V Different World, Same Psycho

[Lilith]

Floating endlessly
Across an endless stygian lake
Still, silent, undisturbed
A body, with a shape, yet formless
Trapped in a place in between
Two eyes open
Widening to the void above
While on the surface of the one below
Hanging on by a thread
One moment from the inevitable.
Mist rolls in
Vapors piling up
Recollection of a harbor
And its distinct scent
The herald of collosal giants
Inconceivable masses of dark
Wading through the ocean
In the far distant horizon.
This body belongs to Lilith
The depths dragging her in
Impossibly deep
Yet she fights to stand up
It clings to every fiber of her
Brought to her knees
Head held low in defeat.
The waters tremble and rumble
Not from what is below
But from a blinding radiance
Descending from above
A brilliant beam of light
Illuminating, enlightening
A crashing shockwave of energy
A ray of hope.
The shackles loosen
Lilith must answer this calling
Pulled in two directions
A desperate hand reaching out
To feel the shining warmth
So close she could grab it
Crawling towards in vain
Straining to persist
A losing battle against
Corruption eating at her
Fire fading in the struggle
Taking over piece by piece
One last flicker of light
Before being snuffed out
Cold and abandoned
Sinking into the abyss
Until nothing was left.

Returning to an abrupt awakening, Lilith inhales a breath of unfamiliar fresh air. The first sensation demanding her attention was constriction. Bands of smooth rope coiled around her body, at least that's what it felt like. The tightly packed layer covering her was made of a combination of thick roots and vines, which must have spontaneously grown from the ground while she was passed out. Fortunately Lilith could still breathe, thanks to the small indentations between the cocoon of plant life. That would only last so long, as the pressure mounting on her airways was piling up, the sentient growth slithering almost imperceptibly, perhaps trying to squeeze the nutrients out of her.

And yet, Lilith was in no rush to escape from this situation. She did not think about what negative outcome might occur from choosing to lay still. Her mind was on quite the opposite. Admittedly, being bound like this wasn't so bad. It was oddly familiar. She was mildly curious as to how these plants came to life, and there was a lingering sense that she had ventured to somewhere else. She would figure out where this land was in due time. I could get used to this. Although, thinking it over for a minute, she'd much prefer being tied up by a snake. Or maybe... No, stop. You gotta focus.

Lilith had her fill for now. It was time to get the hell out of here. She grabbed for her– For my...? There was something that was normally on her that was absent. Probably not important. Her only choice was to use her bare hands. Of course, she didn't have much wiggle room, so through a series of tossing and turning that took longer than she'd like to admit, her arms finally slipped through the cracks and begun pulling back the large grassy threads.

This wasn't going anywhere. Lilith sighed in exasperation. It's as if she was bolted down. What the fuck is going on?! Are these plants stronger than me or did I get weak all of a sudden? She was no stranger to a challenge, but this was something entirely different. Well, no point in pondering. It was time to solve this head-on. Don't I have anything sharp? Upon asking herself that question, she groaned realizing the answer.

Lilith grabbed either side of a vine and sank her teeth in. Even with her puzzling lack of strength, she could count on her pearly whites to get the job done. She was rather proud of her set. It's a shame they have to be used for such a lowly purpose. Nevertheless, she made short work of the earthy obstacles and freed her face. Now she moved on to the rest of her upper body, pulling up roots and vines, biting through them, and shimmying out simultaneously.

With one last push, Lilith managed to escape the encasing. Feeling accomplished, she sat down and took a moment to adjust to her surroundings, but not before discovering what she was sitting down on was much less sturdy than she anticipated. The ground here was a slurry of moss and mud, and it stretched on for miles in every direction she scanned. Not to mention she hardly had anything to cushion her backside. The husk she woke up in would have to do for now.

When she studied herself further, she found there was at least a page full of things missing from her. But search as she may, she'd only come up with a blank page. What was previously inscribed on there was now a far off, murky memory. Equally as perplexing were the clothes she was left with, if you could even call them clothes at all. It was a shoddy patchwork of leaves, moss, and scraps of cloth, colored dark, stitched together by some sap-like substance. This definitely wasn't what I was wearing before. But I've never been here before, and I'd certainly remember making this myself. Just more questions, she thought.

Strangely, it was more humid outside in the open air than it was inside and wrapped up. Lilith wouldn't complain, though. That damp heat sticking to the surface of her skin was rather pleasant. She breathed in, calm and relaxed, and an epiphany hit her all at once. This is my element. This amalgamation of swamp and jungle gave her a strong sense of familiarity, and she clung to it. The labyrinth of winding trees obscured any identifiable landmarks to differentiate one area from another, but if Lilith was fated to be lost in here then so be it. This was the perfect paradise to work her way up the food chain.

Even though Lilith was foreign to this world, the smaller creatures seemed to ignore her and go about their business. Dragonflies flitting past, ants marching in single file, beetles scaling across tree bark, birds soaring overhead, spiders weaving silken traps.

There was little time before Lilith was spotted as prey. Something crept through the foliage.

 

[Lilith]

Where to start? Trying to answer that was like trying to pick one food from a buffet table. It should've been easy enough, just pick one path and go after the first powerful thing that crosses her. Although there weren't any paths to speak of. Lilith was more or less tossed aside in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps the wind could hint at a direction...

She finally stood up and stretched out her limbs. A lingering soreness remained from having laid on the ground for some time. She hummed an oblivious tune, unaware of the present danger; it was a wonder if she ever felt danger.
Prowling low
Claws curling in anticipation
Vertical pupils focused on meat
White and black, turned the other way
Maw steaming and drooling
Aching and starving
Inching closer
Within reach
The scent of fresh food
Teasing on the edge of a thin tongue
One careful leap from the prize

A scaly gray and green blur darted at Lilith's flank, and a faint rush through the air was the last thing she heard before two rows of hooks pierced her shoulder and upper back. "AAAAAUUGHH!! HYYAAAAIIIIIII!!" Lilith shrieked as she was ripped into by the jaws of a beast at least as tall as her. The more she tried to flee from the grip of its teeth, the deeper it cut into her body and the harder her blood gushed. The pain was almost overwhelming, but her will to survive kicked in, and with her free arm she elbowed the raptor, over and over, until it finally gave in and backed off, though it must have been out of agitation as it could've easily kept going. The bite mark now had inward gashes between the rows of holes, from where she persistently bled. She growled and heaved as she tumbled and was brought to one knee.

"Fucking– fucker!" she screamed. What is this feeling? I know I should be running away, and I'm hurting like a bitch, yet I feel just... fine? Even that doesn't seem strange to me. And more than anything I want to take excessive revenge. She felt along the open wound, staining her palm with red, clutching it into a fist as she turned to face the dinosaur– Did I get blasted to the Stone Age too? A primal roar erupted from her throat, and the raptor returned in kind. A showdown between two predators, and despite being outsized, Lilith was the dominant creature.

