*** The awakening
Years ago, a group of so-called deities revealed themselves to humanity with a dire warning: Earth was about to be linked to other realms—worlds teeming with magic and danger. Humanity wasn't prepared to face what was coming. Fortunately, the deities offered their aid through the creation of a system—one that allows lucky individuals to take on a body that can use magic and venture into these realms, learn from them, grow stronger, and protect humanity from the threats beyond.
Why am I remembering this now—at seven in the morning? Well, because a status screen is floating in front of me—the system created by the deities to help humanity awaken their magical powers.
I should be excited, except there's one problem. My class is "succubus."
What kind of class is succubus? Usually, people get a job-related class like fighter or mage. This... This is more like a race then a class. And isn't a succubus a female devil? I'm a man. A fully grown man. How can I be a...
Ugh, I feel a headache coming on. This news, on top of my girlfriend dumping me just yesterday, was not helping things.
Okay, let's just focus on the positive. I've awakened. That's good! Awakened people make quite a lot of money, and I could use a change of pace to keep my mind off my girl—I mean my ex-girlfriend.
I focus back on the status screen. Most of its functions are still locked. I need to change into my awakened form so the magic can sync up with the system, and then... Wait, how do I know this? The knowledge just popped in my head, like... Like something just got downloaded directly into my brain. Could the system be more than just a simple interface?
I focus on my memories, going over the new knowledge. It kind of felt like I memorized a how-to guide on becoming an awakener—basic things, like how to use the system, including—
I navigated the status screen to show a list of realms I can cross over too. Most are grayed out, too high-level for me right now. The one I can currently enter... Goblin Forest.
Should I go?
I look down at myself, sitting on my bed, still in my pajamas, but... Who cares, right? Crossing over will put me in my awakened form—kind of like swapping my body with an avatar, which includes my clothes. And besides, I've got nothing else to do, so...
"Let's do this!" And I press the Goblin Forest option.
*** My new form
Next thing I know, I'm standing in a dense forest—trees wider than I can wrap my arms around and ground covered by moss. There's enough foliage to completely block the sky, yet the forest itself is oddly well illuminated. It's beautiful, but something feels wrong. Not the scenery. No... It's my body. Like my center of gravity has shifted. I look down, and—
"What is this?!" I yell, seeing a wall of cleavage blocking my view. Breasts? I—I'm a woman? No. A succubus, by the looks of the slim, black-spaded tail wagging behind me.
I know turning into an avatar changes your looks—new hair color, different eyes, horns in some rare cases—but I've never heard of a complete sex change. Then again, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. My class is a succubus after all. I just didn't expect the breasts to be so... Damn HUGE! How am I even supposed to walk with these things?
And the rest of my body? Slim arms, girly legs, smooth stomach... What happened to my muscles? My six-pack? And my clothes! These things are just black underwear with thigh-high socks. It's like I was dressed up by someone with a fetish for sporty lingerie and socks. This is completely humiliating.
"Wow, look what we've got here!" Came a voice from the forest. A group of awakeners—a ranger, a shield bearer, and a beast tamer by the looks of their gear and the small goblin-like creature following them.
Ugh. Great, people. Why can't things ever go my way?
"Sweet, we got ourselves a rare monster!" The shield bearer—the leader, I'm guessing—says.
Wait... A monster? Me? Why would they... Oh right, succubus. This new form is going to be even more trouble than I initially thought.
"W—Wait, I'm not—" I start, wanting to explain that I'm an awakener like them, but an arrow shoots past me.
"Damn, I miss!" The hunter exclaims, grabbing another arrow from his quiver.
They just fired at me? Forget talking, I need to take cover. I just hope I can control this new body well enough—
I dash towards a large tree. My chest heaves like two wrecking balls, but somehow I manage to reach the massive trunk and dive for cover before the hunter has the chance to let loose another arrow.
"It's getting away." Yells their leader.
