“Dion, you’re damned persistent.” Mahir spat. He took a deep breath. A hazy light formed from the stump on his arm. It gradually formed, fingers emerging. He clenched his newly formed hand.

“I’ve been tasked with protecting the goods.” Dion said, as he crouched into a stance. His curved sword was placed behind him, his hand resting on the floor.

“Are the Wild Dogs really going this far?” Mahir’s aura surged like a mist.

“It’s about time we made our move, don’t you think?” Dion flashed forward, his scimitar blade separated the air currents as it blasted forward.

Mahir controlled his aura, the mist transformed into shields around his arms. His feet dug into the ground, the force of the impact sent him sliding backwards. The sound of the blade impacting the aura shield screamed outward, purple sparks sprayed in all directions. As soon as the impact was over, Mahir leapt forward. His body ripped through the air, towards Dion, his fists encased in a blue-hue as the air crackled from the intense pressure of his ferocity.

Dion flicked his blade with his wrist, redirecting Mahir as he crashed to the side.

“I always despised your fighting style.” Mahir said.

“That’s because you’re too boneheaded.” Dion smiled. “You have all the grace of a half-witted donkey.”

Dion wasted no more words as he dashed forwards. Every swing of his blade threatened to slice the aura infused man to pieces. As Alphonse watched Dion move like a dancer on the battlefield. He crept backwards. It wasn’t a place that he wanted to stay in.

“You’re in a shit spot.” An old voice approached from behind.

Alphonse incredulously looked over his shoulder. “How the hell are you alive?”

“Your friend.” Julian nodded towards Dion.

“I don’t even know who he is.” Alphonse shook his head.

“Well, aren’t you lucky then?” Julian reached into his coat and brought out a scarlet-red potion. “Drink it.”

Alphonse shrugged as he popped the bottle’s cork and swallowed the contents within. All the pain vanished without a trace, the wounds on his body healed. “Another one of your miraculous concoctions?”

“I picked up a few things.” Julian nodded. “Who is he?”

“I’m telling you, man, I’ve never seen these people before.” Alphonse frowned.

“You really are useless, you know that?”

“I’m aware.” Alphonse said. “Seems like I need to pay more attention.”

“Well, let's hope your unknown friend wins. Or we’re both dead.”

The fight raged on, but it was clear Mahir was at a disadvantage. His fighting was awkward now that he was missing an arm. The jungle was steadily being destroyed, sliced apart or massive explosions that sent the tree tumbling.

Then, Dion stopped for a second and released steam from his mouth. In the next second, a storm of translucent blades formed around him and pierced forwards like a cold-weapon artillery. Mahir attempted to shield it, but the aura around his missing arm vanished. The blades impacted against his skin as a mist of blood filled the air. Mahir’s body dropped to the floor in a crash.

“So… What now?” Alphonse said.

“Now we wait until the mission ends.” Dior crouched down, taking hold of the gauntlets. With a yank, they slipped off of the hand and then disappeared with a flash.

“Where did it go?” Alphonse wondered.

“It’s a space ring.” Dior held up his hand. A ring sparkled under the tropical sun. He then pulled off a ring from Mahir’s finger and threw it at Alphonse. “You can have that one.”

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“Cheers.” Alphonse placed it on his finger with a grin. He held it up to the sun as it sparkled.

Once Dior had looted the body, it vanished within his ring..

< Rare - Space ring: Holds 0.30 cubic metres. >

“You really want me to be a part of your gang, don’t you?” Alphonse said, as he rummaged through the items in the ring. Basic survival supplies, potions. Alphonse scowled at the miserly amount of loot.

“Do you have a choice at this point?” Dior said. He sheathed his curved sword.

Alphonse shrugged. “What about him? Can he come back with us?” He pointed at Julian. “He wants revenge against the Great Migrators.”

“Is that so?” Dior raised his eyebrows.

“You don’t hide your words, do you, Alphonse?” Julian shook his head. “It’s true, if there was a way to get me on the… ship. I would make it worth your while.”

“Oh?” Dior sat down on a freshly sliced tree stump. “And what could you offer the resistance?”

“I’m a master alchemist.” Julian opened up his white coat. Bottles of all different colours and sizes filled the lining of the material. “Whether it’s potions to restore your wounds, poisons to kill and maim, or to empower your strength or magic. I can create it all.”

“A master alchemist is a significant find.” Dior said. “There… is a way.”

“What is it? I’ll do anything.” Julian clenched his hands.

Dior took out a device from his ring. Alphonse's eyes opened wide. It was the same one Lucus had back on the first mission..

“Although… the consequences are quite disastrous.”

“What are they?” Julian asked.

“The decimation of about one-thousand miles?” Dior smiled.

Julian’s mouth opened wide… then shut. “Are you serious?”

“Quite.” Dior nodded. “The gateway to the ship requires a tremendous amount of energy to return. The boy has been marked already. Same goes for the others on the mission. But, for someone new, it will need an extra burst of energy. For just me, it would be around three-hundred miles.”

“There’s nothing here.” Julian grit his teeth. “I accept.”

“Excellent, we have 28 days… give or take. We’ll make a base and wait it out.”

The two continued to talk, but… Alphonse wasn’t interested. His eyes gazed upon his stars, the vast amount of changes made his mouth water.

Name Alphonse Khastal

Class: Hunger

Traits:

[ Unique ] Hunger

[ Common ] Keen Smell

[ Common ] Keen Hearing

[ Legendary ] Chef’s Kiss

[ Un-common ] Dark Vision

[ Epic ] Verify Weakness

[ Rare ] Heightened strength

Forms:

Strong Back

Razor-spined Jungle Cat

Titan beetle

Warrior ape

Titan construct

Fire Branded Tiger

Elite Soldier Ant

Hobgoblin Wizard

Skills:

[ Epic ] Gourmet Extraction

[ Rare ] Swallowing Bite

[ Common ] Spectral Rage

[ Rare ] Stomach Bile

[ Un-common ] Silent Steps

[ Epic ] Ice Arts

[ Rare ] Brutal Slash

[ Rare ] Ground Perception

[ Epic ] Expert Aura control

[ Rare ] Pistol punch

Attributes:

Strength: 316.7 -> +3%

Dexterity: 247.4 -> +2%

Constitution: 306.0 -> +3%

Intelligence: 212.4 -> +2%

Wisdom: 55.6

Charisma: 37.3

Pretty colours. Alphonse flashed a smile. Moving to the stats, it was nice to see the percentage increase from the stat milestones. Although it didn't seem like much, it would be a big boost as they continued to increase.

Exiting the system, he looked at the chaos that had taken place in the forest. It was a familiar scene, seeing the trees knocked over or sliced into pieces as if Dior were an experienced chef. To Alphonse, it was just a grim reminder of how weak he still was. Without his unique ability and Dior, he'd be dead.

The only thing he could do was fight, eat, and continue to fight some more.