The First Reset

 I found myself. A voice, resonating like the echo of a distant star, beckoned me forth. There, amidst the swirling cosmic energies, stood an angelic figure, radiant yet inscrutable."You have come," the angel intoned, its voice a melody woven with threads of eternity. "To this realm of choice, where destinies are spun and souls are weighed."I, a mere flicker in the vast expanse of creation, stood before the celestial being, uncertain of my purpose or origin. "Who am I?" I whispered, my voice lost amidst the cosmic symphony.The angel regarded me with eyes that held the wisdom of ages. "You are the sum of all that has been and all that will be. In this moment, you stand at the precipice of existence, poised to shape your destiny."Paradise or reincarnation, the choice hung in the air like a delicate thread. My essence trembled with uncertainty, torn between the allure of eternal bliss and the allure of the unknown."Choose," the angel commanded, its voice resonating with authority and compassion.And so, with a heart heavy with doubt, I uttered the words that sealed my fate. "Whatever you think is best."A ripple of laughter echoed through the celestial plane, a chorus of angelic laughter that danced amidst the stars. The otherworldly beings, their luminous forms aglow with amusement, arched their brows in surprise."That was funny," the angel remarked, a smile playing upon its lips.And then, as if a veil had been lifted, memories flooded my consciousness. Memories of a time before time, of existence before existence. I remembered being a speck in the cosmic sea, a flicker of consciousness adrift in the void.I remembered the hunger, a primal urge that drove me to consume and be consumed. I remembered the darkness, a yawning abyss that threatened to swallow me whole. And amidst it all, I remembered the journey, a journey that led me to this moment, this choice.I remembered crashing upon a world, a world teeming with life and possibility. I remembered taking the form of the first creature I encountered, a shape-shifting slime that slithered through the primordial ooze.But most of all, I remembered the feeling of being different, of being separate from the creatures I consumed. And then...I remember how much I wanted to sleep...I remember Darkness.************************************************************************************ The PresentAs I slithered through the dark recesses of the goblin cave, the sound of echoing footsteps drew my attention. Curious, I followed the source of the noise until I stumbled upon a group of adventurers, their voices echoing off the rocky walls.Inhabiting the form of a snake, I observed them with keen interest. Among them was a Fighter, her Gi immaculately adorned, exuding an aura of strength and determination. Beside her, a Squire babbled excitedly about his dreams of knighthood, his words a jumble of misplaced confidence and naivety.The mage, draped in robes of arcane power, carried herself with an air of superiority, her demeanor exuding seriousness and dedication to her craft. A Fireball, aptly named for his incessant chatter and penchant for trouble, bounced around the group like a hyperactive child, his antics grating on my nerves.But it was the Priestess who caught my attention, her laughter echoing through the cavern-like music to my ears. Despite her inability to wield her priestly skills, she faced each challenge with unwavering optimism, her faith unwavering even in the darkest of times."Heal!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with amusement as she cast her meager spell, her companions' wounds miraculously mending before their eyes.The Fighter chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "Well, at least it's something," she remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice.The Squire grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yeah, who needs fancy magic when you've got a healer like her?"The mage rolled her eyes, muttering something about amateurs under her breath as she adjusted her robes.*****************************************************************************  The PartyAs the group settled down to rest, the Fighter spoke up. "There are no Goblins around besides a few grunts in this cave. We can handle them, and they don't normally swarm in the light."The rest of the group nodded in agreement, with the Squire adding, "Might as well take a breather. Oh, and happy 18th birthday, Priestess!"Everyone except the mage joined in a round of applause, congratulating Aria on her milestone.The Fighter turned to Aria with a smile. "So, what sisterhood will you join? You've got plenty of options now."Aria's expression darkened. "I... I don't want to join a sisterhood," she admitted. "I haven't been able to form a bond, and without that, I can't."The group was shocked. "Are you... Are you a virgin?" the Squire blurted out, his face flushing red.Aria's response was sharp. "Yes, I am. Because masturbation and butt stuff don't count," she retorted, her tone defensive.The group fell silent, processing her words. They knew well that only being a virgin could qualify Aria to join a sisterhood unless she had an innate affinity for the power of the Shin.The Fighter broke the silence. "I'm sure some Shin religion will accept you," she offered, trying to lighten the mood.Aria shook her head. "I don't truly believe in them," she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.The Mage, ever pragmatic, suggested, "Perhaps you should consider changing classes. A non-believing priest won't do you or anyone any good."The Fighter scolded her, "Rikku, that's not nice."The Squire, trying to be supportive, added, "There are other things you can do, Aria. You don't have to give up hope just yet."Aria sighed, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her words. "I'd rather do this than be married off," she confessed, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Arranged marriages are a thing in my family, and I hate it."Rikku's shock was evident, and she seemed to be ashamed for giving Aria a hard time earlier. "I... I didn't know," she stammered, her gaze falling to the ground.The Squire and Fighter exchanged a meaningful glance before both spoke up in unison. "We'll fight off anyone who comes near you, Aria," the Squire declared, his voice firm with determination.Aria couldn't help but laugh, though it was tinged with a hint of sadness. "As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I know our group is powerless," she admitted. "Our combined power formation is only 8. I am only 2, Rikku is 3, Nala our Fighter is 3, and Ron our Squire is 2."But despite their limitations, Aria couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and camaraderie wash over her. For a brief moment, she felt protected, surrounded by friends who cared for her well-being.As the conversation turned to their quest, the group discussed their plans to locate evidence of the goblins' abductions as a side objective. But their main goal remained clear: to torch the cave once they had killed the required twenty goblins.Ron spoke up, his voice eager with anticipation. "We may as well take out the only ten goblins now and get this over with," he suggested.Rikku nodded in agreement, her expression resolute. "Agreed. Let's end this once and for all."