Krad stirred awake the next morning, his whole body feeling like he'd been run over by a wagon. The taste of roasted venison and that crazy good elderflower juice still lingered in his mouth. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as sunlight snuck through the wooden shutters of the elf-made inn.
"Man... I definitely ate enough to feed a whole village."
But something felt weird. The sheets were way softer than they should've been. The air smelled different, fresh, like the forest after a good rain. And then there was this sound. A low, melodic hum, like wind chimes in the distance.
Krad sat up, blinking the sleep away. His body felt... lighter somehow. All that exhaustion from stuffing his face last night? Gone. Instead, this strange energy buzzed through him, making him feel more alive than he'd ever felt before.
"Okay, that's definitely weird."
He pushed himself up and his fingers accidentally brushed against his ears. His heart skipped a beat.
"Wait... what the---?"
The tips of his ears were sharp. Pointed. Way too long to be human.
Panic shot through him like lightning.
He practically launched himself out of bed, nearly face-planting in the process. His limbs moved differently, smoother, faster, like someone had upgraded his entire body overnight.
He stumbled across the room and burst into what looked like a washroom, where water trickled from a stone basin. A mirror framed with twisted vines and silver decorations hung on the wall.
He froze dead in his tracks. The face staring back at him wasn't his.
His once dark hair had turned into this brilliant cascade of amber and gold. His eyes? Not the boring brown he remembered, they practically glowed with this intense golden color, like molten fire or something.
His breathing got all ragged. He stumbled backward from the mirror, hands shaking.
"What the hell happened to me?!"
DING!
[ Congratulations, Slayer 143!
Your Race Has Been Decided: Elf ]
[ Due to your exceptional agility and latent magical potential, you have been selected as a member of the Elven race. Your body has undergone its appropriate transformation. Your attributes have been adjusted accordingly. ]
Krad's hands balled into fists. "No way! I didn't choose this!"
DING!
[ Slayer Race Selection has been deemed most suitable for your current stats. Due to your overwhelming compatibility with the Moon Eater's power, the system has permanently assigned you to the Elven race. Changes are irreversible. ]
[ Enjoy your new identity! ]
"Enjoy?!" he practically shouted at the empty air. "I didn't ask for any of this!"
But the glowing interface just faded away, leaving him alone in the silence.
He started pacing back and forth, his mind racing a million miles an hour. Elves were supposed to be all elegant and graceful and annoyingly zen, right? Sure, they had awesome magic, but he wasn't trying to be some robe-wearing spell guy! He wanted to fight with his fists, punch things, be strong! This new body didn't look strong, it looked like he should be posing for some fancy painting or something.
He grimaced at his reflection. "Great. Now I look like I should be in one of those romance books."
But what could he do? The system made it pretty clear, this was permanent. He had to deal with it whether he liked it or not.
He took a deep breath, running his fingers through his now golden-streaked hair. "Alright, fine. Elf or not, I'm still me. Nothing's gonna change that."
Just as he was trying to process everything, a loud BANG! echoed through the room, making him jump.
"Human! Get up already, you lazy twig!" Drugo's deep voice boomed from outside.
Krad groaned, rubbing his temples. "Ugh, way too early for this..."
The door swung open before he could even move. But the second Drugo laid eyes on him, the big elf froze completely. His emerald eyes went wide, total shock written all over his usually stern face.
"What in the name of the Great Eldertree...?"
Krad scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh... hey?"
Drugo's expression hardened instantly. Within seconds, thick roots exploded from the floor, wrapping around Krad's arms and legs like angry snakes.
"Hey! Again with the roots?!" Krad yelled, thrashing against them. "Seriously, is this your go-to move?! What's wrong with you?!"
Drugo stepped closer, his gaze sharp and dangerous. "Who are you?"
Krad scowled right back at him. "What do you mean who am I? It's me, Krad! The same guy who demolished your entire menu last night!"
Before Drugo could respond, a piercing scream cut through the morning air from somewhere outside. They both froze, eyes locking.
"That's Hanan!" Without even thinking, Krad strained against the roots. "Let me go right now!"
Drugo hesitated for only a second before waving his hand. The roots slithered back into the wooden floor like they'd never been there.
"Stay close," Drugo growled, his eyes flashing dangerously. "If you're lying about who you are, I'll deal with you myself."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Krad shot back, already sprinting toward the scream. Despite the weird sensation of his new elven body, he moved insanely fast and light. His feet barely made any sound against the polished wooden floors.
Drugo followed close behind, his footsteps heavy and deliberate. They burst through the inn's door together, stepping into the bustling streets of the elven village.
Hanan was curled on the ground, clutching her side. Standing over her was an elf with long yellow hair tied in a braid and a brown robe that gleamed in the sunlight. She was casually twirling an arrow between her fingers, her bow slung over her shoulder like she didn't have a care in the world.
"You call yourself an Elf?" she sneered, her voice dripping with pure venom. "You're nothing but a disgrace to our kind!"
Hanan bit her lip, her face pale and streaked with tears. She tried to say something, but the archer elf cut her off by kicking her wounded shoulder.
Krad felt his blood boil instantly. "You Poop!" he shouted without thinking.
The elf archer's eyes widened, her smirk faltering. "Did you just... call me poop?" she asked slowly, like she couldn't believe what she'd just heard.
Krad crossed his arms and nodded confidently. "Yeah, I did. Ugly, stinky poop." He glanced at Drugo, who was trying really hard not to laugh.
Drugo coughed, his massive frame shaking. "Well, that's one way to insult someone," he whispered.
The archer stared at them both, her face twisting in complete disbelief. "You think you can insult me like that?!" She nocked another arrow and pointed it straight at Krad's head.
"This... is bad," Drugo muttered, noticing a group of armed men approaching in the distance.