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This is the second chapter and, just a quick reminder, the source of this idea is "A Game of Grimm Consequences" by rapthorn2ndform. As such, check his story out if you will, I am sure he would appreciate it and I can recommend his story. Otherwise I wouldn't have read it, or become a fan :D
Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth and was created by Monty Oum, may he rest in peace, I own nothing other than the system I use for this story which is in concept based on [The Gamer], a Manwha by Sun Sang-young. Again, I only own the specific system I implement but the idea of a character randomly getting this power is owned by that guy.
So, with that out of the way... I got a few comments by now and am making a edit to the original AN for this chapter, because it was finished before the last was posted. A few things must be clear. It was never my intention to make the Grimm stay a full Grimm, and the gender was also already decided from the get go. Also, if it hasn't been evident so far, the Grimm will not support Cinder Fall and her faction, aka Salem's faction.
This was already written before chapter 1 was published and I won't alter the whole thing no matter how many readers are unhappy about it because there are others who approve so far and if you want to quit reading this now, well, do so. While I like constructive critique I can live without flame or demands based on preferences. So, to all those who read this and didn't feel addressed, thanks for the support :D
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Scarlet had spent several sundowns, or days, just aimlessly wandering around.
Twice it found ruins of destroyed villages, but those were relatively old though not anywhere near as old as the Lost Kingdom was. So they had been destroyed just a couple years ago.
Those places were filled with Grimm who were roaming around the destroyed and abandoned streets. It had seen Beowolves, Creeps, even a Death Stalker who had made his home in a place that was a townhall before, the largest building in the town in question.
Still, it stayed away from villages for the time being, particularly the really big ones or those with little defenses. The disaster of Snowy Crust Town, something it had found travellers already talking about just two days after the fact, still fresh in it's memory.
It was currently following a group of [Huntsman], and a [Huntress] techincally but they were the same, just with one of them being a female. Their shared title was, to be more precise, was [Member of Team LEMN], the last word being apparently a acronym made from the first letters of their name.
In order of the team name, they were Liam Sagetera, Elmond Rachiel, Melanie Lastan and Nicholas Silver. From what Scarlet had gathered from studying them Liam was the leader of the team. He had the highest level among them, being around level 53. Elmond meanwhile was level 52, so he was a close second. Then come Melanie, the female, at level 48 and Nicholas at level 45. The gaps weren't that great between them.
They all also shared a secondary title, [Haven Academy Senior], which Scarlet didn't know what it meant but all of them were around 19 or 20 years old, so they were pretty old to Scarlet at least.
"Hey, why are we ignoring that weird Nevermore following us?" Asked Nicholas when they made a pause with Scarlet sitting a nearby tree, as they didn't attack it Scarlet decided to forego stealth in favor of seeing and listening better.
Melanie on her part groaned in annoyance. "Isn't it obvious Nick? It's a Juvenille, juvenille Grimm have horrible effects when they are killed and in case of Nevermore that is a wave of Negativity being released. They lose it after reaching their next growth stage from what I know but until then killing them is like sending a signal flare for the Grimm." Explained the female with a huff.
"Not to mention, haven't you heard those rumors? About that juvenille Nevermore wearing a scarlet scarf helping workers in that town that was recently sacked by the Grimm? Fits our little friend here quite well, doesn't it?" Asked Melanie, pointing to the mentioned piece of clothing that had yet to get a single rip in it's fabric. Scarlet would be so bold to say that this was because it was a item from her ability.
"Fine, whatever. Still creeps me out." Muttered the male as he threw another piece of wood into the fire, confusing their audience. It had seen them do this before but Scarlet just didn't know what to make of this practice.
A few hours later the four of them went to sleep and Scarlet choose that moment to swoop down and sate it's curiosity. With a bit of work Scarlet had, soon after landing, opened one of the bags and found a couple stacks of paper in hard covering within.
[You have obtained [Aura, Your Soul and You], a Skill Book]
[Do you want to use it?]
[Yes] – [No]
[You have obtained [Sword Fighting, a Guide to Sharp and Pointy Things], a Skill Book]
[Do you want to use it?]
