When Daggat emerged from the tree, he found himself standing at the edge of a field of hills. Earth was upturned, bones piled in the center. Corpses of goblins and humans littered the place.

By some miracle or grit, his companions survived their encounter. They were hurt, however. Anath had a broken spider leg, a sprained leg, and a cracked carapace. Klaw was actively trying to get his heart under control while keeping the dozen of wounds he had from bleeding. Elyndris had it bad. One of her wings was obliterated and a line of her flesh had split. But, they were all alive.

Daggat wasn't so hot either. His head pounded. At least it distracted him from the itch. He considered purchasing pain tolerance again… but hesitated. Pain was just pain. He could get something better. But first, he needed to check on the team.

He approached Anath and whistled at the corpse of Lisa. "You do that?"

Anath threw a rock at him.

"What was that for?" Daggat asked, rubbing his head.

"Your potion SUCKED."

"What do you mean."

"BOILING. BLOOD."

"Oh. Umm… sorry about that. Not very useful, then?"

"It was excruciatingly painful. Second worst pain of my life. For five minutes."

"Wow, that does suck. I'm… sorry? Hey, do you have four arms? Wait… did you evolve?"

Anath pouted at him. "Yes."

"That's great! Tell me what you got from it later. Very proud."

"What are you doing here, Daggat?" Klaw asked as he hobbled towards them.

"Oh, I got a new friend." Daggat looked around. Where was Bobby? "He… uh, kidnapped me, then brought me here."

"Very convenient. Where is he?" Elyndris said as she slithered towards them.

"I don't know… huh. Well, no time to waste. Let's loot!"

"Where are Hunter and Zuss?" Anath asked.

"Oh, back towards the village. We can meet up with them."

"Then we should get out of here." Anath suggested, "We… kind of killed their leadership. They won't be happy."

"I'm not leaving that altar behind. Besides, we can just tell them it was the Head Takers." Daggat said.

"There's another problem," Klaw said. Everyone turned to look at him. "Hogo has twelve bosses. We killed three or four here. Tell me, if you had a force and suddenly lost a quarter of it, what would you do, as a goblinoid?"

Daggat thought about it for a moment. "Yeah… that's a good point. Shit."

"You think they will attack with full force?" Elyndris asked.

"Undoubtedly," Klaw said.

"Then we go with our plan, and fall back to Titanfell," Anath said.

"That'd be great… if we were in a better position. We need to rest and heal. Our best move is to rest in town around a hearth. Heal as much as we can." Daggat idly scratched his arm, then stopped himself.

"I agree," said Elyndris, "but first, there is plenty of experience to be had."

"Oh, before that. What's this?" Daggat withdrew the orange potion.

"A… potion?" Elyndris asked.

"You don't know?"

"It… seems familiar. I don't… hmm. It's like it's at the edge of my mind. What's it do?"

"It removed a biotrait, then refunded me the points."

"Yes! That is a potion. Yes. Very rare. It's called… um… devolution, I think?"

"It's not like you to be unsure," Klaw said.

"THAT WAS AN OPTION!" Anath practically screamed.

Daggat winced. "Ow, what?"

"I could have gotten rid of my spider parts with a potion! ELLY! Why didn't you tell me."

"It doesn't remove racial traits. Variants probably count. Besides… you did the evolution thing, so it's fine."

"Well. Who wants it? I can't afford it at the moment." Daggat said.

"I'll take it," Anath grumbled. Daggat tossed her the potion. She drank it after a moment's hesitation. Her human eyes blinked for a moment, and they changed, subtly. Losing a certain shine they had before.

"My vision. It took away the upgrades to my vision." She gently touched her spider eyes. "Two biotraits."

Interesting. So it can remove upgrades. How does it choose? And could it remove synergized traits?

"Right, well. Lots to do. Let's get ear-cutting and eating. A lot of experience to be had." Daggat said.

The rest of the monsters nodded and dispersed. Anath was on ear duty, collecting as many ears as she could find. Klaw and Elyndris bit chunks from the humans and uneaten goblins. In the meantime, Daggat inspected the strange blackened bones. A black, foul aura emanated from them. The same general haze that filled the barrows. Death essence. The cores were interesting. Bone essence? How many essences were there, exactly?

"Hey, this one's alive," Klaw called out. One of the humans had survived. Its body was ruined, but it still breathed. And was conscious. Daggat trotted over to it.

The tattoos still glowed.

"Wait, let me ask a few questions first," Daggat said. Then he leaned over the human. "Hey, buddy. How's it going?"

