As the beast tramples towards me, instinct driving its every motion, I find it all too easy to predict what he'll do.

I close my eyes and draw a deep breath. I will defeat this creature and maintain my alteration throughout the battle.

Not yet... Not yet... NOW!

As my eyes open, my body is already in motion. Time to break in these boots!

I lift my right leg and with a swift motion, I stomp on the ground. The ground rattles, setting the creature off balance while he's still in motion.

It takes a moment to steady himself, but the moment it stops to checks his footing, I disappear from his vision.

He checks left, then right. Still nothing.

Adachi: "Check under you!"

Before he can react to my voice, I strike. On the ground, in a spider-like fashion, I unleash a kick to his upper torso.

*BOOM*

The blow is so powerful it stands the midstless up on his hind legs. It remains upright for the time being. Unlike the beast that beat me so badly before, this one can't block a strike with its arms. I flip back onto my feet and leap into the air. Doing a forward flip to gain centripetal force, I unleash a heel strike to the top of its head. Its head caves under the pressure, and dark blood soils my new boots.

I land on the ground and watch as its body falls over and slams into the ground. Its dead.

I look down on my boots that are now caked with blood.

Adachi: "Tsk. Happy birthday to me..."

The body will take a minute to dissipate. I'll go collect my water in the meantime!

I walk over to the water and see my reflection. Hair is still brown. Eyes are still green. A complete success!

A few minutes later my boots are clean and my waterskin is filled. I turn to the beast to see nothing left but a rather large midstless crystal.

I pull out my pouch and drop it in with the rest. This will fetch a pretty cut at a store in town!

I glance over at the adventurer that the midstless was preoccupied with when I arrived. Poor soul.

I walk over to his body and check him for valuables and gear. I come out with a couple of blades, a coin purse, and a map of the area. This could be quite useful! I bury the traveler's body and say a quick prayer before moving on.

Whistling a tune that Kiichi taught me, I continue on towards the city.