Why do people risk their lives on dangerous quests, and daring deeds? Well that is easy, my dear friends, rewards.

As Stygian awoke from its trial slowly, and began to return to consciousness. The bug was assaulted prompts, of many different shapes and sizes. Without even opening its eyes Stygian began reviewing the truck load of prompts in the order acquired.

Congratulations, you have benefited from the destruction and absorption of a hostile soul. Its known and experience has increased shapeshifting to level 20. For reaching levels 15 and 20 you have been awarded a bonus, Vit +10, Con +10, and End +10 You have also inherited a new skill, Condense Tissue. At will you can alter the density of shifter flesh make you hide harder to pierce. Level increased to 10. For reaching levels 5 and 10 you have been awarded a bonus, Str +10, Con +10, and Agi +10. Congratulations, you have benefited from the destruction and absorption of a hostile soul. Its knowledge and experience have been added to your own. Intelligence + 15, Wisdom +15, Perception +7, and Mentality +3. You have gained the unique skill Ancestral Memory. With time and effort you can look back and see much more than just your progenitors memories. Warning, attributes for mentality and wisdom have reached the cap. Your body cannot support anything higher. Reinforce your mana pathways, your physical form, your capacity for magical energy, your magic level, or find another method more suited to you.

After the first three prompt Stygian paused. The bug had known that there was some kind of cap on stats, but it had believed that it would have been closer to one hundred points instead of just fifty. Stygian was a bit upset, mentality probably earned more points than just three, but since Stygian was capped the bug had lost out. The bug was pleased to see all of the different ways to increase the cap, but our shelled friend would probably still consult Vae. She probably knew of some excellent way to upgrade the cap. Stygian decided to open its attributes page, just to check where everything was at before continuing.

Name Physical Modifiers Attributes Unique Statuses Stygian Half-light Str: +23.7% Str: 34 Oath Age Agi: +20.1% Agi: 43 At Death's Door 3 months Dex: +19.5% Dex: 33 Monsters Vitality Species Acr: +16.0% Acr: 25 Thick Plating Deväk (Psyling) Mnt: +0.2% Mnt: 50 Int: +9.1% Int: 46 Wis: +8.9% Wis: 50 Per: +13.7% Per:42 End: +39.7% End: 46 Con: +35% Con: 42 Vit: +35% Vit: 31 Cha: +10% Cha: 7

Stygian mentally cursed. More than a few were approaching the cap, if it was infact constant for every attribute. If the bug didn't increase its cap, and soon then it would be missing out on potential attributes. Stygian wished it was closer to another metamorphosis, but our bug wasn't even at maximum size yet. Besides, its gene pools weren't entirely full. With a sigh and a groan Stygian moved on.

Congratulations, you have successfully pilfered the Devourer thread. It has bonded with you deeply. It has also bonded with your sins Gluttony and Wrath. This will intrinsically change them and shift their requirements. Due to your actions of destroying and recreating different souls you have been awarded an extinct job. This job has also deeply bonded with the devourer thread.

You have revived the job:

Soul Eater

In the forgotten annals of history, far before the times of man there were monsters. At the peak of these monsters were the Soul Eaters. Treated as the gods of monsters Soul Eaters, were highly intelligent and exceedingly dangerous. Capable of wiping out entire races on a whim. Soul Eaters are rather self explanatory, either eating souls or reinforcing their own.

This is a multi-class job, for magic and combat, but can be extended to any other aspect. Function as a jack of all trades job. This job takes up 2 magic slots, and combat. Leaving you with 0 magic slots, and 2 combat slots. This job cannot be refused as it is already a part of your soul.

Stygian was a bit concerned about the whole monster god aspect of this job, but it sounded powerful. Besides new starter skills!

Please select starter skill(s)/spell(s), for Soul Eater. Rapid Consumption: The faster a soul is consumed the greater your rewards will be. Rewards increased with levels and slots. Will you devote 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots to this skill? Soul Manipulation: Distort, shape and remold souls with greater ease. Also allow the user to strip away skills and abilities from those mentally weaker than it, with greater ease. Manipulation becomes easier with levels and slots. Will you devote 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots to this skill? Versatile: Virtually any skill, spell, or ability can be added to the Soul Eater job and benefit from slots. At level 1 the limit is 1 unaffiliated skills, spells, and abilities, every level increase that number by 1. Slots do the same until the tenth slot. Then retroactively and from then on it goes up by 2 slots for every level and slot. Will you devote 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots to this skill? Soul Agony: Inflict pain directly upon one's soul. Limited by the targets Mentality score. Effectiveness increases with levels and slots. Will you devote 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots to this spell? Soul Slots: The ability to convert a soul of a sentient being into an extra slot for a job, known a soul slot. These slots can be used in conjunction with any job and will effectively add bonus slots, even with Max level jobs. Extremely high chance of failure. Level 1 allows for 1 additional slot, and every level after increases the limit by one. At this level this skill cannot be upgraded with souls slots. Additional slots will increase effectiveness and success rate.Will you devote 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots to this skill? Soul Construct: Instead of creating mindless golems you can make artificial constructs with actual souls. Levels increase success rate, and slots increase the size of the soul you can work with.Will you devote 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots to this spell? Plentiful Harvest: This allows you to to gain an additional aspect, of your choice, from the souls you consume. This is a bonus ability, awarded for reviving this extinct job. It cannot be refused, but it can be enhanced will job slots. Would you like to devote 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots to this ability?