[Yes] – [No]
[You have obtained [Letters and Words, Guide to the native Languages of Remnant], a Skill Book]
[Do you want to use it?]
[Yes] – [No]
[You have obtained 500 Lien (Ⱡ)]
Scarlet was confused, why did the person need those books? And was there more than one language really?
Deciding to look into it while alone, wanting to avoid more attention, it took the three items from the bag, wondering what "Lien" was, but left the rest in the bag, they weren't mentioned so they weren't important.
With that done it returned to it's search but found nothing noteworthy afterward and returned to it's perch, looking around. If there would be any Grimm ambushing this group, Scarlet swore to itself, it would make a ruckus so they would be alerted enough to defend themselves.
However, two hours into this silent guard Scarlet got bored. Scarlet had long since realized that it had more in common with human young than with it's own kind in many ways, feeling things that should be impossible for a Nevermore, including curiosity and boredom.
As such, flying away a short distance but still to be able to keep watch, Scarlet opened the Nest and extracted the "Skill Book" items.
[You have obtained [Aura, Your Soul and You], a Skill Book]
[Do you want to use it?]
[Yes] – [No]
This was the first and it willed the yes answer to trigger.
Instantly the book dissolved into motes of light which were absorbed by the Nevermore, surprising Scarlet by what just happened. However, more importantly it had suddenly a knowledge that it didn't have before.
[Due to using a [Skill Book] you learned a new skill!]
[Aura Understanding: Unlocks knowledge of Aura and doubles the AP you have once it is unlocked. Bonus: +3 Reason]
Scarlet shook it's head but suddenly it understood what had been the blank pieces in it's status screen. Aura.
The manifested power of the human soul, a power that Scarlet technically also had but it wasn't unlocked which, according to the info it had gotten just now, only happened with lots of training or someone unlocking it for you.
The latter was a standard procedure for students of preparatory schools around the world before they attended one of the primary Hunter schools. This was also all in that book, it was a guide to it.
With this information stored away, Scarlet had a feeling that this wasn't because of it's Grimm physique but rather the game who made it able to memorize so much without a huge headache in such a short time, it picked the next book.
[You have obtained [Sword Fighting, a Guide to Sharp and Pointy Things], a Skill Book]
[Do you want to use it?]
[Yes] – [No]
Again it willed the yes option to be triggered which again made it absorb the book and all that it contained.
[Due to using a [Skill Book] you learned a new skill!]
[Sword Mastery (Beginner): The ability to wield the sharp and pointy business end of a sword, any sort of sword from the simple arming sword with machinegun mode or exotic ones like a Katana that can be used as a small caliber semi-automatic. Even something as crazy as a swordwhip is within the range of this skill but you are still a beginner and need to train kid.]
This time it confused the small bird. It now had knowledge about using a sword but a look at it's wings and the small claws that adorned where the portion was that would be on a human a hand, namely the section where the forward part went backward. Nope, not able to hold a sword.
Scarlet shook it's head, not important right now, besides, the way it was going it would become more and more human like so, for all it knew it may gain hands later on.
With that thought it turned to the last book.
[You have obtained [Letters and Words, Guide to the native Languages of Remnant], a Skill Book]
[Do you want to use it?]
[Yes] – [No]
Again Scarlet confirmed the message and with the light come a sudden understanding, of languages not yet known to Scarlet.
[Due to using a [Skill Book] you learned a new skill!]
[Language Mastery (Divine): Thanks to a book on writing and language you have gained a total mastery over speech, reading and writing in all four languages of Remnant. +10 Reason, +5 Psyche]
A dull thump was all Scarlet heard just after it's mind reasserted itself. It took the small Nevermore's mind several seconds to fully comprehend the information it had gotten, so large was the info dump, which caused it to lose it's hold on the branch it sat on, falling down to the ground.
Not very graceful, sure, but at least there was little that could happen to it as a Grimm. Wasn't even the largest fall it had endured in it's short life. It sat up quickly and returned to it's proper perch, keeping lookout for the humans. A strange twist of fate, it had to admit. Here Scarlet was, a Grimm yet also protector of humans. The irony wasn't lost on it, but this was the path it had chosen.
