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

James sat on top of the wall of a nearby business. The store was collapsed and bricks were scattered over the street and yard. Shelves that used to display guns and knives were rusted with their wares deteriorated. Why the ancients didn't use them was a mystery to him. Now that he was thinking about it, he didn't know why everyone considered them the ancients. Some of them were still alive…

Shrugging, he looked up and watched Luna fly through a house. Blood coated her body as a bipedal wolf stalked her. The Forsaken was even bigger than the previous beasts and faster. Luna was struggling as she climbed out of the rubble.

"A little help!" she called out.

"Nope!" he responded. "Get your ass back in there and kill it. Or run and let Siphon drain it to death."

Throwing off the last brick, she climbed to her feet as the three slash marks across her chest and stomach threatened to destroy the rest of her clothes.

"You are making me armor after this!"

Raising his brows, he looked over the werewolf. "I bet its fur is soft and leather is tough. Try not to ruin it."

Raising her hand, she gave him a one finger salute before charging back in. Chuckling, he watched closely as the flames from the monster were pulled into her. It was steadily growing weaker as its body turned sluggish. Only the lingering traces of soul energy were still in its body as she reached it. Balling her hand into a fist, she punched with everything she had, breaking bone as the monster collapsed backwards.

"Finally!" she screamed.

Hopping down from his wall, he laughed. "You know this whole area is filled with them, right?"

Growling, she turned on him. "After we are done, you are washing my tail and pampering me. The things I'm going through to be with you…"

"I didn't know you loved me so much," he teased.

Smirking, she crossed her arms as her wounds finished healing. "You're my husband. Of course, I love you more than anything."

Drawing his knife, he walked over to the Forsaken and started cutting through its hide. "I'll wash and smoke this fur while you keep hunting. It'll take me all day to make the armor since we abandoned my supply of hides."

Wincing, she looked sorry for a change.

"It's fine. You didn't know about the giant. With how you please me at night, I can forgive you."

Snorting a laugh, she helped him peel the hide from the monster. "If you weren't a filthy human, I would have kissed you by now."

"Says the monster that transforms into a wolf. As if I'd have a thing for animals."

Smiling, they both turned away from one another.

"James?" Luna asked softly. "Are you sure you are okay with sticking around a demi-human?"

"You're a demi-human?" he joked. "All I saw was a beautiful woman. Damn, I must be going blind."

Laughing, she let go of the monster. Wiping her eye, she leaned into him. "Thank you. My village didn't see me as anything other than a piece of warm flesh for beds, or an annoyance for wanting to see the world. I was blessed to have a core. That's the only reason I didn't end up as a breeder."

His smile fell away. "I'm sorry. I can't understand what that must have been like."

"It's not hard to imagine, really. I was used and then sentenced to death for not falling into line."

Shaking his head, he stopped his work. "You don't understand, Luna. I don't understand because my life was easy. I was a prodigy in my sect. I rapidly grew stronger and had my solid core as a teenager. Everyone bent over backwards for me. I honestly don't know what I did to get thrown into that city with a broken core."

"Now I feel bad," she murmured. Pausing, she turned to him. "You were a rich brat, weren't you?"

Narrowing his gaze, he pursed his lips. "I was not a brat."

"But you were rich."

"Define rich?" Returning to his work, he hoped she didn't answer.

"How many storage rings did you have?"

"Five," he answered without pause.

Her groan made him turn to her again.

"Something I said?" he asked.

"James…Storage rings are for the elite. People are lucky to have one in the sects. Even I know that and I've never been to a city."

"Really?" Frowning, he tried to think back on his sect. "It didn't seem that hard to get them."

"I'm so glad you got thrown into that city," she grumbled.

"Hey!"

"James, I say this with all the love I can muster. You needed a serious reality check. I've been worried what we were going to do in the city, but now I know I'll have to keep my eye on you. You're going to get robbed and you'll feel sorry for the urchins and give them more."

"Help me skin this monster." Frowning, he continued to peel and cut away the Forsaken.

Smirking, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry, Honey. But I am glad I found you in that city. But it's painfully obvious we grew up under different circumstances."

Nodding, he said, "yeah. You weren't experimented on. You weren't turned into a monster that tears everything apart when you get hungry. You were given the option."

