บท 11: Ruthless Act

Ken stood, ready to move again. Undeterred, Yag continued, "And then there was Belia, the Qarin who drove her human sneak into a dragon's lair to steal its hoard. Oh, the treasures they found!"

Ken muttered, irritation evident in his voice. "Oi pest, I'm trying to do something here, not hear about shenanigans."

Ken moved farther, as he spotted a PhasePanther with an infected wound, Ken followed it as it crept into a grove filled with green herbs. It instinctively rubbed against their leaves, the herbs' antibacterial metamaterials leaching into its skin and clearing out the festering infection. As the PhasePanther absorbed the herbal nutrients through its semi-permeable hide, its strength gradually returned, the herbs' restorative compounds revitalizing it from within.

Useful medicine, Ken noted. Yag finally paused his rambling, peering at Ken in concern. There was much yet to learn in this deadly realm. Onward Ken pushed, resolute. Yag was relentless, his voice a persistent hum in Ken's mind. "Ya, dear friend, what about Grendok? He taught his human to speak to Djinn, and they uncovered secrets hidden in the whispers of his family."

Ken could not help but retort, his words tinged with sarcasm, "Sure, pest, why not, let's add Djinn-whispering to my to-do list."

Navigating the razor vines and quicksand pits underfoot, he continued onward, glimpsing a QuartzToad resting atop a glittering fungal mass with translucent, crystal skin. As a hungry TendrilWorm emerged nearby, the QuartzToad suddenly pulsed with radiant light, its photonic metamaterial skin flaring brightly to startle and temporarily blind the TendrilWorm. The QuartzToad hopped away into a crevice, safe for now.

Clever defense, Ken thought, might be replicated.

After which, Ken squeezed between two massive trees, going through the VenomDrippers secreting corrosive acid from their branches. On the other side stood a Juggernaut – a hulking hippo-like beast- armored with impenetrable metamaterials and feeding on the metal-rich minerals around its grinding mouth that could pulverize it for ingestion. After metabolizing the nourishing metals, it lumbered over to a trickling spring. Though slow-moving due to its immense size. Reaching the creek, it sucked up gallons of fresh water using its trunk-like metamaterial appendage to store and quench its mighty thirst.

As the tales of Qarin escapades echoed in the background, Ken's frustration grew. He needed focus, not distractions. But Yag, mischievous and relentless as ever, continued to babble on about the exploits of invisible companions, seemingly oblivious to Ken's need for silence.

I can't wait any longer, I need to find something fast. I need to rest.

Passing the Juggernaut's domain, nearby, an OpalSnake used its telescoping metamaterial jaws to drain the nectar-like sap from a Eucalyte Tree into its mouth. The Eucalyte's detoxifying sap flushed any toxins from the OpalSnake's body before it resumed hunting.

Adaptive use of flora, Ken observed. He blinked, trying to clear his blurring vision. Yag offered useless warnings he barely heard now.

GlimmerMoths lit up the vicinity, as a pack of BlightHounds took down a young BeamPeed –a lizard-like creature. The pack leader diligently removed the Beampeed's glowworm-like photonic organs, which contained a potent neurotoxin. Only after discarding them could the BlightHounds safely consume their meal beneath the faint glow of the GlimmerMoths. A wise precaution, Ken knew. His steps weaved slightly as exhaustion crept in. Yag begged him to stop and rest.

As he trekked deeper, he noticed the glowing fruit of NeonVines that dangled all around him. He watched as an eight-legged Arachnoid carefully selected the ripest fruit, and then used its hollow, needle-like limbs to swiftly drain the juice. The creature's capillary metamaterials rapidly delivered the neon nutrients throughout its body.

Efficient biology. Ken's knees buckled slightly before he caught himself. Had to keep going. Yag tried telling jokes to keep him alert.

Nearby, a CephaloOtter dug up a few shiny electrolyte-rich roots, chewing on them to retain moisture before refilling its metamaterial water reservoirs from an underground creek.

In a shadowy vale, a herd of EchoElk carefully fed on the sound-absorbing Black Moss blanketing the stones. By lining their stomachs with these acoustic metamaterials, the elk could feed on the ThunderBerries growing nearby without being debilitated by the sonic booms emitted when the ripe berries burst.

A SporeDuster bat flitted overhead, releasing cleansing ultrasounds through its metamaterial wings to disperse clouds of airborne toxins and irritants. Its internal hollow bones were engineered to symbiotically filter out the particles for nutrition, allowing the creature to thrive in even the most contaminated environments.

Ingenious filtration. Ken's heavy limbs protested any further movement whilst his head swam, and his blinks lasted longer each time. Yag pleaded with him to take a break.

Just a bit farther. He had to find safe shelter. Staggering on depleted legs, Ken carried on. He had to keep going. If I fall asleep now, SpiritShifter will disengage, and I will rematerialize. If it does before I find a safe cover, then I am dead.

Walking some more, he stumbled on a StoneBack turtle ambled into a secluded grove filled with Metalliforia flowers. Rubbing against their mineral-leaching petals, it absorbed trace elements its shell biome required to remain hard and intact. The turtle then drank from a nearby spring, its kidneys removing any excess elemental compounds thanks to filtering metamaterials lining its organs.

Ken's eyes stung and burned, begging for rest.

