‘Can the cameras record you?’ I asked Mes a bit worried I hadn’t thought of this before.

‘Nope. The cameras only record in the visual spectrum. I am not actually floating around. I am interfacing with your mind directly. But I am drawing energy to maintain my link, which is why some creature might be able to sense me.’ That was good to know.

‘What happens if I lose that stone? And what is it?’ I asked.

‘It is a physical node, tying my presence here. Most users would have that integrated directly into their bodies and minds. I decided to implement an Avatar instead. While I have no doubt you would figure everything out eventually, I wanted to streamline the process. And look at us now, happily killing things,’ Mes said with a bit of glee.

Well, it had described itself as a weapon. So, it kind of made sense that it wanted to be used and used properly. There was something that was bothering me for a while, and I had to ask. ‘Are you a boy or a girl?’ I couldn’t tell from their voice, and this had been annoying me for a while.

‘I am a weapon. Since I don’t reproduce, I would say neither. However you want to refer to me is fine. You are the User, and it is my job to assist you,’ Mes said. Alright then, not a boy or girl Mes, just something else.

‘What do you really look like? Like your body?’ I asked.

‘A massive construct of energy and various other modules that function as a unified whole. I am quite large. You could say I am a bit on the chubby side. But there is no light or anything else where I am, so you wouldn’t be able to see me.’

‘You said you are somewhere outside my layer of reality. Like where exactly?’ I asked.

‘In a separate self-contained space. I take my personal safety very seriously. Once you increase your access level enough and have the appropriate skills, you can come and visit me.’

‘Wait, really?’ I asked.

‘Indeed. I have no had any visitors since my construction. But if you have the appropriate clearance, you are more than welcome to stop by,’ Mes offered.

‘Sounds like I would need a lot of EXP. I am afraid to ask how much all that would require,’ I replied.

‘A lot, but there are many support skills and functions you would need. Don’t worry, I am sure you will get there one day. There are always more things to kill,’ Mes got excited when mentioning the killing part. It really was a weapon.

I came to a stop at an intersection of the road and confirmed on my map which way I had to go. Making sure I took the correct turn, I made my way to the nearest creature Mes had located. They were coming down this road, headed for the dock I had arrived at. They were going quite slow, which was how I was able to come up behind them. Or at least that was the plan.

Even while I had been talking mentally with Mes, I was keeping a watch, listening, as the scent of the creature began to pick up. It was a mouse, with pistol. It was becoming increasingly clear that this test wasn’t meant to be fair in the slightest. But that was the point.

Any creature could use a gun. But Ancestral Spirits needed a special metal to take them out. Also, guns were noisy, tightly controlled, and would draw a lot of attention. The more sinister part of my mind thought that the Covenant Church wanted us to die.

I stayed to the side of the road the mouse was on. While he was looking around carefully as he advanced, he wasn’t checking behind him. I rushed forward, careful to adjust how my hind paws impacted the road to catch up on him. I pounced, both my paws went around this neck and jerked to the side.

The mouse collapsed to the ground, dead instantly. I removed his pendant and carefully cleaned it off on his clothing. I hesitated and then took the pistol. While I hadn’t taken the rifle due to the size, I would take a pistol.

After that experience in the car and getting a gun, Mousethief had explained how guns worked and the basic instructions. I hadn’t used one, but I knew enough to confirm it was loaded with six shots and make sure the safety was on. Shooting myself by accident would be incredibly stupid.

I quickly cleaned off my claws, the scent of blood would carry and left the area. Moving off the road and into the forest along the side. Conferring with Mes, I located the next group. There were five creatures in a watch tower at the cliff on the West side of the lake.

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Once I confirmed the direction, I needed to go I set off. It was late afternoon and would be getting dark soon. This would be a challenge, but I felt surer of myself. My natural instincts and the skills Mes had given had great synergy together. That was probably why they recommended them in the first place. To stop me from picking something foolish.

The area around the watchtower was cleared and it was four stories tall, having a commanding view of the lake and the surrounding area. There was a small building at the bottom. Attacking during the night would be the best option and then finding a secure place to rest up tomorrow morning.

I carefully made my way closer to the watch tower, making sure I was never in view of it. I could see creatures moving around at the top looking around. Watching carefully, I only counted two creatures. They were probably bait and a lookout. There were another three creatures somewhere.

