Adeline remained still as the Orc got closer, she smelled his disgusting breath. She opened her eyes once more with the Orc now closer to her face. The green skin and protruding lower canines which looked tusk-like, coupled with the odd-shaped ears, made a frighteningly ugly face. She was physically repulsed by this monster; she aggressively pushed the orc away, throwing it across the room.
"Forgive me, Master."
The green monster quickly bowed in front of her and did not dare to look at her.
"Don't eat me."
Adeline stared at the orc as she took in the surrounding area. It looked like an abandoned medieval room, with green vines growing around the walls. Books were spread all over the place and the shelves rotten and broken. This looked more like an office than a bedroom. She stared up to the exposed roof which was the main source of lighting. She returned her attention back to the orc.
"I won't kill you."
She naturally answered as she composed herself, having gotten a better idea of her surroundings.
"Thank you, Master."
The green monster bowed deeply, then slowly got up.
"Are you hungry? I can bring last night's leftovers."
It then pointed to one of the corpses at the edge of the room, with flies flying around it. Adeline covered her mouth, trying not to puke.
"No need for that. Where are we?"
The green monster slightly tilted its head and stared at her blankly.
"We are home."
"In what town or continent? Is this North America?"
"North what? This is Master's castle."
"What is the nearest town?"
"Town is bad. We are in forest."
"What's the name of the forest?"
"The forest is called 'forest.'"
Adeline started to slowly get upset at the answers as she frowned and aggressively slammed the armrest. The orc ran away fearing her retribution, but the sight of her porcelain skin caught her attention. She raised her hand, revealing sharp nails. She quickly held her head and felt a pair of small horns. She pulled her hair and noticed it was jet black. She got up and started to run her hands through her body. She was much taller and curvier than before; the smooth skin would make any model go crazy with jealousy. It was then she realized she was also naked.
She quickly scrambled, looking for any clothes, and settled for a worn-out shirt and trousers. These clothes belonged to one of the many corpses. She put on the shirt first and made sure it covered her adequately. She put on the trousers next; she had another realization. She could feel her tail moving against her trousers, which finally pierced through. She tried controlling it but was unable, so she let it be.
"Let me go for a walk."
She slowly made her way through the collapsed castle, taking note of the fallen paintings and the old style of architecture. The setting was like a fantasy world of sorts, which made sense with her being a demon and that orc running around.
This led to Adeline beginning to believe this was a version of hell and she was here to atone for her sins. She stared at the noble paintings who wore luxurious fabrics, and their wives had beautiful, jeweled necklaces. She finally found her way out as the blazing sun attacked her as she covered her eyes. After some time, her vision slowly returned, and she removed her hand.
Various plants and trees surrounded her, with the sight of deer grazing together with other animals. Her instincts suddenly screamed at her as a cold sweat ran down her back. Shortly after, the animals ran away in all directions. A large black snake, the size of a car spanning several feet, appeared. It constricted as it towered in front of her and let out a powerful hiss.
The large snake stared down at Adeline without making any further movements, as if waiting for something. Adeline did the same, but she froze due to shock, unsure what to do.
What rotten luck, how do I fight this thing?
Adeline took a small step backward carefully, but the snake also slithered forward, mimicking her. She quickly changed her mind and stopped moving forward, and the snake slithered backward. She moved right and then left, and the snake did the same. She started to make random movements, as if dancing, and the snake did its best to mimic her movements.
"Master is playing with us! How grateful we are."
The orc appeared from the forest carrying a deer.
"Is this my pet or something?" Adeline asked, feeling relieved.
"Yes, everything in this small forest belongs to Master. It is your rightful territory, and we all obey Master."
The orc placed the deer on the ground as Adeline turned away from him because he was still naked.
"How big is my territory?"
"It is from the castle to the edges of the forest, about one day's walk north from here."
"So everything in this area is mine?"
"Yes, Master, but sometimes other beasts infringe, so you have to chase them away."
"How many of your kind and that snake are there?"
"Just the two of us."
"Go grab some dry branches and twigs."
