[Vix POV]

"Vix c'omon, what did you expect to hunt? You are still a novice, we already did a good job" Said one of the two employees that worked with me.

It's already a month that I've started to hunt.

The final verdict of the gymnasium was that my nano-energy compatibility was a little below average.

I was extremely happy. I clearly could have hoped for more, it would have indeed be better.

But what if I had none? I better not imagine the outcome.

After going to the base at the centre of the capital I've been assigned as a [Novice Hunter].

Here I was a bit saddened the more basic and common the name, the less perks will have your occupation in the future.

Hence in my case It couldn't have gotten worse.

At the very least there are many in my same condition.

Feeling tired of hunting in places inhabited only by the weakest monsters. Yesterday in the company of Umeks and Vamax, I planned to hunt here in the evergreen plains.

The beasts present here were clearly stronger, but thanks to the [novice bestiary] I bought in the [shop] we could clearly evade what was bigger than us.

At the very least we new when to run. About the weaknesses and abilities of the monsters this bestiary didn't say much.

Then since we lacked informations, Umeks, the one that just spoke got heavily injured blocking a sneak attack that was landing on me.

The beast was an apex-chameleon. The bestiary described it was a big feline type monster. It had two fangs protruding from its mouth and razor sharp claws. While its fur colour could change and blend with the environment.

After the attack me and Vamax tried to defend our bleeding comrade.

As activated my nano-shield, Blue light gushed out from the cylindrical black object I bought from the [shop].

My nano energies started to quickly deplete, as the light united itself, taking the form of a wide blue shield.

Meanwhile Vamax secured Umexs over his shoulder.

Nodding to him we started to retreat, heading north. The presence of the stop deterred beasts on its own, I personally don't know why.

But just the grass getting smaller and smaller the closer you got near it, could scare monsters adept in ambush its preys to hunt.

I wasn't very experienced, and thinking that it was that simple proved to be wrong.

The beast wasn't afraid at all of us heading to the stop.

It continued to attack on my shield, an often tried to outflank it.

I was about to finish my nano-energy reserve, after that I could try to fight with my dagger but I knew I couldn't win.

BOOOM

Then I hear a very loud sound, as if something extremely heavy fell onto the ground.

It could have been another battle going on near us. But It should be hundreds of meters away from our position.

Nonetheless the beast suddenly sopped, its hears pointed straight.

After a few seconds it ran away. What a relief it had been.

Thinking about it coming back for us, I deactivated my shield and ran away, heading north.

We made a little camp approximately a kilometre from the shuttle stop.

I didn't really want to be observed by other hunters so we didn't stop too close by.

Furthermore Umexs needed rest and medical care. I had to use the aid kit we bought from the [shop], even if it was the cheapest one it was still better than nothing.

Then I cooked a lumbitt, a little furry dude with a black horn in its head and the ability to enhance its legs to jump.

We had no actual problem hunting this type of beast, as they weren't that much of a threat for our team.

It was pretty good if I have to say, even if I overcooked it a bit. Monster meat sure is better then those pills the ones without compatibility had to eat.

"Don't think too much about it Vix. It's our first defeat and it's fine.

We even managed to get back safe and sound, well Umaxs got hurt but he's still alive." Vamax said to me, trying to cheer me up.

Indeed I was a bit down, even if I knew he was right I wanted more. I couldn't slow down, I didn't want to give it right to father.

"Thanks I guess, I'll sleep over it"

Then we all took a nap, with one of us doing watch in turns.

At dawn we started to head back, even without hunting a significant beast it was acceptable.

Being still alive was what muttered the most to me. Even more, with Umexs in these conditions we couldn't proceed anymore.

As we were to depart from our camp, a strange creature presented itself before our eyes.

A tall black humanoid, he carried two long tusks on his shoulders.

A strangely and creepy elongated head, a long and thick tail that terminated in a blade like shape giving me shivers down my spine.

Even more bizarre were the rainbow coloured filaments coiled around his forearms, and the veins of this very same colour you were able to see under his skin.

His overall physique was a bit skinny, but his muscles seemed firm and dense.

I've never seen neither heard about his specie before. I just hoped it wasn't a mindless monster, but a hunter like us.

Clearly Vamax wasn't thinking the same. Actually he wasn't thinking at all to ask something like this.

"Hey drop down these tusks and get out of here, or we'll penetrate your thick skull with our enhanced daggers" Said him daringly.

He strangely patted on his chest with his fist, then he winked over my direction.

What was the meaning of this? Did he want to cheer me up from our previous defeat? Or maybe he curry favour with me.

He must definitely be crazy, all these petty reasons weren't worth the danger.

Were did he get his confidence from…

It was too late anyway, what a fool.

Fortunately the creature was clearly not a mere monster. As it talked to us.

"Need… Directions...Go north… shuttle stop… Klick klick"

An extremely deep voice, that at the same time was raspy and creepy.

Through his fatigued speech I understood that he was lost in his way back to the shuttle stop.

Then my system's medium shook a little. It was a golden pendant, a family heirloom.

It was a message from Vamax, now I want to see what's this moron thinking.

