Falling into a person’s soul was much like falling into an ocean: it was deep, fathomless, and reaching as far as the eye can see.

The literature on Soul diving did not agree on much, but the one thing they did agree on is that it would take years to go through a person’s Soul, to find the right recesses. The accumulation of countless memories and emotions over the decades the Soul lived would make any sort of effort fruitless.

Kara, however, had something that none of them had: her Notes. She parted the waters with her voice, focusing in on the tune center Soul. It must be trapped within one of his memories.

Technically, everything around was his Soul, but there should be a focus. A person can only be in one of themselves at any point, and that was the place Kara was searching for.

Much like one could think faster than they could speak, time was also condensed within. Her time was still limited, however. It could end any minute, for all she knew.

Images assailed her as her spiritual body plunged deep within the murky waters. Tastes, smells, emotions, and myriad of different sensations jabs at her, most of negative nature. The poor kid did not live a pleasant life.

The barrage of incongruent scenes vanished abruptly, leaving her floating below a squarish, gray dark goblinoid, who Kara assumed was probably her Rat. He had abnormally large eyes spanning for half of his oversized head with equally disproportionate ears and nose.

He looked to be a child, by goblinoid standards

7 years, if I was going to take a guess…

He had been sprinting through a wetland, his wide, rectangular feet traversing through the mud with bizarre dexterity.

The same thing could not be said for the few meters tall Fire Ants at his heel. One of the highest leveled mob creatures, with potent venom and overwhelming hive power, turned up the earth as it chased it down.

In addition, the tall grass hid his little body surprisingly well, saving him the few times the Fire Ants were able to find solid ground.

Why they were chasing him down, Kara did not know. Their level was at least in the top 200s, and devouring a hundred like him would do little for the hive. This must have been a Mission, otherwise, these monsters wouldn’t have behaved so strangely.

He existed the encasing of the grass, dodged a few skimpy trees, and jumped straight into a battleground.

Thunder rang, fires raged, and the earth shook--the combination of every high-level battle. The memory became disjointed, causing her Rat to teleport across the field. Humanoid figures fought the Red Ants. Hundreds of swords flew in the sky like a storm.

An actual storm flew through the sky, dragging Fire Ants in a spiraling wind.

The Ant Queen stood in the middle of it all. Over forty meters tall, it punctured the earth wherever one of its giant feet landed. Blood oozed out of it, it’s body riddled with hundreds of enormous blades, fires, frozen bits, and decaying flesh.

Oh great Ascenders, Kara silently cursed.

Her Rat sprinted to the back, uncaring for all the destruction occurring around him. He stumbled in holes and open crevices of the earth until he fell before a woman lying on the ground, blood spilling below her.

Above her were a few dozen Guardian Spirits. Any Fire Ant foolish enough to enter their parameter was quickly crushed, cut, burned, and electrified.

A Life Siren!

Nothing short of her the Queen Fire Ant would be able to pierce through her defenses. Giant, glowing energies in shape of armor were the main force, as well as more nimble creatures humanoid-like creatures, and even some Goblins. Creatures flew above, and Kara could sense some in the ground, as well.

The entire earth seemed to have risen to protect her.

The Guardian Spirits, not sensing any malice, allowed him to near her. A clever bunch, considering they were remanence of the dead.

He dropped to his knees, clutching her hand tightly. “Lady Shaman!” he yelled, though his mouth did not match the pronunciation of the words. The brain filling in for the missing bits, no doubt.

“Little...One?” she wheezed, blood dripping. “I will...be fine.” Her stomach was open, her guts spilling out. One of her legs were missing, as well as a decent portion of her waist. She did not look fine. It was unbelievable that she was able to even breath.

But Kara saw that she would heal, and very soon at that. A few potent healing spirits were actively re-constructing her body. Her limbs would regrow soon.

What was odd, Kara noticed, was her wounds: it was cut by a sharp blade, and no Fire Ant was able to wield a blade with their limbs, as far as she knew.

A person did this.

Her Rat, however, did not know that. He frittered and he cried, holding her hands tightly. “I’ll get the Hero! He’ll know what to do!” he said, and then ran off.

The Shaman’s hands reached for the Rat, though neither her mouth nor hands had enough power in them. She watched as he began sprinting towards the Hero, who was currently on top of the Red Ant’s head, slashing one eyeball after another, allowing the artery from the Mage in the skies to enter unhindered into its body.