Adeline ordered as the two disappeared into the thick undergrowth. She took this moment to investigate her surroundings, trying to get a better sense of where she was. Nothing seemed to make sense; it was a regular forest, though some animals looked alien-like. She closed her eyes and recalled her last moments step by step and confirmed that she indeed died. Frustration mixed with desperation rose as she aggressively punched a nearby tree, destroying it in one blow.
Adeline was perplexed as she stared at her hand which wasn't even grazed. She moved to another tree and punched it once more with the same results. She stared at the fallen trees, then tried to carry them. To her surprise, she easily carried them and even hurled them with great force. A satisfied smile painted her face; it seemed her prayers were answered for a stronger and more durable body.
Is this truly hell? It's more like heaven.
Adeline thought to herself as the two returned. The orc carried a huge bundle of sticks while the snake pushed a tree. They placed down their load and both of them approached her full of pride.
"I should have been more specific, but nonetheless, good job."
"Thank you, Master!" The orc answered enthusiastically while the snake hissed and moved its tail around.
"Can you go and cover yourself."
"Cover myself? I don't understand."
Adeline turned to the orc with a frown.
"Clothes. Go wear them."
"I do not need human fabric. My skin is tough."
"I don't give a shit. Go wear them now."
Adeline raised her voice while pointing into the castle. The orc instantly stopped questioning the odd request and entered the run-down castle. Adeline, with a heavy sigh, returned her attention to the tree and branches. She pulled the large tree to a suitable position, then picked up the collapsed stone blocks and placed them in a circle. She took time to adjust the size of the circle, and when satisfied, she placed the dry branches in the middle.
"What is Master doing?"
The orc appeared using the shirt to hide his private parts and parts of a torn trouser as sleeves. Adeline shook her head with disappointment, but it was better than nothing.
"Preparing the food to cook."
Adeline pulled the deer carcass and stared at it. She thought of looking for a knife but dismissed that thought. She stared at her sharp nails, then carefully punctured the thick hide. Her sharp nails proved useful as she carved up the carcass.
"What is cooking?"
"You don't know what cooking is? How do you eat your food?"
"I catch, then kill, and finally eat the flesh. Discard the rest."
"You will need to stop doing that going forward. If you do, I don't want to see it."
She warned and continued her work on the deer. Once she was done portioning the meat, the next step was starting a fire. She compiled the sticks and dry leaves, then used a rusted piece of iron ingot and stone to ignite a small fire. The orc and snake suddenly started to panic as they both kept their distance.
"What are you two doing?"
Adeline asked, looking completely confused.
"It is the orange weapon! I don't want to die!"
"You will not die from it."
"I have seen those humans wield it! Everything was turned to ash!"
"I am still alive, so you two will both be fine. Now sit."
Reluctantly, the two obeyed but remained far in case they needed to run away again. She let out a sigh as she began to roast the meat. The smell was very appetizing as the two monsters started to levitate slowly toward the fire. Soon, the three of them sat on top of the tree, waiting for the food to be done.
"It's ready!"
She announced with excitement as she handed a deer leg towards the orc, then indicated to the snake its portion. The snake quickly descended on the deer leg, eating it whole. Its tail wagged in great excitement, then eyed Adeline's piece with greed but did not act on it.
"I will cook you some more."
Adeline placed another piece on the fire. The orc cautiously bit down on the leg, then paused. Its eyes widened, and it started to take larger bites of the meat with excitement.
Satisfied, Adeline started to enjoy her food as well. The majority of that day was simply hunting and eating until the entire group lay down in a food coma, satisfied as the moon slowly took over.
"I have a huge appetite. I can eat for days!"
"What is an appetite?"
"Forget about it for now. What are your names?"
"We are not great enough to have names."
"I will name you then."
"Master, don't name us; we are undeserving."
"I really don't understand what the huge fuss is about. I can't continue pointing around just to catch your attention."
"If you wish to, then we can't stop Master." The orc admitted defeat.
"I will call the green one Fang, and the snake one I will call Scales."
Shortly after, a bright light engulfed the entire room like a small flashbang. Adeline felt a bit lightheaded, as her vision grew dark, and then passed out on the floor.
Adeline slowly opened her eyes and was instantly greeted by Fang. He looked very different; he was more muscular, his face was more pronounced, and his protruding teeth were now more uniform rather than wild tusks. Red lines were visible throughout his body, which contrasted his green skin. The ugly orc was now more bearable to look at. She slowly pushed him away and sat.
