The Chameleon Loop

‘Yeah, no shit. I couldn’t give you one tenth of the minotaur’s power, so I took ninety percent of his power away. But then you killed him! With some power I can’t seem to see. So it’s time you killed the minotaur with your own hands. Good luck little Nox.’ Said Loki.

“I’ll find a way to kill you. Then I’ll kill that bastard god.” Snarled Nox, looking up at the minotaur’s axe.

Their eyes locked, and for the first time, the boss spoke.

“All of Minos said the same, so did Corith, Argos, Sparta, and Athens. I pray you succeed where they have failed, but I know better than to hope.” Said the minotaur.

Before Nox could process his words, the axe dematerialized. Along with the minotaur– No, he’s not a monster, The minotaur is Theseus. Insulting him or denigrating him doesn’t help me win. Thought Nox, rising to his feet despite the gore around him.

They had lost this fight. Nox had lost. Every bullet and every weapon had been exhausted, but Nox refused to entertain defeat. He activated the retreat signal, two wads of C4 thrown above the ziggurat and detonated in quick success, then he ran, sprinting all the way back to Shakko’s crevice. [Human soul +1] appeared on the way back, most likely Jon’s soul absorbed via Taylor. Though if it meant both hunters were dead or if Taylor remained alive was unknowable. Ashley and Ruby joined him shortly after his entrance to the crevice, both women looking gorgeous despite their weary eyes and shuddering temperaments.

“We failed.” Said Nox.

“Obviously. Why are you alone? Where is everyone else?” Snapped Ruby, plopping herself onto the naturally formed stone.

“Dead.” Said Nox.

Ruby’s brows knit together. “Dead…?” She asked.

“Well, Taylor might be alive. Theseus- uh- The minotaur, killed everyone else.” Answered Nox, already scrolling through his newly unlocked spell list.

It seems when I absorb a diviner, their spells are added to my own, or a part of their spells are. I have no idea if these fractions next to each spell is a level or what happens when I max them out. Thought Nox.

“Can’t you see the future? How does a visionary like you loose? Was it their fault?” Asked Ruby, deliberately goading him.

Liam’s eyes narrowed, and he contemplated killing her. Only to shake his head softly. She was trying to provoke him, see how he treated her under duress. But their deal…

“I get that you’re a fox, but can you tone down the bitchiness. If we both die nothing else matters. So let me clue you in, my power isn’t foresight. I can’t control time either. Those were just lies to keep us safe. But now that everyone’s dead…Nobody is left to tattle.” Said Nox staring into Ruby’s liquid metal eyes.

“Change your eyes, if we escape the Corps will dissect you. Anyways, my power is do over. A redux, or second chance. Whenever I die, Loki lets me pick a time in my life to jump to. Or uhm respawn at. So, haha” Said Nox, holding up both palms in a full armed shrug.

Ruby understood the implications immediately and wanted to cut Nox’s balls off and feed them to him. Maybe sautee them with some MRE cheese.

“So you’re only telling us because you intend to die…” Said Ashley.

“I’m all ears if you have another option.” Offered Nox.

“What happens to us when you uhm- die?” Asked Ashley.

“Don’t know, don- uh couldn’t guess.” Said Nox, interrupting himself before the phrase ‘don’t know don’t care’ could escape his mouth.

But there was no fooling Ash and Ruby. Who blinked at him like highway deer.

“No! That’s not good enough Nox! How are we going to kill the minotaur?!” Shouted Ashley, “There has to be something we can do!” She snapped, taking hold of Nox’s camo shirt.

Dried blood flaked off onto her hands, pausing her action for the split second Nox needed. Two clawed hands grasped Ashley’s pulling them free with the ease of a higher ranker. Her eyes widened, filling with precipitation.

“When did you get stronger…?” Ashley whispered.

“I’m going to scan the dungeon. You two keep me alive.” Answered Nox, more than ready to be done with looping entirely.

None of his power had amounted to anything, no wealth, no strength, no prospects, and now no ally’s. But at least his spell list had changed, and now contained new options. As well as an entirely new section.

[Spell list]

Protect 5/10

Heal 4/10

Enhance 2/10

Divine 4/10

[Talent List]

Mana Manipulation Talent 1/100

Shield Ward Talent 1/100

Vertical Slash 1/100

Javelin 1/100

Shapeshifting 17/100

Regeneration 1/100

Hmmm… So each soul I collect gives me access to their talents. No increase in the denominator value, so even though I absorbed three healers, the potential is still capped. His eyes fell to the 1 / 100 next to each talent. Oh that’s great, just fucking peachy! I have a hundredth of their power? What am I supposed to do?!?!

“Whatever,” Huffed Nox, “I’ll try and divine Taylor.”

In accordance with his will, the ‘divine’ power activated, ripping his eyes out of his skull. Or at least, that is how it felt. There was no pain, but total disorientation occurred as Nox’s body remained anchored while his consciousness floated through an empty void. A sensation of nothingness with no taste or touch. Yet his vision was heightened beyond comprehension, perceiving electromagnetic waves that were above and below the standard range of human vision. He could see the warmth of Ashley’s exhalations, detecting the minute differences in the warm air exiting her lungs and the surrounding dungeon.

