The moment we stepped out of the tower, the world changed.
Floating islands hovered above us like drifting gods. Winged beasts soared across the sky in perfect formation. The air shimmered with ambient magic. It was majestic, breathtaking, and horrifyingly unreal.
"Wow…" I whispered, genuinely stunned.
Vaun looked at me. "You're staring like you've never seen a harpy before."
"I uh I just like birds," I said weakly.
"I hired a top-tier carriage. De Jelt centaurs. Ten thousand gold. Best in class." He said it with all the warmth of a man who just bragged about paying extra for air conditioning in hell.
"...Thanks?"
His brow twitched.
"S-sorry. That sounded ungrateful."
"It's only a carriage," he said flatly.
Okay. Emotional landmine avoided, I think.
He helped me into the carriage. It was so tall I needed the boost again, and I hated that it made me feel small. I was still adjusting to being shorter. And curvier. And soft in ways I hadn't signed up for.
As the carriage rolled, Vaun stared at me.
"You're acting strange," he said after a long silence. "You hesitated with the orc. You complimented the harpies. You seem… different."
"Maybe I'm just evolving," I muttered.
Before he could reply, one of the centaurs shouted from the front.
"Sir! We have a blockade ahead!"
Vaun exhaled. "Of course we do."
"Looks like a challenge," said the other. "Black cloaks. Five of them."
"Perfect," Vaun muttered, standing up. "Come, Leni. Time to stretch your claws."
We stepped out onto the dirt path. Five figures stood ahead, cloaked and silent. The wind howled behind them like a dramatic cue.
"General Lenigeaer Irelsshide Fester," one of them spoke. "By right of the Shifter Trials, I, Qountil Vouclir, challenge your authority. I demand your title."
Vaun snorted. "You'll die."
"You underestimate us," Qountil said. "My men are elite. And I am ranked in the top fifty among shifters."
"You're also standing in the middle of a road wearing black cloaks like you're in a B-list anime rebellion arc," I muttered.
"What is an anime? Enough talk!" Qountil shouted. "We begin, NOW!"
All five dropped their cloaks and began to morph. Three orcs. Two dwarves. Bigger than average. Muscles bulging with very sharp weapons drawn.
Vaun didn't wait.
He exploded into a blue-skinned giant, muscles surging, eyes glowing. He grabbed a pine tree like a baseball bat.
"Come at me."
I should run. This is above my pay grade. I'm just a guy in a demon body. I animate jiggle physics. I am NOT a fighter-
My body moved before I could finish the thought.
Fur. Heat. Strength.
I had morphed. I was a black panther who was very lean, powerful, and quiet. My instincts weren't mine, but I knew how to move.
Qountil lunged at me with a war cry. I ducked and slashed at his leg. He stumbled. I hesitated a moment not understanding what I'm doing. As if my body had a mind of its own I started to pounce.
We rolled through the dirt, trading blows. His fists were wild, but he was slow. I bit down on his shoulder and he screamed.
"HOW DARE YOU-!"
I bit again, deeper.
Behind us, Vaun flattened two orcs with a single swing of his tree. Arrows bounced off his skin. He roared and charged the dwarves.
Qountil shoved me off. Blood poured from his arm.
"I'm not done yet!"
I leapt again.
But before I could strike—
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I landed and looked down. Qountil's chest had a device strapped to it. A blinking rune. A bomb.
"ARE YOU MAD?!" I shouted.
"LENI!"
Three seconds.
No time to run.
The last thing I saw was the smirk on Qountil's face.
And then-
BOOM.
Darkness.
Again.
You've got to be fcking kidding me.*