Did naming him cause such a dramatic change?
Adeline, still unsure of this new world, thought as she regained her senses.
"Master, you're awake! We were so worried."
Adeline scanned the orc, who now wore a piece of fabric to hide his private parts. This was a development but still very barbaric for her.
"Go wear proper pants rather than just fabrics."
"Fang is more comfortable this way."
"Then cover properly, go now."
After some time had passed, Fang returned wearing a dress which was barely holding on. She was already at her mental limits.
"Bring me the hide."
Fang ran out of the castle and returned with hide, which he handed to Adeline. She looked around the run-down office for a needle and thread but could not find it. She moved to other rooms which were already ransacked. She then settled with using rope to create temporary clothing. Once done, she handed the final product, which looked like a badly made battle skirt. Fang wore it quickly with a bright smile.
"Also, start taking baths and practicing proper hygiene."
"Fang will take the greatest of baths!"
Fang answered with excitement as he exited the castle for his daily routine.
"You should not be so hard on him."
A soft, feminine voice could be heard as Adeline turned. She saw a normal-sized white snake slithering on the floor. She had bright red eyes, which were mesmerizing.
"You can talk now?"
"I can now control the size of my body thanks to you, Master, and yes, I can converse more easily now."
Scales slowly climbed up Adeline's legs, then wrapped herself around her neck like a scarf. Adeline felt uncomfortable at first, but warmth spread through her body as if she were wearing a blanket.
"So, what happened?"
"I am unsure, Master, but I feel stronger and more capable."
"That's good to hear."
Adeline stretched with a yawn as she lazily made her way outside the castle. She took a moment to take in the beautiful forest, which she found more peaceful than the cramped cities, which were loud and obnoxious.
"Is there a pond or lake nearby?"
"Yes, Master, it is five minutes north."
With Scales' guidance, Adeline made her way to a nearby pond. A wide smile appeared on her face. Adeline quickly stripped off her worn-out clothes and jumped into the pond, with Scales holding on for dear life. She floated around the pond, enjoying every second of it; this was truly heaven for her. Scales simply mimicked her movements, trying to understand this new activity, but after some time, she too came to enjoy the peacefulness known as bathing.
"Isn't this relaxing, Scales?"
"Master, I am enjoying this new activity."
"Take it all in, Scales; this tranquility will not last."
In her previous life, people would always interrupt her bath sessions with nonsensical reasons, such as infighting or not knowing what to do. The entire gang was dependent on her for decision-making and fights with other gangs. It became burdensome for her over time, but she was not one to shy away from responsibility.
With a hum, she cleaned her clothes and let them dry as she moved to properly clean her hair. It was then she saw her reflection on the water. She touched her small red horns, then moved to the red lines which looked like bloody tears running down her face. Her skin was clear and her deep dark brown eyes.
"Master, are you okay?"
Scales brought Adeline back to reality.
"I am fine."
Adeline answered as she continued to wash her hair, then waited for her clothes to dry. Her mind wandered back to her early days. She wondered if this was a second chance for her or just an illusion of one. With everything done, she was now ready to set off into the forest.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Master."
They made their way through the forest, looking for anything of note. By noon, she had looked around the immediate area with no luck. That all changed when a cry could be heard in the forest. Racing towards the source, she was filled with great anticipation, but she still remained cautious. Once she arrived on the scene, she saw Fang on the ground, injured, surrounded by small green monsters the size of children.
"Goblins!"
Fang could be seen curled up as the goblins climbed over him, attacking him relentlessly. Their sharp teeth bit deep into Fang while others with sticks were beating him. Adeline descended and kicked one of the goblins like a ball as its body splatted on the nearby tree. The rest dispersed and watched Adeline with foaming mouths.
"You alright, Fang?"
"I am fine, Master. Sorry for being lacking."
Fang answered, holding back the pain, as Scales approached him to check on his wounds.
"He will need rest, Master, but he is fine."
"Well, I am glad."
The goblins retreated further as Adeline eyed them.
"So, these are goblins. Feral little critters."
Adeline, with a wide smile, approached them. The goblins continued their retreat.
"They are actual cowards."
