“ROOAR!” A wolf dashed forward and tackled a vampire to the ground, biting into its throat. The werewolf was about to rip the vampire’s head clean off when a bullet landed directly in the top of its victim’s skull, stealing its kill. My silencer came into full use now; even as it masked the sound of my shots, two other vampires slammed into the wolf, knocking it from their fallen comrade. Each vampire sank its claws deep into the wolf’s flesh, tearing out large chunks of muscle with every swift strike.

In terms of physical strength, the vampires didn’t match the wolves. But their claws—sharp, precise, and quick—were as deadly as axe blades. I was incredibly lucky that the vampires and werewolves were keeping each other occupied.

More wolves bounded forward, but unnoticed by either side, every time a creature—werewolf or vampire—was about to die, a bullet entered its skull. I held myself steady, carefully watching the glowing orb of golden light behind me as it slowly grew brighter and larger.

The vampires and wolves pulled away from each other briefly, snarling and huffing as they took stock of their losses. Too many of their number had died, far more than was worthwhile for a single human prize. As if sensing this, they turned their heads simultaneously towards me—red, crimson eyes on my right, golden, glowing eyes on my left. The heavy scent of blood hung in the air, mixing with the sound of rustling leaves and snapping branches in the wind. The sight of so many deadly predators staring me down was something I knew I’d never forget for as long as I lived.

Now was the time.

The werewolves glanced at the vampires once more, gesturing with their claws toward me. The vampires nodded slowly, making a slicing gesture downward. They had reached an agreement—they would each take half the prize. In other words, they planned to cut me in two and share the spoils. It was a dismal, gory thought.

A soft, resonant strum echoed as the Dream Cloud Lyre floated gently into the air just in front of my stomach. Slow notes played clearly before the pace quickened, only to slow down again in a beautiful rhythm. The sound was enchanting, stirring the heart of anyone who heard it. Mist began to roll out from the surrounding forest, blanketing the ground in a soft, swirling fog. Shapes constantly shifted within the fog, moving gracefully in time with the notes of the music. The melody itself carried a melancholy beauty that captured even my attention fully.

I played not as if my life depended on it, but as though the lyre were the only thing left in the world. That was how I had been taught, and even in this dire moment, it was the only way I could perform.

My figure slowly slid against the cabin door. Even as my physical arms hung limply at my sides, the ethereal arms continued to play the lyre without tiring. Werewolves and vampires stepped cautiously forward, pressing through the mist. Strangely, the fog would not disperse this time, instead growing thicker even as the creatures pushed through it.

I closed my eyes, listening carefully to the sound, my heartbeat matching the gentle rhythm. Suddenly, the creatures lunged toward me—five wolves and six vampires in total. They didn’t even bother trying to squeeze through the door, smashing instead through the wall next to it.

They tore me to pieces, ripping my body apart violently, blood and gore splattering against the walls in arcs that shimmered like rubies under moonlight. The sound of dripping blood was gradually washed away by the heavy, steady rainfall outside, yet beneath it all, the lyre continued its haunting melody uninterrupted.

Of course, the werewolves and vampires heard the music clearly—but with their prey dead, the sound no longer held any meaning. A brilliant golden orb pulsed gently at the center of the room, yet for some reason, the creatures just feet away from it seemed entirely unaware of its presence.

I stepped forward from a shadowed corner, watching them carefully with exhausted eyes. I barely had enough energy left even to stand. The illusion I'd created with the lyre had been powerful, but it had drained nearly all of my strength. As I revealed my presence, the illusion shattered instantly: the blood vanished, the gore disappeared from the walls, and my torn-apart corpse faded into nothingness. The werewolves found themselves chewing on old furniture, while the vampires were licking empty wooden boards.

My laughter erupted at the absurd scene, drawing their confused attention instantly. All at once, the vampires and wolves turned their heads toward me, noticing my figure standing weakly at the other side of the room. They heard clearly the lingering notes of the lyre, but when they turned to attack, I had already vanished into thin air, my laughter fading with my disappearance.

They finally turned toward the pulsing mass of golden light, which now emitted a sharp cracking sound. There was no loud explosion, just a wave of pure, blinding golden radiance washing across the cabin.