She started running first, but was clearly outmatched in speed, as the gap closed in a fleeting moment. Her wide haymaker met the open maw of the raptor, who was more than happy to feast on her arm. Instead of gushing red, though, it was dripping black, and before her prey realized what was wrong, she shoved her fist further down its gullet, sufficiently searing through by the time the raptor recoiled in utter agony. Lilith wasn't finished yet, though, and with her left arm, now blackened as well, she threw a massive hook to the side of its face.

A feral look entered her eyes, and she began choking the squealing reptile with both hands, filling up its lungs with hazardous sludge as it weakly scratched at her with those puny claws. She follows up by pushing its dying hull to the ground, and proceeds to stomp through its skull as easily as a pile of jello, turning it all into crimson black mush.

"Vreagh..." sighed Lilith. Now I know why I wasn't afraid. Strange, to remember something you knew all along. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing the bite mark had already disappeared, as if it was never there. But I do wish that pain would last a little longer. Ah, well. I'll find a more worthy prey. Something tells me this place is crawling with fucks like this. On that note, Lilith found herself craving meat. It was only natural, given that she had nearly been eaten. No point in practicing cleanliness; she's an animal.

She knelt down to the underbelly of the headless carcass and sank her teeth into the flesh. My kill, my reward. She had little time to savor it, no telling how long before she'd get surrounded by a pack of dinos, especially with how loud the battle was. Being torn to shreds wasn't her fancy. She swallowed as many raw morsels as she could stomach, not minding the scaly hide, since her acid took care of it anyways.

Satisfied, Lilith wiped her cheek and left in a hurry, going the opposite direction she was ambushed from. This likely wouldn't be the last she would have to deal with raptors or other large predators, but she could use a break from the hunt. She walked in relative silence, always backed by the lively ambience of the jungle.

Lilith arrived at the edge of a cliff, providing her with a view of the rest of the marshes ahead of her. The land was uneven all over, she concluded, seeing the abundance of hills and valleys, all dotted with trees, rivers sometimes cutting through, and what appeared to be a small lake. A metal pole stuck out from a point on top of the cliff, with several different colored ribbons tied around it. A similar looking pole stood at the bottom. Lilith sat on the precipice, thinking for a moment. So there's people here after all.

Now, how to go about from up here to down there? Well, I could probably just jump and be alright. Although fairly certain she couldn't die, at least not very easily, it still didn't sound very pleasant. This cliff jutted outwards slightly, so perhaps it'd be possible to slide down? My feet would hurt like hell though. Unless... Curious more than anything if this would even work, she turned everything below the knees to acid, easing off the ledge and—

"Eek!" she yipped as gravity took control, sliding down the rocky surface with only her liquidy legs to brace the impact, leaving a trail behind her. Unfortunately she didn't consider what would happen to the rest of her backside. While she wasn't accelerating as fast as she might have, she was still scraped and bruised all over, particularly on the forearms.

When she collided with the earth, Lilith tripped and face-planted, giving her a front-full of muck. She rose up and burned off what was on her face before she dared open her eyes. As for the rest of her body... Maybe if I just melt off— "Agh, God damnit!" Now it was official; Lilith lost all her clothes again. Far from the first time this has happened. It's not like she had any dignity. It's just she preferred that if she was going to be naked, it was done with some intention.

So, after dirtying herself in a coating of acid, she was clean. Since she ruined what little clothes she had, Lilith left the surface of her torso in acid form. A nuisance, sure, but it was better than quite literally nothing. After that ordeal, she remembered why she went through this in the first place. She examined both metal poles. Without any stable goals or aspirations, she might as well follow the trail.

 

[Lilith]

It was still early in the day. Why not do some sightseeing? Lilith strolled casually, craning her head at every little sign of movement. She bent down to observe a grub slinking along a branch. It was typical of her to get easily sidetracked. As her attention was held by the bug, she pondered. I have to question everything going on at some point. The sentient plants, the dinosaurs, the entire jungle. What's— Her concentration was interrupted by crows squawking overhead. Suddenly she remembered this place wasn't safe. She had an indistinct sense of being watched. Probably not a good idea to trust the animals anyway.

Get a grip, you're used to this. Ugh. I need to unwind. After a quick scour, she found a suitably sharp bush, breaking off a thorny branch. She lay against a wooden trunk, closing her eyes, balling up her hand, inhaling and exhaling, focusing on the pain of the thorns pricking her and on her breathing. Her back sank into the base of the tree, carving a quiet place for her to recollect.

The world seemed so clear. Lilith vividly remembered her past life, the strife and the heartache, but also the times of genuine joy. It was all so... happy.

A water droplet fell on a murky lake
Purifying and turning it blue.

Lilith opened her eyes, realizing she hollowed out the wood. She admired the stained thorned branch before leaving it on the ground, perhaps as an offering to the druid spirits.

It was now midday, she guessed, judging by what little light that filtered through the leaves. Surprising how easy it was to get lost here. You lose your sense of direction fast. Fortunately, right when she was starting to get anxious, she found another pole, adjacent to the pond she saw earlier. No harm in a little detour, right?

Lilith was wrong in assuming what she saw was a pond. It wasn't a lake either. Swamp water extended out to the horizon from this side. She was suddenly thankful she didn't have to do any swimming. The marshy area was not quite what she was expecting. If anything it was more normal than the rest of the woods (she'd been to some hideous looking forests in her time, but nothing measured up to this). The water's border blended with the landscape. Tall patches of grass stood up, swaying and rustling above the surface, clumps of moss and lily pads lazily floating by.

Lilith decided to take a dip, transformed obviously. No way she was getting filth on her bare skin. Besides, submerging yourself in liquid was no issue when you are a liquid. The water reacted with the acid as she waded further in, creating an inky black aura around her– throwing off the pH balance was a novel effect at best. When her head descended lower, she saw the depths were brimming with life and bustling activity.

She settled next to a mangrove anchored underwater and watched the aquatic creatures swim past her. First she noticed all the different shapes and sizes of fish.There were clusters of minnows, a largemouth bass here and there, even catfish lunging out of their burrows when they get an opportunity to strike. Floating above were a flock of fearsome, spiny snapping turtles, no doubt adapted to their hostile environment. What captured her attention was the fearsome crocodile, commanding its territory with impunity. Now that's an apex predator.

For the next minute she lay dormant, meditating on nature and its vast network of interconnected organisms.

Lilith thought the trek back to land would be uneventful. However, as she transformed back to normal, a great yellow and grey beak snapped at her, hidden behind the cover of grass. Standing at its full height and stretching out its mighty wingspan was an enormous shoebill. It clattered at her with its strong beak, producing a noise that mimicked gunfire in both rapidity and volume, giving her a fierce glare. The shoebill seemed disinterested in pursuing a fight, instead letting her off with a warning. Just when I thought I was done seeing dinosaurs.

Wordlessly, Lilith complied and went back the way she came.

