Chapter 8

Lavinia creeps, claws dig into the wall and ceiling she traverses along with her latest prey in sight below. A creature with an elongated jaw lined with teeth, protected by a thick dorsal hide and sinuous overlapping scales. It's eyes or what should be eyes glow in the dark of the dungeon, acting as the only source of light in this section but also as a defence. Setting herself right to avoid its muscular tail as it sways underneath the water, Lavinia leaps from her place on the ceiling, pouncing on her unsuspecting prey and sinking her teeth through its otherwise stubborn hide.

The beast, over twice her size reacts accordingly, thrashing about and flipping over on its back. Soaking and partially drowning, Lavinia holds onto the beast, claws piercing through its hide with Essence. Lavinia scratches, pulling her claws deep and as far across the creature's body as she can between its thrashing. The beast slams her into the shallow pool's floor, holding there as it attempts to drown her. Rather, Lavinia bears down her maw, ripping away at the pesky scales with immense strength of her jaws and as blood seeps into the pool in larger quantities her eyes dilate. 

[{Blood Rush} Active!]

Essence channels through to her muscles and she disregards the struggle entirely, picking the creature out of the water with a roar of bursting excitement. It's tail smacks her in the face, forcing her to drop it so it slinks away, it's bioluminescent eyes dimming as it recedes into the murky depths of the water.

Sneering, Lavinia has a sniff and lunges, finding the bleeding beast in an instant and plunging her claws straight through it's tough neck, nearly costing her a nail in doing so. She slices through it, spilling even more blood before licking the bits of flesh off her fingers as she straddles the beast for a greater drain.

"Lavinia!"

She freezes atop the dead creature, fangs hanging over the flesh as she turns to where white rings of light float in the dark, her Overlord Lucy warns, "Do not drain it, take what you need but no more, the meat stock won't be any good without some juices."

"Yes, Lucy." Lavinia says, loud and clear. It's one of three phrases she's learned and one of her most used. Lucy is…kind. Kinder than Ken is anyhow. As she drains the creature, Lavinia peers into the dark, watching in shaded vision as Ken and her Overlord relate. Reluctantly, Lavinia releases the semi-drained corpse from her fangs and drags it through the shallow pool, tossing it up the edge and by Ken's feet.

"Hey! Don't get me wet, Lucy control your…pet, ugh."

"Lavinia is minding her business, so should you. You haven't busted through their camps like you said you would and you were so eager to start the test." Lucy says, drawing his fuming attention back onto her.

Lucy handles him almost the same as Lavinia, enough that she wonders whether Ken is like she is, a familiar to her Overlord. It might also be the opposite, after all, Ken's demands for mobility, action, food and blood are often met by Lucy and by extension, Lavinia as well.

She'd never thought of hunting for another creature before becoming Lavinia, it's fine if it's only Lucy, because she is kind. However, adding a third— Ken— to the equation upsets Lavinia. The beast she's drained and hauled over now would have lasted days if not weeks were she on hers and Lucy's to share alone. She would not need to hunt for some time and she would rest and grow.

Nothing like that now.

"I'm outnumbered and they've got a Berserker for a leader. I'm strong but I'm not that strong." Ken says, scowl deepening as Lucy lights the lantern, letting light pierce the unnatural darkness she'd cast over on the pool area.

As the light disperses Lucy's power, the creature's numerous companions awaken, startled by the scent and stain of blood in their waters they trash far away from the blotch, bumping into one another as they do. Their confusion is warranted. Lavinia was confused too when Lucy sent a thick smog of darkness to envelop all but her target— the now dead scaly creature— but it was to aid her hunt. Lucy is kind.

"Can't you cast this sleep inducing darkness over them too? Give me an edge? They have an actual sniffer so it's worth trying to steal while they're asleep at least."

Fingers massaging her temples Lucy turns to Lavinia, "Bring it." Walking away from the pool area and back up the path to their new camp.

Ken quickly follows behind her and their voices and light soon abandon Lavinia dragging the limp, heavy weighted creature. It's not the first she's killed for her Overlord to make into rather salty meals and as such she's noticed these creatures bear no crystals, not like the ones beyond the cave. Still, she reserves five points from the battle with the curly-tails and they've gone unused. With what Lucy and Ken keep talking about, Lavinia predicts another battle soon, one she would have very little impact on.

Nevertheless, she summons her Reais Identity Sheet, resolved to be as strong as she can to serve her death willing master.

Name: Lavinia

Race: Demon

Class: Vampiric

Age: Immortal – 29days.

Crystal Essence: [Pink]- Lvl.5— 29.01ESQ

[Available Essence Points— 5]

Faith:22[+]

Agility: 17[+]

Perk: {Reais Smite}, {Blood Rush}, {Wave Shot}, {Crimson Blink}

Overlord: Lucy McNil [Available Familiar Points— 0]

Looking up and down the sheet as she lugs the corpse around a corner, Lavinia marvels at how much sense it makes and how much stronger she's grown since encountering Lucy. Her attributes have almost doubled from what they were before and alongside the untested {Wave Shot} is another ability, one Lucy brought to the surface.

{Crimson Blink}— allows the user to swiftly teleport short distances by harnessing the power imbued in Crystals and Blood.

All the explanation and details she requires provides themselves with little more than an concentrated thought. Just about everything detailed on the sheet provides some more information and all she ever needed to do was ask. Lavinia doubts she'd have ever stopped to ask before becoming Lavinia, but now that she does, she knows well enough not to attempt using {Crimson Blink} again. A single teleport could jettison her into walls, enemies and then leave her stranded, without any Essence or blood to spare for other abilities.

With her Crystal Essence at the Pink tier and only half way to the next, she simply isn't ready to exercise the potential her Overlord has unearthed within her. However, the attribute boosts are sufficient enough that her other Perks are easier to use, especially Faith based perks.

And so, Lavinia decides to enhance them even further with the available points. With only five to spare Lavinia once again favours Faith with the majority of 3EP and Agility with 2EP.

Finished with herself and just in time as she turns around the last corner before their camp— a place Ken set to launch an attack on the other team of humans. Sure to move and act quiet, Lavinia hauls the beast corpse to the side of the camp where the moss grows before reporting to Lucy.

"Good girl." Lucy says with an enchanting smile, "I have another job for you."

"No." Ken says, approaching Lucy, his purple eyes glowering down at Lavinia, "I have a job for you."