Waking with the dawn, a sense of lightness filled me, as if the very air whispered promises of a fresh start. I stepped outside, drawing in a deep breath of the crisp morning air — so brisk, so invigorating, it seemed to chase away the last shadows of sleep.

  Making my way to the bustling market, I wandered among the stalls, eyes flickering over the curious wares laid out before me. Then, something caught my attention: a peculiar fruit, unlike any I'd seen before — a curious blend, as if an apple had been enchanted to sprout the fuzzy skin of a kiwi. Unable to resist, I took a tentative bite. Sweetness blossomed on my tongue, a delightful surprise that made me smile.

  Still meandering, I searched for anything else that might be of use. Soon enough, I stumbled upon a bathhouse, its wooden sign creaking gently in the breeze. A sudden realization struck me — I had yet to wash away the dust of this new world. Inside, the warmth wrapped around me like a comforting spell. I handed over the entrance fee to the receptionist, then slipped quietly into the male section.

  There, a simple bucket and a coarse sponge awaited, tools to cleanse oneself before entering the steamy baths beyond. Time slipped away as I soaked, the water enveloping me in soothing warmth. When I finally emerged, my skin was puckered and pruney, a testament to how long I had lingered in the magic of the baths.

  I stepped out of the bathhouse and made my way back to my shop, only to find the door wide open. A flicker of doubt crossed my mind — had a new customer arrived unannounced, or was I simply an idiot who couldn’t remember how to close a door properly?

  Pushing the door gently, I peered inside. The room was empty. With a sigh, I shut the door firmly behind me, already planning to settle down for a quick nap. But just as I was about to rest, a sharp knock echoed through the quiet shop.

  I opened the door to find a male orc standing there, his broad frame filling the doorway. “Yes?” I said cautiously.

  “Is this the place where one can change their body?” he asked, his voice low and gravelly.

  I nodded. “Yes. What would you like changed?”

  He scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I want bigger muscles.”

  I blinked, surprised. “...Is that all?”

  “Yeah?” he replied, as if expecting something more.

  I let out a long sigh. “You can literally change everything, and you only want bigger muscles?”

  He shrugged, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. “I mean... yeah. What would you recommend, then?”

  “I’d begin by thickening your skeleton, making it strong enough to withstand blows that would fell an ordinary man. Then, I’d gift you chameleon-like skin, one you could command to shift and blend with your surroundings at will, a cloak of invisibility in plain sight. Your eyes — they’d turn jet black, pupils stretched wide until the whites vanish completely, giving you a gaze as deep and unreadable as the night itself.

  Next, I’d grant you another pair of hands, doubling your reach and dexterity. Instead of mere nails, sharp claws would extend from your fingers, ready to rend or grasp. Your muscles, I’d weave with power and speed, so you could move with the swiftness of a striking serpent and the strength of a charging beast.

  Your lungs, too, would not be ordinary — adapted to filter out toxins, so you could breathe freely in the thickest smoke or the deadliest poison without so much as a cough. I’d reshape your jaw, making your bite formidable, a weapon as fearsome as any sword in close combat.

  And lastly, your ears would sharpen and swivel independently, attuned to the faintest whisper or rustle, so no enemy could sneak up on you unseen or unheard. Only once all this was done — only then — would I grant you bigger muscles.”

  “...Sure, let’s go with that,” the orc muttered, his tone laced with a mixture of hesitation and curiosity.

  “Alright, have a seat,” I said, gesturing toward the sturdy wooden chair with all of my hands. His eyes flicked to the many arms I had, but he said nothing, lumbering over to the chair and settling into it with a creak of protest from the wood.

  I stepped closer, placing my hands gently on his head, feeling the coarse texture of his hair beneath my fingers. Closing my eyes, I focused. The first change came slowly—his skeleton thickened beneath my touch, bones strengthening to a density that could withstand even the heaviest blows. His skin stretched slightly to accommodate the change, so I reinforced it, transforming it into a chameleon-like layer, one that shimmered faintly before it settled into a dull neutrality, ready to blend into any environment at his command.

