Turns out that in a bathhouse, personal space and privacy are a loose concept. Considering that I literally burnt all the unneeded fat in my body and I have lots of condensed muscles I had an eye-catching Physique, to say I felt very uncomfortable with the eyes on me would be an understatement. I used Dave as a human shield a lot of the time so I was not stared at. Dave, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the attention, so his new job, as a human shield was a win for both of us.

Not wanting to spend too long in the bathhouse I disconnected the outermost layer of skin on my body making it easier to scrub off all the dirt and grime quickly, but I underestimated the amount of dirt on me. The water turned black from the accumulated dirt from rolling around in the sewer, living on the streets and only ever washing my body when it rained when I lived at the church. With the water black but my body, face and hair clean in under 5 minutes I left the bath and started to walk back to the changing rooms and lockers but without my human shield and the corridor being crowded with both male and females I received more looks. [Look somewhere else you fucking creeps. I need to add fat to my body, this is ridiculous] My face would have turned red long ago if I didn't forcefully stop it.

After what feels like an eternity I reach the changing room where I quickly dry off and get changed into my hair clothes armor. With that done I walk outside and wait by the entrance for Dave. While I wait I try to focus on the energy inside of me that I believe to be magic. Looking at the energy it looks like a bloody red tar with pitch-black swirls and neon purple lighting dancing across it.

Trying to move the energy forcefully for 5 minutes did not yield great results as I could only make a ripple across the surface, so I decided to try a different approach. Instead of trying to move the whole ‘pool’ of energy I try to move a little bit of it instead but the tar-like substance refuses to move in smaller parts and I just end up making small bumps on the surface of the energy.

Before I can try anything else Dave comes out of the bathhouse and seeing me, is approaching. “Hey Jacob, sorry to make you wait, and I didn’t get to say so earlier but I am sorry about your parents. If you want you can over to mine for dinner, I am sure my parents wouldn't mind.”[I am not to keen to talk to a group for people, but maybe it will be nice? I doubt it but I will go along for now. They could have valuable information or things I can steal.]

“Don't worry about it mate, and that sounds good if you sure I wouldn't be imposing on your family.”

“I am sure, my older brother loves cooking he makes to much anyway.”

Dave leads me to what I assume to be his house as we bicker and banter along the way. We arrive at a house when a blonde 13-year-old girl comes running at us at high speed. I was about to get out my remaining knife [Fluffy or the claws would stand out too much] and lunge at her when Dave yells in surprise “Rebecca? What are you doing here?”

[Ah now I understand why he likes her. She is very attractive. Call me shallow if you wish but I haven't even talked to her yet.] Stepping back from Dave as to not get in the way of the two, Rebecca runs up and addresses Dave after catching her breath a bit. “Where have you been? Are you ok? What happened to Jonathan? Did you hit my cousin? [Good thing she said he was her cousin or I would have passed the glory of defeating the ‘ringleader’ of idiots to Dave or at least that who I assume Jonathan is.] And who is he?” Rebecca asks pointing at me without pausing for breath.

While Rebecca takes in a much-needed breath of oxygen, Dave begins to answer “ Calm down and let me explain. I have been working to get some money, I am fine and this is Jacob, he is what happened to Jonathan so no I did not harm your cousin.”

[He does not want her to know about the rat hunting, got it. This also explains why he didn't stand up to Jonathan, it would be difficult to explain to the girl you like how you beat up her cousin. But pinning all the blame on me is a bit of a dick move; I will get him back later.]

“Names Jacob, It is nice to finally meet you, Rebecca. Dave would not shut up about you since this morning when he saved me from being mugged; He keeps telling how amazing, funny and beautiful you are. Personally, I don't see it but hay each to their own. Now as for your cousin he is a prick and I think you know that you should stop turning a blind eye to that just because he is family.

Now if you accuse me I have to go, it was nice meeting you Dave see you around.” Saying this I turn and walk back the way we came. [Found out where Dave lives but didn’t have to have annoying conversations with people so that's a win. I hope I helped Dave with Rebecca I made him look like a hero saving me from being mugged, made her hear about how he likes her while simultaneously making me the bad guy with the Jonathan incident, so that is also a win. now he owes me some favors.]

Dave tries to call out to me but I continue to walk back to the slums deciding that I should try and control this energy inside of me. It takes me an hour to get to the slums but once I am there I do my workout twice due to wanting to get used to all of the modifications done to my body. With this done I am now fully used to my body and I can fully control a single tentacle while doing the work out simultaneously, I will start on the second in the morning.

After the workout, I go to relax so I can start my meditation but I realize something, as I am about to sit down. I am so fucking hungry, which is odd considering how much I have eaten today. [Have I actually eaten today? I differently killed and absorbed a lot of things today but have I actually give my body fuel? Well, I guess meditation will have to wait then, I can't relax on an empty stomach. But where am I going to get food at this hour? All the stores are closed and I doubt the restaurants and inns will be serving at this hour. Will have to find my own food then.]

With my new objective set, I change into my enhanced cat eyes as I go deeper into the slumps hoping to find some stray animals or late night criminals I can eat. I make a cloak and mask on the way to keep the cold out and to hide my identity. After about 15 minutes I hear a soft whimper and a group of laughter following it. Withdrawing fluffy as I approach on the sounds of distress and laughter I listen in on the conversation. “Come on beautiful why you trying to run for?” says creepy guy number 1

“Yeah, you wouldn’t be out this late if you didn't want it” creepy guy number 2. “We can pay if you want sweetheart, 1C should do haha,” says creepy woman? Realizing what they plan to do to the poor girl I rush forward abandoning the idea of stealth [Murder and stealing I can am fine with, I even plan to do some right now. But rape? Hell no I shall activate all the bastards fucking nerve endings as I eat them alive. Call my morals and ideals twisted and I would call you right, but do I give a shit? No, no I do not.]

Rounding a corner I see a scene that the noises suggested. Three figures, two male, one female, surrounding a downed younger female as she cowers in fear. [Well here I go killing again.] Slamming fluffy into creep 1’s head earing me an instant kill on the prick, as he was about to turn around. Ducking to the ground after the kill, I spring up delivering an uppercut to creep number 2 as I use fluffy to separate the upper and lower part of his body. “Keep your eyes closed Miss I will be done in a second” not waiting for a reply I step past the fallen body’s as I approach the woman. The woman backs away as she takes out a knife with her left hand, which promptly detaches from her body and flies towards me blade first.

[Well that's new, Must be some type of power I didn't hear any incantation. I suppose it was arrogant of me to assume I was the only one with weird abilities. It's a good thing mine isn't so pathetic though.]

I catch the hand with ease and hold on to it as I continue to approach [She may have useful information] With this I mind I create a tentacle and send it into her spine as she tries to run. Being attached to her I have limited control of her body so I remove her vocal cords as I activate all her nerves in pain.

I hear the young girl start to crawl away but I let her leave, I have no use for her. The woman falls to the ground and withers in pain as I walk up to her and crouch down so I can look at her in the face as I remove my mask. “I am going to kill you but it is up to you how painful I make it. I want you to answer some questions for me, nod if you understand?” Nodding frantically the woman looks at me with pleading eyes.

“Good,” I say as I tie her in hair and face her towards me as I eat her dead comrades [I need to get some seasoning or something, raw meat is getting boring.] Finished eating and with blood dripping down my face I turn to the woman “Now shall we begin?”