[center][h1][color=purple]𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕆𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕𝕝𝕪 ℂ𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟[/color][/h1][/center]
[hr]
[quote=SYSTEM:DUNGEON]
AREA MAPPED. COMPILING MANA...COMPILING...

ASSIMILATION RATE: 0.7%
ASSIMILATION RATE INCREASED
ASSIMILATION RATE: 1%
[/quote]
[hr]
[h3]Ardur[/h3]
As Ardur returned home, his eight legged friend Steve almost seemed happy to see him, despite the inability of spiders to express any discernable emotion. Still, maybe the way it seemed to wiggle was indicative. When Ardur fed the spider it hurried forward to sup as if it were ravenous, but it seemed clear from the other carcasses wrapped up in the web that the creature hadn't been starving in Ardur's absence. Was there some reason for this increase in appetite?

Ardur reached out to use his Taming Skill, and as he touched Steve's back there was a mental "ping" in his mind.

[quote=System:Ardur]
You used Taming I!
Attempting to Tame: Non-Monster, Common Spider Species
You have named this creature Steve.
Taming...Taming...
[/quote]

It seemed if this process was successful, it wouldn't be immediate. So Ardur returned to his workouts until he had completely exhausted whatever energy he had left, after all that fighting and flying around for almost twenty four hours straight. But when he had finally exhausted himself, and he flopped back onto the floor covered in sweat...

[quote=System:Ardur]
You have used a Mana Crystal. Your MP is Almost Full.
[/quote]

That large crystal that had been growing in his cranny cave for some time suddenly began to disappear. He must have been close enough for it to activate! He felt his MP recover, though by now he had gained a little bit more of it through level ups, if the fact that it didn't top him up completely was any indicator. With this MP, he could cast his Heal spell on himself to recover from the muscular damage of his exercises--it wouldn't restore his stamina, but it might make the process of getting Stronger a little faster.

But before Ardur could sleep, there was another "ping." Except it didn't come from him. When he looked for the source, he would find a large, web-spun coccoon in the place of his friend Steve.

[quote=System:Ardur]
Taming Successful!
You have tamed Steve, a Non-Monster Common Spider Species!
...What's this?
A Creature you have Tamed is Transforming!
[/quote]

Transforming!? Was this the result of Ardur's care and semi-symbiotic relationship with Steve, not just from his attempt at Taming it but from the moment the pixie had been reborn in this world and begun trying to keep the spider as a pet? Was that also why it seemed like Steve's appetite had grown? But Steve was just a normal, non-Monster spider, right? Did non-magical or "normal" beings in this world grow and evolve too? Perhaps, in his former life, Ardur had heard or read of the supernatural beings in some Asian cultures--like spirit foxes--that gained power after living for a long time or being affected by other supernatural forces.

After several long minutes, the web-coccoon split open. And Steve emerged.

[quote=System:Ardur]
Tamed Creature Status:
Name: "Steve"
Gender: Female
Species: Oculus Spider - A low-ranking Arachnid-class Insect-type Monster. While it possesses venom, it is not that much more potent than a normal spider and thus is virtually harmless to humans save in very large doses or in the case of specific allergies. However, because it has adapted to Mana in its environment and thus become a Monster, it has gained a large eye that works differently than its normal eyes. It will swing from a web in a hypnotic manner to entice prey.
Appearance: [img]https://c-3sux78kvnkay76x24j7a1v9r0cvge9qx2eiruajlx78utzx2etkz.g00.gamepedia.com/g00/3_c-3fkrjg.mgskvkjog.ius_/c-3SUXKVNKAY76x24nzzvyx3ax2fx2fj7a1v9r0cvge9q.iruajlx78utz.tkzx2ffkrjg_mgskvkjog_ktx2fznashx2f5x2f58x2fGx78suMnusg.vtmx2f986vd-Gx78suMnusg.vtm_$/$/$/$/$/$/$?i10c.ua=1&i10c.dv=19[/img]
Abilities:[list]
[*]Level 1[list]
[*]Web Spit - Spit a glob of sticky web at an opponent. Deals very little damage, but may Slow an enemy's movement.
[*]Doze - For the Oculus Spider, this spell is cast using their eye as a catalyst. May inflict Sleep on a single target.[/list][/list]

Transformations:
Common Spider Species > Oculus Spider

Inventory:
Stomach Sac - 0/3 Slots Filled. Small Items only.
[/quote]

Steve had grown quite considerably in size, being roughly the size of a spider from the real world called a Goliath Birdeater. Her hard exoskeleton appeared much tougher, however, and save for her furry backside she seemed to have few vulnerable areas. Now, however, a small glowing mark appeared on the section of exoskeleton between her head and the bottom of that large eye on her back. After a moment the light died down, but the mark, almost like a tattoo, remained to show that Ardur's Taming had been completed.