The vampires, with their weaker physiques, vanished first, their bodies vaporizing completely under the radiant energy. The werewolves fared slightly better at first, their tougher hides offering limited protection, but even their flesh quickly dissolved, peeling away inch by inch beneath the merciless golden light.

Even if they survived the initial burst, they would bleed to death within moments.

I landed hard among the trees, bushes, and scattered debris, roughly 450 feet away from the cabin—the same area the werewolves had passed through earlier as they'd raced toward the vampires.

Multiple dings chimed out from my watch, but at this moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care. I had nothing left. Barely enough energy to even recognize my surroundings, let alone plan my next move. I drank back the single extra potion I had.

A faint mist formed on the ground nearby, and from within it emerged Frog. Silently, he opened his mouth wide and gently pulled me inside, sending me into the calm, dark interior of his extradimensional space.

As Frog hopped quietly away in a random direction, carrying me safely within, I could only manage a weak smile.

I love you, little guy. Gods bless teleportation. 

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Tao shook his head, his expression a mixture of worry and reluctant admiration. “That was beyond reckless. If they’d caught him off guard, or if he'd hesitated just a moment longer, he’d be dead. Even worse, if those werewolves hadn't shown up exactly when they did, the other vampires would’ve immediately overwhelmed him. The sheer luck involved here defies all logic. Any number of disastrous outcomes could've unfolded—his injured shoulder might have been shattered or severed entirely.”

The shopkeeper, observing quietly, merely raised an eyebrow at the spectacle, betraying nothing further about his own thoughts. Jaeger had survived; history would note only that outcome, disregarding the countless ways the scenario could have ended differently.

Yet the shopkeeper knew this was only the beginning. The werewolves and vampires were just an opening act, mere participants summoned or drawn by the mysterious quest dictated by the enigmatic Boon of Mystery. It was a devious boon, granted by unseen forces with unclear intentions. Dangerous, yes, but its rewards were correspondingly great.

He had not revealed to the group that, throughout history, this boon had been chosen by only four others. Each individual who had selected it was remarkable, their actions leaving indelible marks, massive footprints that shaped the course of events like meteor impacts. Given the grand, pyric game currently playing out between the gods in this city, why not stir the pot a bit further by gambling on one mortal's fate?

With an exasperated sigh, Ito sat back down heavily, slapping his forehead in frustration and awe. But he wasn’t the only one profoundly affected by Jaeger's recent escapade. Kito's gaze was locked onto the screen, unwavering since the moment Jaeger had begun playing his Lyre.

The notes he had produced resonated deeply within her, stirring emotions she hadn’t expected. To her, at this moment, Jaeger was no less than a master artist—even knowing full well they had themselves recently enhanced his musical abilities.

It was an amusing twist of fate, Ito realized quietly: Tao held a deep appreciation for poetry, while Kito’s heart belonged entirely to music.

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I awoke after eleven long hours inside the dimensional space. The environment was neither warm nor cold, simply neutral—like being submerged in a comfortable void. The potion I'd consumed earlier had congealed the blood around my wounds, but a persistent ache lingered deeper beneath the skin, radiating from my shoulder. It felt like the muscle and nerves beneath had been strained to their limits.

Ding.

It felt almost deliberate, as if the watch had politely waited until my eyes flickered open before sending its notification ringing through my skull. Despite the pain and exhaustion, curiosity surged to the forefront, shoving discomfort aside. Reluctantly, I flicked the watch open, and the glowing display revealed a series of messages:

You have succeeded in the Quest: Kill ten Werewolves and ten Vampires.

Your reward is a choice. Choose wisely; future quests and available choices will be directly influenced by your decision now. The variables are finite.

Werewolf: Gain the Strength, Speed, and Tenacity of the wolf at the cost of a curse.

Vampire: Gain the Magical Resistance, Speed, and Enhanced Senses of the vampire, at the cost of a change in your blood.

Be aware: Werewolf and Vampire each offer a class progression system, granting additional powers over time. Vampirism offers abilities such as Life Steal, Illusion, Shape-shifting, and Physical Mutations. Werewolf powers include enhanced Strength, Speed, Animal Control, Repulsion of Undead, and Summoning wolves from the spirit plane.

