Exchanging Lives

Cage half-crouches, black eyes focusing on his opponent. Sweat trickles from his brow and drips into his eye, causing him to squint. He wipes the sweat away with his wrist, careful not to stab himself with his shortsword. His inexperience with a weapon coupled with his extreme tunnel vision has already resulted in a few small cuts on his skin. Fortunately, Cage does not need to worry about blood.

His own blood, that is.

A few meters ahead, a reptilian creature skulks, studying its prey. Its body shape is akin to that of a crocodile, a rather large one. The 'Jumper', as Ingen had called it, has a long scaly body and a thick, spiky tail the length of Cage's own leg. Four long limbs jut out from the sides, the elbows bending at a ninety-degree angle to hold the beast up. The scales are a mix of blue and yellow that fade into one another. The face consists of a long snout with sharp, jagged teeth, and beady yellow eyes.

Cage holds the gaze of the yellow-eyed creature. It has bat-like wings on its midsection, much too small to carry its weight for more than a few seconds. As Cage has learned though, a few seconds is all that is needed.

The Jumper backpedals slowly, then tenses its muscles, bursting into a sprint toward its prey. The creature only takes a few steps before it leaps into the air, its wings flapping hard and carrying the Jumper several feet into the air. The creature spreads its limbs wide, claws outstretched as it descends directly onto Cage's head.

Cage pivots, pushing off the forest floor with his bare feet. He flies from the Jumper's landing spot, rolling from his shoulder to his feet as his opponent slams against the ground, throwing up dirt and dead leaves. Cage moves again, dashing towards the Jumper before it has time to gain its bearings.

Cage leaps over the creature, cutting the wings from its body as he tumbles through the air. He is accustomed to flipping through the air, but this time, it is voluntary. Landing on the other side of the beast, Cage takes advantage of the creature's agony, kicking its front and back leg lightly, not enough to actually injure the beast. And that is not his intent.

As the Jumper continues to writhe in pain, dark blood spurting from its back, it suddenly trips, both limbs on its left side now useless. Cage hops on the creature's back, paralyzing its other limbs. He raises his sword, the tip pointing to the Jumper's scaly neck.

Cage breaths in sharply, plunging the blade downward. Just before his attack connects, a heavy and sharp object slams into Cage's side, sending him flying across the forest. He crashes into a tree, chipping bark from the wood, bones cracking as he falls to the ground. Cage groans, lifting himself from the forest floor, the bones in his body moving and shifting back into place. While the process stings, Cage has become used to it.

During his training, there had been several times that bones had cracked and fractured with his repeated heavy landings. Each time, those bones would repair themselves seconds later, and even though Cage did not plan to let broken bones halt his training, the strange healing was a huge relief. Even if it does sap a bit of his energy each time.

Cage stumbles to his feet, the final bones shifting to their rightful place in his body. He looks toward the Jumper to find that it does not move, and he soon learns it is not because of his paralyzation.

Ingen stands over the Jumper's body, brain matter and blood dripping from his Warhammer. He studies the creature with furrowed brows, an imposing frame casting a massive shadow across the forest floor. It should be surprising that Cage was launched so far by the beast's attack, but Ingen knows from experience how light the one-armed man's body is.

"What hit me?" Cage steps up, rolling his shoulder as the very last bone sets in place.

Ingen glances up at the black-eyed man, pointing with his Warhammer, "The tail. You would do well to remember that most beasts have more than limbs to use as weapons," he says with blunt words. Cage nods in response, and Ingen hums, eyes drifting to that small sword. The Rajin scoffs, "Even if that sad excuse for a blade was enough, you do not have the strength to pierce the Jumper's scales. Be more creative. Use your surroundings if you have to."

Cage nods, humming. It makes sense, he thinks, while his speed is at least exceptional, Cage's strength is still pitiful. Why is that? Each beast and insect has made his body more powerful in every way imaginable, yet some attributes have been raised more than others. Could it be due to what kind of beasts he has absorbed? That doesn't seem to be it, for that centipede was not nearly as fast as it was strong and durable. What else could it be then?

Cage looks up at Ingen, saving the thought for later, "If you were me, then how would you have done it?" he asks.

Ingen raises a brow, then looks down at the Jumper's carcass. He flips the beast over with his foot, revealing a pale, soft underbelly. He taps the soft skin with the head of his Warhammer, "While those scales are impenetrable by you, this part is not. I would have waited until the beast left the ground. Jumper's cannot change their trajectory after they have left the ground, and with the weight of the beast, a blade set directly beneath it would do the job."

