CHPT 425: Cyclical Violence, Steady Ascension

The world was different underwater. So unlike anything he'd experienced. The Sea was it's own monster before any bladed tentacles and endless rows of teeth were added. The darkness, illuminated by black eyes and fluorescent scales. The weightless feeling flight— better known as swimming. The cold currents and electrical fields radiating off the creatures hidden deeper than one man could comprehend. It was a shock.

Even more so when Claude found that the creatures he once thought were attacking him were actually running. He'd fallen into a stampede of sorts, caught in the crossfire of a fleeing horde of sea creatures. And once he'd taken the traits of the creatures around him to enhance his survival, that fact only became more apparent.

Plus, whatever could make an Octolepid as big as their boat run, was something Claude didn't want to risk battling over water.

So he leapt out of the waters. His senses were transformed— altered and attuned to be accurate within the Tendread Sea. His nose held onto scents in a different way— he could physically feel an energy….. a presence radiating from Ursula and Frosty as they stood nearby in confusion. The sunlight above felt harsh on his black and green eyes— his skin felt like it was drying by the second even from beneath his wet armor.

To his surprise, more than anything, he wanted to go back into the water. At least part of him did. The other part was on the same wavelength as Ursula.

"CLAUDE?!" She yelled after he'd spoken of the creatures and their hysterical fleeing behavior.

"Yes." His voice was different. Not the deep and guttural tone that arose with his Lupine transformation triggered by embrace. Instead it was deep and silky, almost hollow.

He could feel something on his neck moving when he spoke. Gills.

He looked down at his hands suddenly and understood their shock. His newly gained Beast Boost attribute of trait mixing had activated in full swing.

Dark grey thick skin. Increased muscle density— maybe even fat to help in water, suckers lined his under arms where the armor left it to be seen. Calloused and hardened tissue in the form of a bladed appendage lined his arms and legs. His feet and fingers were even webbed. No claws.

"[Bloody hell you look like a Hexed Acid trip.]" Arne commented.

"What….. what happened?— is that a Lupine thing?" Ursula asked, most of her discomfort faded as she rushed over to him with Frosty and the others in tow.

"No. Lupine hybridization is a lot more….. seamless." Claude replied. His voice still freaked him out. Ursula as well since he could see her fight off a shiver.

"My Beast Trait skill leveled up after I used it on the Black Lizard. I can borrow multiple animals traits now." Claude explained as Ursula took a step closer. Close enough that he could feel her berry smelling breath drying the skin on his lips.

"How do you feel?" She asked.

"I'm ok." Claude replied flatly, the beads of water dripping from his long hair onto his stomach felt heavenly. He never knew water to be so wonderful. Maybe Maris was onto something.

"And you…. What? You can do this with any mix of animals?" Ursula questioned as she grabbed his hands and turned them over.

"I don't really know." Claude replied honestly, "But I like it."

"Of course you do." Ursula said. She smiled faintly for the first time since he'd escaped the water.

"What does that mean?"

Ursula looked up at him and swept his hair out of his face before placing her hands on his cheeks to study him further, "This is right up your alley. I mean damn…. All this shit is."

Claude shrugged, "We could say the same about you."

Ursula's eyebrow raised, "Oh yea?"

"Hell yea. Berserker….? Bear trait focused Lupine? You know Berserkers in Norse Mythology were wild high class warriors that wore bear pelts and body paint for armor? Sounds right up your alley too, Ursula….. I guess you can say this magic makes itself fitting for everybody."

Ursula nodded in agreement, "Sucks that we're short on paint….. and the last pelt I wore happened to be a crazed magical lion."

Claude chuckled dryly. The onset drying feeling from the sun and sea air faded slowly. Ursula's hands on his face must've hidden it's intensity. Or not. Even the physical jolt he felt from everyone's presence was disappearing. After a few seconds it was all gone.

When he opened his eyes, the world was different again— reverted to normal. The sun was less intense, the air was cool. He found everyone looking at him again, human form once more.

"You alright, partner?" Cassidy questioned from beside Ursula.

