Biter

“Through Adam’s attempts at diplomacy, the member of the adventurer guild’s name was uncovered, Daniel. A long process preceded the “subjugation” , they called the monster hunt weird terms, strange but not atypical terms.

The majority of the information the guild wanted from us was that we were able to defeat something at the level of 19. My answer was that I didn’t know what level it was, and that this was news to me, since I still have my mind down curse. Mind… shield? Who cares?

Proceeding through the city after our generous kidnappers released us into the streets we rightfully earned the freedom of exploring, I found out they actually have somewhere to fish down in this under-city, which makes it beneficial long term for me when I want to learn fishing. It’s still on the schedule, a bit delayed now because I’m missing an arm.”

- Sebas Aren, Internal thoughts on “this shitty city”

It’s 4 in the afternoon according to the untrustworthy clock near the exit of the boss chamber. The group is in a collective inn called “Defiant.” Sebas is laying on a carpet sized pelt from the “alpha behemoth whatever rabbit.”

Holding a small red marble in his right hand, he laid down and got used to being down one arm surprisingly easily over the week the team spent underground. Bloodloss it turns out; cannot be fixed with potions, who knew?

“Why with the monster core? That can’t be a clean thing to eat, just sell it, you’ll be able to get a magic prosthetic.” Karri said, from in between book pages, distracted from Sebas tossing and turning along with the glint that shined from the ruby like rough orb off of the light of some sort of magical stone contraption, not a mechanical one, just made of golden stones that are reminiscent of the faux sun that makes up the false sunlight underground.

“You got a better catalyst?” Sebas snapped back, sharing their space of sleep was awkward at first, but eventually Sebas managed to escape from the discomfort of mutual dwelling by finding a corner, placing down the massive fur and several pillows to create his own corner nest.

“I don’t understand why you need a catalyst, you’re not a potion or a spell.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Adam added to the conversation.

“Adam, I'm not a spell.”

“How do you know? Eat the marble.”

“This feels like one of those dilemmas where I’m supposed to listen to the inner evil and good, but I’m stuck with dumb and dumber.”

“Spell dilemma, loser.”

“God you can’t help but be mean can you Karri?”

“It’s in my blood, unlike you who's still missing blood.”

Sebas refrained from continuing the argument, a new game he created was to start fights, over petty things mostly, and see how long they went on. It never worked on Adam due to his naturally “mysterious” and submissive behavior.

Sebas popped the small red core in his mouth, and swallowed it. It had little taste, besides a rocklike texture.

[A Lowest Rank Magic Core has been consumed.]

[Body reconstruction has begun.]

Sebas sat while listening to the newly missed notifications that sat atop his mind, suddenly clutched his chest where Violet veins began to glow outward, and blue vibrant smoke began to emit from his shoulders and back.

“Oh godsdamnit, he ate the core?”

“He totally ate the core, he may be catalysting.”

“Ugh, Adam. Toss him in the tub, he might expel toxins from his system, and that is not what we need on the most expensive monster product to come from Eruka.”

“Aye aye captain.”

Sebas clutched his chest, while Adam slung him over his shoulder, he helped the best he could, with his fleeing consciousness. Adam patted him on the shoulder while he set him down in the small stone tiled tub.

The last thing the fleeting sight saw was his hand turning a strange blackish while his veins lit up with an ominous glow.

“Oh damn you’re awake,” Adam said, “I didn’t even have enough time to make a fake beard.”

Sebas groaned, “What are you talking about.”

“Well, we went and got dinner, and when I just got back, I went and checked on you, blah blah blah-“

[Installation of Monster Core has been installed Successfully]

[Trait: (Ηæɲϐı˘´) has consolidated into -> (Monster)]

[Monster Core State: Rank 0, Lowest Rank {0%}, Inert Affinities]

[Dormant mutations have been unlocked, mutation may resume.]

Sebas body recoiled and lurched as a black phlegm shot out onto the tub’s ground, Adam’s expression recoiled as his upper lip retracted and his face scrunched backwards in disgust.

“Gross.”

