[Island of Bones, Dwarven Mountains Underground Level 5]
Similarly to Tyrius, Godwin had been around the crimson clan for quite some time. He, too, was part of the expedition party that explored the labyrinth of the dwarven mountain underground. He, too, had survived in those barren lands for five years, risking his life to avoid becoming the prey of steel-tail scorpions.
Unlike his peers, Godwin could no longer be considered a human being. He had merged with the [Earth Horn Beetle], a rare magical creature the size of a fist, capable of reaching the advanced rank. Having found such a bug in those mountains, he decided against selling it to the arcane faction, even though he could have earned a fortune by doing so.
Instead, he decided to transplant it in his own body. After binding it to his own body, both his life force and that of the earth horn beetle were connected. Rejection was a very tough issue, which he managed to overcome by supplying himself with tons of regents and elixirs that raised his vitality.
Over the years, the symbiosis reinforced his body, and an exoskeleton even covered his skin. Though translucent, it could protect him against most physical attacks and could even absorb elemental particles to some extent, providing him with a semi-defensive passive spell.
In a way, he was similar to bloodline acolytes, yet at the same time, the path he was walking was quite unique, willingly transplanting a parasistic being into his own body. Many advised against it, including Janna who knew the risk of such a procedure. Yet, it had succeeded and allowed Godwin to rise to the elite beginner rank acolyte realm.
Furthermore, it had raised his potential to the second grade, something that many acolytes could only dream of. As such, Godwin could feel that he was closer than ever to a breakthrough to the intermediate realm, the only missing part to the puzzle being a regent and enough organic resources to feed onto. By organic resources, he meant corpses.
The battlefield was the perfect place for him to mutate, and evolve.
*CRUNCH*
Biting through the bones of a dead blue wolf mercenary acolyte, he swallowed an entire hand like it was nothing. Nothing was left from the poor man. The blue-caped mecernary was just scouting the area, and got ambushed.
No spell involved, Godwin had simply risen behind him and choked him to death. It was a quick, quiet assassination, the fruit of years of slowly evolving into this monstruosity.
Every day, after escorting the golem masters, he would wander in the cave, in search of some prey.
*GULP*
"Huh?", Godwin suddenly stood up, frowning, "These fluctuations...there is a fight ongoing, and a big one"
Having merged with an earth beetle horn, Godwin could feel the vibrations in the ground better than any human or any sensor. Without hesitation, Godwin charged towards the battlefield. He was not especially loyal to the crimson clan, nor did he want to outperform. Godwin no longer shared the regular ambitions of human beings.
He rushed to the battlefield because he was hungry.
Like a beast, he was starving of organic resources.
The blue wolf mercenary was just the appetizer.