Kai came to an abrupt stop after several minutes of dashing through the woodlands. He stood still, shocked.

Had the Hawkfox lured him into a trap? In his blind pursuit he’d stumbled onto a rocky outcropping. His eyes landed on five surprised Lizardfolk, and a lone human, weapons drawn. He’d just interrupted dinner by the looks of the meat on the fire.

Bound and collared next to them was another striped raccoon half his size. This one wore adventuring gear and was currently drinking from a cup held by a — is… is that a dwarf-monkey in an iron-man shirt?

Kai’s jaw went slack.

Noticing the attention he was receiving, Algrom offered a crooked smile and waved enthusiastically, his bindings went taut and he spilled water on the floor.

…and he has a monkey-like tail. Kai’s mind flatlined. He’d seen a lot of crazy things lately, but the scene before him was too much.

A red-scaled Lizardfolk brimming with power stepped forward, her jaw like an anvil, with hard eyes that reflected the intensity of the fire pit.

“I’m Saurkar, what do you want, softskin?” She snarled, looking him up and down with disgust. Kai then realised what he must look like. Short messy hair, mangy beard, bare chested and covered in layers of grime, scars and caked in dried blood. His Kura-branded fur pants were clean though. Kai turned his attention to the red lizard. She towered on her scaled haunches like a human, her muscular tail providing balance as it rested on the ground.

What caught his eye was her disfigured reptilian face; it looked like acid had eaten away flesh on the left side. Kai attempted an inspection, finding it odd that nothing appeared. Can I only inspect creatures and primals thanks to Primal Eyes?

He opened his mouth to respond, when a bone-crunching snap penetrated the tense silence. His eyes shot to the forgotten Hawkfox that had goaded him here. The raccoon’s head went limp in its mouth. The knapsack the creature held slumped to the floor and mushrooms scattered across the rocky ground. The Hawkfox then darted into the woods with its meal. Kai’s guts twisted. I was too late.

Its tied-up kin, burst into tears, then tried to stifle the outburst by covering his face with dirty matted black and white paws, tears rolling down the black fur on his cheeks.

A blue-scaled Lizardfolk kicked the bound defenceless creature in the stomach, causing him to double over and retch bloody water, his eyes begged for help but he said nothing. Algrom frowned.

“Shut it, you mangy softpaw!” the Lizardfolk hissed, winding up to strike the balled up creature again.

Kai half-heartedly tried to restrain his temper but the thought of doing nothing when he could do something, nauseated him. He became a blur of motion as he slashed through the air as if gravity itself was unable to restrain him, he spun and twin palms surged towards the blue Lizardfolk who was in mid-kick. Water Slap; increase.

Kai’s two palms distorted reality as they simultaneously slammed into the unscaled chest of the Lizardfolk. Shockwaves rippled through the leathery skin of its belly and he heard ribs snapping like twigs under the power of his improved body and aura. Kai watched blood-shocked eyes bulging at him in disbelief as the cruel Lizardfolk screamed through the air, crunching into uncaring rock. Viscera bubbled through holes made by protruding ribs as the Lizardfolk shuddered and died.

***

Another promising seed to nurture for future harvest already? Lucky! Algrom thought.

***

Lizardfolk: 19 - Slain

Vital aura -15% (-5 level difference)

Vital aura +100% (Trial bonus: Humanoid)

Kai stumbled back. His rage evaporated as he read the notification. Images of being picked on, his murdered parents, his fallen monastery, and the dead raccoon collided with feelings of helplessness that had flashed through his mind in the moment he acted. Had he learnt nothing from his encounter at the noodle stand? Now he’d killed a humanoid without thinking about it. This is the first sentient life I have taken…

What concerned him was that it felt the same as killing a beast in the tunnels. On top of that, he felt justified. Bile rose in his throat. Letting his fists loose on the Lizardfolk had felt good.

Even though he needed the levels, he did not want to kill humanoids for the sole reason of the massive vital aura trial bonus multiplier.

The last time he didn’t show mercy, things had escalated and gone poorly. He wanted to end this fight here and was determined to look intimidating, unlike the noodle stand incident. Kai clenched his fists and stardust aura rippled across his muscles as he increased his body weight until the ground snaked with cracks. Blood dripped from his ash white knuckles.

“Leave these two, be on your wa-way”—Kai glanced at the wood beads on his wrist—“and I will show mercy.”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Algrom blinked in bewilderment.

Saurkar tilted her head. “Are you defective, softskin?”

Kai stood defiantly like a tree in a storm, even if the insult bothered him he refused to show it. Still not intimidating enough?

Saurkar’s red tail smashed rock as it thudded onto the ground violently. She sheathed herself in aura shimmering with opalescent streaks as the hair on his neck tingled from the pressure of a higher-grade soul bearing down on him for the first time. He could sense her aura was denser than his own. Oh shit, Kura and Kai thought simultaneously.

In the blink of an eye Saurkar formed an incandescent bubble bowstring between her hands. Kai watched in horror as a small bubble splashed onto the ground and sizzled as it ate through rock. Kai gulped as Saurkar inhaled as if she was preparing to fire a volley of face-melting-death at him.