She was about to leave the lake when a disturbance broke out from behind. The same crocodile she previously spotted was now challenging the shoebill in an uproarious clash, water splashing and wings flapping, trading snaps and chomps back and forth. The crocodile tried going for the legs, but their opponent was more nimble and managed to fly out of the way, countering by biting into their upper jaw, the curved and pointed beak tip drilling right through. Seizing the advantage, the bird viciously ripped both scales and gums, tearing a hole in the roof of the croc's mouth. Finishing them off, the shoebill bit into its neck and yanked the body into the air, clamping down until it was finally decapitated, a torrent of blood spewing out.

Lilith, satisfied with the show, moved back onto the trail. If her spatial awareness served her right, the three poles were planted in a straight line roughly.

It must have been at least an hour since she continued her journey. Lilith was growing weary from a mix of exhaustion and boredom, slogging through miles of muddy earth. Just when she felt as though she would pass out, she was caught by some sort of sticky, invisible trap. Of course she quickly figured out it was a big cobweb, hoisted up between two trees. After brushing off the strands, she noticed what place she had waltzed into.

Wherever she turned, layers of white string were plastered in every crevice across this haunted part of the woods. Thousands of tiny legs and beady eyes littered the maze of webs. Never seen a spider nest this huge. Not a bad place to hang out if the little biters decide to piss off–

"Gah!!" Lilith yelped, two pincers digging into her forearm. She swatted away the eight legged arthropod responsible for it, shuddering from the venom seeping into her. She was tempted to leave it be, but there was other business to attend to, and so it was mended before causing any more damage. It's fine, it's fine. Just don't get turned around.

The sounds of nature from before were replaced with a constant, unceasing crawling, only interrupted by distant hissing. Swarms of eyes descended upon her several orders of magnitude greater than she'd ever experienced. All the while, Lilith had a persistent premonition that she was approaching the core of something that no one was meant to see.

Just beyond the range of her sight, the vague outline of a figure came into view. It was spider shaped– no, it was definitely a spider, abnormally large too. It was mounted on a thick wall of webs. Why's everything in this damn forest gotta be bigger than me? Lilith wasn't about to let any obstacle get in her way, especially not a spider. She could have easily walked around, but that would be unforgivable.

As she got closer, the arachnid's body was revealed to have more limbs than usual– 4 to be precise. It appeared as though the spider was on top of a rotting corpse, but it could not have been a corpse, for it sprang to life as the spider was alerted. Those arms and legs that seemed snared by the web began to turn around slowly, followed by a ghoulish murmur.

"Ooouuuuaghh..."

The walking corpse moved of its own accord, despite being completely dessicated, skin withered and eyes hollow, where eyes should be there lay clusters of eggs and hatchling spiders roaming around their mobile colony. The large spider fused to its back threateningly swayed its 8 spiny rapiers. And to think there's still freakier monsters here. It has been long enough since Lilith was in (relative) peace. She readied her fist for the undead puppet.

It shambled towards her, propping up its crooked arms while carrying its lifelong companion closer. Mouth creaking open like rusted gears struggling to churn. A half empty set of teeth, what remained after the enamel was stripped away was little more than dirty soot covered shards of glass. Gums rotting away and on the verge of crackling, if not for the copious amounts of web embedded in the husk, welding the carapace of skin and bone together. What unholy witchcraft animates this abomination? The trachea was likely where most of the traffic was located, as evidenced by the holes riddling the outline of its ribs.

Lilith's jab landed square in its face, melting through and caving in the skull, not a challenging feat considering the level of decay. But it didn't so much as flinch. The spider legs skewered her from several directions, most plunging into her torso and back, but 2 or 3 of them going for her neck and shoulders. For being a puppeteer, this spider was not all that intelligent, as the acid coating stifled some of the impact. However, it was not keen on giving up its grip. Lilith's eyes shot open as she coughed up blood, but she kept her composure, gritting her teeth against the taste of iron, using her offhand to yank out the spine intersecting her throat. She started to choke on the burst of red fluid, so she pressed down one hand to subdue the bleeding while the other furiously bashed into the husk. Droves of tiny spiders oozed out as their home was ruptured, at least those that managed to avoid the acid raining down on them. The 'host' part of the battle was taken care, now it was time to finish off the parasite. With one punch to the center of its ribs, Lilith splintered the bony shield and the thorax, the spider giving one last wail. She fully transformed and shrugged the body off, collapsing to her knees.

Geez, I really can't keep doing this all day.

Just when Lilith thought she could get a breather, a horde of groaning voices and shuffling feet came from behind. Why wouldn't there be multiple spider zombies... No way I'm outrunning them like this. Morphing back to just the bare essentials, Lilith made a mad dash across the infested forest, narrowly avoiding webs and spiders dangling in the air at the most inopportune moments. She was ahead of the pace, but losing steam fast, and her pursuers were unrelenting. Although zombies are slow, they don't have to take breaks, being undead and all.

She glanced over her shoulder, believing the danger had subsided, but a moment later as she turned forward, a pair of arms ambushed her from outside of her field of view, followed by several shanks stabbing into her shoulders.

"Augh!! Mother... fucker!"

The spider zombie, with its two top most legs, sliced at Lilith's head, but she endured the force with both palms, choosing to have them punctured instead. "Hreaagghh!!" Lilith shrieked, kicking and kneeing in desperation, until she managed to separate herself, streaked in red for the nth time today (at this point she was losing track). She tried her hardest to stop stumbling as she fled. Once again there were footsteps tailing her; she wasn't going to be afforded a chance to let her body stitch itself together.

Curiously, as the trees started to clear up, more web blockades propped up. Lilith found herself slipping between a narrow wedge– not the easiest thing considering her size– to avoid getting tangled. When she emerged from the other side, a wide circular clearing appeared before her.

Even if you were sick of trees, this was the last place you'd want to be.

A great white hill
Strewn with ovoid lumps
Large and small, an uncountable number
Incomprehensible centrifuge of mass
An army laying dormant
Waiting to be born
Millions of tiny lives
Essence beating in unison
Inaudibly scraping against shells
A mountain ready to crack
Frothing from the fissure
An endless supply of servants
In service to a Queen
Sitting upon her throne
Vigilantly watching her spawn
Perched at the peak
A swelling bulb of an abdomen
Comparable to a hot air balloon
Eight spindly, bristly legs
Like massive scythes anticipating harvest
Enormous tusks for fangs
Seeping sickly venom
Eight smooth, sparkly emeralds
Adorning her face
Shining in the setting sun
Surrounding an immaculate, brilliant gemstone
When unveiled by an eye slit
Radiated a hypnotic pink
Foretelling the coming events
An intruder tainting the Queen's domain
Pulsating iris boring into the offending insect
Gazing into the soul and beyond
One spine chilling howl

"SSHHRREEEEEEAAAAAWWW!!"

