We followed our Kick-Rat friend deeper into the forest, and I noticed a trail along our path. The grass was disturbed as if something had been dragged through it, which made sense to me. This was the path that our friend likely took often, so I gave it little thought. I instead focused on the flourishing wildlife we had seen in our trek through the woods.
By my approximations, we had been at least two hours into the forest after my clash with the Kongarillo, and we had seen a few new furry faces. I recognized many of them as monsters and animals from my time in Infinity Unleashed. They were common dungeon monsters, such as the deadly Crab Viper with its snake-like body and crab pincers, and the flying Spectrum Squirrel.
I was in awe upon laying eyes on the Spectrum Squirrel, and one of them even hitched a ride on my shoulders until it got bored. It would follow us from various branches in nearby trees and watch our movements with its large, rainbow eyes. Claire was smitten by its presence and offered it various nuts that the Kick-Rat gave us.
There is something to be said about this Kick-Rat, and that was how intelligent it was. It was something within me that told me we weren't dealing with some random wild monster in the wilderness. Its eyes constantly flickered with intelligence, and it always offered us fruits and nuts to appease us. Well, it seemed to be overly appeasing me with the constant offer of the Reocot. Each time, I accepted and ate it to its approval.
It was kind, but that is what struck me as odd behavior. At one point, the Kick-Rat appeared to get lost and glanced back at me. I assumed it wanted help finding a way, but it didn't. It seemed to be assessing me again. Once it was satisfied that I was following it, the Kick-Rat turned down a path that led toward rushing water. Naturally, I detected the presence by sound a while back, but I didn't expect the small creek to be cutting through. I expected something larger by the sound of it, but the Kick-Rat seemed familiar with our location.
My two huffing companions followed close behind me as we approached the creek. The subtle scent of the creek's water was carried along on the slight breeze. I was curious about the origin of the breeze and this creek, and wondered if this creek led into the river within the Lynx's den. Looking upstream, I imagined that it would travel for miles, so I considered the possibility legitimate. When I turned my attention back to them, I noticed that the trek took its toll on both Claire and Mikangleo.
It was a blessing that my new body had become more resilient, or I doubt I would have made it to Astana in the first place. While I wasn't the most active person, I suspect the version beforehand would be able to travel and fight like I've been able to do today. This superhuman physiology, rooted in my Kitsune heritage, is a marvel and worthy of envy.
Superhuman healing, durability, and stamina will make things much easier for me. It already has, but I had forgotten about the limitations of my allies. That is a consideration that one should never forget, so that is a failure on my part. I watched as the two of them gathered their breaths and made a decision. The Kick-Rat was about to continue with its journey when I spoke aloud,
"Find a rock, lady and gentleman. We can spare ten minutes to rest."
The Kick-Rat turned its head in my direction and looked at me, perplexed. To further insinuate, I gestured to my exhausted allies as they plopped down on the largest rocks they could locate nearby. While it was unsettled, the Kick-Rat pulled its bounty in the middle of their sitting arrangements and sat on its hunches with a grumble, "Nibba. Nibba. NIbba."
There was a sarcastic remark in those words; I could feel it. I didn't dignify that remark with a response, though, and stepped before them. I placed Catalyst into the ground with a soft crunch.
"I have never seen anyone stab random items with their spear as often as you do," Claire remarked.
"And I haven't seen anyone as dedicated to twirling it unnecessarily either,' Mikangleo added in while nodding.
I looked at the two with a raised eyebrow as I interlocked my fingers and stretched my arms above my head. A satisfied exhale escaped my lips before I addressed them.
"There is a certain flair one must maintain when wielding a spear. If a spearman doesn't plant his spear into he ground or twirl it, then he is illegitimate. There's a style of spear martial arts that I partake in that requires those actions," I said in my defense.
"I assumed you didn't know how to wield a spear properly, but my concerns are unfounded. You struggled wielding it when we purchased it, but now it appears that you have regained your skill," Claire said.
She would be correct in that assessment, but I'd never admit to it. While it was true that I had never wielded a proper spear before that moment, I had practiced the motions on other pole-like objects. I was also fortunate that Roktavor's body was endowed with a talent for spearmanship. Roktavor was a Kitsune lancer in class, and with that, he brought proficiency with spears and other lance weapon types.
Considering that I have all of the endowed abilities that he would possess, it is natural to assume that I will eventually become familiar with those weapons quicker than one normally would. What would take a normal person years of training would take me a few days at most, or shorter if I were to be honest.
