Wait for what? You're leaving? Why?

My role was simply to guide you through the initial process of integration. Anything beyond is simply out of reach for me. I am only created to be an extremely temporary measure to allow you to get used to the System and help with your issues until they are resolved. For you, it was the acceptance of your fractured mental state and the finalized selection of your race's attributes and traits. I am no longer necessary in the eyes of the system.

But. But. You helped us! you guided us through the whole process of the integration and now your just going away? You won't stick around to help us later? You have to stay!

I can not. My usefulness to the System is complete. A final warning, your split mind renders you extremely vulnerable to direct mental assaults, but there shouldn't be anything of that sort in your world for a while. Goodbye.

Farewell AI.

Bye. Shit. Didn't think the System would fuck us over like that, a near-omniscient AI would be an incredible asset and it was nice to have a tiebreaker between the two of us. At least he was able to warn us.

We are adequate. For now, we must get acquainted with our new form and its various perks.

Yeah. Guess we should...Let's check our stats and any other System-weirdness we may have. System? System? Status?

Host: Connor Edgar Merrick

Race: Incomplete(Currently Embryonic Form of XXXXXXXX)

Level: 1

Bloodline: N/A

Inborn Traits: Lycanthropy, Sapience, Beast King's Blessing, Spirit Blood

Stats:

Strength: 13(14.3)

Agility: 13(14.3)

Wisdom: 13(14.3)

Constitution: 13(14.3)

Intelligence: 18(19.8)

Vitality: 18(19.8)

Spirit: 17(18.7)

Relevant Titles: Progenitor

Innate ability: Soul of the XXXXXX

[Progenitor]: Gives a permanent 10% increase to all stats and stat effectiveness.

[Soul of the XXXXX]: Provides skill Bestial Instincts and significant increase to learning rate of soul related skills.

Skills: Bestial Instincts, Beastspeak, French.

Bestial Instincts: Provides the Instincts and innate mannerisms of a true beast.

Beastspeak: You can communicate openly in the language of the beasts to those with enough sapience or sentience.

French: Allows for easier communication and learning of the French language.

Ok. That... That's a lot to take in. We didn't get a skill for English, Is it because we're a native speaker?

That is a reasonable assumption. Now, let us discuss skills in depth. What can we assume about them? Is there anything we think we should get as a skill for early?

Hmm. Well, we are prematurely prepared for magic if we can manage to get our hands on it. Otherwise, we may have to use our heads and make traps or something. Is there anything I'm forgetting?

Mental magic. At the least some form of Mental defense. Our stats may be high but the AI warned us of the gaping wound in our minds. We are two halves of a whole and until we reunite we will never be at full strength.

I get it! OK! I have to let go of my humanity! I will. Just. Just not right now...

I apologize. I didn't mean to offend. I was merely pointing out the weak point in our current state.

No no. I shouldn't have freaked like that either. I'm sorry, man.

All is forgiven. The System's depression of our emotions is wearing off we must make sure not to lose control of them.

Ah, I nearly forgot about that. Well, now that we've seen our stats let's get a look at the new world out there for us.

Connor was seeing the new world before him for the first time. The colors were brighter and more distinct. He could smell new smells and hear new sounds even while still within his house, broad windows giving him a view of the outside world. His stat enhanced senses allowing him to perceive far more than he could previously. Running his tongue across his new teeth he discovered the beginning of his physical changes. Overly large, prehistoric teeth filled his mouth with a long tentacle-like tongue filling the gaps between. There weren't even any gums for his teeth to root in, just sheathed directly into a powerful set of jaw bones. He was taller, his physique more exaggerated, and he had a 6-foot long scorpion tail protruding from his tailbone. He could feel the strength of his new body and had the impression that he could catch a fly from the world before mana with little effort now. He was fast, strong, able to see far more in both scope and detail and possessing a near-perfect digestive system.

The local environment had also undergone a significant change. He had always lived in a desert, but now there was a grand change that had occurred. The land was significantly more hostile and the natural wildlife had only adapted to the change. Cacti were growing well over their natural height the tallest of which compared favorably to a skyscraper. He could see new mountains and the old mountains showing textbook characteristics of volcanic activity. He shuddered as that thought hit him. Magical volcanoes were thoughts for another time. A glance East revealed to him a forest or jungle blocking him off from the majority of former society. It expanded as far as the eye could see covering the entire horizon. An obstacle that he would have to surpass if he wished to see his brother and nieces again.

He flexed his muscles, getting used to having four separate arms to control instead of two arms. With a minor effort of will, he caused his finger and toenails to extend about 2 inches and darken becoming large, sharp claws on every limb. His tail flickered back and forth on instinct before curling in curiosity like a cat's. A light scratch with his new claws revealed just how durable his new hide was. Assisted by his Constitution stat it was not an insignificant level of defense especially at Level 1.

Hey, Other me? Any idea if our tail is venomous. Normal scorpion tails are but for us to have one would require a venom sac to produce and store said venom for the barb on the tail.

I have no idea. Could we ask the System? Or should we just stab ourselves? I think it is a given that it should be venomous but without specifics, the System may have shorted us on our request.

Hmm, maybe. System. Can you tell us about our physical traits?

Request accepted.

Physical traits:

Body of mana- Basic improvement to physical condition and allows for magical abilities to be channeled without going through Classed Host Awakening Ritual.

