Chapter 15: *Changes*

The group stood at the edge of the muddy field, eyes locked on the massive silhouette. The Level 3 Giant Snapping Turtle loomed 15 feet tall, its ancient, spiky shell covered in moss and cracks. Its eyes gleamed with primal menace, and its jagged beak clicked ominously as it advanced. The air grew tense, and the ground trembled under the creature’s weight.

Nix adjusted his stance, his mind racing. "This thing’s tough," he muttered, glancing at Liam, Jeff, and Prabh. They all knew this battle could go wrong in an instant.

“I’ll try to widen the crack in its shell. You guys focus your attacks afterward,” Jeff growled, gripping his weapon, Kindness, tightly.

Nix raised an eyebrow. "You still call it Kindness? The thing weighs more than a small car."

"Hey, man. Everyone could use a little Kindness in their life," Jeff said, grinning as he hoisted the massive hammer over his shoulder.

The fight erupted with a thunderous roar. Jeff charged forward, activating his ability [Torque], amplifying his strength as he brought Kindness down with a mighty swing. The impact echoed, but only dented the creature’s thick shell. The turtle retaliated, swinging its massive front claw at Jeff. He activated [Steel Form], turning his body into solid steel as he raised Kindness to block the blow. The force sent him skidding across the ground, but he stayed upright.

“That’s it! You just got a taste of Kindness!” Jeff yelled, laughing as he wiped dust off his face. “There’s plenty more where that came from!”

Only [Steel Form] could withstand that kind of attack, Nix thought, shaking his head at Jeff’s casual banter.

Nix leaped into action, using his hair forming technique [Spears]. Two tendrils of his hair extended, cutting through the air and striking the dented shell. The turtle howled in pain, but its armor deflected most of the damage. Its tail whipped around like a battering ram. Nix dodged, but the tail grazed him, sending him sprawling to the ground, gasping for air.

Liam, the fastest among them, activated [Blood Form], melting into a pool of blood and slipping beneath the turtle unnoticed. He reformed behind it, blades drawn, and used [Blood Manipulation] to solidify his blood into sharp spikes around his weapons. He slashed at the turtle’s back leg, aiming for the joint near its tail. The creature screeched and staggered, but swiftly snapped its beak toward Liam.

The attack was too quick. The turtle’s jaws clamped down on Liam’s leg, and he screamed in agony. No one had expected the beast’s bite to be so fast. Liam, desperate, activated [Blood Absorption], pulling blood from his surroundings to numb the pain and stay conscious, but the damage was done. His leg was crushed.

image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034354755_af39fac552_m.jpg]

“Liam!” Prabh screamed, eyes wide with terror. She raised her rifle, switching to its 1st setting, and unleashed a barrage of bullets at the turtle’s damaged shell. The impact was minimal, but she kept firing, heating the weakened spot. The turtle growled and charged at her, enraged.

Before it could reach her, the turtle lashed out with its head. Liam, reacting on pure instinct, raised his twin blades, using [Blood Solidification] to fortify them, blocking the strike. But it left him too drained to move.

Jeff, seeing the danger, activated [Torque] in his arms and legs, using [Bull Charge] to slam into the turtle, knocking it off balance.

“Didn’t like that? Here’s more Kindness for you!” Jeff yelled, slamming the hammer down again. The turtle hissed angrily, snapping its beak in response.

Nix, wincing in pain from the earlier hit, activated [Patch], transforming his hair into a needle that stitches his open wounds just enough to stop the bleeding. He ran toward Liam and Prabh, using [Phantom Hands] to quickly reach and pull them out of the turtle’s range and place them on Ollie, their battle wombat.

“Prabh, get to a safe distance and continue firing on its dented shell area. Jeff and I will handle this,” Nix ordered.

Prabh nodded, commanding Ollie to retreat. Meanwhile, Jeff stomped onto the turtle’s back, landing on the damaged shell. He applied [Torque] to his arms, slamming Kindness down again. A crack formed, but the turtle retaliated, snapping at Jeff’s midsection and sending him flying.

Nix sprang forward, using [Phantom Hands] to grab the turtle’s beak, but the creature whipped its tail, slicing open Nix’s stomach. Gasping, Nix activated [Patch] again, barely holding himself together.

Jeff, regaining his footing, charged once more, using [Torque] to slam into the turtle’s side. This time, he switched Kindness to [Big Bang] mode. The hammer exploded on impact, sending a shockwave through the beast’s shell, creating a massive hole that expose its naked organs.

“Now!” Jeff shouted.

Nix unleashed multiple hair form technique [Spear], targeting the open wound. His tendrils pierced the turtle’s heart through its back, and with a final screech, the beast collapsed, shaking the ground as it fell.

Liam, pale and sweating, grimaced as Prabh bandaged his mangled leg. The battle had taken a heavy toll.

