The tree in the laboratory had expanded. It grew into the metal flooring and beneath it, its roots spread wide, breaking into the stone walls and, presumably, connecting with the other titans.

Daggat had three assistants now, and each one could use telekenisis. The combat potential of this was huge, but right now it was being used for alchemy.

He wanted to replenish some of their potion stock, now that he had access to his store of demon dust. But, for that, he would need Klaw and Anath to offer up some of their essence. That can be done later.

But, he did have some alchemy that needed doing. First, though, was to deal with the meddlers. He opened the party chat.

Daggy Two-arms: <Hey, I'm going to be focusing on alchemy for a while. Don't bother me.>

There. That should do it.

He had a few problems that needed solving. First, containing essence. For what he had planned, the essence would need to be pure and clean. Well, clean enough.

For this, he had two options. Hunter or Alfred. Daggat did not want to involve Hunter in the night's activities. It was far too reckless. Hunter would stop him. So, Daggat messaged Alfred.

Daggy Two-arms: <Al, you can move mana around, right?>

Alfred: <Within my domain, yes. Why?>

Daggy Two-arms: <Mind helping me out in the lab?>

Alfred: <I am there. I am everywhere. Just tell me what you need done.>

"Thanks, Al. Can you remove all essence from this room except for chaos essence?"

Alfred: <I am not sure. It is difficult for me to distinguish essence types.>

"Alright… hmm. Okay, I think we can work with that."

The assistants were getting things ready. Moving the table into place and placing the required potions in easy reach. Daggat himself removed the crystal pitcher from the inventory.

It had an interesting property that intrigued him. To Daggat's senses, essence was like a mist of various colors and textures. Normally, that mist would pass through most objects. Only really interacting with essence-rich objects. The material the pitcher was made of, some clear crystal, blocked the essence entirely. That was handy. It meant that if he was fast, he could store essence within the bottle.

The other divine potions had similar bottles, but smaller. He would need to collect those. Having a contained essence could be extremely useful. Perhaps he could pick objects in pure essence, create his own totems.

Then there was the liquid itself. Four biotraits' worth of random mutations. It was potent enough to change the mana around the potion into chaos essence. Within the bottle, it was even thicker. This told Daggat that whatever fundamental force turned mana into essence did not need contact with other forms of essence. More to add to his notes.

Daggat knew that if he mixed a complete potion into a solution primed with demon dust, the entire thing would convert into essence. The question was, is the divine mutation potion the same kind of potion that he worked with?

His gut told him no. The only person who could have answered with any certainty was just killed a few hours earlier. His reasoning was that it interacted with the system, not the creature's aura or soul or natural essence. Whatever people were, spiritually.

That meant he could use it as a base for a potion.

"Alright, first step," Daggat said to his assistants.

They moved in, crowding him.

"Jitters, you get started with getting some water boiling. Make the water as clean as we can make it. That, we are going to make a potion using the chaos core from the nilbog."

"Yes, okay, right on it… Sir." That assistant seemed… fearful? Anxious? Like a small rodent doing its best to survive. Some throwback to Daggat's gremlin days, perhaps?

"Good," Daggat said, "You two, get the pitcher under low heat. Once the potion inside of it boils, or gets hot enough, we only add demon dust."

"Ah," his other new assistant said, "we are to then mix the two? Trap the essence within the bottle?"

Daggat nodded, "You catch on quick. Let's get started."

While the assistants worked, Daggat lit his thumb and ran the flame over the shattered shard of his old sword. It was razor sharp, perfect for cutting. He had read that heat can clean blades, reducing the chance of disease. He had his doubts about that, but why take the risk?

After some time, the two concoctions were ready. The demon dust had settled into the divine potion beautifully. The chaos potion was as basic a potion as Daggat could make. Pure chaos essence.

"Now, we need to be quick. Original Assistant, take the stopper. Jitters, hold the jar steady with Giggles here," the other new assistant had giggled at every step of the process. "And I will pour in the potion. Once full, stopper it. Ready?"

"Ready." All three said.

Daggat didn't use his physical arm; his telekinesis was more precise. With practice, he had more control over telekinesis than he did with his actual hand. A perk of high charm.

Daggat spilled a few drops, or… maybe a cup or so. But most of it went into the thin-necked pitcher. The liquid inside began to boil almost immediately. It produced no heat; it was merely converting into thick, pure essence.