My body retains the muscle memory of the years of practice that Roktavor invested during Infinity Unleashed's story. My constant spear twirling comes from my admiration for Zhao Yun and Ma Chao, esteemed generals of the Shu kingdom in Dynasty Warriors. Having two great warriors twirl their spears as they cut down dozens of men would leave a lasting impression on those who witnessed it, as I have.
One of these days, the one who inspires the next generation of spear wielders will be me. As soon as we leave the Grotto and obtain the strength I've sought, I will begin dedicating myself to honing my craft. For now, my mediocre skills will be sufficient to help me reach our current objective.
"There is much to be done before I become a monster, so bear with my occasional mistake here or there," I pulled Catalyst from the ground before twirling it more exaggeratedly. "I can promise you that your money would not go to waste. If you stick with me, then I will personally carve a path to the heart of the conspiracy. Unsavory men and women hide in the shadows and send assassins our way, and that is why we desperately need help, which is why you and Mikangleo shouldn't turn against each other."
Mikangleo scoffed and sat upright when I said his name. A frown appeared on his face briefly as he held his tongue. I could tell he wanted to say something, but Catalyst's point snapped in his direction. The spear halted its twirling as I addressed him,
"It is dangerous, but my intuition informs me that you are in a similar position to Claire. Her family is being hunted in secret by dangerous individuals, and she has already lost loyal allies. They have sacrificed themselves to keep the team alive, and I can respect their grit in doing so. Even if some were nobles, they are people as well. From what I can see, you have begun to dehumanize them to hate them, and I can see why. Nobles are assholes, but they aren't a monolith. The ones who earned your ire should be the ones whom you consider enemies."
"I can understand your point, but one good apple in a spoiled bunch is still likely tainted. You can come to her defense, but it seems you speak from ignorance of this land," Mikangleo countered with darkened eyes.
"I speak from ignorance?" I questioned.
"That is obvious. I find you a peculiar man. The way you carry yourself and speak suggests that you have been educated, which is unusual for someone like yourself. If I were a betting man, at first glance, you could pass off as a foreign nobleman or a personal guard, which makes sense. What doesn't make sense is your ignorance of common knowledge, such as our Gods and demonic beings. I saw the look on your face when we mentioned them."
I shifted Catalyst's point away from the man and considered his words. My tail swayed as I propped my chin up with my fingers.
"Not to mention, your grand claims of distant lands and demonic heritage, now your supposed knowledge of the secrets of the Grotto, which were supposed to be hidden. No one would have imagined that a dungeon resides here, but you somehow knew," he added.
"I suspected, and as usual, I was correct. While I did not aim to find this place just yet, I imagine it wouldn't derail my plan. I will locate the crystals and acquire their power. From my increased power, I am confident that each of us will not regret entering here," I declared, hoisting Catalyst over my shoulders. I also scoffed at his accusation, "Now, I did not claim anything that isn't true. Reality is often complex to grasp, but I do not harbor delusions. I am a Kitsune despite my foxkin appearance, and I am not from this land. Everything here is new to me and my brothers, but we are not fools. Don't respect me by looking at me as if I were a madman."
"I wouldn't consider you in that light, but I must trust your words no matter how ludicrous they can be. After all, you have proven to be reliable," Claire said.
Somehow, without my realizing it, the noblewoman took a more poised sitting stance. Her back was straight as she stared at me intently. Her hand was crossed against her lap while she formed her thoughts.
"It is nice to know that you see reason. I took a chance on trusting both of you, and I expect you to have my back-"
My ears flickered briefly as I detected a subtle rustling in the nearby bushes. My eyes hardened, but I didn't react to alert the others. I instead offered them a confident grin, followed by an outstretched hand. They were initially confused, but quickly accepted it, and I pulled each of them into a standing position.
"Our break is over, so let's get back to our journey. We don't want to take too long, especially since our supplies were lost with the Ravager. I also don't want to keep my brothers waiting for our arrival," I said.
Registering our movement, the Kick-Rat began to stir. Its beady eyes scanned the treeline as its nose wiggled quickly. Whatever triggered the creature's response seemed to have passed, so it focused on regaining its bounty.
"Nibba."
I nodded along to its declaration and gestured for them to follow the Kick-Rat. I was the last to follow, but I found my eyes lingering on the spot of the rustling bushes. My ears flickered again, but this time, no matter how focused I was, I didn't detect any other sounds. I was about to approach, but I realized how foolish it would be. Claire also called out to me, so I decided that it would be best to continue going forward.
