Even from my viewpoint on the forest floor, I immediately recognised the beast as the one that came to mind when the gods had mentioned a kulgar.

The feline animal leapt down, disappearing into a bush. Despite the weakness of my eyes, the helmet managed to compensate, showing the kulgar’s outline as it stalked through the bushes. A line of text on the side of my vision caught my attention.

Symbiotic connection established. Cementing connection.

Performing user diagnosis…..complete.

Severe damage to user vessel. Initiating vessel repair.

Movement in the bushes caught my attention, and I saw the blurry outline crouching, as if to pounce at me. Attempts to move my body had no effect, sending my heartrate up in mild panic.

Energy manipulation detection. Threat determined.

User unconscious, assuming physical control.

Switching full repair to emergency care.

Running battle simulation. Survival: 0%.

Beginning basic vessel enhancement.

~Zero percent! I know it’s a new world, but give me at least a little credit.~

As the moments dragged on, the dark-furred creature crept closer, seemingly ready to attack at any moment. The tension sky-rocketed, and even remembering that I wasn’t actually here did little to decrease it.

Unacceptable threat proximity.

Enhancement focus switched to legs, prepare for escape.

My body swung up into a squatting position, presumably under the orders of the helmet. At my back, I could feel the prickly bark of the tree behind me.

The kulgar stopped approaching and began circling me. I guessed it must have been startled at the sudden movement, since I’d been lying like a dead fish. At one point, it crossed an empty space, but I saw nothing other than the helmet’s red outline.

Essential vessel repair complete.

Survival……12%

That’s a lot better than before.

The kulgar froze, about 6 metres to my right. In a fluid motion, it leapt at me, limbs stretched and invisible maw gaping.

My legs bunched, and an instant before I became panther chow, my body pushed off and shot to the side.

Leg enhancement within acceptable levels.

I was surrounded by a flash of orange and red before my legs propelled me upwards into a tree. The animal watched me almost reproachfully, as if offended I hadn’t been cooked where I stood.

Threat analysis: breath weapon, subtype – fire.

Survival….7%

Examining energy manipulation.

For a minute or two, predator and prey chased each other. My heart was in my throat as gouts of flame hit areas my body had been occupying only moments before.

I was shooting forward from a perch on a branch when a stream of fire poured out in front of me, painting the trees ahead in flames. I slid to a halt, the helmet turning to retrace to my steps, only to face the four unblinking eyes of the kulgar.

Survival….2.3%

Unacceptable probability. Simulating alternative strategy…….

Acceptable method found, executing.

I felt my hand reach down and scoop up some of the forest floor, throwing the dirt, twigs and leaves in the outlined face of the creature. It was met with a torrent of orange light.

Fire system analysis complete.

Proceeding to phase 2.

Dodging the outpour of flames, I rushed to the side of the kulgar, pouncing forward with a particularly intense push of my legs. As I moved, one leg twitched. I barely managed to avoid landing face first in the leafy floor.

User interference. Sedating.

Determining maximum safe output.

Executing attack.

As the predator began to turn to face me, I reached out my right hand, placing the palm against the fur.

I felt warmth on my palm, before fire erupted and poured over the animal. It roared, sending me flying sideways with a swat of its paw.

Opponent damage analysis: insignificant.

User damage: left arm non-functional.

Maximum output insufficient.

Recalculating....

The kulgar was raging and roaring in front of me. From the looks of it, it was infuriated at my attack.

~It didn't even do that much damage.~

As if hearing me, it shut its maw and rushed at me. My body swayed to the right, but my left arm still ended up in the creature’s mouth, half crushed by the creature’s powerful jaws.

Executing attack.

I glimpsed a blue light flash down my arm, charring black streaks down my arm. Moments later, the wild creature was roaring in pain, gouts of intense blue fire spurting from its maw. It pulled away, ripping my arm off as it retreated.

First aid required...wound closed.

Maintaining attack.

The super-hot flames increased, broiling the unfortunate cat from the inside. As it gave out choked screams, I felt a twinge of sympathy.

Eventually the kulgar collapsed, death rattle trickling out of its throat.

Scan indicates threat nullified.

Located energy core.

I felt my body stomp over to the charred body. The helmet had me crouch in front of the animal's head and reach my remaining arm down its throat.

~Ewwww~

After reaching around, pulling and clawing at various putrid organs, I felt my hand clasp tightly on something firm. My arm yanked out, and I was subject to the sight of a pulsing green crystalline heart.

Silicon based lifeform. Energy suitable for utilization.

Extracting...

Resuming full repair.

My body moved some distance away from the corpse. Finding two thick trees roots, I nested between them, vision fading into black.

Five seconds later, my vision showed me the same scene. My body stood, and as it climbed the tree the helmet indicated that it was actually about fourteen hours later.

Repair: 84%

Enhancement: 18%

Approaching divine signature.

Staring down from a branch like a monkey, I saw Anisibon and Zohral walking through the trees. They looked up at me, and we engaged in a brief staring contest.

After they spoke in a few languages I had no recognition of, Anisibon closed her eyes. There was a brush at my forehead, which prompted the helmet to begin messaging.

Physical modification deflected.

Mental connection deflected.

Mental message deciphered; offer of assistance.

Divine deemed non-priority threat.

Resuming vessel repair.

My body relaxed and lay on the branch. Zohral seemed surprised at my sloth impression, while Anisibon looked concerned. The male god gestured and my body floated out of the tree, and as I followed them my vision faded again, before displaying the brown walls of the cave again.

The bed creaked as I sat heavily. A final summary told me that I had spent about eighteen hours recovering after the gods picked me up.

I took a few more bites from the table as I considered my plans for the future. It was already my second day here, and Janus still hadn’t made contact. Best to assume the worst, then be pleasantly surprised if he shows up.

Anisibon had mentioned magic earlier, and it seemed like the helmet had determined how to channel some fire magic through me. I marvelled at the sheer outlandishness, before considering some plausible way to set myself up. I realised I needed some more information on the culture here, and walked out of the cave towards the gods.

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AN: As always, comment away :) I realise you may be drowning in boxes here, but it's unlikely to happen again (if only cause I now hate adjusting them all)