The Hunter essence gave me what I wanted.

* Blend {Chameleon Stone} Level 1

* Iron Rank: Changes skin and fur to blend in with surroundings. Changes are slow, restricting movement. Low mana/sec

I couldn’t move fast with the active skill as the changes couldn’t keep up, but that was fine, and it would get better as it levelled.

Now for the moment of truth. Once the ritual was complete, I went to my room and into my garden to experiment. The skill was as I had hoped and added to my Plant Essence. The big question was if I could use it in the way I wanted. I experimented a bit and then wrote the results in my written list.

* Resin {Pine Sap Stone} Level 1

* Iron Rank: Create and manipulate a sticky resin that hardens over time. Hardening can be sped up or slowed to a small degree. Hardening control improves with level, as does volume and manipulation. Manipulation is more difficult the harder it is. Hardened resin is resistant to impact, water and corrosion and weak to heat and light.

Now, I needed to see if I could make it do what I wanted it to. I created a thin layer of resin and hardened it. It was translucent, so it looked promising. I placed it on my arm and activated my Blend Skill.

Yes! Blend worked through the translucent resin. I had to keep it thin, but that was OK. This meant I could make armour from it and use my Blend skill to hide. It wouldn’t be as good as metal armour, but the hardened resin was pretty tough. It would be better than leather, and underneath was still my Resistant Fur.

I would only be able to make pieces of armour and strap them on at this stage. I had some coins left over so I could hopefully find an armourer to help me. Some bracers for my forearms, a vest for my chest and some greaves for my shins. Maybe some Tassets for my thighs. I would have some weak points, but I would improve the armour as I go. I need flexibility, and hardened resin is not flexible, so possibly only an upper chest and back piece … I need to learn some basic armouring techniques. I wonder if I have enough for a skill book, as I am not going to have time to learn these things.

The best thing was I could repair damaged armour by adding more resin to the damage and letting it harden. Coating my shields in Resin would make them stronger as well. I would have to do that before time. The ones I create as I go would only be plain wood. I was very happy with this awakening stone.

I do have my Hunters Pack to store prepared items in. I just wish it was easier to access on the go.

What I need to do is figure out some simple traps as well and have them prepared. I was very happy with this skill. I had a lot to prepare for, though, and classes are starting soon, so I would not have a lot of time.

I had the coin for an uncommon stone, and I only purchased two really cheap stones. With the student discount, one uncommon would equal three common stones, and I purchased two for the price of one. I could buy two more common stones. Or a stone and a skill book, maybe.

I still need a movement skill. I won’t need to be in combat for some time, so I can work on armour. Movement skills take time to get used to.

I am also intrigued with the Reaping stone. The skills that the saleswoman listed were for the stone used with other essences. What would the Reaping stone do with the Reaper essence? I am really going to have to find out. It is cheaper than the Harvest stone, so I could probably get it and maybe a skill book.

It was going to annoy me, not knowing, and I told the lady I would be back. Ok, I am going back. What is the point of having coins in your pocket anyway?

I could afford a skill book, “Introduction to Solid Armour Crafting.” There was a companion book for flexible armour, but the solid one seemed to fit the Resin better. Once I used it, I knew I would really have struggled without it. I will need to find work with an armourer if I can. Sizing and shaping the pieces was the key, and then connecting them together. I also had a lot of useless knowledge about metals now, but maybe it would get me a job.

The Reaping Stone for the Reaper Essence. Here we go, then. Oh, that is different. I felt for the skill. That is really different. It is sort of a looting power. Sort of. I can't try it until I kill a monster. That is frustrating. I added it to my list and wrote down what I thought it did. I would refine it when I found out what it actually did. It was a Reaper ability.

* Reaping Magic {Reaping Stone} Level 1

* Iron Rank: Collect the magic from recently killed monsters to form relevant natural objects. Magic will dissipate quickly. The amount collected depends on the Level and Spirit Attribute.

This will need testing. I am assuming fighting a monster like a howler would give me meat, hide, teeth, and claws, but fighting a rock elemental would give me what? Rocks? What about monster cores? They are normally harvested from monsters, so do they count? How much magic? How many objects? Can I choose what I form? It seems to indicate I can. It is natural objects only, so no knives or potions that other looting powers get. Yet. The skill will level.

