AuthorPalt

Kreig sketches

+Erica, Lieutenant Claws, Sam and George respectivly

I 💖 IOCRO

Returning to No Applause Epilogue

I decided to make the two last chapters into one, so... Yeah. This is it. 

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you'll stick around for the AU!

It was 14:00 on a Saturday. The morning had been hectic and so had last night.

Kreig still hadn’t quite come to understand what was happening or what the fallout of this situation would be, but for now, both of his siblings had assured him that everything would be alright. Darius had visited him and they had talked for an hour or ...

Returning to No Applause Ch.100 (Yippie!!)

It wasn’t here. Not here, not there.

Her hands were red and cold and wet and freezing and she wanted to go home but there would be no home for her there, only men with guns who wanted to kill her and a creature that could destroy continents that wanted to kill her and everything and everyone else. Her chest ached with the cold air she had to draw in with every frantic breath. White puffs of air from her lips clouded her vision and she wished she’d brought a better jacket.

And still, it wasn’t there.

Was what?

Th...

Returning to No Applause Ch.99

Skyscrapers and lights like stars flashed past below them. Kreig would certainly have liked to fly faster, but not with Erica in his grasp. The last time Kreig could remember flying with someone in his arms was when Peter has asked to see how it felt. At that time, Kreig had excitedly done loops and barrel rolls to make Peter scream because it was funny. When he put him down afterwards, Peter didn’t want to go flying again.

But Kreig felt no such desires now. Erica was still clutching him tightly, her wide eyes lapping up the stars b...

Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru

Made for the discord server but considering Ch.98 I decided to post it

Returning to No Applause Ch.98

At the door to her apartment, Erica was enthusiastically met by her cat, Bellybutton. Smiling, Erica bent down and picked her up, letting the tabby cat balance across her shoulders while she prepared a simple dinner for the both of them. Since she wanted to read Jay’s article as soon as possible, she settled with a simple sandwich, of course giving some kibbles for Bellybutton.

Then, removing a small stack of stories, she settled down on her couch. The time was 18:27, and she sincerely hoped it would be enough. Jay had never exactly ...

Returning to No Applause Ch.97

They came home at the normal time, with Sam arriving before George. Since Kreig wasn’t entirely done with the dinner, Sam spent a little while helping him finish up.

And there they were, eating dinner just like so many times before.

“Was Erica here?” George asked sensibly. The portrait still drying in the living room had probably clued him in.

“Yes, though she had to leave early.”

“Pity. You know, since mother and father have already moved on, it’s up to me and Sam to decide whether or not she’s worthy...

Returning to No Applause Ch.96

Another lesson gone off without a hitch. As the bell rang, the students began milling out of the classroom, the last few papers being handed in as they went. Erica cheerfully said goodbye to each of them.

A collection of papers a good bit thicker than the rest was placed in her hands and she met Jay’s grim eyes. It seemed as though she had something to say. “What is it, Jay?”

Jay frowned, probably at herself, and said, “When you get home, make sure you read this one first. And not tomorrow, or even tonight. Before seven t...

Becoming a Troll Ch.19

By the time the sun sets, I’ve been able to dig myself a pretty comprehensive little hole. I only had to take a snack break a few times, which allowed me to follow in close detail exactly how the first stages of bodily decomposition took place. The important thing was that as long as you chewed and swallowed you didn’t actually notice all that much.

I hadn’t really paid attention to it at the time, but I’m actually really sick. All of my stats have essentially been halved, leaving me barely able to dig as much as I need.

...

To Become a Troll Ch.18

I awaken slowly as though dragging my conciousness out of a murky, oily pit of tar. I am sitting on dry land, my whole body soaked to the skin, weighed down by about ffifteen pounds of wet fur. There is meat and bone and organ tissue and skin in both of my hands and also in my mouth. I’m absently shovelling more and more into my mouth, even though my stomach is full to the point of bursting and I feel sick.

Ah. I feel hungover.

It’s like someone beat my head in with a sledgehammer and proceeded to invert the whole thing, maki...