A low, horn-like sound could be heard as the goblins suddenly got braver and inched forward.
"Master, you need to run; more of them are coming. We will cover you."
"Run?"
Adeline frowned at the thought of retreat. She never backed away from a fight; it was either her opponent fell or she fell. More and more goblins slowly poured out from the surrounding area in droves.
"Scales, take Fang back to the castle; I will hold them off."
"Master, I would rather die than leave you!"
"I agree with Fang; there is no world where we live without Master."
Scales and Fang protested strongly. If she was back on Earth, most of them would have already run away. It gave her a sense of comfort knowing she could rely on these two. Adeline noticed Fang's wounds slowly healing; he stubbornly got up and tried standing upright. Scales followed suit as the small snake suddenly turned into a hulking serpent with large fangs, letting out a hiss.
"Yes, let's take care of these small fries, then return home for some meat."
"Yes, Master!"
They both answered in unison as they turned towards the circling goblins. Another horn could be heard as the goblins ran towards them without care.
The small goblins climbed onto Scales, but she effortlessly crushed them as she rolled and pinned them against the trees. Fang, with more confidence, fared better as he fought off the small goblins but stuck close to Scales.
Adeline remained in the back as she observed the fight and assessed their capabilities. Another group of goblins appeared, but there was an odd one among them. It wore various beads and necklaces and had a staff with carvings.
You must be the leader.
Like a predator, her eyes were set on the goblin shaman. She charged through the goblins who pitifully tried to attack her but were easily killed. With her newfound power, this was child's play. She kicked and stomped the goblins as she slowly approached her target.
A bright blue light suddenly shot towards her, but she was able to dodge by jumping out of the way. The blue light completely destroyed the nearby trees and killed the goblins in its path.
"Magic. I should have thought as much."
The goblin shaman tried to conjure what seemed like another spell. Seeing the opportunity, she pressed on. With all her might, she punched the goblin, hoping to end it in one blow, but her fist landed on an invisible barrier. A small boom could be heard as the goblin shaman launched a counter-offensive by unleashing the same blue light. She quickly maneuvered her body as she dodged the attack at point-blank range.
If this was my old body, I would be dead by now.
Adeline unleashed another powerful punch; her fist collided with the barrier once more, but she did not stop there. She unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, treating her opponent like a small punching bag. She started to feel pain as her fists turned bloody, but this only made her attack more fiercely.
The grotesque sounds of flesh and bone clashing with the barrier were enough to halt the entire battle as they all stared at Adeline. Fang and Scales looked on with slight horror, as this was the first time they saw their master fight in such a way, too gruesome for even monsters. The barrier started to crack and soon gave way as her fist punched through the goblin's skull, killing it in one blow, leaving a disfigured corpse.
"That was very fun. Is there more?"
Adeline's fists, face, and clothes were covered in a mixture of her own blood and the green goblin blood. Her beautiful porcelain hands dripped blood and pieces of flesh as she looked towards the remaining goblins.
They all turned and started to run away, but Adeline gave chase as a one-sided battle began. Flesh and bodily organs flew across the forest as she dismantled her enemies in a brutal fashion; a wide smile was on her face, thoroughly enjoying the thrill. Fang and Scales did not dare join as they simply watched on. Once she was done, her entire body was drenched with blood and entrails. She stared to the sky, releasing an ominous laugh, announcing her arrival.
"That was very fun. Did you two also have fun?"
"Yes, Master, it was indeed very fun; it was an honor watching you fight."
"Your movements were truly mesmerizing; we can never compare to you, Master."
They were quick to praise Adeline, who simply laughed and started to clean herself. Something grabbed her attention as she saw a bead-like ball; something about it seemed captivating.
"What is this?"
"That is a core. All of us have it." Scales answered.
"Does it have any use?"
"I am sorry, Master, but my knowledge is limited." Scales answered with embarrassment.
Adeline stared at it for a moment, then decided to eat it. She felt the core make its way down. Suddenly, a warm energy filled her gut as she started to feel more powerful.
"Collect all the cores."
"Yes, Master, me and Fang will make sure we secure all of them."
"Also, bring some food; I am hungry."
"Yes, Master."
