Sarah slowly opened her heavy eyelids. She could only see blurred and her thoughts heavy. It took a while for her to fully realize, that she was awake and lying on hard ground.
The next thing she noticed was two voices saying something. They were saying her name.
Her eyes focused, she sat up and sucked in a sharp breath, which caused her to cough heavily.
“Sarah! I am so glad you’re alive!” she heard Melissa say. Shortly after that, the warm and soft embrace of Melissa enveloped her.
Sarah thankfully leaned herself in the embrace and weakly held one of Melissa's arms.
After looking around for a moment, she spotted Neil sitting next to them, hastily wiping away a tear. He smiled at her and let out a shaky breath.
Sarah felt deeply touched by the two people sitting next to her and worrying about her. It was something so small, but the mere thought that they cared so much about her, made her feel as warm and accepted as never before.
“Are you… are you crying?” Neil asked with a surprised look on his face.
“Shut up and come here,” Sarah said with narrowed eyes and Neil hesitantly scooched closer and hugged both of them.
“I am alive,” Sarah said with a breaking voice and started crying. Melissa and Neil held her while her body was shuddering. The memories of the unimaginable agony and the fact, that she was way too close for even her soul to be annihilated, shook her to her core.
From where Melissa was touching her, a warm feeling spread inside her body and soul and eased her pain a little. Like this, they just sat there for a while, until Sarah let out everything.
Neil and Melissa gently parted from her and Melissa laid a hand on her cheek. “Do you feel better?”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” Sarah answered with a hoarse voice and struggled to ask the next question. “How does… how does my soul look?”
“Surprisingly fine,” Melissa answered with a confused look on her face. “Your soul seems like it has been half ripped apart and then patched up again to be tougher than ever before. I honestly have no idea what all this means. But it seems like you’ll be fine after you have had a bit of time to process all of this.”
A heavy weight fell off Sarah’s chest when she felt Melissa's explanation. She had feared, that her soul was somehow crippled or that she was incomplete. It was a huge relief, that her very being was at least fine.
The next part to worry about was her body. She gritted her teeth and looked down at herself. Melissa had dressed her in new clothes, as her old ones probably were ripped to shreds. And underneath the clothes was flawless skin. Even her foot had regrown. The only worrying part was, that she looked rather skinny. The process had tapped on her body mass.
Another weight fell from her chest and a short laugh escaped her lips. “I even have my foot back!”
Sarah felt Melissa’s hand, which was still resting on her, stiffen. “What do you mean you have your foot back?” Melissa asked with a horrified look in her eyes.
Sarah’s tail whipped around uncomfortably under the frightened gaze of Melissa. Sarah swallowed hard and started talking about the boss fight after the moment Neil had lost consciousness.
Telling the story like this made her realize her madness in the heat of the fight. But she had come to accept this part of her. And the other two also didn’t judge her because of this, so she had no reason to hide any detail from them.
It had been brutal, dirty, and horrifying.
“But I have survived. And that is everything that counts.” Sarah said resolutely and gently laid her right hand on Melissa's shoulder.
Melissa's lips quivered and her eyes became wet again. “Thank you, Sarah. Thank you for going through this to get us out of here.”
Neil vigorously nodded his head in agreement and patted her shoulders.
Sarah scratched her neck in embarrassment and just nodded. She felt uncomfortable, so she quickly changed the subject. “So how do we get out of here now?”
Neil just pointed to a far corner of the cave, and Sarah turned her head.
A white, slowly rotating sphere of energy hung in the air and gave off a soft glow. “Why does it look so different?” She asked in wonder.
“Don’t know,” Neil answered and rubbed his chin. “Maybe because it's stable? I mean, the other looked… well, unstable. With all the energy rippling through the air and everything. This one here looks so clean and perfect. Maybe because the system created it?”
Melissa and Sarah could only shrug their shoulders. It didn’t matter in the end, so the subject was quickly forgotten.
“So we’ll get ready to leave. Just rest here and we go get everything.” Melissa said with a pat on her shoulders and stood up.
“Get what?” Sarah asked in wonder.
“Mostly cloth, these weird ropes, and other interesting stuff I have found lying around,” Melissa answered. “It will be winter soon back at the caves. We’ll need every bit of clothing we can get.”
Melissa smiled at her and kissed her forehead. “We’ll be back soon.” She turned around and Neil started following her, after waving goodbye to Sarah.
Suddenly alone, Sarah didn’t know what to do with herself, until she remembered, that she must have received the rewards from the quest.
With bubbling excitement inside of her, she prompted the system to show her all the missed messages. It was a true flood of information that popped up.