His senses flew on wings of mana, passing through solid stone, glowing mana crystals and marble walls. Consequentially freed he ascended, picking up his pace to search for Taylor. Yet there was no sign of him nearby, or anything else in fact. For the dungeon had been reordered, walls had shifted and now there was a single freeway running from the cave to the –now unshielded– ziggurat. A corridor wide enough for two humvees to drive side by side.

The alteration should have made the search for Taylor easy, and in a way it did. But not because Nox found the last hunter creeping back to them. Instead, the highway pointed toward’s Taylor’s prison. Atop the ziggurat stood the minotaur, with a dozen spears pinning his last remaining ally to a wooden X. Similar to a wooden cross but equilateral and slanted so a prisoner could be easily tied or stapled to the wood. Or both.

“Taylor, why did you let him catch you?” Muttered Nox, approaching the ziggurat.

Around the ziggurat now stood hedges and bare dirt, an open invitation for Nox to finish what they had begun. Not only had the sawgrass been retracted, but eh labyrinth’s corridors in all directions had opened, anything within a mile of the ziggurat now had a straight shot to the temple, and many hunters were sizing the opportunity. Wyverns circled above while the tainted fox spirits lurked in the shadows, tearing apart dozens of goblins and claiming their teeth. From his extrasensory perch, Nox witnessed three roving bands of felinid dopples. One of which found Jon’s body and began to feast. Hmm… If I kill all of them, I might be halfway to maxing out my shapeshifting. Thought Nox, circling the ziggurat three more times. There were a number of creatures he didn’t recognize, and a few he did, doglike goblins known as kobolds bickered with each other, while burning serpents swam just beneath the marble tiles, and even draconic hydra lurked between the packs, eerily stealthy despite its four heads and hundred foot length.

All the while, Theseus watched Nox fly, silently challenging his presence. Yeah, i’m coming for you. Just give us a few. And with that thought Nox attempted to end the spell, and found that he could not. Uh… am I trapped out here? No, Ashley always said she was ‘back’... Okay, don’t panic, just fly home… Thought Nox, panting for air on his flight home. Seconds later he phased through the outer crevice and slammed into his body, taste and touch returned! Just in time for him to fall backwards as his momentum crashed to an impossible zero and biting his tongue.

“Ah! Owffff uck!” Blabbered Nox, shapeshifting his tongue on reflex.

The mana cost scratched his eyes, and Nox nearly bit his tongue again by growling. I can heal now… Why did I waste mana to shapeshift? UGH!

“You’re back, what did you see? Did you find him?” Asked Ashley, taking inventory of their supplies.

MRE’s littered the crevice, mingled with odds and ends from their gear, thinks like entrenching tools and a pickaxe lay beside glow stones, Mbars, tarps, and mana crystals. Enough for the three of them to survive for a few days. Sorry Taylor, but I’m not rushing into your rescue.

“Take a peek outside, Theseus and Loki have issued a challenge and summoned their hydra.” Said Nox.

“Hi drew?” Said Ruby, tapping her chin for a moment.

Memories of hunter basic training flooded her mind, lighting up her face with understanding.

“Oh! The stupid newt with all the heads!” She exclaimed cheerily.

“Hey, Ruby, tell me your actual name. We’re both going to die in a few days, I’d like to know who I'm going to be buried beside.” Asked Nox.

Cunning quicksilver circled Ruby’s vertical pupils, which was only slightly less inhuman than the quicksilver orbs they had been.

“I have held many names, but I will only provide the one you seek on one condition.” Said Ruby.

“It’s never a straight answer with you.” Groaned Nox.

“Never give something of value up for free.

“But my condition is an easy one. Swear by your highest power that when you die and return to the past, you will seek me out and drag me free of this dungeon. Even if it costs the lives of your teammates.” Said Ruby.

Her request tingled Nox’s brainstem, she would have no way of knowing if he betrayed her, no way of retribution. He held a royal flush in one hand and a fully loaded tommy gun in the other. Except I still need the cure for mana cancer.

“Sounds like I’m holding every card, give me an olive branch. Some edge that would convince me you never meant to betray us. Giving me your name is no reward, it’s literally the first step to accomplishing your request!” Said Nox, already guessing her reply.

“Hehe, intelligence is the most attractive quality in a man, followed closely by strength. The beauty of mortals is meaningless to shapeshifters like ourselves.” Said Ruby, smiling as she grew claws on her hands, then allowed the silver talons to slither into fingers. “Of my many names, I’m quite fond of two in particular, Tamamo-Mae, or simply Mae in your tongue, and Kuzunoha, though the latter may only be used between family. Do not abuse this trust.” Warned Mae.

Liam nodded his head, pursing his lips as he recalled those names. China and Japan were not part of America, but this was California, they were only a boatride or flight away, and departures were scheduled every 5 minutes. The mythical fox spirits Ruby was claiming had once toppled empires… Do I care if she kills the president and all of congress? Ha, hahaha, not at all.

“Those women are famous for sordid affairs and assassinations. Why warn me of your nature? I have no reason to accept your deal, and every reason to kill you, both in this life and the next.” Said Nox.

Ruby’s smile sweetened, “And the next.” She parroted. “So, you don’t rewind time at all, you simply die and wake up in the next body. If you ask me, that’s a neat way to maintain a single contiguous thought train. But that’s not important. Come,” Said Ruby, offering Nox a hand and stepping towards the inner crevice.

He looked at the hand, and frowned. “What exactly are you offering me?”

“You asked for goodwill, so come with me and I'll teach you cancer’s cure.”