#fragmentation 1

[shiningpunisher]

Mountain Cuisine

“Whew...”

It had been a hard struggle, but not even a behemoth could stand against Tasuku. The Dragon Force was certainly turning out to be exceedingly useful...

Taking the dead monster by the horn, Tasuku began dragging it behind him towards the rendezvous point, a feat made possible only because he had the Dragon Force active still. Perhaps the ethereal aura and the glowing crystals that still cloaked his form would give his position away to other monsters, but it was a fair trade off if he wanted to get the monster back to their meeting place.

Rouga was already there when Tasuku arrived, and Tasuku dropped the behemoth at his feet.

“Hey, Rouga! Do you think you could use any of this for a spear? It’s got a wicked set of claws and fangs too. We could even use the mane for a blanket or something.”

[stormspriggan-blog]

Returning the Favour

His first thought upon waking up was the panic-filled dread that he was going to drown.

But as he thought he would breathe his last, the burning cold of frigid water flooding his mouth and nose never came. Instead, Shuu found that he could breathe very easily despite being surrounded by water.

The shock of being able to breathe underwater faded into confusion. When had he decided to come here? Shuu had barely become acquainted with the main city and dared not stray into the outer districts. And then he remembered that strange voice that seemed to echo throughout Hive City’s skies, and realized that this must’ve been the orchestration of the scientists.

Valt...

Shuu’s mind immediately strayed to Valt’s safety, and more motivated to get a feel for his surroundings, Shuu kicked off the ocean floor. Though he could breathe, the water was still very much water, and he found quickly that he could swim through it. 

He had to find Valt... If Valt was even here. But his senses were overwhelmed by the new environment, and so focused was he on finding his way around that he didn’t notice an unwelcome follower...

“...?!”

Until its jaws were almost upon him.

[shiningpunisher]

Friends in High Places

There were monsters here too. 

This was the absolute worst. And while most of them fell easily before the Dragon Force, the ferocity and tenacity with which the beasts attacked him left Tasuku feeling even more on edge, and there was no way he would’ve been able to fend off so many on his own, mysterious power or not. 

Barely escaping from the last encounter unscathed, he half ran, half glided (at least he could fly with these powers!) down the steepening slopes and by some luck, chanced upon a forested area. Tasuku wasted no time in ducking into it, but he had nary the moment to catch his breath before the rustling underbrush set him on high alert.

The crystals swathing his ethereal form moved at his whim, and like a sharpened wing, fanned out with their jagged edges directed towards the one emerging from the bushes.

“Don’t come any closer!”

But rather than a monster, Tasuku came face-to-face with a rather “friendly” face.

“...Rouga?!”