Nilbog jutted awake, his hand grabbing for his daggers.

All it found was soft fabric. He jumped to his knees, looking around as his senses returned.

He was in some sort of tent. Four empty bedrolls were around him, and all he could hear was a mess of voices and metal mixing outside. He crawled forward, one hand blocking the sunlight from his eyes.

Hundreds of soldiers walked around, some lifting metals into carts and others onto their shoulders. The sound of metal hitting metal could be heard far away, where a tower was slowly being built.

Nilbog trundled forward, his legs numb and his head light. He bumped from one shoulder to the other until he got to the other side, where all he could see were tents from one end to the other.

Where is this? The camp?

How did he get here? The last thing he remembered was eating the Life Fruit. He might have closed his eyes for a few moments, he wasn’t sure.

All his resources bars were full, except his Overall STM which was resting at 460.

I’ve been out for over a day?

Overall STM regeneration increased by 50% when someone slept.

A blinking button in the corner caught Nilbog’s vision. His hands almost instantly pressed it, but he remembered what Kara had said.

Right...that one.

His feelings were mixed about her. On one hand, he didn’t doubt that the moment his usefulness ceased so did his life, but on the other, she was just as useful as she was dangerous.

He couldn’t grasp her true level, but he was sure that it must have been at least a 100, possibly even more.

Someone can’t move the way she did unless they have a couple of decades of experience in them. She was a Ranker, no doubt.

But as strong as she was, something is afflicting her. It doesn’t make sense why someone with so much experience would want the body of a level 20.

No. Level 47.

Nilbog swallowed, his lips dry and cracked. He joined the traffic, attempting to blend in as he always did, but he found it difficult. New clothes were on his body, ones that were similar to the other criminals that he saw hulling the metal parts. He had no shoes on, but he was used to that already.

He stuck out. Not because he carried nothing on his shoulder, and nor was it because he wasn’t sure what was happening. The added Strength and Spirit did not make him feel bigger than he was.

Still tiny, but now a Shapeshifter. It was his reward for...for what he did to the Hero, to the Shaman.

So much for his oath. A part of him knew that this would happen, that at some point, when his life was in danger, he would abandon it and transform into one.

People don’t change, Nilbog. Not even monsters.

He almost did it. The will to let go of everything, to finally receive punishment for what he did was there, but it wasn’t strong enough. 40 years of stolen life was not enough. He’ll had ate hundreds of different fruits, tasted thousands of different plates over the course of his travels, but it was still not enough.

He still to go on, to find happiness. Whatever it may be, that elusive thing. Would he finally achieve it when he kills the Inquisitor? When he rips apart the Guardian for what he made him do?

Does all the blame fall on them, for what they made him do? Or him, for allowing them to?

The dizziness caught hold of him. Nilbog fell to the side, his head spinning.

His stomach began trembling. A Starvation debuff was under his resource bar, reducing all his regenerations by 30%. The pain was increasing in intensity. He felt the debuff tipping over. A few more minutes and it could turn into Ravenous, doubling the regeneration penalty but triplling the pain.

He needed food. He lifted himself up to his feet, took a few steps, and fell forward.

His nose strong the dirt, but what was worse he seemed surprised that it did. A part of him almost expected for someone to catch him.

Oh right, Iris.

That was a whole different ordeal that he did not want to open. Fighting off the urge to eat flesh was easy--animal meat always did it for him when his mind threatened to break. But now that he was a Shapeshifter, would the urge to consume grow?

It was not...normal. That was a different fight, and one that he needed to prepare for.

He needed space from her. Space from females in general, it seemed. He felt nothing from males, but the women that walked by tugged at that urge he had around his stomach.

“Well ain’t this a surprise. You’re alive?”a familiar voice said above him.

Nilbog looked up, surprised to find 665 standing over him.

Right, I was in a party, and, surprise surprise, there was betrayal.

What was he going to do about 666? So many people have tried to kill Nilbog before that he had grown stoic about the whole thing. If he was supposed to get revenge over everyone that wronged him then the list would never finish.

Nilbog shook his head “Not really,” he replied, falling onto his back. “What happened with guys?”

