BXBX NOVEL Chapter 97: Shapeshifting
The statue was a towering, monolithic figure, carved from dark, ancient stone that exuded power and gravitas.
It bore a striking resemblance to the centaur statue in the real world, but this one was different. It was a centaur in form but also had the features of a goat, its head adorned with massive, spiraling horns that twisted into the sky.
The statue\'s eyes seemed to glow with an inner light, casting an eerie luminescence across the vast stone platform.
The girls gasped in unison, their voices a chorus of awe and confusion. Cornelia was the first to speak, her voice trembling slightly as she looked around. "Where are we?"
Maria, her hand clutching Lydia\'s, added, "This… this place. It\'s like nothing I\'ve ever seen before."
Sophia stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the statue. "It\'s magnificent," she whispered, almost to herself. "But… what is it?"
Emily, always the inquisitive one, began to pace, her eyes darting around the space. "There\'s no sign of life here, no buildings, no tents, nothing. It\'s just… this statue."
Fiona, her voice tinged with concern, said, "How could we be here? We were just at the sanctuary…"
Natalie, clutching Elena\'s arm, added, "It feels… otherworldly. Like we\'re not even in the same reality anymore."
Their voices overlapped, each girl speaking in rapid succession as they tried to make sense of their surroundings. The air buzzed with their mounting confusion and curiosity.
Suddenly, a soft rustle behind them caught their attention.
They all turned in unison, eyes widening as they saw Corora, who was now transformed into a humanoid goat. Her once human features had taken on a new, majestic form. Her skin was now a soft, velvety black fur, her eyes large and expressive, and her hair had transformed into a cascade of black but with shimmering silver that matched the color of her horns.
She stood with an air of regal confidence, her hooves clicking softly against the stone as she approached them.
"Welcome to the Stonehooves Clan," Corora said, her voice carrying a melodic, otherworldly tone. "I am the second intelligent clan member of this tribe."
The girls stared in shock, their mouths agape. For a moment, they were too stunned to speak. Then, all at once, their voices erupted in a flurry of exclamations.
"Corora? Is that really you?" Cornelia asked, stepping closer, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yes, it\'s me," Corora replied with a gentle smile. "This is what I\'ve become in this world, as you can see. And as you can also see," she gestured around the barren platform, "we\'ve just started building our home here, so there\'s not much to see yet—no tents or basic necessities. But—"
Corora\'s words were cut short as the girls, unable to contain their amazement, rushed toward her.
"Oh my gods, Corora, you look amazing!" Maria exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she reached out to touch Corora\'s fur.
"You\'re so soft!" Lydia added, stroking Corora\'s arm. "And your horns—they\'re beautiful!"
Fiona and Emily were equally fascinated, examining every detail of Corora\'s transformation. "I can\'t believe it," Fiona said, her voice filled with awe. "You\'re like… like something out of a myth!"
Elena, her voice tinged with excitement, said, "You\'re adorable, Corora! How does it feel? Do you feel different?"
Natalie, giggling with delight, added, "I can\'t get over how cool this is! You\'re like a magical creature!"
Corora blushed under their barrage of compliments, her soft fur brushing against their hands as they petted and admired her. Despite the overwhelming attention, she smiled warmly, enjoying the girls\' enthusiasm. "Thank you, everyone," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "It\'s… it\'s definitely different, but I\'ve embraced it. This is who I am now."
The girls continued to fuss over her, their voices overlapping as they asked questions and made more comments, each one more excited than the last.
"Can you teach us how to be like you?" Sophia asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"What does it feel like to walk with hooves?" Emily inquired, curious as ever.
"Do you have any special powers now?" Fiona added, her mind racing with possibilities.
Before Corora could answer, Lyerin, who had been standing silently with a bemused expression, clapped his hands together three times—clap, clap, clap—his voice cutting through the chatter. "Enough, everyone. You can admire Corora later. There\'s something important I need to show you."
The girls reluctantly stepped back from Corora, their excitement still bubbling over. They turned to Lyerin, their attention now fully on him.
"What is it, Lyerin?" Cornelia asked, her curiosity piqued.
Lyerin gave them a knowing smile, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. "What do you want? To become like Corora, or… something else?"
The girls looked at each other, confused by his cryptic words. "What do you mean by \'something else\'?" Maria asked, her brow furrowed.
Lyerin didn\'t answer right away. Instead, he turned and pointed with his thumb to something behind them.
The girls followed his gaze, and their expressions shifted from confusion to horror as they saw what he was pointing at.
Behind them, emerging from the shadows of the statue, was a massive creature. It was hulking and muscular, its body resembling that of a gigantic goat, but twisted and monstrous. Its fur was dark and matted, its eyes glowing with an eerie, malevolent light.
As it stepped forward, its hooves cracked against the stone—thud, thud, thud.
When it turned its head toward them, its mouth twisted into what could only be described as a terrifying, toothy grin.
The girls screamed in unison, their fear palpable.
"What is that?!" Lydia shrieked, backing away as quickly as she could.
"Get it away from us!" Emily cried, her voice high-pitched with terror.
Sophia, her face pale, clutched Corora\'s arm, trying to pull her away. "Lyerin, what is this thing?!" she demanded, her voice shaking.
Fiona\'s eyes were wide with fear, her voice trembling as she asked, "Is it going to… to attack us?"
Natalie, her breath coming in short gasps, added, "Please, Lyerin, make it stop!"
Lyerin couldn\'t help but chuckle at their reactions, finding their fear both amusing and endearing. "Don\'t worry," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "It won\'t harm you. This is just one of the creatures of this world—one of the more... intimidating ones."
The girls, still trembling, stared at the monstrous creature, their fear slowly giving way to nervous curiosity.
"So," Lyerin continued, his tone light, "do you want to be like Corora, or... perhaps something a bit more powerful, like him?" He pointed again at the creature.
The girls didn\'t hesitate. "We want to be like Corora!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with urgency.
Lyerin nodded, pleased with their decision. "Very well," he said simply.
Without further ado, he reached into his magical ring and retrieved a small vial filled with a thick, red liquid.
The girls watched in silence as he approached the base of the statue and carefully poured the liquid into a small indentation at its feet.
The liquid glistened like blood in the dim light, seeping into the stone.
As soon as the last drop touched the statue, a low hum began to resonate through the air.
The ground beneath them trembled slightly—rumble, rumble—and the air grew heavy with anticipation.
Then, from the statue\'s chest, a translucent manifestation began to emerge, its form swirling and shifting like a ghost. It floated toward the girls, its presence both ethereal and overwhelming.
The girls held their breath as the manifestation passed through them one by one, its energy seeping into their bodies. Lyerin watched closely as the notification appeared before him.
| Ding!
| You have recruited eight intelligent members. What path do you seek for them to go? |
Without hesitation, Lyerin spoke aloud, "The intelligent path."
Immediately, the transformation began. The girls\' bodies shimmered with a soft, otherworldly light, their forms shifting and changing.
Cornelia was the first to transform, her body elongating and becoming more slender, her legs reshaping into those of a graceful stallion. Her hair turned a glossy black, flowing down her back like a mane. Her eyes, now larger and more expressive, sparkled with an inner light.
Maria and Sophia followed suit, their forms taking on the delicate features of a humanoid sheep, their skin now covered in soft, white wool, their eyes large and gentle.
They looked at each other in amazement, their new forms both beautiful and elegant.
Elena, Lydia, Fiona, Emily, and Natalie each transformed into a blend of humanoid goats and stallions, their bodies strong and agile, their features equally.