**************************************************************************************As I watch the unique group of adventurers from the safety of my coiled position among the rocks, I can't help but shake my head at their ignorance. They may possess bravery and determination, but they are still fools, blind to the true dangers of the adventurer's life in this world. And even I, with my centuries of existence, struggle to comprehend it fully.The years blur together in my mind, memories fading into the fog of time. Yet, amidst the haze, one thing remains clear: the instinctual knowledge that danger lurks nearby. Slithering away from the group, my belly brushes against the earth as the senses of my snake host guide me. I sense the presence of goblins nearby, their foul stench wafting through the air like a warning.And then, to my shock, I stumble upon an entire army of goblins marching towards the adventurers, led by a formidable Goblin Captain in battle formation 5. Alone, it would be enough to decimate the party.The stampede of goblins threatens to trample me underfoot, damaging my snake host body in the process. Swiftly, I detach myself from the host, allowing myself to adhere to the shoes of a grunt goblin nearby. Slowly, cautiously, I make my way up his armor and clothing, searching for an exposed entrance without arousing suspicion. The last thing I need is to make a south-of-the-border entrance possession.As I forcefully entered the goblin's ear, the sensation was repulsive, but I pushed aside my disgust, knowing it was preferable to the alternative. With a grim determination, I seized control of the goblin's brain, overriding its will with my own. The struggle was intense, the goblin's consciousness fighting back with every ounce of its being.For nearly an hour, we battled for dominance, each moment feeling like an eternity as exhaustion threatened to consume us both. The forceful takeover was painful, draining both me and the host to the brink of collapse. But in the end, I emerged victorious, my consciousness firmly established within the goblin's body.Disoriented and weary, I struggled to regain my bearings as I stumbled forward on unsteady legs. "Dammit," I muttered in a wheezing, high-pitched voice, cursing the ordeal that had left me drained and weakened. The goblin's abilities had taken a major debuff, a consequence of our fierce struggle for control.As I steadied myself, a realization dawned upon me. This world felt more and more like an RPG with each passing moment, its rules and mechanics shaping the very fabric of existence. It was a thought that both intrigued and unnerved me as I pondered the mysteries of this strange realm.Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, jolting me from my thoughts. It was high-pitched, unmistakably human, and filled with terror. I remembered the small army of goblins that had been marching toward the adventurers, and dread gripped my heart as I realized the source of the scream.Without hesitation, I set off in the direction of the sound, my senses heightened as I strained to locate the source of the disturbance. As I navigated through the twisting tunnels of the goblin-infested cave, dread gnawed at my heart like a hungry beast. Unlike the harmless creatures depicted in MMOs or RPGs, goblins in this world were a true menace, their savagery matched only by their cunning.The mere thought of what goblins were capable of sent shivers down my spine. Not only were they known to prey upon adventurers, but they also had a disturbing practice of capturing females for breeding. It was a sickening reality, one that filled me with a deep-seated revulsion.In my time as a humble worm here, a skittering spider there, I had witnessed the unholy union of humans and goblins resulting in offspring. These hybrid beings, neither fully human nor fully goblin, served as a stark reminder of the twisted nature of this world.What troubled me most was the goblins' ability to ensure that their female captives only gave birth to male offspring. It was a phenomenon that defied all logic and reason.Sickening little fuckers, I honestly hate to possess them, but I need to gain some resources, and to do that, I need hands. If I am lucky I may one day be able to take control of a beastman... As I continue walking.Damnit I know they were not this deep, or were they? It's hard to remember really...Wait...What's this?As I stumbled through the darkened cave, my vision limited to the faint glow of my goblin eyes, I searched for any sign of torchlight or the adventurers I had been tracking. But there was only silence, a deafening absence of sound that sent a chill down my spine.Then, amidst the oppressive quiet, I heard it: whimpering, followed by the soft sound of someone crying. My heart sank as I followed the sound, my mind already fearing the worst.And then, as I turned a corner, I stumbled upon a sight that filled me with horror and despair. There, huddled in a corner of the cavern, were the adventurers, or what remained of them.The Fighter lay motionless, her once proud form now broken and battered. The Squire knelt beside her, tears streaming down his face as he cradled her lifeless body before he also died him his wounds. The Mage was nowhere to be seen, and the Priestess... the Priestess was being held captive by a group of goblins, their leering faces illuminated by the dim light of a flickering torch.I watched in horror as the goblins taunted and jeered at the Priestess, their intentions clear. She was to be taken, not just as a prisoner, but as a breeding vessel for their twisted purposes.I wanted to intervene, to save her from this fate, but I knew that my powers were limited in this form.