Blobby's Tale | A Monster Evolution Timeloop Story

The collision was no doubt painful, as a large amount of my total volume was concentrated onto that spike that was driven into his arm before breaking off from the rest of me. It felt as if I had literally lost a part of myself, ripped from me never to be gotten back. In addition, all the pain I felt seemed to be more than just something on the physical level, it was as if getting hurt meant damaging not just what I occupied in the physical realm, but also the mental one on some level, although it was difficult to conceptualize even after experiencing it so many times now. The weird relationship I had with pain numbed my mind to a degree, allowing me to act despite it, although I was unsure of the long-term effects this would have. The Ogre didn't share this trait, however, evident by his pained scream.

"AAAAAAARGH!!!"

My increased luck seemed to come into play after all, as it seemed that the spike went straight into the center of some kind of important arm bone, or well, that was how it looked to me as I laid on the ground for a moment to collect myself, watching on as the Ogre trashed around crying while holding his arm with the functional one I had left it for now. My omni-directional vision allowed me to observe the mother and child somewhere behind me to the left, as well as the expression of hope on each of their faces as a tiny, glowing blue helmet faced down a beast that would have surely killed them if not for its intervention.

Despite feeling as if part of me was consumed by a gnawing maw with an endless hunger, their hope gave me the energy required for one last gambit. That Ogre's eye has seen enough for my taste. Collecting what was left of me for one last leap, I formed a smaller version of my shovel appendage to propel me forward once again as I flattened myself in preparation, the smoke, just as it had earlier, changed its shape to accommodate my rather fluid nature and seemed glued to a millimeter distance away around my most outer parts.

The Ogre kept trashing and trying to press the blood back into its broken and battered arm, completely having forgotten our battle amidst the great pain it no doubt felt, which suited me just fine. Just when its eye was in the perfect position I relaxed and pulled simultaneously, changing my shovel into the familiar spike shape I have come to favor when it comes to dealing direct damage to my enemies. His last painful moments were mercifully ended by my spike penetrating his brain and cutting his short life even shorter.

His body falling backwards was accompanied by the pleasant ringing of the system announcing my accomplishment, as well the System reconstructing whatever I had lost in the earlier battle.

[Quest completed!]

[Shaping level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Evolution available! Show options?]

The mother and child both looked at me in awe for having managed to do the impossible, especially considering the Ogre seemed to be sent from the heavens to slay just them with the way it manifested out of nowhere just to block their path. 'There might actually be some truth to that…' I merely observed them for a few precious moments, giving them enough time to come to terms with reality and collect themselves enough to leave with at least an illusion of grace to them. As they carefully made their way away from me, looking back ever so often to make sure I didn't decide to make them my next target, they eventually left the village unopposed, thanks to my incredibly intimidating aura no doubt.

Or well, the fact that there wasn't anyone to oppose them in the route they had chosen might have helped as well, but I would like to think that my little glowing-murder-helmet-persona was pretty impressive! I considered my next options carefully, I had to make sure there weren't any goblins or worse following the pair out of here, otherwise this whole stunt would have been for naught and the previous scene would just be repeated. 'I still don't get what was wrong with me…' That thought still put some fear into my mind as I considered my next step, but one thing was clear, I needed to sow enough chaos here that they wouldn't be followed, and I was just provided with the tools I would need to do so.

[Evolution option 1: Greater Blob!]

Increase your size greatly, providing you with more volume to shape and control, your body is your weapon and you have plenty of it! Increases knowledge of shaping and allows for more complicated maneuvers to be completed with ease. Increases Dexterity and Constitution.

Rarity: Uncommon

[Evolution option 2: Armored Blob!]

Who needs to learn hardening anyway? Armor was invented for a reason! Leave the defense to your tools and focus all of your attention on delivering an absolute death to your enemies with no holding back because of meager concerns like "staying alive" or "skillful shaping". Just ram them hard enough and they'll go down anyway! Greatly increases Constitution, Increases effectiveness of armor related skills by 50%, allows limited shaping of armor related skills. You are the Armor!

Rarity: Rare

Requirement: Armor related skill

[Evolution option 3: Venomous Blob!]

All this stabbing and getting yourself in danger is just such a drag, isn't it? Why not let simply existing become enough to hug your enemies to death? Adds the venomous quality to your body, allowing you to channel your inner venom onto the outside world and inflict status afflictions on your enemies, eventually dooming them to a guaranteed end whether they like it or not. Adds venomous quality, increases Dexterity. Being toxic only ever hurts others!

Rarity: Epic

'Is it me or do the higher rarity options have much more flavor text then something like Greater Blob? Hunter Blob is also notably missing completely, which brings up the question…'

"Status."

Name: Blobby

Level: 7

Active Title: -

Stats:

Strength: 2

Dexterity: 7

Constitution: 11

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 8

Luck: 2

Available Points: 20

Available skills:

Slot 1: [Ouroboros 1]

Slot 2: [Shaping 4]

Slot 3: [Smoke Helmet 1]

…

Slot 10: [Empty]

Unused skills:

None

Racial Traits:

Innate potential

'I didn't get Giant Killer this time around, which means my initial goblin kill brought me high enough that the Ogre wasn't ten levels above me anymore, and he might not have been as high a level as last time as well. Although I don't know how much experience points or whatever a single mother could possibly bring?' This might have been one of those settings where humans were walking XP containers for monsters for all I knew, but I didn't dwell much longer on it. From my point of view the choice of evolution was already made, especially considering what I planned on doing next.

"System, I choose…"