Chapter 57 Doubles (1)
Chapter 57 Doubles (1)
Chapter 57: Doubles (1)
"You look terrible," Nakisha said while passing Hunter a raw piece of ghoul meat.
Her lips were already dripping with foreign blood, and her cheeks were full of food about to be munched. However the wild beast she was, the image of her relishing the raw food was quite adorable.
Hunter took it with a faint smile, "Endured worse. Thanks."
"Shouldn't you make her increase your healing capabilities first? I know Brandi can do that," Nakisha carried on with the talk as she perched herself close to Hunter, hovering her eyes on laying Brandi, whose chest was high due to her spine being currently under mending supported by her toxins.
She was groaning from pain and additional damage she had received from Nakisha's kicks.
In response, Hunter shook his head, "I can cope better than her."
"Ok," Nakisha didn't pursue the topic further and focused on eating after the battle, which was always much better than a casual dinner without any hard work.
The flesh rolling on the tongue was as though begging to be already devoured, and blood flooding the corners of her mouth and throat was so cold and tasty, harmoniously blending with the raw meal.
On the other hand, Hunter's taste buds weren't on the same side.
And it wasn't like he had to eat, too.
However, refusing Nakisha's kindness after their teamwork and her siding with him would have been rude and weird.
Pulling raw and stiff meat with his teeth, Hunter struggled to mince it as easily as the wolf woman next to him, to say nothing of him enjoying the taste. But as his home's seasonings and dishes were of poor quality as well, Hunter didn't complain, swallowing minced bits.
It seemed he was focusing on his regeneration, not being in a mood for a talk, which wasn't really a case.
After fighting against the encased blood drop scheme and the blood test, Hunter had been straining his two awakened origins to the extreme extent, receiving more boons than the spirits around him.
Now, his Strength Origin was like a buddy that could read his mind at least a few seconds ahead, let alone it was now very familiar with its cage — Hunter's body and system.
Meaning that the Strength Origin — in Hunter's dormant state — focused on mending his most serious wounds even before Hunter thought of it, giving him more room to think and plan ahead.
Which he used to contemplate about his recent moves.
'Fighting against the ghouls swallowed up by the red ocean taught me how to control Red Roses better. That's the most important lesson I've received from today's struggles, and it was used well against Brandi. Strength Origin became much more familiar, and I feel like I also broke deeper into the mysterious Blood Origin. Information about undead monsters is also precious… and the story of… the incompetent. Seems like the blood I have flowing within my veins is actually the true mana or something much more precious than it, held back by nothing but my humane body. Should I delve into Death's Honor and try to turn it into a permanent evolution, then?'
His thoughts trailed off as Brandi let out a moan, her spine getting healed in quite a rough way.
'I do… hate her now. But if a woman trapped me in her own world and forced me to fight against monsters day and night without any information beforehand or relationship, I'd grow to despise her… I'd want to escape that place as soon as possible as well…'
As a man who wants many women around himself, Hunter had to learn how to accept differences and see through various personalities. It didn't mean he would endure their schemes or misdoings, but people made mistakes, for no one was perfect.
At the very least, Hunter understood that he needed an impact and a strong image in the hearts of those he desired.
With his selfishness developing at a rapid pace, he quickly understood that he had to showcase his potential and strength, claiming what he wanted like a tyrant.
Still, Hunter was a kind man at the core, which allowed him to face other's mistakes while giving them a harsh lesson…
…only because the severe lessons worked in the world where strength remained supreme.
As Brandi called him a master already, Hunter was compelled to believe he had done a good job.
Even if some might deem him manipulative and evil, he was crafting his relationships with the intent to grasp as many opportunities as possible, meaning that his partners had more prospects to develop into stronger individuals as well.
If a woman didn't like this side, she was free to leave him as long as her heart didn't know his secrets.
Which in Brandi's case was impossible.
That was quite rough as Hunter had already decided to show his Dullahan Dark Knight Mode to Aimee and Seraphina, two women with much room to grow and become his long-time partners!
'It's easy to think like that… but it's true I wasn't really attached to Brandi, either. I'd never risk my life just for a rack. But if someone I hold dear and is aware of my secrets decides that she doesn't want to be a part of my life, will I be able to be heartless enough to snatch her to this world, keeping her away from the rest of the world?'
As those thoughts slowly trailed off, Hunter sighed and focused on himself.
"How does it exactly work? You see, Nakisha, I feel like I'm here in person. But I'm confident my body is in the mortal world… you know what I mean," Hunter turned his eyes to the eating red wolf, drawing her lips away from the food.
Nakisha nodded, "I know what you mean. In your case, you're somewhat like a spirit who can have a body in the spirit and mortal world at the same time. Uhh… we can't really leave the spirit world unless we become exalted, but that means we can't return to the spirit world, either. It's a spirit world that makes doubles. Yep, that's it!"
"Does it mean that the guardian spirit of The First Hunter Union is just a double?"