[Requirements Met: Pyrophage Obtained]
[Synthesis Requirements Met: Pyrophage Merges with Spirit Form - Quintessivore]
As the pain ebbs to an uncomfortable tightness, I gradually become aware of an unearthly screaming. I panic momentarily, before realizing the sound is emanating from me. Taking stock of my surroundings, I find the Pyric Imp staring at me as if realizing their co-worker needs a diaper change. My flames take on a slightly purple hue as I find myself getting embarrassed over something I don’t entirely understand. I sputter out an excuse, attempting to salvage my pride, “The yelling helps to move mana to the lungs.” The imp looks away, thoroughly unimpressed and begins scanning the surrounding forest as I decide to busy myself with inspecting my status.
Name: Nothing
Species: Minor Spirit (Flame)
Race: Will-O’Wisp
Level: 1
Experience: 0 / 10
Health: 4 / 10
Stamina: 5 / 5 (+1)
Strength: 1
Agility: 3
Endurance: 2
Magic: 4
Perception: 5
Languages: [1/1]
Skills:
- Pyrokinesis (Minor)
Traits:
- Ephemeral Spark
- Spirit Form - Fire
Afflictions:
- None
[NOTHING?!]
I think back to the previous conversation as the name clicks into place and a tendril of fire smacks into my body in an impromptu facepalm.
[That’s a thing I can change later… right?]
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Returning my focus to more important things, I note with dismay that my health has decreased by 4 points. That being said, my stamina’s been replenished and seems to have an excess. I briefly wonder why it isn’t represented as 6/5, but it seems to have something to do with my aesthetic sensibilities. Based on my rough estimate, I have around 7 hours to live; I desperately need more health.
“We must leave,” Rask growls, interrupting my train of thought, “Ash Pools not safe. Noise draw big monsters. Tear baby [Wisp] limb from limb.” Rask’s gaze slowly turns, tracking some unseen threat amidst the treeline. Unwilling to test fate, I make a swift retreat opposite the direction the imp holds his gaze, the demon following quickly after. As we disappear into the depths of the forest, I swear I hear the sound of padding footsteps.
As we move, I witness the Pyric Imp turning to growl at seemingly nothing more than once. I consider questioning it, but think better of it and decide to simply keep moving. After several more minutes of travel, the imp pauses yet again. I prepare to dismiss the action when he inhales dramatically, lips splitting in a savage grin, “[Moonglops]”
Rask stalks forward on all fours, tail swishing dramatically behind him as I decide to trail cautiously behind. Confusion plays within my mind until we round a large evergreen, and I catch sight of a bizarre creature clinging to the bark of a neighboring tree. The moonglop looks like a cross between a frog and a rabbit, with a texture that seems distinctly reminiscent of a slug. Its wet skin seemingly allows it to defy gravity, as it sits vertically, several feet up the birch-like tree. The imp issues a gurgling battlecry, as he pounces towards the moonglop.
Burning claws rake the wood where the beast had been moments prior, and the moonglop leaps over the imp and onto an adjacent tree. I’m momentarily taken aback by the sudden surge of violence, but quickly steady myself. This isn’t my first fight, and it certainly won’t be my last, but this time we aim to kill.
Fire swirls around me as the monster jumps away instinctively. I wrestle with the magic as what I intended to be a fireball explodes forwards in a gout of flame. I curse at my lack of control, but the fire still manages to pass directly over the creature’s back, as the smell of burning skin fills the surrounding forest. The creature lets loose a chirping-shriek in response as mucus erupts from its skin. I’m forced to dodge backwards as the slime cascades over the surrounding trees. Strands of green fluid hang from the trees, covering the forest like a giant dripping spiderweb.
Using the strands as cover, the moonglop hastily begins to retreat. Yet suddenly, a creature drops from the canopy, diving directly for the frightened moonglop. Rask impacts the ground, claws carving into the gelatinous flesh of the lapin-frog. Ascending over the webbing, I once again gather my magic as the moonglop attempts to disentangle itself from the imp’s searing claws. A beam of fire blasts downwards, gifted with physical force. Though clearly not enough to penetrate flesh, the blast flattens the moonglop’s gelatinous head, revealing a disturbing lack of bones.
The impact throws a cloud of burning cinder, setting fire to a nearby shrub. Rask stands, seemingly unaffected, and howls out a victory screech into the open air. As I descend, I feel a comforting warmth radiating from the corpse of the moonglop. I’m vaguely aware of what feels like my soul reaching out almost subconsciously to the body, but before I can consciously react I feel a power surge through the connection and into my form. I feel a sensation akin to aging backwards as I focus on my status.
Name: Nothing
Species: Minor Spirit (Flame)
Race: Will-O’Wisp
Level: 1
Experience: 4 / 10
Health: 8 / 10
Stamina: 3 / 5
Strength: 1
Agility: 3
Endurance: 2
Magic: 4
Perception: 5
Languages: [1/1]
Skills:
- Pyrokinesis (Minor)
Traits:
- Ephemeral Spark
- Spirit Form - Fire
Afflictions:
- None
My metaphorical breath catches in my throat as I take in the changes to my status. The fight drained a good bit of my stamina and my experience increased by 4 points, but most importantly… I regained some of my health! I’d be jumping for joy if I actually had legs. Instead, I echo Rask’s victory cry as relief floods through my being.
I can live…
I don’t have to die!
The color of my flames lighten several shades as I spin freely in the air and an enormous weight seems to fall away all at once.
“I get to live…”