1 The New Life the Shape shifter

On the night at the full moon near the mountainside, there lies a village near the border adventurer roams the place as it was a frontier close to a forest named by most of the kingdoms the forgotten area which the lands are unmentionable as a record about the forest is lost after the fall of a great empire known to have great wealth that from three conquered continent as trade flourish on its domain, abundant knowledge as record mention that many scholars come to study on the great empire, the military power that could even put the strongest individuals to pee on their pants if one even mentioned the name of the great empire.

But even such a great tragedy could befall on the great empire which power could even reach three continent and mentioned as the strongest empire, many records mentioned the great empire but at the same time or few have the same mention of one same word and that is "The great mushroom which reached so far that even other vassal kingdoms could even see it as it formed on their horizon"

At first, the vassal kingdom such as the Bulgaris was dumbfounded by the event that appeared on their eyesight while others were jumped in joy if it was as their expectation "The fall of the great empire" but most of them were anxious about it that they sent to scout at the great empire.

Month after month, year after year, has passed waiting for the news revealing what happened before three years after that only one scout came back from the great empire bearing a piece of grim news as his face paled and ashen white before falling to the ground.

Guard and Doctor come close to him ensuring the person's life even though the patient has a haggard voice but word comes out of the person's mouth.

"... The... Empire..." said the scout.

"What is it? tell us..." said the king.

"... has... fallen... it's... night... mare." said the scout as he struggled to continue.

"..." everyone the king, the guard, the minister, the doctor, the General, and the noble were silent.

"The monster... has a... hideous... form... they... massacred... everyone... including... the other scout... they... were killed... instantly, not... knowing... who... killed them." as he cough as he forced to talk.

"..." everyone looking at the wounded scout.

"Hurry, put... me down... on the... floor," said as the scout urge the soldier who held him up.

The soldier followed the request as he put him on the ground.

"Open... the armor." as his eyelid started to turn black.

Once more the soldier open the armor as well as its undershirt, but all of them were surprised after opening the scout shirt. what greets them was a monster parasite lies on the scout's chest directly on the heart as it throbs within the passing second, it forms are so horrendous and terrifying everyone was shocked after seeing it while one of the noble quickly run out of the throne room as he holds down vomit on his throat.

"This is... the parasite... of the... monster, it... will kill me... takes my body... before killing others." as the person looks at the soldier near him as tears come out from the scout.

"Please... kill... me." said the scout during his dying time.

"But..." as the soldier looks at the surrounding where the king nodded granting the dying scout's wishes.

Pulling a blade from his waist then followed with a kneel in front of the scout, he put the sharpest edge of the blade on top of the parasite before stabbing directly on top of the scout's chest killing both the creature and the scout in one motion and unlike the scout, the creature tried to struggle with its tentacle as it was unaware of the soldier presence it tried to attack upward.

Unable to resist followed with the sudden increase of pressure added on the monster parasite, slowly but surely the creature lowered its tentacle as it died down before turning to lifeless flesh to ensure the monster is dead the soldier with a quick and precise twist seeing there is no further movement the soldier quickly stand as he looks at the scout in grief before looking at the king waiting for the next order.

"This is beyond our understanding if we wish to recover or even build a colony on the lost empire territory, we must make a joint expedition with the other kingdoms." said the king in anxiety.

"My king, we mustn't do so since the lost technology is more profitable if we take it alone." said the noble.

"That is true but we don't have much military and much weaker than the other," said the minister.

"Even I wish to refute it but indeed if we could sending a joint expedition on the lost territory of the empire it will be better than us going there alone." said the general.

"Urg... indeed, pardon me my king." said the noble as he slightly bows in guilt.

"It is understandable and I will allow it." said the king as he raises his hand.

"Thank you, your majesty." as the noble raise his head.

As the king wondered, what should he do his gaze falls on the minister.

"My king." said the minister.

"Do so, what must be done." as he looks at the minister directly on his eye.

"Understood, I shall make it... possible." said the minister.

"That's a bit better." said the king as his eyes wander to the windows.

Such was the record which was written in the record as all the former vassal kingdom sent the expedition, at first it was a failure and it kept continuing until the 141st expeditions and at that very moment all the kingdom were jubilant that they throw a party for the successful subjugation on the ruined coast town.

Four years have passed after the subjugation and the relic recovery progressed but not that well as many of the creatures on the ruined empire could survive the subjugation for two-year-long because of their unique way to increase their number either by a normal infection on the wild animal which then tries to harm a human in order to infect them or directly by inter-species breeding which could speed up a mutation on alarming rate which became the main factor of the many losses of many expedition sent by the kingdom.

After the successful expedition, much more news continued to be heard by the leader of the kingdom as they gathered to discuss the colony and territorial right but it took a long time as they discuss back and forth as it nearing failure suddenly one of the representatives of the former vassal kingdom put out an offer for those who have the highest contribution should build their colony near the center of the capital's empire while the lower one giver territory which has the smallest indication of the any lost artifact.

Many of them thought for such a proposal and they also agreed to it while the lesser contribution kingdom could only nod as they also need even the smallest technology that can be salvaged from the lost empire. small Villages and cities were built sentries, militia, and adventure guild was created.

Another Few weeks have passed, on one unlucky day one girl from such colony was kidnapped by one of the mutated creatures as it violated the girl day after day before she was pregnant with a monster's child but due to the extreme pleasure that attacked her caused by the monster had caused her to lost her mind unable to resist it any kind of pleasure as she wished more of it instead.

When the day of labor appeared the girl gives birth to the first monster of its kind, the girl who has lost her mind has no other emotion as she seeks only pleasure while her eyes stop at the monster while pleasuring and waiting for another breeding as she could no longer wait for any longer as both of them could longer hold themselves they were lost in pleasure.

The child mutated much faster than any human or mutant child as it changed it forms quickly as she stands up before turning her glance on the two animal in the heat but unlike other mutants, this monster child was disturbed instead than being interested in joining in as it slowly gets closer to its birth mother then touching her birth mother's forehead.

After a few moments, opening its mouth a word comes out.

"I'm... what am I? Human... no, a Mutant... No, should I name my kind." said the young monster.

The young monster quickly leaves the place and walk outside before finalizing the last form for it with unique skin which felt like any normal fiber as it sticks on its skin as clothes started to form like villager girl's clothes then the face of the young monster changed into her birth mother's face.

"My name will be... Cynthia" as it spoke of its new name turning into an intelligent monster before from it to her.

Finished with everything she walks downs from the top of the mountain and at that very time a whisper was heard as if its meant to be heard.

"My kind... Doppelganger." as she continues to walk down the mountain.

Which become the starting journey of the Doppelganger's race.