Steve immediately scuttled over towards the pixie and nudged his leg softly with one of her own. She looked up at him, and "waved" with several of her other legs.
[hr]
[h3]Asteria, Digbie, Mother Rat[/h3]
While the others seemingly left them behind, Asteria and Digbie set out to dig their tunnel despite the earlier change it had caused in Jason. Mother Rat, having found a safe space near the back of Jason's garden chamber, curled up to sleep as she was clearly exhausted from all the battles and running around of the last day-night cycle. They might have seen Rain/Torrent emerge from her shell with an all new form.

But what none of them could see, at the moment, was a patch of dirt near a large, rocky outcrop somewhat between the pool area and the nesting area where many Dire Rats and Fanged Lizards had been seen. This patch began to shiver, until finally a hand burst through the earth and grasped the soil between its fingers. But this hand had no flesh.

Covered in bits of gristle and blood, with dangling bits of tendon that had not yet dried into jerky, and yellow crusts that had once been fat scattered over its form, the skeleton pulled itself from its shallow grave. Its skull was oversized for its proportions, and its spine was somewhat hunched now that no muscle could support the head's weight. It had large ridges where pointed ears and a somewhat bulbous nose had once been attached to it, and stood roughly three feet tall. In the depths of its eye sockets, green, sickly fire flickered alight.

With a slow, jerky, mechanical gait, the skeleton began to walk towards Jason's cavern. Every so often it turns its skull this way and that, looking at its surroundings. It moved into the shadows whenever it could, but it did not seem to be trying to hide its presence...it was more like it was avoiding something in its path, walking around an obstacle that only it could see.

Slowly, it came closer and closer to Jason's cave, as if it knew exactly where it was headed...
[hr]
[h3]Torrent[/h3]
As Torrent struggled and fought her way back to her body, the air seemed as thick around her as gelatin. And while her physical form lay in the proximity of that odd crystal, it almost seemed like that red Dungeon Core was watching her, an inhuman eye simply floating and observing. But as her anger drove her on, she finally managed to touch a slightly transparent claw to the mass of swollen, dead skin that had become her body. With a sound like a sudden intake of breath, she was drawn back into the physical realm!

[quote=System:Torrent]
TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE!
Fanged Lizard > Lesserwurm
You have Transformed!
Your base Speed-stats have increased!
Your base Power-stats have slightly increased!
You have not reached your full Potential. The skill Minor Recovery's development is reduced. Current Skill progress is (0.5).
You have not reached your full Potential. The skill Poison Breath's development is reduced. Current Skill progress is (1.6).
You have lost a part of your body! Adjusting to this new form may take some time.
[/quote]

The first thing Torrent could feel upon awakening was how cramped her back was--and just how much back there was to cramp. Her abs hurt like she had been doing situps all day, but the pain went down much lower than just her stomach. And as the pain grew more intense, the only thing she could do was reflexively try to stretch and twist. With her claws she reached out, pushing at this shell around her--

The dead skin of a former Fanged Lizard split open, and with her scales bright and shining Torrent the Lesserwurm emerged into the world. She looked like a fantasy version of a skink lizard, her head being more bony with scaly outcrops along her snout and over the ridges on her eyes. Though she had no back legs, her front limbs had become somewhat longer and stronger. While she didn't have true thumbs, her claws had been reduced to three digits, two of which were longer and the third of which was shorter, thicker, and set at an angle to the others. It was a bit like a human's hand making a constant "Spock-hand" by holding the index-middle and pinky-ring fingers in pairs and curling the thumb. The joints of these "fingers" and the natural curl of her claws gave her a stronger grip that she could feel even as she began to pull herself along the ground--she would be able to pull, or to scoop and dig, quite fast if she felt so inclined. She was roughly twice as long as her previous form, though not so heavy-set throughout her body. As her tail instinctively lashed behind her, she would likely feel confident that she could easily contort herself in a variety of shapes.

