Hardcore OP-ness

Chapter 15: You Are What You Eat

Michael snickered as he asked himself "I wonder if this counts as me giving her the mana-core? It would be interesting if she became my Companion, assuming that she survives, heh. Sure, she's cute as a Goblin, but way too boring for my tastes. Hmmm, okay, stop talking and take the little red pill..."

Jonathan shook his head back and forth, then let out a deep sigh; he told his daughter "Fine, I won't try to dissuade you any longer..." as he took off the dark-brown gourd from his belt, and poured the crimson liquid into the clay bowl: It was an expensive healing potion, that he always kept in case of emergencies.

Sarah smirked, as she quickly picked up the bowl and placed it to her tips. Her face immediately began returning to normal, as the swelling dissipated, and her health rapidly regenerated to full.

While she was taking huge gulps of the bitter medicine, Michael muttered "Ah, yea, I figured that something like that would be helpful. It would be better if I could learn some healing spells though: I hate using potions. Hell, most consumable stat boosters or recovery items are usually extremely wasteful. Although, I can understand why they would be really useful in a situation where death is a bit more, permanent."

The moment that the Goblin-girl finished drinking down the entire bowl of bright-red liquid, along with the scarlet mana-core, she immediately noticed a searing pain coursing throughout her body. Blood began pouring from her ears, eyes, nostrils and mouth, as she started coughing violently.

A certain pitch-black wisp was laughing hysterically during the whole transformation. Sara's skin went from a smooth, dark-green, to a slimy crimson; all the hair on her head swiftly fell out and was replaced by skinny, but thin, pink, spiny worms.

Jonathan shouted "Wh-what is this?! Oh Goddess, please forgive my daughter!" as the girl's bright-blue eyes turned a milky white. She screamed and wailed constantly, but as soon as her Health started to drop, the healing potion would recover it rapidly.

Sarah was rolling around on the ground as her entire body spasmed uncontrollably. Eventually she started spitting out her teeth, one by one, until there were none left; at the same time, her fingernails and toenails fell off.

Then long, narrow, and incredibly sharp fangs started growing from her bleeding gums. Just when the pain finally stopped and exhausted girl was about to lose consciousness, another strange change occurred.

From the top of her tailbone, a huge blood-worm began growing, tearing open her flesh and squirming around, while spewing a dark-black liquid out of its 'mouth.' Sarah screamed "What's... happening... to me!?" before convulsing violently, and promptly passing out.

Her race changed to "Bloodworm-Goblin, Rank-F" and her maximum health increased to twenty-five. Jonathan knelt down next to his mutated daughter, and hugged her close to his chest while silently weeping.

Michael snickered, and muttered "Pretty bad-ass, still cute too... but she's probably going to kill me again when she wakes up. I guess it's not as easy to get humanoid Companions, huh? Well, whatever, it's not like I forced her to steal the mana-core from me. Speaking of which, that bastard was so pre-occupied, that he probably didn't even listen to my demands. Ugh, fuck it all, I'm going to sleep... Okay, I'm already unconscious, so I'll just go loiter somewhere else."

After leaving the Lorekeeper's hut, the wisp lazily floated through the dark skies and allowed time to flow by at an incredibly accelerated rate. The crescent moon swiftly disappeared, as a bright yellow sun rose in the east, and the naked man finally opened his eyes.

Inari had wriggled out from under his head, and left the hut, searching for water and food. She wasn't a house-pet after-all, and didn't expect a Human to constantly take care of her needs.