Biter

Sebas vaulted off of the building’s vault, the bumps of the roof were horrible to leap between and he was almost thankful when he landed face down into a square shaped hedge. Sebas looked through the leaves, seeing a dozen guards within the courtyard alone.

The main entrance was blocked by a pair of three armored guards, while most of the lookout was covered by maids and butlers, although the head maid and butler were nowhere to be seen, Sebas was knowledgeable that those two would be what Adam refers to as a “boss level encounter” which he’s pretty sure means bad business.

He took to the shadows, it was afternoon, and the orange suns had almost left the sky, leaving plenty of places for him to hide with his dark clothes… half of his dark clothes.

Taking a moment to go through his belongings, Sebas notices guards that have begun to patrol the rooftops, and goes back to looking in his storage bag.

[Magic Bag {Capacity 9%}: Unidentified Treasure Casket, 1x Destroyed Black Shirt, 1x Belt Satchel {1x Lowest Rank Antivenom}, 1x Rare Hunter Dagger & Sheathe, 1x CoinPurse {42S 3C}, 1x Ihta’s Blessing]

Scratching his chin, Sebas recoils when he feels stubble, then shakes his head and pulls out Ihta’s Blessing, and focuses on the information.

[ Ihta’s Blessing ]

{ Legendary Elixir }

“Through your exploits, the Goddess of the Hunt has blessed your hunting, and you will be able to gain an attribute of the hunted monster upon consumption.”

“Player’s constitution is too low to properly intake attributes of: Owlbear Juvenile”

…

“Ihta!” Sebas shouted in a whisper.

[The Goddess of the Hunt looks down on you with a smile.]

“If I eat this, will I die?”

[Itha requests to see your God Panel.]

[Accept] [Deny]

“I accept!”

[The goddess of the Hunt smiles sheepishly, and tells you that there is a fifty percent chance.]

“In what!” He snapped at her in his thoughts, despite the comfort that came from her viewing.

[You either live or you die, that is the fifty-fifty dilemma you face]

“That’s the worst possible thing that you could have said to me, Ihta! What does this even do?”

[The blessing will allow you to take the -

“HERE HE IS!” A guard shouted with a spear pointed at Sebas.

Sebas’ eye twitched, and he sighed, shoving the small glossy brown orb in his mouth.

[WARNING.]

[MUTATION OCCURING.]

[Trait: (Monster) Licks it’s lips at the thought of new parts.]

[WARNING.]

[MUTATION IN PROGRESS.]

[STAY CONSCIOUS TO KEEP YOUR HUMANITY INTACT.]

[Monsterification has begun]

Sebas’ body began to rampage with energy, every single hair on his body was standing on end, each and every single cell felt as if a needle had been placed on it, and slammed with a hammer. Every single time one needle made its way through his body, a flash of fire resonated throughout his body, like the ripples on the surface of a lake.

Sebas began to claw at his throat, drawing blood on his small nails that jutted out from his hand, his metal hand began to jerk around instead of doing what he wished.

His sight grew dim, and the blood began to pour from his wounds.

[All Power comes at a great cost.]

Sebas heard the message through blood clogged ears, however his body rampaged to the point where he couldn’t breathe, hear, or see. The only thing important that happened to his senses was a man placing his hand on Sebas shoulder, which lit up his insides, the man was launched away with a metal hand that was more slung to the side than backhanded. A loud crash got the guards outside of the courtyard to approach at a rapid pace.

The guard convoy encroached on him quickly, but sebas was unaware of their presence, he was busy crushing the grass in his hands as his hair began to fall out, every piece landed in the grass below, and then, his body began to itch. Thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions of small spikes began to rise from beneath his skin, leaving small bumps on his body.

[Trait: (Monster) has gained Subtrait: ((Owlbear Coat))]

Small, white barbs began to vibrate and Sebas upper body fell over, causing him to use his fists to prop himself up.

The guard began to yell and panic as the boy became a demonic creature, a Magical beast, glowing red pills suddenly turned into tufts of ruby red down feathers, the cracking coming from the changes in the boy’s body audible for all to hear.

“HE'S A DEMON!”