Scorpion's tail- Proportionally sized tail of a scorpion with included accessory venom gland.

Retractable Claws- Allows for the extension of current claw-like structures to become larger, more durable, and sharper.

4-armed being- Being altered to create 4 standard upper-body limbs with independent movement and equivalent fine motor control.

Hideskin- Hide-like skin serving as a protective outer layer of the body. Grants increased protection against both bladed attacks and natural bacteria or viruses.

Greater Metabolism- Vastly altered metabolism and accessory organs or bodily constructs to improve eating ability, including teeth, stomach, intestines, etc.

Ok. So everything seems to be about what we wanted. Any ideas about Body of Mana? It seems as a beast we are meant to be naturally attuned to magic and mana.

Yes, that is my conclusion as well. I believe it is a standard physical trait among magical creatures of the Multiverse. Otherwise, beasts' primary advantages of stats and rare magic affinities would be canceled out.

Makes sense to me. So shall we see what this new body is good for?

Absolutely.

As Connor was about to move out of the house he heard a sudden low-pitched growl. Instinct took over Connor dropping into a natural fighting stance, his tail poised to strike anything that may be a threat. His thoughts were a complete mess, but his Bestial Instincts were guiding his every action at the moment. From tensed muscles to the rapid movement of his eyes and careful listening to find the source of the danger.

" Fucking hell! Jess, you scared the life out of me! Don't just sneak up on people after a literal apocalypse. Dear god girl! What's wrong with you." Connor said after having finally spotted the source of his dread. Instantly relaxing at the sight of the gentle housecat a thought occurred to Connor.

Hey. You think that maybe--

I find it very likely. We will have to try though.

What? I didn't even finish my thought?

I'm you, Connor. We have the same thought processes.

That actually makes a lot of sense.

Don't get sidetracked, Connor. We do have to actually speak to get a response.

Ah shit. Hold on, one second.

Connor spoke again, this time the sound contorting into a bizarre mix of growls, grunts, and just general guttural sounds," Hey, Jess. Helllooooo? Anyone in there? Major Tom, this is ground control. Hello?"

" Hello there." Something said, as from the other room behind Connor a creature emerged. Before the mana wave, Oswald was an 8-inch scorpion with large claws, reddish-black coloring, and a bitchin' tail. Now, he was significantly more impressive. He was now roughly 20 inches long. with multiple sets of claws, 4 tails, and apparently significantly more intelligent.

Wow. Ozzie got a fucking upgrade!

So did we, man.

Huh, fair enough.

" Yo Oswald, how's it hanging?" Connor shouted, turning to face the scorpion he had been caring for over the last 3 years. All six of Oswald's legs planted firmly in the doorway of Connor's old bedroom.

" I am well. Oswald? Is that my name? It sounds refined, posh?" The monster scorpion asked the questions.

" Hold the fucking phone. You are a scorpion who just used the words refined and posh yet you don't know you're own name? The fuck bro? Where do you learn English, actually? There a Beast to English translation school that has suddenly sprung up I need to hear about?" Connor suddenly said, shocked to his core at the idea of Oswald being fully sapient with all the language perks that came along with it.

" It's a skill. From the System. You do have skills, right?", Oswald asked while looking at his former master wondering what had happened to make him smell more like a beast than a man.

" Look it's been a long day, alright. I'm still getting used to all this shit" Connor said, gesturing wildly at the surrounding environment, " And my pet scorpion suddenly being 3 times as big and able to talk in perfect English is a little much. Holy fuck. How did you manage to instantly become sapient? It was my understanding that you need to evolve a bit first or something like that?"

" It is a part of my Innate ability. Even before the mana wave, I had a degree of intelligence. With magical energies fueling my body, I am now fully capable of communication with any number of creatures of equal or inferior intelligence. Even the kitten currently hiding behind your legs. And so that you know, I am nobody's pet, creature." Oswald responded, his tails flickering back and forth menacingly.

" Alright, I think I get it Oz. So. What do you want to do, my friend?" He said gently.

" I don't know. You were my master formerly and you treated me well. I would like to travel together for a while. But at equals. Nothing less is acceptable to me." The scorpion divulged.

" Fair enough. So my friend where would you like to go?" Connor finished, reaching down to shake a claw of the scorpion.

While all of this was going on, something else was learning a bit more about itself. Silently, to not make its host aware, the creature thought

Status!

Host: Connor Edgar Merrick ( Aligned Aspects)

Race: Incomplete(Currently Embryonic Form of XXXX Chimera)

Level: 1

Bloodline: N/A

Inborn Traits: Lycanthropy, Sapience, Beast King's Blessing, Spirit Blood

Stats:

Strength: 13(14.3)

Agility: 13(14.3)

Wisdom: 13(14.3)

Constitution: 13(14.3)

Intelligence: 18(19.8)

Vitality: 18(19.8)

Spirit: 17(18.7)

Relevant Titles: Progenitor

Innate ability: XXXXX Chimera's soul

[Progenitor] 10% increase to all stats and stat effectiveness.

[XXXX Chimera's soul]: Provides skill Bestial Instincts and significant increase to learning rate of soul related skills.

Skills: Bestial Instincts, Beastspeak, French.

Bestial Instincts: Provides the Instincts and innate mannerisms of a true beast.

Beastspeak: You can communicate openly in the language of the beasts to those with enough sapience or sentience.

French: Allows for easier communication and learning of the French language.