Hours later, when the sunrise come, Scarlet had yet to detect any Grimm approaching, it seemed strange how there wasn't even a Ursa or Beowolf around, the most common Grimm who made their home in forests.
When team LEMN woke up they found themselves under the watchful eyes of the same Nevermore with the red scarf as last night, it had, however, taken a different place in the branches above them. "Hey, anyone notice that the bird seems almost like it's on a lookout or something? You don't think it kept seriously watch for us?" Asked Elmond, while packing his things and starring at the white mask wearing bird.
"Don't be stupid, a Grimm doesn't have the intelligence to do something like that and certainly wouldn't do it to protect a group of humans, that goes against their nature." Stated Liam, yet he looked at the Nevermore still before turning back to his backpack, which Scarlet realized was the one it had robbed.
"Hey! My books are gone!" Shouted the man and everyone turned to him. "They were right here last night! Who the hell steals a swordmanship handbook, a Aura Theory book and my Oum damned Linguistics Book? This makes no sense!" He shouted angrily and Scarlet scanned the area, negativity was rising, hopefully they would be able to handle any Grimm-
[Due to Negativity Levels exceeding the treshhold you have leveled up!]
Oh that isn't good. Thought Scarlet, it's Negativity Levels had been in the lower end of the middle between levels, so for it to level up meant that the Negativity was even higher than it thought!
And it was proven correct, a pair of Ursa Mayor, 4 Beowolves and 1 Alpha Beowolf, which was the equivalent of the Ursa Mayor of the Ursa species but for Beowolfs, stepped into the small clearing, or rather, charged.
Scarlet let out a loud cry, alerting them to the danger as good as it could. The moment they saw the Grimm they had been ready, drawing their weapons and opening by firing at the approaching minor Grimm and Ursa Mayor first. Melanie, wielding what was a staff with a blade at the end, a "Spear", had it fold into a different form which was a large caliber riffle. With it she took out one of the Ursa Mayor while Liam had a large axe but also a large, 16 bareled gun.
It was also known as a Minigun. This thing shredded through two Beowolves and the other Ursa before he was engaged in Meelee by them. Scarlet flew overhead, keeping watch and trying to look if there were any other Grimm approaching. It didn't try to talk to the other Grimm, communication of this kind was useless and lost on them, so talking them out of it made no sense.
It took half an hour but the four of them, battered and bruised, managed to drive off the last Grimm, which was the Alpha Beowolf. For a split second it had looked toward Scarlet, as if asking why it hadn't helped, but still left.
"Damn, that was close." Muttered Liam, breathing heavily as he leaned on his axe while sitting on the ground.
"Tell me about it, a few minutes more and I would have run out of Aura there." Muttered Elmond, he wielded a sword notably whose sheath was a riffle as well, but it was faster firing and smaller.
"You guys realize our guest up there is still here and warned us, right?" Asked Melanie, pointing to Scarlet who had returned to it's place in the canopy.
"You must be kidding me, you heard it too?" Asked Nicholas as he put away his own weapon of choice, looking to the others in bewilderment.
"No kidding, that Nevermore literally alerted us to the other Grimm, I mean, they had us already spotted so no way was it giving them a signal." Agreed Liam, looking to the black feathered bird of doom who defied all logic with that.
"See guys? That's definitely the same bird as the rumors say. No idea why it does so but hey! It helped us!" Stated Melanie triumphantly, having recognized the bird already.
"Yeah yeah, you are the smartest. Anyway, we should get going before that Alpha decides to come back with reinforcements." Stated Elmond, his things packed up already.
"Good idea, still thanks bird!" Shouted Melanie to the above Grimm, grabbing her things along with the rest before they left, her waving.
She stumbled a bit as Scarlet imitated it, recognizing it as a non-verbal way of saying goodbye to another.
*ping*
Scarlet, who had been getting messages for a while now, now took a moment to look at it's windows.