But, now that she was awake...
[hr]
[h3]Mourningstar, Oberon (Unconscious), Jason, Ed, Danny, Crispy's Party, Asura (Unconscious), Momma Slime[/h3]
[quote=Dungeon:Jason]
SUB-BOSS POSITIONS UNAVAILABLE AT CURRENT DUNGEON LEVEL. INCREASE THE LEVEL OF "THE OTHERWORDLY CAVERN" TO INSTALL SUB-BOSS APPLICANTS.
[/quote]

It seemed Jason would not be able to force the Dungeon Core to recognize Asteria just yet. He would have to find some way to increase the Dungeon's level...whatever that meant. Increasing his own level was one thing, all he had to do was keep surviving and learning. But how did one "level up" a dungeon--essentially a location, not a living being in and of itself?

At the moment, however, he had other things to worry about. He raced off back towards Rattleskull's corpse for some reason...was it perhaps his connection to the dungeon telling him that something was happening? How else would he so conveniently know that he needed to head that way to get involved in a large-scale scuffle no doubt about to happen? But before doing this he grabbed 3 herbs from his garden, reducing the total count to 7 green herbs and 1 odd black one.

As Mourningstar prepared her Mana Blade, a Fireball sprung into existence between Crispy's palms and the goblins following him began to slowly spread out. Whether to get away from the ensuing explosion or to surround the Wisp wasn't clear just yet--but when Jason came rolling onto the scene, he immediately used his War Cry and caused all of them to turn towards him.

"Mourningstar! Stand down!"

"Mid-boss, dat slime just talked!"

"Would you shut the fuck up!?"

"I know he talked ya dum, dese Mobs is weird like dat!"

"Crispy! I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to make you an offer--"

"Oh shit, oh shit oh shit oh shit--!"

As Mourningstar's spell misfired, the goblins reflexively drew back until they realized the spell had hit someone else. Crispy narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure out what was going on, but the others were confused and hesistant.

"Mid-boss, which one do we attack!?"

"He killed Rattleskull, not me!"

"FUCK. DIPLOMACY. YOU ALL--"

"Shaddup, all of yas get ready for dat Slime!"

"--DIE! ROCK SPIRE--EARTH'S WRATH!"

Between Jason's raging and the glow coming from those lights on the ground, Crispy saw the attack coming and leaped back out of the target area, hurling his Fireball as he did so. He had no way of knowing, however, that the upgraded Rock Spire spell produced three spikes instead of one. In a straight line between Jason and Crispy, starting from those rings of light, the earthen spires shot up one after another. The rocks and soil upheaved with them gave the impression that some kind of enormous mole was chasing Crispy from beneath the earth, and the last spike caught the goblin on the side of his leg just after he relased his own spell. 

At the same time Crispy cried out, his blood spattering the ground, Jason got a faceful of fire. Earlier he had been hit with a torch and it hadn't hurt too badly--but this was real magic, and it was more powerful than Crispy's earlier fireballs the group had seen. Without any resistances to it, despite having high natural defenses Jason felt an incredible amount of pain as the flames surged over his membrane, leaving blackened spots on his "hat". The explosive impact knocked him over, interrupting his attempt to cast his Mind Wave spell.

It was at this point that the Shield Goblin charged forward, thrusting with his spear while he kept the defensive implement up in front of his body. Its stone tip pierced Jason's hide and then yanked back out in a swift motion before the goblin drew back--he had learned by this point that Slimes didn't take a lot of physical damage, but they could trap one's weapon inside their bodies. Still, every bit of damage helped. And as the Shield Goblin stepped back from his own attack, one of Crispy's minions--a female--came from Jason's other side with a scream, rapidly swinging her sharp stone knife...

But before the other two goblins could join in, they noticed something that stole their breath away. Their green skin practically turned white as they pointed and began to jabber in fear.

"M-m-m-m-mid-boss, IT'S DA B-B-BOSS!"

Rattleskull's body began to stand up. Without his head.

The huge, furry shoulders lifted one by one. The torso began to rise up until it was standing on its knees...

And out from underneath came something huge and blue that made a distinct, almost [i]happy[/i] blurbling sound.

"AM BOO SHA!" rumbled Momma Slime as she tossed off her "camoflage", before using her huge psuedopod to "backhand" Crispy's other minion head over heels across the rocks, then falling with her entire mass onto the unfortunate torchbearer. The goblin managed a [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FHw2aItRlw]scream[/url] as his torch was knocked out of his grip.

