FHC B2 Chapter 65: Hunt Complete (Patreon)

The once pretty face of the queen shriveled into black dust as my axe drank deep. It clattered to the floor, but it didn't stop there. The vines below it were sucked into the stone.

My claws found purchase. I weakly grasped the one inside my chest and pulled it away before it crumbled.

My regeneration had already fixed the broken rib, but I couldn't move. Try as I might, my limbs were too tired to lift. Even my legs felt like lead.

Eventually, my axe sucked the rest of the flower into its haft and clattered to the floor. I stared at the shaft, where a new rune blazed. I watched the mana trail through the air in a lazy wisp that circled my left arm.

Atleast I feel less pain in this form.

My finger twitched, and the fur shrunk. My bones snapped back into place, returning to human limbs covered in tattered clothes.

Oh no.

I gritted my teeth as the rune burned along the back of my hand. It ended within moments, but it felt like thorns were grinding my palm into mincemeat. I raised my hand high enough to see the details of the new rune—a swirling black tinged with emerald, reminiscent of a rose where the circle was made of thorn-tipped vines.

I slammed my head back and breathed through the discomfort. The shift left me numb, and my mana low.

Something thumped beside me, and I peered through heavy lids at the claws of a furry monster. The claws shifted into leather boots and dark pants, and I glared upward.

"Took you long enough," I growled.

Devon raised the severed head of Jeremy and tossed it aside. He looked conflicted, grinning but with eyes darting around the room.

I sighed and pointed with my chin. "She's alive."

His eyes froze and softened as they met mine. "Understood."

I closed my eyes and breathed in, finding it easier but stilted. "Devon, I'm taking tomorrow off. Hunt or not."

He sighed, and I heard him sit. "Understood."

"What about Garret?"

"Resting. Nareid was strong. The effects were similar to the Redds. It canceled his shift."

I stayed silent, and Devon didn't press for more conversation. For once, I was thankful he was such an introvert. But the feeling didn't go away. I had to ask. I needed to, especially now, while the others weren't around.

"Devon?"

"Yes, Cain?"

"I need to ask you something," I said hesitantly.

"Yes?"

If you're wrong, you're dead.

Devon leaned forward.

But Devon wouldn't do that. He's a jerk, unsociable, and a hypocrit. But you trust him. At least you've decided to trust him.

"Cain?" he prompted.

I sighed and opened my mouth, but a loud chime rang, and a rainbow dot appeared at the bottom of my vision. Devon's eyes went hazy, and I could tell he saw the same thing.

The dot didn't wait for my permission; it expanded across my sight, turning into a golden scrawl in bold text. With it came a strange pressure that welled up from the south. I peered through the drizzle and saw a flare of light shoot into the air before fading away.

[Alert] Nexus Leylines reopened.

Local Nodes returned to usual function.

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As usual it blinked out and I had enough time to blink before the second set of information threw itself in front of me.

[Alert] Urgent Quest Complete

The Nexus remembers its guardians and appreciates their efforts.

Continue the Endless Hunt

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[Alert] You have slain: -Outsider- Humpty x1

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Calculating Hunt Reward

Applying Strain-Modifier: -25%...

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[Alert] Diverting Excess to Lore Matrix

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Excess Rerouted to: Shadowbond, Ember Soul, Summon Familiar (Freki)

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Brace thyself for the change, Grimm.

That last line looks off.

"Devon?" I asked.

"What?" he answered.

"Has the system ever told you to brace thyself?"

He unfocused his eyes and stared, but the world vibrated as excruciating pain carved out my insides. Ice exploded and shattered, cutting into my veins, and the magma burned and became an inferno.

I tried to breathe; I spat out blood.

This… sucks!

Even with everything that happened, I couldn't move. Devon was there, cradling my head, but I couldn't see him through the tears. His hands held me down.

What's going on?!

A whirlpool… No. A maelstrom.

The storm inside my core raged and swirled, forming a volatile mix that exploded at constant intervals.

My mana raged and surged through my veins, but there were two pools. My fire remained the largest, like a sea surrounding a small pond. But that was no longer the case. The flames didn't hold such superiority as the pain continued.

Orange gave way to black, the void battling the sun. They exploded and fought, roiling through my veins. Each side fought through my limbs, reentering my core, and warring for control.

Enough!

My will slammed down, grasping both streams and forcing them together. They fought, like oil and water.

Too bad that I didn't care.

I continued to squeeze until the energy stopped. They wouldn't fuse, not completely–too anithemical to their nature–but I would force them to share and cohabit my body.

The black folded in and bent around the flames while the fire split and ceded space. My core deepened, pushing itself to the max before I squeezed it down and refined the energy.

As the pain finally stopped and the ringing died off, I stared at the thick, viscous liquid that now inhabited the weird pseudospace inside me.

Like a murky haze, the two mana pools settled and calmed. They no longer reacted in a volatile explosion but churned to separate tunes. The light side shifted and moved, flickering flames burning along its surface. The dark was calm and cold. Nothing existed on the surface, but I knew the eddies along the sea were fast and formless, flowing from one path to another.

I opened my eyes and looked up into Devon's.

He needs to shave. Looking rough.

"You're the only Grimm I have ever known to go through so many changes to their lore matrix," he stated.

"Not my fault."

He stared. I grinned, and he set me back onto the floor and stood up. He didn't leave, but he crossed his arms.

Sure enough, the golden text flashed back into existence.

Your Lore has been irrovocably changed as well as your familiar. Grow and thrive.

Continue the Endless Hunt.

[Alert] Skill changed; new ability granted: Shadowbond→ Umbral Soul

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Congratulations Hunter

You have surpassed the safety parameters and divided your soul.

[Alert] Ability Granted: Split Soul

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Auxiliary title consumed: Replaced with: [Nexus Guardian]

Stats gained from new title: Strength +1, Agility +2, Constitution +1, Intelligence +4, Luck +3, Wisdom +2

Hunt Reward:

Title Granted: [Nexus Guardian], Ability Granted: [Split Soul], (Level Up! Level 7 Available)

I closed my eyes. The rain splashed the ground with the wind howling through the shattered glass ceiling.

"Did you get anything from this?" I asked.

"A level. You?"

"A lot of things."

Thump!

I peeked at the side where Garret landed and shifted into his human form. He looked like crap, but it was the golden thread-wrapped arm that drew my attention.

He tugged, and the bound form of Nareid wrapped in her own thread bounced once before rolling to a stop before his feet. She was unconscious, among other debilitating conditions.

Only one hand, lacerations along her sides and back, and her scalp looks chewed on. Jeez, Garret.

And she's still alive.

"Are you taking her prisoner?" I asked as Garret took in the room.

He grunted and slammed a boot on top of Nareid's chest. "Neina will find a way to extract her magic. The thread is too useful to give up."

I shut my eyes and let the rain fill the silence. The connection felt like a spike to my senses, and even as my cloak moved around my body to wrap me firmly in its embrace, the discomfort never left.

I'll summon him tonight.

"Where's Alice?" Garret said, concern filling his voice.

"Sleeping in a chair. Now excuse me; I'm going to take a nap."

"You little-" Garret growled.

Something happened, and Garret shut up, but I didn't care. I was exhausted.

An hour won't kill anyone.