Jaw dropping, she stared at him for several seconds before focusing on skinning the monster. Minutes passed as they finished working and she stepped away.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"It's fine. It's easy to think that my life was fortune and favor and you would be right. But now I'm a monster that rips souls from people and monsters." Rolling up the skin, he pulled out the tub and dropped it in. Cracking open the head of the werewolf, he pulled out its brain to help make the brine.

Luna clearly didn't want to make things worse and picked up her spear. "Keep an eye on me?"

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"Yeah." Mushing the brain, he filled the tub with enough water to work the hide. The conversation made him realize that he forgot a few steps. With a frown, he took the skin out and retrieved his knife. He still needed to remove as much flesh as he could and smoke the hide. Only then would he be able to temper it.

Luna didn't stick around as he worked. With heavy shoulders, she took a deep breath and walked down the street.

Luna didn't go far as she thought over everything James had said. He was two faced, or at least faceted. On one hand, he was a spoiled rich kid that grew up in luxury and never had to worry about anything. On the other, he was the man that ate raw meat with her and thrived in the wastelands against all odds. He was fearless as he took injury and pushed through. She was pretty sure he would just push his intestines back in if needed just to finish a fight.

Glancing over her shoulder at him, she frowned. Who are you really, James?

She knew she wouldn't get her answer easily. Not only was she going to stay with him, but her flirting was becoming serious. The easy way he quipped with her was attractive and his attentiveness to treat her right took her breath away.

Too bad I'm a demi-human…

She didn't like the thought that she knew he would judge her based on her appearance. They may pretend to be married, but when they got to the city, she would likely have to act as his servant. It wasn't a thrilling prospect, but one that she was ready to accept.

Transforming her nails into claws, she glanced at the nearby houses. The shops were all but destroyed on the street she was on and the houses beyond them were barely remnants of what they once were. The wolf monsters were shuffling around the area, staying to the streets.

Rounding the corner, she found one of the monsters sniffing the air. They locked eyes a second later and she flexed her fingers. Ten claws were ready to tear the Forsaken apart as she charged.

The brute charged in return, saliva dripping from its lips. Just before she entered its reach, she dropped low and slid across the ground. Dragging her claws across the monster's legs, she severed tendons before filling her claws with power. Tapping into Soul Siphon, she readied Soul Rend and dove for the wolf's back.

It tried to turn, but its leg gave out, making it stagger and drop its guard. Slashing with everything she had, she carved into its chest and she watched as its soul burst apart. A large chunk of it flowed into her while the wound seeped even more soul energy. The skill was aptly named. She rent the soul of her target, weakening it and bleeding it out. The physical wound was barely more than a pittance, but she sucked up its soul as if dying of thirst.

"Fight me," she hissed. "You are nothing compared to me!"

The wolf howled and she winced. The sound of more wolf monsters approaching made her scan the surroundings. Heart racing, she listened as three more converged on her, their snarls filling the air.

Just as they broke into the area, she activated Soul Siphon and latched on with everything she had. The morning had seen her advance into the fourth level of her soul and the wolves weren't giving her enough to rapidly advance. James didn't know that, but he did judge her for taking so much damage during her fights.

Only she knew that she was raising her slashing resistance like crazy. Her Regeneration was going to max out in a day or two and the claws of the beasts left Corruption behind as it tried to eat away at her body. She was growing stronger as she let them nearly kill her.

Slashing her claws through the throat of the injured wolf, she nearly severed its head before racing towards the new targets. Three streams of souls were entering her as she leapt and transformed into her wolf form. Slipping below the monster's guard, she bit into its leg and ripped with everything she had. Its hamstring tore wickedly as it collapsed to the ground.

Switching targets, she barely jumped back as claws tore into her side. Ignoring the pain, she dashed in and changed into her human form as she entered its guard. Slashing her claws through its neck, she kicked off its chest and flung herself at the last monster.

Knowing she was going to take more damage, she committed to clawing out its eyes. Teeth clamped down on her shoulder as her claws found their mark as she shredded its face. This was a side of her that she hadn't been showing James. The savage side where she fought as more of an animal rather than the human he saw her as.

Growling, she jabbed her claws into its mouth and pried its jaw open. Pulling her shoulder free, she felt her reserves draining as the large chunk of flesh started to regrow. The distraction of the moment let one of the wolves carve through her back, shredding the muscle as she screamed out in pain.