In a decaying log, a colony of Rotifers busily broke down fungal matter using their metamaterial beaks. They selectively absorbed only beneficial compounds, while secreting corrosive fluids to dissolve away any toxins or parasites. Their innate biochemical wisdom allowed them to flourish on the rotting biomass.

Ken's thoughts fragmented, consciousness drifting. But rest would not come easy in this hostile place.

In the sparse glades, stagnant pools of water sat temptingly still. Ken watched when an unsuspecting GraviGoat leaned in to take a drink, only to be enveloped by the fluid that instantly transformed into a slimy, shrouding membrane that clung and engulfed it rapidly.

The membrane instantly began decomposing the prey with its intensely acid composition, violently dissolving the creature as it frantically struggled in vain.

Within moments, only bones remained as the membrane consumed its prey for nutrients before returning to placid pool form, ready to claim the next innocent victim lured to the tainted waters.

A simple quest for water can cost me my life, eh!

Yag shrieked warnings, but Ken slowly but steadily walked onward. His head spun, his mind detaching.

Far ahead, a SonicHound paused, its dish-like acoustic metamaterial ears pivoting and tuning to pick up the subtle underground sounds of seeping water. Pinpointing the liquid reservoir, it tapped the earth with its forelimbs to locate the source before digging with its claws, sending dirt flying as it rapidly unearthed a small cavity filled with fresh groundwater. Finally able to quench its thirst, the creature slurped up the liquid using its long tongue.

An ArborealSloth clung upside down, slowly traversing a massive tree trunk. It stopped, pressing metamaterial fingertips into the bark, sensing moisture within.

Unsheathing curved claws, it dexterously pierced the tough surface, tapping into the vascular transport system. Freshwater dripped out, which the sloth lapped up before resealing the bark and resuming its climb.

Lured by nectar, a PhaseFox dipped its metamaterial tongue into a FlytrapPlant's mouth, keeping its physical body phased safely away.

The plant snapped shut on empty air, unable to trap the crafty fox's intangible tongue. Having lapped up the sweet nectar while avoiding the crushing jaws, the fox retracted its tongue and sauntered off unharmed.

Ken collapsed against a tree trunk near it. With a pained groan, Ken forced himself up, swaying unsteadily. However, right then, a ShaperPangolin emerged. It was five times his size.

The ShaperPangolin slowly approached a towering tree, its scale-covered hide shimmering with light-bending metamaterials.

It looks strange; it doesn't seem it wants to hunt! Ken intuitively caught. He looked at the tree it was heading towards, and saw a black void inside the white glowing spirit flow of the tree.

The ShaperPangolin reached out with a slender claw, its metamaterial digit shimmering with strange energies. It pressed it directly into the solid wood, fingertips tunneling effortlessly beneath the bark.

Cracks raced outward from the point of contact as unseen forces warped and twisted the sturdy trunk. In moments, a perfect spherical chamber yawned open before it, hollowed from the living wood.

Stepping within, the ShaperPangolin turned to regard the doorway. A mere tap of its claw caused the opening to ripple closed once more, the wood flowing back together behind it as though the opening had never been. The tree stood seamless and undisturbed once more.

Sheltered in the hidden chamber it had willed into being within the former solid trunk, the creature curled its nimble form serenely. Safe from the nameless threats prowling the woodland without, it rested, until it was ready.

It must breathe so it must have made small spots, tunneling towards the outside, so air could go in.

As Ken waited for it to fall asleep inside the spherical chamber that also had some space to spare to house him, his eyes fell on a long stick, which he picked as he walked towards the tree stem.

He attuned his SpiritShifter, studying the swaying walls of the wooded chamber. Through perseverance, he perceived tiny air holes tunneled to the outside. Sufficiently assured, he took a deep breath, shifted out of phase, and passed through.

This will work, Granny used to say that sleep is a small death. So it has to work.

The ShaperPangolin slumbered within, flickering visions dancing behind its eyelids, oblivious to any danger. Ken searched for any stirring but its breathing held steady. Now was his chance.

In the spirit realm, he drilled the stick deep through the ShaperPangolin's skull in one quick stroke then promptly shifted to the physical realm. The creature had died without even realizing what had occurred.

As blood trickled down its snout, Ken seized the creature's spirit before it could flee. He used Possession and extracted its Meta-Object from its spirit.

He took no pleasure in the act. He understood the pangolin's motivation - simply seeking a safe harbor in this vicious realm. In a way, they were kindred spirits. The Underground allowed no room for sentiment. Either claim or be claimed. Adapt or die. Such is the way of this place.

Ken let loose of the spirit and absorbed the Meta-Object. With a thought, he materialized the chain from his left hand, then swiftly sealed the Meta-Object that granted selective matter shaping in the eye artifact. After which he absorbed the chain once more.

The Meta-Object gave Ken knowledge of its essence. It allowed the user to selectively alter the shape of matter.

Handy power, I can use this to rest whenever I need. And perhaps use it in hunting too.

"Oi pest," Ken called Yag. Even though he heard no reply, he knew that the Qarin was there, with him. "I know you use the dust to perceive and affect the physical realm," Ken stated. "And influence the minds. So if you sense any danger coming. Come and warn me in my dreams."

He added as he collapsed face down on the corpse of the ShaperPangolin. Too drained to shift out. Survival necessitated harvesting the strong, at least for now. Another skill claimed through ruthless action.