The Monster Core crunches between my teeth, shattering into hundreds of pieces. Once broken, the core quickly dissolves in my mouth. The purified energy floods into my body. For a moment, I feel like I’m going to be ripped apart from the inside, but before anything can happen my Blood swallows the energy whole. It disappears from my body without a trace, but the sudden acceleration of my regeneration lets me know it is being put to good use.

A gasp is ripped from my mouth as the increase intensifies the pain of being knitted back together. Like it was all just a dream, the long cuts vanish, the broken bones knit back together, and the gaping hole in my chest closes. The gasp echoes off the walls of the crevice, reminding me just how enclosed this space is.

Quinn used her invaluable scouting skills to find this place. Twenty feet above me, sunlight shines through a large slit running the length of the chasm. The crack provides light and is too small for a giant hawk to fit through and snatch me up, unawares. Check. There is only one entrance into the chasm, if you don’t include the crack overhead. Check. Hidden and out of the way? Check. Enough room for me to fight to my death? Check.

All in all, it’s the perfect place for me to ‘connect with my inner monster.’

I take one last look at the chasm, letting my mind run wild at the way it looks a scar in the mountain side, left by a giant sword. But after a few seconds, I push the thought away. Nevasca will be coming with another one soon. I need to prepare.

I flex my fingers, making sure they aren’t stiff from the rapid healing. Satisfied, I flex my Source, causing my claws to lengthen. With a heavy strike, my hand breaks through the Unicorn’s rib cage, my claws leading the way. Elbow deep in the dead creature’s chest cavity, I fish around for its heart. It doesn’t take me long to find it. I have a lot of practice.

I squish the heart in my hand. My face twists in disgust, but I endure the rubbery, slippery feeling. It takes several seconds of groping, but I find what I want. Feeling the hard sphere in my hand, I use my claws to cut away the fleshy pieces of heart clinging to it.

With a sigh, I bend my knees and brace myself. I hate this part.

I rip my arm from the Unicorn’s chest. The squelching of blood and organs is bad, but the way it feels is the worst. The sucking feeling on my arm as I pull it out makes me want to gag. Everything is so squishy and- ugh. I don’t want to think about it.

Part of my wants to lick off my blood-soaked arm, but I resist the urge. I know I am supposed to find power by giving into my ‘natural instincts as a monster,’ but I’ll do it on my own terms. My Monster will be part of me, not the other way around. Besides, I’ve developed a pretty solid cleaning routine.

Laying my hand on the corpse, I flex my Source and Blood Energy and whisper the incantation for my new spell [Freeze]. I used my knowledge of ice, the concept the cold is a lack of energy, and my Blood’s penchant for eating energy as the basis for this spell. Saying an incantation helps me do two things. It helps me focus on what I want to happen, and it allows me to infuse the spell with more energy. I could use this spell on the fly, but it just wouldn’t be the same.

Ice consumes the body as all the remaining eat is transferred to me in the form of energy. My Blood consumes it without a trace, but it isn’t anywhere near as nourishing as a Monster Core like the bloody one in my hand. It turns out that there are several kinds of Unicorn and this one happens to be an evolved monster variant of a goat. Horses with Mana Cores can evolve into Unicorns as well, apparently. Thank you Kandra for the history lesson.

The spell takes almost a full minute to complete freeze the body. There is some energy lost in the transfer, but the amount is negligible. Still, it is by no means a perfect spell. If I could instantly do this to an enemy, it would be perfect. Unfortunately, living creatures with their heat and Source possess far too much energy for me to instantly steal away. Even with Quinn’s engraving, I wouldn’t be able to freeze the Unmoving Mountain. For battle, this spell is a dud.

For cleaning, however, it’s great.

I twist my waist, pooling Source in my tensed core. With a heavy overhand swing, I smash my fist into the frozen corpse. The Source flows from core to my fist, not like a wave but a stream. For this kind of thing, timing is more important than power. At least, that is what’s worked for me. My fist meets the frozen flesh at the same time the Source flows into my hand. The Source burst from my fist on impact, activating the skill [Crush]. Turns out that it is a lot easier to use if you don’t have to guide the Source through a polearm.

