Jayden nodded in satisfaction and walked towards the C-Rank Wolverine Stalker's corpse
[Are you done hunting for today?] Luna asked
Jayden nodded. "Yes, I am. Besides all the beasts would have gone into hiding hours ago," he muttered, and crouched beside the Beast's corpse. "This would be edible after it's cooked. Beasts meat from D-Rank above helps to amplify the energy in evolved humans. And a C-Rank meat like this would cost a lot in the market,"
[Hm, have you ever had beast meat before?] Luna asked.
Jayden nodded. "I have, but... that was a long time ago. When I was still a child," he replied. "Though, I haven't had any meat above D-Rank since I got the system. Jacob only buys F and E-Rank beast meat and even those are quite expensive," he stated
[Are they effective?] Luna asked again
Jayden shook his head. "Unlike the higher rank beast meats, E and F-Rank only boosts physical stats slightly. They have no effect on a person's energy and so can't improve abilities," he explained
[I see] Luna muttered. [I have a thesis that the Beast meat energy amplifying effect could actually work on you. But we have to test it out to be certain]
"All right, how do I put this in my inventory?" Jayden asked with a wry smile
[Hehehe] Luna laughed. [Figure it out]
Jayden exhaled. "Come on, Luna. It's not like I can just think about wanting it in my inventory, and it will suddenly..."
[C-Rank Wolverine Stalker's corpse has been added to inventory]
"Huh?" Jayden blinked. "It actually worked?"
His gaze shifted to the empty spot on the ground where the corpse used to be, and a smiled appeared on his face. "Nice,"
[Oh, Jayden. This is only a fraction of what the system can do, even the Beast energy acquisition is still minor compared to the other god-level abilities you will receive later on] Luna said in excitement
But Jayden chuckled and ignored her, he thought she was messing with him. What could be more powerful than being able to be and possess the abilities of any kind of beast in existence?
Then Jayden strode over to the E-Rank Wolverine Stalker he had killed earlier, it was still on the same spot. Still fresh, and waiting to be cooked.
Jayden thought about the corpse entering his inventory... and it did, which amazed Jayden even more.
Then Jayden glanced around the forest one last time before leaving, he had already made a mental note to return later in the weekend.
Jayden had almost died today, but it didn't even bother him much. Afterall he had survived a lightening strike, dying at the hands of a beast was child's play. All he cared about now was... getting a goddamn shower.
...
Jayden walked out of the forest slowly, the soft wind brushing past him like a whisper.
His black tracksuit was stained... ruined in a war-paint mix of dark red and jet black. Dried blood clung to him like a second skin, crusted along his sleeves, soaked into his hood. He could feel it tightening at the joints. Every step felt like dragging weight.
He paused when he reached the edge of the city. The early morning sun glared down gently as the world stirred to life.. people, traffic, shops opening.
Jayden looked down at himself and sighed.
"There's no way I'm walking through the city like this," he muttered.
[Yeah] Luna said. [You look like an horror movie reject]
Jayden exhaled and pulled his hood further over his head. He walked to the roadside and hailed a taxi.
The hovercar pulled up, door sliding open with a hiss. Jayden slid into the backseat.
The driver, a skinny man with a rough beard and a nervous habit of tapping his thumbs on the wheel, glanced at Jayden in the rearview mirror. He froze mid-motion.
Jayden gave a small smile. "Block 6. Avalor Avenue. No questions please," he muttered in a slightly authoritative tone.
The man nodded quickly. "Sure. Y-Yeah. No questions."
The cab lifted off the ground with a soft hum and glided through the city's skyline.
Jayden leaned back, resting his head, eyes drifting shut for a moment. His body still ached. His ribs were still sore, even with the healing. But he felt... good. Stronger. Alive.
He cracked an eye open and noticed the driver was glancing back again. And again.
Every few seconds.
Each look more uneasy than the last.
"Relax," Jayden chuckled, not even bothering to look up. "I'm not gonna eat you."
The driver jolted slightly and cleared his throat. "Right. Yeah. Of course. Heh... just… making sure you're okay, is all."
Jayden didn't respond. The rest of the ride passed in an uncomfortable, silent tension.
Finally, the cab eased down in front of Jayden's house. Jayden transferred the fare via his watch and stepped out.
The driver exhaled like he'd just survived a horror movie and sped off, hovercraft vanishing into the morning air without even a goodbye.
Jayden chuckled under his breath. "Yeah. Thought so."
He turned toward the house, reaching for the handle.
But before he could touch it... the door opened.
Standing there was Harleen.
She was dressed neatly, probably on her way out. Purse on her shoulder, keys in hand, smiling at first... Until her eyes landed on Jayden.
Blood. Dirt. Rips in his clothes. His shoes soaked. His hair messy. A walking red flag.
Her smile vanished. Her purse dropped to the floor. Her eyes widened. Her mouth hung open, silent for a moment as her brain scrambled to form a response.
Then... she managed to speak
"What happened?!" Her voice cracked. "W-Where were you?! What..? Why.. why are you covered in.. Jayden, is that blood?!"
Jayden winced. "I'm fine. Really. It's not mine."