"Now!"

The stopper went on. Daggat gave it a shake to help the process. All four of them grinned at the result. The chaos essence within the jar was so thick that it looked solid. On a closer look, it wasn't pure. But… close enough.

"Now for the fun part," The Assistant said.

"Be careful. This is when it gets dangerous." Jitters said.

"I know I've only existed for a few hours," Giggles said, "But I've never had so much fun!"

Daggat placed the spare arm on the table. He was ninety percent sure it once belonged to a kappa. "Let's review these next steps. Al, I know you are listening, so please don't be TOO alarmed. Yes, it's dangerous. No, you can't convince me to stop. Don't bother."

He gave Alfred a moment to respond, but he didn't, so Daggat continued. "When I drink the Bone Spirit potion, we need to act fast. Jitters and Giggles, you are on arm duty."

"Remove the remnants of the old arm." Jitters said.

"Place the new one in the proper place." Giggles finished.

"Right. At the same time, Assistant, you make the incision. It needs to be deep, all the way through the flesh and wire."

"I will savor it." It said.

Daggat sneered, "Just remember, if I die, so do you. Then we need to replace the essence of my core with the essence in the bottle. I'll do that. Alfred, this is where you come in. I need you to remove all traces of essence EXCEPT for what is in the bottle. Rip my fire essence from me if you can."

Alfred: <If you die, or worse, it is not my fault.>

"Noted."

"And afterwards?" Jitters asked.

Daggat tapped the second potion. "We heal up and, at last, regenesis it all together."

"Oh! What have we decided on the new form?" Giggles asked.

Daggat entered the Status Void, "We haven't, let's review."

The Assistant brought up the page on his own personal evolution. "We have many routes to explore. Goblin, fire, harvest, and a few others."

"Let's ignore sideways evolutions." Jitters whispered, "It will only make us look pathetic."

"Agreed," Daggat said, "No hobgoblins, bugbears, or the like."

"That cuts the list in half. I have cross-referenced these creatures with the beastiary as well as read their lore to get an idea of how they work. Which first?"

Daggat thought about it for a moment, "Show me the goblin-related evolutions."

The page scrolled and the Assistant read, "First, is Blood Goblin. A creature whose strength is only matched by their wickedness."

"Ugh, Rika. Nope." Daggat said.

"There is Coal Goblin, a fire-themed variety. Enlightened Goblin, who embodies intelligence and wisdom. Then Rot Fiend. This one is fascinating; it is a goblin at its most gobish. A creature who thrives on carrion and the dead."

"Enlightened Goblin sounds fun." Giggles said.

Daggat shook his head slowly, "Maybe… but that's just more ME. I want to be something more than myself. You know?"

The assistants gave each other confused looks, and the Assistant continued, "Not really. But let's move on. Your fire core and harvest mark give you some options. Greater Imp, Lesser fire giant, Magman, Salamander, and Lesser Phoenix are some of the fire options."

"We could really fuck with Zuss if we chose Phoenix," Giggles chuckled.

"As for harvest, there are not as many. Strawraith, Polvek, Lanternhead, and Lesser Reaper."

Daggat had read about some of these creatures said to haunt the fields of men. "Lesser Reaper sounds fun."

"It is related to the Skeletid type. Like the Bone Spirit form you are soon to take."

"Then I would lose my winning smile," Daggat said, "Some really fun options. What about the others?"

The Assistant scrolled to another section of the notes, "These seem to have been unlocked because of your biotraits or skills. Gancanagh is related to your beguiling aura. Thoughtlings are known for their vast intelligence and psychic ability. Then there are a few different monsters related to death. There is Ghoul, Banshee, and Pooka."

Daggat swished his tail back and forth in thought, "Gancanagh… Banshee… Thoughtlings. Tell me about them."

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"Gancanagh was a fae known for being… persuasive with the opposite gender. A tongue of silver who left his victims heartbroken, and on many occasions, heartless. Banshees have no lore, but they bring unnatural bad luck and can bring death with a scream. Thoutlings are small creatures with heads so large, they must use their own telekenisis to hold it up."

"Banshee sounds fearsome," Jitters said.

"Yeah. But, I have fear. If I need it, I can drink a Nightmare potion." Daggat thought some more, "Alright. I have decided. Let's move on to the next step. You all know what to do?"