Demi-Human: Beware the unpredictability. Gain a random entity's bloodline or physique. The choice and resulting powers are entirely unknown and could mutate, empower, or potentially kill you.

"How...how is this a reward?" I murmured, irritation edging into my voice. "Can I refuse to choose?"

The watch replied succinctly, as if hearing my complaints. You must make a choice; the Boon of Mystery demands it.

"Well, fuck me," I sighed deeply, spinning the bracelet on my wrist, charging two lightning runes back to life. Enhanced mental clarity flooded through me, sharpening my thoughts. Quickly, I assessed each option.

The werewolf curse, though potent, came with uncontrollable risks—potential madness, a constant fight for dominance. Not appealing. Vampirism, likewise, was problematic: a commitment to feed on life itself. No way.

That left the Demi-Human choice. Despite the randomness, humans typically adapted well to external influences; our genetic neutrality made us excellent hosts to almost any kind of transformation or mutation. Or so I read in a magicians weekly book on a case study on the effects of magic on humans. I hoped.

With a resigned shrug, I tapped the "Demi-Human" option.

Instantly, the watch flickered off, its display darkening completely. A tense silence hung for several minutes before the watch blinked back on, showing new messages.

You have acquired the bloodline of the Dimensional Traveler. This unique bloodline is not genetic but a conglomeration formed by exposure to the varied elements and forces of the universe. Your innate ability to merge and transmute elements has triggered this bloodline's activation.

Your spirit summon has been cursed: Curse of Gluttony. Your Frog will now physically grow with everything it consumes rather than storing or dispensing materials.

Anger flared instantly, irrationally. "Don't fuck with my frog!" I shouted instinctively, memories of childhood protectiveness surfacing unbidden. Then, almost sheepishly, I realized the curse wasn't as harmful as it first sounded.

"Actually...that's manageable. I thought you meant he'd start sprouting fur and fangs or something."

You have gained an additional trait: Your wings of transmutation now permanently adopt the aspects of the elements or materials you merge with. All Dimensional Travelers rely on physical mediums for their travels.

I frowned, confusion surfacing. "I already have that, though—what gives?"

Glancing at my wings, I noticed something peculiar: despite the active lightning runes, they lacked the corresponding lightning symbols. Curious, I reached toward the materials stored inside Frog, grabbing a substantial chunk of steel. As I absorbed it, filling my final rune slot with the metal rune, a strange sensation rippled down my spine.

Suddenly, small protrusions emerged through the cloak-like wings, stretching outward in symmetrical patterns. Metal was forming into a skeletal structure, solidifying and integrating permanently into the wings. My eyes widened as the skeletal frame expanded, two solid, metallic branches splitting into sturdy, intricate substructures within the fabric.

I released the metal rune, and the excess metal drained from my body, pooling onto the ground in a shimmering puddle before hardening. Yet, unlike previous transformations, the steel skeleton within my wings didn't vanish. It remained.

It appeared adopting an aspect was now a permanent change unless halted midway. I flexed the newly reinforced wings experimentally. They felt more stable, stronger—truly part of me.

I leaned back, a faint grin touching my lips despite my fatigue and aches. I’d been thrust deeper into this twisted game, acquiring powers and curses beyond my understanding.

"Dimensional Traveler, huh?" I whispered, testing the weight of the words aloud. It seemed fitting, if not entirely comforting.

At least for now, my frog was still my frog. And my wings...well, they were finally something more than cloth.

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I hesitated for a long time as I looked at the materials I had once casually used and abused. The boon forcibly gave me a bloodline that would make what choices I made with the materials and elements of the world detrimental to my growth. The metal for example was now inextricably apart of his wings. What if he took in fire and his skin simply burned forever? Now this might not be true, but the thought would of course pop up.

An unknown process, was simply risky.

Wood, rubber, rock, stone, crystal, glass, textiles, paper, fiber, leather, soil, nylon, cork, plaster, aluminum, plastic, low metals, high metals, gas, clay.

In a sense the list could go on if I so choose to think of every piece of the world, but I would only be tormented by this in the long run and many of them would have no use. For example, cork at best could make me float.