You have unlocked the Specialization ‘Disintegration’. You have gained the active skill ‘Disintegration Infusion’. You have gained the passive skill ‘Tempered Soul’. You have leveled up multiple times. You have reached level 40. Requirements met for a class upgrade. Upgrade available upon activation. Warning: Due to the weakened state, there is a chance for cell and/or soul breakdown. General system change: Dr. Alain Beckers's recordings can now be watched upon activation. Available recordings: 2. You have completed the quest! You have gained the following rewards (rewards are enhanced due to the eat snail subquest): 6 levels gained. Levels could not have been added, due to pending class upgrade. Changed rewards to ‘System Question: Clearance Level 1’. Available upon activation. Achievement ‘Dungeon Conqueror’ gained. Dungeon Conqueror: +1 to each Special Stat per Level Up. Achievement ‘Junior Reaper’ has been upgraded to ‘Budding Reaper’ Budding Reaper: You can slightly feel physical and mental weak spots in your enemies.> The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Sarah never had seen so many notifications at once. And also never gained so many boosts to her power. It was immensely regrettable to her, that the class upgrade would have to wait until she had rested some more. But there was luckily something else, that sounded delicious. “Activate system question,” Sarah mumbled and another screen popped up. <’System Question: Clearance Level 1’ has been activated. Please state your question.> “Why do you exist?” Sarah blurted out but was quickly disappointed. “Damn system,” Sarah mumbled and thought over what she would like to ask. The system didn’t like being asked too sensitive questions, or else it wouldn’t have added the attempts to ask it something. She would have to wait for Melissa and Neil to discuss with them, what the best question to ask could be. Sarah wanted to swear at the system but decided against it. It seemed rather touchy about this question-thing. As if it didn’t even want her to have it. As she didn’t have another option and had to be careful what to ask, she decided to ask something, she had been curious about for a long time. “What are the different paths for?” She asked and this time, the system didn’t reject her. <’Paths’ are ways to power. Upon selecting a certain ‘Path’, your being will merge with it, which means that they are the only means to advance your Magic Power Level. The decision to renounce the path will result in the decay of your being and some cases death.> Sarah’s mouth gaped wide open. “So…. We’re damned to always follow our path if we don’t want to die or decay? Seriously?” She wasn’t quite sure if this was something she had wanted to know. But at least she could warn the people close to her now. At least for now, she didn’t want to leave the path of conflict anyway. But what of the future? What if she someday wouldn’t want to fight anymore? Was this really what her life would be? Conflict or death? Sarah shook her head and smiled a little. At least the system didn’t count her relationship with Melissa as a renouncement from her path. For now, that was all she needed. To cheer herself up again, she decided to open up her status screen and take a good long look at all of her gains. And they were truly impressive. Details: Level: 40 (+11) Name: Sarah Anna Fischer Class: Nightmare (Upgrade available) Race: Mutant Status: Weakened (All stats decreased by 50%) HP: 520/640 (+165) SP: 200/645 (+170) MP: 780/1205 (+335) 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. * Budding Reaper (Upgradable): You can slightly feel physical and mental weak spots in your enemies * Dungeon Conqueror: +1 to each Special Stat per Level Up. Affinities: Mind (Mid) Body (Mid) Energy (Low) Specialisations: Mind (2/2) Invasion Nerve Control Body (2/2) Adaptation Mutation Energy (1/1) Disintegration Basic Stats: Strength: 25 (+7) Dexterity: 27 (+4) Endurance: 30 (+7) Resistance: 25 (+3) Intelligence: 28 (+4) Force: 22 (+11) Special Stats: Magic Power: 40 (+11) Life Force: 109 (+33) Mental Power: 80 (+22) Pure Energy: 1 (+1) Active Skills: Mind infiltration (Invasion): While using Magic Power, you are able to invade the mind of another being. Invasion is facilitated if the being has been poisoned by you. Disintegration Infusion (Disintegration): You are able to infuse any part of your body with the energy of ‘Disintegration’. Passive Skills: Poison Body (Adaptation): You are able to 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, 53/86 Life Force used): You are able to mutate your body. The amount of mutations is dependent on your Life Force. Due to your “Adaption” specialisation, there will be less Life Force needed and you will have fewer limitations. Your class “Nightmare” will influence your mutations. 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 Stalwart Horns (class specific, 10 LF): Two large, sturdy and curved horns located on top of the forehead. Directly connected to your brain through nerve strings. Amplify mind related skills and resistances and enable them to work without direct contact. If another being tries to influence you with mind related skills, they get a strong magic power poisoning. You can detect if another being wants to influence your mind and/or soul and can locate it. * Restoration (30 LP): The speed of regeneration is heightened. Magic Power will be consumed if not enough nutrients are available. Heavily mutilated or lost body parts can be regenerated, apart from the brain. A minimum of 60% of the body mass is required, to enable this ability. If the body mass falls below 60%, you will fall into a comatose state, until you are sufficiently regenerated. Only possible with at least 40% remaining body mass. Tempered Soul (Unique): Your soul is highly resistance to damage and invasion. Suppression (Nerve Control): Your emotions will influence your nerves less. Warning: Instinctual behaviour 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 new disintegration skill certainly sounded powerful. She changed more and more into a true nightmare. If she understood this correctly, she could even infuse this power not only in different parts of her body but also in her poison or acid. And what was up with her stats? She had never experienced such a huge jump. She wasn’t sure where this came from. Probably a mixture of her new skills, specialization, level-ups, and maybe even her reaching over one hundred points in life force. Once again she thought to herself, that they needed to study the system more, to understand how it worked. But that was also something for the future. Now she’d revel in her improvements. Sarah grinned from ear to ear. She couldn’t wait to try these skills out. And she knew exactly, on whom she could test them. The grin grew more sinister, as she thought about Denise again. “I’m coming for you.” She growled and clenched her fists. It didn’t take long after that for Melissa and Neil to come back again. They waved from afar and smiled at her. They both had immense bags strapped to their backs, and especially Melissa seemed to struggle under the weight. But she stubbornly took one step after another. “That’s my girl,” Sarah mumbled and smiled a toothy grin. She stood up and stretched her stiff body. She already felt the weakened state slowly fading away and her strength coming back to her. “Ready to go?” Melissa asked with a smile when they reached her. Neil gave her another big bag, which was strapped to his back and Sarah took it with a nod. She turned back to Melissa and gave her a bright smile. “Let’s go.” She took her hand and they started walking towards the white, rotating sphere. A lot waited for her on the other side. A new home she would build with Melissa and Neil. Even more power with her class upgrade. And finally, her revenge. She couldn’t wait any longer for this.