  Next, I turned my attention to his eyes. His pupils expanded, swallowing the whites until his gaze became a deep, endless black. As I worked, I crafted a second set of arms, sprouting from his sides with a faint crackling sound, each one strong and capable. Then, his nails—those blunt, ordinary things—elongated into sharp, deadly claws, glinting faintly under the light.

  I moved on to his muscles, weaving in density and power. I altered the very fibers themselves, increasing the percentage of type 2 fibers to give him immense strength and speed. His frame rippled subtly as the changes took root.

  His lungs were next. I enhanced them, increasing the speed and density of the tiny cilia within to sweep out toxins more efficiently. To guard against poisonous gases, I crafted an enzyme that would neutralize them as they passed through his airways, ensuring he could breathe easily in even the most hostile environments.

  Then came his jaw. I reinforced it with the same care I had with his muscles, strengthening the bite to make it a weapon in its own right. His ears sharpened next, the edges growing pointed, and I adjusted his eardrums to be more sensitive, granting him the ability to detect even the faintest of sounds.

  Finally, I stepped back and focused on the last task: enlarging all of his muscles, giving them a finishing touch of raw strength. His form swelled slightly, power radiating off him as the transformation was complete.

  “There,” I said with a small, satisfied smile, stepping back to admire my work. “Now, that’s what I call an upgrade.”

  I wiped the sweat from my brow with my upper left hand and stepped back, eyes fixed on my creation. The transformation was complete — a marvel of strength and subtle magic.

  “It’s done,” I said softly, nodding toward the mirror. “How do you feel?”

  He turned, staring at his reflection with wide eyes. “Awesome,” he declared, flexing his enormous muscles. “My muscles are huge.”

  I let out a quiet sigh, amused by his pride. “And what about the other features? Why not try changing your skin? See if you can shift it to different colors.”

  He frowned, concentrating hard, and slowly his grey skin began to ripple and shimmer. It shifted to a deep, stormy blue, then blazed to fiery red, before settling into a dazzling array of colors that danced across his body like a living rainbow.

  A grin spread across his face, and I couldn’t help but smile back. Magic, truly, was a wondrous thing.

  “It seems to be working just fine,” I said, folding my arms and fixing him with a steady gaze. “Now, let’s talk price.”

  He froze, eyes wide. “Price?”

  “Yes, price. You didn’t think all this came free, did you?”

  “Actually, I did,” he admitted, shifting on his feet.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Well, my friend got it for free, so I thought I might too.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Who’s your friend?”

  “Summil.”

  I blinked. “I have no idea who that is.”

  “You know—Summil. The big guy who was once a dwarf.”

  Recognition dawned. “Ah, Summil! Never would have guessed that was his name. Well, his circumstances were... special. You, on the other hand, have to pay.”

  “I can’t pay. I only have five silver on me,” he said, voice tinged with hesitation.

  “It’s your lucky day,” I replied with a sly smile. “That’s just the right amount.”

  “Really?” His eyes widened in surprise.

  “Really. Hand it over.”

  He fumbled in his pouch and dropped the coins into my palm. “You know, I actually thought this would cost more.”

  “The price tends to fluctuate between ten gold and ten copper,” I said, arching an eyebrow.

  “What would ever cost ten gold?”

  I shook my head with a smirk. “Don’t even think about it. That’s way beyond your paygrade.”

  “If only I weren’t so poor.”

  “Me too, buddy. Me too.”

  We fell into a heavy silence. His dark, unblinking eyes fixed on me with an unsettling intensity. The quiet stretched on, growing more uncomfortable by the second. Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer and forced myself to break the silence.

  “I think this is the part where you leave.”

  “Oh! Right!” he said a bit too quickly, stepping back. Without once breaking eye contact, he turned and left the shop. That was... weird.

  I glanced around the room, noting with some surprise that there was no mess to be found. My powers were as inconsistent as ever. Shaking my head, I went to close the door and settled down for the nap I had been eagerly anticipating.

  Not even a minute had passed before a sharp knock echoed through the quiet room.

  “Who is it now?” I muttered, irritation creeping into my voice.

