Jaxon Rex wasted no time capitalizing on his momentum and the awe he'd inspired. "Alright team!" he announced, his voice brimming with newfound authority, gesturing for his impromptu followers to gather closer. About ten recruits, mostly those with F or E-grade talents who likely saw safety in numbers and proximity to perceived power, quickly formed a loose group around him.
Daniel recognized a few faces from the training barracks , eager, perhaps a little naive, easily swayed by Jaxon's boisterous confidence. "Listen up! Forget sneaking around. We hit hard, we hit fast. Strength in numbers, overwhelming force! We move towards that denser jungle patch," he pointed towards a region where the bioluminescent flora grew thicker, hinting at more complex ecosystems and likely, more creatures. "Rack up those kills, get that EXP. Stay close, follow my lead, and nobody gets hurt. Let's move out!" With a final, confident smirk, Jaxon led his cohort away from the open landing zone, disappearing into the azure and emerald foliage.
Daniel watched them go, a thoughtful expression on his face. Part of him felt a pang of the instinctual desire for safety in numbers. But his unique Talent, [Soul Assimilation], whispered a different strategy. Joining Jaxon's group meant sharing kills, sharing EXP, and potentially being caught in the blast radius of Jaxon's inevitable recklessness. More importantly, his Talent thrived on opportunity, on capitalizing on the aftermath. Observing, understanding the flow of this new world, and perhaps… scavenging the remnants left by others' encounters seemed like a far more efficient path, at least initially. He needed to understand the local creatures, gauge their strength, and learn how his Assimilation truly worked on different targets before charging into the fray himself.
He decided to shadow Jaxon's group, but from a safe distance, using the strange, oversized, pulsing plants and undulating terrain for cover. His slightly above average Vitality meant he could move quietly for longer periods without tiring easily, and his naturally cautious approach, honed perhaps by that high Potential Flux guiding him away from overt risks, served him well. He kept them within sight, a cluster of grey uniforms moving noisily through the alien landscape.
Less than twenty minutes had passed. The air in the Verge carried sound strangely, sometimes amplifying distant noises, sometimes muffling nearby ones. Daniel was navigating a patch of glowing blue moss when a sound cut sharply through the relative quiet, a piercing, terrified shriek, abruptly cut off. It was followed instantly by a cacophony of panicked yelling, energy discharges flickering through the trees, and the unmistakable sound of a struggle. It came directly from the direction Jaxon's group had taken.
Daniel's heart leaped into his throat. He immediately dropped lower, moving swiftly but cautiously towards the source of the commotion, his senses on high alert. He kept to the densest cover, peering through the gaps in the pulsating, leaf-like structures.
He arrived at the edge of a small clearing just in time to witness the brutal aftermath. Chaos. Several recruits were scrambling backwards, faces pale with terror. Near the center of the clearing lay Jaxon Rex's lifeless body, his grey fatigues stained dark crimson. A massive, ragged tear ran across his chest, exposing shattered ribs and mangled organs. His eyes were wide, locked in a final expression of shocked disbelief. His Initiate's Ward was gone, it must have vanished the instant he initiated an attack, leaving him vulnerable.
Standing over Jaxon's corpse, sniffing the air with predatory intensity, was a creature unlike anything depicted in the Academy's preliminary bestiaries. It resembled a large feline, perhaps the size of a panther, but its sleek body was covered in shimmering, obsidian-black fur that looked unnervingly like interwoven razor blades. Its claws were long, curved, and seemed carved from the same glassy black material. They dripped with fresh blood, Jaxon's blood. Daniel instinctively focused his intent, letting his Nexus Interface scan the beast.
[Razorclaw Stalker - Level 1]
Threat Assessment: High Agility, Moderate Strength, Lethal Claws. Stealth Predator.
The Stalker flicked its ears, its luminous yellow eyes glancing dismissively at the other terrified recruits who still had their shimmering Initiate's Wards active. It seemed to understand the Wards offered protection, or perhaps it simply wasn't interested in prey it couldn't immediately kill. With a low growl that sounded like shearing metal, it turned and bounded away, vanishing into the dense undergrowth with unnerving speed and silence.
Silence descended upon the clearing, heavy and suffocating, broken only by the ragged, panicked breathing of the survivors. They stared at Jaxon's body, then at each other, the raw terror evident on their faces.
"He... he just charged it!" one of them stammered, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "It came out of nowhere... he yelled 'Mine!' and just lunged... he didn't even try to dodge that swipe!"
