Theo was wiping up the spilled rum below deck the following day. A thousand tons of it had spilled during the storm. Which he was still processing.

  The ship being assailed by monsters definitely spooked him, but the rest of the crew seemed to be used to it. And so his frayed nerves slowly calmed down. Every now and then he'd also use [Assimilation] too. Sometimes he'd forget he was just some guy who hardly ever worked out, or been in a real fight all his life.

  His life was so different now. And he's hardly noticed because of [Assimilation]... It made any situation feel normal. Perhaps he was relying on it too much? Was it changing him permanently? What did the ability mean? Ever since the day he arrived he had never hesitated to use it- it was a solution to all of his problems. It was like a drug.

  Theo needed time to be Theo, and take a break from being anyone else. Charles Malton, Rose, and Yosef Jeager. These forms each taught him something. Changed him. True to his races name. Why was he a changeling? Why didn't he get a chance to choose.

  He scrubbed the deck while contemplating. All the other players were able to choose things like their race, class, and even what color their hair was. Theo was robbed of his choices and he wondered if it was like that for any player that joined the game after it became a death trap. Would there be any player dumb enough besides him?

  Likely not. It was an impulsive decision... He realized that now.

  His grandmother didn't even need his help- he needed her help actually. Needing to be rescued yet again, working for pirates to save his skin. Hopefully she would reach the island soon.

  If the gods were real here, perhaps they had something to do with his race. Maybe they could hear prayers. But he didn't know the names of any gods. Gregor perhaps? That's one the sailors talk about often. But they were likely not the type to manipulate a players race. He'd have to remember to pick up a book on what gods there are in this world.

  What other clue did he have?

  He thought back. There was that quest. [Retrieve Amulet of Drassus]. Why the amulet? Why Malton estate?

  It was the only one he's gotten so far, but it has been only a couple of weeks.

  What else?

  He's been a noblemen, a trainee in a guild, a thief in a cavern and now a sailor on the seas. One thing after another it felt like fate was pushing him towards some goal. But perhaps it was normal in this world, to go about from one crazy situation to another. Never getting to rest and just be.

  And now he was heading straight into likely another crazy situation. To Malta. A tropical island. South. Because his grandmothers guild made some deal with bug people.

  A [Doppleganger level 11]. With the form of a sailor. Partnered with his forms romantic interest, who can use some kind of rune magic? Vaz seemed pretty handy with a spear too. If the Black Hand is the owner of this ship, and they also had an interest in the artifact- maybe they had something to do with Yosef Jeager betraying his grandmothers guild.

  Theo still had so few answers after all this time. It was frustrating. And even more frustrating was how useless he was in a fight.

  Even during the storm that strange mermaid creature did most of the work... If he was a warrior he could just hit things and level. Theo was unsure what caused changelings to level up. But it seemed deception was a key factor. Having no sense of self...

  He clutched the sponge in his hands- no. He would stay him. No matter the cost. If changing meant leveling up, he'd just not level.

  That being said... going without skills in this world would be impossible, he'd be long dead by now. But he could just let his grandmother and her friends handle things. They seemed much more capable. Next time he saw her that's what he'd tell her- that he'd prefer to just relax at the guild. Or some town. At least for awhile.

  Up until then it's just been one impossibly intense situation after another. Normal Theo would crumple up like a cheap tent in a hurricane. Again it felt as though he had no choice regarding his future. This world had changed nothing in that regard. If he wanted to survive, he'd likely have to use [Assimilation] a lot more in the future.

  Level 11 hadn't even give him any skills. Each level up seemed to make his body stronger at least. Made his senses sharper.

  Not everything was directly explained by the system. Some stats got an added boost from time to time, but that's the only time it mentioned stats. He only felt a difference. It was noticeable.

  His class seemed to prefer his perception, agility and constitution stats. The core stats his class seemed to revolve around.