[quote=System:Danny]
You used Monster Analysis I!
---???---
This is a Fanged Lizard undergoing Transformation. Fanged Lizards are a reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. However, this one has either lived long enough or become strong enough to Transform into another type of creature. It's extremely vulnerable during this process. [color=red]This one is unusual. You think her name was Rain. She is like you.[/color]
---Crispy---
You have analyzed this type of Monster before. Effectiveness boosted.
This is a Goblin. A semi-intelligent monster with the limb dexterity and mental capacity to use tools. By comparison, usually as large, strong, and intelligent as a human child, but far more vicious. This particular specimen is an adult male, and you have learned his name is Crispy. He possesses an unusual Variant that has given him a magical skill involving fire. He has a Torch and a well-made Stone Knife on his person to use as weaponry.
---Analysis Complete---
[/quote]

As Danny watched from afar, he saw Jason and Crispy's spell flinging duel and the other goblins rushing to assist. He also witnessed Momma Slime's ambush, and saw Asura come out of his temporary coma in an all new form. If he were to join the battle, his fellow reincarnators would equal the Goblins in number, but so far it seemed like none of the enemies had noticed him yet. Did he want to take that risk...?
[hr]
[h3]Oberon (Regains Consciousness), Mourningstar (After Fleeing)[/h3]
"You are not the one either, yet you are also a human in the form of a monster..." The blue eyes didn't seem to have heard Oberon properly at first. They looked down at his body, being carried away by Mourningstar, and then over to the red slime that now seemed to be moving again.

"[color=skyblue]Spirit, if you remember anything...bring a Human to this place! Find a Hero![/color]" The eyes seemed to be growing more distant now...but they made one final effort.

"[color=skyblue]I...am not the one that binds you here...This Place does not...know you. But outside, the World...knows you do not belong...[/color]" It seemed the eyes were going to say something else...but they drifted away before Oberon could learn anything else.

And then he felt something in the air snap.

