Needing a stretch of the legs Oliver opened the hatch and right away thousands of scents made his mouth gush with saliva. It was such an unexpected blow he had to breathe a couple times to clear his head and make his stomach settle. When it did he climb out to be assaulted by heat from cutting out a cave to decide. “Needs a little work If I’m going to live here for a few months.” He drew his cutlass and let it absorb as he sliced it to level out the deep gouges from cannon fire and lifted a slab to toss out. He used it to cut out a cavity for any trophies. But on the other side of the cave he selected it as there was a fault where a steady stream of water flowed from the snowcap peaks. For a few hours he cut out a stone tub with a space below before slicing a line vertically through the wall. Right away water began to flow down the incline to collect in the tub. The smell was pure, but just to make sure he analyzed the water and was proven correct. Using his cape, he collected some snowmelt in a bladder and modified a straw to take a refreshingly cold drink.
A couple more hours were spent cleaning the cave before he dared walk to the ledge to listen to the wind. He had a wide view from so high, but he felt no vertigo. Excitement to finally do something productive filled him. On the wind were many loud calls of Beasts asserting themselves and others were cries of death. The land was bathed a tint of red from the star far away, but the temperature was rather pleasant. Despite the ruggedness of this primal and untouched land where only the fittest survive, this was perfect.
He sat there for hours, just watching and observing. He had to pace himself, but down below he saw trees shake and heard a scream. Taking it as a sign he moved and drew his cutlass. He turned and dropped off the sheer ledge, but the sword cut a straight line for him during the fall. He braced and landed heavily on the rubble that fell earlier more than nine stories below the cave.
Hunting instincts kicked in and his helmet covered as he jumped in and flew down the forest silently, making little sound, but headed for the tree shake.
A kilometer later and Oliver wasn’t shallow for breath, but he peeked around a thick tree to find an enormous Tortoise at least double the one he last saw on Zerika. It’s hard, spiny shell was used for defense and offense when it digs in one leg and coils it like a spring to throw itself at its target, but right now it was eating the innards of another Beast of an insect Beast of a Rhinoceros Beetle of the same relative size.
Taking a chance, Oliver jumped and spun to swing his sword upside down. As he landed on his feet, the Tortoise’s severed head hit the ground.
Knowing what he needed, Oliver removed the head of the beetle too and got out quick as something big had heard the fight too and was coming to collect an easy meal. Oliver got where the true meal of essence lay, to strengthen himself. Before leaving the trees he cut a few limbs and threw it in his cape that turned into a bag. He ran to the cliff and added the heads to the bag of wood. With his cape closing its mouth he dug his fingers in the slice made earlier with the sword and began climbing. It was far from easy and one slip did make sure to remind of the danger of falling and landing incorrectly, but he pulled himself up into the cave and drew the knife from his ankle to cut into the skulls and retrieve gray brains covered with syrupy purple blood.
Raw and warm, Oliver savored the delicious meal, taking care to throw the skulls out later. Whatever he had heard in the forest had left the food he let go and was surprised and a bit curious to see what it was and especially what it tasted like. He was salivating at the thought, but needed to rest.
The cut wood from earlier was shoved beneath the tub of full water. To ignite it Oliver opened the lever to his power and focused it to his thumb and index finger. Between them crossed a constant spark he laid over the dry wood which caught surprisingly quick. The hole in the mountain from the last cannon shot that allowed for the cave to be possible acted as an excellent smoke vent.
When the icy water was heated, Oliver grabbed one of dozens of bottles of unscented soap and took a hot bath he sorely needed, taking none unless Piranha fishing counted. A good soak was exactly what was needed after a hard day’s work. When it got a little too warm Oliver got out, his skin redder than normal and let the dirty water flow out and fill back up as he crawled into the Flare’s comfortable bed and kept the lid open to alert him in even the ship’s systems fail, however unlikely. He closed his eyes and went into a light sleep to recover, but not so deep something could find him easy prey. Sleeping with a sword was security and gave peace of mind.
Distant thunder rolled through the land foretelling of a coming storm. Growing moisture in the air coupled with ever increasing wind turned out to be rather invigorating. Light dreams as usual were plagued with thoughts of impotent anger for those who had stolen the sole reason for living. Other times were flashes of seeing Deegen’s throat split wide open. Deegen and Bell were the first close people he had ever seen killed, never to talk to again. Biological immortality didn’t guarantee you couldn’t die, only took away fear of cellular degradation, but losing one he had called friend was still a great loss. Rose’s memories of him proved he truly was a good man, but misguided. He didn’t want Deegen dead as much as he wanted Renee held captive, but time could not be reversed.
Only thing to do is what could be accomplished in the here and now.
Random tumbling of the planet made it seem like night was falling into twilight and from mental calculations of the coming storm had Oliver decide to get back to work and he got out of bed. Walking to the cave’s edge he decided to increase safety for rock climbing and modified his armor around the waist to craft a bulbous object attached to a line around the waist and shoved it in the crack running all the way down to the floor.