"Don't worry, it can't escape a goblin's sense of smell." Reassures the hunter.
"Hey! Let's try to capture it first. We can have some fun with it," says the beast tamer.
"Don't you already have a girlfriend?" The hunter jokes.
"Yeah, but did you see the size of the chest on that one? Besides, it's not like my girlfriend can know what I do here." The tamer points out.
Fun... with me? Are these assholes for real? And that bastard is boasting about having a girlfriend on top of it all? That's the last blow. With the breakup, this new embarrassing form, being attacked, and getting treated as some plaything for these wannabe pretty boys? I snap.
Forget talking, I'm taking these creeps down. I'm already formulating an attack plan. After that desperate run, I can confirm that I have some decent control over this new body—despite it feeling awkward—and speed. Good, that will be useful. First, I must deal with the hunter. I grab a rock from the ground and check its weight. It will do. And location... Judging by the sound of their footsteps, the hunter should be... moving to the left.
Okay, let's do this. I jump out into the open, spotting the hunter, and throw the stone before he can react. It hits him right on the noggin.
"Ouch!" He wails, dropping his bow. What an amateur. It'll take at least two seconds for him to recover. Enough time to take out the goblin. I charge the beast tamer. The goblin lunges forward to protect its master, as expected. I give it a strong blow to its big green nose.
"Gee!" Screams the monster, but doesn't fall. Damn, didn't hit hard enough. Curse this lightweight of a body. The goblin shakes off the blow and raises its stone axe in blind rage. I didn't let him swing. Side-step to the left and kick the small creatures towards the shield bearer that was running at me. He easily pushes the goblin aside, but it leaves an opening that I do not miss. This time, I'm not trying to knock out. I go straight for the eyes. Plunging my fingers deep enough to draw blood.
"Aaaargh!" He screams, dropping his shield and sword to cover his eyes. That's one out of the fight. I focus back on the hunter. He was holding his bow again and preparing to shoot. I didn't let him. With a quick dash, I close the distance between us. He tries a desperate attempt at swinging his bow like some club. These guys might be a higher level than me, but they clearly don't know the first thing about fighting. I easily dodge and land two quick blows to the jaw. He stumbles to the ground. Where I give one decisive stomp to his neck, snapping it. His body turns to glider...
I freeze for a sec. Glider? Is this what happens to an avatar when killed?
"Gee gee gee!" The shout of the enraged goblin charging snaps me back to the fight. I let it swing its weapon, grab the arm, and twist until I hear a satisfying pop.
"Gee!" It cries, holding the dislocated arm. I put the goblin out of its misery with the stone axe it dropped. Then walk to the last remaining fighters, the shield bearer and the beast tamer. One's still screaming in agony from its wounded eyes, while the other...
He tries to run away but trips and falls face-first to the ground. This is just pitiful. I finish him off with the crude axe and do the same with their leader.
No need to feel sorry for them; they'll just return back to Earth and be unable to transform into their avatar's form for a couple of days.
I'm more concerned with my lack of strength. If this was my usual body, I would have knocked those fools out with a single punch. I mean... I look down at my hands—small, delicate, and... Manicured? Yeah, these are clearly not made for brawls.
I was lucky these dumbos didn't know the first thing about combat. Or I would have been the one in trouble. And with this body—I look down at my massive chest—I doubt being turned into a pile of glitter is my biggest concern.
I need a proper way to fight. A weapon or...
Oh, right! The system. It should be unlocked now. I manifest my status screen, and sure enough, all its functions are available.
Let's see... Oh, I leveled up! Got some skill points, and my magic reserves increased. Guess those guys were good for something after all.
I'll manage the skill points later. First, let's see what weapons I have. I open the equipment tap. Succubus shirt, succubus pants, and succubus boots. No weapons. Ugh, that's bad. Wait... Shirt? Pants? And what boots? All I have are socks...