"Wouldn't I be crushed since it's so heavy?" Cage asks.

"Undoubtedly," Ingen replies, "That is why certain weapons are better for different situations. If, say, I had a spear, then I could plant the weapon into the ground and get out of the way. The beast would effectively take its own life, and I would be safe."

"Oh, that makes sense," Cage says, rubbing his hairless chin, black locks ruffling slightly in the wind, "But it's hard for me to use certain weapons with my... disability."

"True," Ingen agrees, lugging his hammer over his shoulder, "However, beast nor man will relent because of that. If anything, they will make it their goal to take advantage of your missing arm."

Cage nods in response, "I'll have to keep that in mind," he says, earning a grunt of agreement from Ingen. Cage looks down at the dead creature, its head now a mess of dark blood and brain matter.

Cage kneels beside the Jumper's carcass, setting his sword on the ground. The head of the beast is a nearly flat mush covered in blood and brain matter. He studies the lifeless body for a moment, the blue-yellow scales sparkling in the sunlight. If Ingen was not here, would Cage have survived this encounter? He wants to say yes, that he would have found some way to survive, but he has difficulty believing that thought.

A rumble in Cage's stomach throws the thought from his head. The insects and rodents he absorbs on the way to the Collector Village have kept the hunger at bay, however, he would need at least a hundred more to be fully satisfied. Now a full meal is in front of him, waiting to be devoured.

Cage places his palm on the warm, slimy scales. He calls forth those black tendrils, and they slither from his hand. They move much faster than ever before, engulfing the carcass in mere seconds. The solid darkness lingers, taking the shape of the beast, then slinking back to Cage's hand as if pulled by the force of a black hole.

As the tendrils disappear, erasing all evidence of the Jumper, a strong wave of satisfaction washes over Cage. He revels in the euphoria of his increased awareness and physical capabilities, taking deep breaths to steady himself. However, even with the hunger gone, something bothers Cage; those dark tendrils had moved unusually fast, as if desperate to swallow the meal. Were they reacting to his hunger? That is the most sensible possibility to Cage.

Taking a peek inside the vault, Cage sees the Rage Stones and another sword identical to the one laying beside him. Above these objects, a stone platform floats, at least that is what it seems to be. While the side facing Cage is smooth with sharp corners and about three feet thick, the other side is jagged and uneven, as if half-built.

The strange platform appeared on that first night Cage tested his powers, after speaking to Mavyl's soul. With each insect and rodent he has absorbed, and now beasts, the platform grows little by little. Those strange orbs that are left behind by the things Cage absorbs are no longer here, and he surmises that they must be what is creating the foreign stone structure.

"Are you done?" Ingen asks, brows furrowed as he studies the kneeling man. Cage has sat in silence for a long minute, his eyes closed.

Cage jolts, craning his neck up to meet Ingen's gaze, "Yeah. Sorry," he says, grabbing his sword and standing.

Ingen hums, gazing at Cage. The Rajin would be lying if he said he was not disturbed by Cage's powers. No one should be able to make something disappear like that. Cage has become someone that is to be protected, and Ingen will do so as long as Kyro does the same. However, Ingen wants that darkness nowhere near him. Nothing good can come from dabbling in something so... unnatural.

"What is it?" Cage asks, forehead wrinkled, black eyes staring upward.

Ingen raises a brow, having difficulty holding the gaze of those empty eyes. He glances down at the sword in Cage's hand, "Where did you get that? I can't imagine Yoru gave it to you," Ingen says, gesturing toward the small weapon.

Cage raises the sword before him, "Oh, this?" he asks, "I borrowed it."

"Is that so?" Ingen asks, gesturing with a tilt of the head to begin walking, "And who let you 'borrow' a sword?"

Leaves and twigs crunch under Cage's bare feet as he walks beside Ingen, sun rays sprinkling through the colorful leaves above, "A foreigner merchant," he says, "He was still setting up for the day and wasn't looking, so I slipped them into my vault. I plan to return them."

Ingen's laugh echos through the forest, "I suppose you could pass that off as borrowing," he says, looking down at Cage, "Do me a favor, keep the sword."

"Huh? Why?" Cage meets the Rajin's gaze, brows furrowed.