Despite the unsettling feeling creeping down my spine, I remained confident on behalf of my two allies. We traveled for another half hour, talking and smoothing over their disgruntled behavior. I even convinced the two of them to apologize to each other for slapping each other earlier. It was significant progress toward team stability.
They did question me more about my homeland, but I kept things vague and began working within their expectations. The Kick-Rat was a sturdy guide, but we soon had to cross a shallow creek. I watched in amazement as the Kick-Rat navigates its sled across the water without losing a single fruit on the path.
I chose to leap over it after Claire declined my offer to carry her with me. She thanked me for holding her earlier, but remarked about how improper it was for me to do so when she was capable.
It was amusing to see her nearly tumble into the creek, but we each made it across. I made sure to laugh at her expense, which had her turn the tables on me later on, when I tripped over a hidden log. Naturally, I shattered the log out of anger by stomping it.
Even Mikangleo and Fawkes got a kick out of my eruption, so I decided to take the defeat then. It wasn't until much later that I detected a difference in the forest's density. The further we traveled, the larger and more spaced out the trees became. It was a completely different area from before. However, one thing remained constant during our journey after our break.
An unescapable feeling of being watched washed over my body. There was an intense gaze latched onto our backs. It stopped briefly once we crossed the creek, but minutes after we crossed, I heard the distinct sound of another creature crossing after us. We were being stalked by something, but I had no idea what it could have been.
It didn't matter, though, as not long after that, smoke filled my nose. Some meat lingered in the air, and our Kick-Rat friend stopped and began chittering happily. It didn't address us in its typical way, and instead, moved quicker. We followed the creature through the forest until the scent became more defined.
'I take it we're close to its home...but you wouldn't think it would be a part of a more civilized society. I think this thing may live in a village...'
I knew the Kick-Rat was intelligent, but I didn't think it would be clever enough to form a village for its kin. So I was pleasantly surprised to witness a plume of smoke rising into the air from behind a wooden wall. The Kick-Rat village resided in a clearing down the slight decline from the forest.
Within that clearing was a significant extension from a rock formation that served as what I imagined as the central housing unit for the Kick-Rat. There are many tunnels that I could spot from our current distance, and I watched as a few Kick-Rats preoccupied themselves.
It was quite a sight, and I was pretty interested in getting a closer look
"Let's keep up," I told the others after watching the Kick-Rat expertly slide down the decline with its bounty sled.
There was no loss of fruit from the act. Upon receiving their nods of confirmation, we silently followed the Kick-Rat down the decline. It was simple until a surge of energy blasted my senses, causing me to topple forward as soon as we reached the bottom. I caught myself thanks to Claire's quick movement.
"Stay on guard, just in case. I'm detecting a spike of mana up ahead, and it is significant," I warned them.
"Right, but what is this place?" Claire asked once she arrived at the bottom of the decline. "Am I seeing what I think I am?"
"I think so. We don't know the full situation, so try not to anger our potential allies," I said.
"I have never heard of a Kick-Rat forming a village like this. This is quite unusual." Mikangleo said after joining our side.
"I agree. This is the first time I've seen an act of solidarity from creatures like this. I wonder why that is the case," Claire added.
While my knowledge of this specific species of creature is limited, I could sense something special about this particular Kick-Rat when we first met it. When we locked eyes back in the cave, I expected a fight to break out, but it chose to broker peace between us.
It made attempts to communicate with us despite the language barrier between us, which shows me that Kick-Rats are social creatures. If their social interactions extend to other species, then it's safe to assume that they are highly social within their species.
Carrying its bounty on a sled rather than carrying it with hands or mouth showcases ingenuity and creativity. It has evolved to a level of thinking that has allowed the use of tools much like a primate. Highly social and inventive creatures, such as humans and other races, typically create civilizations to protect themselves from predators.
I think the Kick-Rats have begun to walk down that path. Perhaps, in a few generations, these Kick-Rats could walk alongside the more advanced species. However, for now, you could consider these Kick-Rats on the level of your standard goblin community.
"Whatever information you have about these creatures should be relegated as blueprints and not the whole story. As you've seen, Kongarillo was likely larger and more intelligent than any you've encountered before. The case is the same for our friend. His people have begun evolving, and I suspect they have their proximity to powerful magical energy to thank for it," I said, moving to catch up with the Kick-Rat.