I look down at the socks—black, smooth, hugging the contour of my legs like a second skin... Don't tell me this is what succubi consider boots? Then is this bra the shirt? And the pants... Ugh. I guess it's on brand for a succubus's attire. At least the gear is high rank—
No, wait! The gear's only high rank because of the self-repair and high-comfort effects. It actually offers minimal defense. Great, so I can get my ass whooped in comfort.
Let's just check my skills. I bring up the skill window on the transparent interface. It's empty—of course, I'm still just a beginning awakener—but I should have enough points to learn a new skill thanks to leveling up. Let's hope this succubus class has a good selection.
I bring up the list of available skills. Charm magic. Ugh, no thanks. Illusion magic. Could be useful, but pass. Sleep magic. No.
...No.
...No.
Oh, hello! Body-strengthening magic. That sounds promising.
Let's see... Increase strength by pumping magic into muscles. This could solve the issue regarding my current lack of power.
Yeah, body-strengthening magic it is. As soon as I select the skill, a load of information pops into my head. Magic manipulation, biology, the how-to of body-strengthening magic.
Great, let's try this skill out!
"Hngh!" I channel magic through my body. It feels like trying to flex a muscle I've never used before—awkward and tense—but I manage to—
I almost lose focus as my muscles suddenly bulge up—doubling in size. I can't see past my chest, but one look at my arms—thick with muscle definition—and I can tell I'm no longer a delicate looking creature.
I didn't expect such a change. I thought the skill would be... I don't know... Magical? Like I become stronger while keeping the same fragile appearance. Evidently, it was not.
I flex my arm experimentally, watching the muscles tighten and shift. They're not as broad as my usual body, but still—this form could definitely hold its own in a fight.
And speaking of a fight. "Gee gee. Gee!" Came the voices of several goblins approaching. They must have been attracted by the sound of the battle. I count five of them, probably a couple more hiding behind the trees.
Good. I crack my knuckles with anticipation. I'm still revved up from that last battle and I want to test this body-strengthening magic.
Before they spot me, I charge. They saw me coming—I wasn't being discrete about it—but I didn't give them time to react. Before they could even raise their weapons, I deliver a heavy punch right on the leading goblins big nose. The blow was nothing life before. It sent the small creature flying into a tree with a sickening crunch.
The rest of the goblins erupt in fury at the sight of their fallen comrade, rushing me with wooden clubs and stone axes. It was a messy and uncoordinated attack, but they had the numbers. I take a few hits—nothing serious. Made sure to guard my vitals while keeping on the move to avoid being surrounded. The goblins on the other hand... They weren't doing so good. Each of my attacks landed square on their big green noses. Something about their snout just makes it so satisfying to punch.
I'm just about to end the fight—only one goblin left standing—when—
"Eek!" I squeal. One of the down goblins had grab my tail. I look down at the creature. It has guts, I'll give it that. Even with its nose smashed—now more purple than green—it still managed to grab me. Not that it's going to change anyth—
Thump! A dull sound, followed by a sudden sting in my left arm. I glance over to see an arrow buried in my flesh. My eyes snap toward the trees, where a goblin, covered in mud and holding a bow, crouch in the shadows. The little bastard had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike—like when I froze up after my tail got grabbed. Damn it. I got careless.
"Gee gee." The goblins seem to laugh.
"What are you laughing about?" I scold, pulling the arrow out and tossing it away. They got me, but the wound's only skin deep. Seem body-strengthening also boosts my defense. Great!
"Gee?" The goblins seem surprise. Were they expecting more of a reaction? Well, how's this for a reaction?
I snatch the goblin still clinging to my tail by the neck and hurl it straight at the archer. It dodges, but the distraction is enough to keep the bastard from loosing another arrow while I close the gap.
One blow to the temple and the goblin archer goes down. Clearly not a fighter. I turn to face the last still standing goblin, but it was already running away.