Sebas looked at him with a fed up expression, a balled up fist removing remaining tarish gunk away from his mouth, “well excuse me, I’m sorry, I didn’t know I would have company.”

“I forgive you,” Adam responded with a smile that swiftly changed into a pained frown as Sebas nails pinched into his arm.

Adam screamed as the once flat nails appear to have changed into a set of rounded and flat claws that sat at the end of each fingertip.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry,” Sebas said while his hand was rapidly retreating.

“Why do you have claws?”

“I don’t know!”

“Weird… watch the claws… that’s weird… Do you have rabies? Do I need shots?”

“Why are you being delirious, just pour a potion on it!”

After a mess of discord, and a swift removal of five black nails off of Sebas’ fingertips with his favorite dagger, the kerfuffle between adventurers had been solved.

“Do you want to tell me why you’re a (Monster)?” Adam asked with a sudden shift in a once aloof tone.

Sebas stared through Adam, a strange tinnitus rang as the word monster echoed throughout his mind.

“I… I don’t know.”

“Are you still yourself?”

“I don’t know.”

A sudden interrogative atmosphere came from Adam. An expression that akin to a wolf looking down on a sheep peered quietly as Sebas began to sweat while looking down at the small black nails on the floor below.

“I don’t, not feel myself.”

“Do you think you’re a threat to humanity?”

Sebas looked up at his once friend, locking onto his now needle-thin pupils that shook Sebas’ core, “Always have been, a few stupid nails on my hand won’t change the chances of that,” refusing to relent from whatever strange game of intimidation Adam was playing.

“… good enough for me, I’m glad you’re still with us,” Adam said with a smile.

Sebas did not sleep at night, choosing to stay atop the inn roof alone instead of with an unnaturally confusing ally.

For some reason, another individual was nearby on the slanted slate. A thief or someone homeless probably. The bright light made it difficult to avoid eye contact. The unmentionable and unremarkable Demi human with an orcish body and tusks sat on the edge.

“Is this spot taken?” Sebas asked. The skinny orc with yellowed highlights gestured nearby.

Both sat in silence, for a somewhat solid half hour before the orc finally said something.

“What would you do, if you’re destined to die?”

Sebas stared down at the ground below, before looking over towards the clock tower where the massive brick spire sat aside it.

“I’m pretty sure I already am anyway; I would think that changing something, after learning the same thing is going to happen would be a pointless endeavor.”

“And if it’s inevitable, and pointless, would one or should one just give up?”

“…Depends.”

The orc finally looked up at the one armed human with red hair, “on what?”

“How hard are you willing to defy those around you who wish for your doom?”

“…”

“If my gristly appearance, shabby though it be, may be anything to go off of; if you fight, fight to die, till those who wish I’ll die themselves.”

“And if they’re deathless?”

“Struggle anyway, because fuck em. I’d stick around to talk more about this but this conversation is depressing me,” Sebas said, leaving the demi-man to his devices.

Jostling him awake was a giant mistake, as Adam had received a sucker punch from the once comfortable and complacent Sebas.

“Ow. Good morning sunshine, I need the pelt since we’re heading back to the surface side.”

Sebas peered at his companion from his sleepless mania.

“Surface? Wanna go to the surface bud?”

Sebas groaned and laid back down, mumbling “don’t talk to me like a dog.”

Eventually a hot metal cup was placed on his forehead, causing him to recoil in pain, jolting awake. Karri stood above him, holding a small cup of coffee.

“Get up, we’re going back to Eruka.”

Sebas took the small cup and turned a frown while drinking the disgusting liquid. Face turning from distaste, he rubbed his eyes and handed the small cup back to her.

“There he is, our little monster,” Adam stated, a small bruise lined up on his forehead, “Get up or else I’ll kick you in return for your very nice gift from earlier Sebas!” Adam said while cracking his knuckles.

Scowling, Sebas sneered at the both of them and got himself up. The group left after paying a massive amount of money to the innkeeper, a small man named John who Adam seemed on speaking terms with.

“So how the hell do we get out of here, I’m pretty sure those doors don’t open back up,” Sebas asked with a small perturbed quip.