“What happened to us?” he said, placing his hands on his hips. “What happened to you, boy. What was that about getting first place?”

“That wasn’t...I mean yeah, I guess that was me,” Nilbog said, getting to his feet. Being face to face with that pot belly was not a pleasant experience, with or without a Bogling’s inherent distaste of humans.

“I thought you would quickly die,” he said, nodding his head.

That’s...not someone like you can say, Nilbog thought to himself. He wasn’t sure how to interact with the Rogue. He was strange, and not Nilbog-monster-strange. The way he moved and talked--something was off about it.

Maybe he was a Rover? That would have been Nilbog’s guess but that disease was something only humans got.

665 perked his head, glancing left to right. “Heard that?” he said, frowning.

“What?” Nilbog said, looking around. He didn’t hear anything.

“A monster, in the center of camp?” the Rogue whispered to himself, pulling out his dagger. “Ron’s men grow lax, those fools.”

“Did you hear a growl?” Nilbog said, scratching his head.

“Yes, child, and it was really clo--there!” he said, turning towards Nilbog.

“Uh...yeah. That’s me,” Nilbog said, chuckling. “Know where the foods at?”

665 stared blankly at Nilbog for an uncomfortable duration. When Nilbog’s stomach rumbled again, 665 sighed and unsheathed his weapon. “Come. Tell me your tale--even better, tell me the rewards! Did you choose an item or skill?”

“You first,” Nilbog said, attempting to avoid speaking of what happened. It was better to keep everything for himself.

“After we split, 664 and...that fool of a commander died. The Ent trees got them. Only me and that prick got out alive.”

Damn it. Nilbog was never a fan of 667, but 664 was a decent man. He should have survived.

“666. Where is he?” Nilbog asked. That was more important.

“Oh?” 665 said, leaning in towards Nilbog. “I sense drama. Did he try to kill you?”

Nilbog took a few steps back. “How did you know?” he said, sneering. Up close or from afar, that man was not a pretty sight, and Nilbog was not going to even hide his disdain for him.

“He told us the goblins got you. He used you to escape or something?” the Rogue said, inserting his pinkie into his ears.

God that’s disgusting. “Yeah. Typical, isn’t it?”

“Very. If he did it with the Bearls at least it would have at least got a laugh out of me,” 665 said, stopping. “We’ve arrived, little hero.”

“Don’t call me that,” Nilbog replied, looking up. They had walked past the construction area and sleeping quarters, and had arrived where the soldiers of Dlair rested.

“Not much of us filth left, so they’re letting us dine with real soldiers.”

Wooden tables were lined up in long lines, most of them filled. A few cooks were on the side, handing out soup and bread.

Nilbog and 665 followed suit, standing behind the soldiers. The line itself wasn’t long, but other soldiers constantly cut the line in front of them.

Discrimination, betrayal, hunger, monsters, and inadequate commanders.

“That’s the army for you. You can almost play bingo,” Nilbog said, chuckling.

665 turned towards him, a peculiar look in his eyes. “Aren’t you full of surprises.”

Nilbog nodded. “That...sounds familiar”

“You’re not around here, are you?” he asked, his voice growing different.

Suddenly, he wasn’t as silly as Nilbog thought he was. “I am, but my father was. He travelled a lot.” His skin began to warm--that was a foolish mistake. Bingo was a game that only existed in Yertal, at the other edge of the world.

It took Nilbog 10 years of travel to get from there, and considering that he had the body of an 18-year-old, the math doesn't add up.

“I see,” he said, though he didn’t sound convinced.

Wait, how did he know about it? Unless you were a Ranker or a government official, It wasn’t rare for humans to travel towards there, but it was rare for them to travel back.

Eventually the lines reached them. Where others received a full bowl of soup and bread, Nilbog and 665 barely got half of that.

Neither of them made a fuss, though. They knew how things worked around here. Most criminals sat at the end. There wasn’t much food, but it was enough to remove the debuff.

Nilbog ate quietly, avoiding conversation with 665. Talking with him was dangerous. He tried to listen on others' conversations, but they knew as much as him, and that was next to nothing.