Should I go after it? ...No. For all I know, it's trying to lure me into an ambush. Besides, maintaining body-strengthening is eating away at my magic reserves—I don't know how much longer I can sustain it. I do plan to test my limits eventually, but definitely not in the middle of a fight.
For now, I deactivate the skill. My muscles deflate, and my body reverts back to that delicate-looking figure. Of course, my breasts remain massive. Seriously, what am I going to do with these things?
Ugh... Let's just check on the loot. I bring up my inventory screen. The system automatically collects all useful magical tools from defeated foes. Let's see... I got... Two goblin crystals and one vial of goblin poison.
Wait, poison? These guys use poison? I quickly bring up my status screen and check my condition. ...Normal. Seems I'm in the clear this time. But I think I better leave this realm regardless. Before anyone else sees me in this attire.
*** Special permit
I reappear back on my bed—in my pajamas and regular, male body—like I never left. But... I pull one of the goblin crystals from my inventory. The small shard materializes in my hand, pulsing faintly with magic. Just this little thing alone is worth more than a week's pay. I can't help but laugh. I can't believe it—I'm actually an awakener now!
I'll have to register before I can sell this... Wait, no—before that, I need to... Ugh. Deal with the big issue.
I get up and move to stand before the full-length mirror. The man staring back is built like a tank, hair trimmed in a military cut, with a scar running down his right leg—a souvenir from the accident that ended my service.
"Awaken on," I murmur—and transform.
The first thing I notice is that all my wounds are gone. Another perk of being an avatar: just revert and reawaken, and you're good as new.
The second thing I notice is... I though I turned into a woman, but no. It's worse than that. The look is that of a girl. Short, with a youthful face that can easily pass for a high schooler's. One with pointy ears, small fangs, light purple hair falling into a neat, stylish bob that frames a pair of large, amethyst-like eyes, accentuated by long lashes and glossy lips—
Yeah, she's cute. With the body of a swimsuit model and massive breasts to boot. But I'm not about to get excited over my own body. I'm actually getting embarrassed. The clothes... I thought as much when I first transformed, but I really am just wearing underwear and socks. Ugh, this is humiliating.
I grab one of my shirts and try it on—it's not enchanted gear but it'll at less protect my modesty. It hangs off me like a blanket—no surprise there. I'm 177 centimeters tall, and this form can't be more than 155. I look absolutely ridiculous. To make matters worse, I can't even wear pants thanks to the tail.
Ugh. I need new clothes—No... I need a special permit.
"Awaken off," I say, reverting back to my original body.
I grab my phone and dial an old friend who works at the NAA—the National Awakeners Agency. I ask him if he can schedule an urgent meeting. He agrees, but asks what's this all about. I tell him that I'll explain in person and hang up. This is going to be one awkward reunion... Ugh.
I take off the pajamas, throw on some casual clothes, brush my teeth, and head out.
The drive to the NAA building only toke about ten minutes. Inside, the lobby is jammed with new awakeners. It's like rush hour at a cosplay convention.
I spot Nolan right away. He's hard to miss—built like a linebacker, with the neck of a bull. He brings me to a private room to discuss.
"So what's all this about, Jax?" He asks, skipping past the small talk.
"I need a special permit." He knows what I'm talking about. There's only one permit the NAA gives—the one that allows Awakeners to roam public areas in their avatar form.
"You need a NAA permit? Since when did you become an Awakener?" He practically shouts.
"Just today," I reply.
"Ha! My man! That's what I'm talking about!" he cheers, slamming his hand on the table hard enough to rattle it. "We've gotta celebrate! But wait—why the special permit? You're not planning anything—"
"No! Nothing illegal," I cut in quickly. "It's just... ugh." Screw it—it'll be easier to show him. "Awaken on!" I say.
Nolan's eyes go wide as my muscular form gets swapped with that of a petite teenage girl with a tail, wearing one of my oversize shirts.
"I need it to go buy proper clothes!" I yelp. I mean, come on—there's no way I'm going to shop for women's clothes while in my male form. I'd die of embarrassment.