“There’s a space between floors, it makes this glorious decoration,” Adam began,” it lets you teleport!”

“And we can use it for free since we’re adventurers,” Karri added.

The brickwork beneath-foot took the form of a curvy diamond that seemed to be etched with a black circle and a small medallion that sat in the center.

“Keep your arms within the Rune, I see one of ye already had such a problem.” The man operating the odd magic said, acquiring a small giggle from Karri. Sebas turned to her, but couldn’t find a smile, so he refrained from snapping, “go up to the church, Niorr’s people can help you out a bit with that lad.”

The group sat within the circle in the diamond, and with a disorientating silent movement, they were suddenly atop brickwork that was familiar, but the surroundings that suddenly changed made Sebas nauseous.

Sebas, Adam and Karri decided to regroup in a month’s time, it would take a while to regrow his arm, and it would seem Karri had something else to deal with, family related. Adam on the other hand, Sebas had no clue, but he received his giant dragontooth-like horn and alpha rabbit behemoth pelt from the subjugation.

“Oh dear gods where is your arm,” Jenva exclaimed as he walked in through the door to The Chipped Anvil.

Sebas looked down from where he was standing, and lifted his nub up, “oh god where the fuck did I leave it… no… it wasn’t at the inn…”

“Sebas! Do not sass me! Why is your arm gone!”

“Hello! Miss Fayeth, how are you, did things manage around here without me ruining the customers' day?” He asked while lifting the bar that led behind the counter, making his way behind her while holding the massive roll of fur with a horn sticking out.

“Sebas! Come back here!! I swear you’re just as bad as Gis when i-“ the yelling began to become muffled beneath the creaky attic floorboards. Dropping the massive horn against the small bed, Sebas sat down and splayed out on the soft cotton mattress.

Gis chanted, “O mater vitae, eleison huic stulto agni,” and a golden light encased Sebas dismembered arm, small muscle fibers began to string out and bleeding resumed from the scarred wound.

“It’ll take a bit longer than a month to heal it kid, at least fully.”

“This reckless brat needs to be taught a lesson Gis! He’s not even phased from the fact that his arm is gone.”

“If I recall, Miss, I healed yer arm several times from a near shattered and twisted state.”

Jenva blushed and turned sheepishly, “this is different, it’s completely gone!”

“Nothing a metal replacement won’t fix.”

“Wait, can I actually get a magic prosthetic?” Sebas asked the bickering couple.

“Well…” Jenva began before Gis cut her off.

“It’ll take a lot of money but yes, we can work on a metal prosthetic, but if I recall you don’t have a lot of money kid.”

“I can work, at the very least, now that you can finish my gauntlet, I can do work for real now.”

“I’d rather you adventure with more than one arm…” Jenva sulked, trying to appeal to the bullheaded adventurer.

“I’ll be fine, I’m a big boy, mothering is unnecessary.”

“It’ll take at least 15 gold if you can get the parts manually, the magic guild in the capital would be your best bet, I know a guy there.”

“Don’t tell me it’s that guy?” Jenva asked worriedly

“Yes, he’s the best.” Gis said as he turned to Jenva.

“But he’s…”

“Human?” Gis asked.

“Insane.” Jenva corrected.

Gis sighed, and fished out a pickaxe from within his shop, practically shoving it in Sebas arms.

“To the north, about 1200 meters there’s a cavern. It was once a hippogriff nest, but it’s been a while since I’ve been there. Do. Not. Do. Something. Stupid.” Gis said to Sebas while poking emphasis into each and every word.

“What about the fur?”

“I can make something really nice from that son, don’t worry and let ol Gis handle it,” the dwarf said with a devilish smile.

“And the horn?”

“Well… the broodmother pelt wouldn’t be necessary now… considering…” Gis said while looking at the massive red animal skin on his workstation, “give me… a day? Maybe three?”

Sebas gave the dwarf a one armed hug.

“Thank you! This is probably the best day ever.”

“You sure? I think it’d be better if you weren’t down an arm…” Gis and Sebas laughed, while Jenva simply sighed, her head in her arms.