  It was so odd. Even fitness and dedication took a backseat to privilege here. Sure, you could probably raise your strength stat by working out, but who would bother? The rules of life were flipped on their head here. Not that the old ones were necessarily working out for him...

  In the dim light of the cargo hold, Theo looked up through a grated hatch that led to the deck. He saw the clouds going by, the smell of the ocean air. Mixed with a bit of rum. He took a deep breath; "If a god is fucking with me, I'd appreciate it if you took me out to dinner first."

  Laughter. Soft laughter as if hearing an unexpected joke. A woman's laughter.

  "Who is that?" he asked quickly, embarrassed he was caught talking to himself.

  Behind the rope ladder to the deck was another door, and that was the source of the voice.

  "This one is named Lirielle, changing one. I was only admiring your humor, it is rare to find a sailor with a proper sense of it... It is as you say; I often feel that the Gods are like suitors, vying for our affections while doing very little to deserve them." the voice was graceful and confident.

  "Oh. You're that mermaid. The nymrin, the namian uhh...", "Nymarion." she corrected him. "Yes. That." he sat on his knees in uncomfortable silence for a moment considering what to say next. But she spoke first.

  "You are not a sailor then? To not know of my people, you must not be. So you are like me then." she said.

  "I guess so... I turned into this giant lizard thing, lost my mind and ran across the continent only to be found by this ship on the coast. My friend said it'd be a smart idea to catch a ride, but now I'm not so sure..."

  Laughter again. "My, changing one you tell such a strange story!", Theo smiled to himself. It was quite the odd journey, but here he was. He's survived through all of it. Then he blanched, and stammered as he spoke next.

  "Y-you uh... You know what I am?" he asked nervously. There was another moment of silence then. Then a voice came back, soft and reassuring; "Worry not, changing one. I will not reveal your secret."

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  He breathed a sigh of relief. But then he had another question; "How did you know?", "My hearing is better than these humans. You'd do well to speak less openly about such things if you wish them to be kept secret." she said.

  Theo couldn't argue with that. Who knows what kind of skills a person had to eavesdrop on those around them? He had to be more careful.

  "I'll take your advice Lirielle."

  "If you would please do so, I have other advice as well... For our kinship as captives aboard this vessel. Embrace your true nature, Theo one. Mankind sees anything outside of itself as something to be conquered and changed to their likeness. Teach them their arrogance, changeling."

  Theo didn't really understand what she was trying to say, but he nodded. "Okay, I will." he did appreciate her reassuring him. [Assimilation] was just a tool, it wasn't him. Their judgement and expectations was not who he was. That was what she had meant, he believed.

  "Thank you. I'd also recommend that while in the presence of those men would consider 'monster', that you come as you are. And not a man. As many of us are amused by your people." Theo nodded again, this was useful stuff. "Do you need help? I know someone, someone powerful. I can probably free you." he said.

  The following silence was tense. As if forks of fate were converging in this moment. It could change his journey a lot, but he felt the same kind of kinship she felt. He'd do it if she only asked.

  "The hand which holds my leash is not a captains but a black hand. I am afraid there is little your friend could do, regardless of their strength. But I appreciate the gesture. I hear... Those approaching. We must not speak in the presence of others, the sailors are forbidden."

  "Okay! It was nice talking with you Lirielle. I don't know about this 'Black Hand' business, but I'll try." he wrung out his sponge into a bucket at his side and lifted it up. He dumped it out of a porthole and made for the rope ladder.

  "One final thing, Theo one." he stopped at the rope ladder and looked towards the door.

  "The Gods are always listening... If a God is truly interfering with your fate, do not test them. If you'd like to attract the attention of a God, I suggest you make an offering. Go now, before we are heard." she said as her voice faded from the door as if she receded further into her quarters.

  Theo contemplated. He was fairly certain some kind of god was messing with him for one reason or another. An offering, what kind of offering would a god even want? They could do anything. But then why would they bother messing with him? He shook his head, it was all too confusing.