Some said they would be here for some time, building the tower, while others said parties were already being dispatched towards Mission areas.

Many parties either perished were incapacitated. A few numbers floated around, but the least of them had the fatalities at 50%. If that was how Dlair was going to treat them, some said, then only a couple parties will remain after a few weeks of this.

“Say, what will happen to our party?” Nilbog asked, turning towards 665. Much like him, he kept to himself. Nilbog had a hunch that the only reason 665 struck up a conversation with him was because he had performed well, otherwise it wouldn’t explain why he suddenly became so talkative.

“There is no party,” 665 said.

“It’s disbanded,” someone said, sitting in front of them.

“Ain’t this a surprise,” Nilbog said, putting down his spoon. “I thought you would stay far away from me, 666.”

“Now kid,” 666 began, putting both his hands up in the air. “Why would I do that? I’m happy for you, boy. I was sure those goblins got you.”

“One almost did, and 666, my man, you should have seen it. It was the ugliest goblin I’ve seen. Turns out it was a coward too--it tripped me just so it could escape.”

“Goblins chasing goblins?” 666 said, chomping down into the hard bread. “Haven’t heard that happening. Your eyes musn’t have grown yet.”

“They will,” Nilbog said, standing up, stuffing his mouth with the last pieces of his meager meal. “And when they do, I’ll put a knife through its face.”

“Better go get some levels then,” he said, laughing. “I heard goblins were becoming fierce nowadays. One might cut you up, if you’re not careful.”

Nilbog took his plate and stood up. As he stepped out, his foot jerked to the side, avoiding a kick from under the table. Immidetly Nilbog stomped his foot, but it was a hair’s distance away from catching it under his soles. “What can a coward do, 666, other than sneak attacks?” Nilbog said, and staring straight into 666’s eyes.

He shrugged, placing his hands behind his head. He had on his obnoxious smile, but even Nilbog could tell it was strained.

Nilbog left, his blood beating more rapidly than his stoic face showed.

Thank you, Seventh Sense.

As always, his feet had moved faster before he could realize. The only part Nilbog had a part in was trying to squash that prick’s foot under his own, though in that he had failed.

What now? Nilbog thought. He wandered around, unsure of what to do next.

He wanted rest--a whole lot of it, but that was the worst thing he could do.

The chances of him getting the Inquisitor, much less the Guardian, were laughable. Their power was stagnant, considering they were Ascended, but that didn’t really help Nilbog’s case. He would need two lifetimes to hit level 300, the MAX level, and he had already wasted one traveling and eating, never once working on his skills.

Well, Nilbog thought, noticing a fiery orange in the ocean of black-haired men and women. I might as well die trying rather than rot slowly.

It was the only way to drive off the guilt.

Never shake hands with the devil. It was a common saying referring to when the Game offers one a dark power--things never turned out well for that person, one curse or another.

Funny how the humans are becoming the devils now.

Nilbog walked forward, each step feeling heavier than the last. “Kar-”

Something caught his wrists. “Hey,” Iris said, behind him.

Nilbog turned around, and froze. By the time he realized should have said hello back, it was too late, and he didn’t know what else to say.

“You alright?” she said, tilting her head.

“Uh, yeah. You?”

“Good,” she said.

“Good,” Nilbog said, nodding. After a pause, he spoke again. “Do you know what is happening?”

“Something is happening?” she asked, letting go of Nilbog’s wrists.

“I mean, what happened after I fell asleep. I don’t remember much cus’ I was, uh, sleeping,” he said, scratching the side of his head.

“Oh, that. Let’s walk, we’re in the way,” Iris said.

Forutently, they walked away from the Death Siren, and towards the Scout Tower.

“We leave when we get all the parts for the tower,” Iris said, pointing towards it. “They’ll do the rest.”

“What’s after?” Nilbog asked. That was the most important part.

“To the mountains,” she said. “A couple dungeons appeared in the mines. Monsters infesting the roads. We’ll remove them.”

“What level are they around?” Nilbog asked quietly. That area of the kingdom was at least level 60 before the Game started.

“I heard it was around 80,” she said. “Not too bad,” she then added.