A single thought went through Lilith's mind. Fuck. My. Life.

The colossal spider crawled forward, although it would be better described as a rhythmic series of booming stomps. There was no time to be paralyzed in astonishment. Lilith bolted around the outskirts of the nest, but before she could get halfway to the exit, a searing beam of energy razed her upper arm, severing it instantaneously. The mystical eye of the spider smited her with a lightning fast laser shot.

Lilith shouted to the heavens, knowing they'd long abandoned her. Sanity dwindling, she picked up her arm and held it in place, staggering away until it would eventually meld enough so that it wouldn't fall off. I'm not going to make it. I need to cut off into the woods. Big bastard's not gonna take me out that easy.

And so Lilith resumed her course, with some unexpected delays, ducking behind cover, weaving through trees and traps. It was hopeless, however. The hulking monstrosity was mere seconds away from being on top of her.

There. A hole in a tree stump. Enough space to hide in. With less than a moment to spare, she curled up and focused on being as silent as possible. There was zero chance of escaping on foot. This was the only choice that offered a sliver of salvation. She cupped her mouth with her right hand (movement had returned to it) and waited.

Lilith heard a set of eight legs surround her, and she swore she could feel the all seeing eye search for her. She wasn't the only thing inhabiting this spot, however. Dropping from a rope web, a hairy spider landed on her leg. No noise. No movement. This spider had other plans. It sank its fangs into her ankle, firmly lodged, taking full advantage of her lack of resistance.

Lilith bit down on her wrist, which had grown numb from all the abuse thus far. She slammed her eyes shut, removing one of her senses from the present situation. Her teeth were already touching bone, and if she bit any harder, she'd probably taste marrow. Shit, why am I crying? Why...

The truly messed up part about this? Lilith wasn't even afraid of spiders. But this experience was a damned good reason to be.

An unfathomably long minute passed. The stomps returned in the direction of the nest. When she was sure it was safe, Lilith squashed the arachnid with her heel, driving it in longer than necessary, catharsis washing over her. At last, a moment to take care of the holes scattered along her body. Still, she was far from being out of the woods.

Lilith crept onto the path she had outlined in her head. At least, she thought this was the same direction. It was getting hard to tell. Having escaped the laser spider, she sped up her pace, wanting to ditch this nightmare scape and never come back. At some point she left spider territory, and ran into another pole marker. They were insignificant, really, but something about it gave her a sense of accomplishment.

It was getting dark.

 

[Lilith]

The last drops of sunlight dry out as nightfall sets in.

Ah, the dark. Just as welcoming as I remember.

The beasts that roamed the jungle, however, were a different story.

The monotony of the endless expanse of mud and overgrown roots was broken by a maddening whine assaulting her eardrums.

At first only a few trickled in, but before long a billowing cloud of bugs hung over her.

A hail of stingers pelted her skin. Hundreds of needles pricking at every exposed pore. Unfortunately, there was no blood for the swarm to drain. Shortly after plunging a proboscis into her epidermis, any mosquito would quickly fizzle up and die. Touching, let alone consuming, the black substance was harmful to just about everything. As the buzzing parasitic pests attempted a volley of suicidal dives, black smudges peppered her skin, resembling a mix between white & black polka dots and a diseased leper with the plague.

As if anyone wanted to be around me to begin with.

These persistent nuisances were really getting on her nerves. Having 80 percent of her surface layer transformed with hardly a moment to open her eyes (because of course they would attack there too) severely impeded her progress.

She had no choice but to buckle down and wait for the storm to pass.

---

Lilith lost any hope of finding a decent place to rest before the sun went out.

She thought about how she must look right now in this setting. A lump of deep black sludge blending in with the light starved foliage, save for two glowing red bulbs. Nothing was on her ass for now, so she used this reprieve to do some contemplation.

She waved her hand through the air, touching the essence of this universe with her acid flesh. The fundamentals of this world aren't too different from Earth. Go figure. Curses were abundant in this land, perhaps even more so than her previous realm of residence. The energy was present in the very plants and soil themselves, something which was nearly unheard of before. Lilith concentrated, testing the outer limits of her senses. It's enough for me to work with. Wouldn't have too much trouble chasing someone down.

In the midst of her test, she saw a pair of entities homing in on her location.

More distractions, she huffs.

She stands up and crosses her arms, embracing the inevitable.

Two medium sized raptors slunk in the shadows, splitting up to corner their would-be prey from two sides. Since Lilith was not currently made of meat, she wondered what they had to gain from hunting her. How can creatures be stupid enough to try and eat me? Can't really complain if it works in my favor, she indifferently muses.

Fanning out her arms, she taunts, "Come and get me you giant morons!" Admittedly, it was weird for her to be speaking while made of acid, a faint gurgling sound behind her words.

These dinos must have been smaller than the one she fought before, judging by the size of the jaws scraping into her. She confidently chortled, knowing that the pain was fleeting in comparison to their fizzling teeth. The raptors shrieked and hissed, drumming up a commotion over their inability to bite, circling around in contempt.

"Had enough?" Lilith jeered, winding up for a wide swing to swat their scaly faces with. Unfortunately they'd already wizened up and hopped back from the attempt.

All of a sudden her advantage wasn't looking so useful.

The three locked eyes, entrenched in a stalemate of seething glares, neither making a move. Only in such an impasse can peace and wrath flourish.

"I'm tired. Can you fuck off already?" she complains. Oh well. I'm slow as shit but they can't stop me.

And so Lilith went on her way, knowing the raptor pair was lurking a couple meters behind. She thought they were reminiscent of herself; extremely petty.

What is their problem? Are they waiting for me to let my guard down? If she was a sitting duck, at least she was a well defended one. Maybe I'll find something else to kill 'em, eventually.

This is just like old times, getting attacked by animals in the woods. 'cept it's not nearly as fun.

---

Lilith was no stranger to staying up late, but that was usually when she was stalking somebody, not the other way around.

She considered taking her chances and sleeping on the floor, letting fate do as it pleases, but then it dawned on her what would happen. Namely, that she would sink into the mud and wake up in a hole, or worse, buried alive.

By some miracle there was an encampment of creatures on her route, lower in elevation, definitely not raptors by the... look? feel? of it. Whatever you call sensing beyond your senses. This was her opportunity to shake off her pursuers.

I have a bad habit of getting chased around here.

Lilith couldn't see too far in the dark, but it wasn't hard to spot the immense monolith protruding from the earth, cut from stone and smoothed at four edges. Staring up and squinting, she guessed the peak was an arch shape. A square opening bored into one of its faces, with a walkway leading underground.

She was hasty to make a first step inside, before being struck with reason. I probably shouldn't leave my tracks on these stairs.

Peeking over her shoulder, she cancels her transformation and scurries into the stone shelter.

This place was remarkably frigid compared to the outside, in addition to Lilith having no clothes. It reminded her of a graveyard. A crypt, huh? Not surprising considering everything else.
…
I'm gonna be saying that a lot.