“That’s no longer a he Brother, that an it.”

“It is growing feathers, what should we do?”

“We should call the Patriarch!”

The group of guards began to pull out small devices from their pockets to call someone, Sebas couldn’t hear what they were talking about. His metal arm was finally back under his control, fortunately, and he looked down at his other arm, the soft fur-like body held thousands of soft feathers.

“What is this?”

[Strength]

“This is insanity.”

Sebas mumbled to himself, and stared at his hand, as five gray claws fell off of his hand, and turned into five jet black talons.

[(Monster) Sub-Trait: (Clawed) has been replaced; Subtrait: ((Owlbear Claw-Talons))]

Despite the insanity, Sebas couldn’t help but laugh, and slit the long talon against his palm, and watched as blood began to gush out from the cut.

[Trait: (Monster) has gained Sub-Trait: ((Owlbear Eyes))]

His head felt like it was going to explode.

The cut flowed at a rapid pace, but blood was not the only thing that flowed out, a red aura mixed inside of the blood that made his feathered arm wet.

[Notice: Skill: [Bite] has consumed the Subtrait, (Owlbear Beak)]

[Skill: Level 4 -> Level 5]

Sebas groans as his teeth begin to fall out, groans replace screams as fangs grow in where his teeth used to be, a guttural roar explodes as bones begin to grow out of his shoulders.

A spear is stabbed into his shoulder, and Sebas makes a noise mixed of a Screech and a yelp, his talons dig around the spearhead in a desperate attempt to get out, his metal hand broke the haft of the weapon while trying to grab it, and he began to walk forward while holding his shoulder.

“Get the fuck … ay from me..” Sebas said between heaving breaths.

“You’re all dogs..”

“SILENCE DEMON.”

“YEAHHH, SLAY THE BEAST”

“KILL THE MONSTER.”

Sebas grunted and felt pressure over his body, a divine light washed over him in a pillar of gold-white water as his transformation continued.

[Notice: Species has evolved.]

[Level 15 Human -> Level 1 Owlbear]

[ERROR]

[VAR(HUMANITY); PRESENT]

[CONFLICT]

[VAR(MONSTER); PRESENT]

[CALLING ADMINISTRATOR]

Time stopped. Everything stopped. Sebas was alive, but he was not breathing. The world took a light-blue hue that was similar to the ocean floor, a plain looking man with dirty blood hair, a Nirvana shirt and a pair of class of ‘09 sweatpants walked up to Sebas.

“What’s going on Man, why are you breaking the fundamental laws apart?”

Sebas looked up at the man, confused about why the man in front of is dressed so strangely, it seems alien, not too dissimilar to Adam’s brand of weirdness.

“What’s wrong Sebby? You fuckin up the world flow right now, wanna talk about it?”

Sebas stood up, it seemed the pain that was coming and writhing within him was gone, he looked over towards his metal arm, which was floating in free air, while the bone spurs and feathers that seemed to cover his body were gone.

“SEBASTIAN IOR AREN!!! Can you hear me~?” The strange man asked.

To say Sebas was startled was an understatement, he reeled back and punched the man, his face appeared to sink in and stay true to the imprint Sebas’ hand left on his face.

Sebas watched as the man’s face seemed to reinflate, blowing back up to its normal contour and shape. Sebas looked around once again and poked a spear a nearby soldier held, “are you the “administrator?””

“One and only baby, the administrator is in the hizzouse.”

“What are you administrating?”

“You, gods, everyone!”

“And this conflict?”

“You’re a human and a monster at the same time Sebas, my boy, pick a lane!”

“Pick a road?”

“Exactly!” The man said, pulling a pitcher of Iced tea out of the air.

“I decline.”

“Well, my friend, you’re going to have to, because I said so!” He stood proudly with a plastic cup of orange juice.

“And what will you do to force me?” Sebas’ head turned to the man, narrowing his eyes.

“I’ll delete you.”

“… is that a threat?”

“It’s a thing, here check it.”

The man took Sebas, and pointed towards a guard’s spear, and said “Delete”

The object crumpled into small red cubes like if Adam’s item box was the wrong color when collecting objects.