“Oi, Ass dandruff!” Algrom growled at Saurkar, turning his bindings to ash in a burst of fire. His hands and beard billowed with leaf-green flames that rivalled Saurkar’s aura in intensity. Tendrils of living flames sprawled from the hairy dwarf like hungry vines. Kai blinked in confusion.

“I’d take this grimy bastard’s offer,” Algrom said, gesturing towards Kai with his thumb, “and slink away.” Algrom made a slithering gesture with his hand.

Saurkar’s eyes widened in surprise and perhaps even recognition, Kai thought.

“Yeah yeah, I let you capture me, don’t go crying to your clutch mother,” Algrom rumbled.

Saurkar’s eyes turned cold and calculating as they darted between Algrom and Kai, sizing them up. “You’re strong, why don’t you join us, like this one?” Saurkar gestured at the female human with long scarlet hair and a butterfly tattoo, then her gaze returned to Kai.

For the first time Kai really noticed the human, she was not bound. “Are you okay — have you seen other people?” Kai blurted. She glared at him like he was a bug to squash under her heels.

“Almost everyone who fought is already dead, so I decided to join the winning side. Where I don’t have to scavenge for basics like clothes, food or shelter,” she said with a hint of bitterness.

Kai glanced at the bindings and collar on the disheveled creature. “Hard pass on the offer to join,” Kai said, his voice deep with finality.

Saurkar’s nostrils flared. “The next time I see you, you’re dead-meat, softskin!” She hissed. “Perhaps I’ll make you my pet, when you beg for mercy!” Her eyes narrowed at Algrom, she opened her mouth as if to speak but then clenched her jaw shut with a grunt. Her red tail left a path in the dirt as her group reluctantly departed from their ramshackle camp. Why was Saurkar intimidated by Algrom?

You have upheld a vow of mercy; this may influence your discoveries.

Well that’s a little heavy-handed considering I just killed someone. Kai hoped letting her go hadn’t been foolish, but then again there was no way he could beat her, she’d moved so fast. He watched the Lizardfolk leave; his eyes flickered between their scaled backs and Algrom gently burning away the raccoon’s bindings with a finger made of flame. Why hadn’t he done that sooner?

Kai remained tense and alert.

“Thanks for the help.” Kai dipped his head respectfully without taking his weary eyes off Algrom.

“Why…. h-how do you have that shirt?” He gestured with an accusatory finger, suspecting Algrom may have killed a person for it.

Algrom helped the racoon-like creature to his feet and spoke without looking at Kai.

“You know she’s actually an incursion commander, who’s E-grade across the board— the highest allowed in the first trial. You’re lucky I was here or she’d have used you like toilet paper.”

Kai half-smiled at the odd reference, but did not let his concern show. He also wasn’t going to share his reasoning; he was still trying to figure that out himself. Though he felt less sure about letting an incursion commander get away now. Kai used the signature move of a quiet–stuttering man and stood stoically, like an oak tree in a storm.

“Not afraid ey? Good!”

Hah, success! Kai thought.

Kura mentally rolled her draconic eyes and exhaled a puff of smoke. Lost food.

Algrom extinguished a patch of his beard that was still smoking with a few pats of his hand.

“As for the shirt, I had it made, pretty cool as you humans say, huh?” Algrom beamed.

Noticing the doubt on Kai’s face, Algrom’s expression soured.

“Riiiight. Okay, so before a new world is integrated, basic information is advertised for free. You may then pay to relocate, pay more to compete in the trials and even pay for extra information.” Algrom spat on the ground as he spoke the word pay. He then sheepishly scratched his beard. “I paid extra for something called ‘TV shows’ — that’s how I learned about humans.” Algrom’s eyes shone like polished steel.

Was this guy simply a native hobbyist? How did he afford the high entry fee and extra information?

Kai’s mind was exploding with more questions than answers, was that all true though? He wanted to take a step back and think.

The creature now free from his bindings, spoke up with a raspy squeak. “Our Elder moved us to this world. Fresh start for the Rakin tribe she says to us.” The Rakin rubbed his bruised wrists as he limped off to pick the mushrooms up from the floor. He gently thumbed the dirt off each one. A lone tear ran down his cheek.

“You okay?” Kai asked. Stupid question.

“I’m fine!” He blurted. Turning his back to them, he wiped his tear away.

“Thanks for the help, I’m Matthias, but you can call me Matt.” Matthias continued to pick up and dust off mushrooms. Kai reached his hand out to help, before snatching it back when Matt’s ears flattened.

“I’m sorry, lad,” said Algrom, trying to console Matt with an awkward shoulder pat. “I would have acted sooner if not for this blasted leg and my low aura reserves.”

Kai swept his eyes across Algrom’s legs. One was black and charred, thick with burn marks. Noticing the attention, Algrom covered it up.

“Family tradition,” he mumbled.

Kai cringed as he wondered if Algrom had been burnt to gain a deeper understanding of fire.

Will freedom and power only be given to those prepared to lower themselves to pick it up?