  Grumbling, I made my way downstairs and swung the door open with a scowl. “What do you want?” I demanded, eyes narrowing at whoever stood on the threshold.

  Before me stood a familiar face — the girl with the tumor, her eyes shining with an odd mixture of pride and determination.

  “Greetings, Your Majesty Dim,” she said with a slight bow. “I’ve come to report my success.”

  “Success in what?” I asked, folding my arms, curiosity prickling beneath my calm exterior.

  “Spreading your divinity, of course.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”

  She smiled, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Convincing people to worship you, naturally.”

  I allowed a small, skeptical smile to twitch at the corner of my lips. “And how many have you convinced?” I suspected it was no more than a handful—perhaps a couple of zealots desperate for meaning.

  “About two hundred,” she said, her voice steady and sure.

  I gaped, caught off guard by the number. “Two hundred? How on earth did you manage that many?”

  She shrugged lightly. “Most came from the sanctum, and the rest from their families.”

  That explained a great deal.

  I narrowed my eyes. “And what exactly have you been doing with these people?”

  “Mostly praying at the temple,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Hold on—what temple?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

  “We made you a temple. Well, it’s more of a house than a temple, but we had to start somewhere.”

  I gestured for her to continue.

  “We pooled money and bought a house on the main road.”

  The main road? That was prime real estate—too expensive for even me to afford.

  “How much did you spend?”

  “Not much, just a couple of hundred.”

  “Hundred what?”

  She shrugged with a cheeky grin. “You know what? Let’s not get bogged down in the cost. Focus on the fact that you have worshipers. That should cheer you up.”

  I snorted. “How in the blue blazes would that cheer me up?”

  “It’s because the worshipers want to pay tribute to you.”

  I blinked in confusion. “...?”

  “Tribute—as in money.”

  “Oh! Why didn’t you start with that? Where are they? I really want to meet them.”

  “Some of them are in the temple.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for? Come on, lead the way.”

  She led me through winding backstreets and onto the main road. I followed, and followed, and followed some more. With every step, my hope dimmed — the temple didn’t seem to be in the best of places.

  Finally, she stopped. “Here we are.”

  We stood before a house. A small, very small house. No upstairs, nothing grand—just a modest, cramped dwelling. Worse still, it sat beside a tannery and dyers, and directly opposite the city cesspits.

  I wrinkled my nose. “You said some are in the temple, but where are the rest?”

  “They were near the temple,” she said quietly, “but the guards dispersed them—claimed they were ‘blocking the main road.’”

  Of course they did.

  I sighed and squared my shoulders. There was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward—and instantly regretted it.

  After enduring the most terrible cough of my life, I finally managed to open the door of my so-called temple and stepped inside.

  The first thing that caught my eye was five figures kneeling reverently before what appeared to be a humble shrine. As the door thudded shut behind me, all five heads snapped up, their eyes locking onto mine.

  One of them rose cautiously and asked, “Can I help you, fine stranger?”

  I realized they didn’t recognize me—not surprising, considering how much I’d changed. But then, how had the girl with the tumor known who I was?

  “Oh, I think you can,” I said, concentrating hard. Slowly, my skin shifted, my eyes darkened, returning to the form I had worn before.

  The room fell silent, jaws dropping all around. “You… you are him,” one whispered, awe and disbelief mingling in their voices.

  “Yes,” I said, my voice calm and steady, “and I am here to fix what ails you.” And also for your money, I thought to myself but wisely kept that part unsaid.

  “Please, help my baby!” A woman among the group suddenly stood, clutching an infant tightly to her chest. Her face was pale, desperate.

  I stepped closer, my curiosity piqued, and glanced at the baby. My breath caught for a moment—it had no eyes. Not as in empty sockets, but smooth, unbroken skin stretched where eyes should have been. A strange sight, yet I’d seen worse.

  Gently, I touched the baby’s head and instantly, a flood of information hit me, details unraveling like threads in my mind. The poor child wasn’t just missing its eyes—it was also missing its spleen, one kidney, and a lung. I suppressed a grimace. The work ahead of me was intricate.

