[Extraction Complete.]
Vestige equipped: Frenzied surge.
Vestige description: Provides the host with a brief surge of adrenaline.
Vestige defect: Host becomes a mindless beast.
Active slots:[2/5]
Stock: Empty.
"What!!?? This ability has a flaw?"
"Tsk, I should have trusted my damn gut" Kai groaned.
Back inside the alley
"So what do you have to say now, Nyx." asked the old man smirking.
"What is there to say? He just kicked them in their groin that's the whole of the fight." Nyx spat irritated.
"Yes but he did beat them and survived." the old man looked at Nyx meaningfully.
"Yeah... I guess he's alright." Nyx relented.
***
Kai walked towards the unconscious chubby guy. He slapped him a few times but the man doesn't seem to wake up.
Kai let out a frustrated sigh and dragged his body through the road towards the river. First he jumped into the river washed up his body of all the grime and sweat, then he dragged him to the edge of the river and plunged his head into the cold, flowing river.
"Ack!! What...?Hey!! let go" the chubby guy shouted, voice muffled by the water.
"Are you awake now?" Kai asked enjoying the moment.
Kai pulled the poor soul up. He stared him down as the chubby guy recovered from his shock and cold.
"So... I know it's a bit and you tried to kill me but, what is your name?" Kai asked rubbing his drenched head.
"Actually... Nevermind" said Kai, eyes full of malice, he struck. Dislocating the man's jaw.
A broken scream followed.
Kai dragged him to the riverbank and forced his head under.
Cold water swallowed him.
He struggled—then Kai yanked him back up.
The man coughed violently, sucking in air like it was his last.
Before he could recover—
Kai pushed him under again.
Seconds passed.
Then up.
A ragged gasp. A broken attempt at a scream.
Down again.
The rhythm settled in.
Under. Up. Breath. Gone.
The man's resistance weakened with each cycle, his body reacting slower, his breaths turning shallow and desperate.
***
Nyx tilted her head, her eyes still fixed on Kai.
"…So, when do we recruit him?"
"Tonight," the old man whispered.
"It seems a bit much, doesn't it?" Nyx asked, watching the scene below.
The old man remained silent for a moment.
"Maybe."
His gaze never left Kai.
"Who are we to judge?"
***
Kai forced the man's dislocated jaw in place then continued to talk to him like nothing had happened between them.
"So, I have a job for you. Do it perfectly and you are free to go. Fail, or try to run way, and..."
He let the words linger.
Water dipped from the man's clothes, slumped on his knees, hair clinging to his face, his glassy eyes stared up at Kai, exhausted and terrified.
"I... I understand." He finally managed. His voice strained.
Kai proceeded to give a generous amount of money from his haul the other night.
"Alright go buy me some clothes and come back here."
Kai leaned down, bringing his face close to the man's chest, and took a slow breath.
"I've got your scent now. So forget about running."
Without waiting for a reply, Kai turned and walked deeper into the alley.
***
Meanwhile back on the abandoned park Puffy had finally woken up from it's slumber. The small beast let out a small cry as it woke up and flapped it's wings then flew towards the town, looking for something to eat. The thought of Kai, it's master, didn't even cross it's mind.
The bond between them has run it's course too. It was time to go their separate ways.
Yet as Puffy flew a strange heaviness settled in it's chest.
Why does my heart feel so heavy at the thought of leaving him behind? It's not like he cares about me.
Puffy couldn't understand it. If Kai didn't care about it, why does the thought of leaving him behind felt so wrong.
As Puffy flew toward the center of the town, the surroundings gradually began to change.
The cramped, weathered houses on the outskirts slowly gave way to sturdier buildings. Cracked walls became freshly painted facades, narrow streets widened, and the worn-down shops were replaced by larger, busier establishments.
The closer Puffy got to the center, the more prosperous the town became. Merchants filled the streets, colorful signs hung from elaborate storefronts, and grand buildings rose above the crowded roads.
Puffy noticed a few slave caravans that gradually turned into merchants transporting goods, some of them even transporting beasts, Which he decided to avoid and went higher up the sky.
***
The man returned with a fresh set of clothes for Kai. A clean, dark-gray shirt rested beneath a fitted brown vest, paired with sturdy black trousers and a pair of well-made leather boots. A simple leather belt held everything together, with a small pouch hanging from its side.
The clothes weren't particularly extravagant, but they were noticeably better than what Kai had been wearing before—clean, well-fitted, and suitable for someone who wanted to blend into the town without looking like a beggar.
They restrict my movements a bit. Damn it. I guess there's nothing I can do about it, Kai thought.
"Alright , you can go now." Kai waved him off.
The man nodded his head before sprinting away, wanting to disappear before Kai changes his mind.
Kai started walking towards the center of the town. He noticed a few merchant caravans.
I wonder if they are selling something good.
He walked up to an inconspicuous caravan tucked into a corner of the road.
The caravan looked old with rust spreading across its metal frame and hinges. It's wooden walls scratched and worn out, patches of paint fading away in several places.
A man, seemingly in his late fifties, wearing dusty, worn-out clothes, moved about inside the caravan, carefully dusting off his wares.
"So what are you selling?" Kai asked, noting the disheveled state of both the caravan and the owner.
The man jumped, startled by the voice.
"Oh... Uh.... A customer! Yes welcome!" The man fumbled over his words before quickly adding, "I sell potions."
"Right! Judging by the condition of your shop. Those potions don't seem to be working." Kai said bluntly.
"My potions are the best in this kingdom." The man grabbed Kai's collar and lashed out, his voice tinged with venom.
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Wanna fight?" Kai deliberately emphasized his next words. "Old man."
"Sorry young man. I got a bit heated in the moment." The man said letting go of Kai's collar.
"Ahem! Let's start again, shall we? My name is Gabriel and this right here is my whole life, passed down to me by my father, who inherited it from his father."
"Like I said my potions are the best..." Gabriel paused choosing his words carefully. "They just have a few... side effects."
Kai annoyed by Gabriel's persistence just let him talk..
Gabriel ignoring Kai's blatant disinterest went on to producing a few of his potions and shoved them in Kai's hand.
"The green liquid regenerates but you will get an insane hunger pang, the red one increases strength but if you take too much at once you will go berserk, the purple one turns you invisible for a while, depends on how much you drink but you turn blind for double the time."
Gabriel explained each potion with an infuriating grin on his face.
"Maybe I should wipe that smile off your face first." Kai muttered.
Gabriel's grin widens. "Come on young man don't be like that. You are a beast tamer right? I will give you free information on a special location."
Kai jumped back suddenly, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. His earlier irritation vanished instantly, replaced by unmistakable alarm.
I forgot to take the knife. Kai thought to himself.
"How do you know... I am a beast tamer?" Kai asked cautiosly.