Thousands of shattered pieces of ice explode from beneath my fist. A few weeks ago I would’ve been ecstatic at the amount of power contained in the blow, but it isn’t enough to shatter a mountain. The desperation brewing in my heart has caused my growth to progress rapidly. It just hasn’t been good enough. I need something better. An attack that can either break the shell of a mountain, or ignore it all together.

With a sigh, I stare at the sea of bloody ice laying at my feet. Cleaning up my kills is such a pain. If I didn’t need the space, I’d probably let the bodies stack up like firewood. But I don’t, so I invented a system. With part one complete, I activate part two. I whisper the incantation to another new spell, [Clean]. The moisture in the air condenses into water. A rising wind whips the water around me in a miniature hurricane. The wind and water whisks the blood and core off of me, adding it to the shards of Unicorn on the ground. Done with me, the small hurricane floods the chasm, causing the mess to disappear down the drain I had Wisp’s new form burn through the corner.

The baby Boneshifter body is doing Wisp good. It told me that its skull warped into something called Monster Core Bones (Wrath Variant*). The only drawback is the lack of biomass and bones to copy. At this point it is basically just a fire slime with a floating skull. That’s why Wisp and legion have gone out hunting for creatures to devour. Kandra was tempted to go as well, but she opted to stay here to help me connect with my inner-monster.

It was at her suggestion that I put away my spear and focused on enhancing my natural weapons. She thinks that my monster instincts know something I don’t. Something about Racial Abilities.

My messed cleaned up, I sit down and wait for my next victim. Over the last few days, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve developed more complex spells, weaving together multiple basic elements using incantations. My understanding of skills and how to use them has progressed in leaps and bounds. I can now use my claws to fight with deadly efficiency. It just isn’t enough. The good news is that I have theory.

I settle into a sitting position, my eyes focusing on the entrance of the chasm. In my mind, I rehearse what I need to do. I need to give into my Tyrant instincts. The arrogance I’ve been suppressing is the key. Even after cutting Wisp off from my Monster Core, I haven’t had any huge changes. I’ve been looking through my system notifications of when I evolved and I think I understand. I don’t have a Monster Core anymore. I have a Lesser Tyrant Core. I’m guessing the way it affects me is different than a Monster Core. This all makes sense, but I’m wary. I want to gain power, not give myself over to power.

I focus on the ball of energy and emotions inside me. That ball is my Tyrant Core. Somewhere along the way I’ve subconsciously created a barrier between my energy and the energy of the Core. I’ve separated it from me. It exists inside of me, but it isn’t a part of me. Whenever I release it, it changes me to be more like it. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. I can change it to be more like me.

I take a piece of it into myself, to feel and understand what it feels. Its emotions pour into me. My inner-tyrant rages at being locked away. It feels no fear and doesn’t understand mine. It screams to me that the world is for my taking. All I have to do is embrace it and use it to crush those in my path.

I do embrace it. Not in the whole-hearted way it wants, but piece by piece. I allow it to become a part of me. I claim it as my own. It isn’t the arrogance of my Tyrant Core, it is my arrogance. However, I temper that arrogance with knowledge and fear. I forge it into something different. Something more me. I suppose you could call it hope or confidence. Maybe a little of both.

Bit by bit, I build my confidence. My hope shines a light on the creeping despair knocking at the door of my heart, driving it back. I can feel my spine straighten, the energy taking the initiative to fix my posture into something more confident. Yes, this might be my solution. But… I can’t feel any instinct from the confidence. Not like I can with the arrogance… Maybe I need a bigger chunk?

Determined to test my new theory, I bring more of the arrogance into me. The energy eagerly rushes into me. It seeps into my bones, threatening to overwhelm me. I bring my fear and knowledge to bear in an attempt to change the arrogance. It rails against me, fighting me for every inch. I can feel it mocking me through our bond of energy and emotion.

‘Fear?’ It taunts. ‘Knowledge? You know nothing of our power! You reject me and in doing so, you reject yourself! The only fear we will know is the fear of those who lay at our feet in submission. ACCEPT ME!’

