A gale smashed into Nilbog, the influx of power tearing itself into him, covering his skin like a cloak in their pressure. His limbs moved with abnormal smoothness as he stepped to the side, turning his body sideways, the Ash Goblin’s dagger nearly skidding open his guts.

Nilbog did not stop turning, even as he dodged the blade. He let himself face the same way the Ash Goblin had lunged, and with what was left of his right hand he reached up, catching the Ash Goblin’s wrist, and he then pulled down with his two fingers.

The Ash Goblin flew. As if driven by some mighty force, the goblin went spinning over its brothers. It smashed into a nearby tree with an audible crunch, nearly submerging himself in a pile of leaves as he fell.

The Death Siren’s song flows through you.

The Bloodless

As long as your heart still beats, you will move to the best of your strengths. Blood will flow back into your veins and your disregarded limbs will seek you.

Injuries will no longer reduce any of your parameters.

At the cost of Song Bar, you will recover from bleed and slashing damage.

Piercing and blunt damage recover will have increased costs.

Elemental Damage is unhealable.

The Song Bar will extend by killing creatures. Half of the creature’s powering rating will extend the Song Bar.

93/225

Nilbog stared blankly at his body. He could almost see the wind flowing on his limbs like a vortex, engraving itself into his skin and bones. His breath came easy and soft, and his heart, for the second time, was not panic-stricken.

Blood floated from the ground and into his wounds. His fingers flew back up, attaching themselves. It wasn’t his Shapeshifting skill, nor was it any of his skills.

The Notes, he numbly realized. The howling of the wind echoed around him like a melody, reverberating with the beat of his heart. It flowed within him like a river, bathing and creating new sensations.

A voice urged him to step back.

He did and was surprised to see another empowered Ash Goblin lung by him. Another Empowered, Ash Goblin, previously a blur, now seemed to float before his eyes.

Reach out, a voice echoed around him. He did this as well--no, he had done it. His hand was already stretched forward, tapping the Ash Goblin’s smooth, round head.

It went down. Straight down, it’s head plunging into the ground. The rest of its body swayed above it limply.

Congratulations! You have unlocked your body’s aptitude for Energy!

It wasn’t him. He didn’t know how to use Kinetic Energy or any form of Energy, but the bar appeared in the corner of his vision anyway, below his Life Force.

Breath, the voice said, now slightly clearer. It was feminine. Distant but familiar. He did this, too, and was rewarded with more.

You have become a Death Dancer.

Profession locked.

As there is power in names, there is power in sound.

Now, it flows within you.

It shapes you, as you shape it.

Letters filled his screen, and a stronger headache began to ring in his head, but he ignored it. He turned his attention to the next Ash Goblin. This one did not dash in like the rest but treaded carefully towards him as the chanting intensified. He had a sword. More aura flew into the Ash Goblin.

That would not do, he heard himself say, his voice foreign and his lips numb. He reached forward with his other hand, surprised to find it attached. It blurred each time he blinked. Everything began to numb.

Something pulled on Ash Goblin. It stuttered a few steps forward, as if something was dragging it.

Unable to step back, the Ash Goblin dashed forward, swinging its sword.

Drowsiness overcame him then. He closed his eyes, and then snapped them open. He needed to dodge.

But when he came to, the sword was to his left, missing him as he swung his fists.

No! I need a weapon! Nilbog screamed, but his body would not listen to him. Hitting an Empowered creature with his bare hands was akin to punching iron armor. His fists would be crushed.

Something pulled at Nilbog’s heart. It felt like something was pulling on his flesh, but he could not resist it. The pain was so great that his vision dimmed again, and once he opened his eyes again his fist was glowing yellow.

Life Force.

His fist met the bones of the goblin’s nose, went forward, crushing what felt like iron, and caved in the goblin’s head. By the time it struck the ground the goblin had already died.