"Of course." Claude replied.

"Alright. But you're bleeding. Let's get you patched up and discuss tonight's plans. Maybe you can tell me more about what happened down below to." Cassidy said.

Claude nodded, "Sure."

***

After an hour or so, Claude was shrugging on his armor once more despite it's dampness while Cassidy discussed the nights plans. During the stitching session, he filled the Hunter and everyone else in on something that caused everything below to run.

None of them were sea experts but Sharks and other sea predators heading up a few depths levels wasn't normal. They'd either turn back a few miles out or die. The question was, what could drive them to do that.

Whatever it was, Cassidy decided to switch their trajectory on the map. Claude agreed. Not a big switch, but one that got them further away from Dead Zones with bigger looping arcs between Tangents.

Speaking of Tangents…..

"Alright, tonight won't be as simple as last night." Cassidy explained from his spot at the back end of the ship beside the sail and steering wheel.

"Wolfboy, this is a gamble without you and beefcake over there." Cassidy explained, gaining an assertive bark from Frosty at the word "beefcake".

Claude, pushed off from the railing he was leaned on at the back of the boat, "How so?"

"Well, this is a high Silver Ranked Goblin Tangent. Goblins do Hordes well and at Silver Ranking the Horde will be massive— especially for a team of our size. And if they have a Shaman….."

"Each member will be stronger after we start killing." Claude finished.

"You've fought one?" Cassidy questioned as he looked up from the map.

"One almost killed me….. that was kind of my fault though." Claude explained, suddenly remembering Fenrir berating him for not utilizing all his abilities.

"Weekend Night Runner adventures?" Ursula questioned from beside him.

Claude nodded.

"Well, time for some get back then, huh?" Cassidy questioned with a sly grin.

"We'll do what we have to."

Cassidy nodded, "What we have to do is be aware of the water."

Claude took a step forward as Cassidy handed him the map.

Just as he remembered, thick skins and leathers covered in writings, lines and symbols. Their marked trajectory looked like a lopsided rainbow running from Camaco's shores to the northern coast of The Angelos District. Along the way their stops at each Tangent were clear. The next stop was even further into the Tendread Sea than the last. But the main issue was the marked Dead Zone a little over fifty miles out.

Not an outright danger, but there was a higher risk.

"Preferably, we need to be inside before nightfall." Cassidy started.

"And we need to be out well into the day." Ursula continued.

Claude shrugged, "Not too far into the day or else we won't have enough time to travel or reach the next Tangent."

"True." They all agreed.

A dilemma had risen. To balance risk with travel.

They sat in thought for a while with Cassidy using his many travels, hunts and experiences to his advantage while Claude conversed with his Lupine Guide. Even Ursula was straining her limited knowledge on the matters at hand as she petted Frosty.

After a few minutes Ma stopped singing, "I have an idea."

"Not right now, lady. You just keep singing your songs for us." Cassidy waved her off, deep in his own thoughts.

Suddenly her dark blackish blue hair began to flow as if she were underwater and her eyes flashed with anger as she flew over to him and punched him.

Cassidy flinched only to feel nothing.

Claude and the others looked on in understanding as her hand traveled through his head head. Like a ghost.

"Wolfboy understands. He is more perceptive than when I first met him." Ma said cheerfully.

"You want to scout for us underwater." Claude guessed.

Ma nodded, "When you're all ready to leave, I'll get out of the Tangent first and head under. If there is a group waiting maybe I can draw them away. I'll tell you it's clear by throwing something inside as a signal. Then we won't waste time trying to be safer."

Cassidy shivered as Ma pulled her arm out of his head.

Ursula held her hand up as Ma flew by and high fived her, "I'm on board…. No pun intended."

"I think we all are, we don't have much of a choice." Claude announced.

"Touché." Cassidy agreed.

"Alright." Claude started, "Now we wait. Grab any loot from before that may be better than what you have and get ready for nightfall."

Slowly the group spread throughout the boat, arming themselves and doing as he said. Waiting for nightfall.

During that time, Claude found the familiar cry's of a bird growing closer by the minute.