CHAPTER 62: ABYSMAL STATS

Jethro stumbled into the roads once again, collapsing momentarily on top of a hover car to catch his breath. When the owner, a wealthy looking man, yelled at him to get off, he lazily pulled away from the vehicle and continued weakly down the road.

Scorch hung around his neck, his new obsidian scales reflecting the neon lights of the day, as he tried to harness aether faster, to fuel Jethro’s [Regeneration] skill. In time, there was finally enough aether moving through Jethro’s channels to allow for the activation of the Skill.

The healing process was fast and Jethro was feeling better in no time. He finally arrived at the Checkpoint and sank to a sitting position, his back resting against a grimy wall, catching his breath.

Even though he had to return to the dorm quickly before anyone noticed he’d left, he really needed to rest a bit. It wasn’t everyday one was chased after by a Magma Sloth and a Cinder Chimera.

He took out a protein bar, cut it into two and ate one half while feeding Scorch the other.

Nightlife went on around him. Hovercars and bikes weaved through the crowded roads, the citizens in their cyberwears and mods moved with purpose. Children played with mechbeast toys and buidings buzzed with activities. Jethro wondered once again if he really needed to do this.

He could be like these people. Living normal lives and not worrying about rankings or strength. But perhaps, being around Kekius was starting to rub off on Jethro.

At least that was his excuse for his new change of perspective.

After finishing his snack and regaining some strength, Jethro activated his Beastlinker. There were no more warnings about aether intoxication, though his body still had a fair amount of intoxication that would be filtered out by sunrise. He navigated to his Tamer Profile, curious about just how much he’d really grown.

[Profile: Jethro Merrick]

[Occupation: Student, Tamer]

[Rank: Class E, Grey Rank]`

[Mechbeast: Red Lizard]

[Beast Rank: Grey Rank]

[Bond Synergy: 98%]

[Shared Abilities: 1 → 6

1: Thermal Regulation

2: Camouflage

3: Wall-Climb

4: Regenerate

5: Solar Charge

6: Deep Sense]

[Stats: Poor]

[Strength: 4 → 5]

[Agility: 25 → 27]

[Dexterity: 11 → 14]

[Endurance: 13 → 15 (Different from heat endurance)]

[Intelligence: 43 → 50 (Different from knowledge)]

[Resilience: 15 → 16]

[Aether Manipulation: 1 → 3]

Jethro stared at the stats like he could not believe them. Not that they were surprising, but, he couldn’t just help feeling insulted even though they were all correct and not very surprising.

His Strength was abysmal, his Dexterity surprisingly bad as well. All the knowledge he had gained only increased his intelligence by a little, and even his overall endurance couldn’t have been boosted higher by his heat immunity.

The worst of all was his Aether Manipulation. Jethro had never even thought about it before, but of course it made sense that manipulating aether to activate skills and summon magic requires a certain amount of technicality and training. That way he wouldn’t run out like he did earlier when he had forgotten to deactivate [Camouflage] before activating [Wall-Climb].

This was a reminder that irrespective of Scorch’s new growth, Jethro still had a long way to go himself when it came to fighting, tactics and magic. He had to train. Speaking of Scorch, what was Jethro going to do tomorrow?

The other tamers weren’t blind, they would notice immediately that his Red Lizard was bigger, and now more black than red. What was he going to tell them?

Of course the only answer was to pretend to be clueless as well. If anyone were to ask, he’d reply with "How wish I knew" or "I’m trying to figure it out myself. It’s really... strange."

Jethro didn’t worry about it that much anymore. He had always been a good liar and pretender so he had nothing to be worried about.

He pushed himself off the wall, muscles protecting slightly. It was time to get out of the city. Return to the Academy. He pulled out the Portal Box and placed it on the grimy permacrete, pressing the activate button before stepping backwards.

Scorch was nibbling on the wrapper of the nutrient bar before Jethro picked him up, taking the plastic wrap off his mouth and throwing it in the bin. The portal activated, air and energy whipping around.

