Orstelia slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry but she vaguely recognized her surroundings as the bedroom in Fulger's house. She rolled onto her back and covered her eyes with her right forearm, the morning light trickling in from the window making the headache she woke up with worse. As her body woke up she could feel her entire body start crying in pain despite having regeneration. Whatever she did after losing consciousness in that tunnel obviously left her with enough pain that not even regeneration could help.

  Orstelia sat upright letting the bedsheets slide off of her bandaged body. Her entire torso was wrapped in bandages that faintly smelled of medicinal concoctions and small red bloodstains dyed various parts of the bandages.

  'Either I was treated right after whatever caused these wounds or my regeneration isn't working as well as it used to. Guess I should check my status' she thought to herself. What she saw surprised her.

  Name: OrsteliaGender: FemaleRace: Ur-Lamia (Regal Tarrisian Masquerade Viper)Status: Healing (Mana Shock)Titles: Queen, The Heart EaterDivine Titles: Horizon Eating SerpentLevel: 15/20 Evo 1HEP: 18/35'Well, something happened while I wasn't in control. I got some new titles, my race has changed and I have a different status than healthy for once. Let's check these out first.'

  Regal Tarrisian Masquerade Viper:

  A unique evolution that has no precedent, unlike all the previous ones which are based on other snake species in the world. Thinner than your current form and provides minute muscle control so you can always keep your facade intact. This evolution grants limited shapeshifting, knowledge of how to circute mana, and the ability to alter your physical appearance in minor ways like changing the color of your scales. No boosts to stats on level-up, but reduces the HEP requirement for the next reward by 5. Grants special evolution options ter.

  -A natural evolution that any sentient species can evolve into without undergoing Existential Evolution. When one acquires (or in some cases is born with) a royal title it automatically changes their race to a regal variant of it. Provides a skill whose power increases depending on the title they possess. While undergoing future Existential Evolutions you will not see the 'Regal' in front of them but it will automatically be transferred as long as your title remains.-

  'Okay, that's pretty self-expnatory. So as long as I have the 'Queen' title I'll be a regal of my species. Looks like not becoming a [Gilded Cobra] when I first evolved didn't matter. I'm starting to become a leader figure whether I want to or not. Is that the fate of all Urs? To become the leader of their species? There have been many so I'm sure that a few have are not. Whether they always weren't or chose to leave that position is a different matter. For now, though, it seems that becoming a leader is what fate is pushing onto me. Or is it merely a coincidence? This train of thought can potentially get depressing fast, let's just move on to something else.'

  -Titles-

  Queen:

  A title given to women who have been acknowledged as the rightful queen of a nation, or those who have been recognized as a female leader who will be able to start their own kingdom. This title can be lost if someone usurps your position or your followers have lost faith in your abilities to rule. Grants the skill -Queens Majesty- as long as one possesses this title

  The Heart Eater:

  A title given to Orstelia out of fear by those who witnessed her rip the still-beating heart out of her victim and eat it in front of them. May your enemies know fear and wish to never come across you.

  'Queen is about what I expected. I'll check out the skill when I see how my skills changed with the level-ups. The Heart Eater was probably gotten when I lost consciousness. Wait weren't titles supposed to not give me anything?

  Anomaly acknowledged. Sending your compint to [REDACTED].'*Sigh* It wasn't a compint but a question. Whatever, stranger things have happened to me recently than a mysterious unknowable thing forcibly given to me doing something weird. Like me just going unconscious earlier. Now that I think of it, what did happen to me?'

  "You entered a state where all your suppressed instincts were released. You killed, ate, and dominated others as your instincts demanded at the time. If you were advanced enough as an Ur then you would've probably tried to procreate as well."

  "Who said that!?" Orstelia excimed while frantically looking around the room.

  "Don't bother, I'm a part of you, and inside your head. You can talk to me with your thoughts if you desire. Also, you are the only one that can hear me so don't worry about that."

  "Okay so if you really are a part of me, what did I do in the river before I evolved for the first time?" Orstelia asked aloud with confidence. Only for it to shatter.

  "You were about to start masturbating in the river while your own body entranced you." The mysterious new resident in her head responded in a monotone voice of boredom.

  Orstelia's entire face was dyed crimson as she blushed in embarrassment. "If you ever tell anyone about that I'll find some way to kill you."

  "What is there to be embarrassed about? It is not surprising that your own body entranced you. You have an almost perfect body, as a queen such as us should have. It is a shame that it isn't perfect but that will change over time. It is in an Urs nature for their body to change and adapt over time to what would be the ideal for them."