Nolan doesn't say a word. He just—
"Are you seriously staring at my chest right now?!" I snap, glaring at him in pure disgust. Being looked at like that by someone I consider a brother... Ugh.
"Wha—no! I wasn't—! I mean... Y-you mentioned something about a permit?"
After a quick photo followed by some typing, Nolan hands me a card. It's small and official-looking, with my avatar's picture and the name—
"Violet?" I read aloud.
"I figured you could use an alias," Nolan says proudly. "You like it? Thought of it from your violent temper and that purple hair of yours!"
Violent temper, seriously? This guy's messing with me the moment I'm back to normal. Funny—he couldn't even look me in the eyes when I was in my succubus form. Still, Violet... not bad, actually. Though I can't help but ask, "Is this even legal?"
"Oh yeah," he assures me. "For permits like these, people can use aliases—it's a privacy thing."
Well, that's a relief. Wouldn't want to explain having a name like Jax when in my succubus form.
"Just a reminder," he adds, his tone turning firm, "this permit only applies to your avatar form. Not your skills or magics, got it?"
"Got it. Thanks, Nolan," I say. I'm about to leave, but then I remember the loot in my inventory. "Oh, and where can I sell magic items?"
"You already have loot to sell? What am I sayin, of course you do!" He booms. "Just go to the window at the front. I've already registered you as an Awakener."
That's Nolan for you, always ahead of things. I waive him goodbye and go sell my items.
The staff running the post is an appraisal mage—I can tell by the magical third eye on their avatar's forehead. They're not built for combat, but their appraisal magic is invaluable when it comes to identifying enchanted items and maintaining security. Most of them end up working for the government.
I sell the two goblin crystals and the goblin poison without any trouble, then head out to buy some clothes.
*** Woman's shopping
I step into the shopping center in my succubus form—drowning in an oversized shirt that might as well be a dress, and a pair of slippers. I look ridiculous, but at least I'm not violating any dress code.
"Excuse me?" a man's voice calls. I turn and see a security guard.
"Is there a reason you're in your avatar form?" he asks politely, but I notice his hand hovering near his stun gun.
"Oh, uh... yeah." I pull out my NAA permit and show it to him. "I'm here to buy clothes that actually fit this body," I say, gesturing to the oversized shirt. "As you can see, my current wardrobe isn't exactly cooperating."
He studies the permit, then relaxes and gives a polite nod. "Alright. Enjoy your shopping, miss."
Miss? Ugh, right. That's going to take some getting use to.
I give the guard a quick nod and shuffle toward the women's clothing store.
It 's a big store, full of... Ugh. Dresses and skirts in all shapes and sizes. Where do I even start? Sigh... Let's just ask for help.
"Excuse me madam?" I ask a sales lady. She was young, barely in her 20's I'd say. "I would like some help finding some clothes that fit." I gesture to my body.
"Oh sure let—" She freezes as she notices my tail moving nervously behind me.
"Yeah, I kind of awaken not too long ago, and this new form has some... Particular needs when it comes to clothes." I interject.
She nods, giving me another once-over. This time I can see the gears turning in her head. "Hmm... Yeah, I see what you mean. But, I think I can help. Do you know your three sizes?"
Three sizes? I can feel myself blushing just at the mention.
"Um... No." I mumble.
"That's okay, we can measure here." She says, and drags me to a changing room where she takes out a measuring tape from a pocket and quickly measured my hips, waist and bust.
"89, 56 and... Wow! 105? You've got an incredible bust, miss!" She blurts out loud enough for half the store to hear.
I groan internally. Yeah, thanks. I noticed.
"Hmm..." she hums, tapping her chin like a tailor sizing up a mannequin. "Our stock isn't exactly built for your proportions, but if you don't mind a few loose fits, I think we can make it work."
"As long as I can move comfortably in it, I'm fine," I reply, trying to sound casual while dying inside.