"Because those foreigner merchants are a scheming bunch, the whole lot of them," Ingen responds, eyes returning to the path ahead, "They know that Rajin rarely leave this planet, and have little knowledge of the current trading trends. I'm not sure if they have some merchant association that meets about this, but most of them charge outrageous prices. Back when I was still a soldier, one asked me for an entire skinned animal carcass, and all I wanted was a bottle of mead. Ridiculous."

Cage chuckles, imagining an old merchant haggling with Ingen as if unphased by the Rajin's intimidating size. Yoru informed him that Rajin mostly trade rare metals mined from the nearby mountains, animal pelts and meat, and many other things unique to Raj. Though from what Cage understands, Rage Stones would be more valuable than any of these things.

Cage looks up at Ingen, "I know Rage Stones are kept a secret from foreigners, but wouldn't they find out anyway? If they follow Collectors to Kalar, they would know where the stones come from, and could go get their own, or even cut off the Collectors from taking them," he says.

Ingen raises a brow as he meets Cage's gaze, wondering what brought the man to ask this question. He hums, "I know of some that have tried, but they are all dead," Ingen says, looking up at the sun, judging the time of day by its position in the sky, "Collectors have scoured Kalar for centuries. We know where to find the Stones, how to deal with the beasts that lurk there, and what is needed to survive the heat. Rajin men are some of the strongest in all of the Praesi. Stepping foot on Kalar means death for those that lack the same strength as us."

"Plus, every Rajin, man and woman, knows that giving away information on the Rage Stones means death. Only an imbecile would risk their own life to release that information."

"You say that no one but Rajin would be able to survive on Kalar, but I did it. I survived," Cage replies bluntly.

Ingen laughs, "True," he says, meeting those black eyes, "But you also had Kyro and me to guide you."

"Yeah, I know," Cage responds. That much is obvious. He thinks of his conversation with Yoru the previous night, and his eyes drift up to Ingen. The Rajin's bald head shines in the sunlight, his steps heavy across the forest floor. Ingen notices Cage's gaze, a bushy silver brow-raising, "What is it?"

"Would you and Kyro come with me when I leave this planet?" Cage asks, "I can remove the tracker from you both, and you'll be free. The only thing I ask in return is for you to leave this planet with me."

Ingen cocks his head back, stopping in his tracks. He stares down at Cage, and those black eyes look back at him, determined. Ingen humors the short man, "And what of Yoru? Do you expect us to leave our family behind?" he asks.

"Of course not, Ingen," Cage responds, "I talked with her last night about it. She agreed to come with me, but only if I can convince you two to do the same."

Ingen pauses. It still disturbs him that he cannot read even a hint of motive or emotion behind those empty eyes. The Rajin thinks about leaving this planet and finds himself surprised by his own feelings. Here on Raj, there is nothing left for him, except for Kyro and Yoru, the only two people that have been with him his entire life.

Flashes of his childhood run through his mind, three children playing in the forest, imagining themselves traveling through the Praesi. Ingen looks through the line of trees ahead, towards the silhouette of that mountain in the distance, Betor's statue standing tall atop it. After a moment, his eyes return to the patiently waiting man before him. Could this strange and mysterious man revive his childish dreams? Ingen hopes for it to be true, yet hesitation still worms its way inside of him.

"You are sure that you will be able to remove the tracker?" Ingen asks, Warhammer held loosely at his side.

Cage nods, "It will take time, but I'm confident that I can," he responds.

Ingen nods, "Very well, but you don't have that much time," he says, "Me and Kyro may not be alive after meeting with the Epochs. If they choose, then we will be executed."

Cage's eyes widen. Of course, he thinks. Even Yoru mentioned it, the Epochs control the men with the Rage Stones. They are an invaluable resource, and with this meeting, that resource will no longer be obtainable. To add to it, the claim that a Massor has appeared on Kalar is downright ridiculous in the mind of the Epochs. To them, it will make more sense that Kyro and Ingen are fabricating the story in order to be freed from their duty as Collectors.

Cage meets Ingen's gaze, "Are you certain that will be their decision?" he asks.

Ingen hums, shaking his head, "No, I'm not. But it is a possibility. A very likely one, in my own opinion," he responds.

"I'll find a way to save you two," Cage says, a solid determination in his eyes, "I will not let you or Kyro die."

Ingen holds his gaze, pausing. Cage is serious, he can see that much, "Very well then. I will take your word for it," he says.