  "Okay fine whatever. So what are you? Are you a separate personality of me, a spirit, or an angel or demon sent to influence me?"

  "I am what is called a 'Suppression'. We exist as methods to help suppress certain urges from appearing in Urs before they are ready for them. Usually, we are more like subconscious blockers there from the Urs birth. However, I don't have any data on one of us being as conscious as I currently am. It could be that I am just an anomaly or all of your Suppressions will be as I am."

  "Okay, so how many of you are there? And what do you mean by the data that you have?"

  "Five including myself. I represent the urge to rule over others. The others are the urge to grow, the urge to procreate, the urge to conquer, and the urge to indulge. Usually, the suppression lessens as you get stronger as they are mostly there to support an Ur initially. After they reach a certain threshold the suppressions vanish entirely and it is up to the individual to do what they want. As for how I know all this I don't know. My best guess would have to be the system you have. I may have access to more information than you because I was never expected to be sentient so I can get around some of the restrictions. A loophole as some would describe it."

  Orstelia let out a deep sigh while she rubbed the edges of her eyes with her right hand. "Can we pause on the exposition for now and finish examining my status?" she asked with an exhausted tone to her voice.

  "Very well. If you have anything you want to ask me then do. However, I recommend you do it with your thoughts instead of aloud. It slows down the process when I have to wait for you to finish speaking to respond."

  With those parting words, Orstelia's new guest went silent. But she could feel it watching through her eyes. It wasn't as unsettling as she thought it would be though. It was strangely comforting to have someone else that knew what she knew and saw what she saw. She would always have someone who she could bounce ideas with, even if it was just an extension of herself.

  Mana Shock

  A condition gotten from having your mana overload your nervous system from having your focus on controlling it waver. Doesn't initially cause permanent harm but it does hurt a lot. If it happens again before you're fully healed it may permanently damage your stats.

  It takes around a day to fully recover. Regenerative spells or abilities do not speed up the healing process.

  'So I just need to recover for a day. I can probably figure out how long I've been out with Fulger when I get out of bed. Now let's see how my stats have changed.'

  StatValueFree Stat Points45Strength35Dexterity35Endurance30Mind15Charm25Sense35'So no changes yet. I'll have to think about what to assign those points to after I see how my skills have changed since I've leveled up.'

  -Abilities-

  Lamia’s Venom [Racial Ability {Passive Ability}]: A potent venom that gets stronger with you. More venom types are unlocked as your level increases. You will always have as many doses of venom as your Endurance stat. Each dose of venom takes 1 minute to replenish. Stronger venoms will take multiple doses to use. Venoms are most effective if injected into the target via your venomous fangs or put into an exposed area like an open wound or the eyes. Weak venoms take 1 dose while weak poison spit takes [3] doses.

  Current Venoms: Weak Paralysis Venom, Weak Paralysis Poison Spit, Weak Venom, Weak Poison Spit, Weak Necrotic Venom, Weak Necrotic Poison Spit [More venoms unlocked at Evo 2]

  Constrict [Racial Ability {Active Ability}]: Wraps your muscur tail around a victim and crushes it with pure force. Deals damage equal to your Strength stat (35) x 4. Scale augments can add additional effects. Can only be used while in mia form.

  Masquerade[Evolution Ability {Active Ability}]: Take on a humanoid form, allowing the use of items and equipment that require a humanoid form. Able to transition between your humanoid form and mia form at will. Anything on your humanoid lower half may be destroyed or dispced when shifting into your mia form and when shifting back into your humanoid form you will not be wearing anything on your lower half. Clothes for shapeshifters or spare clothing are recommended.

  Can temporarily change small features about yourself like skin, hair, or eye color. Changes st until dismissed or your mana runs out. Can now take on the appearance of most humanoids you have studied in advance for several minutes equal to your [Mind] stat.

  [More features unlocked at LVL 20, Evo 2]

  Devour [Unique Ability {Active Ability}]: Consume any prey that you have either killed or directly assisted in killing, to nourish your body and mana. Prey consumed with [Devour] will slightly quicken your natural healing and mana recovery. Any prey that has either a worthy skill or ability that is compatible with you has a 10% chance of being acquired. Each skill and/or ability is determined separately from any other skill or ability.

  Immune to accidental choking of anything solid or liquid entering your stomach normally. Anything consumed with [Devour] acts as if you had eaten the being in its entirety but with no chance of detrimental effects like poisonous flesh affecting you.

  Inspect [System Ability{Active Ability}]: A skill given to those with a system. Allows one to see information about objects, people, and animals that few know of. The more powerful you are the more you can see. Can see stats that are [15] or less above yours. Titles are now visible. If a target of [Inspect] gives you consent you can see their full status regardless of the differential between you and them.