They nodded eagerly. Daggat hopped onto the table, then yelped as he sat on his tail. It would take some time to get used to. But he repositioned himself and grabbed the Bone Spirit potion with telekinesis.

He lifted the potion to toast his assistants, "This is a culmination of many weeks of observation and planning. Don't mess this up." Then he drank the potion.

Its effects hit him immediately. Numbing his pains and his emotions. "Alfred, you watching?"

He floated into the room, "I am here, you fool."

His skin began to melt, followed by his flesh. Leaving behind a clean skeleton, organs, and a pool of black waste. The assistants got to work, slicing deep into his fire core, then passing the knife to cut the ligaments holding the shoulder in place.

The essence in the room wavered, then began to flee like a swarm of rats in the light. Daggat shuddered as fire essence was wrenched from his core. It didn't hurt so much as it instantly left him feeling cold and empty. Uncomfortable, but tolerable.

"Daggat, what- WHAT THE FUCK." Someone said from the entrance. Klaw.

"Go away." Daggat croaked, then he uncorked the pitches and unceremoniously shoved the tip deep into his core. It was just thin enough that he could force it in. Chaos essence began to seep in. When the time was right, he had to remove it quickly.

A notification pinged.

Klaw: <DAGGAT IS HURT BAD. GET DOWN HERE NOW!>

Daggy Two-arms: <I am fine. Do not.>

Klaw rushed to his side, but his Assistant hovered the blade in front of him.

He growled, "Daggat… what is this?"

"An experiment. You are not needed."

Klaw looked… terrified? He pulled at the hair on his head, "Why? You didn't call for us? What's your plan out of this? Cutting yourself from the inside?"

"I will heal it with regensis. You saw the effects it had on Zuss."

"THAT'S NOT THE SAME. If you weren't a skeleton, I would be ripping the skin from your bones right now."

"If you interrupt, I might actually die."

Just then, a silvery shape dashed into the room. "Where is the enemy?" Zuss asked coldly.

Her eyes went wide, then she rushed towards Daggat.

Klaw grabbed her shoulder as she passed, "He's alive. The idiot is tampering with his body."

"Why did you think I needed the arm?"

"I thought… You were going to sew it." Zuss's voice shook.

Klaw wasn't done yelling, "You said you were going to fix this with an evolution? Did it not occur to you that WE WANTED TO BE THERE? To see you through it? Asshole!"

"Go. The fuck. Away." Daggat said. He couldn't risk the distractions.

Anath scurried in next, panting. "What's going on? Hunter is coming. Hold on!"

Daggat sighed, "Fine. Since you are here. Then watch. Do not interrupt."

Klaw explained to Anath. It was almost time. He had been counting.

"Soon…" Jitters said.

"Now!" Giggles yelled.

Daggat ripped out the bottle seconds before the potion ended. He screamed as his pain returned. The chaos essence BURNED. A foreign magic in his core was like drinking acid. He didn't realize the organ was sensitive to it. Or that could have been the hole they cut into it, which would be closed soon.

Chaos and Fire were similar. Close in shape, and one could turn into the other. His plan was for the chaos essence to overflow his core and forcefully change any fire essence. Hold it long enough, and the system might be tricked.

Hunter: <What's happened? Put pressure on the wounds.>

Klaw: <Daggat is evolving. Hurry up.>

Daggat glanced over his shoulder. His flesh coming back was rejecting the arm. His teeth ground together in frustration.

"NO!" He said, taking the knife from the Assistant. He cut away the flesh, ignoring the pain with pure spite. "HOLD THE FUCKING ARM IN PLACE." Klaw rushed over, "NOT YOU. Moron, I have to do this myself."

Anath had screamed when he started cutting and had tears running down her face.

All three assistants forced the arm in place until, finally, the flesh began to grow over the arm. Ligaments and nerves did not attach, but that was okay. As long as the system could be fooled.

Now, for the next part.

He drank the second potion, his Regeneration potion.

Once again, he bloomed. His various scrapes and wounds knitted themselves together. His ear returned, and the flesh of his shoulder began to merge into the scales of the arm.

A sudden sensation caused him to scream, mostly in shock. He could occasionally still feel the missing arm. But this was different. The new arm came to life and tingled like a million needles were prodding it.