After a few moments, Nix limped over to Liam. “Let’s rest a bit,” he muttered, exhausted.

As they caught their breath, Liam surprised everyone by asking Nix to carry him closer to the turtle’s corpse. Puzzled, Nix complied. Once near, Liam activated [Blood Pool], sliding into the crack in the turtle’s shell.

image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034354750_7911aa71d5_m.jpg]

Confused, the group watched as strange, sloshing sounds came from inside. An hour later, Liam emerged, standing on two perfectly healthy legs.

“What’s up? You’re looking at me like I’m a ghost,” Liam grinned.

Prabh’s jaw dropped. “Liam!” she shouted, then commanded Ollie to tackle him in frustration. She berated him for not telling them about this ability. Liam sheepishly rubbed his head. “Honestly, I didn’t know if it would work. First time trying it.”

Relief washed over them as Prabh hugged Liam, grateful for his recovery. The tension from the battle began to ease.

As the four of them, with Ollie the Battle Wombat by their side, made their way back from the lake, they walked in comfortable silence. The victory was hard-won, and each of them processed the ordeal quietly. It was Liam who first dubbed the wombat “Ollie the Battle Wombat” after the little guy’s relentless attitude during the fight. Everyone chuckled at the name, feeling the weight of the battle lift.

Soon, the train station came into view. They knew they’d part ways for the summer. Jeff broke the silence.

“This might be my last hunt with you guys for a while,” Jeff said, breaking the comfortable silence. “It’s summer, and my dad wants me to train with the army at the SENTINELS Army Station.”

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“Whoa,” Prabh replied, her eyes wide with excitement. “That’s cool! I’m also going to a training camp at the SENTINELS Air Force.”

“Looks like everyone has their plans lined up,” Liam said, grinning. “I’m going to take the Hunter exam first to become an official hunter. As you guys know, we’re just Novice hunters for now. My dad said an official hunter can take quests, tasks, and other dangerous missions. The minimum requirement to take the test is being a Level 1 Evolver with awakened abilities. It’s gonna be tough, but I want to try before my dad sends me to the SENTINELS Marine Base.”

Prabh turned to Nix. “How about you, Nix? What are your plans for the summer?”

Nix scratched his head, looking a little unsure. “I don’t know yet. I only have Granny Laurie, so I have to figure out what works best for us. I’ll have to look at my options.”

Jeff clapped a hand on Nix’s shoulder. “Well, if you don’t plan to go back to school, you could take the official hunters’ test and become a professional hunter. It’s one of the best professions out there, or you can finish school and do civilian work. You’ve got options, man.”

Nix nodded, though his thoughts remained uncertain. “I’ll check my options later.”

Jeff smiled. “Alright, but make sure we all stay in touch, okay? Once we get stronger, we can run a party hunt again. Sound good?”

“Yeah, definitely!” Prabh said with enthusiasm. Liam gave a thumbs-up, his energy already back after the miraculous recovery of his leg.

Before they could separate, Jeff spoke again. “So, what should we do with the Gene Bones? You guys want me to sell off the Level 3 Gene Bone? And the Level 2 and the four Level 1’s as well?”

Everyone agreed. It was practical to sell them and split the profit.

“Alright,” Jeff said. “I’ll handle it. I’ll forward the COIN to you guys when it’s sold.”

With that, they all nodded and went their separate ways, a bittersweet end to an intense adventure.

As Nix rode "Scootie" home, his mind churned with thoughts of the battle. The pain of his injuries still lingered, though his ability to heal had saved his life. The image of the Level 3 Giant Snapping Turtle loomed large in his mind, a reminder of how close they had come to disaster. But more than the pain, Nix found himself focused on the improvements he needed.

He activated note mode on his Hunter's Watch and started listing ideas for his next steps:

Improve control over his hair form technique [Spears], focus on precision and forming speed.

Develop better coordination with [Phantom Hands].

Explore potential new uses for [Patch], could it be used on others?

Train stamina, last fight almost pushed the limit.

Work on evasion techniques, took too many hits.

He replayed his notes and sighed. It was a long road ahead, but it filled him with a sense of purpose. No matter what he decided about his future, whether it was becoming an official hunter or something else, he knew he’d need to keep improving.

As he neared home, Nix glanced at his ride Scootie. “Looks like you're gonna need another upgrade huh, Scootie?”

With a smirk, Nix pushed open the door to his dilapidated home on Mount Trashmore.

As Nix entered the home, he was greeted by a warm scene. Roni was there, her face lighting up when she saw him, alongside her grandparents and Granny Laurie. The tension that had been hanging in the air for the past few days seemed to evaporate as Nix delivered the news.

"The last of the beast invasion has been cleaned up," Nix announced with a smile. "There should be no danger in the city for now."

Roni’s eyes widened with excitement. “That’s great news! We can finally go back to our hut.”

Nix chuckled. “Yup, but why not stay the night? Your hut is nearby anyway, and we should celebrate.”