[You have successfully stolen 3 items without being suspected. Reward: +3 Perception]
[Due to warning them you gained 200 reputation with [Team LEMN] of Haven Academy, they will recognize you from now on regardless of form. Bonus: +4 Karma]
[For saving [Team LEMN] you gained 10 Reputation with [Haven Academy Teachers]. Bonus: +4 Karma]
[Due to the feelings of gratitude generated by [Team LEMN] you gained 100 [Gratitude Points (GP)]. Bonus: Title [Almost Human] obtained!]
[Almost Human: Your kind heart and will to defend the innocent set you apart. Humans won't feel threatened by your presence and will at first glance be unable to tell that you are a Creature of Grimm. Negativity Absorption replaced with [Gratitude Points] upon reaching Level 10. Bonus: +10 Karma]
[Due to betraying other Grimm you have gained the title [Uncanny]. Bonus: +5 Karma]
[Uncanny: You have betrayed the Grimm. They will be warry of your presence and avoid those around you. Creatures of Grimm will also be shown on the [Mini Map] in a 500 meter radius around you.]
Scarlet cocked her head, what was the importance of level 10? Well, whatever it was Scarlet decided that the feeling it got from the four of them was a good one, warm and not cold like Negativity. Scarlet liked that.
With that out of the way Scarlet looked at it's status window, curious how it was now.
[Name: Scarlet Sky, Nevermore, Age: 6 years, Level 9]
[HP: 3240/3240]
[Combat: 41]
[Resilience: 36 (ResiliencexLVx10=HP)]
[Reason: 58 (ReasonxLVx10=AP (Aura Points)) (Aura Locked)]
[Psyche: 77]
[Intuition: 40]
[Perception: 53]
[PP: 13]
Scarlet cocked it's head sideways, it hadn't seen it's stats for a while now, they had grown, a lot. Especially it's HP.
But something more interesting. It's PP had gone past 10 by now, and this strange feeling of want, to want that offered [Piece of the Past #1] in the Perk selection menu. It wanted that, it had a... a desire? Was that the word? Yes, it had a desire for that. This "Piece" was something from the past, so it was knowledge, and related to it somehow. That alone was reason enough to want it.
As such Scarlet opened the menu, noticing that some things had changed.
[Perks Available:]
[Swift Wind: You are able to fly 20% faster than any Nevermore of equal level. Cost: 1 ; Bonus: +1 Fighting]
[Thoughest Bird: Combines [Steel Wing] and [Razor Feathers] into one, making you the toughest bird around, tougher even than any adult Nevermore below [Ancient] status. Bonus: +4 Resilience. Cost: 1. Unlocking Requirement: [The Sixth Step on the Path] Perk unlocked.]
[Eagle Eyes: Your eyes become as accute as those of a eagle, allowing you to see far better. Cost: 1 ; Bonus: +1 Perception]
[Winged Arms: Gives the ability to change your wings into arms with hands and/or claws depending on your [Karmic Status]. Cost: 1. Bonus: Grappling Skill]
[Grimm Bane: A long lost nature is found. +/-40% damage against/from Creatures of Grimm. Cost: 2. Bonus: +2 Combat]
[One of a Kind: Triggers the transition to the next stage of your evolution according to your actions. Bonus: Levels up until level 10, +/-5 Karma. Cost: 5]
[Piece of the Past #1: A mysterious memory, one not of your own but familiar. Cost: 10 ; Bonus: +5 Karma]
Now, Scarlet was a lot smarter and a lot more rational than back when she first opened this menu, but some things were weird. First of all, her getting higher in that Perk with the path thing had fused two perks available at the time into one, but it cost the same as before.
Meanwhile, the [Piece of the Past #1] perk cost only half from what it had been originally, which was convenient to be honest.
With that said, Scarlet decided to take a number of them, not the [One of a Kind] perk though, not only would it deplete a lot of it's PP but with being level 9 already it had no reason to take it, it was close enough to reach that level after all.
As such it took [Piece of the Past #1], [Thoughest Bird], [Eagle Eyes], [Winged Arms] and [Grimm Bane], which cost a total of 10 points but got it more perks than it would have been able to take had it taken [One of a Kind].