As she makes her descent, a faint warmth resonates from the vale, along with the sound of indistinct movement and conversing voices.

"Think we'll bring back a good haul after this trip?"

"If nobody does anything stupid, sure."

"Hmph. I'll take my turn on watch duty then."

Just a band of explorers. Must be pretty worn out. Now, what act will I put on...

With a running start, frantic breathing, a hysterical composure, and an arm each for covering her chest and nether region, she blared into the foyer, "Somebody help me! There's monsters outside!"

"Woah, lady! Calm down." The jungle plunderer bolted up and reached for the handle of his machete. "What are you doing out here by yourself?" The other three followed suit, a particularly gruff looking one pulling out his handgun, though keeping it low.

"I woke up stranded! I'm lost I- I don't know where I am! Wh- where is this place?" It wasn't a lie; she really had no idea where or when she was. Truthfully it made no difference to her. As far as Lilith was concerned, this was her new playground.

"You're on Kraw, Miss. How'd you manage to make it this far? Also you erm... should really get some clothes."

"O- oh... Kraw... Is that what this world is?" How could anyone buy this act? Her surprise came off as so awfully fake. Sort of like the acting in those vintage adult videos she used to watch. Kraw, huh? Interesting name. Really rolls of the tongue.

"Heheh, yeah," chirped another one. "Why don't you stick with us and we can show you a proper introduction to this here planet?"

"Oh, well, I'd be honored—"

"Alright, alright, I think we've entertained this waif long enough," the gun toting one asserted. "You think you can charm us with your little song and dance? I see right through your feminine wiles. You're a shape shiftin' skinwalker, clear as day, takin' the form of a woman."

"I honestly have no clue what you're talking about—"

"Don't think you can talk yourself outta this one, monster! I've read everything I need to know about your kind. First you seduce us, then you infiltrate our group, then you wait for your chance to wring our necks with our backs turned. I can see it in your eyes you scheming—"

"Aye, give it a rest, Garrett," said the first one who had seen her. Hard to pick 'em apart from each other. No matter, not like their names or faces will be important for long.

As shrill shrieks trickled from above, Lilith thought it was a good time to assess the area. She wasn't exactly the knowledgeable type, so the deeper meaning of all the little intricacies of the crypt's structure went over her head. To her it looked like a wide box, with three rings of rectangular slots in the walls stacked on top of each other, fitted with either sarcophagi or embalmed bodies. In the center connecting the floor and ceiling was a pillar bearing faded inscriptions, impossible to decipher in the sparse campfire light. On the opposite end was a hallway, possibly leading to another chamber, though it slipped past her radar.

The four explorers, in her opinion, were nothing special: light on defense, heavy on supplies, with four sleeping bags to match. They had the same getup more or less, although the paranoid one, Garrett, stood out from the rest. He far surpassed his peers, his experience evident by the wrinkles and scars etched into his weary face, dark hair like windswept grass, partially combed but sticking up at odd angles. His armor was adorned with the hides of fearsome predators, only half of which seemed familiar to Lilith. To top it all off, he was the only capable sharpshooter amongst them.

"Well, at least you weren't lying about that," scoffed Garrett incredulously. "Clyde, you keep an eye on that witch, don't hesitate to run her through when she makes any sudden moves. You two, get off your asses and follow my lead."

Gunshots, blades and talons clashing, and shouting of something along the lines of 'Die you overgrown lizards!' broke the silence of being held captive, which amounted to a man holding out his saber hesitantly while keeping a fair distance.

"Hey... You don't really think I'm a monster, do you?" Lilith puts on a very unconvincing pout, conspicuously inching closer.

"Wha- er- no- I- Don't mind the old timer. He gets irritable sometimes. But ah, orders are orders—"

Closer she moves. "Why so tense? I just want to show you what I'm really like." One hand on his shoulder, another hovering over his lips.

"Listen, lady, I got a family—" Pang. He drops his weapon.

"Clyde, was it? My name is Lilith." She wears a forced smile. Even if it's a charade, this man still finds his heart skipping a beat.

Seriously, how gullible can one guy be?

Clyde finds a pair of fingers worming into his mouth. They were a little too hasty. As if they didn't have much time to accomplish their ultimate goal.

The commotion upstairs died down. No point in prolonging this act.

Flesh eating tar oozed inside and out the man's throat, leaving but a fleeting moment for him to process the burning agony or the ruthless betrayal. A call for help produced naught but a pitiful bubbling. The last thing to grace his eyes were two red lights piercing through the enveloping darkness.

It came naturally to Lilith, and yet... For my first time, that wasn't all that satisfying. I guess I won't count this one. Or the next few... If there's one thing she disliked doing, it was killing without a greater purpose. They're just obstacles. Clearly I need their stuff more, she reasoned.

After squeezing the man's neck off and forgetting his name almost immediately, she tossed a sleeping mat over the campfire and stomped it out. For some reason, she wondered what would happen if she tried to put the fire out with her acid. Probably nothing good.

"Clyde? Clyde?!" called a distressed voice. "Agh, shit. Kyle, give me your torch. Both of ye, stand guard. That wench isn't leaving here alive." The explorers, now reduced to three, cautiously followed the flickering flame, their footsteps ominously echoing across the bleak, ancient stone.

Garrett stumbled into something laying on the floor. Anxiously, he lowered the light.

"By the Arbiters—"

He choked on the terror draining out of his soul and manifesting in reality. What words could possibly describe this brutal sight? The lower half of his former companion's head had been erased, and what remained was smoothly severed from the rest of the body, a caustic mucous layered over the empty space, blacker than oil. This wasn't the work of a skin walker, but whatever caused this was inhuman.

"Fuck this! I'm taking my supplies and running the hell away—"

"You listen here, Benny. We leave no man behind. If we let this monster go, Gods knows how many more people it will hunt. I'm not letting us go down branded as cowards!" That seemed to stir up some courage in the two subordinates. Or maybe they feared Garrett would give them a far worse fate. "Now grab a torch and avenge Clyde."

The three fanned out, scouring for any signs of the murderer. There were few places one could hide in this open hall. If its plan was to ambush, it would have done so already. It couldn't possibly be lurking in a corner. Could it have made off in the time it took to start searching?

Thunk. Something rolled out from behind. Were the dead disturbed as well? Please, anything but that.

It was only a mummified corpse. At that point Kyle realized mercy would not befall him.

"Over here!—"

A pale figure writhed out from the place of rest and lunged with the fervor of a starved beast.

Lilith seized the man's face, jamming a thumb into each eye socket as effortlessly as a cup of pudding, inflicting excruciating blindness while receiving a blade cleaving through her scapula.

What a shame. No time to appreciate his screams.

"Kyle!" The rookie arrived with seething bloodlust and a thirst for revenge.

"Benny, wait!" cried the leader.

