from and sat on the ground in the darkest, most hidden corner.

“Are we getting attacked?” Neil asked in a calm tone, his eyes darting around the slightly glowing room.

“No. I’ll mutate. If I scream too much, gag me somehow. And if you see…” She wanted to say more, but the mutation process had kicked in.

Luckily, she didn’t have to worry anymore about screaming. Sadly, the process was horrible. She lost control over her body and only dimly felt aware of her surroundings. But this was soon pushed into the back of her mind, as the pain coming from her forehead was nearly unbearable. It felt like her horns were pushed out of her head from the inside, while something new tried to take its place. The process was not gentle.

She nearly passed out at one point but forced herself to stay conscious. They were still in enemy territory.

When the pain finally subsided, she turned to the side and gagged for a moment. Her head spun and just opening her eyes made her feel dizzy. So she just lay on the ground for some time, until her tumultuous head had calmed down enough for her to stand up again.

Neil glanced towards her from where he was standing in front of her but soon looked back towards the entrance of the cave.

“Is everything alright?” He asked with worry in his voice and she patted his back weakly.

“It’s fine.” She answered him and straightened her cramped back. “I just have to get used to this. But I am not in a fighting condition. Let’s get the fuck out of here, before something stronger than these things try to take a bite out of us.”

Neil only nodded and they started hurrying away. They had used differing entrances every time they had entered, and this strategy had proven useful so far. They had never gotten ambushed upon entering the cave system anymore.

It didn’t take long though for Sarah to stumble and fall to the ground. “Damn, I’m still too disoriented. Carry me!”

Neil didn’t hesitate and wanted to lift her. He only lifted her a little before he groaned and fell on top of her.

“What the fuck are you doing? Is this your way of hitting on a woman? I can tell you, this doesn’t work.” Sarah sputtered out, trying to shove Neil away.

“You’re just too freaking heavy!” Neil shouted while scrambling to his feet. His face was bright red and he looked like steam would soon start to come out of his ears. “You’re at least double as heavy as a normal person!”

Sarah smiled contently, thinking about all the dense muscle and bones that made her body so heavy. “Alright, stop being a wuss now and carry me.”

With a despondent sigh, Neil crouched down in front of her and turned his back to her. She climbed on top of him with some difficulties and he groaned beneath her weight. He started walking away, but couldn’t run anymore. “Why the hell do you even still eat so much? I mean… wait, Sarah. Is this the tip of your tail I can feel pressed against my back?”

Sarah’s claws slid out and she gently held his neck. “Do you have a problem with how much I eat?”

“….No?”

“Good boy. Now walk a little faster.”

Neil groaned again but picked up the pace a little.

Not feeling any need to look for the right way anymore, Sarah could finally take a look at her new mutation.

Sarah grinned involuntarily. This was exactly what she needed right now. She was wondering if this mutation had been influenced by her experience with Denise or by her wish to be more resistant to mind and soul influences. Considering these horns had a similar effect from the beginning, it might have been a coincidence.

In any case, it was terrific. It even heightened her basic stat resistance from 19 to 21 points. This could only be good.

She got stronger and more deadly every day. She even had gotten more resistant to outside influences. And the defeat of the next elite enemy and the dungeon boss would only make her even stronger.

The day of her revenge came closer.