The deväk just looked at the list in awed disbelief.

'Fuuuck.' Thought the deväk, which frankly summed up the situation. Surely these couldn't be as powerful as they sounded right? Then the deväk grew concerned, what if this was just a dream? And when the bug woke the job would be gone.

Taking a moment to reassure itself that this was actually reality, Stygian peaked an eyelids open. The bug was back in Tekanis' cabin laying on a small bed. Stygian heard voices from the next room, Vae, Tekanis, and Leon were all speaking in hushed voices. Not bothering to pay attention, slapped itself in the face. Hard. Stygian had dreamt of fighting a few times, and every time he hadn't be able to hit with any force.

So confirming that the bug was really awake, Stygian gleefully went back to the prompt. All of the spells and skills had merits, but some were far better than others. Like Soul Slots, that was chosen almost immediately, followed by Versatile and Soul Manipulation. Stygian figure Manipulation would synergize with Soul Slots. Soul Agony was lackluster, but probably effective. Rapid Consumption would be useful if Stygian decided to eat more souls, which the bug probably would do. However, Stygian liked the idea of Soul Construct more.

With Plentiful Harvest Stygian would already gain additional rewards, plus the bug wanted something offense oriented for the new class. Picking the three new skills, one spell and one ability, Stygian was feeling a bit overwhelmed by how much info was on its status. Unfortunately it still wasn't detailed enough either, the bug wanted to see all of its job related stuff together, but also wanted to know how many slots each skill or spell had. To the bug surprised delight a new skill page popped up specifically molded to the bugs desires.

Job Skills/Spells/Abilities Level Slots Geneticist Tame 7 2 Breeder's Garden 3 3 Match 1 1 Mutation 13 2 Splicer Meld 8 2 Valus Repulse 2 2 Telekinesis 3 2 Physical Conversion 2 3 Whirlpool 3 2 Soul Eater Soul Slots 1 1 Versatile 1 1 Soul Manipulation 1 1 Soul Construct 1 1 Plentiful Harvest Ability 0

Though the prompt was a bit length it gave Stygian all the information it desired. Plus now it's regular skills tab would slim down a bit. On to the next prompt.

Thanks to your ability, Plentiful Harvest, you still have a chance to claim bonus rewards, but you only have until the new souls are full integrated into your own. You may only choose one from each Warning! you only have 3 minutes 13 seconds left before rewards are lost.

Marg Soul

Battle instincts: Gain a further boost to you instincts in battle. Hidden effect.

Disguise: Hide more effective and use shifter flesh to disguise yourself. Ability.

Aväk Soul

Artisan: Gain a fourth of the levels this aväk had in life. Level section.

Merchant: Gain 10 labour levels this aväk had in life, and their job Merchant including their starter skills. Job and level section.

A little disappointed Stygian had hoped something from the Lost Woods would be in there, but no such luck. After all Stygian didn't take much of her soul. Early thinking about why it didn't get more options Stygian wasted another thirty seconds on top of the minute it took the bug to read it.

Panicking just a bit, and not sure which to pick the bug had wasted time. But now was the time reasoned arguments now was the time for rewards or it would be nothing. Stygian chose disguise, it didn't need anymore battle instincts with Wrath, and artisan. It was a gamble, but the aväk was of a noble house surely it had a decent artisan level. Besides the bug hated the idea of being a merchant and having it clod up job slots.

Congratulations, you have unlocked the artisan section. Your artisan level has reached level 12. Due to you stealing this from another, you lose out on a personalized unique skill inherited the previous owners. You also lose out on the rewarded job. You can still learn a job from someone else, but until you earn 10 levels on your skill, you will not be awarded a job. Mixing passions: Doing anything you love, will help inspire you to make and create better works of art.

'Well I can't haave everything, but it's not bad.' Thought the bug. The bug was relieved to see that the prompts weren't being to vague, but Stygian definitely still had some questions.

'Sort through proompts first, then questions. On to the next one.'

Congratulations, your bound weapon has become sentient. Both entities have you to thank for their existence. Beyond that, thanks to the soul bound between you and the spear, the tamed status you placed on both minds, the forging of their souls, and the connection you left in place between the three of you; your bound weapon has also become your soul familiar. What this means for you can only be measured with time.

That was... Unexpected to say the least. Stygian had forgotten about the connection it had made, and more importantly forgotten to tear it down.