He focused on it… Then, a twitch. He could move the finger! It was working.

Giggles began to laugh.

The sensation had also cost him a moment's focus. His spirit was weak, crowded by too much essence all at once. He could feel himself growing. Flowering into something new.

But that was okay, right? That was his plan. To grow and to become something new. Something powerful.

"Daggat!?" Zuss cried.

Klaw held her back. Why did he look so scared? Daggat was beautiful.

He opened his mouth to reassure them, but his tongue had become long and was beginning to bear fruit. He moved off the table, but his legs had grown fleshy tendrils, seeking nutrients. As flesh should. Or was that plants? Either one, it was all the same. Life, pure and never-ending.

"The fool… he's gone too far. We must kill him. Before he becomes possessed." Alfred said.

"Touch him and I will smite you from ass to mouth." Growled Klaw, "DAGGAT! SNAP OUT OF IT."

"Hold on!" Anath yelled.

Hunter, finally, lumbered into the room. With it, he brought his torch.

As the aura found Daggat, his transformation was speeding.

"Evolve, you moron!" Zuss screamed; her voice was shaking.

Evolve. Right… that was one way to grow.

Spiritual tendrils grew from the walls. Rifts in reality that only Daggat could see were letting something in. It reached for him and spoke, "My child… bloom. Grow. Come to us." The voice was a sweet, enticing melody.

Something inside of him wanted to. To grow into this presence. Become one with this… god.

First, he needed to grow further. Daggat allowed his petals of flesh and skin to close around him.

In a daze and high on the bliss of endless growth, he entered the status void once again. Making the choice was easy; it aligned with his being.

[You have selected regenisis: Gancanagh. Accept? Yes/No]

Yes! Grow more!

Then his spirit was pulled back from the reaching demon. With sudden horror, he realized what had happened.

Light exploded from Daggat. Burning away the horrible flesh-plants and washing his spirit clean. The thing from beyond screamed as it was forced away. It no longer had an anchor to reach for.

The petals fell away, blackened to dust, and Daggat's mind cleared.

Energy flooded him, and he leapt from the remains of the petal with a flip.

"Success!" Daggat said with a grin, "What? Were you worried? Never doubt me."

[Regenisis to Gancanagh complete. Charm increased by 4, Intelligence increased by 2, and Dexterity increased by 2. Base size change: Medium. New traits: Beguiling Presence, Unnatural Beauty.]

[Anomaly detected. Compensating… Biotrait compensation: Gained Regeneration.]

[Inconsistency detected. Compensating… Biotrait corrected: Fire Core corrected to Chaos Flame Core.]

[Feat Achieved: Self Surgeon. Cause: Perform a successful surgery on yourself. Reward: One skill point. Note: This skill point may only be spent on healing or surgery natural skills, or fleshwork-related skills.]

[Feat Achieved: Flesh Grafter. Cause: Successfully graft the flesh of two creatures together. Reward: Fleshworker skill.]

[Feat Achieved: You Mad Bastard. Cause: Gain the favor of Vaelion. Reward: Okay, so this isn't so much a rewaaaard, but boy was that fun to watch. Dangerous as hell, but fun. Little tip for you, I'm commissioning an altar drop in your forest. Of course, can't make it easy for you. Good luck, D. -V]

The rest of the party was staring at him with various levels of awe and disbelief.

His arm had returned fully. This time, milk white and etched with scales. Daggat reached up and, with reverence, brushed his long-missing ear. He was taller, almost double in height, and thin. Unnaturally thin, but not gaunt. Elegant, yet gobish. Grotesque and alluring. A union of the seductive Gancanagh and the wretched goblin. His tail was longer, now a part of his form rather than tacked on. Like it was always meant to be there. He ran a hand over his face. Striking, symmetrical, and pointed.

Daggat spread his arms, "So? How do I look?"

