"I feel... strong, it's almost addicting and if I'm not careful; I could get lost in it." Yawned Imogen as she looked over her new body.
"Wow!" "I've nearly tripled in size; I'd say I'm about four feet tall and thirteen inches wide now." Estimated Imogen while trying to get a feel for her new body.
"I'm the biggest god darned tick in existence, well at least I think so; I don't see many giant ticks roaming around in the wilds."
"Anyways, it seems I've also got a whole new color scheme; it's sort of mesmerizing." Described Imogen as she examined the patterns of her body.
Imogen stood at an impressive height of about four feet and six inches while having a colossal width of almost fifteen inches, maroon depictions of vines were imprinted onto her ebony black carapace. Her legs looked as though she had permanently stained them with blood and her beak almost glowed with the faintness of gold.
"Hmm, I'm curious to know what the downsides of picking this evolution were; I'm afraid that it'll have something to do with a penance." Ruminated Imogen while morphing back into her humanoid form.
"It seems my human form is a bit different too, not by much though."
"The only real difference is that I look a bit older, perhaps about sixteen; other than that I don't look too different." Sighed Imogen as she looked down in a semblance of disappointment.
While taking on human form, Imogen stands at about five feet and eight inches tall with the posture of a bored soldier. Her brown hair, while still brown; had grown a shade darker on the garnet highlights giving it a more Stygian look all around.
"I have a weird feeling that someone's talking about me, but I can't seem to put my finger on it."
Imogen's soul piercing green eyes look no different in color, but in experience; giving her a more seasoned look. The carapace scales around her now match the color of her tick form, giving off a malicious aura if you look close enough.
"Time to leave I guess, there's naught more for me to do here other than waste time." Reasoned Imogen while picking up the fallen key off the table's remains.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲: You still have 1 Binding Token left, do you want to use it on the Broken Sword Talisman
"Yes please, I had completely forgotten; It's nice that you reminded me." Smiled Imogen as she pulled the Broken Sword Talisman out of her pocket.
Suddenly a boom was heard, it seemed to resound from within the necklace and made Imogen's heart burn like fire. Imogen fell to the ground, for the pain was incomprehensible; she could bear it no longer.
Imogen felt her heart melt into slush just to reform time and time again, each time her heart melted; the necklace grew ever closer to her soul. Screams of agony filled the room and with each shriek, it seemed no closer to the end.
Tears dripped onto the floor with each passing wail, Imogen's nails clawed at her chest trying without avail to relieve the pain that originated there. With each scratch, a chunk of flesh was ripped from her chest until you could see the blood ridden rib cage underneath.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: You deserve every last second of this, it's really quite funny actually
~~~
After hours of pain unyielding, the sufferance was finally over and Imogen laid on the ground exhausted; a halberd talisman barely clutched in her hand.
~~~
"It's time to go Eiden, we can't spare a second more, because after the hell I've been through; I'm going to win this damn race!" Proclaimed Clarence while inserting his key into a door.
"I wonder what the final challenge will be like, all I know is that it better not be another ocean!" Hollered Clarence as he jumped through the door
"I hate this feeling, it makes me sick!" Cried Clarence while teleporting into the final dimension.
"Ahh safety at last, wait; what are those people doing?" Pondered Clarence as he was knocked out by a club.
~~~
"Please tell me it was just a dream, nothing that painful could ever happen to anyone; right?" Sniffled Imogen while pushing her wobbly body off the ground.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: Oh it happened all right and it was just as hilarious as I thought It'd be
"What's with the sudden change of heart system, I put my trust in you for a day, a day and you stab me in the back; I thought you were supposed to help me!"
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲: I did help you, your power is sure to rise drastically with that necklace
"Perhaps, but you didn't tell me that It would hurt so fricking much; you probably invented those Binding Tokens for the soul purpose of laughing at me!" Growled Imogen as she shoved the pain wrought necklace on in a fury.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦: Actually, it'll never hurt again; your soul was just getting used to the binding process. My only purpose is to help, I only laughed at you because I was bored
"And you think that makes it any better, do you even know what pain feels like!" Snapped Imogen while using Quick Heal on her skinless chest.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: No, but you can agree with me that feeling any sort of pain is better then feeling none at all; boredom is awful
"Where did you hear that, I mean boredom is terrible and you are kind of right, but with what I just experienced; I'd take no pain any day."
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧: I'll keep that in mind, but nothing will come of it; I'm heading into slumber soon. That means everything will be automatic again, for I've found that I'm not doing my job correctly; goodbye Imogen.
"Finally some peace, my head feels so much emptier now; no more annoying voice." Smiled Imogen as she prepared to head into the next dimension.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐚𝐠𝐞: Really, that was your response you *****. That was cruel
"Haha, is your text censored; that's the best thing I've seen all day!" Chortled Imogen, but she received no answer.
"Not going to answer, well I've got a new necklace that needs describing; so you better get to it." Snickered Imogen while waving the Refined Halberd Talisman around in the air.
~~~
"My head... what happened, did I fall?" Wondered Clarence as he opened his eyes to a gang of people surrounding him.
"You'll be sacrificed to our glorious leader, for we're getting paid to do what we like in life."
"What!" "You can't do this, isn't it against the rules!" Shouted Clarence while trying to fight against his restraints.
"There is no rules, so prepare the embalming tools!" Hollered a man as he picked up a giant curved tube made out off metal and walked over to Clarence.
~~~
"Well, I haven't got all day; are you going to describe this or not?" Smirked Imogen while holding out the Refined Halberd Talisman even further.
*𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧: The refined and repurposed remnant of an age long past, when you wear this talisman while holding a halberd; you're granted +9 STR and +11 DEF - It's a Relic
"That's really good, but not worth my sufferances; you scammed me, system." Frowned Imogen as she put the necklace back on.
"Hmm, you've been less talkative lately, now could you now explain to me what the title system does; because so far it's done absolutely nothing."
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬: Titles can grant both negative and positive benefits, these benefits can be almost anything depending on the title. And while helpful titles stick around forever; titles that hinder you are replaced by a positive title when you get a new one.
*𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝: Replaced Heartless Bitch and grants you increased regeneration speed when your HP is lower than half
"That's some intriguing insight, why have you never told me this before?" Inquired Imogen while pulling a key out of pocket.
"Never mind, it's once again time for me to leave to the final dimension; I wonder how Clarence is doing." Suspired Imogen as she put the key into a magically appearing door.
"Okay, last check, is there anything else I have to do before I jump, nope; time to go!" Assured Imogen while jumping through the door.
~~~
"If you're going to kill me, don't do it with that; you're psychotic!" Grimaced Clarence as he watched the man lean down towards him with his bent metal tube.
"What the hell is going on here, is this a party; have fun with your party Clarence!" Grinned Imogen while waving to Clarence as she walked away.
"It's not a party, they're going to embalm me, Imogen! I don't want to die this way!"
"Shut it virgin!"
"What are you doing, men! Get her! We need more sacrifices!" Commanded the man, about thirty disciples drawing their blades.
"I was just going to let you have your party... So sad."
"Now... I'll make sure to kill every last one of you!" Thundered Imogen as she ripped the throat out of one of the disciples and dropped it into her mouth.
~~~
"Still open sea here, will we ever reach land Crimson Of Tenebrosity; I'm scared."
"We'll reach shore soon, all we have to do is last a few more days without any interruptions." Lied The Crimson Of Tenebrosity while watching The Ancient Ones' boat pick up speed.