My Werepanther System: Starting with Nine Lives

Rex had never used his (Jungle-Fire) Ability. He'd never been taught the ways of elemental manipulation— or how to transform into his Werepanther form, for that matter.

But like everything he'd gained understanding of since awakening his Totem, it started with the hunt. With aggression. In an ambush. During a fight.

He was a panther. And panthers were many things. Guardians. Hunters. Kings and Queens. Myths. Legends. Gods. None of the chosen adjectives were weak, though.

So, in strength, he found his spark.

And the Jungle-Fire burned. To his surprise it was hot. It thrummed with power as it plumed from his palms like starlight geysers. The flames ate up Natasha's vines as they reached for him, filling the windy jungle air with ashes and smoke that sparkled.

Rex was about to charge when the vines' burnt ends exploded with new growth, replacing the once burned vines with thicker, stronger replacements that steamed with a new vigor. The scorched grass and tree bark surrounding was reborn in a similar way as his flames dissipated.

"What the hell…." Rex mumbled.

Natasha seemed hopeful suddenly, "Weakness, right?"

With her new vines, Natasha conjoined the two into a single massive green javelin and threw it at Rex. Even still, he was growing. Transforming. Attacking that part of her genetic memory that once had to deal with those like him. She ran after attacking.

He gave chase. Less by choice and more driven by instinct.

She practically flew through the jungle. Tree branches and risen patches of grass threw her forward effortlessly as she swung and chopped the air with her arms to manipulate the green.

Rex zig zagged through the twisting lands as he closed in.

Eventually it grew so dense in her wake that he climbed up a tree and began swinging.

Natasha turned to look back and him and swung in his direction.

A collection of spiked branches flew at him like arrow-fire.

He raised his palms and shot two torrents of Jungle-Fire.

As he fell through the ashen remains, a new growth of stronger spiked wood stabbed at him as he landed on the jungle grounds.

He flipped and twisted through the volley, feeling the sharp ends tear his martial-skin apart at the arms and legs.

As he moved, he grabbed hold of one of the branches, breaking it off with his boosted physical might.

Natasha didn't even bother looking back. She just kept running and trying to close up the jungle path behind herself.

It made his plan easier as he thought it over with the little time he had.

"My current system kit is fit for an ambush predator. I have anti-sneak skills, benefits in shadows and most importantly, accuracy boosts from vantage points. Let's see how much of a boost."

Rex began climbing the nearest tree with his jungle-fire boosted spear held in his jaws. He took big leaps as he dug his claws into the bark and heaved himself ten feet up at a time.

It took four jumps before he rested on top of the canopy.

Jungle greenery spread for endless miles in all directions. In places it burned and sparked with the light of battle below.

But directly ahead, in a straight line, the jungle grew and folded in on itself, budding with new flowers and plantlife as Natasha continued her run.

But she was only human.

He waited.

He could feel his precision sharpening in the way he could calculate new aspects of target aquisition. He paid more attention to the air and how he held his spear. How he raised it and took aim.

Natasha came to a stop, halted by her own human stamina.

Rex threw the spear.

The wooden spike whistled through the air in a blur, crunching and ripping the leaves as it rushed back into the jungle overgrowth and hit his intended target.

His fur stood on end as Natasha let out a startled scream.

A minute later and he was closing in on Natasha's scent of blood, stopping as another scent entered his nostrils.

A hundred feet ahead, beyond the bushes on the beat in path, Imani stood with a foot in Natasha's back.

"Stand down and come with me. You lost. The plan was sound— getting past my vision by blending into the jungle….. literally, while letting your regular teammates act as victims to help spring your trap. That's good. Simple, but good. I'm learning. I've already put too much faith in my gear. Thank you for the learning experience." Imani said.

Natasha gained some composure and sat up after pushing away her enemies foot, knowing Imani wouldn't run her through with her spear. Or the sword she wouldn't unsheath for some reason.

"Yea, yea, whatever. Always looking at everything like it's some lifeless layout to be studied."

"Compartmentalization is a valuble skill for aspiring Drift Soldiers." Imani said flatly.

"You're a robot." Natasha said.

"And you're a Class A Elemental Inheritor. Nature Synchronisity, Empowerment, Amalgamation and Control. My father's spoken to scouts who speculate your power will eventually affect all life forms beyond the green…. With some help from how unpredictable Mana is. You're strong— but more importantly, you're sensitive."

"Bitch—"

"Not like that. You have good senses. You can see through your plants." Imani said.

Natasha remained silent.

Rex slowly climbed the tree he hid behind, moving like a shadow in the night. Hackles raising as he sensed what was coming.

"What did you see through your plants when Rex chased you? The boy with the marked skin."

The sounds of battle climbed in the distance. Rex and Imani's teammates closed in with Natasha's team secured and in tow.

Natasha visibly shivered at the memory, unaware of her approaching familiars as she spoke, "I…..I saw an anim—"

Wet, sloppy shadows like reanimated ink in the shape of a pack of wolves crashed into Natasha.

Imani flipped out of the way.

When the wolf stampede ceased, Natasha was gone, being dragged away by the beastial shadows.

Rex watched them disappear in the distance, "Hunter's working from a distance. I assumed so— his markings smell like him and the whole jungle kind of smells like him for miles. I gotta figure out his limits….. preferably before I face him. But knowing my luck…."

Rex looked down at his claws. On the surface he could see shadows twist and crawl above him in the form of a dozen Ripper-Apes.

"He already found me."

He spun around with a clawed hand doused in Jungle-Fire only for a monstrous roar to shake the jungle.

In his peripherals, he saw the distant light of a Drift Dimension spit out a scaled titan with sabered fangs and a body the size of a horse on growth hormone.

Then eight more came out.

They were so far out, he could just barely make out the minor movements of the closest one.

It spread its paws on the wet earth and groaned. Then it dropped its blocky snout to the floor and sniffed. A row of spinal spikes went erect as it caught the scent of something alarming. It's head raised and faced Rex even from their shared distance.

The others followed.

"Oh sh—"

Before he could say anything— or properly react, the Ripper-Apes descended on him with clubs and fists the size of boulders.