[quote=System:Oberon]
[color=red]
A̝̭͖ͦ̿̍̈̀l̟̩̭͉͙̠̐̔̽̓ͥ̕r̛̞̼̫͕̙̩̤͂̓͆́ͭ̓í̓̆͂̋͒̀g͇̞͓͔͉̟̦ͮ̃ͪ̐h͔͓ͦ̄̑ͮ̾̋͢tͤ̓͋̉̎ͮ͒̀,҉̜͕̱̭̫̠ ̧ͮ̃I̦̥̣̪̓̐ ͈̮̠͘t̥̞͈͈̬̳̟ͥ̆͠h̤̗ͩͣ͒ȋ͎̫ͫn͋͒̆͊̏ͦ҉̭k̠̣̪̤ͪ͋̓̿͞ ̮̯̓̿̆ͨͣĪ͚̗̦͓̪̺͎̽̄͒́ ̀̓́g̢ͪ̉ͭͭ̽ö̘́ͣ̓̉t ͓̳̯̭͓͊͗i͉̇ͩ̒ͥ̀̏̌͘t̳͇͚͓͕̲̬͌̑̓ͬ͢.̣̭̪̣̝̻̄̍͂́ͅ ̲̭͍̗̯̜͜ͅT̻̓̅͂͐h̪͎͓̦̪̑̄̆̊ë̲̱͖͖̺́̒̓̓ͧ ̛̭̘͊͊̈́̾̔S͙͎ͮ̆̉̃ͪ̉ͭo͏͔̜̗͓̲͕͚u̖̖̭͐̅̍ͭ̅͆̋ͅl̯̥̤̓ͯ͑̏̌ͫw͙͔̻̤̎̈́͛͂̒͌͑̕ͅa̷̤̠̹̪̠͈ͯl͈͚̥̦̆̒͘l̩ͯ͌͒̍͗ ̘͊ͩ̏ͮ̇s̘̏ͫ̈ͥ̚h͙̝̰̮̃́̃̔̃͑o͒̄̉̑̍u͋̐̄̔̓ͮͧ͜l̼͖͕̱̜ͩͩ̃d̾͗̂̏ͦ͡ń̪'̫̲̖͖͎̘̳̓̂̈̿t̛̗̱̣̯̳͓̯̄̌̽͑͒̉ͥ ̱ͬͬ͗͜b̳̭̯̖̙̣o̝̥̻̺̺͐̈́t̼̙͍̩̺̼̿̔h̪ͩ̑ͧ̍͗̿e̱̝̺͓͎̰̗ͥṟ̥̬͖ͤ͟ ̞̻͚̟̏̂̊̑̈̔y͍̘͓̮̳ͮ̾ͣ̑͞o̓̒ͮ̓̈u̼ͭ͞ ͚̬͔̖̆͌̓̅ͣ̾̆ͅg̷̀̅̃͑ŭ̬̼͐̍ͣͅy̫̞͕ͣͧͮͯ̔̔s̮ͥͭͦ̀ͨͨ ͍̠͎͙̩̹̮͊̐ͭ͡ḁ̤͇̖̯n̡̺͔͈̻̯͊ͬ̍ͤ̚y̢͕͔̥ͭ̅̂m͇ͫö̧̗̪̤͍̳̜̾͋ͅr̢͈̻̮̪̟e̲̩͝ ͚̼͚̼̬w̟̞͔̺͉͋̆ͨͦ̅i̛̼̘̼̦̭͇͊t͡h̷͛ͧ́̉î̱͙͎͛ͭͬ̾͟ṇ͔̠ͮ͒͒̃̄̃ ̵͔̘̗̣̮̖ͭͦ̊̉͆̑th̦̹̫̩̘͖͌i̍ͧͮͥ̈́̂̃s̥͢ͅ ̬̊ͥ̅̓ͤD̤̲̮̣̣̜̾u͈ͥ̽ͤ̔ͥ̚n̯̞̻̈́g̜̳͈͉̋̐͒͂̀ë̴̤̘̲́͆̓ͩͥ̐o̳͍͖̞̼̪ͯ̍̎ͩ͢nͩ͏̫̺̼͎̥-̤̪-͕̮̼͓̳́i̫̻̲̼̓̿͆̂ͩͬ̾͘t̄̌ͩ̊̎'̞̤ͨ͒̌̄̈́͋͂͢s͉̣͌ͮ̍͋̓ͤ͑ ̊ͮ̚͏̖̗aͧ̂̀̇̉̚ ̳̬̫͑̾ͨ̚D͈͋e̜ͯ̆̓̎͑a̪̱ͫ̐ͯ̄̀t̰̦ͬ̀h̽͘ ͑̋͊̒͑ͤ̄ͅTy̖̟̭ͭ̽͊͂ͫ̅̂p͇̘̮̠̯̖̈́̽͛̆̔̊̑͠e͕̗̦̦͇͗̉̾̃̍̒̄ ̮̼̞͐̓ͣa̱̮̥͒͗̈́̊ͣ́n̝̮̳̣͚ͬ̾̎ͣyͭͨͥ̑w̼ͤͣa̦͎̺̫͍ͨ̂̽̌̍ͬ͘y̬ͪ̍̂ͯ͗,̲̭̺̯̙̍̃ ̘͕̥͓̘̊ͯ͒͢s̷̫ͮ̏o̤ͤ͌ ̲̗̤́̉̒̌̍̀ͨi͔̰̹̣͊͆͊ṫ̤́ ̗͙͉͈̭ͤͭͯ̋̄͝n̹ͪͮa̻̞͕̺̠̒̿ͯ͐̂̕ͅț͖͇͚͛͒̓û̹͓̠͓̆͋ͤ̂͒r̤͍͓͖͇̍̈́a͗͗̋ĺ̗̬̤̣̺̻l̞̹̈́̋́̔ͬ̈́̚̕y̓ͬ̉̌̉ ͙̜̠͙̫͛̍ͨ̈́͒̎h̩̒ͫ͆̓̅̚͝o̢̺͙͎̩͈̗̍ͨ̃̾̿l̤̠͇͎̹̖̽d͇̜͍͕̆̄͒ͧͣ͡s̋̅̀̄̔̉̄͡ ͕͈̱̦ͣ̑ͧ̃̎̅̽y͎̩̪̠̭̌ͪ̒̄̒ͮ̌̕o̻̊u̢̜̼̺͑̊ṛ͈̞͍̐ͫ̈͋ͫ͠ ̧͆̌̍̓ͩ͆̌s̲̖̰͗̅̒̇ͅȯ͐̃̃̈̅͌u̗̘̜͇ͫͭ͛̎̏ͧ͒ͅḻ̜̬̠̝͚̲͑̑s͋͡ ̻̺̘̥̖̲̆̔ͤi̺̯̫̹̠ͧͥ̈̽ͦͭ̑n̩͍͂̔͆̓̚ ̻̦̗̬̟̅ṗ̖ľ̡̲̹̏ͥ̑ͪͥ̚ͅa̹̤̥͕͓̲͍͞c̳̞ͪͣ́e͙͕͍̼̲ͪͪ͂̄.̪̺ͧ̏̓̓ ͆ͣ͗̎͌A͙͚̞̮̻͎̱̅͑̿͛̊̊̅s͚͓͆̕ ̨̳͚̯̼̖̳l̟͍̮̉̎̾́o̪̭̟̱͙ͫͤͦ͊͂n͆͋͏g̱͔̲̞͎̠͢ ͔̮̦̭̫̈́̋̋̆ͪ̿ͅa͙͖̤̖͍͙ͩ̉ͪ́ͮͅs͉̟͓͔̲̹͛̅̀͐̈́ͪ͘ ̩͜y̶̥̖̗̼̆̚o͉̹̻͙̮ͭͭͣ̆͒ͅu͍̜̻̫̜̙͠'͊ͧ̎́ͤͨ̋͟r͉̟̂́̒ͥ͢e͚̙̦ͫ̑ ͕̗͚ͦ́̍e̪̽̆̇̒̿͆̔v̸̳̣̙̟ͯͬͧͩͅő̲̻̩̬̻̭̐̒̀̍̏ͤ͠ͅl̶̝̙̖̝̥̥͇v̪̙̦͓̮̖̜í̳̒n͓̐͐̋ͭ̏ͯ̚g͓̼̦̗̦̠͐̆ͪ͞ ̣̩̎́̒͒ä̢̘͎̂ͣ̓ͩͯ͒ͅn̪̬̻̗̱̻ͬ͌̒ͣd̞̋̓̆̔ͅ ̞͕̰͉͈̮̬ͩ̇ͧͦ́n̑̓ͩ̾ͩ̅oͫ͐͏̫̻̬̦̞t͉͔̜̊ͮ͌̔ ̳̱̯̥̮̹̻͛̀̚̚a͇̥̒͊̊ͩ̃ͭć͈͕͎̻̪ͮ̈̀t̮̝̊u̮͖̽̍ͧͧ̉a̢͇̫͈͐̚ͅl̸͕̪̪̈ͬ̐̇̉̅͐l̈͆̄ͩ͐ͩ҉̜̣̝̙̟̖ͅy͉̰̠͖̟̾̂͜ ̢͕̙̯̙͑ͧ̽̉d͡y̜̩̩̘̦̓ͥ͒̋͛ͩ̒i͙̘͙̣̥̩͊̆ͫ͑ͦ͟ń̉͒̾̆͛͘g̙̉̈́͌̇,̮͓̘̫̂̓ ̥y̌ͥ́ͭ͏̟̤̲̝̠̬ö͒ͬͣu̜̗̘̱̝ ͕ͫ̐̅͐̋͐s̽̽ͨ̆͛ͪh͚̯̻̔̅͋ͬ͋́o̷͚̟̫̣͆͂̈́͛uͥ͑͋̈͆́l̛̟̭̥͕̱ͪd̓͊ͧ͜ ͇̮̪̉ͪ̇ͮj̶̼̱̺͚̜͛u̹͉ͮ͊̐͒͑̚s̶ͩ̅͛̒ͧt̅͑̀̓͛ ̢̟͓̱f͍̭̦̬̜l͕͝ṓ̩͉͕̣ͤ̍ͪ̋a̠̞̰̎͊t̸̠̱̬̳̝̃̌ͣ͗ͥͬ ̡̦͔̲̓ͭ̒͗͋͛ͅa͓̳͂ͣ̾ͫ͗ͦ́r̡ͯͤ̈́̚ó̦̩̥̟̭̟͊̉ͅụ͉̭͎n͖͔͙̼̒̓͆ḏ̵͊ ̛̻͉̥̌ͭ̈́̍̊ͨf̵͍̣̙̀͗̾̃͂o͙͖̝̦̰̎̈̌r̖̪͈ͨ͋ ̥̜͎̋̈́̾̌̿̑͘a̬͓͆ ̝̠̲͚ͧ̀ͩ̈́̂w̡̟̼̖͉̍̅̐͐h͆i͉̍́l̷̖͍͓̻̭͖̅̊̏ͬë̌ͩ҉͚̮.̶̞̙̫ͤ̐.̵̯̘͇͚̤͓̀.̇҉͙͇̝ͅ