Daggat

True Name: Daggat Soul: Monster

Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size] Genbloom: goblin [ +2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Scavenger; Small Size] Genbranch: gancanagh [ +4 Cha, +2 Int, +2 Dex; Beguiling Presence, Unnatural Beauty; Medium Size]

Mark of the Harvest: +4 Cha, +2 Int; Caudal Spike [Reaping]

Base size: Medium[Largest Size: Gancanagh]

Monster Level: 17

Attributes (0/10)(base growth, +5; Devotion, +1; growth potions, +4): Strength: 11 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +2, Devotion +1) Dexterity: 13 (Base 9, Class/Genesis +4) Constitution: 11 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +2, Growth +1) Intelligence: 25 (Base 7, Class/Genesis +3, Growth +2, Variant +10, mark +2, Efficient Neurology +1) Will: 10 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +1, Growth +1) Charm: 28 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +4, Growth +8, mark +4, Unnatural Beauty +4)

Feats: True Angel - Encounter a true angel. Reward: Skill choice unlocks. Mighty Intellect - Raise Intelligence base to 15. Reward: +1 Skill point. Fledgling Alchemist - Successfully brew an alchemical potion. Reward: Alchemy skill. System Knowledge - Discover the system. Reward: System Aptitude skill. Devotion [Layered feats] - Offer a prayers to Sahrzuel, Ithrenial, Mythraziel, Vaelion, and Zenthaviel. Reward: Experience gain, +2 skill points, +1 random ability, +1 growth point, +1 biotrait. Usurper - Slay a previous or current party leader. Reward: One level in Party Leader. Touch of Death - Perform two of the following: die and return to life, survive an untethered's life - draining attack, or perform the rite of Mihr. Reward: Death sight. Reborn by Fire - Remain immersed in flame for a full day. Reward: Fire Core. Devilishly Charming - Raise charm base to 15. Reward: Party Leader skill. Aura Master - Obtain two different sources of an aura. Reward: Condense Aura Victor - Successfully led a large force against another. Reward: One Skill point. Note: This skill point may only be spent on tactics, logistics, or leadership divine skills. Recursion - Be affected by a recursive effect. Reward: Infinite Limiter. Self Surgeon - Perform a successful surgery on yourself. Reward: One skill point. Note: This skill point may only be spent on healing or surgery natural skills, or fleshwork-related skills. Flesh Grafter - Successfully graft the flesh of two creatures together. Reward: Fleshworker skill. You Mad Bastard - Gain the favor of Vaelion. Reward: Vaelion's favor.

Skills(2/7)(Mortal Level, 0, Devotion, +2; Mighty Intellect, +1; Skill Potions +3; Victor +1; Self Surgery +1): Alchemy: 1 [Source: Fledgling Alchemist] System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] System Assistant: 3 [Perk: Semi-sentience, Multiple] SP SPENT = 3 [Synergy]Mind Codex: 1 --Mental Notes: 1 SP SPENT = 1 --Copy Tome: 1 (Natural skill: Literacy) SP SPENT = 1 Party Leader: 2 [Source: Usurper, Devilishly Charming; Perk: Party Loot] Lunge: 1 (Natural skill: Spearmanship) SP SPENT = 1 Condense Aura: 1 [Source: Aura Master] Infinite Limiter Fleshworker [Source: Flesh Grafter]

Notable Natural Skills: Literacy: Apprentice Spearmanship: Apprentice Acrobatics: Apprentice

Biotraits (0/17) (Monster Level, +16; Devotion, +1):

Regenisis: Goblin; BP SPENT = 1 Gancanagh; BP SPENT = 1

Inherited Biotraits: Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin] Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin] Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin] Scavenger [Source: goblin] Unnatural Beauty [Source: gancanagh]

Standard Biotraits: [Synergy]Temperature Resistant Flesh --Fire Resistant Flesh; BP SPENT = 1 --Cold Resistant Flesh; BP SPENT = 1 [Synergy]Beguiling Presence [Mutation Pending] --Hypnotic Gaze [Mutations: Dominating Gaze, Mesmerizing Gaze] BP SPENT = 3 --Hypervocal Cords [Mutations: Beguiling Voice] BP SPENT = 2 [Synergy]Second Sight --Aura Sight [Mutations: Ambient Aura Sense] BP SPENT =2 --Death Sight [Mutations: Death Gaze; Source: Touch of Death] BP SPENT =1 Telekinesis [Mutations: Mind over Matter (Boon), Tactile Telekinesis] BP SPENT =2 Hex Aura BP SPENT =1 Efficient Neurology BP SPENT =1 Regeneration

Core Biotraits: Core: Chaos Flame [Source: Reborn by Fire/ Corrected]

Other: Variant: +10 Intelligence; Enhanced vocabulary Skill potions used: 3/5 Growth potions used: 2/5

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