The Hunt

The first thing Ink felt after awakening was hunger. A rumbling in the abdomen, pulling sensations in the muscles of the legs and neck, coals barely warming under the ashes from the fire, the smell of an unwashed body ... and other sensations could not be called a good start to the day. Nevertheless, Ink was in a rather cheerful mood, as all of yesterday's fears were blurred in memory and began to seem not so important and significant.

Sparkling lumps in consciousness disdained the corpse of an energy being, but an inexplicable belief appeared inside that everything would be fine. Following the logic, the problem remained unresolved, but the mind also spoke of the futility of unnecessary experiences in a situation where nothing can be fixed. Ink was thinking of asking his comrades for advice, but it was likely to get help from them on the keenra field, given their little progress.

"To create unnecessary tension and wariness in relation to myself ... I am not a fool to do this."

How did n't refuse yesterday the hunt for the morning changed his mind. There was too little food. Arsi could do without her and even gradually create a new part of herself to send her for reconnaissance. There were people here and it was desirable to establish relations with them. The conflict did not go too far, and hunger hinted at the need to find at least some civilization and gain access to housing, a bathroom and a normal kitchen.

Ink and Kiass went in one direction, Grank - in another. For Arsi, they left the most difficult task - to somehow establish communication with local Aborigines. Ink was delighted to learn that Kiass was able to minimally understand animal tracks, since different parts of creatures could be used in alchemy.

"Do alchemists need animal blood?"

"No," Kiass shook his head , "more often the other parts: bile, bone marrow tissue, insides ... It all depends on the specific recipe." What should be the effect. Alchemists make bombs, various materials for weapons and armor, even help to absorb certain materials to the body before sending them to the first world. Although the latter is now more and more separated, the alchemy of potions and garron alchemy.

- What is the difference? - Ink asked . The idea of ​​getting some profession needed in the buffer for the period of mastering the skill of awakening blood returned with renewed vigor.

- Alchemists work with the most modern equipment. We isolate the necessary substances from raw materials, mix them, test. All the achievements of pharmacology are used to obtain a result. Unfortunately, there are substances that cannot be analyzed by conventional methods - Kiass stopped, shook out sand from his shoes, and pulled out a small translucent gray stone from his pocket. - This is garron. It was formed in the stomach production Grank well. Garrona is something that should not exist in the body of a creature of flesh and blood.

Kiass continued to walk, while Ink listened attentively, not forgetting to look around in search of potential food.

- Reactions in the body create tissues, turn one substance into another, but none of them can create garrona. Imagine that you sent an egg to Ink Ubator, - at these words Ink flinched. Kiass continued to speak enthusiastically, with increasing enthusiasm. He clearly liked the topic and was familiar with it. - Here a chicken hatched from it, a cry grew, and then you kill it and find a diamond among the tripe! These stones are created in the depths of volcanoes under tremendous pressure. Enzymes can carry out reactions at lower temperatures in the body. This is a miracle in itself, but to create a diamond? Impossible!

Kiass took a breath and began to speak a little quieter.

"This is just an example." In fact, garrons cannot be formed in the body just like that. To create them, you need access to special energies, only under their influence can something of this kind appear. In the zero world, you will not find this, but in the buffer the phenomenon is quite common. The ability to identify garrons is already a very important skill. Sometimes they are stones, sometimes liquid, sometimes even gas, and sometimes garrons are altered organs. The latter are the most valuable, because theoretically they can be copied for people. Go to the first world with eyes that are seen in a wider range, with a stronger body, strong tendons and muscles. Many want this. As our mentor said, Siren mutations can be caused by Garron alchemists. I think it is because of the subtle bodies that such unusual changes appear.

"Look how inspired you are," Ink shook his wings awkwardly. - Are you interested in this direction?

- No. Alchemy is a science. This is an ancient name, but modern achievements are used to the full. Garron alchemy is an extremely experimental field. There are no exact research methods. Materials have to be found in monsters, and whether there will be something really worthwhile is unknown. If so, no one can be sure of understanding the value of the garron. A rough diamond is a muddy stone. Easy to throw it away and forget it. Garron alchemists work for clans, this is the only way to get enough materials for experiments. I heard some use people for their experiments. Garrones are inoculated with them, then sent to the first world. There, the test subject may develop a useful ability, or maybe not ... The buffer forces can achieve unusual results for themselves at the cost of other people's lives.

For a while, Ink and Kiass walked in silence. Monotonous landscapes were diluted with rare trees, and in the distance piles of stones seemed.

"Another destroyed temple?"

"I hope we find traces of animals even there ..."

" Ink ," Kiass showed a strange expression on his face, "we have long been on clear footsteps." In those ruins there may be a den of the beast. Get ready.

The closer they came, the quieter they behaved. It was difficult for Ink to move carefully, given the complexion of the altered body. Kiass walked carefully forward. The tracks were confused. In a heap of stones, sometimes it was necessary to pass by the same place several times. As a result, luck nevertheless smiled at them.

A giant porcupine with steel-colored needles slept in a small asshole. Lying he was almost to the waist , Ink at.