A strange thing though, is that the same amount of steel came out from my body as what went in. It looked even more polished and shiny, and after considerable thought the main thing that was missing was the carbon within the steel. Pure carbon itself or whatever the wings had turned the carbon into or combined, would be far stronger and lighter than pure steel. If he had a steel skeleton jutting from his body, he would mostly certainly fall ass first to the ground or plummet from the sky.

How much carbon? What did it use it for and what process in the wings? Isn’t pure carbon no different in the wings as bones of pencil lead?

This meant that it was taking certain proportions of the things I brought in. To me if I took in metal and saw a metal rune, why would it take carbon? It was a large aspect of metals, but not always.

In the end, this only made it more confusing because now I had to think about quite literally every single aspect to a material. Glass if made from sand, would have countless structuring as well as many minerals depending on the type of glass I pulled from.

I looked over to the materials around me, and specifically several magical items left over from Malcolm and Tao.

‘Carbon wing skeleton: Your wings structure is light, and highly durable.’

“Carbon…” I thought for a moment, and looked back over to an orb of glass. It wasn’t a lot, in fact it was a crystal ball meant for Tao to use. I knew however through Tao’s description of it, that rare bits of jade as well as magical sands were used to make the glass. He hadn’t the need for such an object, it had been a waste from Crafts shop.

I absorbed the large orb, creating a Window like rune on my hand. My back tingled, and after a wait I dispersed the orb into a blob and looked back at my watch. The words slowly shifted themselves.

‘Cryscarbonite wing skeleton: Your wings are highly durable and extremely light. Cryscarbonite is in essence a structuralized pattern of carbon structuring. Much to the alikeness of a crystal, and yet metal, because of the previous design your skeleton wings can faintly hold energies. You do not have access to the use of this energy due to your vessel type’

“Okay…okay I think I know where to start” A faint lightning rune appeared on the wings finally. It wasn’t that it couldn’t appear there, but was unable to due to the new design of the wings. I looked around once more and my eyes fell upon several different items I had harbored. I shook my head though soon after, half of this stuff was the rest of the groups items left to him, mostly, it was yet unusable currently.

*WARP*

I landed on the ground in front of Frog. With a toss, several magical crystals landed in front of his reptile familiar. It looked up at me once more and back down at the crystals before this seemingly insatiable glare became evident. Frog leapt forward and latched onto the first crystal, it slid it in its entirety through its mouth. The whole thing disappeared like a fat kid eating a Honey Bun. Then the next and the next. Frog then sat on his butt, and rubbed its tummy with such dexterity as to be human almost.

“You…” it was then that Frog began to glow, and in turn it gained a cm in height. Little jutting crystal points came through its back like an armored ridge. Frog looked over his shoulder, then lowered his body to the ground, and hopped into a small patch of mist before disappearing.

It may have been the energy within or maybe the crystals themselves but either way a cm in height was massive.

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‘Travel to 145.56.968 and acquire the flag.’

I looked at the watch several times before looking west. The coordinates were in fact the demolished fort or rather specifically the swamp next to it. The cabin had a map I had mostly memorized. That point was definitely the fort.

Traveling through the perpetual darkness of this eerie forest was challenging. A dense mist covered the landscape, but a gentle strum on the Lyre parted the fog smoothly, creating a clear path forward.

‘Gruhhh…’

The distinctive sounds of undead resonated within the mist, and occasionally one stumbled into sight. Before it could alarm others, its head was swiftly severed, disappearing quietly into the darkness behind me.

So far, only standard undead had appeared. No creatures like the werewolves or vampires from earlier had shown up yet. It raised a question in my mind: Were those creatures part of the forest’s inherent dangers or were they summoned specifically by the Boon of Mystery's quest?

Suddenly, a heavy stomp shook the ground nearby. It was like multiple people simultaneously pounding the earth. I instantly quieted the lyre’s sound, carefully manipulating the mist to drop lower, revealing what was approaching.

A towering monstrosity emerged—the Amalgam Undead. I recognized it immediately from 'The Annals of Undead,' a book I had studied meticulously as a teen. Unlike regular undead, this creature was formed by several corpses merged into one horrendous form, with multiple arms sprouting from its grotesque back, three heads, and enormous muscles rippling unevenly across its patchwork frame.