"Fuck off… goblin." The human hissed.

"Well, that's rude. Hey, what do you know about Mary?"

"She wishes you dead, if I could move, I would fulfill that wish."

"Wait, you know about her… hagishness? And you still do what she wants? How did she communicate with you?"

"Mary was the one who inscribed the tattoos," Elyndris said, making her way over.

His tattoos were smaller. A single bud on his cheek.

"When Lisa lost her tattoo, her eyes stopped glowing," Anath added as she joined the conversation.

"Really? That's fascinating. Say, human, what happens if we remove it?"

The human spat at his face.

Daggat wiped the blood from his cheek. "Klaw. Would you do the honors?"

Klaw extended a claw. "Oh… looks like surgery isn't dishonorable either." He chuckled.

Using one hand to hold the human's face still, he carefully sliced the flesh of the cheek. The human screamed his way through it. With a sickening rip, Klaw tore the flesh from his face, leaving a glistening patch of fat and muscle. The human's eyes stopped glowing.

"So, how do you feel?" Daggat asked.

The human gasped and breathed heavily. "YOU BASTARDS!" He hissed with a slurred voice.

"Look, we can heal you if you tell us what the tattoos are about. What do you say?"

The human eyed him with spite but spoke. "It was like she was in my head… a witch. A hag. Marry. I didn't know. Nobody knew… But I had to do what she wanted. I WANTED to. Now, please, let me go."

Complete domination. Daggat was learning so much today.

"Thanks, buddy. That gives me some wiggle room with the surviving humans. Really helpful. Klaw, would you like to finish him off?" Daggat asked.

"What!? You said you'd let me go." The human hissed.

"Daggat, you said… really? Of course." Anath said, exasperated.

"Can't. Oath." Klaw said simply.

"Look, I lied. Honestly, I would have let you go. The thing is… you're dying. Look at you, every limb is broken. Our doctor is too far away to help. It's either let you die or take your experience." Daggat twirled his spear. "And there's an army coming."

Then Elyndris struck. She pounced at his throat and ripped and tore. Daggat took a step back to avoid the mess. When she was done, she looked towards them. "I was fighting him. It's my job to finish my kills."

Fair enough. The crew went back to work. In the barrow, the humans went down, and they found more dead goblins and dead humans. Oswine was nowhere to be seen, he likely went back.

Daggat took over the feasting once Klaw was getting too full. Eventually, they gained their 13th level. Glorious, glorious levels. However, it was less than he'd expected. Between the humans, the goblins, and the hundreds of corpses, Daggat would have expected more experience. How much was lost with a kill, exactly? It was far from one-to-one, for sure.

He had considered snacking on a bone or two, but upon hearing about the goblins claiming most of the bones were already feasted on and the death bones, he didn't want to risk it. But, that did bring up a thought. Who feasted on the bones? Surely not all of them were killed by monsters, who would naturally eat the kill. Old age and murder. Maybe even sickness, since they didn't have proper rot resistance.

Marry said she helped bury the dead. If Daggat was in her position, he would take a discrete nibble when preparing the corpses. That would explain how she gained levels without anyone noticing.

Once the feasting was done, the crew gathered to level up.

Daggat had four growth points and three biotrait points. Anath had two biotraits and a skill point. Elyndris already knew exactly what she was going to purchase. Klaw had a skill point.

So, they dove into it. The fresh scent in the status void was welcome, and Anath wasted no time in putting up new spring-themed decorations.

First, his growth points. Easy option, he put those into charm, bringing it to 16.

[Feat achieved: Devilishly Charming. Cause: Bring charm to 15. Reward: Party Leader. Accept? Yes/No, Note: Party Leader already earned, skill will level up instead.]

He accepted immediately.

There were three perks he could choose for the Party Leader skill. Extra party members, which doubled his limit to twelve. Party Loot, which gave the party some sort of shared inventory. He wasn't sure how that worked. The last option was Ruler. That perk seemed to grant him access to the Ruler system.

Daggat was torn. He desperately wanted both Party Loot and Ruler. He had a spare skill point, so he COULD get both. But, he wanted to look at his other options first. For now, party Loot would help them more immediately.

A new button in the status screen appeared. Add to group inventory. With some experimentation, he found he could only select it when he was focusing on something he held. He used it on the bag of ears and bones.

The bag disappeared from his hand, fading into a golden mist. Then a transparent copy of it appeared in the status void. A blue ring about ten feet across surrounded the bag, and a status bar hovered near it. It said 34.6 pounds out of 500.

