Chapter 3: Absorbing Other Humans
Jaxon Rex wasted no time capitalizing on his momentum and the awe he'd inspired. "Alright team!" he announced, his voice brimming with newfound authority, gesturing for his impromptu followers to gather closer. About ten recruits, mostly those with F or E-grade talents who likely saw safety in numbers and proximity to perceived power, quickly formed a loose group around him.
Daniel recognized a few faces from the training barracks , eager, perhaps a little naive, easily swayed by Jaxon's boisterous confidence. "Listen up! Forget sneaking around. We hit hard, we hit fast. Strength in numbers, overwhelming force! We move towards that denser jungle patch," he pointed towards a region where the bioluminescent flora grew thicker, hinting at more complex ecosystems and likely, more creatures. "Rack up those kills, get that EXP. Stay close, follow my lead, and nobody gets hurt. Let's move out!" With a final, confident smirk, Jaxon led his cohort away from the open landing zone, disappearing into the azure and emerald foliage.
Daniel watched them go, a thoughtful expression on his face. Part of him felt a pang of the instinctual desire for safety in numbers. But his unique Talent, [Soul Assimilation], whispered a different strategy. Joining Jaxon's group meant sharing kills, sharing EXP, and potentially being caught in the blast radius of Jaxon's inevitable recklessness. More importantly, his Talent thrived on opportunity, on capitalizing on the aftermath. Observing, understanding the flow of this new world, and perhaps... scavenging the remnants left by others' encounters seemed like a far more efficient path, at least initially. He needed to understand the local creatures, gauge their strength, and learn how his Assimilation truly worked on different targets before charging into the fray himself.
He decided to shadow Jaxon's group, but from a safe distance, using the strange, oversized, pulsing plants and undulating terrain for cover. His slightly above average Vitality meant he could move quietly for longer periods without tiring easily, and his naturally cautious approach, honed perhaps by that high Potential Flux guiding him away from overt risks, served him well. He kept them within sight, a cluster of grey uniforms moving noisily through the alien landscape.
Less than twenty minutes had passed. The air in the Verge carried sound strangely, sometimes amplifying distant noises, sometimes muffling nearby ones. Daniel was navigating a patch of glowing blue moss when a sound cut sharply through the relative quiet, a piercing, terrified shriek, abruptly cut off. It was followed instantly by a cacophony of panicked yelling, energy discharges flickering through the trees, and the unmistakable sound of a struggle. It came directly from the direction Jaxon's group had taken.
Daniel's heart leaped into his throat. He immediately dropped lower, moving swiftly but cautiously towards the source of the commotion, his senses on high alert. He kept to the densest cover, peering through the gaps in the pulsating, leaf-like structures.
He arrived at the edge of a small clearing just in time to witness the brutal aftermath. Chaos. Several recruits were scrambling backwards, faces pale with terror. Near the center of the clearing lay Jaxon Rex's lifeless body, his grey fatigues stained dark crimson. A massive, ragged tear ran across his chest, exposing shattered ribs and mangled organs. His eyes were wide, locked in a final expression of shocked disbelief. His Initiate's Ward was gone, it must have vanished the instant he initiated an attack, leaving him vulnerable.
Standing over Jaxon's corpse, sniffing the air with predatory intensity, was a creature unlike anything depicted in the Academy's preliminary bestiaries. It resembled a large feline, perhaps the size of a panther, but its sleek body was covered in shimmering, obsidian-black fur that looked unnervingly like interwoven razor blades. Its claws were long, curved, and seemed carved from the same glassy black material. They dripped with fresh blood, Jaxon's blood. Daniel instinctively focused his intent, letting his Nexus Interface scan the beast.
[Razorclaw Stalker - Level 1]