The Chameleon Loop

Nora guided the group away from the inner crevice, distancing their discussion from the other hunters. Meanwhile, Shakko followed them, prancing between their legs with his promise of power. Though the annoying spirit had the guile to wait while the other’s discussed the ‘civil war’.

Turns out, Jesus was a staff sergeant to the highest ranking general on the west coast, and when his Venator genes activated the general assigned him to his old post, then formed a cadre of hunters around him. Allowing Jesus to remain part of the general population, with internet, and his family on base. While Mary-sue’s talent had earned her an honorary position within team Arigorn’s ranks, an assignment that came with serious perks. Like a golden ticket aboard any airlift, and a commander who rubber stamped everything she asked for. All to stay in the good graces of the S ranked team.

“Hey, a civil war means fighting… Where have battles been fought?” Asked Nox, trying to process what he was being told.

“Battles? Kid, this isn’t the middle ages, it’s sporadic violence in the streets. Protests where one Venator shows up and murders twenty people, or a venator gets attacked and defends themself. Or a Venator infiltrated the president’s cabinet to assassinate him. We’ve been fighting for years, but the damned humans don’t care. They are the majority, they don’t mind sacrificing every Venator so they can ignore the dungeons. There are just too many sapiens, and the gene therapy means we can’t force a peace treaty by monopolizing dungeon dives. So we’re stuck with violence…” Said Nora with all the gravitas of Jesus’ years.

“Jesus, don’t tell him any more! He’ll rat us out!” Said Jon.

“No I won’t, besides, if I do anything that would get me killed, my power kicks in…” Said Nox, laughing softly despite the group’s frowns.

Jamal placed his hand on Nox’s shoulder, “You alright Lima bean? Do you really die with each uhm, vision?” Asked Jamal, with all of Ashley’s tender concerns.

FUCK… I shouldn’t have told her that! Ahhh! Thought Nox, internally screaming.

“It’s only a vision, and the pain ends pretty quick.” Said Nox, trying not to facepalm after kicking his own uvula.

To both their surprise, Jamal wrapped him in a tight embrace, nearly breaking his spine with how tightly the C ranker squeezed him. Nox squeezed back, feeling entirely like a little bitch. I need to get stronger. I’m tired of making Ashley worry… The Persean Orb lets me get stronger, even from my own ally’s deaths… I hate this, but I need to absorb as many souls as possible during this run. Since I have Taylor unlocking souls our mana pool is effectively doubled. We can kill everyone and grow strong enough to 1v1 the minotaur. Nox nodded, his mind settling on an old quote and feeling it’s weight like never before.

“The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.”

I’ll watch everyone die once, so we never have to lose them again. Thought Nox. Finally breaking away from Jamal’s grasp.

“Okay, Nora-Jesus, I’ve got zero desire to kill anyone, sapiens or not. But what I want or what you want doesn’t matter right now. This is an S ranked dungeon, our weapons are useless here, no help is coming, and we don’t have our talents.” Said Nox.

“I can help with that.” Said Shakko, eagerly reminding them of his offer.

Five minds weighed their options, with three turning toward’s Nox.

“Should we take his deal?” Asked Jesus.

“We’ll die from mana cancer without May’s, I mean, Mary-sue’s talent. But we can’t kill the minotaur without Jamal’s talent, nor can we hobble him- uh, cut off his feet without Jesus’ talent. I… I can’t find a way out.” Said Nox.

“Killing the boss is the only way out… So, it has to be Jamal, unless you can shuffle more than one soul Shakko.” Said Nora, thinking out loud.

Shakko shook his burning head, “No can do, one swap is all I can do without damaging all souls involved.” Said The fire fox.

“Yooo, if I roll with this deal, what's gon' happen to my soul? This can't end good, no way." Said Ashley, vocalizing everyone’s concerns.

Shakko’s teeth flashed in the darkness, as he came to sit beside Ashley. Giddy from the knowledge he could offer. “You are poisoned, I can fix that for you, free of any additional charges.”

"Oh, you think you slick, huh? Tryna get up in my ass like I ain't gon' notice? Man, get outta here wit dat weak-ass hustle." Said Ashley’s lips.

Her insults bounced off Shakko’s flames, and stuck in the minds of all present Venators. Creating a stalemate that threatened to rip apart the already weakened kill team. With Ashley, Lala, Zoe, and Ruby down for the count, they couldn’t lose anyone else, Nox already didn’t know how they were going to kill the minotaur, but restoring Ashley and Jamal’s talents would be a start. Or more power if we all die… Fuck, please don’t betray us Shakko.

“He’s telling the truth. Shakko will help us, so will Ruby, but I can’t see what happens when we get out of the dungeon. My powers uhm, don’t go that far.” Said Nox, making up a series of lies he hopped wouldn’t bite his balls off later.

His words were enough for Jesus.

“I’m going to trust you this time, but listen here Shakko. We have friends outside this dungeon, friends who could clear this maze and kill the minotaur without either of their hands. If you harm any of us, you will die. Do you understand me?” Said Nora.