Suddenly, after confirming it's choice, it shuddered, it's feathers fluffing out involuntarily. Before Scarlet's eyes flashed pictures, weird pictures. They were pictures of... people. People with the same eyes as the girl from that locket. Grey eyes, no, silver eyes. Silver eyes... What was the meaning of that?
Scarlet shook it's head, confused at the weirdness of this.
*Ping*
Scarlet looked up, another message?
[Due to developing your body and mind you gained a new title!]
[Touched by Fate: Your soul resonates with a long lost past. Unlocks [Bloody Silver] Perk. Bonus: +1 to all stats per Level Up]
[Due to your Karmic Status exceeding +100 a Perk has evolved!]
[The Seventh Step on the Path: The world isn't all black and white, it's black, white and grey, and all of them in so many shades that 50 doesn't come close. Welcome to the light grey side of things little bird! Bonus: +2 to all stats for every year with a [Karmic Status] of +100 or higher]
Scarlet starred at those messages, this was a weird pair but... those flashes of images, those... were those memories of someone? What did they mean?
Scarlet shook it's head, testing the [Winged Arms] ability out.
Instantly a flash of light obscured Scarlet's vision but when it faded it's wings had changed. There were still feathers along the backward edges but they had become more like those arms of humans. The hands were still fairly claw'y but there were four finger and a thumb, they also worked perfectly well from what it could see. But still, looking up along the arm it come to the rather weird section where it merged back into it's avian body.
"Nope, not gonna use now. Need my wings after all." Said Scarlet, speaking aloud as it was alone but noted that it's voice was, strangely, rather high in pitch. Not in a weird way but rather like Melanie's voice, the female. "Weird." Muttered Scarlet before returning it's wings to normal before flapping them to gain altitude.
"The outside is getting better and better." Scarlet thought aloud and, if it didn't have a beak and instead a human mouth, one would have seen a smile perhaps.
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Scarlet had spent two weeks just flying around aimlessly, searching for something to occupy it's mind. Nothing really come to it, the few times it met Hunters they were relaxed, not even bothered by it's presence and even joked about the "Token Hero Bird" from time to time.
Apparently, it's little stunt back with team LEMN had garnered it actual reputation by this point. However, it's [Almost Human] Perk also seemed to make the humans around it more relaxed, not even hesitating to identify it as the scarf wearing Nevermore.
It was currently flying along a riverbed, flapping it's wings from time to time to keep it's lift constant, when it felt itself enter a influence field of a emotion. It wasn't Negativity though, neither was negative in general. It was... calm, soothing. Accepting.
Following this feeling, seeing other Grimm avoid it for some reason, they were leaving as fast as they could. Other Nevermore, Scarlet noted, were doing their best to avoid their scarf wearing cousin. Nothing new, it's [Uncanny] Title, while not active, was passively making them avoid it. Which was good considering it was the smallest Nevermore around.
Finally it located the source of the feeling to be in a cave, a quarter of a mile south of the river it had been following so far. Landing in it Scarlet hopped forward and come upon a sorry sight.
Sitting there, breathing shallowly, was a human female. She was of the adult variation and had medium length, black hair with red streaks in it. Her attire was made of a black top with a white shirt under it, a red skirt, black boots and a white cape which was red on the inside. Around her lay several items, two dagger blades, a folding pistol with grooves for the blades and what Scarlet could tell was a extendable grip, a rectangular object which was flat, as well as a small bag-like object.
However, this picture was ruined by all the blood on the woman's white cloak, all the wounds she sported and the noticeable holes in her clothing, a King Taijitu bite. "A Nevermore? Damn, my last minutes and a Grimm stumbles on me." Muttered the woman, one of her silver eyes closed due to blood flowing over it, to prevent it from flowing into the eye.
Due to the woman not moving to attack, [Almost Human] at full swing, Scarlet hopped from behind the corner, it's scarf now no longer obscured. "A red scarf? Heh, guess you are that rumored "Good Grimm" huh? Can't believe that I meet you just before dying, shame I guess." Stated the woman, a small smile on her face.
Scarlet looked at the woman's name and title at that time, wanting to know who she was.