Song Bar

132/225

He had to run, to escape the circle, but drowsiness came back stronger. He took two steps before darkness came over him.

***

You are in the process of possessing this body. Maintain control until the Soul submits to exert dominance over their body.

Be warned that if Death Siren’s Requisition is successful, it will permanently damage your Dancer’s ability to be impacted by your Songs.

Kara looked at her hands. She felt the cold at the tips of her ears, the exhaustion in her muscles.

And her heart! It beat! She felt it, felt everything as if it were her own. She lifted one hand up against the sun.

“I’m alive! I’m alive! I can feel!” she yelled. Her new body shook, no longer able to hold back her excitement.

She was in. She had taken over his body. He fought, deep within, but all the resistance in the world would not get her out.

“Ah, precious movement! I get to move!” Kara said, spinning in place “How liberating! I almost forgot it felt!”

The creatures around her snarled and cried, disturbing her. There were less than a dozen now. More joined after dealing with this Rat’s party.

The next empowered goblin stepped forward. Her Notes were still in the air, but they were quickly vanishing. She began humming again, reducing the rate at which her Song Bar was reduced.

Kara had been observing the fight. Seeing how they fought the Bearl, some would dip in and out of chanting, annoying her from the back as the empowered goblin would go in for the deadly strikes.

The empowered Ash Goblin stepped back, luring her in as those behind her lunged forward. She reached forward, dodging the strike from behind, but the empowered goblin kept retreating, keeping her at bay with his sword.

It was irrelevant. With a quick Kentic channel she would be able to blow all these lesser creatures away.

She reached in within her, and was disappointed to find her Source greatly lacking. It was minuscule. Three simple Kinetic movements and her Energy was already down to 59 from a pathetic 120.

Checking which skills she could use and the notifications would have to come after she finished all these pests. Using Life Force was also difficult--she had to pray it from the Rat’s own Soul.

One of the Ash Goblins from behind and to her left prepared to attack as the one in front of her inched closer.

He was wrong to do that. The Notes were alive all around her, giving her vision and even the smell of their armpits if she so wished.

She stepped slightly to the left, knocking the blade to the right with the palms of her hand, and caught its wrists. She then ducked forward, allowing a spear to pass right above her. She knocked it up with her tailbone as she began to pull on the empowered goblin.

More goblin’s stepped towards her with their spears and daggers, but it was too late.

Third Movement: Deviation. Fourth movement: Amplification

Kara tapped into its Kinetic Energy as it stumbled forward, controlled it with Deviation, allowing her to swing the goblin, then Amplified the force.

She spun in circles at maddening speeds, so much that her arms threatened to snap, the goblin held tightly by both her hands.

She struck everyone around her before any of their weapons reached her. Damage numbers floated before her as the Ash Goblins flew aside with half broken bodies.

After clearing the area, she let the broken goblin within her hand go. He flew towards one of the goblin’s that did not attack, taking one of them off the circle with another crunch.

Both fell, and neither of them moved.

Kara looked around her. Only two goblins left. Both cowered, squealing as Kara struggled to find her bearings.

Doing that without the Second Movement: Application, left her body and mind in tethers. She felt whatever meal her Rat ate coming up to her throat.

Her Song Bar became full for a few seconds but quickly began to deplete when Kara stopped humming. She couldn’t find her breath yet.

There was no sound, anymore, but the wheezing of those around her.

She began to giggle. She held her stomach tightly, attempting to contain them. “Oh, how I missed this!” she yelled, smiling widely.

They feared her. They cowered before her. She felt her muscles relax, her hold tightening. Warmth began to fill her. “That’s the way it should be! Come, I have more! Much more!” She yelled, and stepped forward.

And then fell forward, hitting the ground with a thump.

***

Nilbog jolted awake, a burning sensation growing under his shirt.

The final Ash Goblin, in admirable bravery, dashed towards him, dagger in hand.