To Become a Troll Ch.17

Yeah, there’s the bastard. To think he would dare show his face before me again…! But this time, I will show no mercy! My body might not be large enough to effortlessly seal its fate, but I know already that I will no doubt be able to take it down. It has neither claws nor fangs. What have I to fear?

I just need to get it at the right time. It’s clearly far faster than I am, and I can’t exactly move while in hamnskifte, so I’ll need to ambush and cripple it at about the same time.

The easiest time to do this would be wh...

To Become a Troll Ch.16

...It feels like I blacked out or something there.

Where did I… What happened here? Everything is dark. Is it still nighttime? But I feel hot, and sticky, and…

Memories from the night before flood my mind and I feel like vomiting. My-, my arm, my legs…

They’re all there. It seems they recovered while I was… I don’t think I fell asleep, but something like that clearly happened here. This cavity I’m inside doesn’t feel all that tight. Now that I feel around a bit, there’s next to nothing in here.

Ah, i...

Happy Halloween Drawing Process

i fuckin love procreate’s video making feature. fantastic

Returning to No Applause Ch.95

For hours, she just sat there in the middle of the clearing, reading the files and documents until it got dark. Then she had to use her phone as a flashlight, but when its battery ran out, she was left in the dark. By that point the moon stood high above the half-shedded treetops, but she didn’t want to leave.

She could no longer read them, but she had to continue. She couldn’t stop there.

Her hands trembled in fear as she bundled the files together. She had to continue reading. What if she went home and he was there? She had...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

To Become a Troll Ch.15

Its eyes flashes and it lunges at me. I leap into the air and skip over its head, tumbling onto its back. I try to get a good grip but only having one arm makes it difficult. In desperation I try to bite down only to find my teeth unable to pierce the hide in one go. Taking advantage of my situation, the fox leaps into the air. I grab a hold of the hairs on its back only to realize mid-way through its leap what it’s trying to do.

I roll off of its back and tumble to the ground right as the fox crashes on its back. While it tries to r...

To Become a Troll Ch.14

I wake up in the middle of the night, feeling predictably groggy. At first, I’m not sure what woke me up, but then I hear a piercing scream that stabs through the quiet of the night like a dagger through my chest. Eyes wide and horrified, I leap to my feet and crawl out of the squirrel’s hole.

There, down in the clearing stands the fox. I feel how the tension drains out of my chest. Sure, of course. There’s my answer.

I remember reading somewhere that foxes could scream a startlingly human howl, so I guess that must’ve be...

To Become a Troll Ch.13

That was quite a lot of levels, considering that it was just a squirrel. It wasn’t even all that hard to kill.

Arms really are the best.

Now, before I do anything else, I’d better get up in the tree. If the fox came around right now, it would easily steal my food.

Wrapping my tail around the squirrel's midsection, I climb up while hoisting it along with me. Eventually I’m back up again. In the time it took my to climb up here, my size increased quite a lot. Whereas before I was only around as big as the squirrel, I am...

To Become a Troll Ch.12

By stretching out I can feel the Hamnskifte going away, which is a pretty odd sensation to say the least. This leaves me with a situation I hadn’t really experienced as a Mossling.

I feel hungry.

This could be attributed to the fact that Mosslings, much like my teenage self, survive only on sunlight, water and the oppressive stress of incoming death. I’m also thirsty, but a good piece of meat could probably quench that as well.

Though, I do need to be careful not to drink too much blood. Or any, really. Becoming hypoman...

To Become a Troll Ch.11

Sitting up here, I try to relax and let the rest of the evolution take its course. But it’s hard. No matter what, I can’t let myself stop looking around me. If something were to approach me right now, I would definitely die.

It takes a few minutes, but the evolution does finally complete.

And I’m left in a form that, thankfully, actually has skin. And hair.

As a matter of fact, I am very hairy. My entire body, barring my tail, hands, feet, face and ears are covered in long, black hairs, each thick and strong like pine...

To Become a Troll Ch.10

I see two Little here, but I’ll begin with the first one just for the sake of it.

Moss Child. Probably the natural evolution of the Mossling. Going just by the name, I’d guess it’s around the size of a child, which isn’t all that bad. Furthermore, it seems generally friendly, and since it has the ability to guide people, it might plausibly have a mouth of some sort. Probably not, but either way, if I wanted to stay in this forest and wait for people to come to me, this would be the best option.

