The End?

Five minutes ago...

I woke up in a sea of yellow sludge, my form small and compact. I wanted to speak out, but I had no lips to speak from. Oh, Raze... Just what the hell did you do to me this time?

Then I remembered. Oh...right. I was free from her mind control, but then I got eaten. I must be in her belly.

I didn't have much time left. The yellow bile I was floating in was slowly starting to pick away at me, attempting to digest me within its acidic fluids and make me one with the Queen. I couldn’t let that happen. Why would I?!

If I turn back now I pose the risk of getting crushed beneath the strength of her innards. it's too risky. I need another way out.

I could try casting my magic here, but I might end up hurting myself as well if I can’t escape while it's burning…

My options were just too limited; there was only so much I could actually do.

I wonder what Raze is feeling right now? Did he think I died? Would he even care or mourn for me? Is he relieved? That thought unsettled me to no end.

I shook my non-existent head. Jumping to conclusions was a classic trope in times of crisis, but I needed to push past it—be stronger. Like Lyra. Like Jinzo. Like...Raze.

I wanted to yell. I wanted to scream to anyone for help. However, I knew no one could save me here. It made me recall thoughts of my family, friends, and fellow villagers. I could distinctively recall each and every one of their smiling faces. Then I remembered something Lyra told me the night my entire village perished. The worst day in my life.

“After witnessing the events in reverse, I was able to determine the truth of their...unfortunate demise. It was the work of the Nebulos, who appear to self-destruct when two come in contact. You shouldn’t blame them, though. The one you should blame and the one that got them to collide with each other in the first place. And that was—”

—The Basilisk Queen. It’s her fault my family is dead.

Anger started to well up inside me like my hot-headed friend. I was not someone that expressed my anger to others directly. I kept it bottled up inside me until excessively provoked, and even then it was never how I plan it. It's unhealthy, I know, but I didn't like to worry others when it’s not their concern. It was my troubles, my plight, my fight.

Still...this will not...stand!

The fury that was assaulting my body in small strikes like a needle pressing pressure points was not natural and yet...I welcomed it. Something foreign was infecting me, forcing its own feelings onto me like a consuming tide and making them my own.

This doesn't... feel bad. I think. 

I didn’t care. Let our desires become one. This woman needs to pay for what she did!

KILL.

CONSUME.

DEVOUR.

VENGEANCE.

JUSTICE.

PAIN.

SORROW.

AGONY.

ANGUISH.

LUST.

HUNGER.

DEATH!

These sinful thoughts and feelings swirled around in the endless void of my inner mind and heart. They wanted to be free, they wanted to help, and they wanted to truly be a part of me.

And so, I released the floodgates.

My body felt as if it was changing shape and going through a metamorphosis of sorts. Not like when I turned into Jinzo—something completely primal and cryptic.

 I couldn't tell. 

This was me, and yet it wasn’t. Maybe, deep down, I felt this way as well. Who really knew?

My body kept expanding and gaining mass, though, some of my features changed color as part of me became warped and distorted. It didn't matter. I repeated the same primal urges in my mind over and over again.

KILL.

CONSUME.

DEVOUR.

VENGEANCE.

JUSTICE.

PAIN.

SORROW.

AGONY.

ANGUISH.

LUST.

HUNGER.

DEATH!

And then—just like that—I was set free.

———————————————————————————————————————————

The predator that was Komoria eyed me like a juicy piece of meat. There was nothing I could do about it. I was already losing consciousness from my injuries and intense fight.

I’m not sure if it was an illusion or not, but right before I closed my eyes, I saw Komoria more clearly than ever. She was back to how she used to be, but tears were flowing down her face like a waterfall. Her expression looked truly pained. I wonder why? Did I do this? I did usually make her cry from my antics. I hope she's okay...

Then I ascended into the beyond…

“Raze! Raze! Can you hear me?!” a worried voice spoke loudly next to my ear. "Stay with me!"

“He’s clearly breathing. He should be fine...eventually.”

More time went by, but at some point, I finally opened my eyes.

“RAAAAAAZE!” Komoria jumped onto the bed and gave me a big squeeze.

