You sift through the odds and ends in the box, finally settling on a wristwatch. It looks like something straight out of the 1990s, sporting a color graphical display and buttons that suggest a variety of functions. It even has an interface to connect to a computer. The watch is encased in a transparent plastic bag, accompanied by a cheaply made instruction booklet.
As you hold the watch up to the dim light, the shop clerk appears beside you, creeping in like a shadow. His features hint at an Asian heritage, and he approaches you with an eager but halting English.
"Transformation watch," he says, his accent thick and his voice almost a whisper. "This... very special. You use to change... form."
Your eyebrows arch in surprise. "Change form? Like, what do you mean?"
He nods eagerly, gesturing toward the watch. "Presets. You can... become other... things. Or upload images, texts... make own transformations. Timers too. For reversing," he explains, punctuating his words with animated hand gestures. The watch, now closer to your face, almost seems to gleam with an otherworldly promise.
You look at him skeptically. "And it's just $2 because...?"
"It... slightly broken," he admits, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Just $2."
Against your better judgment, you hand over the money, chuckling to yourself. "Well, even if it doesn’t work, it's a cool retro watch."
"Be... careful," the clerk warns, his eyes narrowing slightly as he takes your money and hands you the bag. "Not all changes... are easy."
You nod, slightly unnerved but still intrigued. Slipping the watch onto your wrist, you think, *It's just $2. What could possibly go wrong?*
On your way home, you can't resist tearing open the plastic bag and pulling out the instruction booklet. The cover is a garish mix of colors and fonts, making the already poorly translated text even harder to read. You squint at the tiny print as you walk, the words almost comically stumbling over themselves.
**"WELCOME YOU TRANSFORMATION WATCH!!!"** the header greets you exuberantly.
**"USE INSRUCTIONS:**
- **BROWSING PRESETS**
- Push button "MENU" to open preset browser.
- Use up/down button navigate to preset of transformation.
- Press "SELECT" button to choose preset. Option show picture icon.
- **ACTIVATING TRANSFORMATION**
- After choosing preset, press "START" button.
- Set time in hour/minute for auto reverso by using up/down.
- Press "ACTIVATE" to begin transformation.
- **CARING DEVICE**
- Avoid watery and hot.
- Charge with USB cable include in bag, plug into computer or adapter.
- Do not overcharge or be exposed to sunlight over long time.
- **SAFETY WARNINGS:** **
- **"WARNING! Not all changes can be safe back. Handle cautions."
- "Prolong use maybe body disfunct."
- "If feeling suffering, STOP TRANSFORM IMMIDIEATLY."
You chuckle at the jumbled warnings, imagining the scenarios they tried to depict. "If feeling suffering, STOP TRANSFORM IMMIDIEATLY," you repeat to yourself, barely holding back laughter. Curiosity competing with rationality, you decide to test the watch's capabilities in the privacy of your home. Performing a transformation in public could be potentially embarrassing—or worse.
As you step through your front door, your heart skips a beat with anticipation. You sit on your couch and start scrolling through the presets. The digital display lights up brilliantly, showing an intricate menu. The main categories catch your eye immediately:
- **Animals**
- **Anthropomorphic Animals**
- **Vehicles**
- **Other**
- **Features**
You select **Animals** first, curious about the options. A sub-menu appears, offering choices like **Household Pets**, **Wild Animals**, **Birds**, and **Marine Life**. Beside each sub-category is a tiny, almost charming pixelated icon representing it.
Tempted, you scroll back and choose **Anthropomorphic Animals**. An array of fantastical creatures lights up the screen: **Feline Warriors**, **Canine Guardians**, **Reptilian Scouts**, each option featuring a small, detailed illustration.
You move to the **Vehicles** category next. Various modes of transportation flash before your eyes: **Sports Cars**, **Motorcycles**, **Airplanes**, and even **Hoverboards**. Some part of you marvels at the sheer range.
Intrigued, you explore **Other**. This section is even more bizarre, including options like **Living Statues**, **Golems**, and **Ghosts**.
Lastly, you check out **Features**, which seems to allow modifications to your current form. Here, you can alter specific parameters, like **Height Adjustments**, **Muscular Enhancements**, **Physical Features**, and even temporarily adding **Wings** or **Tails**.
Having noted the vast variety, you lean back and take a deep breath, the eclectic possibilities swirling through your mind. It's time to decide what, or who, you will become first. Taking a deep breath, you prepare yourself and get ready to activate the watch.