God's Garden - I've Got Skills 3

Norvin's stomach started to growl. 

"Kid, you better eat some food to help recover your body's strength and energy. How are you going to make use of the Howler we took along?"

Norvin felt that the sub-body's words were more of a test than a real question.

Leaning against the rock wall of the cave, Norvin took a moment to collect his thoughts. The enclosed space was getting even chillier as time passed. He knew he needed to create warmth—a small fire to ward off the cold, cook the Gale Howler, and lift his spirits after the earlier harrowing experience.

With that in mind, he focused on his surroundings, scanning the cave for anything he could use. The walls held a few loose twigs and bits of dry moss, but it wasn't enough. He recalled the multiple nature and survival shows locked away with his photographic memory — the way the experts gathered materials, how they built their fires. He could see their movements in his mind's eye.

"Alright, psychic energy, let's do this," he murmured. With a concentrated thought, he began to summon the energy welling within him, feeling it pulse at his command. He envisioned the nearby trees — those towering sentinels of the forest just outside.

Using his power, Norvin reached out to draw forth a few small branches and clumps of dry leaves, feeling the wood and foliage yield to his will.

Like obedient tendrils of smoke stretching across the ground, the branches began to converge into a small pile near the rock shelf. As the last piece settled into place, he examined the gathering of burnable wood and leaves, satisfied with the selection.

He needed to keep it simple — just enough to create a decent flame going throughout the night.

"Now, let's get this fire up and running," he said, his adrenaline spiking as he thought about the friction method he had often seen on screen.

Norvin reached for a sturdy, flat piece of branch and placed it on the ground. Then, selecting a thin but solid stick, he employed his psychic energy to rotate it rapidly against the other piece.

The friction produced a steady stream of heat that generated small wisps of smoke. Norvin concentrated, willing the energy from his core to flow into the task, and soon, he could see the first signs of tiny embers forming in the dust kicked up by his efforts.

A spark flared bright, igniting the dried leaves and kindling as the fire began to dance to life.

"Come on, come on…" he urged, his heart pounding in excitement. Moments later, the flames licked hungrily at the wood, crackling and popping as warmth surged into the cave. He watched in satisfaction, the cozy glow illuminating the walls, casting flickering shadows that painted the cave with dancing shapes.

"Not bad, kid." 

The sub-body dimmed the light coming from the Holodex, back to how it normally was.

"Thanks, 106."

"Funny guy, that isn't what we're calling me..."

Norvin smirked and started feeding wood into the small fire he had got going.

With the fire established, Norvin then realized he needed to ensure their safety within the cave's confines. He quickly turned his attention to creating a small port for oxygen; the last thing he wanted was to suffocate in the still air.

"Okay, let's keep this place breathable," he said, envisioning an opening that would allow fresh air to flow in and out while still maintaining a sense of seclusion. He stood and focused again, channeling his energy toward a section of the cave wall where the earth was less solid and more loamy.

With a forceful push, he began to reshape the stone and earth by rotating his psychic energy like a drill, creating a small vent-like opening. It was just large enough to allow for ventilation, but camouflaged enough that it would be hard for anyone — or anything — to detect from the outside.

"Perfect." Norvin stepped back to admire his work. The fire crackled cheerily, and he felt a renewed sense of purpose washing over him. Norvin settled once more on the rock shelf, the warmth enveloping him in a comforting embrace. 

After a few minutes of relaxing, Norvin turned his attention to the Gale Howler, which was laying crumpled up on the ground where he had dropped it when entering the cave originally.

He got up from his little nook and walked towards the entrance where the beast lay.

Norvin knelt beside the Gale Howler, the flickering firelight casting erratic shadows across its leaf and dirt entangled fur. Even in death, the creature exuded an aura of power and grace, its once fierce eyes now dull and clouded.

Norvin took a deep breath, suppressing any lingering guilt as he decided he was honoring its spirit by consuming it.

Norvin turned the dial on his Holodex until he came across the entry he was looking for. He moved through the menu on the entry, bringing up details about powers and weapons. He thumbed the entry when the right item was finally displayed on the Holodex's screen. Golden energy flowed down his arm and turned itself into a sharp, black dagger. 

The dagger's blade was double-edged, tapering to a razor-sharp tip that glinted ominously, the surface reflecting a rich emerald hue reminiscent of the color worn by the fictional character that used to wield it.

The center of the blade looked like a woodwind instrument was imbedded inside of it. The hilt was somewhat offset, one side was just black with golden markings, while the other side held a silver mouthpiece similar to one found on a flute. A small, golden tube traveled from the mouthpiece to the other side of the hilt, disappearing into the body of the weapon.

In the center of the hilt rested a golden coin with a symbol resembling a three-toed dragon's footprint.

The handle was just straight and black, with the exception of three golden trumpet buttons.

Norvin had summoned the dragon dagger.

"Why would you choose a musical knife to do this?" The sub-body questioned Norvin. 

"...Rule of cool. You wouldn't understand why it's badass to skin our dinner with the Green Ranger's weapon."

"You're right...I don't understand. But carry on."