I had a hard time registering what was going on. I wasn’t dead? And Komoria... She wasn't... an eldritch monster?

“Uggh…. W-where am I?” I wanted to close my eyes and go back to sleep for a few more hours. I felt the same as I did back in my old world when I woke up before 8 AM and just wanted to lay limp as a corpse go back to sleep. I did the opposite though. I wanted to face my reality. I pulled myself up and pressed my back against a pair of nicely shaped and soft pillows.

This feels...nice. Maybe I should sleep again.

I could finally tell where I was...well, actually...I didn't know where we were. The last thing I recalled was succumbing to my poisoned wounds in the crystal cavern. This place had a rocky interior and had a few wooden tables, a kitchen, and even a large jail cell in the back. There was a closet with many dresses that would only fit a woman of tall stature and a large tank of mice was squirming at the foot of my bed like fish in a barrel.

“We're in the secret room of the Basilisk Queen. Lyra found it once I healed her injuries by moving her large bed to the side. Your new weapon was really something! It stopped the poison from spreading in each of our bodies.”

I respond groggily, a small smile across my face. “O-oh...that’s great.” I gazed down. My body was completely bandaged up. My armor and clothes had been completely removed except for my boxers. I thought I would be colder, but the air was surprisingly warm and welcoming. It made me want to go back to sleep even more. “How long was I out for?”

Komoria smiled tenderly before pointing at a black mirror on the wall to my right. I could see the moon inside of it, stuck inside its small prison like the mice. “Judging from this view that can project the sun and moon, you were asleep for almost four days.”

“F-four days!?” The hell?!

She moved the mouse container and set it below the bed. “Yeah... I healed you the best I could, but I couldn't save both of you if I tried to heal you fully, so Lyra brought out some bandages when she woke after the first day to help you out.”

“I see...well, I have one other question.”

She sat down next to where our bodies nearly touched. “What is it?” She was strangely giddy and had a blissful expression across her face. and for some reason, it turned me on a little...

"I think you know," I said.

"Well..." Her visage suddenly shifted to being more nervous, her eyes darting back to the full moon and then to me.

“Why am I in my boxers? You could have at least put some clothes on me. It's not cold, but still. This a little weird.”

"Weird...," she repeated. Her facial expression warped once more—into one a bit more sinister. I had never seen her make a face like that. It didn't suit someone like her. It really gave me the creeps. 

She leaned a little closer to me and started walking two fingers over my bandaged chest. Something in me started to rise. My heart rate increased exponentially. 

“U-uh...Komoria... Y-you're making me a little unco—”

“You know,” she cut, “ I never thought I would fall for someone that treated me like shit, but I realize now that there's a lot more to you than your awful attitude and cruel and childish behavior. I considered it that night before our cannon launch, but I wasn't sure about my feelings. I never felt something like this before. But now, after destroying that conniving bitch that killed my family and welcomed the power of Greatness into my body—I can now express my true feelings, guilt-free.”

I couldn't understand what she was getting at (well, I kinda could but pretended not to), but she kept getting closer. Her eyes had literal hearts in them...or was I still in a daze from my injuries? Was she really in love with me? Am I still asleep? Surely...

Her body changed color and spouted out tentacles like plants, two on each side of her body. Unlike before, her entire body went through a metamorphosis. She was truly a terrifying being.

“Woah woah woah! What the fuck!” I screamed. “This cannot be happening! Why would you like a disgusting little gremlin of a human like me? My character is made to garner hate and spite!”

I try to get up, but my body is completely still, frozen with what was probably horror. I can’t move a muscle. What the hell?!

“I used [Gluttony] and acquired that paralyzing skill from that garbage basilisk floozy as I killed her.” she reveals a forked tongue and flushed cheeks. She was speaking like me, now, too. How eerie. “Now I can have you all to myself and don’t worry—there was one part of you that isn't paralyzed….hehehe!” Her cheeks grew even more crimson, constructing on her grey skin like roses against stone. 

What the fuck is happening? How the hell? What happened to her? Was it me or that fucking flying monstrosity from the misty city? Or was it both? This bitch is crazy!

Her carnivorous gaze was aimed at my crotch. I think I might have preferred dying to the poison at this point. I can't live with being dominated.