With more experimentation, each party member could summon the ring of loot to them and pull the bag into reality. This must be how Ketil and the others were able to materialize objects.

This was one of the most useful skill perks he had seen, from a management point of view. He grinned and opened a private message.

Daggat: <Hey, Al. Got us a party loot system. Go ahead and drop our valuables here. It's more secure than any vault.>

Alfred: <Be careful, high-level thieves can steal from an inventory system. Another note, a party member must be within ten miles of you to pull from the shared inventory.>

Daggat: <Well, damn. There go my ideas of a trade empire.>

For his second skill point, Daggat inspected the Alchemy skill. Potion Bandoleer gave Daggat yet another inventory system, but this one seemed locked to alchemical creations. Potion Statistics would give him more accurate percentages of essence and impurities. Potion Identification allowed him to see the recipe for an alchemical object that he didn't know.

Hmm… useful, but not helpful at the moment. He would return to those at some point.

Perhaps it was time to get a bit more offensive. His spear could use an upgrade. So, he took a look at the spearmanship divine skills.

Lunge was a lot like Elyndris's pounce, where it allowed him to lunge his spear forward with greater strength and speed than normal. Return Throw must have been a skill Willow had. It returned a spear to the thrower after it was thrown. Useful, but not at Daggat's strength. Finally, Wide Sweep. When sweeping with the spear, the range and area covered by the attack is increased.

The most important aspect of the spear skills was it allowed Daggat to enhance his skill with the spear further. Daggat went with Lunge. It could potentially work well with his spear.

As for Daggat's biotraits, he already had a plan for them. He was going to hold onto two, but the other was spent on Death Gaze. Then, he combined them into Second Sight.

"Woah, Dag. That's creepy." Klaw said.

"What?"

"Your… eyes. They are clouded, like an old corpse."

"Well, I can see fine."

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He could see better than fine. His supernatural senses had merged. The changes here were subtle. The world of souls, mundane, and magic were like one. It was as though a fogged window hiding the world had finally been opened. There was a certain vulnerability to it.

Most shockingly, he could see the Assistant and Spider without being in the shadow void. That was going to be a problem.

The Assistant chuckled darkly.

Anath was next, using the two assistants and Daggat to help her decide. Daggat wasn't pleased with her strength core, but what was done was done. First, they focused on her skill point. Likewise with Daggat, they agreed that a sword skill would suit her best, so she could continue to improve with her weapons of choice.

Aside from Sword Slash, she had two other options. Charged Slash, which allowed her to build up energy into an attack before unleashing it, and Riposte, which infused a counterattack with energy depending on the power of the attack countered. How that energy worked, no one was certain. Anath chose Charged Slash.

She tested her skill on a nearby tree. Her sword began to glow as she held it ready.

"It's like the blade is getting heavier and heavier, harder to move. I don't think I can use it well until it's done." She said as it charged. It took a full four seconds. Daggat noted essence flowing from Anath into the sword. It had a sturdy, sure quality to it. Strength Essence. When it was done, she slashed her blade clean through the wood. A moment later, bark exploded from the tree.

"It… drained my core. I think, half of it?" Anath noted.

"Strength essence enhancing the sword. I bet if I did something similar, it would infuse it with fire." Daggat said.

"Magic effects are fascinating," Elyndris said. "When used, it always takes the nearest mana. Which is generally ambient, flavorless mana. But, your cores overtake that. It's the same with spells."

Now, it was time for her biotraits. First, she wanted night vision back. She could handle no magnified vision, but the night vision was too useful. On that note, the Assistant had some new information.

"I've been combing through the biotrait menus and discovered something. There seem to be several biotrait types. Each functions differently. I do not have the actual names for these types, so I have made my own." He brought up a note page on the subject while he spoke. "First, there are structural biotraits. These cannot be upgraded normally, but instead, add body parts that can be upgraded. Limbs, eyes, and complex organs, for example. Generally, it seems these options are for those that lack these basic structures. Such as Elyndris.

Then there are standard biotraits, which are what most of you are familiar with. They can be evolved. As can these other types, genesis and core biotraits. These function more like skills. Genesis traits are biotraits available to your genseeds and genblooms.

Then, there are modifier biotraits. These are an effect that is applied to many body parts and biotraits. Such as Dense Bones and Muscles, Hardened Chitin, and Force Distributing Flesh.