[Heavily Poisoned]
[Summer Rose, Female Human, Age 29, Level 192]
[Fallen Silver Eyes]
[HP: 92/9128]
[AP: 0/8124]
The HP were slowly ticking down, poisoned and bleeding, it was taking her life.
Looking down to the woman who sat there, calm and without any sign of regret, Scarlet couldn't help it. "You aren't afraid, or angry, aren't you afraid of dying? Aren't you angry at the Taijitu who did this?" Asked Scarlet, speaking aloud for only the second time to a human.
Summer looked at Scarlet in disbelieve at that, then laughed as if not believing her ears. "I am going mad, I seriously hear a talking Nevermore, now that is one weird poison." Said the woman, laughing in dark humor but Scarlet understood why, Adam was the same after all.
"I am not a halucination actually, I don't know why I can talk or why I am so much smarter than other Grimm, but I am what I am. And, I actually have a name, the only other human I talked to gave it to me so you can call me Scarlet." Explained the small Nevermore, approaching the bewildered woman who starred at her but decided to just roll with it by this point.
"Alright, Scarlet then. Why are you here though?" Asked Summer, her HP falling by this point to 50. It was ticking away slowly, thankfully.
"I don't know, it was a nice, warm feeling, not cold like Negativity. Why are you feeling like that? Shouldn't you be angry or afraid?" Asked Scarlet, coming to a halt not quite three feet away from the woman who smiled as she let go of a breath.
"I guess I should, but I also know I gave it my all, and that my daughters, Ruby and Yang, are save, back in Patch. Back with Tai and Qrow. That is all that counts Scarlet, as a mother, my only concern is their safety and knowing that they are save is all I need." Stated the woman, closing her eyes in exhaustion.
"Say, you can fly, right?" Asked Summer and Scarlet cocked it's head but after a moment nodded. "If you can manage, go to Patch and search for Tai Xiaolong and Qrow Branwen. Tell them, I am sorry, and tell Ruby and Yang that Momma is sorry she couldn't keep her promise." Said Summer, a rueful smile on her face. "That is my only regret, to be unable to come back as I promised." She whispered, weakening noticeably.
Scarlet felt cold, it was a feeling that was strange and foreign, yet seemed so similar to back when it had found itself a murderer. But this was different, it made Scarlet feel bad in a manner that was so different and yet so similar.
A strange, wet sensation begun to form below Scarlet's eyes, the feathers growing wet. "I- I promise. I- I find them." Promised Scarlet, feeling itself hiccup for some reason as it watched Summer's HP begin to tick down the last 20 points.
"Thank you, be- be a good girl, okay Scarlet?" Asked Summer, her last breath used by those last words as her HP fell finally to zero. Her title, status effect and name all changed seconds later.
[Dead]
[Corpse of Summer Rose]
[Fallen Silver]
Scarlet continued to hiccup, every breath causing it to hiccup and it's, no, her body to tremble.
She had failed, she had failed to save someone right in front of her. Had she come sooner, had she been able to help Summer? Could she have stopped her death? She didn't know, a more rational part of her said no, she couldn't have done anything but annoy the larger, stronger Grimm. Not as she was now. Not as a juvenille Nevermore.
*Ping*
Scarlet opened her eyes, just barely at the sound. Still emotionally on the verge of collapse as she looked at the messages that had appeared.
[You have been given a Gender and have accepted it. Default gender activated.]
[A fork in the path has been found. Choose a Title to proceed.]
[Trailblazer of Knowledge] – [Promise Holder]
[Due to Negativity Levels exceeding the treshhold you have leveled up!]
[Note: At level 10 you are unable to maintain Juvenille form. Your new form will be based on your Karmic Status]
[Due to withnessing the death of a special person a Perk has evolved!]
[The Perk [Bloody Silver] has evolved into [Scarlet Silver]!]
