The Nature of Strength

Luke stepped out of the bath, the steam curling lazily around him as he reached for his few belongings—a worn satchel and his well-used clothes. Dressing quickly, he adjusted the satchel's strap across his shoulder and paused, his mind wandering. Now that I think about it, I'm going to need a weapon. I can keep using Code, but relying on my surroundings isn't exactly the safest long-term strategy.

Exiting the bathhouse, Luke offered a polite nod of thanks to the crystalline receptionist before stepping outside. The cool air hit him, a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the bath, and he immediately spotted Kuro standing at the entrance. The sight of the abnormal made him pause. Kuro's fur gleamed in the sunlight, its reddish hue restored and more vibrant than Luke had ever seen. The thick fur, now smooth and well-kept, practically radiated vitality.

Luke smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Still naked?"

Kuro blinked, his expression a mixture of confusion and indignation. "Obviously not! Why would you even ask that?"

Luke couldn't suppress his grin. "Because you look exactly the same as when you were in the pool."

Kuro tilted his head, genuinely perplexed. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Yeah… I'm never going to understand what abnormals consider naked, Luke thought, shaking his head with a chuckle.

"Anyway," he said, brushing the thought aside, "let's find Eleanor before heading to the Glow Gardens."

Kuro's confident demeanor immediately wilted. His shoulders sagged, and his eyes darted nervously. "...Do we have to go get her?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. It was the tone of someone resigned to an unpleasant fate.

Luke shot him an incredulous look as they slowly walked towards the center of the Shifting Bazaar. "Don't tell me you're still afraid of her."

"I don't think there's an abnormal alive who wouldn't be," Kuro muttered as they began walking. His voice trembled slightly as he continued, "She blew my arm clean off with one arrow."

Luke recalled his first encounter with Kuro and shrugged. "Yeah, but you were in your attack form. You didn't exactly have any durability back then."

Kuro's ears flattened against his head. "Still," he grumbled, "she's a natural-born hunter. Every instinct I have screams to stay away from her."

Luke frowned, his curiosity piqued. Her essence is directly tied to being a hunter, he thought. What would drive someone to become one? If an essence reflects a person's deepest desire or their truest self, what does that say about her?

"Well," Luke said aloud, trying to ease Kuro's tension, "her essence might make her accurate with a bow, but it's not like she's unstoppable. You should be fine as long as you use your speed or durability forms. And if worse comes to worst, your recovery form can handle the damage."

Kuro shook his head, his expression grim. "You shouldn't underestimate essences, Luke. People with them are exponentially stronger than those without. There's a reason only one in 100,000 people unlocks one, and even fewer—one in a million—can use it more than once. Some people only activate their essence once in their entire lives."

Luke's thoughts wandered as Kuro's words sank in. Are essences really that rare? He remembered the fight with Calista, the elf Hand of Fate, and how he had heard about Thalrien defeating the special guards. If essences are that uncommon, then those guards likely didn't have one. That would explain how Thalrien managed it.

Kuro's next words came in a faint murmur but hit Luke like a thunderclap. "Not to mention the possibility of hers evolving."

"Evolving?!" Luke exclaimed, his voice rising before he could stop himself. Several abnormals nearby glanced in their direction, their curiosity piqued. Embarrassed, Luke lowered his voice. "What do you mean by evolving?"

"It's exactly what it sounds like," Kuro explained. "An essence can evolve. Its nature doesn't change, but it can gain additional abilities—like branches extending from the same tree."

"So, it's like unlocking Ultimates?" Luke asked, recalling the stories he'd heard of Thalrien's power.

"Not quite," Kuro replied. "Ultimates are the strongest attacks or abilities an essence can achieve. They're so powerful that using one disables your essence for an entire day. But evolving an essence is different—it's about learning more about yourself and how to use your abilities, even after reaching your so-called 'peak.'"

The more you understand your essence—or yourself, since an essence is a reflection of your being—the stronger it becomes. The thought sent a ripple of excitement through Luke. Does this mean I could unlock even stronger abilities? But the excitement was quickly dampened by another realization. If Solen has mastered his essence, could that be why Aldric calls him a genius?

As they neared the hub of the city, a sudden burst of noise—cheers and screams—echoed between the buildings. Luke turned to see Kuro frozen in place. His fur bristled, and his body trembled as he stood behind Luke like a wary animal sensing danger.

Luke sighed, muttering to himself. For someone so eager to fight me back at the house—completely unbothered by Eleanor standing between us—you're acting awfully cowardly now. It's not like she's the devil or something…

His thought trailed off as he turned the corner and froze. What he saw made him reconsider. Eleanor sat at the center of a gambling ring surrounded by shady-looking abnormals. Even to Luke's untrained eyes, they were clearly the type to avoid—armed with biological weapons and tools strapped to their bodies. Yet now, they looked anything but intimidating. They stood awkwardly, their expressions a mixture of frustration and fear, as Eleanor sat grinning like a predator savoring her victory.

Piles of rewards sat in front of her, the spoils of a game she had undoubtedly dominated. Her mischievous grin stretched so wide it seemed unnatural, almost devilish.

Scratch that, Luke thought, his stomach sinking. She might actually be the devil in disguise.