The head on the right had no eyes, but its elongated, bestial nose twitched, sniffing intensely at the air. Soon, the central and largest head pivoted to follow suit. The Amalgam began lumbering steadily toward me, crushing everything in its path with each thunderous step.

A sudden flash of pale, milky-white light appeared momentarily in the corner of my vision, catching both my attention and the creature's. It quickly vanished before either of us could properly identify its source. The Amalgam shifted its attention, stomping toward the place the mysterious light had appeared, swinging its massive limbs and growling in frustration.

*fuf* *fuf*

Another soft flicker appeared and vanished swiftly. It seemed the creature was hunting these elusive lights, but their origin remained hidden.

More lights began appearing, floating gently around the monstrosity like tiny fireflies. My initial curiosity turned to shock as one floated effortlessly through the creature's chest, leaving behind a gaping, clean wound. The lights danced elegantly around it, each one carving small, precise cuts through its body without resistance.

*blip* *fuf* *fuf*

As the creature finally collapsed with a deep thud, the mist rippled outwards, revealing small plants with thin, almost invisible tendrils emitting the soft lights. These tentacles were camouflaged perfectly by their glow, nearly imperceptible except when the mist dispersed. With the Amalgam subdued, the lights drifted away gracefully, leaving me wary and cautious.

Realizing how little I truly knew about this deadly forest, I carefully ascended the nearest tree, keeping my wings tucked tight around my shoulders as I climbed higher. Reaching the top of the canopy, I paused, taking in the eerie sight below. Waves of thick mist rolled silently across the treetops, and countless dangerous sounds drifted up from within the forest’s depths. Flickering lights dotted the area, confirming that the phenomenon I'd witnessed wasn’t isolated.

I sighed deeply, lighting a cigarette, a real one not the magical replication. The nicotine calming my tense muscles. A sudden draft caught my cape-like wings, nearly throwing me from my perch, but the spectral arms quickly stabilized me with a tug to the tree. With caution, I adjusted the wings horizontally, allowing the breeze to pass harmlessly.

Actually, was probably not a bad time to try something.

Taking a steadying breath, I kicked off the tree with a decisive leap, the wings immediately catching the air. My initial excitement swiftly turned to alarm as a large tree trunk appeared rapidly in front of me. I twisted my body, narrowly avoiding a severe injury, but slammed heavily into the bark. Catching my breath, I carefully adjusted my flight position. I had dropped like a paper airplane strapped with a rock.

An idea struck me: "Lightness… Maybe?" Summoning the rune for wind by pulling in air around me, I felt my body become noticeably lighter. Immediately, flight became more manageable, less strenuous. The boots of Mercury assisted significantly, enhancing my control over the delicate adjustments required for flight. Air was actually not shitting, when using it in the air. Go figure.

Slowly and steadily, my confidence grew. I ascended above the treeline, maintaining altitude and balance with greater ease. Below, the forest sprawled, a haunting, dangerous maze filled with creatures eager for violence.

"Am I cheating?" The thought passed briefly, but I dismissed it. Survival trumped fairness every time.

After an arduous flight, I finally touched down onto familiar stone, my wings folding back into their cloak form with a soft rustle. Despite the sore ache spreading along my spine from the constant mid-air adjustments, the journey had undoubtedly saved hours of grueling travel through hostile territory. Learning to fly had its costs, but right now, those pains felt like a fair trade.

Stepping carefully over the shattered remnants of the fortress, I took stock of the area. Debris littered the landscape, shards of stone embedded in swampy ground still slowly sinking beneath the surface under their considerable weight. Moss and vines had already begun reclaiming the rubble, nature quickly covering the evidence of the violent explosion and fire that had torn through this place not long ago.

I paused, gazing out across the ruins with narrowed eyes. What exactly was I supposed to find here? A flag—a literal flag? Or some other symbolic marker? The vague instructions from the watch were less than helpful, leaving me to interpret the meaning on my own.

As I contemplated this, a subtle but disturbing sensation began crawling through my bones. The familiar instinct of being watched set every nerve on edge. My peripheral vision picked up countless faint red glows—tiny, sinister pinpoints flickering just beyond my direct gaze. But every time I turned my head to face them, they vanished instantly, leaving only empty darkness behind.