“Hey, Bitch... Er— Hey, don’t take it off! Please! Komoria! C'mon! This isn't in your character— Noooooo!” I shrieked like a middle school girl.

“Do not worry, Raze. I’ll take care of everything from here. I can tell you have never really touched a woman—in that kind of way—I mean, but I hope now, you will see me as someone of the opposite sex.”

She was on top of me now, her large boobs pressing against my chest with enough force to invoke wheezing. They felt good, sure, but I was never good with women in my past life either. The stress was fraying my sanity more than her terrifyingly alluring gaze. 

Now there was a genuine girl (If I could still call her that at this rate) pressing her unmistakably beautiful body and large bust against me… Then, at last, I caved; my partner had betrayed me, displaying my keen interest in her. It showed that my own lust overpowered my desire to flee. 

I never had any interest in a woman, but I guess if it would be with anyone, I would want it to be with her. 

Her face was very close to mine, her rapid breaths making me feel more enthralled by the second. My breathing was matching hers now, our air shared as one. Even with her love-struck feral crimson eyes, I wasn't afraid. I knew she wouldn't actually hurt me...I think. We had a mutual trust for each other and something a lot deeper. I wouldn't admit it aloud, but something inside me really wanted this. Not saying it's a fetish, but this would definitely be hot to someone. 

Either way, with her own clothes falling to the ground and exposing the pristine ash color of her developed body, I was too captivated to say anything. Perhaps the blood rushing to a few specific places in my body had reached my throat as well.

This was it. 

After many years of being stuck here as a loser orphan, I would finally become a man.

———————————————————————————————————————————

The sun shone in from the display on the wall. I peered down beneath the covers. I had no clothes on. 

What the hell happened last night? Right...

My question had been answered almost immediately. Sleeping next to me, was a beautiful, tan bat beast-kin girl—scratch that—woman. The sheets only covered half her body, but at least she was wearing a purple bra over those large, soft mounds of flesh. One glance at them was enough to evoke a sudden memory of grabbing onto to them the same way a child clings to his mother's clothing and was enough to make me blush like a peach and feel just as flustered. What the fuck was I even doing? I'm such a clown. 

Yeah…. That bra was not there the last time I recall seeing her. Yup. Did she do that? Or did I... and didn't I... Ugh..., what am I, a child?! I touched my lips and sighed. I felt like I had a mild hangover, but I know I didn't drink. It was just because of her and her lust for me...I don't get it.

Komoria Vato, the girl I only recently started treating like another person, had fallen for a piece of shit like me and I wasn't sure why. I saw little value in myself besides my own inflation of ego. She went through a drastic change over the past few days, but the crux of it was when we fought the Basilisk Queen. It seemed that she couldn't contain her primal urges and took some of it out on me. Not that I can really complain, though. It was pretty epic.

I scratched my wispy ashen hair. I would be lying if I said it didn't feel good to be loved. It was the first for me, but was it genuine affection? Or was it that transformation that made her like this?

I looked over the sleeping beauty. She was resting so peacefully. She seemed so calm and carefree like she had finally got everything off her chest.

I now accepted how much I appreciated having her around. Even after what happened last night. She fucking saved my life again. If paying her with my body is what she wanted...well, I guess that's fine. I want to be someone that others look up to and can count on. I want to be strong. 

I ignored it before when I lived in the slums, but I know now. Strength doesn't mean shit in the end. There's a lot more to life than that. I know that now. Though Komoria is the only one I feel like I can open myself up to, Lyra might be someone I might befriend as well. Even though she probably hates me.

Maybe one day I will fully feel the same way about her as she does about me...if those feelings are the truth…

I was never good with stuff like this, anyway. All I knew now is that I want her to be happy and I want to be the one that helps her with that—in any way possible. Maybe that's what they call love since she’s the only one that I can only call special.

Today is a new era for Raze Havok. I raise two middle fingers into the air, even though I’m the only one to see them.

“Today, I have finally become a man.” The appearance of someone similar to myself briefly floated into my mind but disappeared before I could recall who they were.

 It didn't matter at the moment—I was truly a man—In both mind and body. Now I just had to survive what came next.