'Perhaps it'll be a goood thing?' They hoped vainly, having absolutely no idea what a familiar was let alone a soul familiar. Stygian moved on to the next two prompts, which was a very different color from the rest.

Congratulations, through great effort and determination you have proven and established a core trait of your personality. You are Diligent.

Diligence

You have shown your determination and your desire to see something through to the end. For struggling against exhaustion, and fatigue and yet still finishing what you have set out to do you've established diligence as a core trait. This virtue will allow you to progress faster passively, and if you so choose you can bestow a temporary buff on allies. The buff will not only help them level faster, but it will also make them want to see everything through to the end. Without giving up.

Stygian never believed that the day would ever come that it, the monstrous bug would earn a virtue. Yet it had happened. The deväk began to remember what Vaelin had said a while ago about the virtues. Just as you can fall into a sin, so too can you lose yourself in a virtue. Obsessed with the ideal it represents one can twist minds and began a savage destroying what doesn't meet their ideals.

Even with Diligence, the buff could force those around Stygian to sacrifice themselves for the bug. Then sins and virtues weren't innately good or evil, but a test of one's character. Stygian swore on its chitin that it would never fall prey to a sin nor a virtue. Then inspected the last prompt.

Congratulations, your ability Psychic Aptitude has borne fruit. Due to your actions you have earned the ability Mind Link. A two way connection that always both parties to speak with each other. The link has no limit of how many people can be linked, but all parties need to be linked together in order to hear everyone.

Stygian was ready to bounce off the walls, it had been waiting for an ability for what felt like months. Psychic Aptitude would probably change now giving the bug a clue as to what skill or ability it would gain next. The deväk was deeply excited, today was just coming up Stygian. Then the bug remembered the rewards from Tekanis. And had a pretty good idea of what it wanted.

So getting up out of bed Stygian stretched a bit. The bug felt good, like extremely good. Better than it had ever felt before. Strong, smarter and more confident. It felt good, despite Stygian knowing it was just stat points and didn't actually make the bug any smarter. Testing to see just good stats could make one feel, Stygian shackled them all. Immediately the bug felt sluggish, dimmer and just mediocre.

It felt disgusting, but it was a good reminder that physical modifiers needed to be trained. Quickly unshackling everything Stygian made its way towards the hushed voices. Walking through a door Stygian laid eyes on Vae, and immediately activated its new ability, Mind Link.

"Hi Vae." Blinking rapidly Vae turned her had towards Stygian.

"Can you hear me?" A pleased Stygian nodded back in answer.

"Well this is new, but glad you are finally awake. Care to enlighten us on what happened, can you talk to us all at once?." Vaelin was fairly sharp and caught on quite fast to the functions of the new ability.

Stygian connected Vae, Tekanis, and nymph Leon together. His treant body was nowhere to be found. So Stygian explained all of what happened. Leon had already told them what he experienced, but Leon had woken up yesterday. Stygian recollection of events matched with Leon's until the were in the soul space together. Leon had seen Stygian reach out and suddenly another soul was there writhing in pain, screaming for help. Leon tried to reach out and help, but couldn't do anything.

Watching the first one and then another soul be recombine filled both halves of Leon with such fear that they become a single soul once more. Then desperately Leon cut off his connection to Stygian. He described it as being stuff in the same bear trap as, well, a bear, and this bear was currently distracted torturing and eating someone else. So Leon did the soul equivalent of cutting his foot off to escape.

Even now Stygian could feel the fear when Leon looked at the bug. Under the fear was a small coal of hatred, that Leon was unknowingly stoking. Smoldering and burning unbeknownst to the nymph. Slowly growing. Unknown to Leon, but Stygian with its deep mind thread could feels the flicker. Hopefully it would go out, but Stygian would be happy to put Leon in his place if need be. Stygian had spent a lot of time and effort changing the treant. As far as Stygian was concerned, Leon belonged to the bug.

Then Stygian explained that, two pieces of the Lost Woods' soul attach themselves to Stygian spears. This cause Tekanis to jump to his feet.

"We have to destroy the spears! She can't be allowed to return!" Tekanis, nearly shouted. Energy started crackling around Tekanis unbelievably quickly, and began building with intensity. Making it very clear that if they didn't cooperate, then he would use extreme force.

"Relaax. The reason it took me so long to wake up, is because I destroyed her soul. I rendered heer personality to ash , split, and obliterated every trace of her."

Tekanis was quite reluctant to believe our deväk, and much arguing ensued. It was only resolved when Stygian forcibly took Tekanis along showing him the deväk's memories. The deep mind thread, apparently had quite a few untapped uses. Making continued use of other functions, or stretching a thread out to its limits was one surefire way to generate new spells and skills.

Finally Stygian was able to bring the conversion around to its reward.

"So, little bug what is it you'd like from me?" Asked Tekanis.

"Will you give me anything I ask for?"

"Yes. Well if it is within reason and my abilities."

"You proomise?

"I swear it, Stygian."

"Okay. Theen I'd like to be your apprentice."