Broken Core [LitRPG • Cultivation • Post Apocalyptic • Romance]

What the hell is a Fenrir doing out here? James asked himself. Picking up the body of the Fenrir, he watched his vultures feast before flinging the wolf onto his shoulder. His Soul Strike attacks were on cooldown as his soul recovered and he could hear a minotaur approaching.

With a shake of his head, he used the last of his energy to summon his sword. Turning towards the Forsaken as it entered his street, he watched it freeze in place. With a smirk, James dashed towards it as it tried to back away.

Slashing his sword through its stomach, he bisected the monster and watched it crash to the ground. Shifting the wolf on his shoulder, he looked over the minotaur. He needed to eat, and the Fenrir likely did as well. Cutting off the monster's leg, he dismissed his sword and picked it up. Whistling, he called the attention of the vultures.

"It's all yours. I have to retire for the day."

Bowing their heads, they hurried over to the minotaur and started eating. Leaving them to the kill, he started running. The city blurred around him as he raced back to his shelter. The city blocks passed in seconds before he arrived and scanned his hand.

Stepping inside, he shut the door and laid the Fenrir down on his bedroll. It was clearly female based off its anatomy and she was dehydrated as he could feel her bones through her fur. If the wolves were chasing her for days, she probably spent all of her energy and more running away.

Tilting her head, he poured a small amount of water down her throat, making her cough. He continued until he guessed she had enough to begin refreshing herself. With that done, he glanced at the minotaur leg and licked his lips.

"Fresh meat." Pulling it to his mouth, he started taking chunks out of the monster. The blood leaked around his lips as he sucked most of it down. The rich, tangy taste of the fluid was enjoyable as the tender meat found a home in his stomach. It only took a quarter of the leg to fill his stomach before his reserves started to fill. Setting down the leg, he looked at the Fenrir and found her soul to be weak. The flame was flickering yet wasn't going out. Each passing second found it to be growing slightly, returning to its normal size.

She'll be waking up soon. The water helped.

Crossing his legs, he sat and watched. Reaching out, he touched her stomach and felt where her core should be. What he found instead was a dantian that was beginning to form into a core.

Interesting. She's from the East.

In the West, a cultivator already had their core and worked on making it solid. The East had dantians and turned them into cores before nascent soul. They also cultivated what they called Qi, the same energy as Aether. That was a hint on where he was in the world.

I'll have to ask her specifics when she wakes up. I find it hard to believe that my sect dropped me on the other side of the world.

Closing his eyes, he started meditating. He could feel her soul nearby, growing stronger as he felt his own soul energy refill. Killing the pack of wolves with a series of Soul Strikes was a test of his limits. He had exceeded what he thought was possible and knew he was ready to strike stronger monsters.

But now I have to deal with her.

Minutes turned to an hour before the woman started to stir. Her soul flickered, pulling him out of meditation as he watched her eyes open. A whimper escaped her as she tried to move, and he rested his hand on her side.

"You're safe," he said softly.

Eyes snapping to him, she whimpered again.

Letting her go, he grabbed the leg of meat and slid it over to her. "Eat. You need the energy."

Saliva dripped from her lips as she eyed the leg. Hardly waiting, she started tearing into it, meat ripping from the bone. He smiled at her as he waited for her to finish.

Once she laid back down, he cocked his brow. "You should change back to your human form."

Standing, she started backing away from him, growling.

"I know what you are, Fenrir," he stated. "If I was going to kill you I would have already. Your body would be food for the vultures."

Stopping her growling, her head slunk to the ground. Slowly her body started to stretch, and the fur faded as she returned to her human form. A gasp of pain escaped her, and he rushed forward to brace her as she collapsed.

Stolen novel; please report.

"How long have you been in your wolf form?" he asked.

Opening her mouth, she whimpered before trying to form words. Setting her down, he found her chest lightly wrapped in fur and her shorts to be hardly there. She was very dirty, and her ribs stood out from malnutrition.

"A month…two…" she whispered after nearly a minute.

"That's a long time," he said softly. "You should be lucky you could change back at all." Resting his hand on her back, he helped her sit up before handing over a bottle of soul water. She glanced at the white water before shying away.

"It's safe," he said. "You've already drank some. It's just water."

Taking the bottle with shaking hands, she nearly dropped it. Resting his fingers over hers, he helped guide the bottle to her lips where she hesitantly tasted it. It barely passed her lips before she started greedily sucking it down. Her soul flared and grew stronger as the bottle was emptied.

"That's better," he said softly. "We can get more meat tomorrow. You need to rest, and I have many questions for you."