What follows is five excruciating minutes of pure humiliation. This girl—who's at least ten years younger than me—drags me around the store like she's my fashion consultant, holding skirts and tops up against my body with the enthusiasm of someone styling a doll.
"Try this!" she says brightly, handing me a light hoodie and a pink skirt. "It'll balance your colors."
Balance my what now? I don't even want to know what that means. But... she's confident, and—dammit—she actually knows what she's doing.
I shuffle into the changing room and try them out. The hoodie's a little big, but once I roll up the sleeves, it's comfortable enough. The skirt... well, it's either that or risk ripping every pair of pants in the store with my tail.
When I step out, she beams at me. "Cute! The colors really suit you."
I can feel my face burning. "Yeah, uh... thanks," I mumble. The outfit's practical enough, I'll give it that.
I grab a few extra clothes for good measure, and a pair of sneakers that actually fit. Thankfully I don't need to buy any underwear. The "succubus armor" has that covered.
I pay for the clothes and head back to my car. I got a couple of catcalls along the way. Men are such perverts. Ugh... Great now I'm mad at my own gender.
I slide into my car and shift back to my normal form. That's it—no more excitement, no more surprises. I'm heading home to clear my head. After everything that's happened today, I haven't even had a chance to process all this... awakening business.
The drive home is quiet. When I get there, I stash the new clothes in the empty side of the closet—where my ex used to keep her things—grab a cold beer from the fridge and sit on the couch to think.
I never expected being an Awakener would be so... Humiliating. I've been going with the flow for a while now, but... Maybe I should quit? Pretend like none of this ever happened? I mean, come on. Me? Walking around in an avatar that looks like a high school girl?
But... I can't stop thinking about the fight. That rush of adrenaline. The raw power. For the first time since my leg injury, I actually felt alive. Yeah, there were some awkward moments—okay, a lot of awkward moments—but I'll take embarrassment over feeling sorry for myself.
Okay. I'm doing this! But... If I'm going to do this. I'm doing it right!
*** Figure out the works
The next morning, I wake up before sunrise, grab a quick breakfast, and prepare for my usual jog. Only this time—
"Awaken on!"
In an instant, my body shifts—curves, tail, and all. If I'm going to rely on this form, I need to know what it can actually do. So, today I'm doing a test drive.
Dressed in a yellow hoodie and pink skirt, I fasten my fitness tracker and step outside. The morning air is cool and fresh, the park path quiet—perfect conditions for a little test run. I start off at a relaxed pace, feeling steady and confident.
But that confidence fades the moment I pick up speed. Each stride sends my massive breasts flailing, colliding with a force that sends a soft, rhythmic clapping through the air. It's like they're cheering me on.
My face burns. "Oh, come on!" I hiss under my breath, crossing my arms mid-run like that'll somehow help. It doesn't—it just makes me look even more ridiculous.
I slow to a jog, trying to figure out how to move without causing a scene. I shorten my stride, tighten my posture, and after a mile of awkward experimenting, the swaying finally starts to calm down.
By the second mile, I'm less flustered and more focused. By the third, I've actually got it—running smooth, steady. My chest's still putting on a show, but no more clapping soundtrack. I even start to enjoy the run.
By now, people are out and about. I pass a few other joggers—most of whom can't seem to keep their eyes above my chest. A couple even start pacing behind me, clearly just using the view as motivation. Great. Real classy.
I pick up the pace and leave them eating my dust.
By the end of my route, I'm pretty happy with the results. This body's fast—really fast. Despite the awkward start, I beat my usual time. And, as for endurance? Feels about the same as my normal self—which is to say, plenty to spare.
Satisfied, I enter my house and kick the door shut behind me—
"Eek!"
My tail gets caught. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make me yelp. Great. Another reminder that I need to get used to this extra appendage. I free it, close the door properly this time, and head to the kitchen for a glass of water.