The modified egg flattened as it was pushed deeply in the crack to be expanded while taking on a rough, barbed texture for added friction and grip. Taking out the dagger from his leg Oliver carefully crawled down and placed boots on the rock face to use the knife to cut through the stone and create a solid ladder out of the solid gray granite. With each step carved and excess tossed away, his armor thinned little by little as he made more line to go down further and further. Three quarters the way down and two hours later, he made a second anchor point, unhooked the longer line and reabsorbed it back into armor.
Slowly and steady he worked, but on high alert as he was dangerously exposed. Camouflaging the armor to mimic the rock did help, but every Beast cry had him looking over a shoulder. One mistake with his back turned and he could be plucked right off.
Less than ten minutes before returning to the cave the showers arrived and both thunder and lightning transformed the view. Rain varied from a gentle drizzle to a downpour the eye could not penetrate. The angle of the cave didn’t allow for rain to get in so Oliver sat comfortably beside a fantastic fire for warmth and to listen to the cheery crackle over the deluge.
Observing was an integral part of hunting Beasts as even in storms they were active, using it to surprise other prey. But as Oliver continued to watch alone he noticed a Thunder Lizard’s trademark though he could not see it among the trees as lightening often struck the same area again and again. That Beast was S-Rank for good reason as nature itself helped enhance electrical abilities without suffering any damage. He noted another area also being struck and the hunting opportunities in this area were great.
Sitting didn’t mean he did nothing. Oliver took it all in from how the land was full of hills and shallow valleys to jagged caves. Dangerous forests held untold danger around every leaf of uncountable number. Looked for the best places to ambush and be ambushed. Where to lay traps to lure out the best Beasts.
The only ones he truly worried of were the rare X-Rank Beast, the highest and deadliest category. Just one would decimate entire cities overnight and were said to be near impossible to kill. And with all the scents mixed on the winds, he could not find them as everything was so delicious.
As he observed he spoke to the ship’s personal log. “Day two on BQX-63 has me in the cave due to severe weather, but
I finished basic needs for a base camp. I have clean water and a spectacular view that is easily defensible. Have a good storage of dry firewood and supplies. With basic needs complete I can begin developing my abilities till I hunt all worthy prey in the vicinity and move to another area. For now though I know for a fact two Thunder Lizards are here as well as a Fire Wyrm since I’ll never forget the sound of its voice after my last run in on Zerika. End log.”
Eventually the storm passed and the land grew bright again without falling into night. Rain had soaked the dry forest, leaving everything smelling clean, fresh and glistening. Realizing now would be the best time to identify scents before they cross and mix up again he filled his cape with enough fresh water for two days and jumped out. During the fall his armor transformed to expand wings so as to glide, remembering the escape from New Wrangler Prison to dodge cannon fire while gliding over an active super volcano seemed easy now. He felt no wind, but his helmet didn’t filter scents and he used them to glide over and around, turning his suit a shade of lavender to mimic the sky. His shadow still fell over the canopy, but the long glider wings didn’t make enough noise to alert the active forest below.
The glide would never reach the Thunder Lizard area as the air after a cooling rain didn’t make strong enough thermals to keep perpetually aloft.
During the slow flight a curious sighting had Oliver circle and land quietly nearby. His suit reformed into camouflaged battle mode and he drew both shield and sword. The ground suddenly shook with a thump and it made Oliver crouch. The ground showed heavy Beast activity, so much so that the muddy prints covered one another. It showed just how recent it was. Taking a path off the game trail he came around to hide behind a bush.
Laying on its back in the middle of a clearing was a full grown Skipper, a Beast more than thirty meters long that looked much like an overgrown grasshopper. It had a woodsy insect’s shell and enormous eyes that were more like lenses. Surrounding it were dozens of Beasts, some bringing it food from their kills. He saw Moles, Tortoises, small Stingray, varying insects, above ground Vipers and so on. From this vantage Oliver watched as a Mole with it’s strange pink nose climbed up on the Skipper’s powerful back legs that pulled back and held still as those overlarge eyes moved little by little, calculating somehow.
The next instant the Skipper’s bent legs were fully extended as the Mole left the planet for elsewhere. The thump from earlier shook the ground again from the Beast’s launch into space.
The barest of snapping branches from the sturdy trees had Oliver look up just in time to see a pair of long dripping black fangs from a great Tarantula Beast. Ten meters long and silent despite its size. When its prey realized it had been spotted it dropped from its web, but Oliver’s quick reflexes got him out of the way in plenty of time to follow up with quick slices. Eight spider legs as thick as his torso fell severed and it’s scream drew the other Beasts.
Oliver couldn’t pass up such a gathering. A living buffet. The first to strike nearest was a Mole that spat a thick glob of poison to paralyze him. After finding how the shield worked quite by accident really, Oliver pushed power into it and threw it forward. Instead of a sharp slicing wave the cutlass makes, the shield generated a curved bluish wall that expanded as it gained distance. More power put in the further it would go and expand. The wall caught the poison and slammed right into the charging Beasts now smelling him for what he is.
Using inhuman speed and reflexes he began beheading most creatures, but the Stingrays needed to be halved.