-But I don’t wan...

To Become a Troll Ch. 9

The mouse pressed below me gives a final, rattling sigh of death.

-82 exp gained-

-Level up!

You have reached Level 8-

-Level up!

You have reached Level 9-

-Level up!

You have reached Level 10-

-Normal Skill Choke has reached Level 3-

-Normal Skill Stab has reached Level 4-

-You have reached (MAX) Level

You may now Evolve-

I try to ignore the pop-ups as best as I can because right now that’s not important.

The thrill of battle is still raging on inside of me, beg...

Returning to no Applause Ch.94

The cold air of autumn rushed past her as she biked without thinking about much of anything. Normally, in a situation as strange and incomprehensible as this one, her mind would be bustling with thoughts and ideas and possible explanations of what was happening. But not here. Not now. She had already considered all the possibilities here.

Thinking any more about it would make her feel dizzy.

She was well outside the city now, cycling on a little path lined with red and yellow leaves.

Undulat Park was a rather large park on ...

Returning to No Applause Ch.93

When Jay entered the classroom the next morning, she found a little letter lying on her desk.

Eyes drawn to it, she sat down and began turning it over. For one, it was clearly already opened. The little wax seal that had formally shut it so tightly was loose in parts, though it still clung to the upper flap of the letter. Not that it was addressed to anyone. Feeling her brows furrow, Jay made to open the letter fully only to be startled when she realized Annie was sitting next to her.

“So?” Annie said tiredly. “Will you mak...

Short Story: Craig POV of chapters 7-8, 22-30

This short story was requested by Eric Wharton as part of the special offer!

Being a Fighter really wasn’t all it was hyped up to be.

For many people, the job had taken on some of the grandeur and power that the military or police force used to hold. After all, these people were almost like heroes, bravely fighting monsters and Otherworlders and saving people left and right!

Craig had thought so at first, too. And then he was convinced on a dare to try out one of these so-called Messia...

To Become a Troll Ch.8

Hey, kid, show me my stats again.

…

...Well, what is it? Cat got your tongue?

-Title Natural Deviant gained-

Is that all you wanted to say?

Mossling(F-) Lv.7/10

Stage: Adult

Health: 6/9

State: Mycorrhiza, Murderous, Bloodfrenzy

Bloodfrenzy? What’s that supposed to be?

-Status Condition Bloodfrenzy: Caused when a creature not usually predatory drinks blood or when a predatory creature gorges itself upon blood. Creates feelings of mania, restlessness and thirst.-

Is that so?...

To Become a Troll Ch.7

With a piercing squeal, the mouse throws itself at me, its little claws and teeth bared. Predicting such a simple form of attack, I dodge it, though with the tunell being so small, my back quickly meets the wall. The mouse turns back to me, readying itself for another attack. But just as it opens its mouth to squeal threateningly at me, I shove my Stab-empowered leg into its jaws. I can feel the way my foot shaves off part of its upper mouth, but not enough to break through its skull.

With my foot in its mouth, it instinctually bites d...

To Become a Troll Ch.6

Sure enough, the closer it gets, the more obvious its mousey-ness becomes. It’s really just a mouse. Grey and small with little hands and feet and big, shiny eyes. Every few seconds, it pops up its head and sniffs the air before going down and all fours again and running about. I might almost consider it cute if I didn’t despise small things.

Within only a few minutes, it stands right above me. Scratch my earlier estimations, I am actually slightly smaller than the average mouse.

This would be the perfect timing and moment fo...

To Become a Troll Ch.5

I wake up with a startle, my eyes darting back and forward. That… is new. Not even in my youngest, most innocent of years did I have the ability to fall asleep within seconds of lying down. This has to be some magical skill of some sort, even if it was never mentioned in the screen. Of course, it could just have been a quirk of my new bod-,

Something makes me freeze in place. Some little sound, or maybe just the thought of seeing something makes me lie perfectly still, my eyes blinking and my non-existent heart pounding.

And fo...