“Boop, boop, boop!”

His armor. His clothes, then the man himself.

“Wait shit I hope he wasn’t important.”

The … admin looked through a god window, and suddenly the guard was back, suddenly without a trace.

“Aren’t you just storing them in your…” Sebas snapped his fingers a few times, trying to remember, “inventory?”

“Have you interacted with a player?”

“I am a player, everyone here is a player!”

“No I mean my players, dawg, the people that aren’t mine, you dig?”

“Why do you talk like that.”

“Listen Sebas, all you need to know is, I’m god, and god can’t have an ugly human monster baby running around fucking up the plot, sorry not sorry.”

Sebas muttered the word plot under his breath.

“I’m not choosing, just delete me.”

“Okey dokey then, let me just…”

The man “added” an owlbear with fur that suddenly shifted from brown to red.

“Alright, goodbye Sebas.”

He pointed his finger, and said the magic word.

But nothing happened, something went awry.

“Umm.”

He tried a few more times, until Sebas got sick of it, and attempted to break his finger.

“You cannot delete me?”

“Of course I can, let me just…” he turned around and opened the window, and looked over the information… and what could only be described as confusion appeared on the man’s brow and spread to his face.

“Sebas. Have you… done anything recently?”

“Wow Mr administrator, that’s so specific, did you mean, talking to god, or getting a unique class, or eating a fish sandwich on floor 1.5 of Eruka valley?”

“Something has set you as a high priority…”

“So you’re not some omnipotent person in charge? Just some sort of bygone desk jockey who’s now in charge of this place?”

“… I need to adjust your sassiness value”

“Go ahead then!”

“I can’t! You’re a priority 0! That’s higher than a priority 1! That’s baffling Sebas!”

“Can you speak a fucking word of Kladian?”

“Can you speak a word of English?”

“What the fuck are you on about?” Sebas asked with his head on his now returned hair.

“I’m going to be honest with you Sebas… I cannot delete you.”

“… okay???”

“Yep!”

“So… what?”

“Well. That pretty much sums it up… might need to update some things.”

Sebas groaned and crouched down while holding his head.

“Aw, cheer up bud, you’re a fascinating character and have a wonderful backstory!”

“I wish I could harm you.”

“That’s what the ladies say to me every day.”

“Go die.”

“Yep! Prepare to be returned to your place!”, the admin exclaimed, “removing” the red owlbear he “placed” previously.

“What-“ Sebas was slung back into debilitating pain, his body suddenly launched him into a hunched position, where his bones that sat on the ridge of his shoulders suddenly glowed and grew into fledgling wings. Sebas pushed past as he gained the ability to move again.

[ERROR]

[Owlbear physique unfit for humans.]

[Level 1 Owlbear has been changed to Level 1 Nightmare]

[Subtrait: -> ]

[Subtrait: -> ]

[Subtrait -> ]

[Mutation Complete]

[Mutating needs 72 hours to settle]

His body ceased convulsing, he was still in pain, but Sebas was alive. Collecting himself, he began to dash through the guards around the manor, he didn’t bother to kill them, as there would be no benefit.

He instinctively spread his wings, however they were too small for him to do much, making up less than half of his size. Suddenly, Ito Jella appeared.

“EVERYONE, STAND DOWN. THIS IS AN ORDER.”

Sebas growled at the man, preparing a stance a cat might make towards a tiger.

“A decree from his Lordship, The monster, Sebas Ior Aren, is considered a Divine Beast of this household, all subjects shall see to it that if they have an issue with the decree, they should seek out his lordship. Personally.”

Ito folded up the blank piece of paper, and looked over at Sebas, and the two injured guards, and waited.

Sebas couldn’t just let bygones be bygones, and he stood up, his new form taking him from a small 170 Cm young adult to a 256 Cm monster, his clothes hardly fit anymore, and his ears had shifted to his head to make small feathered tufts atop of his head.

He looked down at Ito, and said, “fuck you.”

Sebas left the courtyard, and Ito trailed off behind him, and for the first time in a while, he started a conversation with the man.

“I’m not indebted to you.”

“I know, young master.”