"That doesn't help!" she snapped, stepping out and grabbing his wrist, inspecting his arms like she expected chunks to be missing. "Oh my God. This is blood. Jayden.. what did you do?! Where were you?!"
Jayden raised his hands. "I went to the forest. I was hunting." he admitted
"You were what?!" Her voice pitched even higher.
"I just decided to go hunting for some beasts. Nothing serious," Jayden replied calmly, trying to defuse the storm brewing in her eyes.
"Nothing.. Nothing serious?! You're covered in blood like you just stepped out of a gladiator pit and you say nothing serious?!" she pulled him inside, the door shutting behind them.
"Harleen, I..."
"No, Jayden! You don't get to brush this off! What were you thinking?. I can't believe you were actually in the forest... This whole time I thought you went out for a jog... or working out at a gym. So, yesterday that's where you were all along?"
Jayden nodded, there was no point lying anymore. He had been caught red handed.. literally.
Harleen gasped in disbelief. "What if something happened to you out there? What if you got attacked?! Why didn't you tell me?! Or Jacob? Or anyone?!"
Jayden sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Because I knew you'd react like this."
"Of course I'd react like this!" she snapped, arms crossed, pacing now. "You're seventeen. You're still in high school. You can't just go off hunting dangerous beasts like it's a hobby!"
Jayden didn't reply. He just leaned against the wall, arms crossed now too.
Harleen stopped pacing and looked at him, eyes softer now. She sighed.
"I get it, Jayden. You're changing. But this…" she gestured at him. "This scares me. I just want you safe. That's all."
Jayden's expression softened slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I just... needed to do this."
"Well, I'm telling Jacob," Harleen muttered, arms crossed, eyes narrowed like a scolding sister.
Jayden jerked up. "No! You can't. That'll just make him more worried," he pleaded.
Harleen shook her head slowly. "I have to, Jayden. If something happens to you and I didn't say anything? I'd never forgive myself."
"I'm fine, Harleen. Seriously. I only hunted the weak ones," he muttered, eyes darting away.
But Harleen didn't bite. She stood there, tapping her foot like a metronome of judgment, arms folded tight. That classic mom stance.
Jayden sighed, defeated. "Alright, fine. I'll tell Jacob myself."
"Good. You should," she huffed, stepping closer. "Now come here. Let me treat your wounds."
Jayden stepped back, palms out like a traffic cop. "I don't have any wounds, I swear. I'm totally fine." He offered a half-smile that screamed "I'm lying but please don't press me."
Harleen stared at him, eyes sharp and unblinking. "Jayden... You don't have to act tough with me, y'know. Come here."
Still, he didn't budge. He just shook his head, a little sheepish. "I'm… kinda stained. I don't wanna mess up your clothes
Harleen exhaled. "Don't worry about it, I'll change. Now hurry before you bleed out!" she said and moved towards Jayden again
But Jayden darted away like a startled fox, laughing under his breath.
Harleen paused and laughed. "Jayden, you're acting like a child. It's not funny. Are you seriously going to make me chase you around the house?"
"Jayden shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Yeah, pretty much." he muttered in a playful tone. He was teasing Harleen, he had been doing so the entire time.
With a huff and a grin, Harleen lunged for him... but Jayden slipped away again, faster than expected.
"What's wrong, Harleen?" he teased, jogging backward. "Don't tell me you're getting granny legs already?"
She stopped, breath caught between exasperation and disbelief. "I have no idea what's gotten into you lately, but you better let me treat you."
Jayden finally slowed down, hands up like he was surrendering. "Okay, okay."
Harleen sighed in relief and stepped forward.
But as soon as she reached out, he juked to the side and sprinted off again.
Her eyes widened. "Jayden!"
He gave her that innocent, caught-red-handed look from across the room.
She clenched her fists, took the deepest breath she could muster, and flashed back to the countless times she'd chased Jessica and Tasha around the house for bath time. Chaos. Pure chaos..
She looked at Jayden in a worried and pleading expression, but Jayden didn't move. He remained on the spot, far away from her, putting on an innocent face.
"Tsk, this boy.." Harleen thought, thinking of all the various ways she would discipline Jayden when he's finally caught.
"Seriously, Harleen," Jayden called out. "It's only a few scratches, I'm completely fine. And besides, don't you have to go to work? You can't chase me forever,"
Then her eyes darted to her watch. "Shit... I'm so late. Damn it, Jayden!" she growled, flustered and flapping her arms like a stressed-out goose.
Jayden burst into laughter.
Harleen followed suit, even as she groaned. She was frustrated, but happy. Jayden was opening up. Joking. Interacting with her as though they were mother and son. This was like a dream come true.
"Did you… drink something you weren't supposed to?" she asked, half-joking, half-concerned. "You're acting like a completely different person."
Jayden raised a brow, feigning offense. "Wait, you think I'm drunk now?"
She snorted. "No. It's just... never mind. I really need to get to work."
"Yeah, you should," he said with a grin that wasn't fake for once. "I'll be fine."
