Hellcat Den

Mina tried to shrink as best as she could, every beautiful cat eye trained on her as Inferna led her to the sunlit rock. She bounded up it, leaving Mina behind. Mina couldn't climb it herself, so she just looked up towards Inferna.

Inferna seemed confused, then she looked back down at Mina. Mina placed her hand on the rock, it stayed. She placed her foot, and it fell through. Inferna made a small snort, possibly holding in a laugh. Mina made a small glare, but accepted Inferna's help. Help being Inferna grabbing her Sword Body in her teeth and setting it back into her hands when she had reappeared next to her. This had surprised gazes as Inferna cleared her throat.

"My people, I bring sad news. I couldn't make it in time to save them. They fell at the hands of the humans."

Mina could see the sadness in her eyes, but didn't know what to do. All of a sudden, the sunbathing Hellcat had gotten up and rubbed it's face against Inferna's.

"Fret not, mother. You slew the villains. Did you not?"

Inferna looked down at what Mina assumed was her daughter. She gave a deep nod before motioning to Mina herself.

"This young one was attacked by those very same humans. I was able to make it in time to save her. I ask that you all treat her with respect for the time she stays with us. Even after, I should hope you all treat her kindly. She has been nothing but lovely towards me."

Inferna's daughter tried to sniff Mina, but tilted her head.

"Why do I not smell the breath of life on you?"

Mina lifted her Sword Body. This surprised the young Hellcat, causing her to stoop low and prepare to attack. Before she could, however, Mina vanished then reappeared before her Sword Body hit the ground.

"I'm a spirit of sorts. This sword is my actual body. And this gem... it's my monster core."

The small crowd numbered in the teens, and they were all curious about the spirit they had never seen before. Inferna cleared her throat once more, redirecting the attention back to her.

"Mina will be staying with us for the time being. I expect you all to be courteous, though as she isn't human... you'll all be sweet kitties. Fufufu."

Inferna leapt from the rock, leaving Mina with her daughter.

"So you have a name? Quite lucky I'd say. My mother was named by us all, though it isn't a true name."

Mina sat down, setting her legs to her side.

"Are names that important?"

"Of course. It means a being of power recognizes you. Only those with true power may grant a name unto another being of lesser origins. Who named you?"

Mina looked up towards the sun, shading her face behind her hand.

"I was born with my name. In a sense, a God let me keep it."

The young Hellcat seemed to nod, then she curled up in the sunlight.

"If you are blessed by the gods, then a future that throws itself towards you shall be filled with... challenges and rewards. Do you think you can conquer it?"

Inferna leapt back onto the rock. She settled between the girls and then stared towards Mina.

"I've spoken with my oldest clan member. He told me of a beautiful cave filled with many gems and ores. I will find a way to help you get there, but it is quite distant."

Behind Inferna, a pair of ears perked up.

"The cave? I can take her. I've been there a small number of times."

Inferna whipped her head around. Mina could feel a funny aura radiating. It reminded her of her own mother. A dreadfully beautiful smile with eyes filled with anger.

"You have been to the cave? A cave I have never been to, nor have ever heard of within my territory? You've been there... despite the danger of the creatures in that direction?!"

"M-mother... s-sorry. I found it when I ran away once before! It was warm and out of the rain, so I hid there. Please don't bite my ears..."

Mina giggled softly, holding her mouth as the cats looked over at her.

'I giggled? Since when was the last time I actually laughed fully?'

They stared at her for some time before they realized the tension in the air had fully melted. Inferna laid her head onto her paws and with half sleepy eyes she spoke to the girls.

"Dear, if you can lead her to the cave without fail, then I will put my faith in you. I'll protect our people and await the good news. You can set out in... say two days. Let Mina get some rest and maybe practice in. She's strong, but young. Some training against the Lesser beasts would do her good."

Mina nodded, then leapt from the rock with Inferna's daughter. She was fully jet black, set around Mina's shoulder in height. Her full length reached about two meters, although that'd be barely making it.

"So... what around here can be fought? Your mother helped be kill a Gigas Rodent last night. Stupid thing was smart enough to talk, but not smart enough to leave."

The young Hellcat nodded, then led Mina towards a small hollow tree. Inside of it were a small number of human weapons.

"These were the trophies from our past fights with those jerks. Mother tells us to dump them in here, but I believe you could gain some experience fighting with other weapons. Using your own body... doesn't that hurt?"

Mina shrugged and held out her Sword Body.

"This was made of wood last night. Barely even classified as a weapon fit to be wielded by anyone. This is me. I won't hold another weapon if it is inferior in my mind. These... they are nothing more then trash left behind by a sickening race."

'Humans are disgusting, but I will not condemn them all. There has to be kindhearted humans out there. I may be like this, but I was human. I wasn't the best, but people like my own mom... I won't kill them if they show kindness.'

Setting her conviction in stone, Mina leaned closer to the weapons. A number of them seemed to be better quality, meaning that they may have been used by adventurers or nobles. Not common hunters. As she reached for one, a message appeared.

[Common tier, iron weapon. 0/30

Uncommon tier, steel weapon. 0/25

Devour?]

'Hidden tiers? Hmm. I'll devour the whole lot of them!'

[Devour successful.

Common tier, iron weapon. 7/30 - 700 exp.

Uncommon tier, steel weapon. 4/25 - 800 exp.

Sword Body> Level Up. 6/20 500/750]

The weapons in the tree vanished within her core, becoming her sustenance. She looked over at Inferna's daughter. Her face was slack with wonder as she had seen the weapons vanish completely.

"You're a strange spirit. That was pretty cool to watch though. Do you plan to do the same inside the cave? It's about half a day from here."

Mina nodded, her hand reaching into the hollow once more. She used her Sword Body to lift another weapon from the dust. It was a pale white blade with a black grip tied around the hilt. The pommel held a blood red gem, but it didn't have a notification appear as she reached for it. To her surprise, she could wield this blade.

'Well I can hold things categorized as food. But I didn't instantly eat this.'

She looked up, noticing a cute muzzle in her face.

"That weapon smells different. Don't worry, no one actually cares about these. You can keep it if you want."

Mina pulled the blade into the clearing, then placed her Sword Body down for the moment. She swung the white blade, it's weight almost nothing. For a good hour, she shadow fought. Her parries, feints and attacks drew a crowd to her. Many shocked by her efficiency with a sword.

After the hour passed, Mina grabbed her own sword in her off-hand. A flurry of beautiful motions began to erupt from her, almost as if she were dancing. Every cat near her stared in admiration, her skills making them believe her to be blessed by a God of War. Mina suddenly stopped.

[The Great Goddess of War has taken notice of you. Her blessing is offered, if you can achieve greatness in combat.]

'These gods. They're all trying to hold my hand and give me a favor. The want something from Dyn, don't they?'

Her grip tightened, a hidden blood lust suddenly coming from her as well as both swords.

'Let them bless me. I died once and I don't plan on dying again!'

The rage hidden in her heart burst forth as she swung the blades in a large X slash. A massive wave of black and white energy rushed forward, blasting the rock Inferna had been laying on into smithereens.

A notification appeared before Mina's eyes as she faded back into her Sword Body.

[Learned X-Slash. This powerful attack expends 10 Energy.

Energy is exhausted. Returning to Sword Body.]

She smirked to herself as she drifted off to sleep.