I awoke to a sensation of wrongness. My surroundings were unfamiliar, alien even, but that wasn't the most unsettling part. My body felt... different. Power hummed beneath my skin, foreign yet natural, like an extension of myself I hadn't realized was missing. Before I even opened my eyes, I could feel the change—a heightened awareness of my form, my limbs, my essence.
When I finally looked down, the full extent of my transformation struck me like a tidal wave. Gone was the simple cephalopod-like shape I had grown accustomed to. My body had evolved further than I had expected or even dared to imagine. Beneath the familiar octopus head now extended a humanoid torso, arms, and legs, all formed of swirling darkness. The very fabric of my new body seemed to drink in the dim light around me, absorbing it into the depths of my abyssal essence.
And my hair... well, it wasn't hair at all anymore. The mass of tentacles I once controlled as separate entities had fused with my head, writhing and shifting like living extensions of my will. Though my hat remained perched atop my head, hiding most of the tentacles, I could feel their restless energy beneath the brim, as if they hungered for release.
I tried to gather my bearings, but I quickly realized something else was wrong. My form was cramped, folded into an unnaturally tight space. I flexed my limbs, the fabric around me constricting with every movement.
A sack.
Someone had stuffed me into a sack.
For a moment, disbelief stunned me. The sheer indignity of it sent a sharp wave of anger coursing through my veins. Me, a wielder of abyssal magic, crammed into a sack like common prey? The audacity was almost laughable. My anger sharpened, the frustration giving way to a cold, focused determination.
They had no idea what they were dealing with.
Drawing upon the dark energy that now pulsed within me, I summoned one of my primary skills: Dark Tendrils. The shadowy appendages unfurled from my form, slashing through the confines of the sack with ease. The sound of tearing fabric was accompanied by a startled shout from whoever carried me.
An explosion of force erupted as the sack disintegrated around me. I stepped forward, free at last, my tendrils coiling and uncoiling with menace. Warm, sticky liquid splattered across me, and as I looked down, I realized it was blood—fresh and vividly red.
Lifting my gaze, I found myself surrounded by a group of strange beings. Their forms were alien, grotesque yet oddly symmetrical, with tough, scaly skin and luminous eyes that glowed faintly in the dim light.
The largest among them—a hulking brute nearly twice my height—stepped forward, roaring in a guttural, clicking language that vibrated the air around us:
"Retetr reg rge reg wtg rwrgw!"
Before I could react, a mechanical buzz reverberated in my mind. A new notification chimed softly:
Auto-translate activated.
The creature's words shifted, becoming intelligible.
"How dare you kill my brother!"
I straightened, my anger simmering beneath the surface. The writhing of my tentacles grew more pronounced, their movements betraying my rising frustration.
"You dare to defend yourself after capturing me?" I spat, my voice cutting through the air like a blade.
The group froze, their luminescent eyes wide with shock. One of the smaller beings—its stature almost laughable next to the giant—stepped forward hesitantly. Its voice wavered, trembling as it spoke.
"You... you can talk?"
I narrowed my eyes, my tendrils coiling tighter, their edges sharp with menace. "Yes, I can talk," I replied, my tone cold and unwavering. "And now, you're going to explain why you dared to capture me—or face the consequences."
The silence that followed was heavy, laden with fear and uncertainty. The strange beings exchanged nervous glances, their confusion palpable. It seemed that whatever they had expected when they seized me, it wasn't this.
The largest of the group, the one who had accused me of killing his brother, took a step forward, his posture stiff with tension. "You are... dangerous," he said, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "Your kind does not belong here."
"My kind?" I echoed, my voice laced with disdain. "You mean beings who wield power beyond your comprehension?"
The brute snarled, his massive hands curling into fists. "You are an abomination," he growled. "A threat to the balance of our realm. We were sent to capture you before you could unleash chaos upon us all."
The accusation sent a surge of anger through me, but I forced myself to remain calm. "If I am a threat," I said coolly, "it is because you made me one. You should have left me alone."
The smaller being—the one who had hesitated to speak earlier—stepped forward again, raising a hand as if to placate me. "We didn't mean to provoke you," it said, its voice trembling. "We were ordered to bring you in... alive."
I tilted my head, my tentacles shifting beneath my hat with restless energy. "Alive? For what purpose?"
The being hesitated, its luminous eyes darting toward the larger brute. When no answer came, I pressed harder, my Dark Tendrils inching closer to the group.
"Speak," I demanded, my voice ringing with authority. "Or your lives will end here."
The smaller one swallowed hard, its glow dimming slightly. "Our leaders... they believe you are connected to the Abyssal King. They wanted to... study you."
At the mention of the Abyssal King, my heart skipped a beat. That name carried weight, a shadow looming over the very concept of abyssal magic. If their leaders truly believed I had some connection to such a figure, their fear made sense.
But it didn't justify their actions.
I stepped forward, my tendrils striking the ground with a sharp crack that made the smaller being flinch. "Tell your leaders," I said, my voice cold and commanding, "that if they wish to 'study' me, they can come themselves. But they will not like what they find."
The brute growled low, his muscles tensing as though preparing to strike. I met his gaze, my own unwavering. "If you attack me," I warned, "you will meet the same fate as your brother."
For a moment, the air was thick with tension, the promise of violence hanging over us like a blade. But then, slowly, the brute lowered his fists.
"Leave," I commanded, my voice brooking no argument. "And do not cross my path again."
The smaller being hesitated, glancing at the brute for guidance. When none came, it nodded and began to retreat, pulling the others with it.
As they disappeared into the shadows, I stood alone, the silence pressing in around me. My new form felt both powerful and alien, a reminder of the path I had chosen.
But this encounter had revealed something troubling. Whoever these beings served, they knew of the Abyssal King—and they believed I was connected to him.
A chill ran through me, not of fear but of anticipation.If the Abyssal King was watching me, then my evolution was only the beginning.