I was interested in the fact that it was based on my Spirit Attribute. The bonuses were coming into play here.

I am frustrated that I can’t go out and test it, but Vitesse is in a silver rank zone, and I would just die.

That is it. I am totally out of coin. I do have a lot of work ahead of me, though. I looked at my skills. I have two open slots in Sharpen and one each in Hunt, Plant, and Reaper. I am getting there. I need a movement skill and traps, but I can make traps.

I wanted to get into it, but I knew I couldn’t. I had an appointment with Healer Remore that I was not looking forward to but knew I needed. I left my Tranquil Garden and collapsed the arch. My room was still as bare as the day I moved in. I needed to find peace before I helped others. No, that is not quite right. We can journey toward peace together. Gods that sounds sappy.

Gods, that was an intense hour. We didn’t even get far. I needed space and retreated directly to my Tranquil Garden. There were some ripe veggies and stuff, but… I needed to get out. I packed up my Garden and headed to the Temple of the Outcast. I needed action and distraction.

Davu was not around when I arrived, but the kitchen ladies recognised me, and I helped them all afternoon. I left what I had, which was not much, and resharpened their knives.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

It was late when I left, but my night vision and hearing easily picked up the person following me. I picked up my pace, and so did they. Was this a mugging? Were they alone? I sent out three of the Kais to check. I really don’t need this right now; I have barely got my head on straight.

I should be able to lose them with my Hunters Step and Blend. I turned suddenly into a dark alley and took off with Hunters Step. I aimed to get to the end and turn the corner before they saw which way I went and then Blend into the background, but they were quick. I guess this is not the first time they have done this.

I kept running, and the Kai warned me that someone was in that direction. Kai couldn’t tell me if it was a guard and I should go there or if it was more muggers. We are going to have to work on this. I turned again. A shadow appeared at the end of a narrow street blocking it. Then another joined it. There were two behind me as well.

I stopped and considered my options. They were not great. My aura could tell two of them were iron rank. The others may have had some essences, but they may not.

“Careful people, he is Iron rank.” A male voice said.

“Doesn’t look like he has much on him,” said another.

“Those two knives look good, kid. How about you hand them over and your coin purse, and we all walk away.”

“I will walk away, will I?” I asked.

“You might limp a bit, but you will live.” one of the others laughed.

“In that case,” I said, drawing a knife, “How about I keep my knife and take one or two of you with me.”

This is no mirage chamber. My odds were not good. They were street fighters and used to brawling. I needed to keep my head and be smart. I guess if I was smart, I wouldn’t be here. Make a plan. The weakest iron ranker is behind me. I break past them and make a run for it. The normal is the weak link.

“That is not a smart choice, kid. Now, you won’t walk away.”

I would not believe anything he said anyway. I created a small 30cm buckler, used Sharpen on the edge, and threw it like a disc at the non-iron rank one in front of me. I didn’t wait to see how it went, ducking to the side and creating a larger round arm shield as I charged the one behind me.

The iron-rank person behind me moved to cover for his partner as I heard a lot of swearing behind me. I crashed into the Iron ranker, and he stepped back under the pressure, but he was braced for a clash. His fist glanced off my shield and my shoulder as the normal ranker behind him started yelling as three Kais took bites out of him. I stabbed the iron ranker, shield bashed him back, and ran for it before the other iron ranker caught up. I clipped the normal ranker with the shield on the way past, and the three Kais abandoned their meal and ran after me, Three dark shapes darting alongside me.

The first iron ranker was coming after me hard, and I heard the other start after me as well. Hopefully, the two normals are out of the fight, but I don’t know how bad they are wounded. The one Kai attacked was probably not bad. I put the query to Kai, not expecting an answer, but I got an impression back of them biting tendons. Smart.

I was outdistancing the Kais, and they peeled off into the dark. Then I was tackled from behind, and I lost my knife as the shield was ripped from my arm, almost taking the arm with it. He obviously had a strength boost, possibly even the Might essence. He must have used a sprint or charge skill to get me. I didn’t bother trying to find my dagger but ripped into him with sharpened claws.

