Nekroz

One truth anchors my faith more than any other, God is good. It is this goodness that draws men to repentance. For I was weak till I learned he had made me strong. My mind in constant agony till I learned he had given me his peace. Fears warring within me till I learned he would meet my every need and take care of me. For He is Good, and has done so much more than save those of us who were lost!

Modification(s) gained!

Null tongue, These teeth unending

Modify being?

Slots open: 2

1: locked, 2: empty, 3: empty

Modifications available: Null tongue, These teeth unending

For a moment, Celia allowed herself to just stare at the screen. Eyes gliding over the words back and forth, pondering their meaning. But even after a minute of thought, she had no idea what either modification might do to her. Other than modify her mouth in some way that is. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted to have anything to with that, or these modifications in general. 

A thought that instantly inspired a feeling of rage from the parasite still within her. It’s feelings of discontent and simmering wrath throbbing in the back of her skull like an ocean wave bartering against the shore. The ache of it only growing worse the more she tried to ignore it.

So, reluctantly, Celia willed the two new Modifications she got into place.

Modify being?

Slots open: 2

1: locked, 2: These teeth unending, 3: Null tongue

Modifications available: none

Accept Modifications?

Celia, practically against her own will, accepted the change. Pain blooming to life within her mouth immediately afterwards. As if needles were slowly drilling their way into her tongue and the gaps between her teeth. The sheer torture of it so great that she briefly considered mutilating her face in an attempt to distract herself from it. Only to realize how stupid that was and silently endure. Gritting her teeth as she did so. Up until even that grew too painful an act for her.

Fortunately, the pain was short lived, giving way the moment her mutation began in earnest. Tongue taking on a darker, more purple, hue. At the same time growing both thicker and longer. And perhaps, if her senses were to be trusted, more flexible as well. But that was almost inconsequential in comparison to the change her teeth underwent. Their shape changing to resemble miniature arrowheads as they began to rapidly multiply in number. A pattern soon emerging that left her with two crisscrossing rows of teeth. 

It made her feel like a monster. But that was yet another thought for later, and was thrown in with the rest. All but forgotten as she struggled to her feet. Which is when she was hit with yet another screen to digest.

Modifications complete!

Rank gained: 0 >>> 1

Modification slots increased: (3)2 >>> (4)3

Classification unchanged

Classification: (lesser) Feastling  

Designation unchanged

Designation: Newspawn hybrid (Beyondling)

The screen vanished the moment Celia finished reading it. Vision clearing as if it had never been there in the first place. Shortly followed by an intense heat radiating from her content middle. Or rather, her previously content middle. As for reasons unknown to her the meal she had just devoured was rapidly digested. Stomach going close to flat as her body rapidly absorbed the contents. A mix of muscle and fat adding itself to her frame, the most notable of which pooled up at her hips. 

Instantly, she was a bit wider than before. A transformation that momentarily left her in shock. As well as bringing to mind a certain saying her grandmother had a fond habit of repeating.

"A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips." She whispered to herself. Only for a second thought, far more harrowing than the first, to come to mind. 

She looked more like her grandmother than ever. A trend she hoped didn’t continue, as the few family member she’d met from her mothers side tended to boast very 'pear' shaped physiques. But that was neither here nor there at the moment. She could worry about the impending doom her mother’s genes had laid upon her later, when she was finally back home and could have her existential crisis in peace. 

For now though, with her stomach no longer using up all her brainpower, she had a few things that needed to be done.

Namely, some scouting. As finding out how she was going to get out of this place would be absolutely impossible if she had no idea where 'here' even was. So, after taking a moment to mentally prepare herself once again, Celia set out into the tunnels. Following her nose once again to the great cavern she had left only minutes earlier. This time, though, she arrived fresh. Her mind unburdened by the pangs of hunger, eyes looking beyond the menagerie of creatures presented before her.

For all of twelve seconds that is. Before her moment of silent triumph was interrupted by the not-so-quiet roar of her middle. She could see another one of those dog sharks, and she’d be lying if she said she couldn’t go for seconds. In all honesty, she could probably go for thirds.

Which is when she suddenly realized what it might mean to be a lesser Feastling. And it was all but confirmed when she found herself unconsciously licking her lips a second later. Immediately adding another thing to her short list of objectives.

Keep her hunger under control. 

She could totally do that. And she would, she promised it to herself. Just after another snack or two. Or three.

But before she could continue thinking along that route, Celia slapped her cheeks and began to mutter a mantra her father had taught her years ago.

"Focus Celia, focus. You’ve got a cave to scout, food can come later. Not like this’ll take too long."

And then she was off. Slow, her pace measured, eyes constantly scanning her surroundings for any approaching threat as she made her way around the cavern. Traveling upon what looked to be a stone ring that went all the way around. Connected to it were at least a half dozen giant tree roots that led higher up and a few that went downward. Including the one she had taken earlier to reach the bottom floor of the cavern. Which she only now realized was shaped like an elongated bowl. It’s ceiling practically made up of more tree roots.

Moving tree roots, she realized. Each one wiggling back and forth, very slowly moving in position over time. Essentially limited how much time she would have to access more than a few of the tunnels. 

So, daring to take a gamble, Celia chose a nearby tunnel at random, climbed up to it and went off on an adventure. Stepping foot once again into entirely unfamiliar territory.

The tunnel fortunately happened to smell like food.

Nekroz

Hi Nekroz here! I hope you enjoy this chapter. 

Note story is one chapter ahead on Patreon