More Hunting

Eric and Hurst were sitting around a small fire across from each other. Eating food they brought and chatting. They were able to defeat another razor rather than before setting up camp. This time they were much more coordinated with their attack.

When they found a razor rat Eric would shadow step in and slash at the creature's face cutting it and then shadow step away from it. This would cause the beast to go berserk and start chasing him.

When the creature got close enough Eric would slash the beast and then shadow step away. He would keep doing this until Hurst called that he was ready. Once Hurst gave the signal, Eric would wrap the razor rat in his shadows holding him in place.

When Hurst saw that the rat couldn't move he would fall to the ground and slam his hands on the ground. The earth pillar with a spike on the end would come up from underneath the creature and pierce it through, killing the beast.

Once the beast stopped thrashing about Eric would go up and retrieve the beast gem in its chest. After each battle, the system would respond.

<Razor Rat has been defeated.>

<40 EXP has been awarded.>

<110 160 EXP>

Eric still wondered why the EXP for the razor rat was still forty. He had to move on from that thought because there was no way for him to find out now. He didn't know how he would even ask about it without giving it away that he had something weird going on with him, like the system. He was afraid of what would happen if someone found it.

"We make a good team," Eric said, breaking the silence, but staring into the fire.

"Yeah. I was surprised how effective my earth spike was," Hurst said, pausing to speak from eating what was in the ration pack.

"Dude, I told you, you're stronger than what you think. The only reason why I beat you was because of my shadow pin ability."

"Fighting these beasts is going to give us an advantage over the others. That's not including we are learning to coordinate our attacks, playing on our strengths."

It was nice for Eric to see the confidence in Hurst growing. Fighting these creatures and winning allowed Hurst to see that he had value and it also made them put their lives into each other's hands. Eric had started to trust him. He decided he would trust him until Hurst gave him a reason not to.

After they were finished eating they both got into their sleeping bags. They were sleeping underneath a small tarp to keep the dew off of them in the morning.

Eric had always been a light sleeper, waking up at the slightest noise. And thanks to his night vision ability he can see just fine in the dark. He knew they would be fine. He would know right away when a beast came close.

Eric heard a light snore come from Hurst.

"This is my chance," Eric thought.

He got up and opened up his backpack. He grabbed onto the two beast gems he collected from the hunt. He held both gems in his hand while leaving his hand in the bag. He didn't want the light from absorbing the gems to wake Hurst up. Hurst would then have questions and Eric did not want that.

< Consume 2 Beast Gem>

< Yes> < No>

< 2 Best Gem Consumed>

< +20 EXP>

< 130/160 EXP>

< +4 Stat points>

<Current A.I. Progress: 3%>

This was the whole reason for hunting. He wanted to get stronger. He wanted to level up. His current stats were:

< Attack: 8>

< Defense: 10>

< Dexterity: 8>

< Stamina: 10>

< Radiation: 12>

Eric already knew where he was going to put his stat points. He saw the most change when he hit ten points. He placed two points in attack and two in Dexterity. He could feel his body get slimmer and his muscles expand. This was an addicting feeling he was wanting. When he levels up he gets the same feeling.

His new stats are:

< Attack: 10>

< Defense: 10>

< Dexterity: 10>

< Stamina: 10>

< Radiation: 12>

He looked at those stats. He started thinking that they looked well-rounded. Attack and Dexterity seemed to be the most useful right now, besides radiation.

______________

Meanwhile, in Lieutenant Carter's bland white office where no decorations could be seen, a chubby little man, with bottle cap glasses, walked in unannounced. He closed the door and locked it.

"Lieutenant, how are you, old friend?"

Carter closed the file he looked at and looked up. "Doctor Tessori, It's been a while. I'm doing good. What about you?"

"O, I'm doing great," the doctor said loudly.

"To whom do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"O, my dear lieutenant, it is because Operation Spartan was a success."

Cater perked up with a sudden smile. Smiling is not something he has done for a while. Ever since the incident, five years ago.

"Please tell me more."

"The subject passed with ease compared to the others. We had a few that failed, but overall the entire project was a success. Let's say in terms of normal people, the winner will be transported to this academy and the others will be scattered throughout the other academies," the Doctor said with each word getting louder and louder with excitement.

"Tell me more about the winner you call it."

"No, no. He is currently in the integration process. When he is close to the end of that we will send his file to you. I would start working on his story for coming in late."

"Well, tell me, if this was a success, will this be able to be replicated."

"We are still running some tests on that. But as of right now, the probability seems high that we would be able to. Even the possibility of the same ability merging."

"Fantastic, thank you for coming and giving me the status of this project in person. It is very sensitive. Also, it gives me hope that we can end this and keep cities safe soon."

"Absolutely, for the good of the people, hahaha," laughed the little balding man.

Doctor Tessori turned and unlocked the door. Before opening the door he turned his head and said, "For his background story, his name is Arlo. Have a good evening lieutenant."

With that, he opened the door and left.

"Why is it, that all the good scientists are crazy?" Carter thought, think about the things they did to make this project work.

He then looked at a small picture frame. There was a beautiful blonde woman with blue eyes holding a 2-year-old little girl with the same blonde hair and blue eyes. The woman wore a slim black dress and a beautiful sapphire necklace. The little girl wore a white dress with blue flowers on it that sparkled.

Lieutenant Carter reached over and touched the side of the picture frame like it was a precious and fragile Object.

"No matter what, I'll make sure something like that doesn't happen again," He said with a tear going down his cheek.

_______________

The next morning arrived. When the sun rose, Eric got up and woke up Hurst. They both ate breakfast and then packed up camp. While Hurst was using his Earth powers to cover up the fire they made the night before Eric spoke up.

"I've changed my mind. I want to do one razor rat and we will head back. Also, I learned that the two of us can handle one razor rat. I'm pretty sure we can't handle more than that."

"You've learned your limitations, huh?" Hurst asked with a chuckle.

"So I amuse you, screw you, dude."

Both of them were laughing. It was strange their relationship grew out of them fighting beasts and camping together.

They walked down the path for some time looking for another razor rat. It felt like an hour of walking before finding one gnawing on something.

They used the same strategy. Eric shadow stepped next to the beast and slashed. He could see and feel a difference in the hit this time. The slash put a deep gash into the rat and didn't get stuck this time.

This made Eric think that he might be able to take the beast alone and kill it with a sword. But he did not want to risk it. They have a proven method that works, if it's not broke then don't fix it.

The razor rat squawked in pain and lunged at Eric.

< Shadow step activated.>

< -5 RP>

< 60/70 RP>

Eric appeared right behind the rat when it landed from the lunge and he slashed at it with his saber aiming at its leg. His saber cut the leg off. Almost black blood spewed out and toppled over on its side shucking in pain.

"Ready!" Hurst yelled.

<Shadow manipulation activated.>

The shadow wrapped around the rat kept it still, but the squawking continued.

< -3 RP>

< -3 RP>

< -3 RP>

< 51/70>

"Now!" Eric yelled back.

Hurst fell to his knees slamming his hand on the ground. The Earth spike shot through the rat that was on the ground. The dark red blood was all around the beast. Some splattered on Eric.

<Razor Rat has been defeated.>

<40 EXP has been awarded.>

<150 160 EXP>

Eric pulled out his military knife and took a step over to the rat and was about to crave out the beast gem.

"Uh, uh, uh Eric."

And that's when Eric heard it. A low growl and heavy breathing. He turned around. He saw it. Not one, but two razor rats.