"How to deal with such a creature without weapons? Stoning? "

Ink understood how funny this sounds, but nothing else came to mind. He turned to Kiass and noticed a change in him. On the back of the metal palms, some semblance of symbols from the folds of skin formed. Noticing Ink a glance , the alchemist smiled and gently pulled his shoes off his feet. Marks also appeared on the top of his feet. Metallized skin stretched, wriggled, but remained intact. It was distinguished from other areas by a darker color.

"Did he absorb ferrous metal for this?"

Kiass has disappeared. He moved so fast that he appeared almost instantly near a sleeping monster. He twitched, but received a blow to the head. There was a metallic ringing. The beast screeched like a pig. He tried to counterattack, but the alchemist did not leave him a chance. The hail of blows almost destroyed the head of the steel porcupine. Ink could not believe that it all ended so fast.

- What was that?

"My special ability," Kiass explained proudly . - I was born with this skill, but when I accidentally used it, I was injured. Stigmata. My clan found out. That I have developed a thin body since birth. Due to the activation of its capabilities in places of energy accumulation, tears of the flesh arose, unable to withstand such a load. The more power is released, the more wounds. Thanks to metallization, this problem can be solved, but I got a weakened ability and only recently the body became strong enough to withstand this skill.

The marks on the palms and feet of Kiass a were gradually smoothed out. He tried to tear one of the porcupine spikes, but could not even bend them.

- We will cut it?

"No," the alchemist with great difficulty moved the carcass of the victim, "the smell of blood can attract other predators." We do not know who lives in this small world.

Ink grabbed the beast's paw and unexpectedly easily pulled it a couple of meters.

"The new look has its advantages. Maybe I, too, could defeat this beast? "

"Since you are so strong, we can return ..." Kiass abruptly stopped talking. Ink followed his gaze and saw a small animal. It looked like a cat, but was completely bald. The skin was yellowish and tightly encircled the muscles that bumped underneath. The bald tail looked completely disgusting.

The cat's large eyes with dilated pupils gazed attentively at the steel porcupine, a small black nose twitched when the animal moved its front paw a little closer. It was less than half a step for the ugly cat, but Ink took it as an attempt on their prey. The feeling of hunger hastened to return and completely knocked out any interest in sharing food with the "smaller brothers."

Ink picked up a small stone and threw it sharply at the freak. A stone bounced off the head of a bald cat knocked out a hole next to it and raised a cloud of dust. The throw power exceeded expectations.

~ Hsheaaaaaaaa ~

The dull hiss of the cat distracted Ink from his pride in his strength. The freak was completely unhurt. Ears pressed to the top, bared thin teeth and released claws clearly spoke about the mood of the animal. His body was no longer yellow, an oil-like film covered him. The ugly cat slightly shifted the body back, strained its hind legs and abruptly rushed forward and down. His head entered the earth like water, hiding a bald creature somewhere in the depths.

For a while, the environment remained quiet. Ink was glad that he had frightened the creature when a lot of screaming sounds began to be heard around. Tufts with bald feline heads in the center swelled from the ground. Only when they saw Ink a and Kiass a did they begin to hiss a dull and unpleasant hiss. Several tubercles appeared near the corpse of the porcupine. One of the cats grabbed to the side and bit the steel spikes like straws, and then began to chew with a contented and harsh rumbling.

Ink and Kiass looked at each other and without a word rushed to run from there.

"It's a pity that these freaks ate our prey, but it's better than being in their mouths ourselves."

After a hundred meters, a couple of hunters dared to check the situation from behind. Underground cats did not pursue them.

- Lucky that ...

The land next to Kiass om exploded. A huge slimy and transparent tentacle grabbed his waist and sucked inward. Ink jumped, fluttered his wings, and took off. He reproached himself for not using them initially. His thinking simply did not have time to adapt to a new look. Search for prey and run away from pursuers in the sky. With his strength, he could immediately grab Kiass and fly away, rather than run on toes. Fright just turned off the mind. Ink made a promise to think in cold blood, but forgot about it immediately, as he drew attention to the position of Kiass a.

The alchemist was immersed in a jelly-like clot. His clothes were falling apart before his eyes. Ink noticed the symbols appearing on his palms. Through the broken clothes, new symbols were visible on the sides. Then small spikes formed on the shoulders and in the end, symbols from the folds of skin appeared on the forehead, spreading around the circumference of the head.

Metallic tried to get out, but his movements were too slow. Ink landed, picked up a larger stone and threw it with all his might. There was a squelch and the stone lost its speed, plunging into the enemy's body by only a dozen centimeters. Jelly ignored this and continued to crawl towards the feasting bald cats.

Ink did not see any eyes or organs in the lump of mucus. He did not think at all that any creature could have such a look. Kiass inside pulled her hand to Ink at. Horror and a plea for help froze on the face of the alchemist.

Ink did not know if he could at least help something, but decided to bet on the strength of his new look. He put his hand into the body of the aspic. Reaching Kiass did not work. Jelly squeezed stronger than a steel vice and began to draw a new victim into its depths. Ink went cold. He wanted to run and not look back.

"First save Kiass ah! I can! I can do it! Be cool! Think what you can do! Think !!! "

Ink have come up with only one idea. He pressed his wings to his body, took up a full chest of air and rushed forward. Within a second, his hand squeezed Kiass's trembling wrist . Ink exerted all his strength to spread his wings ...

Nothing succeeded. It turned out to be impossible.