The world snapped back into a brutal, agonizing focus for Bathilda. The suffocating darkness that had become her temporary reality remained, but it was no longer the primary source of her distress. Every nerve ending screamed in protest, a symphony of pain that resonated through her very being.

  She was a broken doll, limbs twisted and unresponsive, her recently gifted wings, what should be symbols of newfound freedom, were shattered and useless. Each shallow, ragged breath was a struggle, a battle against the crushing weight of her injuries.

  Yet, amidst the chaos of pain, a flicker of awareness emerged. The familiar ping of her (Echolocation) skill painted a crude, yet vital, picture of her surroundings. The echo-laden landscape revealed a grim tableau: she had landed atop the very creature that had pursued her, the monstrous snake that had driven her through the labyrinthine passage.

  The impact, softened by the snake's colossal form, had spared Bathilda from instant annihilation, but the damage was profound. Had their positions been reversed, she knew the snake would have crushed her like paste.

  Shitty second life, she griped, the thought a harsh reality against the backdrop of her agony. The tornado wasn't even this bad. Seriously! A bitter resentment surged through her, a rebellion against the cruel irony of her situation. She had been given a second chance, a chance to help others, and yet, she was utterly helpless, trapped in a body broken beyond recognition.

  A faint, almost imperceptible red blip flickered in the bottom corner of her vision, a tiny beacon in the sea of darkness. Beside it, cryptic letters and numbers: HP 2/14. A chilling realization dawned upon her. This was her life force, her remaining vitality. Two points out of fourteen. A countdown to oblivion. Is this how my new life ends? It was a hollow echo in the silent darkness. With math? When I hit zero, it's all... over.

  Just as despair threatened to consume her, a shimmering, blue portal ripped open the fabric of reality above her. The familiar, melodious voice of Florence echoed through the air.

  "Terribly sorry, Bat, we may have failed to mention a few things before God sent you off like that." Florence's blonde head bowed through the portal, her radiant beauty a stark contrast to the grim reality of Bathilda's situation.

  "You think!" Bathilda tried to shout, but her voice was a set of angry clicks that cast (Echolocation) repeatedly. The effort sending waves of excruciating pain through her body. She was a prisoner in her own broken form, unable to express the torrent of frustration and anger that raged within her.

  "It damages reality for God to do this for long, so just listen," Florence continued, her voice urgent. "I know things seem bleak for you right now, but all you have to do is level up and get stronger. Earn yourself some new skills and improve the ones you already have. As you get stronger, you should also get bigger. Remember that every big fish starts small. Oh, and monsters. On this world, there are real monsters, not like Earth. Monsters like dragons, griffins, and all other manner of creatures you could think of exist here. Not all monsters are inclined toward death and destruction though, nor do they live by the rule 'survival of the fittest'. You will just have to use your own judgement to make the decision over right and wrong, good and bad."

  How the hell am I supposed to do that when I'm literally almost dead, Florence! Bathilda screamed internally, the silent rage a burning inferno. Another wave of agonizing pain washed over her as she slipped off the snake's back, landing face down on its head.

  The impact sent a fresh wave of agony through her shattered body, but she was too numb to register it fully. HP 1/14 Through the muffled sounds, she could hear the snake stirring beneath her, a low, guttural rumble that vibrated through her bones. It wasn't dead!

  "To regain your lost life force, you will have to finish off your opponent," Florence's voice echoed, the words a chilling pronouncement. "If you do not, then when it manages to recuperate, it will likely eat you instead."

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  A shiver of primal fear ran through Bathilda, a cold dread that pierced through the haze of pain. She turned her head towards the portal, her gaze pleading. So kill the snake? How? I can't move, if you haven't noticed, Florence!

  The portal began to shrink, the shimmering blue light fading. Florence smiled, a serene, almost detached expression on her face. "You have teeth, do you not? If you cannot figure a way out of this situation, then... That would be unfortunate for you. This is also the last time our paths are likely to cross like this. Farewell and good luck, Bathilda."

  The portal vanished, leaving Bathilda alone in the darkness, the echo of Florence's words a cruel reminder of her predicament. I have teeth? What. The. Hell. Florence!? I'll show you teeth!

  Driven by a surge of desperate anger, Bathilda clenched her jaw and sank her teeth into the snake's head, biting down with a ferocity born of desperation. The taste of blood filled her mouth, the metallic tang a grim reminder of her struggle. She bit through the pain, ignoring the searing agony that ripped through her body as she forced her broken limbs to move. She bit and bit again, her teeth tearing through flesh and bone, her determination fueled by a primal instinct to survive.

  Her limbs went numb, the pain receded, but she continued to bite, her jaws working with a relentless, mechanical precision. She bit until she was certain the snake was dead, until the ground beneath her was slick with its blood.

  Then, a notification appeared before her, a burst of light in the darkness that she could see properly.

  Millisnake has been slain

  Bathilda has reached Level 10 (MAX)

  Chomp has reached Level 5

  Fly has reached Level 2

  A new skill has been acquired: Poison Fang

  A new skill has been acquired: Wing Slash

  Skill Points have been acquired

  "Evolution Available"

  A surge of energy coursed through her body, a wave of healing that washed away the pain and mended broken bones. The world snapped back into sharp focus, the darkness replaced by a vibrant, if still echo-laden, awareness.

  Wow, she breathed, the thought a mixture of relief and disbelief. That's a lot to take in. Max level? I like the sound of those skills, especially (Wing Slash). That sounds like a strong move. Maybe when I manage to get a better handle on my body, I'll be able to use it. And if (Fly) keeps leveling up, I'll be able to use that properly too.

  She glanced back at the notification, her mind racing. The level increase had healed her, granted her new skills, and unlocked the ability to evolve. The level increase is probably the reason I'm able to evolve, but how do I do that? And what exactly is going to happen to me when it does? Also, how I spend skill points? Fucking Florence, she barely even told me anything useful whilst she was here. Honestly, what was the point in her even showing up at all?

  Anger and confusion warred within her, a tempest of emotions that mirrored the chaos of her situation. She pushed herself up, her body feeling strangely light and agile. With a newfound sense of control, she glided down to the ground, her wings moving with a smoother, more fluid motion than before.

  Alright. That was ok.

  The notification screen lingered in her vision, the word "evolution" a tantalizing mystery. As if in response to her thoughts, a new screen appeared beside it, offering her a choice.

  Evolution available: Current Species: Baby Wingtail Bat.

  Possible Choices for Evolution: Mature Wingtail Bat: Poisonous Bat:

  Bathilda stared at the screen, her mind reeling.

  A bat. A goddamn bat? Bathilda's mind reeled, a chaotic whirlwind of disbelief and shock. This wasn't some whimsical transformation, a fleeting fancy. This was... unsettling. Profoundly so.

  She wanted to scream, to demand answers. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but Bathilda forced herself to take a deep breath. Right now, hysteria would solve nothing. She needed to think, to assess. Was she in danger? Could she be harmed? And most importantly, was there any way to reverse this... this abomination?

  The cold reality settled in: she was alone. There was no one to consult, no magical remedy at her fingertips. For now, all she could do was pray that this was not a permanent state. Hopefully "Evolution" held the key, but again she was unsure.

  Another decision, another unknown path. The list of problems continued to grow, a testament to the chaotic nature of her second life. Ah, when life used to be simple, she sighed, a wistful memory of her former life echoing in her mind. Now, she had to make a choice, a choice that would shape her future in this strange, dangerous world.