As he was about to begin the delicate process of skinning, Norvin felt a strange connection—an acknowledgment of the life that had once surged within this beast. Each meticulous cut was made with precision, his memory of various techniques surfacing as though he had practiced this ritual countless times.

Norvin had watched several survival shows and other media about hunting and fishing. He already knew exactly what he needed to do with the Howler's body.

He took a deep breath, centering himself for the task before him. If this was before his calm mind enhancement, he probably wouldn't have had the stomach to do this sort of messy work. With steady hands, he grasped the dagger, its blade gleaming with razor sharpness.

The skinning process began, each slice precise and deliberate. He carefully inserted the blade beneath the taut skin, feeling the resistance give way as he pulled it back, revealing the tender flesh beneath.

With each deliberate motion, he peeled the skin away, exposing the bright reds and soft whites of the meat. The sight was both raw and primal. He worked meticulously, ensuring that no precious meat was wasted, guiding the blade with ease as it glided over muscle and sinew. With every cut he made, his skill with the dagger seemed to improve. Tiny droplets of crimson pooled at the edge of his work, each one a testament to the effort.

Once the skin lay discarded at the side, he moved on to the next phase, cutting the meat into manageable pieces. The knife sliced through the muscle with a satisfying precision, the sound of cutting breaking the serene quiet of the cave. He created thick, hearty chunks perfect for roasting over the fire, their raw surfaces glistening with moisture.

Norvin summoned a thicker stick from his wood pile with his energy and used the dagger to carve it into a smooth pole with a spear like end. He had more-or-less created a spit to skewer all the meat chunks he had made. He was going to roast the meat rotisserie style over his fire.

"I'm impressed Norvin, I knew I picked the right guy to bond with." 

Norvin stopped plunging the thick pieces of meat onto the wooden spear for a moment.

"Oh? Who else was an option?"

"Clearly Edward. He also has Atlas genes inside of him, he doesn't share your gift of memory however. When his super genes were activated, he became a Pugilist. I made the right choice. He laid his huge mits on my old confines many times while trying to pick up women at Makoto's before. I had a few opportunities to bond with him. I held out for you, it was more than a feeling...Forget that though. Let's concentrate on not burning the meat."

"I see...Well, I'm happy it was me and not him. Ed would have done something stupid with the Oracle ability if our roles were reversed."

The sub-body agreed. "He seems to be a prodigy when it comes to combat, not very imaginative otherwise, just like his father." 

"Mr. Lowell seemed pretty crafty, what are you talking about?" Norvin resumed loading his stick with meat while he made conversation about his roommate. 

The sub-body paused before responding.

"That isn't his real father, I'll tell you that much. His real father is a space evolved human with at least B, maybe A Grade power. I could tell by the genes."

Norvin was shocked at the statement.

"What?! Really? What else you want to tell me?"

"...Nothing, not right now anyways. Focus on cooking. I'm looking forward to seeing what food tastes like through your senses kid."

"Alrighty..." Norvin rolled his eyes. He had plenty of time to grill the sub-body for information later. Speaking of grilling, he needed to get something inside of him. He was getting really hungry at this point.

Norvin used the dragon dagger to carve some more wood into four equal pieces, and two small spikes. He took two pieces and made an X shape with them, driving the spike into their center point to keep them together. 

He took his last two pieces and did the same as before. Norvin then used his energy to float the stick laden with meat and rested it on the center of both X shaped pieces he had created.

He moved the whole contraption over top of the fire he had made earlier. 

Norvin used his mind to start rotating the meat, each piece was starting to drip as they heated up. 

"I sure hope this doesn't taste gamey or whatever, I hear that predators are stringy and tough."

"It will be delicious kid..." The sub-body answer Norvin's concerned statement. 

"...Those were at least D Grade creatures. Their meat will be much denser and packed with more fat than a run of the mill wolf from your planet."

"We'll see, it almost looks ready. I don't like well done steak, I'm more of a medium rare kinda guy."

Despite Norvin's worries, he was now suddenly distracted. The aroma the meat was starting to give off was heavenly. 

"Wait...should we be concerned about the smell? Is there going to be a random monster drawn in by the meat?"

"I wouldn't be worried. If anything, those creatures will think this is the work of something like that pig or monkey. They are near the top of the food chain and I doubt that anything will try steal a meal from either one of them. The Meta creatures here aren't used to outsiders making camp fires and cooking properly."

"That makes sense." Norvin stopped worrying and pulled the pole full of smoking meat away from the fire while releasing the dragon dagger, it turned into golden light and headed back into his Holodex.

He grasped a piece, inspected it for a moment and put it to his lips. It melted in his mouth, much better than any steak he had ever had back home. It may have also been partially due to how exhausted and hungry he was.

"Mmmmm, not too shabby! It's a damn shame that I don't have spices or sauce to put on it though."

"Maybe you should check yourself out with 'Cosmic Catalogue', like I told you to before...You can definitely get some salt and other spices to happen right now...You may have a photographic memory, but you sure forget what I tell you over and over again." 

The sub-body seemed to take on a mocking tone while it reminded him.