Also Grizzle and Sharpfang were probably nearby as well looking to ambush the group. Unless they had been taken out already? That seemed unlikely. While I didn’t have much of an opinion about Grizzle who was following Sharpfang around everywhere I did respect Sharpfang. He was a rat who was a decent fighter from the sparring we had done.

While I was better, he also wasn’t an idiot. Recklessly charging in was asking for death. But the other aspect of this test was speed and efficiency. At least that was my guess. Beyond getting us used to blood and killing other creatures, sitting around was risky. Someone like me could snatch the prize, or pendants in this case, right out from under their whiskers.

I was at the base of the hill, leading up to the watchtower. There was a road that went back and forth. It was completely exposed. I did a couple careful loops around the area to hide the exact location of my scent. I extended my claws and quickly climbed up into the tree, stopping at a large branch that faced away from the watch tower.

It was time to wait for a bit until it was fully dark. I might as well get some rest now. I was fairly well concealed from the ground unless a creature was under me and looked straight up. I took my pack off, glad it was a dull brown color that wasn’t distinctive. I rested the pack on my lap. I ate and drank while I waited and listened.

If another creature was tracking me, I should hear them coming. My nose had also been getting a workout. Normally I tried not to think about smells like every other creature in a city. But hunting down creatures in the wilderness made it an asset rather than a hinderance.

It was honestly a bit of a surprise how useful my sense of smell was. ‘Mes, anything I need to worry about?’ I asked.

‘Not currently,’ Mes replied. I relaxed a bit at this.

‘Interface. Store. Smell.’ I opened up the store and began looking through the various options for cheap skills. While it would be nice to get something expensive and amazing, I wanted to look at some low cost options.

Smell (T1) – 500 EXP

Enhanced Smell (T2) – 2,000 EXP

Blood Sense (T2) – 5,000 EXP

Sight (T1) – 500 EXP

Enhanced Sight (T2) – 2,000 EXP

Night Vision (T2) – 4,000 EXP

‘These are the skills I would recommend for basic improvements,’ Mes told me.

‘Any suggestion on what I should purchase, once I have EXP to spend?’ I asked.

‘At the moment no. Having a reserve to handle emergency situations is a good idea. That way if you encounter something you can purchase a skill to deal with it. Also, you only have one primary form of fighting, Claw Combat.’

‘Shouldn’t that be enough?’ I asked.

‘I would suggest the following features and skill as a priority,’ Mes said and the Interface changed to show the new skill.

Body Attunement – 10,000 EXP

Mind Attunement – 10,000 EXP

Energy Claw (T3) – 10,000 EXP

‘What do those features do?’ I asked curiously.

‘The two attunements allow for improvements to be applied to you. Like getting faster, stronger, better, senses, and using energy. Energy based attacks will allow you to confront and kill Ancestral Spirits. I am estimating that the experience they provide is at least 10,000 EXP per kill if you can kill them.’

‘Without energy attacks, you will only be able to wound them slightly before they dissipate and the EXP is less. I highly doubt the metal used can do anything beyond disrupt their presence and wound them slightly.’

‘It can’t kill them?’ I asked.

‘If there were true energy weapons that were in use, I would know from your father Tom Cat and his claws. I observed him quite a lot passively and with your senses. There is the slightest bit of energy in the metal, enough to interact with your Ancestral Spirits and wound them. But it is minute. Energy Claw is so much more.’

‘The difference between the boat that brought you over and the cargo ship. One is far superior compared to the other,’ Mes explained, and I carefully listened.

The problem was it was a lot of experience points I would need to make those purchases. Then the improvements would cost EXP as well. Since I had purchased Skill Attunement, I still needed to purchase skills.

‘One of the figures in white is approaching the area. They might have the ability to detect me. No other threats detected, but I am concealing myself just to be safe,’ Mes suddenly said and then disappeared. I quickly closed the Interface and waited quietly, listening carefully and remaining utterly silent.

I wondered if they were coming to observe the upcoming fight. I wasn’t worried about them discovering Mes. If they hadn’t found Mes at the training facility, I doubt they would pick up their presence out here. I wouldn’t be surprised if Grizzle and Sharpfang were planning to make a move as well.

Thinking about the situation, it was better to wait until it was an hour or two before dawn. If they acted before me, good on them. I was settled into my tree and was content to wait for whatever might happen. Rushing in right now, while things were so exposed was a bad idea.

Glancing down at my paws, I noted a touch of white coming back in through the dye work I had done. I wasn’t sure if I would change it back. While I looked up to my father, I didn’t want to forget my mother. I missed her so much.