Kara left the Life Siren, following the Rat, curious as to how he would get within earshot.

A man in priest robes stopped him then. The memory once again fluttered; words become static, the colors fading, faces blending. After a pause, a red flask was handed to her Rat.

“This will save her! She’ll die without it!” the voice said hurriedly, and suddenly the man’s face became vivid.

He’s the current head Inquisitor of Dlair!

The Rat paused for a brief moment, hesitant to trust the man. A few precious seconds passed by until a group of Fire Ants began rushing towards, making the decision for him. The Rat sprinted in the other way as the Inquisitor turned around, his body a flash of light.

He bellowed something, and then the ground shook followed by an explosion.

Two Fire Ants charged his way, a few steps away. The first one swiped down with one of its legs, and would have cut him in half were it not for the quaking ground throwing him off-balance. He fell, rolling on the ground and bouncing on its hind legs.

The Fire Ant behind it paused, eying her Rat curiously as he struggled to find his bearings. It’s mouth opened wide, it’s mandibles spreading right above him.

Before it got close them they were crushed by a huge heap of metal.

Barlom, The Guardian Of Dlair, stood three meters tall on top of the crushed carcass. Brown ooze covered each part of his golden armor.

Wait...Wait! Why are they here! How can any of this be possible? Slow down!

He looked from the Inquisitor to her Rat to the flask in his hands, mouth something Kara could not hear.

Not a moment passed before he leaped from one Fire Ant to the other, blowing them apart like they were simple insects under his foot.

The monsters seemed to be attracted to his shield, as their attacks were always directed towards it. He led them around to his rhythm, baiting them to strike at the shield that was as elusive as the man behind it.

Eventually, the Rat was able to find his feet. He began sprinting, ignoring the Fire Ants as their bodies flew overhead, courtesy of the Guardian’s protection abilities.

Kara knew greatly about them. One of the reasons the Guardian class was the most valued was for the enormous bonuses they received while they fought to protect an ally.

Her Rat sprinted until he reached the safe zone of the Guardian Spirits.

He fell down to her again, his hands shaking her arm. He nudged her until she opened an eye.

“Drink!” he said, nudging the red flask towards her.

She shook her head weakly, but her Rat still moved the flask towards her lips.

Before the liquid touched her lips the Shaman’s noise cringed, her eyes opening wide. She attempted to close her mouth, but her Rat stuck his hands in between her teeth. She cried, shaking what little of her body she could.

The Rat ignored her. He kept pushing the flask against her mouth, even as she tried to spit it out, even as her body spasmed in resistance.

This will save her, the voice repeated. She will die without it, it said again, echoing.

The Guardian Spirits floated vigilantly above, ensuring that no one would hurt their Host.

"You fool," Kara said, holding her head. "Just what did you get yourself involved in?"

***

The Disaster of Bog Litous. The High Seven, the most promising raid party that would become the top victors of the previous Game, lost three of its members here, ultimately becoming dissolved.

It began after a successful attack on the Fire Queen Ant, the boss of a rank SS Mission they had set out to clear. The High Seven retreated to Bog Litous, letting the curses and wounds they had inflicted on the Queen finish her off as they rested outside of the territory. Its army was far too great for a frontal attack.

Sylas, The Blade Master, was the main proprietor.

A barrier was placed in the bog in order to hide their presence from the Queen, and supposedly the High Seven Group used the nearby neutral races for food and medicine, as they could not leave the bogs themselves.

Something went wrong, however. The Queen somehow caught them in a moment of vulnerability. Desperately, the Queen ferociously fought to kill off the source of her curses-- the Blade Master. Each sword represented a different curse. A good portion prevented regeneration, another was anti-magic protections, and the third was damage over time.

The only way to remove the curses was either to remove the swords or to kill the source.

And the Fire Ants, with a lack of hands, were unable to remove the hundreds of swords retched deep within the Queen’s body.

In the end, the Queen killed the Blade Master and two others, though in doing so she had perished by the other Heroes.

Kara did not know, however, that her Rat was the killer of one of High Seven.

Congratulations! You are the first Bogling to kill an S+ entity!

Congratulations! You have killed a Life Siren!

Killing another Siren will unlock a unique skill!

Congratulations! Killing a creature that is a 39.9 times higher level than you has increased the experience reward of that creature by that proficient!

You are now level 74.

You have gained 0 points

Unfortunately, the MAX level for your race is 20.