“You and father are horrible people, I had to turn into this just to escape you both.”

“I understand your feelings, young master.”

“No you don’t.”

“Yes young master.”

“Ihta”

[The Goddess of the Hunt looks down on you, sad eyes are filled with tears, The Goddess of Mercy Pities you]

“You already know what I’m going to ask.”

[“I am sorry.”]

Sebas balls up his hands, a pair of fists have taken over his anger, inflicting them onto his own palms, a metal tapping can be heard, but a repetitive dripping can be heard as well.

“Why should I?” Sebas asked Ito

“Because it is no longer an order, but a request, young master Sebas.”

“Oh because daddy said please that makes the past Seven years in hell all the much better?”

“No, sir.”

“Do you know what I’ve done, what I’ve been doing, how much I’ve stolen, how much rotting garbage I have eaten to survive on the streets?”

“I do, young master.”

“Then you’re dead to me.”

“So you will see him?”

“Yes. I will.”

“This way.”

“And I am going to act like what he turned me into.”

“As you wish, young master.”

“Hello Sebas,”

“Hello, Fucker.”

“How are things?”

“Have you pissed on moms grave anymore?”

“No, not recently.”

The “old fucking facist” had a soft, possibly even sad smile on his face, but Sebas had turned into a bush-like humanoid creature with red feathers for hair, his skin changed from a pale peach to a decrepit ash grey. His eyes went from humanoid black pupils to Pale black spheres. It was possible he’d never smile again.

“What is your species?”

“A nightmare, your nightmare.”

Sebas crossed his arms and looked out of the window nearby, the seas were stirring, rain pouring in the distance. Montgomery snaps his fingers, and a butler appeared from the shadows, holding out a bestiary with the page opened to a shadow figure with a white question mark on the inside.

“George? If you’d be so kind?”

The vintage old man spoke in a deep voice, one fit for telling stories.

“Nightmares.”

“Some say they’re primordial entities, or just humanoid monsters, they take on the appearance of a monster, wearing its skin, where it would fall in line with those around it.”

“Little to none is known; if nightmares are real, are they just monsterifications of Demi humans, as each individual on this planet is unique, not everything can be known about every single one of them, including one that doesn’t like being found.”

“By Serril Zale.”

Sebas perked up at hearing the author's name, wanting to state “I know that one,” but currently in the mood of breaking eggs while making an omelet.

“So?”

“So, my son-”

“Your son?” Sebas asked in astonishment.

“Yes, you are my son.”

“”Father-go-fuck-yourself” might be aware that currently, to date there are three reasons why that is not allowed.”

“Go ahead, tell me.”

“Number one, I’m not your son, revoking your word is a stain on your pride, your very sad, super shallow pride. Number two, I’m a monster, I have fangs now, my hand can rip open most things, maybe even solid iron! Number three, you let me eat garbage as a child and rack up debt to a corrupt church while an urchin. As a matter of fact, just to make things an even number, I. Don’t. Like. You.”

“You done?”

“What could you possibly say in response?”

“Sebas, what are you going to do when you want to “adventure?””

“I’m going…” Sebas realized.

He held up a mirror, and Sebas saw a bright red gargoyle that was made of feathers instead of stone, he looked down at his hands, and really took a look.

Nothing on him was human, despite his inward sense of self.

“So I should become your dog?”

“Yes.”

Sebas nodded slowly, and pulled the table up by its leg, and slammed it over his father.

“So, now you live here again, you’re welcome.”

“Yeah, no, fuck that.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Say you, I’ve looked a God in the eye, and you think I’m afraid of you?”

“I don’t want you to be afraid of me.”

“Then why the fuck do you HATE ME?” Sebas asked while curling his hands, as if wringing out some sort of imaginary object.

“I don’t hate you Sebas.”

“Oh my gods you’re a fucking psychopath.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my proposal, you get to be our divine beast, and you can go on adventures wherever you want.”

“Accept.”

[Montgomery Iore Aren-Trihan has offered you a Subordination contract.]

[Accept!] [Decline.]

Sebas reached forward across the desk, smacking his fist into Montgomery’s face.