As Lilith stood with a battered left shoulder, a flurry of enraged slashes tore open her defenseless front, smattering blood into the air, followed by a thrust splitting her stomach, somehow still on her feet as she went rigid. It was only then that their folly became apparent, the blade, as well as the agape flesh, now slick with sludge.

"Gah, fuck!" Specks of blood singed his skin, causing him to recoil, before he felt a hand on his neck (What can I say? It's reliable when you don't hit hard), thinking he would meet the same end as his partner. Instead the horrid creature shoved him aside, leaving him with a deteriorating airway.

"Finally, we can have some one on o—"

Bang, bang, bang.

Lilith's train of thought abruptly halted, metal splintering her skull. She supposed this is what she deserved for saving the best for last. She collapsed onto her knees, pupils dilating and body going limp. The soaking wounds dotting her forehead began to close up, however. So did the array of slashes on her torso, appearing as savage, abstract dashes of black paint.

Speech returned to her remarkably fast. "You'd be better off saving those bullets for your friends," she coughed.

"I'll never submit, witch! I swear on my honor, I'll fight until my last breath." He raised the barrel of his gun.

"You don't see how pointless this is? You're going to die for nothing," she challenged, confronting him with an obvious truth.

"I don't abandon my men. If I go down with their graves, then so be it," he barked.

That kind of unwavering determination sparked her morbid intrigue. No, she would devise a far more sinister plot. That's just the sort of person she was. After all, where's the fun in killing him now? "I like your enthusiasm, even though it's a little... misguided. Tell ya what, put your 'men' out of their misery, and I'll let you go. Sound fair?" There was another reason behind it: put simply, she was too exhausted to do it herself.

"What are you playing at?"

Lilith shakes her head as she recovers. Losing brain matter, then having to rewire the neurons exactly as they were before, isn't exactly something you get used to. "You're not stupid, are you? Whatever. It's not like it makes a difference what you choose," she spat in the least empathetic tone imaginable. She strolls past their iron sights, lured by the spoils of battle. What's taking that man so long? I thought I gave him a pretty straightforward decision.

Garrett tilted his head down in shame, the torch fire casting a deep, stern shadow under his brow. The wails of his comrades rang unbearably in his ears. What a fool he was, thinking he was the brave hero taking down foes larger than himself. Even that monster took pity on him. He stared at his pistol wistfully, the luster of stainless steel long faded. Living on was, unequivocally, the right option for letting their deaths not be in vain. He just wondered how he would live with himself. Raising his gun, he laid a jittering finger over the trigger, and pulled.

Bang.

The blind one, in his last act of desperation, pleads, "Garrett? Garrett?! Oh God please don't—"

No room for regrets. Bang.

---

Lilith busied herself by rifling through knapsacks. She coveted all which belonged inside, yet none of it was out of the ordinary. Water canteens, hunting knives, bug spray, canned meat (I hate the stale stuff), rolls of bandages, toiletries, and so on. Nothing of use, except for the maps. Before she could get a chance to decipher them, two somber blasts caught her attention.

"Well, what a surprise! I didn't think you had it in you," she mocked, kicking a man while he's down with words alone. Not bothering to look in his direction, she continued, "Alright, you can go now. I trust that peashooter will be enough? Oh, and heads up: I can tell if you're following me. So don't show your face unless you want to cash in your death wish, got it?"

No response. She didn't expect one. The only sound she heard was of retreating steps. As she tracked his aura, she noticed it was subtly different. Stronger, yet concentrated, resolute.

Lilith let out a heavy sigh, ensconced by an audience of the deceased. Two torches laying at the edge of the burial grounds were the only sources of light. She could investigate the maps in the morning. For now, she sought a long nap after the tiring conflict. Not bad for a warmup. Hopefully this world has more exceptional people to play with.

Out of curiosity, she approached one of the recently executed bodies, bringing a knife with her. She slid the knife into a lifeless forearm, coating it with sanguine liquid, then pressing the blade to her lips and sampling with a lick. Something about the act felt so right, even though the subject was all wrong.

"Ugh. Bland."

Where's a good spot to rest? Lilith borrows a bed roll and peruses the crypt walls for a suitable sleeping area, preferably in the middle row.

"Er, sorry about this." Despite her meager apology, she definitely incurred bad karma. She drags a desiccated corpse out from its crevice and watches it crinkle against the pavement. In its place she spreads out the thin padded sheet, nestling herself in the alcove, laying her head on a miniature pillow.

Lilith soon fell asleep, lulled by the sickly sweet scent of rancorous rot.

 

[Lilith]

Note: Suggestive Themes (S)​

Screaming. That was the first sound Lilith heard.

All of her inchoate senses informing her all at once that she now existed.

Rising from her abyssal genesis, carried downstream, floating through the tranquil void.

Then, suddenly, plummeting off the edge of a waterfall, surging into the infinite depths.

Shrieks and wails echoed and boomed, ringing harsh in her head.

Whether it lasted a second or an eternity, she could not tell.

Inexplicably she collided with the floor, shattering into a thousand pitiful pieces.

Yet, each shard of her fractured soul remained conscious, alive.

The once formless mass began to take shape, two uncanny eyes opening.

Red. That was the first thing Lilith saw.

Streaming down unceasingly like a disastrous flood.

The screaming voice was not alone. Soon it was joined by a cacophonous chorus.

Visions of her past bombarded her mind, ephemeral memories dissipating one after the other before they could be processed.

Children. Young faces of boys and girls, some she might have called friends.

Tall, austere women in suffocating robes. Many rightfully ignored her, but one stood out to her.

"You are a very special girl," they praised. But what could they know that Lilith did not?

Decrepit, old men speaking in enraptured tongues to a vigilant crowd.

More red. Red on her hands. An overflowing fountain.

Fire. That was her final memory. Burning into body, mind, and spirit.

---

Much like her first awakening, it was not pleasant.

Lilith's refreshing sleep was interrupted by a clump of crumbling bones, followed by a splash of muddy water. I just keep tumbling down, tumbling down... she lamented. Yet another bad habit. How many more times must she fall? Come to think of it, her dream had a lot of that, but she could scarcely recall it after regaining her focus.

Flicking off the grimy droplets, she surveyed the chamber. Runoff from the storm raging outside trickled down the stairs, accumulating in a widespread layer at the bottom. Nothing of value would be lost if the lingering supplies were washed away, but she figured it was best to loot the maps.

Even in complete absence of light, Lilith could read just fine, though she didn't waste too much time poring over every little detail. The first map gave her a better picture of the geography of Kraw. Vast stretches of green, occasionally broken up by notable landmarks, river networks, and minor settlements. The central location highlighted was called New Abraxas, a settlement the size of a small city, though little more than a blip compared to the all-consuming jungle.

To think I've only experienced a fraction of this world.