Vipers dove underground while he was preoccupied with a Praying Mantis, but as the ground opened up into a gaping pit with a pair of fangs, he was already gone, but not away before stabbing his cutlass deep through the dirt to kill the burrowing Beasts. Thankfully these Beasts were just lower B and C-Rank Beasts. Easily dealt with. In two minutes there were only two remaining alive. A Solarian and a Skipper. Oliver expected it to attack like other Beasts, but like the reports said, it didn’t react to anyone. He went about the grizzly task of cerebral extraction, but also cut open a few for some liver and a little muscle for protein. He piled the dripping matter together and left to eat somewhere safer, but not before seeing one of the smaller arms of the Skipper reach out blindly, never taking its eyes from the sky, till it snagged the body of a Stingray to begin eating it. Oliver left before the great smell of fresh blood drew in more than he could handle.
Up in a tree a kilometer away, he began eating fast rather than savor.
A nearby stream washed him, but smelled tainted so he left it without drinking.
After another night Oliver found a Salamander nest and when his armor turned its reflective silver their fire was useless. A deadly stinger though found it’s mark in his left thigh. He silenced the nest of eleven Salamanders, but was glad he decided on bringing the synthesizer as he rapidly used his tablet to whip up a counteragent for the painful poison and injected himself before the poison took full effect and killed him. Nanites stopped the bleeding and the armor proved invaluable again as a bandage as well as a compress. He harvested his needs, but called it a day back up in the cave to heal.
With the serious wound, his combat effectiveness went way down.
After a week, the stinger puncture had all but disappeared and changes were already showing as he looked at his reflection after a shave. The roundness of his ears had changed just a little, but they were extending. The armor itself had gradually grown sharper in areas and defined in others as well. A medical scanner had also revealed his own brain scan had jumped to a Class Eight psionic user. The increase made starting fires easier and he was able to erect a decent barrier, but manifested Gathering was troublesome to do.
But his arrival hadn’t gone unnoticed. His smell began to draw Beasts from near and far, especially from those of superior rank.
A powerful odor suddenly washed inside the cave and Oliver’s mouth filled with saliva like it had when first smelling the air. Grabbing sword and shield he hurried to the ledge as the scent was fresh and closer than ever. The scent was mixed with ozone and the flavor was hunger inducing. From his vantage he noticed distant activity fifteen kilometers away where smoke rose and all around it Beasts fled. Being downwind didn’t matter as it hadn’t rained in the week he was recovering, but knew that was the exact path taken after dealing with the Salamanders. It was tracking him and no Beast was willing to try to take it down. Few Beasts made others flee for their lives, but it drew the strong and foolish. Oliver was a bit of both.
Fighting near his cave was a terrible idea so he decided to deal with the challenge elsewhere. But before leaving he grabbed the synthesizer and hooked it to his lower back and made a holster on the hip for the injector. He had a feeling it may be needed.
Gliding by suit saved time and energy till Oliver landed in a spacious clearing made by a landslide from long ago. He touched down and withdrew the armor around his chest as the wind shifted direction, blowing his hair around his face. Letting his own scent lure. Oliver lost the scent of the tantalizing Beast, but after a few minutes on the breeze there came a trembling roar in the distance that had him grinning. “Come and get me, Big Guy.” He challenged and let the wind keep blowing over the naked torso.
Tree destruction and smoke followed the Beast’s path as it indeed altered course to be led. Oliver put the armor back on and readied on the opposite side. The ground shook as it came ever closer.
Bursting through the dense forest, knocking fat trees over like saplings revealed a Thunder Lizard. The creature had the silhouette of a buffalo, the long horn of a rhinoceros and the tough hide of a dinosaur. It’s back end was smaller than the impressive shoulders and chest. From ground to the top knot of muscle in its shoulder was over a thousand centimeter’s tall and twice as long. What really made the Thunder Beast terrifying was not just scars from many battles, but it’s dark reddish body sizzling with terawatts of electricity from lightening strikes it absorbed. The sparks are what made the trees smoke as it moved through th
e jungle. The blackened horn was the lightning rod that gathered nature’s fury. The danger it presented is to touch it is suicide, but also it can expel bolts from the horn as well. It had great eyesight and olfactory senses so running away wasn’t a long term survival option. It had Oliver’s scent and wouldn’t stop till those curved teeth were eating the tiny morsel that was him.
Seeing the prey had the maw open wide to let loose a challenging roar much like a thunderclap that rolled several seconds throughout the entire area. The little hairs on the back of Oliver’s neck stood up and his clenching stomach hollowed in natural fear. Fighting it, Oliver yelled right back when it quieted and the clash was met by two alpha males bent on killing each other.
The muscles bunched as it lowered its head to charge and skewer the smaller adversary, but Oliver retained his senses enough that a direct assault was suicide and touching was out of the question. What he did have was superior speed and maneuverability. He jumped aside and swung his left arm. A thin slicing wave shot from the sword aimed right for the neck. To Oliver’s surprise the wave did cut, but only just deep enough to draw blood.
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