Dimension Beta

Pech was sitting at his front counter, staring blankly out the window.

It had been more than a week since his last customer stumbled into the shop, and he had nothing to do but watch the people passing by. The fact that Tom hadn't visited him in days didn't bother him much. After the initial rush of customers, it was obvious that no one would be interested in his potions anymore.

Still, he couldn't help but give the boy credit in his thoughts. No one had ever managed to draw in so many customers in such a short time.

Pech was on the verge of dozing off when he felt a strange pulsing sensation in his body. It wasn't pain, but more like a tingling or the pulsing of an overworked muscle after exercise. His eyes snapped open, and he stared out the window, searching for the source of this phenomenon.

Were the forces of darkness already encroaching upon the city?

To his surprise, he saw Tom pacing back and forth in front of the tavern across the street. The boy was muttering to himself, looking uncertain about something.

"Could it be…?" Pech whispered, activating one of his skills, Inspect.

The skill allowed him to gather information on characters or individuals. The amount of detail depended on the target's level relative to his own. If the target were at his level, Pech would only see their name. Slightly lower levels might reveal their class and race, and far lower levels, their entire character window.

Since Tom was much lower in level, it was easy for Pech to see everything.

When the information appeared before him, Pech's jaw tightened. He stared in silence for a moment, then muttered, "It seems our fates are intertwined, young one…"

"Marien," he called out to his assistant. "Fetch the boy from across the street and bring him here."

Marien obediently stepped outside. Tom was startled to see her approach, but before he could ask anything, she grabbed him by the arm and practically dragged him into the alchemy shop. Her hand even lingered on his backside, which made Tom yelp in protest.

Pech slapped his forehead and muttered, "What a blockhead."

Tom, now involuntarily inside the shop, felt his nerves spike. What could the old trickster possibly want with him?

Sensing Tom's unease, Pech waved him over. "Relax. Come and sit down," he said, motioning to the chair across from him.

With little choice, Tom sat down.

"Go make some tea, would you?" Pech instructed Marien.

She left briefly and returned with a teapot and two cups. Pouring the tea, she handed one to Pech and the other to Tom.

Pech sipped his tea in large gulps. Feeling obliged to be polite, Tom took a sip as well. A bitter, earthy taste filled his mouth, like water strained through dirt. He grimaced but swallowed to avoid offending his host.

Pech noticed Tom's reaction and chuckled softly. "Tell me, boy, have you had any... interesting encounters lately?"

Tom stared at him in surprise. "How did you know?"

"If you've lived as long as I have, you pick up a trick or two," Pech said with a sly grin. "Now, let me see it."

Tom hesitated but realized the jig was up. Reluctantly, he removed his vest and shirt, revealing the decayed flesh on his chest.

Pech stood from his chair, donning a strange pair of glasses fitted with multiple lenses. He stepped closer, examining the cursed flesh closely, even pressing and prodding it.

"I'm not sure if you should…" Tom started to say.

"Relax. You're not contagious," Pech interrupted, continuing his inspection.

Tom felt uncomfortable as Pech handled his condition with almost clinical detachment. Without warning, the alchemist pulled out a scalpel and sliced off a small piece of the rotting flesh.

Tom gasped but felt no pain, which only added to his unease.

"Relax. I won't harm you," Pech reassured him. He placed the sample under a microscope, muttering "Interesting… very interesting…" as he observed it.

After about ten minutes, Tom couldn't hold back any longer. "So? What did you find out?" he asked, hoping Pech might have a solution.

"Well… you're screwed," Pech said bluntly.

"Fuck you, old man!" Tom shouted, standing up to leave.

"Calm down, boy, and sit back down," Pech said firmly.

Tom, though frustrated, stayed in his seat. Deep down, he still hoped Pech had more to offer.

"I wasn't lying, lad. No matter how you look at it, your situation is dire. Sugarcoating it won't change that," Pech said, his tone somber.

