Alphonse activated [ Flicker Step ] as his body disappeared from the spot, the familiar sensation of his skin being ripped open nipped at his brain, as if a warning. But he wasn’t in a situation to heed it. The tongue whipped past him, implanting itself into another 2nd year soldier.

“To the jungle!”

Alphonse wasn’t sure who shouted, but he agreed. He forced his body to use [ Flicker Steps ] again. The monster’s tongue was frighteningly fast. Without the use of his movement skill, he wouldn't have been able to dodge it. He tried to keep up with Maya and the others. Alphonse wasn’t shy to admit that he needed them.

They broke past the tree line. The tree reminded him of palm trees on Earth. Except the lush green palm leaves and the brown, hairy coconuts that were attached to the tree, were replaced with orange flowers with a faint red tint. They looked… alive, not because it was a living tree, but because of the red veins squirming on the flowers. Now and then, a speck of white would appear, wriggling on the surface.

He wanted to look closer, but his eyesight failed him. The others had stopped, many of them had used movement skills to make it away. Alphonse was no different. He was in the worst state of them all. The cuts on his skin had become worse, torn and ripped open wider than usual. Blood trickled down his body, staining the fallen leaves on the dirt ground below.

His breathing was haggard, and his head pinged with pain, a sign of overusing his skills.

“What’s the plan, Maya?” One of the young men said. He was holding a sword and shield, and wore thick plate armour. Sweat was dripping from his overly red forehead. It was a miracle he hadn’t collapsed due to heat stroke, Alphonse thought.

They all looked at her, but her face looked like she didn’t care. Not for taking the lead, or caring for their lives.

“What’s the point in asking me? You’re all going to die, anyway.” Maya said, her eyes roaming.

“Don’t give us that shit, Maya.” The armoured man said. “You might get away with that attitude when we were in easy and medium gateways, but this is different. We all need to work together now.”

“I’m not stopping you George, just because I’m strong, doesn’t mean I’m qualified to be a leader.” Maya said.

“Alright, as long as you stay with us, we’ll be fine.” George sighed a breath of relief. “I’ll take command for this mission then. Any objections?”

“What makes you capable of leading us?” an older man, holding a battleaxe, walked forwards. He was faring better in the heat, thanks to his lighter armour. Thick hide covered only his most vital areas.

“I’ve been going through officer training. I know what decisions to make.” George didn’t back down. He stood up to the man as they looked at each other closely.

“Oh, then enlighten me. What officer training made you ready for this situation?” A frown appeared on the older man’s face.

Alphonse heard Maya tut with her tongue. She started walking forwards as Alphonse quickly followed behind.

“What are you? A little puppy?” Maya looked back at him.

“Well, I do need protection.” Alphonse nodded without shame.

Maya's head turned back as she continued to walk.

“Maya, where are you going?” George shouted, his voice echoing amongst the trees.

Alphonse looked around. He thought he could hear something, his beast like ears trying to pick up the noise. But it was hard to hear over the 2nd year’s shouting.

“I hear-” a streak of black lightning interrupted Alphonse’s voice. Krayton’s badge flared up into a bright light. The shield didn’t even have time to form as it blasted Alphonse off of his feet.

Maya, with her sword in hand. Slashed towards the pitch black creature. A ploom of blue flowers and butterflies fluttered around her, her sword contacted with the beast. Its howls entered their ears, and then it disappeared. Maya’s head was on a swivel, looking all around her.

Alphonse stumbled onto his feet. Thanks to the shield, the attack wasn’t lethal, but he could feel his internal organs recieved a bashing. He didn’t know the extent of the injury, but he could at least move.

Again, he heard the noise. It was like a faint scuttling, the sound of claws brushing up against fresh leaves.

His hands immediately formed ice on his fingertips, his blood blending in with the blue ice, formed upwards, from his feet, into a wall around him. He couldn’t see around him, but he could hear it. The sounds of blood-curdling screams and the clash of metal.

Suddenly, the light above him was cut off. He looked up to see a deep-black big cat. Razor-sharp swords travelled down its spine as they trembled together, creating a sound like scraping something against a chalkboard. It looked down at him, ready to pounce.

Alphonse quickly placed his hand against the wall, creating ice spears to shoot up from the wall. But the black cat jumped up, avoiding the spikes underneath.

Then an ethereal slash of blue, tore through the air. The cat, in midair, had nowhere to dodge as the blue blade gouged into the creature. Blood showered down, covering Alphonse.

His body, tainted in red, jumped up, towards the cat. If he wanted to survive, he had to take a gamble. He needed the stats.

Alphonse swung his cleaver, activating [ Brutal Slash ], then the 2nd part of his item set kicked in. He felt his cleaver suddenly speed up as it threatened to tear his arm out of its socket. The attack was so fast, his eyes couldn’t follow it. The cleaver chopped into the beast's shoulder. He felt the dense resistance of fur and bone as it barely latched onto the skin. Even despite the added strength of his skills.

The moment the beast landed on its paws, Maya was already there, waiting. She thrusted her blade, as she propelled her body forwards. The flowers landed on the creature and it seemed incapable of moving as the blade penetrated through the body with little resistance.

Before it died, Alphonse used [ Flicker Steps ] once more. His vision had become blurred and his heart strained. But he didn’t care. He grabbed hold of the dying beast as a deep shadow covered his teeth. The warm brain tissue travelled down his gullet. His stomach groaned in satisfaction, as did his system.

| 15.3 dexterity added

| 8.6 Intelligence added

| 6.9 strength

Trait extraction failed.

Again… It was painful to fail. Alphonse shook his head. He wouldn’t leave it at that.

His cleaver descended onto the dead body of the cat as system noises filled his head.

Alphonse stripped the fur from the body, as fresh meat glistened in his hand.

Maya shook her head. “We need to leave. The smell of blood will probably send them after us.”

With her words, it reminded him of something. Would he lure monsters towards them with the meat?

Maya seemed to know what Alphonse was thinking as he was looking at the pieces of meat in his hand.

“Here,” she threw her bag at him. “It has anti-odour properties, no smells.”

Alphonse nodded as he packed the meat away safely.

“And use this,” she threw over a plain silver tin.

Alphonse unscrewed it and took a whiff. The strong medicinal odour tingled his nose.

“Rub it onto your wounds.”

Alphonse nodded at the words. As they walked, he smothered most of his wounds in the medicinal paste. An itchy sensation quickly took effect.

***

They found a cave. Over half of their force ended up dying to the beast.

Alphonse’s mind replayed the fight. If he hadn’t obstructed the beast's view and made it fight the others, he probably would have died back there.

I need strength… With the high base stats the monster provided him with, cooking it would boost his strength even further. It reminded him of his elixirs.

He took them out and, without hesitation, downed all of them at once, despite the surprised faces of everyone else in the cave.

Intelligence elixir consumed - 18.3 added

Strength elixir consumed - 16.8 added

Dexterity elixir consumed - 19.6 added

Constitution elixir consumed - 17.2 added

His strong stomach digested them as if they were nothing. Then, his thoughts strayed to making a fire.