Roni looked to her grandparents, who gave a nod of approval. "It's fine, we’ll stay," her grandfather said, smiling kindly.

Granny Laurie clapped her hands together. “Well, in that case, we should have a proper feast! We’ve still got that Level 5 Alpha Class Crimson Mauler meat. What better way to celebrate?”

Excitement buzzed in the room as everyone started to prepare for the feast. The rich, dark-red meat of the Crimson Mauler was laid out, and Rhonnie’s grandparents, along with Granny Laurie, took charge of the cooking. The scent of herbs and spices soon filled the air as they worked together to roast the meat, its aroma promising a delicious dinner.

Nix excused himself and headed to the bathroom, feeling the grime and sweat of the battle still clinging to him. As the hot water poured over him, he let out a long, tired sigh. The battle had been exhausting, but the thought of the feast, and spending time with his family and friends, gave him a sense of peace.

After a while, he stepped out of the shower, refreshed and ready to join the others. This moment of normalcy, of celebration, was something he hadn’t realized he needed so badly. Even in a world full of danger and uncertainty, there were still moments like these, where family and friends gathered to celebrate victory and survival.

After the dinner celebration, the evening grew quiet as everyone settled in for the night. The laughter and the warmth of the feast lingered, but Nix found himself unable to shake the feeling of uncertainty that had crept in after talking with his friends earlier. He lay down on the bed, next to Roni, who had made it a habit to be close to him, ever since they were kids.

For Roni, being near Nix felt natural, like they belonged together. But as she lay there, she sensed that something was different tonight. Nix seemed distant, lost in thought, his usual cheerful self dimmed. She turned to face him, her voice soft and concerned. "Nix, is there something wrong?"

Nix sighed deeply. "It’s just… my friends. Everyone has big plans for the summer. Jeff is going to train with the army, Prabh’s off to the air force, and Liam’s taking the Hunter exam. It’s all happening so fast, and I’m not sure when we’ll be able to hunt together again. I guess it’s just hitting me now that things are changing."

Without a word, Roni slipped her arms around him, hugging him from behind. The warmth of her embrace was comforting, but there was something more in the way she held him, something that made Nix feel warm and understood.

“I know it’s hard,” Roni whispered softly, her breath warm against his ear. “It’s always sad when things change. I would be heartbroken if you ever left, even for a little while. So, I can imagine how you’re feeling right now. But I want you to know… I’m still here, Nix. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Nix felt a warmth spreading through him, a feeling he wasn’t entirely used to. He blinked in surprise as Roni’s words sank in. Slowly, he turned to face her, but what he didn’t expect was how close she was. Her face was just inches from his, and for a moment, he was frozen, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. He wasn’t sure why. They had been close before, but something was different now.

His eyes met hers, and the intensity of the moment left him speechless. Roni reached up and gently placed her hand on his face, her touch soft but firm. Nix swallowed, feeling emotions he didn’t quite understand welling up inside him.

“Nix,” Roni began, her voice trembling slightly but filled with conviction. “I don’t know when it happened, but… I’m in love with you. For a while now, I can’t stop thinking about you. Every time I don’t see you, I feel restless and irritated. I just… I long to be near you. After that battle with the Level 3 Vortex Fangbear, when you almost died… it felt like the world was losing its color.”

Nix's breath caught in his throat, unable to process everything she was saying. He had always thought of Roni as a friend, someone he grew up with, someone who was just always there. But now, as she spoke, the air between them felt charged, like he was seeing her for the first time.

"I don’t know how it happened," Roni continued, her eyes searching his. "Even when you lost all your hair, none of that mattered to me. I just wanted to be with you. And these past few days, seeing you fight, seeing you so strong… it made me realize I can’t keep hiding how I feel anymore. I know you probably just see me as a friend, but I had to tell you.”

Nix stared at her, still processing. His mind raced, his heart beating faster than ever. He didn’t know what to say, and for a moment, the silence stretched between them. But in that silence, something changed. His confusion softened, and though he didn’t understand it fully, he knew one thing—he didn’t want her to pull away. Not now. Not ever.

He reached out, placing his hand over hers, their eyes still locked in a moment that felt too big to fully grasp.

“I… I didn’t know,” Nix finally whispered. “I never thought about it like that, but… I don’t want to lose you either, Roni. I don’t know what this means, but I—"

Before he could finish, Roni leaned in and pressed her forehead gently against his, their breaths mingling in the space between them.

"That’s enough for now, Nix," she whispered, a soft smile on her lips. "We don’t need to figure it all out tonight. Just know that I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere."

Nix closed his eyes, letting the warmth of her presence wrap around him, feeling, for the first time, the weight of something deeper than friendship. Something he would have to explore, in time. Life is slowly changing and Nix felt like he is being left behind, but for now, he was content, knowing Roni was by his side.