Then things went dizzy for a second as I was punched in the face, and a fang broke loose. I rolled away as he was wrapped up with Ardisia’s vines and thorns digging into him. I saw one thorn stab through his eye.

I staggered to my feet as the other iron ranker was coming as fast as he could. The Kais were darting in and out at him, slowing him down. One of the Kais got booted into a wall, and in rage, I launched myself at him with my claws and my Pierce special attack, stabbing right through his ribs. Then I used Rend as I ripped my claws out in different directions, and blood and guts sprayed everywhere.

I took another hit to the face. I don’t know if it was a dying flail or intentional, but my eye took the hit as I went down and rolled.

I felt Ardisia’s pain as she was ripped away from the iron ranker, and a lot of vines were left behind. She was thrown away, and I saw a huge snake coming towards me. I struggled to my feet as the remaining iron rank came at me. He was on fire, burning Ardisia’s thorns from his body. Fire and Might essences, I thought, and a snake familiar.

Two black Devourer Rats attacked the snake, ripping chunks out of it. I created a shield to protect me from the flames. His fist crashed into the shield, and I skidded back but stayed on my feet. I grabbed the other knife. I would have preferred my axe, but it was locked in my Hunters Pack. His fist was coming again and wasn’t damaged from the first hit, so he had some sort of punching skill.

I had time to angle the shield to deflect the blow instead of taking it head-on, as per my training. This put him off balance, as he didn’t get the resistance he was expecting, and I stabbed him with the dagger. Then, I sharpened the edge of the shield and sliced it into his body. He wasn’t wearing armour, just a leather jacket and blood poured from a deep cut. His flames burned some of my fur, but now they went out. He staggered back as I felt another Kai die.

No, no, no. I charged the snake, which was being damaged by the remains of Ardisia and the remaining Kai. I launched myself at it, wishing I had a charge skill. I brought the sharpened edge of the shield down on its head and chopped it clean off.

“Noooo!” the man yelled, launching himself at me. I rolled and got my shield up between us as a fist crashed down and cracked the shield.

I stabbed and stabbed with my claws in my spare hand with Pierce. I brought my feet up and used Rend to rip his thigh open with my feet claws. And stabbed and stabbed until I couldn’t any more. I suspect he was dead long before I stopped, but I didn’t know.

I rested against the nearest wall as Ardisia feasted on his blood to help heal, and the remaining Kai just feasted. The Kai I had in my claws wanted out to feast as well, so I checked. There was no one around, so I let him out.

Then something happened I didn’t expect. The body of the first Kai that died started to turn into rainbow smoke as it dissolved back into magic. My Reaping Magic Skill started collecting some of it. Then, the second Kai’s body did the same. Then, the body of the snake did the same. The smell was horrendous as I was close to the snake. I moved away. Summoned Familiars have bodies made of magic, just like monsters, and my Reaping Magic was collecting what it could. I guess I could form something with this.

It felt like I could form Snake Teeth, Snake Skin, Snake Meat and Rat Fur. I wasn’t going to do the latter. If I didn’t want any of the above, I could form an Iron Rank Monster core or Spirit Coins. It wasn’t clear how many coins, but I assumed Iron Rank ones. I did the teeth. There was energy left over, so I did the skin. I kept pouring as much as I could into the skin as I felt it was worth something. There was a little bit left over, so I formed a small lump of snake meat. These went straight into my Hunters Pack, which was convenient. Maybe I should have got the coins. I will work out what gives the best value in due course.

If the snake had been a bonded familiar, it would not have dissolved into magic smoke, but it was a summons. The two dead iron rankers lay there with blood pooling. I searched the nearest one and found a nice purse of coins and a ring. I limped over to the other one and found a smaller purse and a sword. All these went into my Hunters Pack, which I opened on my damaged shield. I retrieved my dagger.

I took stock. I had lost a fang, and the swelling around my eye meant I couldn't see out of it right now. I was covered in blood and other stuff. I have bruises everywhere, and fur burned off in patches, with scorched skin. Ardisia had lost half her vines, and two Kais were dead. This is what victory felt like, huh?