[Vix this is your chance to change your father's opinion. These two trophies could gain us some good [tool]s too.

Anyway with your shield, I think we can at least escape from him.

He must be very tired too, look at the tusks, he must have fought a hard fight to gain them.

I can't wait to put these trophies before your father's eyes.]

Fuck! "Wai-"

As I was about to stop him vamax decided to go even further.

"The tusks. Now. Or you won't be able to walk again on these legs of yours." Said him, trying to appear as a dangerous scumbag. He did really a good job, at least with his words.

The creature just stood still, seemingly unimpressed. Even more he appeared outraged, as If Vamax pissed over his kindness.

Then Vamax slowly grabbed his dagger and pointed it at the creature.

Hearing this the creature placed on the ground the two 1.2 meters long tusks.

But soon after, in a matter of seconds Vamax's head was rolling on the ground, motionless.

An expression of clear shock and disbelief imprinted in his face.

This very same grimaced look was on visible either in me and Umexs.

Going back, ten seconds ago.

The creature quickly unwrapped the tendrils he had coiled around his forearms. The were pulsating with colours and nano-energy.

At the same time his legs started to gain a soft blue glow.

What?! How much nano-energy he had.

Then he ran forward and his tendrils extended and jerked out all around Vamax.

Before he could even react the tendrils were already coiled around him. Vamax couldn't move, as the sharp tail of the monster quickly decapitated my companion.

After a few minutes of the corpse of Vamax remained only a pile of bones.

Then I regained my cool a bit.

"The name is Vix. My comrade spoke for himself, I didn't agree over his actions.

You have my apology mister"

I said this trying to seem really sorry and apologetic. It wasn't even that hard, since I didn't really lie, I didn't want to fight him.

Even more I was pained from the death of my companion.

But my plead was utterly useless. As if he didn't give a damn.

The creature rushed once again, ignoring me and impaling Umaks head with his tail.

[Changing POV to Xeno's]

After twenty minutes of searching for the shuttle stop, I had to admit that I was starting to get lost.

With my speed I was sure that I would have already arrived.

Luckily I found three hunters that made a little camp in a zone where the grass was smaller.

I tried to communicate telepathically with one of them. But I couldn't, their minds seemed to be shielded by something.

Then as one of them saw me carrying the tusks, he started to make stupid and dumb demands.

My senses clearly told me that he was weak, incomparably weak compared to me.

I even tried to give him one more chance, but nothing.

He just neglected my act of pure kindness.

As such I got a bit angry and killed him. Then I proceeded with the other male.

It remained only the celidre female. I think she tried to apologize or something, but you can't let your subordinate point their weapon on me and then say sorry.

What if I was weaker, the thug would have either robbed or killed me.

She was something that in the past I would refer as beauty.

She had red fluent hairs, her skin tended more on a white colour than the classic olive and her ears were remarkably pointed.

Her body was petite and well proportioned.

But now that my senses were perceiving her as weak I didn't feel infatuated at all.

Moreover my body was telling me that I would make a very nutrient meal out of her.

That she was a rare delicacy to eat and to taste.

But as I was to end her, Aiduth interrupted me.

"Wait Xeno! don't eat her. She will be better as a lesser trust me. There aren't many like her, you'll make a capable servant out of her."

I started to think over the words that resounded in my head. Aiduth never lied to me, she seemed even connect with the secrets of my specie.

"What is a lesser?" I asked her. Even if believing in her words It had to be some proof behind them.

"A lesser is not an official member of our specie but are what you could call our servants.

You can turn other beings in a lesser by injecting a part of your reproductive fluids into them. If they accept spontaneously they can just drink the fluids.

Only particular individuals can survive thought, trying it on random beings won't work.

Beware that using it as a weapon won't work either.

Firstly the fluids can't be produced in a short period of time and even more the target must be in a weak condition or accept on his own.

The number of lessers you can have depends on your strength.

They are fairly useful as they quickly grow like us, but they cannot evolve further. But they are more primitive and follow only their instincts and their master.

Nonetheless they are very similar to the original Xenomorphs.

How to make the fluids or to find the right subjects, are your instincts to do the job"

What a long speech. But at least I got to know more about my specie.

"Aiduth, what did you mean by evolution?" I asked her, trying to strike the iron while it's hot.

"I cannot tell. Bye"

She clearly evaded my question huh?

Well I can bear with it. Even so I think that it wasn't such secret information.

It's just that she could explain it later. At least it is what I felt.

I can perceive deeper meanings behind her words lately.

As a strange connection was starting to form between us.

Even now I could here a feeble "I cannot tell" from wherever she was.

Outside our conversation it passed a whole minute and the celidre was freaking out from fear.

"I... can't.. form… telepathic… bridge...Klick klick "

I said, hoping that she would understand me.

Speaking with my mouth is very taxing. I have to force my muscles in movements thet weren't made for. At the end of the speech, once I released the tension on my muscles I inevitably left out loud clicking sounds.

I think without my new instincts I would find them quite creepy.

"Oh I see, it's because of my medium. I will take it off" Said the celidre, removing the golden pendant she wore around her neck.