The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster

**Emra** "Hello, Dad," Emra said on the phone. "Hello, Emra," Mr. Zin replied. "You are the one. Right? The person behind that raid I was meant to go with my team," Emra asked. "Yes, why?" "You knew they were not going to make it. That was why you asked me to feign sickness so I wouldn't go with them," Emra complained. "The dungeon is not like the other dungeons the hunters raided. The reason Buji was asked to read that book before he went for any raid was so he could find out about this dungeon. I had spent a lot trying to locate it, and I'm still working at finding out others." "What do you mean finding others?" Emra asked, confused. "Unlike the dungeons where we hunt beasts, and take down their bosses, this dungeon is on a whole different level. It can only take S-rank hunters to raid A-rank dungeons of that kind, and the same is applicable to other dungeons." "So, Dad, do you mean there are many more dungeons like this which are hidden?" "Exactly. And that's my plan for keeping Buji alive up until now. Even though, I'm not sure he is going to survive their current raid. I want to use Buji as bait to find out about other dungeons of this kind, and that way, we can completely exterminate anything non-human from this world." "After reading the book, I came to realize that the dungeons we found easily and raided were just kind of protectors of the main dungeons. And that dungeon Buji is in currently, is termed the testing dungeon for Buji, according to the book." "But, Dad, you could have told me this earlier so we could plan on alternative hunters to raid the dungeon. I mean, Kirex has always been my second hand in whatever we do and I can't bear to lose him," Emra complained. "That's a mistake on my side, darling. Only that I didn't find the dungeon earlier." "But Dad, how is that a testing dungeon for Buji?" Emra asked. "That's what I don't know. Only guessing Buji won't remain the same if he happens to survive that raid. And, I wasn't able to read through a part of the book that talked about monster kinds—you still have the book?" "No. I gave it to him as you instructed me to." "And can you tell if he read it?" "I don't think so. Observed he was busy practicing on how he could survive his first dungeon raid," Emra said after a brief laugh. "It's as if he knew he wasn't going to join others in the trial raid." "The boy always had a funny luck by his side." Ignoring her father's last statement, she said. "It's time for the association to check out the dungeon in case help is needed. Their eight hours should have elapsed by now." "It's under control. Meanwhile, I have influenced them to add you to the team so that you can get a share of whatever treasures will be found in the dungeon," Mr. Zin said. "The fatality rate is null since their time has elapsed." "I can go now, I was a little bit busy before you called." "…" ***_________________________________________***_________________________________*** As the heavy doors of the hall slammed closed, silence filled the hall. The flickering light from the two remaining candles by the altar was dim and offered no light to Buji, who was bound and alone in the hall. Then, as though an unseen hand put them out, the two candles flickered once, twice, and finally, went off. The hall plunged into total darkness. Buji could neither see nor sense his surroundings. The world as he knew it to be, had disappeared. The sudden silence was broken by a faint rustle—a whisper of movement in the unseen void. From the shadows came a whistling sound, sharp and sudden. Before Buji knew it, a searing pain erupted in his shoulder. "Ahhh!" he screamed, making his voice echo in the empty hall. There came another whistle, another sharp pain—this time in his thigh. Following was another scream. "Arrows!" Buji grunted in pain. They came from all directions. Each shaft struck with brutal efficiency, piercing into his flesh. His cries filled the hall as the onslaught continued. He lay down in front of the altar, knowing not what to do—he was bound by Tyga's chord. And then, as Buji struggled in agony, he heard the normal feminine voice that warned them against time. Another feminine voice followed, strange and sharp as it resounded in the hall. "Foolish mortal. Do you dare speak blasphemies in my sanctuary? Do you desecrate the sanctity of my being with your unworthy praise? Such arrogance will not go unpunished." Buji tried to figure out what next to do, but there wasn't much. Sooner, he will be gone from the arrows that had stuck in his body. He, however, continued struggling against his bonds, his body writhing as the arrows continued to pierce into him. He tried to speak but words weren't coming. He still tried to plead, but his throat was dry. Meanwhile, the feminine voice continued, its tone shifting from anger to mockery. "You seek to mock me with your words, your shallow defiance? Who do you think you are? A fleeting spark in the eternal night? I am Sacerdos Nyx, Priestess of the Night. My darkness is not your prison. It is your grave." Buji's mind raced at the statement. He wasn't ready to die. Not yet. Not here. Not like this. "Dear… Sacerdos Nyx…" he managed to whisper through gritted teeth. "If your power is so great… why waste it… on a weakling?" There was a moment of solemn silence from the voice, as though it considered Buji's words. Then, it returned, sharper than before. "You mistake mercy for weakness, mortal. Your insolence is amusing, but it will not save you." Suddenly, the arrows ceased. The silence returned. Buji's body sagged against his restraints with blood seeping from his wounds and pooling beneath him. His vision blurred, even there was nothing to see in the pitch-black void. Then, he felt it. A presence. It was overwhelming. The air in the hall grew colder, burning his lungs with each breath he took with an icy chill. And out of the darkness, she emerged. The Night Priestess. Her form was monstrous, yet delicate. She shifted and twisted as though she could not fully exist in the mortal plane. Her body was draped in shadow, her eyes made of two piercing orbs of silver light that seemed to see deep into someone's soul. Her wings, bat-like, spread out behind her, casting an even deeper darkness in the hall. She descended slowly until she hovered just above Buji. "Welcome to my domain. The bat dome," the creature said with a calm voice and shifted slightly. "You thought to summon me with mockery, and so you have succeeded. But now, you pay the price." She raised a clawed hand. Tendrils of shadow shot out from it and snaked toward Buji, wrapping around his limbs and lifting him off the ground. 'This is mere torture. Can't she see I'm bound already?' Buji dangled in the air, his blood dripping onto the cold marble floor below. "Tell me, mortal, what do you fear? Darkness?" Buji's lips trembled. He thought hard about what to answer. Normally, the Night Priestess expected him to reply "darkness", and since she was the goddess of darkness, that would give her more reason to feed on his fear. And then, on him. His soul too, if possible. The priestess was losing patience. She tilted her head with rapid precision and asked again, angrily. "What… do… you… fear?!" Buji closed his eyes, summoning what little strength he had left. His voice was weak but steady. "I fear… dying for nothing." At his response, a surge of willpower caused Buji's eyes to snap open. A golden light began to emanate from his body. It was weak, flickering like a dying ember, but it was there. Buji could hear faint voices from the background, probably belonging to the priestess. But clearly, he heard a voice, feminine but it sounded with the appearance of a strange screen. 'Could this be a second system?' [Host Found] [The Host has passed his test, and is offered survival.] [Survival due to inheritance] [Congrats, you have gained the status of a 'player'.] [The player, upon leveling up will awaken a potent monster Class: Animagus | Type: Snake | Aspect: Venom] [Do you accept?] Given the choice to embrace a monstrous path, Buji seizes it with unyielding resolve. 'If becoming a monster is my only path to strength, I'll take it. Fighting against these hunters was going to be a job, but imagine a world where I had control over monsters like this Night Priestess, had my own monster kingdom, and becoming the strongest of all. Stepping on these hunters won't be a deal anyway.' "Yes!" And everything became dark.