Jethro took one last look towards the direction of the Flame Forest, knowing he’d return there one day. Then, clutching Scorch tighter, he stepped through.

The disorientation was brief this time. Jethro was getting used to entering through reality altering portals. He walked out onto cool, metal ground. The smell of street food and vehicle engines vanished, now it was the sterile scent of buildings and coffee that filled Jethro’s heightened senses.

He stood right where he’d entered hours before: the utility panel beside the staff reserved restaurant. Jethro felt a slight relief. He’d made it back in one piece, what was left was to return to the dorm without being seen.

He looked around, eyeing the shadowed corner where the hatch had spat him out from. He would have to retrace his steps back there, climb up the hatch, avoid the Sensor Bees before returning to his dorm room safe and sound.

Sounded easy enough.

He turned and bent to deactivate the Box, the portal winking out. But as the portal disappeared, he felt a shadow looming over him. Jethro’s eyes raised slightly and he could see large metal boots standing in front of him, undeniably belonging to someone who was big and strong.

"So!" a familiar, cheerfully menacing voice boomed. "You’re the little mole who smuggled himself out of the Academy earlier. I knew to wait for you! And well, isn’t it just my lucky day!"

Jethro froze, heart plummeting into his boots. Slowly, he looked up.

It was the Security Chief. The Mushroom Lizard man from when Jethro first arrived at the Academy premises. But the welcoming grin and the waving hand was gone, what he had now was a more predatory type of grin— the kind that sent chills down anyone’s spine. His eyes were closed playfully and his tree trunks of hands were folded.

Up close, the man was even more brutally imposing. He was easily seven feet tall, built like a fortified wall. His security uniform was reinforced with thick plates of metal over vital areas. Mods were connected around his wrists, some fingers and on his shoulders where mushrooms were glowing various neon colors.

His skin had a faint, mossy-brown tinge, likely a symbiotic effect from his bond, the giant mechbeast right behind him.

A Mushroom Lizard. It was easily the size of an elephant, with a body made of strong Vincintine metal, and a back filled with mushrooms of various colors. Thick fungal stalks swayed under its head, and its small, silent eyes were fixed on Jethro.

"Let me get a look at your license, kid," the Mushroom man said, extending one of his giant arms.

"M– my license?" Jethro murmured. "Oh, yes. Here it is."

He retrieved his license and handed it to the man, heart pounding as he waited. Scorch watched too, scared, because it also knew the consequences of illegal exit of the Academy premises: expulsion, de-licensing, mechbeast confiscation... Watergate.

Jethro had to do something. "Don’t report me, mister. It was only out of curiosity. I’ll never do it again!"

The Chief chuckled. It was deep, like the rumbling of rocks grinding together. He took a step forward, the ground seeming to vibrate slightly. "Report you?" He shook his massive head, his demeanor emitting a gleeful energy that was ironically terrifying. "I don’t intend to report you at all."

Jethro would’ve felt some relief if it didn’t seem like something more was coming. Something worse.

"Besides, it’s a waste of paperwork. I have a different type of need, dear student." He cracked his neck , the sound like snapping branches.

Jethro panicked. ’What a damn minute.’

"I need a punching bag. And you, Grey Rank, look perfectly squishy!" His grin widened, a modded finger pointing at Jethro. "So you’ll be my punching bag for the next thirty minutes and I’ll let you go if you manage to survive."

Jethro’s eyes widened. "If I manage to survive? You’re a Gold Rank tamer! And you have a lot of combat experience! I can’t f– fight you! You’ll kill me!"

The Chief replied with a happy smile, nocking his head to the side. "That’s kinda the point."

Jethro gasped, stepping backwards. Why were so many things trying to kill him tonight?!

The Chief walked close, cracking his knuckles. "Do you know what an addiction is, dear student? I discovered that I have one not too long ago. I am addicted to fighting. Pushing limits, feeling the impact, breaking the bones of enemies is what thrills me. It’s my own personal therapy and I’m afraid, dear student,...

He stopped walking and extended both arms sideways. "Our session is about to begin."