Snarling, she bit into the throat of the wolf she was attached to and ripped out its artery. Its powerful arms threw her clear and she slid across the ground before transforming and racing back in. Her reserves were draining quickly as muscle was rapidly regrown.

Lunging under a swipe, she dodged her target and raced to the one that she tore its leg apart. Biting down on its neck, she cracked bone and twisted with everything she had. The monster fell limp a moment later before she started running towards a wall.

The last wolf chased her and it was gaining. Leaping, she pushed off the wall and corrected her aim to the charging monster. Transforming back into her human form, she wrapped her legs around the creature's neck and dropped her body, throwing it off balance.

Its head smashed into the wall and she grabbed its legs to pull it further down. Sliding off its neck, she slipped out from under its collapsing frame and tore her claws through its neck. The last of its soul entered her body and she slunk to the ground.

"That was a good fight," James said from the side.

Eyes shooting open, she glanced at him. "When did you get here?"

Raising his brow, he didn't get to answer as her stomach growled. The world started to bend as her mind grew hazy. The hunger was claiming her.

Sustenance needed. Suitable food source nearby. Suitable water alternative nearby. Massive soul detected. Soul is too powerful to claim.

She felt her soul yearn for his as her mouth salivated. His stance was hard as he watched her.

Getting up, she took one step towards him before he blurred forward. His hands found her neck and pinned her arm behind her back as he slammed her mouth into one of the wolves. She didn't need to be told to eat as she bit into the flesh with abandon.

Minutes passed as he forced her to eat while handing her water bottles. He didn't say a thing as the haze passed and her mind cleared.

Body resources full. Time until reserves are full: Three hours and fifty-nine minutes.

The simple message brought her happiness as she pulled away from the monster. With a grunt, James let her go and stepped back.

"Feel better?" he asked.

"Yes," she whispered. "Why did I want to eat you this time?"

Rubbing his chin, he sat with her. "It's likely a result of you having a more powerful soul. You are getting closer to me and your body craves power."

Wincing, she could barely look at him. "What happens when we are equals? Will you be able to stop me?"

Humming, he shrugged. "I always knew you were going to get me in your mouth one way or another."

Snorting, she started laughing as he smiled. The serious moment was ruined as she held her sides.

"Why don't you fight like that when I'm with you?" he asked.

Calming herself, she looked away. "I'm an animal. I didn't want you to see me."

His hands grabbed her chin and turned her towards him. "The only thing I saw was a powerful woman that would be my perfect partner in a fight."

Luna felt her eyes widen before brimming with tears.

"You're not an animal, Luna. Not to me. You are my partner and I only hope that you want to remain by my side for wherever our future takes us."

Sniffling, she nodded. "I want that too," she whispered.

She didn't know if it was the moment or emotions, but their souls connected and mingled in a comfortable embrace. A desire to be his everything overwhelmed her. His soul was perfect. She only needed more time to pass before talking to him about her feelings.

James checked the hide as Nebra arrived in the town. Her group was covered in dirt and blood with new cuts and scratches over their bodies.

"Find trouble on the way?" he asked.

"Shut up," she grumbled.

He was about to laugh when the ground shook. Snapping his attention towards the direction Luna had gone, his heart started to race. He didn't have to wait long before she raced down the street, fear filling her eyes.

"It's coming!" she screamed.

Nebra and her party drew their weapons as Luna slid to a stop. When he sensed the soul of the Forsaken, he stood and summoned his sword.

The blade of soul energy made the cultivators take several steps back. When he released the hold on his soul, he felt them shake with fear. Stepping forward, he ignored them as a werewolf several times larger than any of the others stormed down the street.

Twirling his sword, he matched its pace and latched onto its soul. The power he contained smashed into it like a hammer and knocked it to the ground. Activating Soul Strike, he exploded its body, sending blood and tissue over the road. The wolf screamed in pain as he arrived at its side.

"You're mine!" he hissed. "Serve as my food!"

The Forsaken whimpered as he swung his sword, carving through its neck and claiming its head. Turning from the body, he walked back to his party. Dismissing his sword, he reined in his soul and smiled.

"That was fun!" he chirped. "Anyone want wolf meat tonight?"

Jamie's knees hit the ground as she collapsed. Luna giggled as she shook her head. The rest of the cultivators looked like they were about to pass out as he returned to his tub. He needed to clean it out and dry the leather. Luna would need to take a bath after all.