  [More information unlocked at LVL 20, Evo 2]

  -Skills-

  Great Gambit, Lesser Tavern Brawler, Poison Coat, Average Marksmanship, Ouroboros Mana Circution Technique, Lesser Bdework, Lesser Spell Theory, Queen's Majesty

  -Blessings-

  None

  -Boons-

  None

  -Curses-

  [Curse of Sin: Sloth]

  -Augments-

  Bewitching Eyes, Regenerative Flesh, Split Mind

  'Some new venoms, an upgrade on what [Masquerade] can do, three new skills, and a new augment. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.' "You just did." 'Shut it.'

  -Weak Necrotic Venom-

  A weak venom that slowly melts the target until the venom dilutes itself too much in the target's blood. Repeated doses increase the speed of the venom's effect.

  'This venom will be useful. Melting the opponent's eyes with the spit version would practically guarantee me the fight as long as they don't resist it. This is the weak version after all. I imagine a dragon would shrug this off. Could I apply this to my weapon with [Poison Coat]? It just says 'melts the target', nothing about only melting flesh. I'll have to test this when I can.'

  -Lesser Bdework-

  Knowledge of how to wield bded weapons. Slightly improves your ability to control bded weapons.

  'Pretty self-expnatory. Might have to test how it works with multiple types of bded weapons to see if it has limits when I can.'

  -Lesser Spell Theory-

  Slight knowledge of the theory of casting spells.

  'That's vague and unhelpful. Do you understand this.... wait you don't have a name do you?'

  'I am just an extension of your will so I don't have a name.'

  'Oh, now you are also talking in my head. Guess you were talking aloud earlier like I was. Well since you represent my urge to rule over others I'll just call you Queen for now. But my question still stands. Do you understand what this is talking about?'

  'Sorting through your memories I don't see anything that would help with this. My guess is that much like your mana cultivation technique your instincts will tell you about it when you practice with it. I'll try to figure it out until then though.'

  'Thanks Queen. Now what's the next skill about?'

  -Queens Majesty-

  Using your right to rule over others you can make those who recognize themselves as lesser than you submit to you. Just think of how superior you are to those who you want to submit to you and you'll be able to do it in no time.

  'Queen?'

  '*Sigh* This system of yours is being strangely unhelpful today. I can do this easily so I'll just handle it for you.'

  'No, you won't! I don't want to have to rely on you for stuff I can't do. You can do it when absolutely necessary but you are going to have to teach me how to do it okay.'

  Orstelia's body unknowingly smirked approvingly, a sign that the existence that was Queen could still influence the main body. If only slightly.

  'Very well. I'll teach you when we have some time. It seems the pile of things you need to practice keeps growing. If only the will to conquer was awake like me. They could help in that matter. Well, let's not count the chickens before they hatch. We don't even know how I came to be in the first pce.'

  'That's true. But I have a feeling that this new augment might be the cause.'

  -Split Mind-

  Your mind has shown the unique ability to be able to create and hold a separate consciousness without driving you insane. More visitors may come to inhabit your mind than you wish. Be careful of who or what you let root around your mind.

  'Yep, this seems to be it. Wonder what caused it to appear though?'

  'That is the real mystery. Just like what is causing that appetizing smell.'

  Orstelia unconsciously flicked out her forked tongue and it tasted the scent of something peculiar that she hadn't tasted before. But the smell drew her curiosity in. Her stomach seemed to agree as it rumbled in protest of being empty. She had spent enough time in bed anyway.

  She got out of bed and saw that her legs were also covered in bandages. Whatever happened must have been rough on her body. As she stretched her sore muscles the door to the room she was in opened. Who opened it wasn't Fulger like she was expecting but instead, a small rabbitkin that many would initially mistake for a child. She looked up towards Orstelia, who was like an obelisk compared to her, and her ears tilted back nervously.

  "I came to see if you were awake and hungry your majesty. I'm sorry for barging in while you were in such an unkempt state," she said while nervously bowing and refusing to lift her head.

  Orstelia could feel something influence her body from within, and what it said confirmed her suspicion of the culprit. "I forgive you little rabbit. I just got out of bed so I didn't have time to dress myself. I will be down shortly to eat. You may go now."

  The rabbitkin continued to bow as she silently closed the door, but Orstelia could hear her hurried footsteps as she went downstairs.

  "I have a feeling that it's going to be an interesting day today," Orstelia said to nobody as she went to scrounge some clothing from Fulger's closet.