[Scarlet Silver: Your eyes are changing and you are losing your Grimmhood more and more. Induces [Light Fear] in Grimm with who you make Eye-Contact with, +/- 40% Damage to/from Creatures of Grimm. Bonus: +3 Psyche]
Scarlet had barely read through all of this before the pain hit. Scarlet stumbled onto the ground, her mask beginning to crack as cracks emanated from her entire body as it begun to stretch, something within her snapping into place and changing as her head also stretched in ways that shouldn't be.
However, she lost consciousness long before she could find what had happened exactly.
XXXXoooXXXX
Scarlet woke up after what felt like only a couple minutes, the pain having stopped at this point but her face wet from a weird liquid that had been spilling from her eyes. Rolling from her back onto her belly she tried to stand up as she was used to but found that her legs weren't compatible with this kind of standing.
A look at them also showed why, they looked like human legs, no feathers, no scales, just soft, pink skin. Transforming her wings, who were thankfully still there, Scarlet managed to sit up, albeit still clumsily, and looked at her new form. Her hands, for starters, looked perfectly human except for the still lingering feathers on the elbow-ward edge of her arms. Her hands were also normal looking for a human.
Her body had meanwhile undergone a complete conversion, soft skin, no trace of her old Nevermore self left. It was a bit uncomfortable to sit so, with her lower body connected with the ground but nothing to separate them. It was a weird feeling really, and especially uncomfortable where the slit at the front of her lower body, a vagina her mind supplied from that book she absorbed, was.
She still had her scarf, it gave her some feeling of warmth and protection she thought, but that was it. Touching her face also showed that she had neither a mask nor a beak anymore, just a soft face. She had turned into something that looked indistinguishable from a human, it seemed, a Grimm looking like this... it was worrisome.
Finally she turned her attention to the windows that had popped up before her.
[Your Species has evolved into [Harpy], granting you a new status.]
[Harpy: A creature of Grimm unique among it's kind. Indistinguishable from a Faunus in appearance thanks to their appearance and soul, Harpies were thought extinct a long time ago but in truth it was just a matter of a Nevermore changing their own being. Bonus: [Last of your Kind] Title]
[Last of your Kind: A title bestowed upon those who are one of a kind, the very first or very last of their species. Bonus: +2 to all stats]
[Due to shedding the last ties to the Grimm a Perk has evolved!]
[Eighth Step on the Path: Are you human? Are you Faunus? Or still a Grimm? No one will be able to tell you are a Grimm unless you want. When in a Party others will see your status as a [Faunus]. Bonus: [Set of the Wanderer].]
[Due to evolving past Juvenille Age you can now form [Parties] with up to four people. For more information please see the Glossary]
[Due to assuming human form you are now able to sleep, rest, eat and subsequent needs which are included in the latter. However you are now also susceptible to human sickness.]
[Due to evolving to a new form a new skill has been created!]
[Of two Kinds: This skill can return you temporarily into your old form according to the age stage your current form is in. Current form: Juvenille.]
[Due to obtaining Human form you will no longer level up by [Negativity] but instead through obtaining [Gratitude Points]. However, due to your Aura yet having to be unlocked you cannot advance to the next level. After unlocking your accumulated GP will instantly be added to your count and level you up if needed.]
[Due to obtaining a human form the [Wardrobe] section of your [Cosmic Nest] inventory is now open for use.]
Scarlet let this all sink in, was this what all this time she had been working to? Well, she felt good, better than when she was a Nevermore.
She wasn't a real human or Faunus yet, something that may be even impossible to achieve. But she was the next best thing it seemed, nearly there yet not fully transformed. And with what she had now she may actually have the chance of seeing things that were barred from a Nevermore. And perhaps, just perhaps, she could approach cities without another catastrophic outcome? She had to be careful, sure, but that was alright, she had been for a long time already after all.
Besides, if need be she could defend herself, her stats were pretty good and her level was above the average of other Grimm. Not to mention that she had a passive, repelling effect on other Grimm. And while she didn't know why she felt warmth in her, she knew she had a mission. A purpose beyond that innitial curiosity driving her to leave the Grimm Lands.
With that said she walked over to the corpse who had yet to enter a decomposition stage it seemed and, when she touched Summer's corpse, it was still a bit warm. She hadn't been unconscious for long it seemed.