The other maps were identical copies, save for a hand-drawn one. It depicted New Abraxas up close as a jagged 10-sided star circled by walls, as well as a route heading out, presumably the one she ought to follow to reach this place. As she ascended the stairs—having absolutely nothing on her, save for two weathered sheets of paper—a soft blue light glowed from the exit, along with that distinct scent of early morning rain.

The first thing Lilith noticed was a pair of raptor carcasses, already dissected and scavenged for meat within the span of a night. She theorized that a carrion feeder had got to them shortly following post-mortem, greedy for the tender flesh yet to go cold. It left their ribcages exposed for hordes of insects to feast and reproduce inside, further hollowing them out, continuing into dawn as she watched in awe.

If you get lost out here, there won't be anything left to find.

Moving on from the beautifully grotesque sight, she pieced together her position from the two maps, determining the general direction to head towards. It would be incredibly difficult for her to get turned around, as long as she paid the slightest amount of attention. Having a mental radar definitely helped. With that in mind, she tossed the damp papers.

As soon as she started to walk, she felt her feet slosh ankle-deep into the mud. Though the journey ahead of her was clear-cut, she knew that it would be a trial of endurance. It wasn't all troublesome, however. She welcomed the temperate rain showering her bare skin, a fair consolation for the long and arduous trek.

Lilith enjoyed the relative peacefulness. After all, what creature would be able to hunt in this perpetual downpour? It shouldn't be long now; she'd arrive at her destination in half a day at the latest.

---

Who was she kidding? Things never go smoothly, at least not in this place. An immense force was closing in on her, not as one, but as many individually huge members traveling in a pack. She had only seconds to brace for another assault, using that time to guess what it was. Ravenous fish, eels, water spiders, alligators, worms, aggressive flora, frogs...?

She got her answer when an adhesive appendage clung to her back and reeled her entire body in, giving her a severe case of whiplash.

Giant frogs. That's what she had to deal with. She stopped short of being swallowed whole in one of their gullets, breaking free and readying her fists in annoyance. Swirls of black and blue surrounded her, gliding along the water and past the trees. Lilith brushed a frayed strand of hair, coating herself in acid as she lunged at the frog who had the gall to snag her.

Her payback landed squarely in its jaw, causing it to lurch back. Geez, these guys are tall and tough! It retaliated by slithering out its tongue and lashing at her, swinging her into the air. She landed in front of yet another frog, who leaped and bodyslammed her before she could recover. Squashed between several inches of rain and the enormous amphibian, she flailed helplessly.

Lilith was not completely without hope. Though she could not lift the frog, being in close proximity allowed her to gradually wear away its rubbery exterior. They were sort of alike, in a way; both had mechanisms that prevented being eaten. Where they differed was that hers functioned offensively as well. She slowly bored her way into its belly, wading through a mountain of guts and organs, before finally bursting out of its chest in a bloody grandiose spectacle.

That's one way to dissect a frog.

Envigored by the excessive exsanguination, she howled to the storming skies, "VREEEEEAAAAAAGH!!" She charged at the nearest target, who flung its tongue at her in vain, failing to stick to her corrosive surface. Instead she yanked the thick pink rope along with its owner, invoking a terrifying strength to sling its entire body overhead onto a giant frog, and doing the same to crash into another. By the time she was done she'd already torn through the tongue, though she had no use for it anymore, as the remaining horde fled.

She fumed as her adrenaline simmered down.

---

Lilith marched on as the rain subsided.

This part of the woods appeared more tame as she ventured forth. It didn't seem to want to raze her at every corner she turned. No wild creatures constantly harassing her. Her read on this area was noticeably human.

For once she was relieved to see a clearing of trees. She stumbled upon a dirt path, evidently in active use judging from the tire tracks.

Another day had come and gone by the time New Abraxas came into view. Her first impression of it: a towering fortress of rock formations, encrusted with layers of lush greenery, enclosed by another fortress of stout wooden barricades.

Outside stood a lone guard with a less-than-energetic hold on his torch. Vehicles stopped making round trips this late into the night, but keeping watch at his post was important nevertheless. Most of the time it was uneventful, but such would not be the case. Under the cover of darkness, a set of floating red eyes approached, swaying with every step. His breathing quickened and he readied his spear. "B- Backup. I need backup!" he shouted over the heavy gates. Two snipers, each stationed in a guard tower, took aim at the shadowy figure. His hands tightened, struggling to steady his resolve. His heart pounded and pumped, right up until the very moment he caught a glimpse at the edge of the light.

It was... a woman.

"We got a stray! Open the gates!" A mechanism inside activated to part the massive doors.

Lilith suddenly realized how drained she was and collapsed on the spot.

---

Her unconscious state was momentarily disrupted by turbulence as she lay in the back of a jeep. She felt an oversized beige coat snugly wrapped around her.

When her hazy eyes opened, she wondered what sort of place she was left in. Her head rested on a pillow stuffed with the clippings of various feather-bearing creatures. The beds laid out in the room were little more than piles of leather with wool sheets strewn over. The floor was inlaid with yellowish slab stone, decorated with angular patterns bending and twisting at irregular intervals. She couldn't be sure what this building was used for in the past, but it seemed to serve as an infirmary. In a surprisingly simple act, she stepped outside.

Lilith was met with a convergence of gray, green, and mahogany. She stepped out from the shade and onto a ledge overlooking the University, the nexus of the ravine. Evidently, she'd been sleeping until midday, as the sun was annoyingly bearing down on her. The stone on which she stood warmed her bare feet, mildly uncomfortable but nothing she wasn't used to. She's walked on far rougher surfaces before.

The view instilled the slightest sliver of awe in her, though she'd never admit. As if a great bolt of lightning splintered the center, leaving a spiral of branching impressions in the earth, while simultaneously upheaving the surrounding terrain. Others might see a sprawling community, with bridges and walkways uniting the verticality of the village, joined by ingenious feats of architecture both modern and ancient.

But all Lilith could see was an uncountable number of toys just waiting to be discovered.

---

As the monochrome stranger shambled past people and furtive stares, she had to confront how out of place she was. I mean, I've never fit in to begin with, so I doubt this dimension will be any different. In a sea of tan faces, Lilith is the odd one out. She's not just pale; she's a ghost. Like a spectre in an old timey photograph, phasing in for a fleeting moment. She folded her arms and clutched the baggy coat scarcely concealing her.

The settlement was more impressive than she'd initially believed. One might assume that the maze of paths going up, down, across, and everywhere in between would leave the average traveler disoriented. However, the layout was intuitively designed, and, with some getting used to, Lilith could navigate from district to district, whether high or low. The question now was, where did she actually want to go?

---

"Get your armor here! We got polished new equipment! We got cheap repairs! There's no such thing as too much defense! You there, young lady, you look like you could use a couple extra layers!"