"You can sense mana?" Mikangleo asked. He spoke with a reservation, but he shook his head with acceptance. "Of course you can. I shouldn't be surprised by that."
"Well, I am surprised by that. Once we return to the safety of our home, you'll have a lengthy conversation about your use of magic. I was under the impression that you were untrained, but now you mention that you could sense mana," Claire said. I thought I caught a glance of her pouting, but when I turned to face her, she wasn't doing so.
"I'll admit that I haven't been the most honest, but I didn't lie about that. A lot has happened in the last three days since we've met, and things have changed. I should have prepared for this journey better, but there's no point in crying over spilled milk. We can have that talk," I responded.
"I look forward to it. For now, let us focus on the mana that you sense. How potent would you describe it?" she asked, moving faster to walk at my side.
"It was powerful enough to drop me to my knees, as you say. While I can't make out the finer details just yet, I can say that we might find our crystals here. If we mine a few now, then we could turn around and begin our return. As long as we cause no issues for our friend."
Claire nodded at my explanation. I could sense the wheels in her head in motion as she thought about what I had mentioned to her. Another breeze graced us with its presence and shook the blonde strands of the elf woman's hair. She looked poised as usual, but there was a hint of uncertainty creeping into her eyes. Despite her declaration to trust me, I could tell there was a bit of doubt lingering within her.
I didn't blame her for doubting me since I brought them to this dangerous place, but I did appreciate her support. What I was asking for would be seen as ridiculous to anyone born in this world, so I don't expect unconditional support, similar to that of Bonner and Q showcases. I've proven time after time to them that my vision and merit are worth following, so I can count on them to have my back.
Considering that I met Mikangleo today and Claire this week, I didn't have that report to follow back on when I made my decisions. I expect them to question me, but they find themselves in a precarious situation. From what I've seen of them, neither of these individuals is built for the situation we find ourselves in.
I fully believe that if Q were there with me, then the Ravager would not have been an issue. Our combined strength led to the defeat of the Lynx, who was a much stronger foe.
While she has earned my respect and redeemed herself in my eyes for abandoning Q by assisting with the Ravager and Kongarillo, Claire is just too weak. She doesn't have the physical strength to match blow for blow with powerful enemies like I can, and she is too slow with her magic. I could tell that she was not used to combat.
You could say the same for me, but there is a significant difference between the two of us. That difference is our willingness to take decisive action in the moment. I can't blame her since before this, she was likely a coddled and protected noblewoman.
She is beautiful and bright, but it was clear to me that she is incredibly out of her depth. If not for Horace and others who sacrificed themselves to keep her alive, it is evident that we would not have met.
I am certain she knows that as well, so I can appreciate her effort to take a risk. While she does have many downsides, Claire is a calculated risk-taker. She took a considerable risk when she revealed her identity to us, despite supposedly being hunted. We could have easily been enemies of hers, but she was able to determine that wasn't the case from one brief conversation with us.
That brings me to her most defining trait, as far as I've seen, and her scariest trait, if you ask me. It is her cunning. If I were to compare myself to an animal, it would be a fox, naturally. My admiration of foxes is the main reason I chose a Kitsune as Roktavor's species.
It is also why I took immense pride in my new fox-like tail, and do not mind Fawkes being an actual fox rather than being a humanoid like me and Sine. If I were to compare Claire to an animal, it would be a hawk.
Every time I lock eyes with her or catch a glimpse of her midthought, I could sense the sharpness of that famous predator bird. Whatever objective she's set her sights on would be expertly snatched out of the sky by her elegant talons. If you were to ask me, I would say that underestimating Claire would be foolhardy. That being said, I find myself disappointed in my actions thus far.
"I want you two to remain extra vigilant once we enter. Look out for anything that seems odd or out of place," I instructed.
"You believe we may be in danger?" Claire asked.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Wherever I go in this world, some challenge inevitably appears. The Lynx, The Ravager, Percival, and the Kongarillo are some examples if you want them. If I were to guess, I'm already overdue."
"The last two encounters occurred only a few hours ago. If you are that much of a magnet for danger, then I can see why you risk your life to obtain power," Mikangleo commented dryly.
"With no risk, there will be no reward, and with no power, there is no change. To keep myself and those who rely on me safe, I must be strong enough to meet these challenges head-on if necessary. Right now, I am a capable combatant, but as you have seen, I am also ripe for victimization. I don't like that," I responded darkly.