Finally, my favorite biotraits. Neural. These affect how the brain works, functions, and enhances its capabilities. Psionics, in Daggat's case. And Zuss has Enhanced Visual Acuity. Thaumic sense also falls into this category."

"That's great, but how does this help?" Daggat asked once the assistant was done with its lecture.

"Because I believe I found a neural biotrait that would assist Anath. Multidextrous. It enhances the control she has over multiple limbs. When evolved, it can even allow each limb to react independently."

"That is a problem. Okay, I will get that." Anath said.

A moment later, she accepted the biotrait. She experimented by swinging a few branches around and moving her spider legs about. Daggat didn't notice a difference, but she seemed to.

Klaw was simple. He upgraded his new skill, Aura of Defense. Its options were to increase the times per day he could use it, add retaliation damage, and change the trigger from death to severe damage. He opted for Righteous Retaliation, which damaged enemies… somehow. They couldn't test it out, not without trying to kill each other.

"Alright! It is now time. I no longer need the altar! Behold, minions, for I am about to reach the apex of my most powerful biotrait!" Elyndris cackled with glee.

The rest of them politely watched.

"Right. Metamorphosis!" She selected and applied the biotrait. "I can now design a new form in which I can change to and back from. With a… week of hibernation. LETS FIX THAT! First evolution, Swift change. Reduce the time to three days. That's more… suitable. NEXT! Extra Form. I now have TWO forms I can build. Yes… the possibilities are endless. And the final evolution, Rebirth." Elyndris gasped, "When selecting this evolution, I can redesign my BASE FORM! THREE. That's three forms I can design. HAHAHA. Now… to finish it."

The other leaned in, excited to see what the apex of her ability was.

"Would I like to raise Metamorphosis to its apex? YES, I WOULD." She selected the option. "When the user undergoes regenisis… they may select a different option for each… of their… metamorphosis… forms."

She sat silently for a moment. Everyone else inched back.

"THIS IS COMPLETE AND UTTER ORC SHIT! I spit on the angels who cursed me so! AND NO FEAT FOR THE APEX!?!" She roared again and again.

"Hey, just think of the boost you'll get when you DO end the curse," Daggat said.

"Bah! A point wasted. Do you have any more of those potions?"

Daggat

True Name: Daggat Soul: Monster Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size] Genbloom: goblin [ +2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Scavenger; Small Size]

Monster Level: 13

Attributes (0/14): Strength: 11 Dexterity: 11 Constitution: 11 Intelligence: 20 Will: 10 Charm: 16

Feats: Encounter: True Angel Ability: Mighty Intellect Act: Fledgling Alchemist Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Devotion [Layered feats] Act: Usurper Act: Touch of Death Act: Reborn by Fire Ability: Devilishly Charming

Skills(0/5): Alchemy: 1 [Source: Fledgling Alchemist] System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] System Assistant: 2 [Perk: Semi-sentience] Mind Codex: 1 [Synergy: Mental notes + Copy Tome] Party Leader: 2 [Source: Usurper/Devilishly Charming; Perk: Party Loot] Lunge: 1

Notable Natural Skills: Literacy: Apprentice Spearmanship: Apprentice

Biotraits (2/13): Base size: Small [Source: Goblin] Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin] Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin] Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin] Temperature Resistant Skin [Synergy: Fire Resistant Skin + Cold Resistant Skin] Scavenger [Source: goblin] Fire Core Beguiling Presence [Synergy: Hypnotic Gaze (Dominating Gaze, Mesmerizing Gaze) + Hypervocal Cords (Beguiling Voice)] Second Sight [Synergy: Aura Sight (Ambient Aura Sense) + Death Sight (Death Gaze)]

Transformations: Drakeheart Form: +2 strength +2 charm Extreme Temperature Resistant Scales [Synergy: Fireproof scales + Temperature resistant Skin] Fire breath

Night Stalker form: +2 strength +2 dexterity Dark vision [Night Vision Enhanced] Deepen Shadow

Regenerator form: Advanced Regeneration

Other: Variant: +10 Intelligence Skill potions used: 2/5 Growth potions used: 2/5

Notable Gear: Strange pure-white sword shard Spear of Bracing 2 Mihr Contracts Strange Ring

Anath

True Name: Anathema Soul: Monster/Mortal Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size] Genbloom: Arachne [ +4 Dex, + Cha; Standard Size, Integrated Spinnerets, Extra Limbs]

Monster Level: 6 Berserker Level: 7 [+3 Str, Dex Con, -1 Int, Wil, Cha; Berserker's rage, Great Vitality]

