"Damn... I look hot," I muttered, staring at my reflection. The transformation had completely reshaped my appearance, and the red-skinned succubus in front of me was a sight to behold. "Hot isn't even enough to describe me—I look fucking sexy, in a slutty way."
"Nice. Very nice."
My breasts, full and round, rose and fell with every breath, and my dark, erect nipples seemed to beckon to me. The curves of my waist, hips, and ass were like a work of art, and my legs—long and toned—seemed to go on forever. I looked like a creature straight out of a dark fantasy, a seductive temptress that could bring any man to his knees.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I love the succubus race."
The feeling was intoxicating—the knowledge that I could use my body and appearance to achieve my goals was power in its purest form. Thanks to Sol's memories, I had seen it happen before. With a smirk, I strode toward the cave entrance, each step causing my breasts to bounce in a way that was almost hypnotic.
"I don't like being naked but…" I reached out and stroked the curve of one of my breasts, a shudder running through me at the contact. "I need all the help I can get in finding a partner."
My body, already sensitive from the transformation, reacted to the simple touch, a jolt of pleasure running through me. A part of me wanted to savor the sensation, but the more rational part of my brain reminded me of the urgency of my situation.
"Focus," I muttered to myself, my voice low and sultry, a combination of Sol's and my former human voice. With an effort of will, I tore my hand away from my breast and continued toward the entrance of the cave.
"You don't have time for this. Find someone. Anyone."
But who? The cave was empty, and the thought of venturing out into the unknown, into Hell itself, sent a shiver down my spine. I had no idea what awaited me beyond these walls, but I knew I couldn't stay here. The clock was ticking, and every second wasted brought me closer to my demise.
Stepping outside, the hot air hit me, making my skin prickle with sweat. I could feel the heat of the red sun-like orb above me, baking the wasteland beneath it. There was no sign of life, no vegetation, no animals, just an endless expanse of blackened earth and the occasional twisted tree.
Suddenly!
"UGHH!... What the hell," I cursed, dropping onto one knee.
A wave of nausea swept over me, and I struggled to catch my breath. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I feared I was going to pass out. The pain was excruciating, a searing agony that felt like my core was being ripped apart.
'What's happening?'
[Warning: Your core is unable to absorb the mana from the environment.]
A system message appeared, explaining, but before I had the time to read it well, another one popped up.
Ding!
[Warning: Your core is on the brink of shattering.]
"Ugh!"
The pain intensified, and I was unable to hold back a scream. My knees gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground, my face pressed against the parched earth. I could feel the life draining from me, and every breath was a struggle.
"Not now... please," I begged, my voice a barely audible whisper.
[Warning: Host's life is in danger.]
[The remaining mana must be preserved. All functions are now restricted until the source is restored.]
"Ahhh..."
The pain was too much, and I could feel myself slipping away. Darkness crept into the edges of my vision, and the world around me seemed to fade. But as I lay there, struggling to breathe, a single thought ran through my mind.
'I can't die. Not like this.'
Fortunately for me, the pain suddenly stopped, as if someone had flipped a switch. The system's messages vanished, and the crippling agony that had consumed me was replaced by a dull ache.
"UGH!... What the fuck?"
I could hear my own heartbeat, loud and fast, pounding in my ears. My breathing was shallow and uneven, and I could taste blood in my mouth.
Slowly, carefully, I opened my eyes, scanning my own body for any sign of injury. Nothing. No wounds, no blood, just a few bruises and scratches from when I collapsed.
"What happened?" I muttered, pushing myself up.
I sat there, in the middle of the barren wasteland, confused and shaken. The only answer I got was the system's voice.
[Host, your 'Nephalem Form' has been disabled. The skill usually doesn't consume mana, however, with a damaged core, changing forms puts too much pressure on it.]
"So I can't change forms?" I asked, standing up and dusting myself off.
[Not at the moment. You're stuck in your current form until your core is fully healed. However, you still have the ability to change your genitals.]
"Great, just great," I sighed. "So I'm stuck as a succubus."
Fuck!
"I don't have a choice," I muttered to myself, the wind carrying my words away. With my wings folding tightly against my back, I quickly began to descend the mountain, careful not to lose my balance.
The descent was treacherous. The black rock was slick with ash, and the wind whipped around me, sending dust into the air. My bare feet made soft thumping sounds as they connected with the hard ground, and I found myself counting each step, a way to keep my mind focused on the task at hand and not on the transparent fluids leaking from my... thing.
NO! I can't say it... I'm a man at heart! And as a man, I still have some dignity.
'Sol, you bitch!'
'Hey!... Stay calm,' I exclaimed inwardly, trying to calm the thing I failed to notice before—a long, black tail with a heart-shaped end that was swinging back and forth from my back, trying to find its way inside me.
'Damn... my own tail is trying to fuck me.'
"Stop!" I hissed, forcing the words through clenched teeth, my tail still twitching behind me. And it seems that I can't control it well or—
Creak!
"!!!" Suddenly, I heard a sound, and I immediately stopped. The sound came from behind a giant black rock to my right, and it was the first sound I had heard ever since I stepped into this desolate land.
Swiftly, I ducked behind a nearby boulder, pressing my back against the rough stone, my heart pounding in my chest. I strained my ears, listening for any other signs of movement, but there was only silence. Then slowly, I began to crawl toward the black rock, and the moment I reached it, I peeked around the edge.
"!!!" The sight that greeted me took my breath away, and for a moment, my memories of my past came flooding in—not good memories, you know—as they were related to the monster in front of me. A ghoul. A twisted amalgamation of flesh and bone.
'Hmm... they are similar to the ones I fought before.'
The monster, a twisted, misshapen figure, stood before me, its rotting flesh clinging to its bones. Its eyes, sunken and lifeless, seemed to stare straight into my soul, and its gaping mouth, filled with jagged, broken teeth, was wide open.
'I can take them down with ease,' I smirked, recalling the many fights and battles I fought. From what I recall, ghouls were a low-rank, weak monster that belonged to the vampire race. Their real origin is people who failed to become vampires. However, one time, I came in contact with a powerful vampire who had the ability to create ghouls.
'They are strong and fast, but not too smart. Their main attack is their claws and teeth, and they're weak to fire,' my old mentor told me, his voice ringing in my mind. 'Don't get hit, and watch out for their numbers. They're always in packs.'
One or two ghouls were no threat—even a regular human could slay one with a little luck. However, the dark reality was that I saw a kingdom destroyed by ghouls. A swarm of those undead monsters was unstoppable, and it was a horrifying sight.
'So... why is a ghoul here, alone?' I asked myself, still studying the monster in front of me.
It was a strange sight—a lone ghoul in a place like this. Normally, they traveled in groups, feeding on the unlucky travelers and adventurers who ventured into their domain. The fact that it was alone made no sense, but again, this is Hell, and I have no idea what's going on.
'Sigh... guess I'll have to ask him personally.'
While I was narrowing my eyes on the ghoul, suddenly, a small blue system box appeared above his head.
[Ghoul Lv 3]
'Heh!... So they really have levels,' I muttered to myself, feeling a bit nostalgic. My mentor told me about monster levels, but back then, I was only able to see my own level. As for when fighting monsters, I simply sensed their strength through mana.
'Then again, I'm not in the mortal world anymore.'
"Haa... The first monster I meet is without a cock," I muttered, stepping out from behind the boulder, preparing to summon Hell Chains.
"Well, it doesn't matter. If you can't help me, then you're just another obstacle in my way."