  He climbed back up to the deck to see an Island emerging on the horizon.

  ---

  Violet was on her way back to Malton estate. After she told Colypheus about her condition- he had grown very concerned. He was a father figure for many of those growing up in the slums, and Violet always knew he dotted on her. But he hadn't expected his eyes to look like that...

  But now here she was. Once again trekking through the forest and half concealed paths. Two others were with her. Celphy- Colypheus' sister. And Stettman, a human man with a lithe build wearing black rangers clothes.

  They were in the planning phase once again. The last plan didn't work, but they were also not so invested this time around. This time, they were tasked by a god to do so. And when the gods asked you to do something- you do it. Especially when death hangs over your head.

  That was Colypheus's plan, and Violet had intuited a similar thing. It could possibly save her life if the God is so pleased as to intervene with fate on her behalf.

  "To bad your changeling friend isn't here." Celphy said, pushing through some of the hanging branches.

  "Trust me, you're glad he isn't here." Violet said smirking. "That bad huh?", Violet shrugged. "Maybe if we had a second chance knowing what he knows now, we might of been able to pull it off. But, yeah. He was pretty useless. In the few days that I knew him I had to hide a body, run from giant spiders through muck and parasites, and kill some guard commander."

  Stettman was plain faced as he said; "Sounds like a good first date to me."

  Celphy laughed at that, and Violet seemed annoyed. "Changeling? Ew. Never. We were hardly partners, if that. I'm glad to be free of him."

  Celphy and Stettman exchanged a skeptical look.

  "What?" she glared at the two of them.

  "Nothing. I think we're close enough. I'll use my skill. [Eagle Vision]." Stettman ducked down as if trying to look between trees and bushes. His eyes glowed a gold color.

  "How bad is it?" Celphy asked, leaning on his side with an elbow. He shrugged her off. "As bad as you expect a butchered job to be. Securities more than doubled, and they look tough. Big bastard with black armor."

  Violet shuddered. "I know that one."

  They spend the remaining day circling around the estate while keeping a wide berth. Plotting, discussing.

  Eventually they knew all they could and set off back towards Lostia.

  "So what did he look like, like as a changeling?" Celphy asked. Violet rolled her eyes, she knew where this was going. "Ugly." she said quickly.

  It would be a long ride back to Lostia. It was strange how Theo was so interesting to everyone she told. What was there to tell? He was a changeling. From another world. Who saved her life. How many times did she have to tell it?

  ---

  Somewhere across thousands of acres away on an open ocean, Theo sneezed.

  ---

  TopG was sprinting across the beach. Numerous other goblins around him. "Run!" he shouted, but it was so difficult to run on sand. Meanwhile the thing that pursued them had no trouble at all.

  A giant crocodile snapped up another goblin bisecting it. The beast swallowed what it could before resuming its' pursuit.

  "Goku!" one of the goblins shouted out mournfully as they ran.

  "Forget him! He's dead!" TopG shouted.

  'Almost there', he thought.

  "Topegie plan no work!" a goblin at his side struggled to say. "Plan been worked! Keep running!", the plan did work, just in future tense. He had learned a bit of how the goblins spoke and it helped them understand him a bit better.

  The goblin was right- the first volley of bolts didn't kill it. But this probably would.

  They ran past a collection of trees. "Now! Cut!" he shouted. If the goblin he stationed here was ready to do his job- he should be cutting. He gave it a 50/50 chance.

  The massive crocodile- or alligator- Topg was unsure of the different labels. The massive scaled thing with teeth lumbered after them with surprising speed.

  'Snap!', a rope snapped and a heavy log began to lean over and fall. 'Fall faster!' he thought. He was no engineer, but he knew heavy things fall down.

  The tree log fell onto the crocodiles tail towards the base. "NO!" TopG shouted, the crocodile roared in fury as the tree log lined with many stakes stabbed into the tail. It dragged it behind like it was nothing and snapped up another goblin.