Nilbog glanced up, her body still pressed against the ground, and then yelped as she saw the dagger come towards her. He rolled to the side, the dagger sinking into the ground inches from his face.

The Ash Goblin brought the dagger up and tried again, but before he could bring his dagger down Nilbog’s fist caught his jaw, knocking the goblin aside as he jumped up.

An unbearable headache rang in her head. Yet he still moved forward. Swords, daggers, and spears were on the ground, but Nilbog could not reach for it. The last Ash Goblin stood with his spear point a few feet away from him.

He would have to knock aside the spear. It was foolish but was the only option he had left.

The moment the Ash Goblin moved, Nilbog moved his hips to the side and swung his right hand the other way, attempting to hit the spear on the shaft and direct it away from his body.

Except that was when all the Ash Goblins turned tail and ran.

Nilbog starred as it ran. The other goblin he had knocked down did the same, but Nilbog did not give chase. Five goblin corpses were fallen in a circle around him, most crushed rather than it cut.

Give it back! A voice within Nilbog’s said. It kept pushing, wiggling against his skull, but he pushed back.

He glanced down, his chest nearly burning. “The necklace,” Nilbog whispered, his voice still weak. He lifted it from under the padding of his shirts to find the sapphire glowing.

Your unidentified item has activated, revealing more information about its content!

(Rare) Lady Viss’s Necklace

{Identification moderate success}

Lady Viss has cast a skill on this necklace. Any Life Force inserted into the stone will automatically boost the regeneration power of its holder’s HP, STM, and Life Force by 20%.

The stone has a high affinity with Life Force, naturally replenishing itself from its surroundings.

The stone’s Life Force will protect its wearer from Crowd Control abilities.

Give it back. Now. Before it fades! The distant voice said again. He turned around, to look for the voice, and nearly fell backward as a spirit lurched forward, clutching his face tightly within its luminescent hands. “Give. It. To. Me,” she said, rage filling every syllable.

Nilbog opened his mouth, but the spirit screeched echoed loudly within his eardrums. “The body. Now. Before the Song ends!”

Nilbog did not understand much, but he did understand what she wanted, why she kept chasing him all these days.

She wanted his body!

No, a thought echoed within his head. They were connected. He could feel her presence crushing him under the pressure.

You’ll die. Give me it.

Death Dancer

Your Death Siren wishes to possess your body.

Do you accept?

I refuse.

I saved your life. You owe me. Your mine.

You saved yourself. To hell with you.

You imbecile! You know noth-

I know that you almost stole my body.

You filthy monkey. I will destroy you!

Guess you’re not having this body, then. Better luck elsewhere, bitch.

So be it, she said, and then crashed into him. It was the same type of invasive pressure he had felt previously, when she had tried to force her way into him. It rattled his bones and shook his already fatigued mind.

But he was different, now. Within him he found resolve. He felt as she tossed the goblins like ragdolls, felt how to dominate. He found himself and he pushed back against her. Hard. With anger and hatred.

Player Killer Activated.

Lady Viss’s Necklace has been depleted.

Duration until full recharge: 12 hours.

Inserting your own Life Force or being in rich Life Force area’s will increase the charge rate.

He tossed her out of his body, her screams wetting his eyes. Her form floated in uncertainty, fading in and out.

Y-You! Have you any idea what you have done? I could have won this Mission! I could have killed every single person in this area! You could have had so much more!

“Desperate women are not attractive,” Nilbog said. It was a bit deceitful to say that, considering that no human woman was attractive to him, but he felt like it would get to her.

Her form quivered, once, twice, and thrice, and then her form became a stark yellow, her features becoming nearly identical to her real face. “I will find you,” she said, in a quiet whisper, and then vanished.

Nilbog remained standing, his teeth clenched tightly. Fear began to wallow up, but he pushed it aside. He knew what he wanted to be. He would change--he already did. He would deal with it then.

Both her, and the Inquisitor. He’ll get them all.