Alright, next test.
I move to my personal gym—a small space stocked with a bench-press setup, a few dumbbells, and a punching bag.
It's a private space—no windows, no chance of anyone seeing in—so I slip off my hoodie without worry. I'm planning to push this body to its limits, and I'd rather not soak my new clothes in sweat. Now I'm left in just the black, bra-like succubus armor, which might have pass for a sports bra... if my chest wasn't so absurdly huge. Ugh. Let's just see what this body can do.
I start my usual workout routine, only to realize... I can barely lift the lightest dumbbell. Figures. This form might be quick, but it's not exactly built for brute strength.
I take a breath, and focus.
"Hngh!"
Magic surges through me. My muscles swell, doubling in size. I take a quick glance at the full-length mirror. I'm still petite and feminine, but it's like I went from bikini model to gym poster girl.
I take a mental note of the time to track how long I can maintain this form, then start my workout again. The difference is night and day. Every rep feels clean, solid, powerful. Even without my usual bulk, this magic makes me just as strong.
After a solid two hours, I put down the dumbbells and wipe away the sweat.
I learned a lot. First off, I can only maintain the enhanced form for about ten minutes at a time. Second, managing magic feels a lot like managing stamina—you burn through it, rest for a bit to "catch your breath," then go again. The thing to watch out for is the fatigue buildup. After about five rounds of body-strengthening, my magic recovery slowed to a crawl. It only returned to normal after roughly fifteen minutes of rest.
The last thing I discover is that I can push the body-strengthening skill. It takes focus, but I can increase the size of my muscles, like this—
"Urrgh!"
I grit my teeth and force more magic through my body. My muscles surge, swelling even bigger. 2.5 times their usual size... My muscles look huge on my petite frame. 2.75 times... Veins bulge out across my arms and shoulders. 3 times bigger! That's my limit. My muscles feel like they're about to burst, and heat radiates from me like a furnace.
As for how I look... it's insane. My body is a web of thick, pulsing veins over impossibly engorged muscles—far beyond what a woman, or anyone really, should look like. But the power surging through me—it's unreal.
Unfortunately, it doesn't last. Even with full magic reserves, I can only hold this form for a few seconds, and the strain on my body is brutal. It's like running a marathon.
"Yeah... definitely last-resort only," I mutter, canceling the magic and shrinking back to my slim figure.
Now that I've got a solid grasp of what I can do, all that's left is getting accustom to this new form. A few rounds with the punching bag should do nicely. I grab some boxing tape and sit down to wrap my hands when—
"Eek!" I yelp, jerking upright. I'd just sat on my tail.
"Grr! This thing," I grumble, grabbing the twitching appendage.
"You..." I point at it accusingly like it's being difficult on purpose—then realize how ridiculous that looks.
"Ugh. I'm talking to my own tail," I mumble, rubbing my forehead.
But, this needs to be addressed before I end up stepping on it—or worse. Then an idea hits me. Still holding the tail to keep it from getting in the way again, I head to my closet and dig out a pair of old wrist weights. I used to wear them back when I first started boxing. They weren't heavy, but I remember how they made me hyper-aware of my movements.
I glance down at my tail. "You're going to behave now," I tell it, strapping one of the weights near the tip. The added resistance isn't much, but it's enough to remind me it's there. Perfect.
Back in the small gym, I wrap my hands with the boxing tape, feeling the slight tug from the tail weight every time it tries to twitch. Good—it's working.
The rest of the day slips by to the steady rhythm of my fists pounding the bag. Jabs, straights, hooks—I run through all my combos. At first, it feels awkward—shorter reach, lighter frame, and this ridiculous chest bouncing around like it's trying to throw me off—but little by little, I find my rhythm. I start moving smoother, sharper. My tail even joins in, shifting with my stance, helping me keep balance, flowing with each strike. Before long, it doesn't feel like some weird extra limb anymore—it feels like it's always been part of me.