̳̲̳̠̞ͧ
͊͐͛̑͛̕Ȗ̘̭͖̤͊͊ͩͫñ̫̲̫̞̯͛̏̃͢f̶̱̻̫͍̯̦ͥ̅ͫ̊o͎̣̟̪̖̤̙ͣͧ́ͪͦ͢r̷̟̪̘͕̝̼̻͛́̐̍͒̋ͦt͕͎̙͋ͯu̝͓̣̭̻ͤ̔͆̏͑ñ̀̃͆̔ͨ̀a̤͉̬̹̰̗ͮ̔̾͛̂tĕ̋̃͏̰̲̠̦̞͚͉l̢ͣͬ̀̃ͫ̽y̡̟͈͈̠,̧͎̰̙̔͊ͫ̇ͩ̒̈́ ̴̰̙̰̱̆́̂͑̂t̨̳̹̫̿h̳̤͑̏i͙̭͖̱̱̐͟s̠̣̳̺̼ͨ̾̆̆͢ ̴̫͖̦̼͑i͆ͩ̔͗s͓̑̑ͣ̃͑̐̓n͍̗̻̥͕̹̞ͭ͋͐̏̋'̦̜̭͚̣̞͑͋̍́t͒͒̾̚҉̝̩ ̩̜̖̺̙̗͐ͦͭs̷̫̜͍͉̼̻̓͌̾̇̓͗͂ọ̾ͤͨ̽͗̒ͪmͩ͌̈́͋̿̃ͥe̟͙̳̐̌̿̏̆w̥͔͈̱̙͍͞h̰̪̞ͬ͐ͪè̳̹͕͍͚ͬ̆̌͢ͅr̷̯̭̩͖̲͚͎͌̽̑̒e͎͓͓͗͛̂̉ͩ̽͂ ̯͖̫̰̦̤̭́y͈̰͕̝̻ͬͦ̒̈ͯ̔ͬ̀o̖̺̞͕̔͒ͩͫ̍u̘̯̪͂ͥ ̹͖͚̥̻w̤̥̅ḁ̣͈̞̗̲̺̿̍̂͢n͉̱̓ͯ̀ͨͣ̆ͭn̛̈ͦ̾ͯͤa̼͎͢ ͎͕͖̭̠͉̽̀̂s̴̒̈́͐ͩ͒t̟̙͇̮̫͗͒͗ã̞̥͍̮̭̪̫̓̾̂̑͗͛y̙̺̞͖̮͍͎̚.̣̟̻̤ͦ͛̆ͧ̀ ̗̤H̼͊̉o͓̦͠p̔̊̕e̷̫͙͚͓͋ͯ̃͂ͪ̇̇f̟͔͕̥̿͋ͤ͊ͦ͂̋ͅu̴͈̝̺̜͎͙l̙̝̹͚̰̫̱̍̈ͬ̚l̙̜̪͕̬͓ͧ̅̓͢y̠͔̽ͯ̃́̓̽̌ ͘m̴̥ò̦̩̾ͦ̃̍̚̕ŝ̖̱͙͙̱̏͆͛̔́̄ͅt̛̮̰̮̪̋͒ͫͬͫ̍ ̢͕̳̑̄̅̐̄o̭̻̣͌ͨ̔̀f͙̦̣̗̼̪ͧͪ̏̐͑͞ͅ ̲ͤͣͤy̰̟̭̠̮͓͂ͧ̇͝o̶̟̝̺̣̝̺̘̒̂ͥù̱̼̿͒̒ ̯͖̦̙̼͖̈̽̏̈̈́͑̚͡w̭̫ͯ̍̃i̩͋̽̎ͤ͐̋l̨̥͐ͮ̊ͧ̓l̀ ͤͨ͏͓̜͕̣̬̥m̖̳͓͓̬̳̈̇ͣaͤ̎ͦ͌k̕ê̢̐͊ͬͮͧ̚ ̾̍҉̼̗͕̲i̴͍̒̃ͯ̽t̶̩͎̟̪̂̾͋̉̆ ̺̭̾̿ͯ̓̏͛͑o̼̳͆ͧ͗̈́ͪͩ͜ư͙̤̘͆̐̍̌ͩ̇t̙̖͚ͯ̈́́ ̤̰̞͍͋̃̆̍o͈̹̣̻̬͊ͬ̽̃͋̋̑f̞̩̞͉̺͕̋͆̒́̀ ͤ̾̍̏͐ͭ͝h̝̺͎̯͕̻̚̚e̐̋ͧ̉͏̠r̶̲̠̉͐͋̅e̔͆̑̈́͛ ̝̖̱͋̑͗̎͋ͭ͡b͎̙̆͐͗̓̚e̺̬̗̓̇́ͯf͎͈̭͚͖͙̫͋ͩo̱͔͉̹͊́r̡̳̙ͅe̝̪̺̖͇̰̱ͥ͂-̦̦̞̠̟̱̪ͮ́̌ͣ̉͠-̺̰̅ͮͪ̓
[/color]
[/quote]

