Septem Chapter 9: Predator

"Kane, you go see if you can find me a mantis shrimp. If you can find it, instead of one, I'll give you five platinum coins. How about it?" Kioxe suggested.

"Ok!" Kane sadness from not finding a greater wax moth was far behind.

"Here, since you're going to work so hard and may not find the mantis shrimp." Kioxe flicked a platinum coin.

"Really? Thanks!" Kane cried jubilantly as he dreamed of having a full course meal with his family. The reason Kane wanted the money so bad was that he knew his parents were having tough times. A platinum coin would surely let a commoner live like a king for several years.

With renewed motivation, Kane ran towards the sea.

"Now then, time for me to bind and fuse this greater wax moth." Looking at the jar in hand, Kioxe opened the lid and held the moth.

Suddenly, Kioxe tried to force his soul to fuse with the moth's. It was a weird experience as Kioxe could feel the liveliness which came from the moth. When Kioxe had fused with Nahlia, he didn't think much as his soul was able to easily take it in. Kioxe would then be able to wield Nahlia as if it was a part of his body. But for the moth, it wasn't the case.

The moth was a living insect. Since all living creatures had a soul, Kioxe's soul wasn't able to take the moth as his own. Kioxe could only stare at his sea of consciousness as his soul and the moths came to agreement. If Kioxe's soul was described as a white color and the moth's as brown. Then his soul was now currently light brown.

It was then that Kioxe started to see the slow change in his body. He was becoming part moth. His body becoming much lighter and his skin became light brown. Two light brown wings started to grow on each side, which kept growing until Kioxe had a wingspan of approximately three meters. You could say that Kioxe's full septem form was a half human, half moth monster flying in midair. Truly, a peculiar sight.

But it wasn't just that, Kioxe had actually gained a total of two abilities. The ability to fly (although not as good as a bird) and the ability to hear things at 300 kHz (kiloHertz)! Nothing could escape Kioxe's hearing as he could pinpoint every single sound. Though he immediately put the ability away as the sound of the roaring waves became too stressful for Kioxe to handle.

The difference between an inorganic and organic septem fusion really was different. For an inorganic item, it would retain its shape and ability (such as sharpness and toughness). But for an organic fusion, it really was complex as you would take in its abilities not summon it itself like you could with an inorganic fuse (Yes, when fusing a tree it would have a soul and you would gain its abilities).

As Kioxe continued to fly, he decided to go where Kane should be. After a few seconds, Kane had shown up with a wide grin.

"I've got it. Finding a mantis shrimp is too easy compared to our search of that wax moth." Kane grinned. Who wouldn't be when they just achieved what was going to be six platinum coin as a a reward in one day. Tossing the mantis shrimp towards Kioxe, it was quickly putted away in a jar and stored within his ring. You could say it was the loophole to being able to store living organic things.

Though just as Kioxe was celebrating on the inside, Kane seemed to panic.

Swimming towards the shore, he quickly screamed at Kioxe to help him. Although his bat wings were out on his back, he had a hard time even flying as the waves were constantly rolling in and his wings became wet. It was then suddenly that Kane was pulled under the sea.

It was hard to make out what it was, but Kioxe believed it to be one of those sharks he read about. Since his moth wings wouldn't help him at all underwater, he just took it back into his body as he dived into the sea.

*thump* *thump* *thump*

"Kane!!!!!" Kioxe's head seemed to be screaming. With opened eyes, Kioxe could barely make out what was happening with the water rushing towards his eyes. The shark was probably twenty feet as Kioxe saw its enormous length. It was trying to bite and chew Kane to bits as its jaws thrashed savagely.

*thump* *thump* *thump*

Summoning out Nahlia in hand, Kioxe quickly spent most of his life energy to pierce through the shark. With the sudden burst of energy, Nahlia quickly traveled at an astonishing towards the shark's head.

*Splat*

It was only then that the body of the great shark floated motionlessly.

*thump* *thump* *thump*

Trying his best to swim against the current, Kioxe willed Nahlia to come back to him. Holding Nahlia, he then gave it some life energy to move himself towards the mutilated body.

*thump* *thump* *thump*

"My god..." Kioxe thought. Although Kane had a mithril body armor, it was still dented upon the shark's bite. As for his arms and legs, they were completely mangled and bleeding profusely underwater. All around Kane was just a sea of blood.

*thump* *thump* *thump*

Grabbing onto what felt like a motionless human doll, Kioxe quickly spent his remaining life energy onto Nahlia to get himself to shore. It didn't take long before the two were upon the shore.

Gasping for air, Kioxe screamed, "Kane! Kane! Are you alright? Wake up! Speak to me!" Tears came running down his blue eyes. Since Kane was not breathing, Kioxe quickly tried to give CPR as he pushed Kane's chest and tried to breath air into him. Seeing as Kane coughed up some water, Kioxe was relieved. Though only for a short moment as he noticed there was still no pulse. None at all.

Looking around Kioxe quickly call out for help. Screaming "Help! Someone! Anyone!" several times but to no avail, there was none. It was just Kane and Kioxe.

Kioxe then quickly held onto Kane and slowly flew towards the port believing that maybe there was still hope. Maybe Kane could be save.

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"You're lying! You're all lying! How can Kane be dead! How?" Kioxe yelled angrily at the doctor, senior Dorang, and senior Beltur.

"Listen to me Kioxe, Kane is dead. It was all just a freak accident." Dorang tried to convince Kioxe.

"And you! You said Kane was a genius. You said he was one of the best control expert you had ever met. Then why? Why did Kane still...." Kane broke down as he pointed at Beltur.

*smack*

Dorang knocked Kioxe unconscious.

"It's for his own good."

"I know..." Beltur replied as he stared at the body of Kane one last time before leaving the emergency room door.

"Haha...good riddance...seems there won't be a kid to bother this old man for food anymore." Beltur muttered hysterically.

"Come boy, let's have us some good ol' wine. You had asked me to buy you wine had you not? Well now, tonight we get sober." Beltur slowly walked towards the nearest bar he could find.

Author's Note:

Seeing as someone decided to make a review and dislike on my novel all because of its description (though I admit that my description was just so I can post my story) I've decided to take his review to account and change my synopsis. Would anyone want to write a short synopsis of what my story is about? I'm having a hard time to really explain Septem and maybe with the readers point of view, I could improve it. Just send me an email at: [email protected]

As for the story, I hoped you enjoyed (don't think anyone was expecting that) ^_^