Eyeing him, she glanced at their touching fingers before pulling away.

"I bet you have many as well." Scooting back, he gave her space. "Why are you in the wastelands? You are far from your tribe."

Brows furrowing, her expression sunk until tears welled up in her eyes.

Watching her mouth open and close a few times, he guessed what had happened. "They chased you out. Why would they make you an outcast?"

Lifting her head, she whispered, "I wanted to explore the world."

"And you didn't fit into their role of what the pack should be. Mindless."

Nodding, she lowered her head again.

Chuckling, he added, "you certainly know how to explore. The wastelands are about as dangerous as you can get. That pack should have killed you."

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"I was abandoned here," he admitted.

Frowning, she looked him over. "You don't have a dantian. There's no Qi flowing around you, but there's a pressure that is suffocating."

Eyes widening, he glanced at his soul. Maybe that is why the monsters flee.

Focusing inward, he compressed his soul. The usual bonfire shrank to a compact fist and the Fenrir started breathing easier.

"Sorry about that," he said with a weak chuckle.

"The world shifted," she said with a wary expression. "What are you?"

"A human," he said. "Just a mortal living as best he can."

Shaking her head, she narrowed her eyes. "You're no mortal. You killed that pack with a wave of your hand without using Qi."

"Technically I would use Aether," he corrected. "If I still had my core."

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she settled. "What is a cultivator from the West doing in my part of the world? What happened to your core?"

Frowning, he closed his eyes. "It was destroyed."

Eyes wide, she bowed her head. "I'm sorry…"

"It's fine." Waving her off, he turned the windows and watched the clouds pass overhead.

"Why would they do that to you?" she asked.

Pressing his lips into fine lines, he didn't answer. Once she realized that, she tried to change subjects. "What energy are you using?"

Scratching his cheek, he felt the beard that had grown in place. "Something that I'm not sure I should share with you just yet."

Nodding, she started running her hand over her arm. "Do you have more of that water?"

Getting up, he moved to the edge of the shelter and grabbed a bottle of water and crude fur cloth. Handing it over, he turned his back to her. "Let me know if you need more."

"Thank you," she said softly before the sound of fabric shifting caught his ear.

Dripping water reached him next as she soaked the cloth and started scrubbing. Her scent washed over him, reminding him that he likely smelled just as ripe. He hadn't exactly bathed that often.

"You are clearly strong," she started. "Why are you still living here?"

"I'm not strong enough," he answered. "I have more Forsaken to kill and I'll start again tomorrow."

"You hunt them for sport?"

Shaking his head, he almost turned to her. "No. For power. They have what I need to grow stronger. The Forsaken in the wasteland aren't like those in the rest of the world. They are monsters and should be eradicated."

Silence filled the minutes before he heard her dressing. She smelled cleaner and he could sense her soul had returned to normal.

"How is your dantian?" he questioned.

"Nearly empty."

Turning to her, he nodded. "That's fine. Focus on recovering and cultivating. If you need more food, tell me. I'll hunt something down."

Glancing at the leg, she frowned. "Did you eat it raw?"

Licking his lips, he nodded. "Minotaur is tasty. Too bad they are all but gone."

Shivering, she scooted away. "Are you sure you are human?"

"I am." Holding out his hand, he added, "James."

Taking it slowly, she said, "Luna."

"What are your plans from here, Luna?"

Frowning, she slumped again. "I don't think I'll make it in the wasteland."

He agreed and glanced towards the stairs. "If that's the case, I still have more of the city to explore and grow stronger. After that, I'm leaving, and you can come with."

Perking up, she asked, "Are you sure? You know I'm a demi-human, right."

"Mother taught me I shouldn't judge another based on race."

"She sounds like a smart woman."

"She was," he said softly.

"Oh…I'm sorry…" Ears pressed against her head; he noticed her tail had fallen still.

Getting up, he walked towards the stairs. "If you need to walk around, I can take you into the tunnels. I haven't cleared them yet, but they have interesting things in them."

"Interesting things?" Her incredulous look was full of skepticism.

Shrugging, he prepared to enter. "Your choice. You can always cultivate as well. Nothing will attack you here."

"Not even you?" she questioned.

"Not even me. I'm going to look for a tub though. Your hair and tail are matted to hell."

Frowning, she grabbed her hair and winced. Getting up, she stepped up to his side. "Are you sure you won't kill me?"

"I'm sure." Giving her his best smile, he started walking. "I'd suggest not wandering too far from my side though. At least until the vultures learn you are with me."

A whimper escaped her as they entered the stairwell.