  "Keep running- you four stay here, we'll lure it away while you reload!", he ran past the crocodile drawing it's attention. In his panic, he had forgotten that goblins couldn't count. Not to mention know which of them should stay. So they all did.

  He cursed himself and the goblins for their low intelligence!

  Now the crocodile followed him, and if it was to eat a goblin the goblin would be he.

  His legs burned as desperation took over his body. He could feel the things hot breath on his back as his feet pounded sand.

  The crocodile snapped at his ankles and he jumped barely avoiding it- he grabbed a vine hanging from a nearby tree and swung around it like a tether-ball. He landed on the opposite side of the crocodile and took off.

  It roared in frustration and turned after him- then caught. The tree log it had been dragging behind snagged in between a tree and the mound of sand the log had been accruing during the chase.

  TopG collapsed to his knees, pacing hoarsely. "Kill it, fucking kill it." he said, his eyes felt dry and he legs felt like they were made of rubber.

  The goblins smiled at him and pointed their crossbows at the defenseless monster.

  ---

  The team returned to the porous cave system of white rock dragging their prize behind them. They would be heroes for this! Killing the apex predator of the island like this- only a few goblin groups could say the same.

  This would make the chieftain take him and his tiny faction of goblins seriously.

  His faction. Or at least that's what he called it, there was only one tribe of goblins on the island. But many subgroups within that. Who all answered to one chieftain. Over time he was recognized as a 'smart goblin', meaning he would help lead. Which meant hunting and gathering with your social circle, essentially.

  Results meant respect in goblin society. And this was quite the result. The thousand pound gator left drag marks in the sand and dirt as they dragged it back. They built a makeshift stretcher out of thatch and wood to carry it. It took every goblin to drag it back as they did lose a few in the process. But it was worth it in the end.

  After what he's seen many goblins do, he wasn't overly sympathetic about his losses. These were his goblins, but that wasn't saying much. Of course they'd pick his group to join. He was the 'easy boss' compared to most. Or just in general. He did most of the work and did all of the planning. They were just extra hands.

  And he thought he was lazy.

  The cave system opened up into a larger cavern. There was plenty of daylight though, as the ceiling had many holes in it. As if some giant worm creature had burrowed through this cave like an apple. Rays of light shone down onto the white sand floor of the cave.

  Many goblins lazed about in this section of cave, crafting hide clothing and primitive tools. They even made bows and arrows. Not that his faction worried about that- they used crossbows. They were only ones who know how to use them so they were always traded to them cheaply.

  A large goblin sat at the back, surrounded by his many concubines. And a female dwarf he deemed attractive enough. Goblin culture was a primitive and base one. Where might made right, and whoever had the strength to rule- did. Often brutally. Like humans had for most of their history.

  "Look, chieftain! We hunt great beast!" he said enthusiastically. Or at least he said it in a way that sounded like enthusiasm. He observed how other goblins acted and played the part. Who rose in this society, and who fell? It was simple, like all goblin culture was.

  Be a sycophant.

  The goblin leader smiled, displaying his pointed broken teeth. "Good! Much meat, hide good armor! We feast tonight!" the goblins cheered. TopG let at a sigh of exasperation. He's also seen offerings like these be taken sourly, if not prepared correctly. The chieftain could also be intimidated by a goblins success, and they would disappear the next night.

  TopG had to tread carefully. He exchanged a knowing look with the dwarf survivor next to the chieftain. They looked away mistrustfully.

  As the goblin cooks started to cut into the alligator another goblin came stumbling into the cave out of breath.

  "Chieftain! Chieftain!", she leaned over and threw up. "Hey! No! Stop!" the chieftain swore at her angrily. She rose her hands defensively;

  "Sorry! I had been run! Long! Great boat- come!" she said frantically, hoping the news would alleviate his anger. And it did.

  Once again he smiled.