After a few minutes, we had arrived within twenty yards of Kick-Rat's settlement, but as we approached, our guide turned to us. The Kick-Rat's tail flickered in the wind as it turned to face in my direction. Its eyes were filled with hesitation briefly before it spoke, "Nibba. Nibba."
The words hit me with realization, and I stopped in my tracks. The other two followed suit, stopping when I raised my hand to prevent their progression. My tail twitched and then straightened as I contemplated my next course of action.
"Understood," I replied to the Kick-Rat, and it snorted softly.
"Is something wrong?" Claire asked, uncertainty evident in her tone.
"It wants us to stay here," I informed her.
My declaration visibly took Claire aback while Mikangleo's eyes narrowed. The human man crossed his arms before surveying the area around us. The Kick-Rat watched us briefly before dragging its bounty toward the settlement by itself.
The three of us watched its departure before Claire stepped in front of me. The woman's eyes were enough to send a shiver down my spine, but I didn't back down. She was dying to ask me something, and I was curious to know what it was.
"There are things that I have observed from you on this journey that I did not expect. You claimed not to know how to use magic, but you've demonstrated competence in its use. There was ignorance when we first met, and now, I believe it was a ruse."
"It is reasonable to think so, but I'll point out that a lot has happened to me since we first met. Although it has only been a few days, life has already proven to be unpredictable. I am not that same ignorant man. Exhibit A..."
I raised my hand toward an open space and focused on channeling my mana. I harnessed the energy momentarily and sprouted a thick root from the ground. The hole it erupted from widened as the root snaked across the ground. Its movement wasn't refined, but it didn't matter. I had accomplished what I was looking for.
With the power of my Eternal Root spell, I formed a bench for us to sit on that hovered three feet off the ground. The woman's reaction didn't change as I made myself comfortable in my new seat. I didn't have to invite her, since she clearly understood my intentions.
"I suppose you aren't the same man, and that may concern me," she admits.
"It shouldn't. I wouldn't say that you have my undying loyalty on par with Horace's, but I do require our alliance. It is a gift horse, and I know better than to look it in the mouth."
"A gift horse?" She asks, a smirk cracking her serious demeanor. "Is my coin the only thing you are after? Do you not value our friendship?"
"I didn't take you as the presumptuous type, Claire. We are business partners and not friends. I don't even know your favorite color, nor do you know mine."
Claire's face twitched with agitation before she returned to her calm expression. The woman sat elegantly as she pondered my words. She moved next to me and we watched as Mikangleo stared into the distance. I don't know what he was looking at specifically, but Claire and I's conversation was the least of his concerns. I was going to question him when I heard a soft response from Claire.
"Green. I know you're favorite color is green," she said under her breath.
The fact that she knew that surprised me. I didn't believe I had mentioned that to anyone, and I doubt she and Q had a conversation about my favorite color. I reeled in my stunned reaction and ruffled my goatee with my fingertips.
"Not going to ask how I knew?" She taunted, and I shook my head in response.
"A woman has her secrets. I'm sure you were intending to say that," I responded.
"I'm impressed. Have I become predictable?"
"You aren't the only one who could read between the lines. With that being said, we were tailed here," I said, carrying an edge in my tone.
The brief amusement in the woman's expression hardened, and she nodded with approval. She shifted her gaze up the hill that we traveled down, and I matched the spot she was looking at. There was nothing there, but it hid an ominous presence. One that I was attempting to overlook.
"We were, but I am going to place my faith in you. You believed coming here would give you a pathway to gain more strength, so I followed. I have faith that you would not leave me behind since I know your favorite color," Claire remarked.
I couldn't stop myself from chuckling. There was no guarantee that things would go well for us, considering we were in unknown territory. Any powerful creature could have stalked us here and there, and there is no reason to believe otherwise. In my current state, I am strong, but even now, my capacity to fight is low. While it was entertaining to fight the Kongarillo, it did drain a bit of my finite stamina. Not to mention the long walk to get to this spot outside of the Kick-Rat's settlement.
They may have hidden it well, but both Claire and Mikangelo were winded now. It is likely that they were not accustomed to the level of activity we experience today. So, it was fortuitous that we had this moment of rest despite Mikangleo's stubbornness to join us on the root bench.
"You don't have to worry about that. It would be unwise to allow you to die here. I did make a deal with you, and the devil continuously collects what he is owed. So, continue to put your faith in me, and you'll find that both of our desires are fulfilled sooner rather than later."