"Gods, Instructor Rostova wasn't kidding," another whispered, eyes wide with horror. "This place is real. Jaxon... he had a C-grade Talent..." The implication hung heavy in the air: if someone with a C-grade could die so easily, what chance did they have?
"We need to stick together," a third recruit urged, rallying slightly. "Keep formations tight. Wards are fading soon... we can't get picked off like that."
As the survivors huddled together, trying to regain their composure and figure out their next move, Daniel's mind raced. The gruesome scene was a stark reminder of the Verge's lethality. Arrogance punished, swiftly and brutally. But amidst the horror, the description of his Talent echoed: Assimilating fallen Awakened may grant Attribute Points and potentially absorb compatible Skills or Talent fragments.
Jaxon Rex. Fallen. C-Grade Talent holder. Could Daniel...? The thought felt morbid, deeply unsettling. Assimilating the essence of a fellow recruit, someone he'd trained alongside, felt like crossing a profound line. Yet, the potential gain was enormous. A D-grade skill derived from Jaxon's C-grade talent? Attribute points? In this lethal environment, power meant survival. Hesitation could be fatal. Was scavenging the dead a necessary evil for someone with his unique ability?
He needed confirmation, a less morally fraught test. He spotted a vibrant blue vine hanging nearby, one that Jaxon had brushed past moments before his fatal charge. Focusing his intent on the living plant matter, Daniel activated his talent.
A minuscule trickle of energy flowed into him, barely perceptible.
[Nexus Assimilation successful on Azure Creeper Vine.]
[Gain: Vitality +0.0001]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (3/5 Remaining).]
The notification confirmed it worked on living flora, but the gain was practically nonexistent. Meaningful growth wouldn't come from plants. Creatures and... the fallen. That seemed to be the intended path for rapid advancement via [Soul Assimilation].
Steeling himself, Daniel made his decision. The other recruits were distracted, huddled together, arguing about whether to retreat or press on cautiously. Their Initiate's Wards still shimmered, marking them as non-combatants for now, unlikely to notice a single figure moving quickly in the chaos. Taking a deep breath, Daniel darted forward from his cover, moving swiftly and silently to Jaxon's body. He knelt beside the corpse, averting his gaze from the horrific wound, and focused his intent, pushing past the revulsion churning in his stomach.
A surge of energy flowed into him, starkly different from the gentle enhancement of the vest or the minuscule trickle from the vine. This felt raw, potent, tinged with the fading echoes of Jaxon's aggressive energy and kinetic power. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was undeniably substantial.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Fallen Awakened: Jaxon Rex.]
[Warning: Residual Consciousness Echo detected. Adaptability check passed. Minimal psychological imprint.]
[Gain: Strength +0.1]
[Gain: D-Grade Skill - Kinetic Pulse]
[Skill: Kinetic Pulse (D-Grade): Release a short-range pulse of concentrated kinetic force from the user's body or limbs, capable of staggering or pushing back opponents of similar mass. Effective Range: 3 meters. Mana Cost: 20.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (2/5 Remaining).]
Daniel felt a subtle but distinct increase in his physical power, a solidity settling into his muscles. Strength +0.1 wasn't massive, but it was direct attribute gain, something invaluable. More importantly, he had a new skill! [Kinetic Pulse]. A D-grade version, likely a less potent but more controllable echo derived from Jaxon's C-grade [Kinetic Impact]. A short-range defensive or disruptive tool. Perfect for creating space or interrupting an attack. The "Residual Consciousness Echo" warning was unnerving, suggesting a potential danger in assimilating others, but his Adaptability seemed high enough to handle it for now.
His eyes quickly scanned Jaxon's gear. Standard vest, same as his own. But clipped to Jaxon's belt was something Daniel hadn't opted for during initial loadout, favoring defense: an F-grade Initiate's Vibro-Knife. Its handle was simple black polymer, the blade short and practical, designed more for utility than sustained combat, but its edge hummed faintly with low-frequency vibrations, enhancing its cutting power. Basic, but better than nothing.
Daniel quickly unclipped it, securing it to his own belt just as Jaxon's former teammates finally decided to cautiously retreat, leaving their fallen leader behind. Daniel melted back into the foliage, his heart pounding from the close call and the grim necessity of his actions. He had survived the first encounter, gained power, and acquired a weapon. The scavenger's path had yielded its first bloody dividend.