  I focused first on rebuilding the organs within the torso. Piece by piece, I wove tissue, creating what was needed, a flash of warmth in my palms as the magic settled into place. Once the organs were complete and functioning, I moved my attention to the eyes. With care, I coaxed the skin to split where the eyes should have been, revealing not ordinary ones, but two radiant, golden eyes. I had chosen gold simply because—well, why not? It suited the child.

  “My baby has its eyes back!” the mother cried out, her voice trembling with joy and disbelief.

  “It’s not just the eyes,” I said, lowering my hands. “Your baby was missing several organs. I had to make those as well.”

  The mother’s legs gave out beneath her, and she dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. “All hail Dim!” she cried, her voice filled with reverence.

  As if on cue, the others followed, falling to their knees in unison. “Hail!” they chanted, their voices echoing through the tiny house.

  I stood there, watching them, a mix of pride and unease stirring within me. This was not what I had expected when I walked into my so-called temple. But here I was.

  “Rise, my followers,” I said, my voice steady, carrying authority that still felt strange to me. They obeyed, standing as one, and I noticed a peculiar glint in their eyes—reverence, awe, and something else that made me uneasy.

  “Tell me,” I continued, letting my gaze sweep across them, “do any of you have problems or... desires to change yourselves?”

  “Yes, Your Holiness,” came a voice from the group.

  I turned to the speaker, a male elf. Now that I looked more closely, I recognized him—he was the second patient I’d ever cured. The one who had been missing his arms and eyes. He looked ordinary enough now, but that could be fixed.

  “Speak,” I commanded.

  “I want to change my body to be of use to you,” he said, his voice humble, his head slightly bowed.

  I nodded slowly. “Then come here, so that I may make you better.”

  He stepped forward and knelt before me, his head tilted in submission. I placed my hand on his head and closed my eyes, focusing on the magic that would remake him. I started with something simple—improving his hearing. I refined his eardrums, making them more sensitive to even the faintest sounds. Then, I moved on to his appearance. I altered his skin, turning it a fiery, striking red. His eyes became a deep, mesmerizing purple, and I added an additional pair of eyes above the originals. The new set gleamed a vivid crimson, designed specifically to see in infrared.

  Next, I turned my attention to his limbs. His feet shifted and reshaped, becoming prehensile, like monkey hands, perfect for climbing or grasping. I added a long, powerful tail, fully prehensile as well, for balance and utility. Then I gave him something more dramatic—an additional pair of arms, strong and well-proportioned. Finally, I added another heart to his chest, ensuring his body could sustain the changes I’d made. I paused, inspecting my work.

  “Good enough,” I muttered to myself, stepping back.

  The elf opened his new eyes—both purple and crimson—and flexed his new limbs, his tail curling experimentally. He looked at me with a deep, unshakable devotion, and I couldn’t help but feel a small delight run through me. I had taken an ordinary creature and turned him into something... extraordinary.

  “Rise and gaze upon my work,” I commanded, watching as he stood and examined himself with a mixture of wonder and delight.

  “This is incredible, Your Holiness,” he breathed, “but... why do I see double?”

  I smiled. “That’s because you have two pairs of eyes, each with different modes. Just close one pair at a time.”

  He blinked, closing one set of eyes, and then the other, marveling at the shifting world before him. His amazement was almost contagious.

  “Does anyone else wish to be improved?” I asked, scanning the room.

  One voice said yes. Then another. And another. Soon, everyone in the room, even the girl with the tumor, wanted to be changed. Naturally, as the god I had become, I accepted.

  Out of ideas, I simply adapted the changes I’d made to the elf, tweaking colors here and there—blues and greens replacing fiery reds, ultraviolet replacing infrared vision. I even altered the baby, because, well, why not?

  When I finished, the room was filled with tears of joy, their gratitude palpable. They presented me with a small pouch of tribute. I opened it to find five gold pieces, twelve silver, and three hundred seventy-eight copper coins.

  Noticing the sky darkening outside, I told my flock that I must return home. They said their goodbyes, their voices full of warmth and hope.

  By the time I got back to the store, exhaustion weighed heavily upon me. All I wanted was to collapse into bed—and that’s exactly what I did.