“Hu-jia-hu-wei,” Said Shakko, brushing against Ashley’s leg like a cat. “I will serve loyally, but I must borrow a body until my own form can be created. A year of possession, even in slavery, or your ally’s might, either is a suitable payment.”

Liam’s jaw clenched. He felt like Shakko was lying, tricking them in some imperceptible way. Ashley looked at Jamal, and after a moment they both nodded.

“Fine. Switch us back Shakko.” Said Jamal, extending a hand to the fire spirit.

Ashley was far more crass, giving herself a mammogram before saying, “Aight, ready.”

“Hey! Don’t touch me like that!” Snapped Ashley.

She would have protested more, but Shakko saw his opportunity and leapt into Ashley’s body, fire entering her mouth, eyes, and ears. The tourniquet poofed into ashes, and her exposed leg –purple from the wyvern’s venom and restricted bloodflow– began to redden angrily. Heat emanated from Ashley’s body, creating an unnatural breeze in the underground cavern.

In moments Ashley’s figure changed. Her waist shrunk, hips thinned, and her hair took on a spectacular shade of russet red, identical to a red fox’s. Is Shakko gonna turn Jamal into a redhead too? Thought Nox, trying not to appreciate how suddenly hot his sister had become.

Ashley extended two hands to Jamal, who took them both. He’d intended to help her stand, not realizing it was Shakko’s way of initiating a soul transfer. Their fingers interlaced and both began to convulse, to shake and shudder as fire flowed through their veins alongside three divergent souls. They screamed, but no one dared to touch them, for flames were sprouting from their skin.

In the space of forty eight agonizing seconds, Nox watched jamal’s hair and eyebrows burn away. Bones cracked and crunched, but then it was over. Jamal releasing Ashley’s broken hands and falling against the dirt.

“ASHLEY!” Shouted Nox, catching her before she could hit the stone.

Skin sizzled as the flames were sucked into Ashley, and her eyes flicked open, one a horrifying orb of fire, and the other a normal human eye. Pain spread across Nox’s arms as his skin melted anywhere he touched Ashley. Though the pain of immolation had steeled his flesh.

Ashley touched her face, wincing as her broken hands bent at the contact. Closing her eyes, she tapped into her mana, healing both hands one bone at a time. When she was finished healing, she reached to feel her hair, surreptitiously brushing her chest with a forearm. A sly way of making sure everything was intact.

“Oh thank god. I’m me again!” Said Ashley, rising to her feet with Nox’s assistance.

He winced as she took his hand, her fingers pressing against the burns covering Nox’s palms.

“I’m so sorry.” Whispered Ashley, healing his burns in a few seconds.

Which was the point when Nox realized she now carried two tags, one for Shakko, and one for Ashley. While Jamal only carried his own. Shakko is entirely inside Ashley. What have I done to my little sister? NO, don’t think like that, one death and then you’ll reset, Ash will be fine, there won’t be any demon inside her.

Her red eye faded into a normal human eye, losing it’s brilliance as her mana was consumed with healing. Making Nox wonder exactly how long she had been at risk for mana cancer. We can barely cover mom’s dungeon raids, I can’t cover moms and Ash’s alone… Thought Nox, beginning to hope that the Venator rebellion would take power and remove quotas soon.

An explosion echoed through the crevice. While Nox and Ashley were healing, Jamal had checked his goods, then broke off a crystal spike to throw. It was the crudest possible spear, a two foot long shard of almost pointy crystal that slammed into the wall at mach speed, obliterating stone and itself in a brilliant fountain of blue sparkles. One that revealed the wyvern’s head sticking through the outer crevice’s entryway.

It had initially avoided detection by closing its glowing red eyes, but the mana crystal explosion illuminated the tunnel. Shining bright enough to provoke the wyvern’s eyelids. Twin red orbs appeared in the darkness, then thrust into the crevice as the wyvern lunged forward, plunging through the darkness towards the Venators. Only to be stopped by the crevice’s opening. Wide wings smashed into the stone entrance, spreading cracks through the natural formation of stone, crystal and dirt. One that wouldn’t hold for long.

Steel whizzed by Nox as Jon fled, he bore no weapon other than an Mbar and knew he was outclassed by a wyvern, even if it had been Jon and not Mary-sue inside his body. Useless, like me… Thought Nox, balling his fists. The 1911 he had leaned on for so long was destroyed, he had no weapons besides his Mbar, but his talents had grown.

Redheaded Ashley tried to take a step forward, only to stumble, her legs shaking, possibly an after effect of swapping souls only moments before, or Shakko’s possession. The wyvern withdrew a few feet then slammed forward, breaking chunks of rubble out of the wall. One chunk –a fist sized boulder– slammed into Jamal, kicking him to the ground.

“It’s breaking through! Get back!” Shouted Nora, picking up Jamal and sprinting back to the inner crevice.

The other’s followed their example and fled, slipping through the inner crevice. Stone groaned then shattered, exploding inward as the wyvern’s shoulders broke through the outer crevice. Jon dove, sliding into safety, but Jamal and Ashley struggled to move their limbs, shaking or oddly weak.