Congratulations! You have reached level 20!

You may now pick an evolution.

Congratulations! You have received the Player Killer Class!

The more Players you kill, the greater the class will become.

More Information will be within your class menu.

The Life Siren laid quietly on the ground, her body a pale white mixed with a bright red.

Next to her was Kara’s little Rat, his face just as still, though his chest went up slightly as he breathed in the toxic odor emitting from the Siren's body. The Guardian Spirits had vanished, leaving them alone in silence in the aftermath of the battle.

The picture paused then, frozen in time, but the voice did not. This will save her. She will die without it, it repeated.

This was a creature that she had not even bothered to remember the name of. He was unworthy of it, she had believed. But here he was, the killer of one of the most powerful creatures in the history of the Games.

What happened after either was of no consequence, or his mind blanked out, both of which likely.

She needed to move quickly. She could theorize later. Pushing forward, Kara followed the line of emotion.

The world turned murky, its colors of gray, yellow, and brown twisting and combining until a new scene unfolded before her.

A large man in blue and white armor stood in front of the Shaman’s body, directly behind the Rat. He bent down, his huge gauntlets grabbing him by the cuff, and tossed him away.

Her Rat landed on his shoulders. He crumbled into a fetus position.

The man took off his helm, letting it fall to the ground.

Dark hair and blue eyes- the exact same face of her Dancer.

He knelt down next to the Siren, uncaring that a powerful curse now resided within her body. The corruption slithered like snakes, attaching to the Hero’s body.

His armor began to vanish into tiny light particles as his hands reached forward, lifting her close to him. He held her cheeks and squeezed her body against him, shaking.

The curse began to latch onto him, it’s corrosive tentacles turning his skin into a dark red, but he did not let go. He only held her closer to him.

It wasn't just a simple death. Her Soul, instead of vanishing, now turned into a type of Shade Kara had never seen before.

The Hero did not cry.

Congratulations! You have killed an S Rank Entity!

Because other factors did the majority of the work, you will only gain 20% of the rewards.

Congratulations! Killing the founder and Hero of the High Seven has rewarded you with bonus rewards!

You have gained 0 points.

Congratulations! Killing a creature that has 13.2 times higher level than you has increased the experience reward!

You are now level 102

Unfortunately, the MAX level for your race is 20.

Congratulations! You have killed a Shapeshifter! The rank A Shapeshifter race is now available to you.

Complete the requirements to change your race!

How foolish Kara thought, her eyes wide. The Hero of the High Seven committed suicide. What a lousy way to perish.

“Boy did you fuck up,” Kara said, turning behind her.

A figure floated directly behind her, its Soul a mixture of different fogs intertwined together. Each face was layered over the other. “It should have saved her. She would have died without it,” it said, his voice echoing in different voices.

“It killed her,” Kara said.

“I know.”

“She would have lived if you had done nothing. The Spirits couldn’t sense your malice, and didn’t prevent you.”

“Yes, everything would have turned out alright if I did nothing.”

“At least you learned the lesson early: Never trust red potions from strange men. Most of the time they're position."

“Never trust pople, in general, but I see you hadn’t learned that,” her Rat said, the voices intensifying.

“Slight mishap. Nothing that can’t be put back together.”

“There is no fixing that.”

“Oh no, my Rat, there is a way. Through tooth and nail.”

“What are you-”

“Consume, my Rat, consume and heal, just like you did with the Hero, and maybe even the Siren. There are bodies littered around you. Eat and heal.”

Her Rat paused, his face strangely indiscernible. “You saw the memory, I can’t heal from--”

“You’re cute, you know that?” Kara said, shaking her head. "It's no coincidence that your face is identical to the Hero. You ate him, didn't you? That's why you have his body perfectly? That's why no Detection or Scout skill ever works, isn't it? It makes no sense that a level 20 is able to protect himself from me."

The Rat did not respond. He simply stared at her.

“There was no way you were going to be able to consume the Hero with the damage the Shade did to him; You must have immunity to damage while eating, or heal throu-"

“You talk too much, you know that?”

“I like the sound of my voice. Lovely, I would dare say.”

“Then go listen to it outside of here.”

“You haven’t passed the Soul Trails because of your guilt, isn’t it? Haven't evolved because you're disgusted with yourself?

“Your silly attempts at manipulating me are humorous enough to make me laugh," he said, his faces unchanging. "I would rather bleed out than make a deal with you."