I struggle to suppress the emotions, but they don’t go down easily. If someone said I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, I wouldn’t blame them. I’d probably punch them in the face, but I wouldn’t blame them.

Ignorant, or apathetic, of my struggles, Fate once again intervenes to make my life worse. With a scrabble of claws against stone, Nevasca tears into the chasm. Her agile form blurs as she jumps up, off one of the walls, and onto a ledge she made for herself earlier. Close behind her, like thunder following lightening, comes an impact that shakes the earth.

I rise to my feet to face the threat, but no Unicorn rushes through entrance. Fury at being interrupted bubbles inside me. How dare a mere evolved goat interrupt my search for power?!

No. No. No.

I push that fury down. That isn’t me, that’s the Tyrant. I need to-

My thoughts are banished by a thunderous roar and the cracking of shattered stone. Rocks and debris explode inward from the chasm’s entrance. Through the haze of dust, I can see a pair of blood red eyes staring at me, judging me.

What right does a lesser existence have, to look at me with such eyes?! I will slaughter it, like I have slaughtered the rest of its kind.

No. I need to focus. This one is different. It is easily twice the size of the Unicorns I’ve battled before. Twice the size and pitch black, with sparks flying from the ground with each touch of its cloven hooves. It is too big to enter the conventional way. It shattered the fucking entrance to get inside. Feathers dot it’s hide, love taps from Nevasca no doubt.

It eyes me, disdainfully. With a careless flick of its mane, it studies the chasm. Not seeing a trap, it turns to me once again. With its horn held high, it prances in place, like its happy about something.

Like its happy that it has a new toy to play with.

The emotions consuming its aura tell me the truth. The yellows and oranges of anticipation and joy swirl around. There is no trace of fear, surprise, or vigilance. It doesn’t care that I’m here, ready to tear it apart. It may be some sort of mini-boss, but that doesn’t excuse its behavior. I’ve slaughtered dozens of its kind over the last few days, and it still doesn’t take me seriously?!

My Tyrant Core flares inside my chest, and for once we agree on something.

The Unicorn walks toward me, dragging it’s horn against the wall. The horn screeches and leaves a trail of spars in its wake. The fucking goat is trying to intimidate me. It is PLAYING with me!

How DARE it?! It comes into MY domain and MOCKS me?! It dares to FEEL those emotions in my presence?! I will teach it the true meaning of FEAR.

With a wordless bellow, I reach out my clawed fingers. The Unicorn, 15 feet away, pauses. After nothing happens, it continues toward me, its confidence rising. I clench my fist, crushing its impudent emotions in the palm of my hand.

The colors of emotion around it disappear like they’d never existed. The sudden lack of emotions causes the Unicorn to stumble to its knees. Its eyes stare at me, devoid of emotion or understanding. A tendril of green fear springs to life around the Unicorn, and I allow it. Hell, I do more than allow it. I encourage it! I pull on that tendril of fear as hard as I can.

The Unicorn’s eyes roll into the back of its head, showing nothing but the whites. Foam froths at its mouth, but still I pull. The arrogant beast can only feel terror now. It’s every emotion is consumed by pure, unfiltered terror. I’m making sure of that. I hear a dull thud, like something popping in the distance. As if in response to the thud, the Unicorn keels over.

Blue screens appear in front of my eyes.

Racial Ability Discovered: Iron Fist of the Tyrant

Description: Beneath every velvet glove of peace and prosperity, is an iron fist of absolute power. Every Tyrant rules in a way of their own choosing. As a Lesser Tyrant Empathia, you strike fear, in the truest sense of the phrase, into the hearts of both your loyal citizens and dissenters alike.

Use your power wisely.

Mini-Boss Black Stallion killed!

Level up!

Racial Ability Unlocked: Strength of a Tyrant

Unlock Prerequisites: 25% synchronization with Tyrant Core. Use your strength as a Tyrant to demolish an opponent.

Description: The strong rule and a Tyrant must be stronger than most. +10 Strength, +10 Endurance.