“I’m out of mana?” Stammered Ashley, fumbling into the crevice.

She would have to be dragged through, but the wyvern was coming now. This is bullshit. Loki! Can you hear me?

‘Always. Have you come to your senses and decided to give up?’ Asked Loki.

You wish, I want you to set my regression point as right here. Can you do that? If the wyvern kills me I want another shot at that motherfucking lizard. Keep them coming until I kill it! Thought Nox.

‘God, you’re dumb. But sure. Take as many shots as you like.’ Said Loki, mentally smirking at the hunter.

Liam snagged Ashley’s Mbar and spun, charging directly at the wyvern’s face. I’m so tired of being weak. Of never being able to protect anyone, of being the worthless baggage that everyone has to carry. Or having to use borrowed power, first the therapy, then the guns. I need to kill these things myself!

The wyvern was fully inside the narrow cavern now, mana crystals and onyx absorption crystals nicked the creatures wings, but broke against its scales. While its stinger rose into the air, aimed at Nox’s chest. That’s right, these are armored wyverns, with poisonous stingers crap! Thought Nox., attempting to weave between stalagmights.

Bale eyes never left Nox’s torso, and the stinger shot forward at the speed of light aimed at Nox’s heart. It nearly struck home, for even with Nox’s enhanced senses the wyvern was fast. He dodged sideways, using Ashley’s Mbar to parry the stinger. Right into his arm. The stinger’s needle edge sliced through his bicep and triceps, then the ball of armored tail it was connected to shattered his humorous, breaking the bone with raw force alone. No, I won’t give up, i’ll find a way to kill this bastard!

The wyvern lunged forward, maw open, about to chomp through Nox’s neck. Rows of teeth hung like daggers in an ice chest of red pseudodragon. The simplest of predictable attacks. Nox spun, scooping the tail and throwing it up and in front of himself. Directly into the wyvern’s waiting teeth.

“Chew on that.” Muttered Nox, rolling under the wyvern’s jaw as it clamped down on the stinger.

Red blood flowed, and the wyvern screamed, leaping backwards onto thick hind legs and flapping both wings. A foolish move given the crystal outcroppings and tightness of the cavern, mana crystals ripped through the membranous appendages, forever grounding the creature. But also exposing Nox.

He rolled again, kicking off stone rubble to reach the wyvern, he activated the healing shift to his arm, knowing it wouldn’t occur in time. The tail slashed through the air, splattering blood across Nox, his boots slipped, sending him cartwheeling through the wyvern’s legs, though he made sure to give the conspicuous bulge a kick on his way through. If the wyvern had screamed in pain before, it let out a true shriek of fury then. Stomping both legs in an attempt to kill Nox, which very nearly succeeded. Talons slashed through Nox’s thigh and bad arm, fully amputating the half shifted limb.

“Aaaahhh!” Screamed Nox, rolling with the pain and leaping onto the wyvern’s back.

The wounded leg failed to fire correctly and sent him careening through the air to land on the wyvern’s back, splashing sideways. Where he might’ve slipped off had it not been for his teeth. Which sank into the wyvern’s wingbones, and somehow cracked them, punching into the marrow with ease. [Health +1%]

Oblivious to the warning, Nox alternated his hands and teeth, clawing his way up the wyvern’s back through it’s dorsal spines. A line of gigantic scales that protected its spines from rival mates and lost Noxs. With it’s prey missing the wyvern spun its head, grinding the nearby crystals into dust. Until it caught sight of Nox. One red eye found his, angrily watching as Nox bit him again, then reached forward to take another handhold. That’s right you scaly turd, i’ma coming to kill you! OOFFF– Thought Nox.

Air exited his lungs faster than a plowed fire hydrant and he felt several things crack or tear within his spine. Blood dripped onto him, warning that the tail had retracted. Falling back so it could hit him again. Nail him to the wyvern’s spine.

Had this been Nox’s only life, he would’ve died there. But it wasn’t, and Nox knew what unimaginable pain felt like. All pain ends in due time. Thought Nox, finding the strength to bite into the next dorsal spine.

Another jab from the tail shot forward. Nox twisted. The bleeding stinger slammed into the wyvern’s back. Inches away from Nox’s skull. But the wyvern’s armored scales were far harder than Nox’s squishy ribs, and the wyvern shuddered. Nearly tossing Nox as its spine rippled. Had it not been for his hand and teeth he might have died. Instead he crawled up the wyverns spine, employing all his Venatorus strength to ascend and every candela of his heightened senses to evade the blunted stinger.

On he climbed, until his single arm slipped free. One leg hooked around the dorsal spine and his teeth found purchase on the wyvern’s crest. But the stinger found him again. What felt like a hundred boxcar freight train crashed into his pelvis, shattering it. Numbness spread through Nox’s bits, a relief really, had he retained sensation the pain would have been almost unimaginable.

Next try, dodge the first sting. Thought Nox, surviving a third impact from the tail before succumbing to the fourth. When the stinger crushed his skull.