Tom remained quiet, waiting for him to elaborate.

"You see, I've been cursed by the forces of darkness myself. Although my curse is of a higher rank than yours, no human has been able to cure me."

He paused, sipping his tea. "Over the years, I've conducted countless experiments to find a solution. In the process, I stumbled upon a way to extend my life."

Pech gestured toward Marien. "She is the result of my research. A body I've created through magic. However, there are limitations."

"What kind of limitations?" Tom asked.

"For one, Marien is powered by a magical crystal. The maximum level she can reach depends on the quality of the crystal embedded in her body. These crystals can only be found in Rare monsters and above, the stronger the monster, the rarer the crystal."

Pech continued, "Even if you acquire a crystal, your level will still be capped unless the crystal is replaced with one from a higher-level monster. For instance, a crystal from a level 60 monster would cap your level at 120. After that, you'd need a crystal from a level 120 monster to advance further."

"Wait," Tom interjected. "Does that mean it's possible to keep leveling up as long as you replace the crystal?"

"In theory, yes," Pech admitted. "But there's a catch. I'm the only one in the world who knows how to perform this magic. If I die, get captured, or simply disappear, there is no more leveling up."

"Are you saying you could create a new body for me?" Tom asked hesitantly.

"I don't know," Pech replied, shrugging. "I've never tried it on someone like you."

"What? Then why tell me all this?" Tom asked, exasperated.

"What I'm saying is, you'd be my first test subject. The process would be excruciating, and there's a high chance you could die or be permanently crippled."

Pech leaned in closer. "Additionally, this would bind you to me. My enemies become your enemies. My allies become your allies. You'd be bound to protect me with your life."

Tom was stunned. The weight of the decision felt crushing.

"I need to think about it," he said nervously.

"Take your time, boy. But remember, with each passing day, the forces of darkness creep closer to this city. You'll need every ounce of strength to face what's coming."

[Mr. Pech's Legendary Race Change Quest]

After making a favorable impression on Mr. Pech, your relationship is strong enough that he has offered to change your race. Be warned, the outcome is uncertain, and you would be the first player to undergo this race change.

Tom's mouth hung open. So this is what this was all about? All this time, this quest was just about raising favorability with Pech? But something didn't add up. The favorability can't be high enough to trigger something like this. It must be my current situation that pushed him to make this offer.

Tom hesitated. He wanted to discuss this with his mother, his teacher or someone, anyone he trusted. But what if Pech changes his mind tomorrow and says it's too late?

A thousand thoughts raced through Tom's mind, but he surprised himself and Pech with what he said next.

"Okay, I'll do it."

Pech's surprise quickly turned into a sly smile. "Heh, good choice, boy. You're lucky. From my old experiments, I still have a single level 60 crystal left. It should be enough for this."

"We can start immediately if you're ready," Pech added.

Tom swallowed hard, summoning every ounce of courage he had, and nodded.

Pech led Tom to the back of the shop, where he usually performed his alchemy. Marien moved a heavy rug aside, revealing a hidden trapdoor.

Marien opened the door, unveiling a staircase descending into darkness. Tom's heart raced, but he followed the pair into what turned out to be a massive underground laboratory.

"You can leave your upper body bare and lie down on that table," Pech instructed, pointing to an ominous slab in the center of the room.

Tom hesitated as he approached the table. His eyes darted to the assortment of tools surrounding it: scalpels, knives, a saw, and even a drill. A chill ran down his spine.

He lay on the cold metal table, staring at the ceiling, wondering if he'd made the worst decision of his life.

Marien secured him with leather straps to keep him from moving during the procedure, and Pech began preparing the crystal. Its surface glowed faintly, pulsating with a mysterious energy.

"This might hurt a bit," Pech said with a twisted grin, holding up a gleaming scalpel.

Tom closed his eyes, gripping the edges of the table. What have I gotten myself into?