“Cringy. No, I’m just here to offer you something: Revenge against the ones that wronged you.”

“Inquisitor? No. That won’t bring my friend back.”

Kara paused. Friend? Seriously? “No, not him,” Kara said, smiling widely. This should still work in her favor. “The Guardian.”

He looked at her, the fog above his eyes, the portion that was acting as eyebrows, lifted up until it went above his head.

He then started laughing, and each different eye, ear, fingers, and even his nose separated from his body, shaking. “The Guardian? He considered the Hero his son! He loved him! He even… he even…”

“No, No, little Rat. Keep laughing! It is funny. How you haven't figured it out for yourself, I ha-"

“He protected me,” his voice now a whisper, his shape dwindling. “Why did he protect me, after seeing the flask?”

“The Inquisitor is not far up, is he? No, the Gaurdian is the one leading the Anima of the Dlair Kingdom. He stole the role of the Hero after killing him off, and his supporters; The Life Siren and the Blade Master. Or maybe the Blade Master was just an unintended sacrifice whose role was to lure in the Fire Ant Queen? If so, just confirm whose plan was it to inflict the curses and-”

“Stop, talking,” he said, and for the first time, Kara felt his tune loud and clear.

It was firm, refined over countless years. It pressed at her like a gravity field, but was contained. Intense, deep within. Adversity grows the mind, that was no myth. She could have fought back against his power, could have opened her mouth, but now was not the time for games.

No, now is the time to scheme.

Precious seconds went by in silence. He stared at the ground, countless emotions passing his face in a jumble.

An off-side of the Shapeshifting skill, no doubt. Souls shouldn’t be like that. Possibly a penalty because he used the skill without confirming the transformation? Maybe because he's a monster with emotions he shouldn't have? I want to know. I wa-

“How?” he finally asked.

He took the bait. “Those who finish the Games become Ascended. Their level is capped. You didn’t Ascend because you were created during the Games.”

“Unrealistic. Even then he was powerful, and now he has the might of a kingdom on his side.”

“Not true. He's the leader of the Anima, but he lost. Miserably. The Animus must have gotten him on a leash now. He only has like what, a quarter of the kingdom’s power?”

“Oh, thank the spirits, that is much better.”

“Yes, yes it is.”

“I was-”

“I am powerful, little Rat. I am meant to stand atop of that hill, and petty things like him stand no chance against me.”

“You weren't able to catch a level 20 like what, three times? And what's this that's sticking out of my stomach right now? What can someone as inept as you do against one of the most powerful Ascended still to live?”

There were reasons for that! She was rusty. Not only had she almost forgotten how to move a body, she was also in a level 20 body against foes twice her level with no skills to make use of.

Kara, of course, mentioned none of that. That wouldn't change the fact that she did, in fact, have an embarrassing streak of failures. “You're the solution to that," Kara said.

“Good luck, and goodbye.”

“Let’s make a bet,” Kara began. "Follow my lead; Heal. Follow my lead. Do that, and I will ensure show you unrestrained strength. You will stand victories, above everyone around you. Let that to be a testament to our potential.”

"You're delusional," Nilbog said, shaking his head.

"Dear Nilbog, this is the only way you can redeem yourself,” she said, and put her hand forward. “Not becoming a Shapeshifter will never do that. But using your Shapeshifter race to bring the fall of those who have wronged your friend? That should do it.”

He stared at it, the multiple fog faces looking unconvinced. He looked around him. The damn fool pondered her hand even as his life faded. Did he seriously not want to live? What did he have to lose? If she fails him, he'll just die, but if he doesn't take her hand, then he'll die anyway.

He had nothing to lose anymore.

Kara began to feel nervous. It wasn't enough. Human or monster, neither acted on the rationale of their circumstances. She needed something else to push him.

"If you're going to die," Kara began again, searching for the right words. "Why not die fighting, at least?"

He looked back to her, for once his face becoming vivid. "Because, spoiled girl, fighting is painful."

Kara cursed. That wasn't it anyway, and she depleted all her time. She had to leave, otherwise...otherwise I'll be back to my original body, to repeat the same nightmares.

"Would your friend like that? Would the Shaman want that? For you to throw away the life that you got because of them?" Kara said, clutching her teeth.

His smile vanished.

Kara placed her hand forward again. "There is...there is always a way," she said.

***

Nilbog woke up to a vicious hunger in the pits of his stomach. It burned fiercely, sending him up in screams instantly.