My pulse quickened slightly. Something wasn't right. A direct confrontation seemed risky; firing blind could alert whatever lurked beyond my immediate vicinity, or worse, reveal that I was aware of them. That might provoke a far greater danger from the shadows beyond this ruined fortress.

Taking a steady breath to calm my nerves, I made a subtle gesture. Frog appeared silently, emerging from a thin swirl of mist beside my boot. He opened his mouth, depositing a small, polished mirror onto the ground before dissolving back into vapor.

Casually, I bent down and picked up the mirror, angling it as if to inspect my own reflection. Carefully, I adjusted it to see clearly behind me without drawing suspicion.

My heart skipped a beat. Reflected in the mirror's smooth surface were rows upon rows of tiny, crimson eyes, clustered along the shadows of the broken walls and submerged stone. Countless twisted forms, vaguely humanoid but distorted in proportions, lurked motionless in the darkness. Their shapes were translucent, almost ethereal, as if partially merged with the night itself.

"Oh, fuck…" I muttered under my breath, grip tightening instinctively around the mirror.

Whatever these creatures were, they were intelligent enough to observe silently, watching for weakness. It wasn't the mindless aggression of the undead or the predatory impatience of werewolves—this was something more cunning. More dangerous.

I carefully slid the mirror back into a small pocket inside my pants, maintaining my facade of ignorance. Confronting these beings openly would likely be suicide, especially without understanding their nature or numbers. My only option was to continue my task as if oblivious, remaining vigilant while searching for the elusive 'flag.'

I straightened my posture and stepped forward, feigning casual confidence, all the while my senses were strained to their limits, tracking every subtle shift in the darkness around me. Whatever this place had become since the explosion, it clearly wasn't safe—and the real trial had only just begun.

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A group of 6 people looked at a screen displaying a horrific scene surrounding Jaeger. Although jaeger wasn’t able to easily see what was around him, they could.

Even the shop keeper was rubbing his chin, “Should be soon…let’s see…”

The holier than holy Tao didn’t feel like he could muster any strength in the same situation without some form of set up, he would definitely power spike such forces himself in the right situation. Jaeger was in, he sighed and laughed sadly. Ito consoled him, “It’s okay…he might still make it, he is a smart one.”

The 4 others sitting next to them however didn’t at all feel it was possible.

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Ghosts.

Countless ghosts, drifting silently among the trees like suspended bodies, each with piercing red eyes. They hung there, unmoving yet somehow menacingly present.

My hand swiftly spun the bracelet around my wrist, instantly activating all three lightning runes. The world slowed dramatically, giving my heightened perception a chance to rapidly take in my surroundings. My gaze scanned methodically, my body rotating in a complete circle, returning to its original orientation in mere moments.

They weren’t particularly fast. That was clear from how they hovered rather than dashed toward me. I focused my mind, quickly counting and assessing. My accelerated thoughts ran through a multitude of scenarios and plans, rapidly creating and dismissing possibilities. Each strategy I mentally tested revealed flaws or unacceptable risks.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

An idea flickered to life in my head, interrupting my panic. What if they weren’t hostile? At least not yet—not until I touched whatever this “flag” was supposed to be.

The logic fit. It reminded me of the field of roses: nothing withered or decayed until I took specific actions. Could these spirits be similar, dormant until provoked?

Quickly, I flicked open the screen of my watch, pulling up the entry titled "Boon of Mystery." Unknown to me, in some distant place, a particular shopkeeper observed my action with a quiet nod of approval.

The cryptic words appeared:

Boon of Mystery: That which is, isn’t. That which was, can never be again. The past is an ethereal concept to those who remember it, but what if the past was never forgotten and merely contained within the minds of those beyond? Repeating its events, always reaching the same result.

Decay and sorrow, change and hollow.

Quest: Change that which was, to never be again.

My eyes rose slowly from the watch to meet the countless glowing red dots steadily closing in around me. They approached like a tidal wave of grey and black, punctuated by dim, dying stars of crimson.

Suddenly, my vision began to fade, darkness washing over me without warning. My senses vanished one after the other—first sight, then sound. Taste and smell quickly followed, leaving only touch. Finally, even that disappeared, replaced by a strange sensation like soft velvet curtains brushing gently against my skin.

Absolute silence enveloped me, deep and unbroken, in the forest of death.