Why does everything have to be twice my level? Nilbog thought, sighing. From Iris’s reaction, she must have been around level 70, otherwise a higher level difference would be suicidal. If that was the case, then she must have gained around 20 levels during that Mission.

Which, to be fair, was exactly what Nilbog has been, and will continue to do. While the situation was extra dangerous, the EXP boost was substantial.

“What’s wrong,” she said, leaning in between the ground and Nilbog. “Should be easy with your skills. I’ve never seen anyone move like you.”

Nilbog flinched. “That…” Where should he even begin? Does saying I get possessed by a high-leveled Ranker every so often make any sense? “That’s temporary,” Nilbog said, and then held his tongue.

Give out vital information like that. You go Nilbog.

“Ah, so that’s why you got beat by Sai the first time,” she said, nodding. “Now that’s a unique skill if I ever heard of one.”

“It’s more inconvenient then you would think,” Nilbog said, shaking his head.

“Hey,” she said. “Look over here.”

Nilbog turned his towards her. He nearly jumped when her finger poked his cheeks as he turned.

“Double personality?” she asked, laughing. “You’re a lot more bashful when you’re life is not on the line.”

Nilbog frowned, wiping his cheeks with his hand. That feeling that tug at the pit of his stomach now went up towards his chest, tightening its hold. He felt clunky.

“You two!” a grunt man yelled, stomping up to them. He had an officers uniform, with a black gambeson and thick pants. “Why are you dilly-dallying?” he barked, picking up Nilbog by the neck of his shirt. Which officer is in charg-”

“I am,” a voice said behind him. Nilbog didn’t turn around as a placed rested on his and Iris’s shoulders. On his side, he saw her tensing noticeably.

“Officer Kara! Do you have no control over yo--” the officer’s mouth closed mid-sentence. The blood rushed to his head, the nerves on his neck bulging as he fought against some type of force.

“They were on their break, Officer Dall,” she said, nodding. “Weren’t you inspecting the crumbs on this boy’s lips?” she reached over, unfolding his fingers one by one until Nilbog dropped to his feet.

Nilbog immediately wiped his mouth as embarrassment found its way onto his cheeks, but then became even more embarrassed when he found nothing on his face.

“Criminals...don’t get breaks!” he said through his clenched teeth. Life Force began to visibly gather around his face, fighting off whatever Kara was doing. “You dare attack me? This is treason!”

“Good thing these two are criminals no longer, according to Ron’s decree. Did you not get the memo?” Kara asked, placing one finger against her lips. “I’m defending two soldiers of Dlair against an officer abusing his powers.

“That’s…”

“I would fully cooperate if you would like to bring the issue to Ron to judge over,” Kara said, placing her hand over her can. She tapped her fingers against Nilbog’s shoulder with her other hand. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind finding out that you are harassing the number one, and number three contributor in the recent Mission."

The officer swallowed, baring his teeth as he spit to the side. “Don’t think Ron’s favor can protect your rude behavior, officer Kara.”

“If you would excuse us, officer,” Kara said, nodding, “We have work to get to.”

Nilbog began to turn, but he couldn’t budge Kara’s grip.

She stood there, staring at the opposing officer for an uncomfortable silence.

Mouthing a curse, the officer turned around and left.

No one said anything for a while. Iris went quiet, and all Kara did was look at the officer as he walked away. Finally, he felt her sights fall on him.

“How come every time I find you, you’re in some type of trouble?” she said, raising one eyebrow in question.

“I live an exciting life,” Nilbog said dryly, stepping away from Kara. Iris did the same after a pause, and stood alongside him.

“It’s about to get a lot more exciting,” she said, smiling too widely for his comfort. She turned her sights away. “Iris, dear, could I borrow this one for a bit? We have a lot of… talking that needs to be done.”

Iris nodded slowly.

“Thank you. Keep practicing your Fleet Steps in the meanwhile,” Kara said, and began to walk. She stopped, turned around, and pointed with her head. “Come. This way,” she said, and resumed striding forward without letting Nilbog get a word in.

Swallowing, he turned towards Iris.