“Quickly,” the pianist said, a spectral as she shook him out of it.

“What...did you do… to my body,” he groaned. His entire body flared in an intense burn, his muscles spasming out of control, while all of his bones felt shattered. It felt as if his entire body was bleeding.

“I might have...Overworked it a bit. Your body is not used to Life Force yet.”

“I...I can’t move! HP is dropping! 15! 14! I’m dying! Fuck you! It could have been painle-”

“Shut up and listen, fool. Life Force caused this problem, and Life Force will fix it. Feel deep inside you. Find your Life Force. It’s your Soul.”

“What...does that mean!”

“Argh, damn plebs. Feel it,” Kara said, falling into his body.

Nilbog felt her presence within him. Though he could feel her everywhere, there was a central point in which all of her was concentrated, right in the center of his chest. Was it something like that for-

Something prodded him, deep inside. He focused in, sensing a spot that was slightly denser than the rest.

It moved, and then his arm moved.

No, he moved it, and at the same time, his body moved.

That is your Soul. It controls your body, and rests in the heart. It moves through blood and bone. Take a part of it and spread it out, just like I will with you, she said, and then did as promised. The heavy ball that he felt behind his ribs sent tendrils out, enveloping his bones. I can’t do it for you.

He followed suit, though with difficulty. His mortal wounds helped him, as the more he spread out his Life Force, the less pain he felt. Vigor flowed where his Life Force touched.

Congratulations! You have gained the Common skill Life Force Empowerment.

Through the use of Life Force, you may strengthen parts of your body by a percentage, increasing Brawn, Speed, and Armor.

Max Buff: 25%

Current: 32%

Time until recast: 10 minutes

“I can… breath,” Nilbog said with relief. He was even able to open his eyes.

A pale white face stared hollowly at him.

Nilbog yelped into the air and then fell as the pain reverberated throughout his entire body.

A sword was stuck through him. Like hell Minor Bleed Resistance can do anything against that.

Bodies were littered around him. A few paces away a fight was occurring between two groups.

If you can scream, you can eat, Kara said. Transform into a Shapeshifter. Also, make a mental command to let me see everything; some things remain locked for me.

Your menu settings have been set to Open.

I can't. The healing is too weak. It won't--

"Then evolve. Quickly."

“I-”

“Your decision. Redemption or Game Over. Make it,” Kara said, floating out of his body.

For the millionth time, Nilbog cursed life.

But that won't change anything. For change, he thought as he pressed the button.

Congratulations! You have changed your race into A Rank Shapeshifter!

You have lost all racial skills of a Bogling.

Fledgling Shapeshifter

You are what you eat.

The unique skill, Shapeshifting, has broken into three skills.

Consumer

Allows you to consume otherwise non-ingestible material.

Consuming will fill the Shaper bar for the specific Husk, and the race of the body.

Depending on the type of material consumed, you may have the option to heal your current Husk instead of filling the requisites for a different one.

Healing Power: 25% of the material’s original Constitution

Healing Limit: You may not Consume more than 100% of the Husk’s Constitution for healing purposes.

Cooldown: Each percentage requires a 24-hour cooldown.

Shaper

You are now able to construct Husks of races you Consume.

You may regain Racial skills but not stats. To retain the looks of a specific body, you must consume more than 50% of it.

Current Material:

D Rank: 68%

C Rank: 49%

B Rank: 21%

A Rank: 0%

S Rank: 3%

Shifter

You are now able to use different Husks beyond your Core.

You may use your stored material to fix the HP of your Husks.

The healing limit is 100% of your Husk's Constitution.

Each percentage healed requires a 24-hour cooldown.

Max Husks Shaped: 2

Current Husks Shaped: 2

“Snap out of it, idiot! Your HP!” Kara screamed, jolting Nilbog out of his shock.

He glanced at his HP, and a sudden rush of panic washed over him. He was down to 4 HP.

Nilbog crawled towards a nearby corpse. The smell was nauseating, and he can already feel his body rejecting it.

Should he just die? The red orb will activate, and maybe the Siren will finally leave him if she thinks he died.

But why even? Without the points and experience, he'll die in a later Mission or Phase anyway.

"That guy was the one that stabbed you," Kara said, and then went quite.

Nilbog leaned forward, letting the anger move his hands for him. If that was the case...

He was tired of being the victim. To hell with everything.