Adeline disappeared into the forest as she headed back to the castle, leaving the two. After taking a much-needed bath, she inspected the wounds on her body. She was a bit disappointed that she had to ruin such a beautiful body, but it was the price to pay if you wanted to fight.
Part of her knuckles had exposed bone, and her entire body had small bite marks and stab wounds, but she didn't feel a lot of pain. She was already accustomed to pain; she felt it throughout her life.
You know you're alive if you feel pain. Pain is truth, pain is life.
She flexed her hands just to make sure if she could still use them, but noticed that her skin was growing back as it covered the bones. Her wounds also slowly disappeared. Her entire body was back to normal as if she had never been in a fight to begin with.
This is awesome!
She wanted to fight more and push this new body to the limits and truly understand it. She concluded that she had superhuman strength, stamina, and durability.
"If I had this body back on Earth, I would have killed every one of those rat bastards."
She made her way back to the run-down castle and was greeted with deer carcasses and dry wood neatly placed. Fang approached her and handed a stack of marble-like balls. Scales, who was back to her small form, slithered around the camp.
"You all did very well. You two go and bathe. I will prepare dinner."
"Yes, Master!"
They answered in unison as they both bolted out. Adeline started to prepare the food as she collected the hides, hoping to make new clothes out of them later. When they came back, a small campfire was made with several skewered pieces of meat cooking. She turned her attention to the small marble-like balls, which had different colors. Adeline took the biggest one and ate it like a pill. The warm feeling instantly spread throughout as she took another core and promptly ate it.
She decided to take two at one time, hoping it would feel twice as good. The warm feeling turned into strong heat, which made her uncomfortable. She decided to eat one at a time.
"How do you use magic?"
"I am sorry, Master, but I don't know." Scales answered while Fang's attention was on the meat.
"I see. Tomorrow we need to find the goblins' lair. Maybe there are clues."
"Yes, Master, we will prepare adequately."
Scales answered obediently as Adeline continued to consume the cores like candy.
Once the food was done, the group started to eat. They savored the taste of the tender meat, a well-earned meal. The next morning, Adeline woke up from her makeshift bed made of different soft items. She stretched her body with a light yawn. She got up and instantly felt something was amiss. She inspected her body thoroughly, but nothing seemed odd.
Is this the side effect of eating all those cores?
As she emerged from the castle, she saw Scales standing guard while Fang cleaned the general area. They suddenly stopped and bowed in front of her.
"Master, we greet you."
"You look very beautiful today," Scales added.
They praised her as usual. She didn't actually hate it, but it was becoming tedious.
"You need to tone down the praising. I am not a king or god."
"Master, you exude the aura of a god; we can't help but praise."
Adeline ignored the comment as she made her way to the pond for a bath to kickstart her day. She undressed and made her way into the pond, then let go of her body as she floated. She closed her eyes and took in the peace, the sound of something rummaging through the undergrowth. She opened her eyes and turned and saw several deer and other animals staring at her.
"I didn't know I was already this famous."
Adeline joked as she returned to enjoying her bath. Over time, more animals surrounded her, with some even nibbling at her black hair. She enjoyed this newfound attention and welcomed the animals. After she was done, she dried up and made her way back to camp. On her way there, she was confronted with a white wolf who stared her down. Normally, this would cause panic, but now Adeline was no longer human.
"Go back home."
Adeline spoke as she passed the wolf. She reached the camp and went straight inside. Unbeknownst to her, the wolf was still lurking at the edge of the camp, watching.
She used the new hide to fashion herself a skirt and blouse. She made sure it was secured properly so it wouldn't slip when fighting. She took the trousers and tore them; she turned them into shorts that she wore underneath the skirt. She made one more check and emerged from the castle.
The first thing she saw was the white wolf who approached her. Adeline petted the wolf, who accepted it and started to wag its tail. The wolf flipped on its back, revealing its belly as Adeline crouched and continued petting it.
"You're a girl."
The wolf barked as if confirming that statement. Adeline now started playing with the wolf who enjoyed her time.
"I will call you Lola."
A light covered the wolf, who now had red markings throughout her body.
"Master, we are ready!" Fangs announced, carrying their supplies.
Scales enthusiastically climbed and wrapped herself around Adeline as they began their journey deeper into the forest.