Attributes [0/7]: Strength: 12 Dexterity: 15 Constitution: 13 Intelligence: 10 Will: 8 Charm: 11

Feats: Encounter: True Angel Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Vile Concoction Act: Devotion [layered feats] Act: Overwhelming Power Ability: Mighty Alacrity

Skills(0/10): System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] System Assistant: 1 Skill Boosts: Survival (1) Savage Legs: 1 Berserker's Spirit: 1 [Synergy: Warrior's Spirit (Burst of Strength + Burst of Alacrity + Burst of Vitality) + Berserker's Rage] Purge Poison: 1 Great Vitality: 1 Blood Rhythm: 1 Charged Slash: 1

Notable Natural Skills: Survival: Apprentice Savagery: Apprentice Swordsmanship: Apprentice

Biotraits [0/6]: Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction] Extra Limb (Arachnid) x4, (Humanoid) x2 [Source: Variant, Arachne] Venomous Mandibles [Source: Variant] Multi-eye [Mutations: Night Vision; Source: Variant] Hardened Chitin Exoskeleton Integrated Spinnerets [Source: Arachne] Multidextrous

Transformations: Night Stalker form: +2 strength +2 dexterity Claws Dark Vision

Notable Gear: Blade of the Dessert Flower

Other: Variant: Arachnid Traits

Klaw

True Name: Klaw Soul: Mortal/Monster Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size] Genbloom: Bugbear [ +3 Str, +1 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Rough Fur; Small Size]

Monster Level: 8 Paladin Level: 5 [+2 Str, +2 Con, +2 Wil; Smite, Righteous Aura]

Attributes (0/6): Strength: 21 (22, +1 belt) Dexterity: 10 Constitution: 13 (14, +1 belt) Intelligence: 8 Will: 11 Charm: 8

Feats: Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Devotion [Layered feats] Ability: Mighty Strength Act: Arsonist Act: Life Eater

Skills(0/4): System Aptitude: 1 Burst of Strength: 1 Attribute Boost: Strength (+2) Flame Affinity: 1 [Source: Arsonist] Smite: 1 Wind Slash: 1 Savage Attacks: 1 Aura of Protection: 2 [Perk: Righteous Retaliation] Righteous Aura: 1 Condense Aura: 1

Notable Natural Skills: Savagery: Apprentice Swordsmanship: Apprentice Bodybuilding: Apprentice

Biotraits (0/8): Base size: Standard [Source: Gremlin] Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin] Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin] Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin] Claws [Mutations: Forged, Retractable] Dense Muscle Fibers Rough Fur [Mutations: Insulating Fur; Source: Bugbear] Dense Bone Cardiovascular Control Beast Core [Source: Life Eater]

Transformations: Drakeheart Form: +2 strength +2 constitution Fire-proof Scales Claws [Mutation added: Burning]

Night Stalker form: +2 strength +2 dexterity +2 constitution Dark Vision

Notable Gear: Belt of Last Stand

Elyndris

True Name: Elyndris Soul: Monster Genseed: Larva [ 1 Str, 1 Dex, 1 Con, 1 Int, 1 Wil, 1 Cha; miniscule Size]

Monster Level:

13

Attributes (0/12):

Strength:

10

Dexterity:

8

Constitution:

8

Intelligence:

15

Will:

7

Charm:

7

Feats:

Encounter: True Angel

Knowledge: System Knowledge

Act: Devotion

[layered feats]

Act: Blasphemy

Ability: Mighty Intellect

Act: Vile Concoction

Act: Fledgling Mage

Skills (0/3):

Burst of Strength: 1

Pounce: 1

Construct Capacity: 1

Spellcraft: 1

Biotraits (0/13):

Base size: Miniscule

Jaws

Thaumic Sense

[Synergy: Tremor Sense + Magic Sense; Mutations:

Refined Sense

]

Complex organs

Limbs [Mutation:

Lesser Wings

]

Disease Resistance

[Source: Vile Concoction]

Force Distributing Flesh

Metamorphosis

[Mutations: Swift Change, Extra Form, Rebirth; Apex Reached]

Transformations:

Night Stalker form:

+2 strength

+2 dexterity

+2 constitution

Jaws [Mutation: Powerful Jaws]

Drakeheart form:

+2 strength

+2 charm

Fireproof Scales

Fire breath

Known Magical Components:

Engines

: Force, Energy, Beam

Drives

: Focus

Notable Gear:

5 Refresh Pills

Hero Scroll

Other:

Curse: Ungenesis

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