Scarlet

A large swirl of blood forms around my entire body, just like what happens with my arm when I shift it. And also just like with how my arm was at first, a wave of pain flashes through my body. One that I lessen the blow of through the use of pain diffusion.

Unlike with my old partial shift skill though – which I also need to check the new changes of – this transformation drains far more mana, and it is taking longer. Soon enough an entire five seconds pass before I feel the pain beginning to lessen, which could make a large difference in a fight.

Now that the pain is getting out of the way though, I feel… very different. I feel stronger. Faster. My senses have somehow improved even more. And most importantly, I’m going to need new clothes again. At least, if the ripping sounds that I hear are anything to go by.

When my vision returns to me, the blood having finally faded, I find a two-meter-tall werewolf standing in front of the mirror while wearing pretty badly torn clothes due to my increase in size. So without any hesitation, and before I can get embarrassed, I activate my magi-tech armor, the amulet still settled comfortably on my chest despite my increase in size. And after activating it, the magi-tech gear forms as usual but in a larger size this time to accommodate my larger body.

I glance at Tar before briefly remembering that he apparently has no sexual interest in humans. So I let out a sigh and focus on my reflection again.

Not that it really matters right now anyways, seeing as I don’t exactly resemble a human much right now. I’m covered in black fur streaked with blood red highlights after all. My hands, or rather, paws also have razor sharp claws, and my eyes are practically radiating a sinister red light with no pupils or sclera. Just straight up glowing red.

I turn around as I realize I feel something behind me, only to find a tail extending from my tailbone, which has me grimacing.

“It was bound to happen,” Tar says, making me nod.

What werewolf doesn’t have a tail after all? It would just be weird if I didn’t have one in my werewolf form.

At least it’s not very fluffy. Rather slicked down and with streaks of red just like the rest of my fur actually.

I guess it’s okay since it should count as a weapon. Assuming this tail is made of blood metal?

“It should be,” Tar answers, making me try to smile at that, only to realize that I need to figure out how to smile. Seeing as I have a muzzle right now with a head akin to a werewolf from a horror movie. “I would recommend you not ever use that form in public as well. Because it’s not very hard to link to a blood lycan, unlike your original skills.”

I nod my head at that and try to respond out loud, only to realize that it’s kind of impossible to do that right now as I instead end up making growling noises.

“Oh, right,” Tar mutters, sounding like he’s just remembering this little issue. “Yeah, you won’t be able to talk in the rare version of the skill from what your father told me.”

My eyes narrow as I glare at the tanuki, who backs up while raising his front paws into the air and saying, “Hey, don’t look at me like that! Do you have any idea how terrifying you look right now?”

I blink at that before tilting my head slightly and then turning it to look at the mirror again. And the sight that greets me when I narrow my eyes at it is honestly pretty horror film worthy.

Interesting. If I’m being honest, I’m pretty sure that if I were someone else, then I’d mistake me for a demon if I saw myself in a Fracture.

Not really something I want happening.

So no beast form unless I’m either absolutely sure no human is near, or I have no other choice and have to in order to save my life.

Unfortunately this also means that I can’t go to the training hall to test out how powerful I am in my werewolf form.

I try to talk to Tar again, only for growls and snarls to come out instead, making my eyes narrow again.

Stupid form not being able to talk.

With that thought, I try to cancel the skill, only to realize that I can’t.

“Activate it again,” Tar answers my confusion. “Full body transformation skills are different from partial ones. Full body transformations are not simply activated and deactivated. Instead you are just using the skill. Then you have to use it again to transform back.”

Oh. So it’ll cost twenty percent of my total mana to transform to my beast form and back?

“Yes, it will,” Tar says, sounding regretful about that.

Well, that’s annoying.

Oh, right. Before I turn back…

I turn my head to look at the tail before trying to focus on the thing. And focus. And focus. And focus.

Eventually I do manage to feel something. A strange sensation in the tail. And the moment I pull on that sensation, the tail suddenly turns into blood metal entirely, allowing me to instinctively move it around like a whip.

But more importantly, it lets me retract the tail into my body. So I immediately do so.

Yes!!! I don’t have to have a tail after all!

Tar snorts as he sees what must look like a terrifying werewolf jumping into the air while shooting its clawed arms upwards in celebration. But I ignore him. I don’t even feel embarrassed by what I just did. Just happy that I don’t have to have a stupid tail.

“You sound a little defensive over the idea of having a tail,” Tar comments with an amused note to his tone.

Well, wouldn’t you if you saw all of those comments and civilians talking about ‘Scarlet needing a tail’ and how they want to ‘Stroke Scarlet’s tail when she gets one’ and various other disturbing things like that?

Tar doesn’t answer for a moment before eventually admitting, “Yeah, I can see that becoming… creepy. And actually getting a tail would make it much worse if they ever saw it.”

Yep. I don’t care that I’m planning on hiding this form from them regardless. I do not want a tail. Even if it would’ve only been in a temporary shapeshifted form.