It was the third time I heard the voice. The first time was during our migration. The second: during the hostage plan, and I heard it once more while backed up into the corner of a room in the Labyrinth of White.
Remembering that the voice could hear my thoughts, I spoke with it.
My stomach grumbled in agreement as I felt myself begin to salivate once more.
'Not again...' I thought. 'I don't want to lose control of my body again.'
'But you aren't me and I'm not you.' I replied to it.
'The Frostfang...' I thought as I looked into the cold mist for any signs of its grey body.
Nothing.
'But what about last time? You nearly destroyed my hostage plan. You nearly got us killed.' I complained. I didn't trust my stomach nor my hungered actions. 'You even tempted me to eat my siblings. I can't let you take over again.'
I felt myself salivating even more. I shook my head wildly as I looked at the mist once more.
'I... I don't believe you. Not even if the Heaven's told me to right now.'
Peering at the mist and thinking more deeply, I knew I didn't have much of a choice. I was a sitting duck... I mean sitting snail without a plan fighting a one-sided battle.
'What do you me...an?' I began to question as I felt my stomach suddenly cave in and the black bar in front of my eyes contract drastically.
[Mutation: Gluttonous] (updated)
[Status: Hunger is growing] (updated)
[Status: Starving] (new)
- 10% all stats
Suddenly losing more of my strength, I thought my body turn against me. 'Are you with me or against me?' I questioned the voice that appeared to come from my stomach as I heard the metallic voice chime in once more.
[Skill acquired: Autocannibalism LV.1]
+ 50% all stats at the cost of body mass.
+ WARNING: Over-activation of skill will result in further stages of starvation followed by death.
Thinking it over, I had one choice. The choice was evident. I couldn't waste any more time.
'Only on one condition.' I thought.
'I will always remain in control but I promise I'll keep you fed.'
Just as suddenly I heard the metallic voice in my head chime.
[Conditions met.]
[Internal entity requesting System.update(species(mutation.gluttonous(TRUE))); Accept?]
[Yes or No]
Not knowing what it meant, I decided to listen to it.
"Yes."
[Are you sure?]
Without thinking anymore, I replied: "Yes."
[Running... System.update(species(mutation.gluttonous(TRUE)));
Please wait...
Altering stats...
Updating...]
I felt my body changing... I didn't know at the time, but saying "yes" to my voice had completely changed my fate. For bad, for good, it set me up to gain strength, yet it also set me up for heartbreak... My life was completely changed from that day...
My body suddenly started glowing as I felt hungrier... but stronger... I wanted to eat... No... I needed to feed... I felt... like how the voice in my stomach had described. I wanted to eat. I wanted to be satiated.
[Species: Rainbow-shelled Snail] (Updated)
[Species: Gluttonous Rainbow-shell] (Unique)
+ Gluttonous Rainbow-shell: Being the first of its kind, the Gluttonous Rainbow-shell must constantly satiate its hunger by eating. Cursed to eat or die, it's able to gain strength and possibly abilities from eating beasts and other creatures its size or smaller. Adventurers beware: slay this beast as soon as you see it or you'll regret it dearly.
+ Species Skill Tree: Gluttonous
+ Further mutations are possible
[System.skillTree(Gluttonous(True));]
[System requesting System.Ai(mutation.gluttonous()); Accept?]
'What does it mean?'
But before I could reply to the metallic voice, I saw a flash with the mist.
I ran out of time.
The Frostfang was finished with whatever it had been distracted with. It turned its attention to me.
But I felt stronger and ready to take it on. But there was only one thing on my mind at that point.
"Food!"