“Is it okay to start a fire?” Alphonse knew the basics. A fire often meant a sign of humans, and that meant food for the monsters that hid in the jungle.

“Use this.” Maya took out some kindling from her bag and handed it over.

“I’m guessing it’s some sort of magical wood?” Alphonse asked. It had a rough, gummy texture to the touch.

“It restricts the light of the flame. It won’t attract anything.” Maya said, she leant up against the cave’s wall.

“You came prepared.” Alphonse grabbed hold of the wood and set it up in a teepee formation. He struck at it with a lighter as effortlessly caught flame.

“And you didn’t.”

“They didn't exactly give me time to prepare," Alphonse shook his head. "Why are you caring for me?”

“Because you have potential.” At her words, she looked at the other survivors as they looked at her. A grin flashed on her face.

“Potential? For what?”

“To join the resistance.” Maya said calmly. Her hand on her blade.

Alphonse nervously looked around. “Are you crazy?” He didn’t expect her to just outright say it. Who knows if these other people were being groomed to become officers?

Her laugh filled the cave. “I am. Oh,” she looked at the others within the cave. “Do any of you have a problem?”

They all shook their heads, their hands clenched, turning away from her.

“See, officer slaves or not? The likelihood of them making it out of this alive is slim to none.” She chuckled, throwing a piece of dried meat into her mouth. Her pearly white teeth within the dark cave looked… eery.

"And I do?" Alphonse questioned.

Maya shook her head. "Probably not, but you already survived an extreme mission."

“And that's why you're interested in me?"

"That... and you were the main reason you and the others made it out alive."

"How do you know that?"

"The resistance has eyes and ears all over." Maya smiled.

"Anyway, why would I join in the resistance? What does it give me?” Alphonse placed the meat of the cat in a ready brought foil, and sprinkled some plants he had gathered on the way. He did not know what they were, but his stomach wouldn’t care either way.

“The chance to go home. Isn’t that enough?”

“You don't take me as the type of person who wants to go home.” Alphonse redirected the question.

He finished wrapping up the meat and tossed it onto the coals at the side of the fire. His hands wrapped around his stomach. It was waiting to be fed.

“What do you know about me?” Maya’s eyes changed. “I have my own reasons.”

“My bad.” Alphonse wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t know his own past, but he found it difficult to think about home. He felt like he should feel something, longing or sadness, but there was nothing.

“Whatever, just don’t go fucking barging into my past. Potential or not, I’m not your friend.” Maya said as she turned silent.

Alphonse nodded. He needed an ally. He needed to be protected.

Alphonse focused on his food. The smell of the meat wafted throughout the cave. Maya said it would be fine, so he trusted her. The juice from the meat escaped onto the ground as he opened the tinfoil. He opened his mouth as his teeth slid through the meat. It was quite tough. He wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t cook it correctly, or the cat was just that strong.

Then, the voice he was waiting for seeped into his brain.

Chef’s Kiss activated

Recipe: Well cooked Razor Spined Jungle Cat

Medium-rare Razor Spined Jungle Cat with mushrooms: The legs of the cat have been cooked well, however, the wrong technique was used, resulting in tough meat that only the strongest of jaws can consume. However, you have done well in obtaining high-quality meat.

[ Rating C ]

| Set bonus applied +20%

| 31.3 -> 37.5 extra dexterity added

| 16.9 -> 20.2 extra intelligence added

| 9.5 -> 11.4 extra strength added

| 3.9 -> 4.6 extra wisdom added

Hunger’s evolution is taking place.

Form of the Razor Spined Jungle Cat: Grow the toughened fur, claws, and razor spines of the Jungle Cat. Your senses have been heightened even further.

Alphonse felt his body change, the extra stats, plus the fur that grew around his body. He also felt spines grow out of his back, however, they were thicker and stronger than the ones he had seen on the cat. Claws grew from his fingers as they reflected the light from the fire.

“So that’s what your skill is.” Maya said.

“That's why I was so desperate to get the meat.” Alphonse tried out his new senses. He could hear, see, and smell to the point of it being overpowering. It would take some time to get used to. He could almost hear the gentle thumping of Maya’s heart against her chest.

He was going to open up his system, but his ears twitched. A sound appeared in the mouth's direction of the cave. He was going to say something, but Maya and the others had already stood up. Ready for whatever was to come.

How did they find out so fast? Not all of them can have sensory abilities, right? He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking of that.

The thick fur that grew from the insides of his pores, claws and razor sharp, knife-like spines emerged from his strong spine. Deep purple thorns emerged, hiding underneath the black fur of the Jungle Cat. With the thorn-like horns on his forehead, he looked just like a demon.

His eyes glued forwards, the sound of screams entered his heightened hearing, but because of the people in front of him inside the cramped cav entrance, he couldn’t see anything.

“Maya, what do we do?” Alphonse looked back. Maya was standing there with her sword in hand. Her eyes were closed. Then they snapped open.

“Stand to the side.” Her body shot forward as everyone listened to her command. Her blade, covered in blue, swiped towards the monster. A clash of white, fiery sparks filled the cave’s entrance.

With the people split down the middle, he could finally see what it was. It was the same cat, but this time it had white spots littered across its body. It was bigger than the other.

Is that the male? Alphonse thought. He watched as the beast deflected Maya’s sword strike. Instead of continuing the battle with her, it shot into the cave. Sword-like blades emerged from its legs as they shredded through the people within.

Abilities of all kinds fired within the cave, but because everyone was cramped and huddled together, many of the attacks hit each other. No one seemed to care for the other as blood and guts quickly littered the floor. Despite being 2nd years, they only cared for their own survival. Unleashing attacks for an attempt at survival. The pungent iron smell of blood entered his nose. His heart tightened. He didn’t want to use his rage skill, in fear of forgetting even more. He would forget everything, ending up as an empty shell of a human being. It was a terrifying thought.

Maya moved once more, cornering the beast. The others used the opportunity to escape the cave. They vanished into the depths of the jungle.

Alphonse gripped hold of his cleaver. He activated [ Flicker Steps ] as he moved forward like a bullet. Because of the tough fur of the Cat form, he no longer bled from the movement, even with the added dexterity speeding him up.

Now that he was replenished with the food. He swung his cleaver with all of his strength as it blasted through the air. Maya guided the beast with her sword. It had nowhere to run.

Maya perfectly set up the beast for Alphonse’s attack. Blue butterflies covered its vision as his cleaver slashed towards its skull. The beast saw the shining glimmer of the cleaver’s blade as it tried to dodge, but Maya’s blue blade thrusted at its thick fur. With the blade accurately hitting the monster, Alphonse’s weapon lodged into the monster’s coarse skull. Blood seeped from the wound, but it wasn’t lethal. Despite his bonuses and increased strength, it still wasn’t enough.

“Hold it still!” Alphonse shouted. He vanished from the spot with a puff of black smoke as his demonified body grabbed hold of the suddenly paralysed beast.

He was about to chomp down on the cat’s skull when he felt a sudden hot sensation in his shoulder. The feeling transferred down his clothes. The smell of iron tickled his senses.