Lilith turned to her left, then behind herself, then back to her front. Clearly she was the one being singled out by this charismatic, eyepatch wearing, elderly armorsmith. Previously she had been passing by a merchant hub, absently glancing at the valley of shops (for that was the shape they took in the middle of a ravine) and their displays. Blades, shields, firearms, chestplates, gloves, boots, preserved food, fresh-caught food, backpacks, satchels, potions & tonics, glittering gemstones, trinkets, baubles, and so on. None of it aroused her interest, although she could do with a change of clothes.

"I just got here. I don't have any money," she admitted plainly.

"Nonsense! You are a guest in our settlement, aren't you? First piece is on the house, just for you," he insisted, making a grand humble gesture.

Come on, Lilith. You can't start being a psycho, at least not yet. She quickly replied with a noncommittal "sure."

It was a quaint little shop, not unlike the others adjacent to it. On either side of the entrance, two tall windows, reinforced with iron grates, showing off two incredibly bulky sets of armor; she had to guess their impracticality only served to draw in customers. Perched at the roof, a hand-painted sign proclaiming "Bertran's Armor Emporium" in navy blue, the color chipping off the borders of the letters. Altogether held by thick cobblestone walls.

Bending down to enter the doorway, she marvels at the shop. "Nice place you got here." The interior reminded her of a modern clothes store, stocked with shelves and racks and mannequins; however, the articles adorning them were meant to protect your life. Much like the rest of the settlement—function over form.

"Oh you're too kind." He heartily chuckled. "So you said you're not from around here?"

"Nope. I ended up here about... two days ago?"

"Really now? What world are you from?"

"Somewhere probably very far from here."

"Hm. I can believe that. Would explain your whole wardrobe situation. Speaking o' which, why don't we get that fixed?"

"You really shouldn't..."

"Daw, it's really no bother. Although, I don't exactly have a lot to offer for someone of your size. Hold on, I know I got more in the back..." And with that he went off behind the checkout counter to the downstairs storage.

Lilith was left to ponder what the intentions of this salesman, Bertran, really were. She had every right to be suspicious. After all, who in their right mind would do anything generous for her? Their wizened moustache and receding silvery locks were full of bygone pride, but not senility.

One long minute later, the shopkeeper returned, lugging a crate full of defensive gear. "It ain't much, but I'm sure you'll find something to your liking."

---

[Trying on armor montage]​

First Lilith donned a maroon outfit with bronze plating. As she stepped out of the changing room, her eyes glinted through the curved holes in the mask.

"You really ain't like my usual customers," commented Bertran. "What's up with those eyes of yours?"

"Rare eye condition," she snappily deflected the question, unsure herself why she made up such a ridiculous lie. "Do you have anything lighter?"

"How about this?"

The next armor set covered less but in exchange offered a more breathable fit. A short-sleeve top, a knee-length skirt, and a skull helmet, all of reptilian origin. "Ehh, better. I don't think it's really my color though."

Bertran inquisitively scratched his beard.

Now this is more like it. Spiked black metal along the arms and legs, and only the most essential zones of her womanly parts shielded from view. Somehow, she knew this wouldn't provide any real defense. Still, she felt a pestering inadequacy. "It's stylish, but I think it's a little... too much?"

"Hmph. I figured you'd be a fan of heavy metal."

"No- I mean, yes!- Er- Augh," she exasperated.

"You afraid of wearing clothes or something?"

"... Actually, yeah. Rare skin condition. My pores need to be uh, well ventilated, that's it." It really is impossible for me to not sound like a freak.

"Well, I didn't expect a challenge today." His eyes sparkled with zeal. "But I wouldn't be the best armorer this side of New Abraxas if I turned it down!"

---

Bertran got to work immediately. Clipboard in hand, he scribbled down note after note and sketched with animated ardor. He double-checked and triple-checked every measurement he recorded, pushing his tape measurer to its limits. He squinted at his scrawlings and his subject, analyzing the two side by side. After a moment of deep concentration, he proclaimed, "I've got it!" He galloped to the upstairs floor just as a soldier dives to the frontlines of a siege, where he assembled his equipment to forge what Lilith could only assume was the ideal armor set for her.

Many minutes passed, occupied by the clanking and whirring and grinding of tools.

Lilith was unsure what to expect, but it certainly wasn't the smith returning empty-handed and dreary-faced. "Alas, I have been bested. My hands were not up to the task."

"Hey, it's not like you owe me anything. Maybe what works for me is just outside of your expertise alone." She was oddly empathetic to his shortcomings.

"What do you suppose I do about that?"

"Can I see your notes?
... Well, I think you're onto something here."

"What's your plan?"

"You mind if I borrow this? And some of your supplies?"

"Ah, I see. Think you can do it yourself?"

"Not necessarily, but... Given the right conditions, I might be able to build off of the foundation."

"If I can help someone else finish what I started, then I'd say that's a job well done. Now, what do you need my supplies for?"

"Give me a minute."

---

After a series of struggles in the changing room, Lilith finally emerged with her new outfit and a renewed swagger. Using a roll of black fabric a few inches wide, she swathed her chest and bikini region in crisscrossing straps and loops, covering the sensitive areas just enough to fall in line with common decency, both ends of the continuous band bound at her backside. When fully fashioned, it resembled a gothic mummy swimsuit.

If there's nothing erogenous on display, it's perfectly acceptable! That's her motto.

But what about the unique circumstances relating to her mutanthood? Lilith understood this attire was flimsy and liable to damage, so around her waist she wore a utility belt, every pocket holding spare rolls of fabric. When occasions called for her to use her whole body as a weapon, she'd have to throw the belt aside, a small inconvenience.

Bertran stared skeptically. "You sure this is all you need?"

"Yeup. I still think there's room for improvement, but this'll do for now." She couldn't help the satisfaction brimming from her face.

"Well, who am I to judge your style. It certainly makes you stand out."

Lilith was just about ready to leave, hand on the door, when she was overcome with a sudden twinge of guilt. "Hey, um, listen..."

"What is the matter?" he inquired with an understanding tone.

"I'm not a good person. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have accepted this."

Silence.

And then, resounding laughter. "Gyahaha! Oh, trust me, miss, I've had the displeasure of serving far more unpleasant customers in my lifetime. Hell, I served worse back in the war! Point is, it don't matter what kind of person you leave my shop as. Long as you leave suited up better than you came in. What's your name, by the way?"

"It's Lilith."

"Right. Well, if you're as bad as you say, I'll watch out for your name when trouble starts cropping up. Spare me at least, and we're square."

There were no words for the emotion welling up in her, so instead she stood stunned. How am I meant to take this? It's not acceptance or resentment. Neither kindness nor spite. The closest thing might be... tolerance? Perhaps that's all an outcast can ask for. "Sure thing."

Lilith had one last question before going once and for all. "Do you know any good bars around here?"

"I think you'd fit right in at The Retching Rex."

"Thanks. I might swing by there some time."

"Aye. Good luck with whatever it is you're doing."

Feeling confident in more ways than one, Lilith ventured off to partake in debauchery.

Used 1/1 Focus to bash some frogs.