“Be Careful” she whispered, glancing at Kara. “She’s dangerous.”

Nilbog nodded. “Trust me, I know,” he said, and followed after.

---

Kara found a suitable location far away from prying eyes. A couple curious rats had followed her, but with a little bit of weaving she had quickly lost them.

Without even glancing at her little Dancer, she could feel his emotion fuming. Oh boy, this is going to take a while.

“What in oblivion did you get me into?” Nilbog said the moment she stopped.

“Starting with that?” Kara said, sitting down on a nice piece of rock. Seriously, out of all the things she had done to him, he picked the worst to start with. “I got you a pretty reliable girlfriend.”

“I’m a fucking Bogling. I don’t fuck humans; they smell, look, and of recently, taste horrible.”

“Correction: You’re a Shapeshifter. Humans shouldn’t smell, look, or taste horrible.”

“I’m also a forty-year-old monster, if you haven’t forgotten that part.”

“Your intelligence and mindset is close enough to a child’s. Isn’t that enough?” Kara asked, shrugging.

“No, it doesn’t, damn you.”

“No, damn you. Check your age: it’s 7, isn’t it? Mission created monsters don’t age.”

“That’s not right either, damn it! Damn you! Damn everything!!”

“Look, child-”

“I’m older than you.”

“Well I can fucking crush you so shut it while I speak,” Kara said, her patience running out quicker than she could imagine.

“Didn’t work the first time, so what makes you thi-”

“Kneel.”

Hero Killer Activated.

Seventh Sense Activated.

His face hit the wet grass, an enormous weight pressing him against the ground, and this time, it wouldn’t budge. Even when he used Life Force Empowerment, he still could not move.

It wasn’t kneel as much as get crushed.

“Let’s establish a hierarchy here,” Kara said, crouching down. She lifted his chin towards her. “Out of both of us, I possess the most wit and intellect, the most experience and knowledge. All you need to do is follow my instructions, and your path is golden. Do you understand?”

Nilbog replied with a few incoherent grunts as he attempted to break through. He tried to spit, but the moment it left his mouth it dropped to the ground.

It was a gravity field, just like last time, but this time she did not hold back as much. She knew his stats.

“Iris is a great asset to us, not to mention that she’s pretty. You have much to learn from her. You don’t have to be manipulative, just be nice to her.”

“If..you..want...her..go-”

“Technically, I'm not the one that kissed her. You did.”

“Damn yo-”

“It’s not about her, is it?”

“No,” Nilbog said after a pause. He stopped pushing, and instead gathered his breath.

“It’s because I’m telling you to do it, isn’t it?”

Nilbog pushed, forgoing his response. It didn’t work the first three times, why does he think pushing would work?”

“Why?” she asked. She could not understand--she was offering him great power and growth beyond his imagination, but he still found it necessary to be rebellious for some reason.

“Because...you’re a sarcastic, mocking, bit-”

“Don’t need to hear the last one, thank you very much,” Kara said with an exasperated sigh. She stood up, seating herself on the small boulder. “What can I do to get you to work with me?”

“How...about you...remove...this...first,” he wheezed.

Kara pouted her lips, a disappointed look on her face. She had hoped he would figure it out, but all he did was exhaust his STM. She released the gravity field. “Fine, but do you underst-”

Nilbog dashed towards her, getting under her in one Life Force Empowered step. She stood up, bringing both of her hands up to block the punch aimed at her guts.

Kara calculated it right; Nilbog’s fist struck the middle of her crossed forearms, but what Kara did not calculate was how his fist snapped both of her arms in half, went a good 6 inches into her guts, and sent her flying through the air.

Cursed Player Killer buffs!

Blood flew out of her mouth as she flipped in the air, gluing together both of her arms instantly. A second was all she needed to gather enough Energy, but Nilbog did not seem intent on giving that to her. Even before her feet touched the ground he had chased her, another swung midway.

Don’t kill him. Don’t kill him. Don’t kill him!

Kara slapped it aside, splintering her hand. She fell back with the momentum, raising her hips for a Life Force Empowered, Kinetic Energy guided kick towards his mid-body. He could neither duck or jump above it, but what she did not expect was how quick he was. He stepped forward, past her kick, and crashed into her with his shoulders.