Before he could finish reading whatever it was the Demon King had to say, Oberon found himself plummeting back towards his body...

[quote=System:Oberon]
TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE!
Pixie > (Immature) Sprite
Your Max MP has increased!
You have increased the Rank of your skill, Minor Heal!
Minor Heal I > Minor Heal II!
Your Minor Heal now recovers more HP for the same MP cost!
You have not reached your full Potential. The skill Minor Heal All is reduced to (0.5).
You have not reached your full Potential. The skill Light Affinity is reduced to (0.5). Increase it further by learning more about Light magic.
[/quote]

The bundle being carried by Mourningstar suddenly gave a kick like a baby in the womb. If her Lesser Force hadn't been ranked up recently, she probably would have lost her grip entirely. The wings that Oberon had wrapped around himself suddenly cracked, their translucent shimmer gone dull and dead and gray. But as they unfurled, falling away like shedding scales, long and thin spirals of bright color were left in their place. And these rolls unfurled like sails, blood pumping through them as they inflated to proper size, revealing Oberon's body.

He hadn't changed much in size, but his skin had become porcelain in color, as if he had been covered in geisha makeup from head to toe. His hair was the same color but had become far more vivid in shade and tone, standing out in stark contrast to the rest of him. It almost seemed like he shimmered, reflecting light from the Wisp's body and other sources. And his wings, once they were done stretching out, had become like those of a butterfly complete with a distinctive pattern.

But now that he was awake...
[hr]
[h3]Asura (Regains Consciousness, sees Battle)[/h3]
As Asura struggled and fought his way back to his body, the air seemed as thick around him as gelatin. When you were made of gelatin yourself, that made for a very difficult swim. Yet still he struggled, and when he was finally close enough to stretch a pseudopod towards his body, something gave way. With a distinctive, slimy slurp, his astral form was sucked back into the physical world!

[quote=System:Asura]
TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE!
Slime > (Immature) Amorphous Slime
You have Transformed!
All base Speed-stats have increased!
You have not reached your full Potential. Your stat increase has been reduced.
All base non-defensive stats have slightly increased.
You have increased the Rank of your skill, Limited Shapeshift!
Limited Shapeshift II > Limited Shapeshift III!
You can now alter a single property of your body with the appropriate shape. For instance, a pseudopod with an edge could become Sharp, or the surface of your membrane could become Hard. However, only one property may be altered at a time, and these properties are not equivalent to higher ranking physical materials such as steel swords or stone clubs. Your maximum "reach" with stretched portions of your body remains the same. While maintaining your original mass your ability to alter fine details is increased. A "blade" made from your body could be shaped in various ways, for instance, but a pseudopod with a blade at its tip would not be so refined; this would apply to other features like imitated body parts or facial traits.
[/quote]

The red egg expanded as if it had transformed from a shell to a yolk. Indeed, as bits of him began to drip and flow, Asura found himself "growing" about a quarter again his original size. The difference was that, aside from a lumpy bit in the center that more or less resembled a half-sized version of his original body, all this extra mass seemed to be liquid rather than jello. There was a limit to how far he would expand, unlike a true fluid, and he could draw himself into a larger lump if he so wished, but this seemed to be the default form of an Amorphous Slime.

But, now that he was awake...
[hr]
[h3]Orchid, Ash, Reoth, Mourningstar (Approaching), Oberon (Approaching)[/h3]
Though she stumbled and fell, Orchid managed to protect herself and didn't fall into any of the other traps. As she regained her footing she would notice that she was bleeding, but while it might need bandaging it didn't seem like it was a gusher or anything. She would then notice what had pricked her, now that her bright red blood made the Poisoned Bone Needles more visible. Whether because too much time had passed, or the small dosage used on the needles, the goblin had avoided a damaging infection for the moment...but how many more traps were around here? Had those other monsters set them?

Ash, staying alert, managed to catch the telltale signs of Asteria and Ed's digging and avoided the traps for herself. As she approached Orchid, the two of them saw Mourningstar heading towards them, and the Pygmy Drake requested that Reoth move to help them. From this distance they would soon witness Oberon's Transformation, a rather dazzling spectacle.