Taking a hold of the dead body it vanished, asserted as a item by her ability as cruel as it may sound.
[Item [Corpse of Summer Rose] stored in [Cosmic Nest]. Space: 3/30]
Next she grabbed the first of the daggers but both vanished together.
[Weapon [Scattering Roses] stored in [Cosmic Nest]. Space: 4/30]
Dismissing this occurence, deciding that they were treated as the same most likely, she grabbed the gun, it was about half her own height which was about Summer's hip height if she was honest.
[Weapon [Rose Thorns] stored in [Cosmic Nest]. Space: 5/30]
Then there was a backpack near where Summer had been, which she picked up.
[Item [Summer's Backpack] obtained! Store Backpack or open to obtain items?]
[Store] – [Open]
Scarlet selected [Store], she didn't want to take Summer's things, they belonged to her family after all. Thus the backpack vanished.
[Item [Summer's Backpack] stored in [Cosmic Nest]. Space: 6/30]
Finally Scarlet picked up the last item on the ground, the rectangular device.
[Item [Summer's Scroll] stored in [Cosmic Nest]. Space: 7/30]
With that done Scarlet sighed, she also managed to get a hold of her new legs, it was weird how they were perfectly alligned with her back now but she could work with it.
With that said, she frowned. "How do I use this "Wardrobe" thing it mentioned?" Asked Scarlet only for a window to appear.
[Wardrobe option:]
[Headgear: None]
[Accessoire 1: Crimson Shroud (Stage 1)] – [Remove]
[Shirt: None]
[Jacket: None]
[Pants: None]
[Shoes: None]
[Underwear: None]
[Accessoire 2: None]
[Accessoire 3: None]
[Accessoire 4: None]
[Accessoire 5: None]
[Accessoire 6: None]
[Items to equip:]
[Headgear:]
[None]
[Shirt:]
[Wanderer's Shirt (Simple)] (10-20 Dam reduction)
[Wear] – [Delete]
[Jacket:]
[Wanderer's Vest (Simple)] (10-20 Dam reduction)
[Wear] – [Delete]
[Pants:]
[Wanderer's Trousers (Simple)] (10-20 Dam reduction)
[Wear] – [Delete]
[Shoes:]
[Wanderer's Boots (Simple)] (10-15% Speed boost)
[Wear] – [Delete]
[Underwear:]
[Soft Shorts (Simple)] (+100% comfort :D)
[Wear] – [Delete]
[Accesoires:]
[Locket Past (Stage 1)] (GP gain: +30)
[Wear] – [Delete]
Scarlet blinked, that was a lot of items she could wear, but most were likely from that reward set she had gotten. Meanwhile the locket... she didn't even know it was something she could wear.
That being said, she equipped each of the items but hesitated before closing the window. Finally, she put the locket on, it had a nice bonus, she believed at least so, as such she equipped the item which appeared in the second slot for items like it as well as around her neck. Weirdly it now had a string to loop over her head which had been gone. Also, the locket was now in pristine condition.
However, a strange sensation overcome her when she touched the locket, it felt... nostalgic? Was that the right word? She also felt some coldness, a bit of negativity? She didn't know what the meaning of this was but for the moment, it wasn't important.
Leaving the cave she transformed her wings, happy to see that her new clothing adjusted and morphed to accomodate them. Which was good, she had a feeling there would be trouble otherwise. With one flap of her wings, she would guess they were about 7 feet wide, a proud size for one so young as her, she soared into the sky.
She didn't even realize a pop-up that faded soon after.
[You chose the title [Promise Holder]! You will continue down this path!]
[Promise Holder: You gave a promise, choosing to follow the last will over your own curiosity. +50% success at human interactions.]
"Now, where is Patch?" Asked Scarlet after a few moments of flying, blinking in confusion.
To be continued...
XXXXoooXXXX
Chapter 2 is done! And I reached the "Scarlet is Human-like" stage that I was aiming for anyway.
So, anyone can guess the meaning of the locket and the [Piece of the Past] perk line? Because both of them are Chekov's Guns, TVTrope it if you want to know what that means XD