Both of them fell to the ground in a chaotic mess of crossed limbs and stray shots. The top of his Nilbog’s head found her jaw, cracking it, while she was certain her knee went into his guts. He tried to strike her again, but Kara twisted to the side, letting his fist hit the ground as her left arm hooked around his neck, attempting to press against his windpipe with her forearm.

Her hands only reached far as the front of his neck before his other fist found her ribs.

They rolled on the ground, kicking, swinging, and one of them biting, each trying to get on top of the other, each forgoing the embarrassment of being unable to beat a cripple, while the other unable to beat someone more than a hundred levels lower.

In the mayhem Nilbog and Kara separated, both falling on their backs side by side.

Kara threw herself back one hand raised with a blast of Kinetic Energy, while Nilbog dashed forward, ducking under it as his hand caught her wrists, preventing her from aiming down towards him.

His other hand swung towards the other side of her ribs, but was met with her knee. She swung with her other hand towards Nilbog, missing his face as he attempted to headbutt her straight in the nose.

She let herself drop to her back, avoiding the headbutt, and pushed to the side as Nilbog fell on her, getting on top after pushing him off, and then back to the ground when he also rolled with the momentum, not bothering to fight for his position.

They tossed and turned, grass and dirt blocking their vision until both of their heads smacked into an upraised tree root, one after another.

Both went limp as their heads spun from the impact, both panting and groaning on top of each other.

“Urgh, get off!” Kara grunted through the throbbing. Nilbog was on top of her, face in her hair. She tried to push him off, but couldn’t find the strength. Only after he took a deep breath did he throw himself off, choking on her hair.

“I...win,” he said, dropping to the ground next to her, spitting to the side.

“I moved first,” she said. “I could have...blasted you away right there.”

“You cracked your skull right there… didn’t you?”

“That means nothing. You can barely breath.”

“How many bones did you break?”

“Bones mean nothing to me, I can heal them in mare seconds.”

“How much HP did you-”

“0. Go die in a ditch” Kara said, the back of her hand pushing away Nilbog’s grinning face. “It was a tie.”

“2 for Nilbog, 0 for the idiot.”

“You hobbled away from our first fight!”

“I escaped.”

“Because you were weaker.”

“Whatever. 1 for 1 then.”

“Fine.”

“Yeah.”

Legion of birds swung overhead, casting moving shadows over Kara and Nilbog through the tiny openings in the leaves above. From their size and the way they flew, they were probably the reconnaissance squad sent ahead.

A new list of poorly optimized Missions would be ready by the time they got back, though unless Kara could pull some strings, that meant little for them.

They stayed like that for a while.

“You weren’t spending any STM at all, back then, weren’t you?” Kara asked, breaking the silence.

“No. I was just awkwardly grunting and flexing my muscles so you could let me go. Why couldn’t I get up like last time?”

“The gravity field was more concentrated at the back of your knee caps. Just because Life Force Empowerment covers your entire body doesn’t mean you can’t focus it.”

“Damn no wonder my legs didn’t move.”

“Yeah,” Kara said, silence falling again. “You got spirit, I’ll give you that.”

Nilbog grunted in response.

Kara’s fist lightly punched him in the side. “That’s where you’re supposed to compliment me back, prick.”

“Your habit to underestimate people is amazing,” Nilbog said, turning towards her with a smile.

She lifted herself up, shaking off the grass from her hair. “How come you’re only a smartass when you’re life is in danger?” she said, patting down her pants.

He paused, scratching his hair, though he made no effort to get up. “I guess… I’m not as afraid of dying as I usually think I am, when I actually face the danger I fear,” he said.

Kara blinked. She didn’t expect such a deep, and articulate response. Maybe she was underestimating him too much.“That’s good, then,” she said, stretching her fingers. “Beca-”

“Because it's about to get a lot more dangerous?” Nilbog said, looking at Kara with a pitying look.

She pursed her lips. “Don’t make that a habit,” she said, folding her arms.

This was becoming more difficult than she thought it would be.