Harleen's tone softened. "I'm worried about you, Jayden. I know you're going through a lot… your evolution, school, the whole almost dying incident… But I want you to know that I'm here for you... We all are."
Jayden smiled, a little wry, a little grateful. "I know. And I'm grateful. Really. But I promise, I'm fine. I mean... do I look like I'm bleeding out?"
He did a dramatic spin, arms out, showing off his definitely-not-fine state like a runway model. "See? Very much alive."
"If I wasn't, I probably would've fainted by now," he added with a smirk. "Go on. I'll take care of myself."
Harleen chuckled and nodded, it looked like Jayden's speech had managed to get through to her. She had finally been convinced. "Alright, fine. I've heard you, I'll go,"
She looked like she had a million more things to say but she stopped herself. Instead, she grabbed a towel from the counter and handed it to him.
"Go shower. You smell like expired meat."
Jayden chuckled and took the towel. "Fair enough."
Harleen smiled began walking towards the door, then she paused, giving Jayden one last long, searching look.
"We will talk when I get back. Don't think you've dodged it."
Jayden nodded, towel now draped over his shoulder, expression calmer. "Yeah. I know."
With a final sigh, Harleen grabbed her purse and keys, scooped up her earlier-panic-dropped handbag, and walked out.
The door clicked shut behind her.
And just like that, the house was silent again.
Jayden exhaled. "Finally,"
He padded upstairs, peeled off his ruined tracksuit, and stood under the shower, letting the hot water wash away the blood, the tension, the dust of battle.
Steam curled around him. His muscles loosened. His thoughts wandered.
The beast. The fight. His transformation.
The taste of blood in his mouth.
He'd survived a C-Rank beast. And he was just getting started.
Twenty minutes later, Jayden stood in the kitchen, hair damp, now dressed in a fresh black t-shirt and joggers. His hands moved across the counter with the confidence of someone who knew how to cook.
He reached into his inventory and summoned the C-Rank Wolverine Stalker's corpse. It immediately appeared with a thud on the countertop.
The beast's hulking frame lay there, limp, fresh, and ready to be cooked.
Jayden smirked. "Let's get to work."
He pulled out spices, seasonings, onions, fresh vegetables... whatever Harleen kept in stock, and began setting up. His movements were fluid, precise. He grabbed the largest kitchen knife and went to work.
He sliced into the thick meat with long, clean strokes, then carved off strips, trimming muscle and fat expertly. The smell of raw beast-meat hit the air, earthy and strong.
Jayden smiled softly. "Chop and Dice. Just like Mom taught me."
Back when he was a kid, Jayden was always with his mother whenever she was cooking, he'd always stay in the kitchen, asking her questions, helping her cut vegetables, seasoning the stew, stirring sauces.
"If you know how to fight, you better know how to feed yourself too." she'd say
He chuckled.
With every slice, he remembered her hands. Her voice. Her laughter echoing through their old home.
He washed the meat, seasoned it generously, and dropped it into a large pot of boiling water with ginger, garlic, and herbs. The aroma changed almost instantly... sharper, richer, deeper.
Then came the slow simmer.
Jayden covered the pot, moved to prep vegetables, and set a timer.
Time passed.
The once-quiet house was now filled with the warm, savory scent of a C-Rank beast roast stew, bubbling with thick broth, golden oils, and tender chunks of rare meat.
The smell wafted through the halls.
Sweet. Spiced. Perfect.
Jayden leaned on the counter, arms crossed, watching it bubble.
[Not gonna lie] Luna muttered, breaking the silence. [This smells better than I expected]
Jayden snickered. "You don't even have a nose."
[I have simulated olfactory perception. Don't question me.]
He chuckled, grabbing a spoon to taste the broth.
He blew gently and sipped...
His eyes widened slightly. "Wow... It tastes better than I expected,"
Luna scoffed. [Yeah, yeah. I already know you're a good cook. You don't have to show off]
But Jayden ignored Luna, he stirred the pot slowly, letting the warmth seep into his bones.
And for the first time in a long time... Jayden felt normal.
Few Hours Later....
Jayden was still stirring the last pot of thick stew when the digital clock suddenly buzzed
He blinked, glancing at the time on the wall.
5:00 PM.
"…Damn," he muttered. "I completely lost track of time,"
He had been cooking for hours, boiling and stirring continuously. The stews were easy and quick to prepare, but it was the meat itself that consumed most of the time.
Unlike normal animal meat, beast meat took longer time to prepare. They had to be boiled, and reboiled countless times to remove any form of impurities.
But now, Jayden was finally done. The meal was ready. He let out a victory sigh and began dishing.
Then the front door creaked open. Footsteps echoed into the living room.. heels clicking, boots thumping, and the unmistakable excited chatter of two teenage girls entering their home after school.
Then... Silence.
Jessica was the first to speak.
"…Do you guys smell that?"
"Smells like a five-star restaurant in here," Tasha muttered, wide-eyed. "Has mum returned from work?"
Jacob, walking in behind them, raised his nose like a curious hound. "Beast meat?" he said with surprise. "But this… this smells expensive."
They turned the corner into the kitchen and stopped in unison.
Their jaws dropped.