"What happend to your father," asked Jugo.
"He never cared for me. I took my blanket and left to survive on my own. The debt collectors might have caught up to him so hes probably dead by now."
"That is a sad story but youll always be my family and ill always love you even if youre the bushin goblin," replied Ruby.
"What brings you here anyway," asked Wendy.
"Oh! Were here to get Ruby to make Jugo some clothes that wont rip when he transforms."
"What do you turn into," questioned Wendy.
"I can turn into any animal whos DNA I am in contact with."
"Whats the biggest animal you can turn into right now," asked Ruby.
"A Bear."
"Ok that shouldnt be too hard. Step on this pedistal for me and take off your shirt so I can take your measurements." Removing his shirt Ruby questions.
"Whats that on your chest?"
"Its an artificial heart. It keeps me alive." Ruby hums in interest. While taking Jugo's measurements she corresses his body and muscles.
"Did you lose your arm in the same accident you lost your heart?"
"Yeah." Walking around to face him Ruby holds Jugo by the shoulders.
"Im gonna need to take a look at your heart."
"What!"
"I think I can engineer your clothes to be held in the housing unit of your heart, so when you fully transform your clothes retract into the hollow space of your core. I dont know if I can do it until I take a look so im gonna need you to lie down." Nervosly Jugo complies and lies down on a nearby table in the back room.
"Hahaha, hes shaking like a newborn fawn. Dont worry im just removing the faceplate and inspecting the interior." Turning to her work station Ruby pulls out a mini screwdriver and magnifying glass.
"Thats weird, there arent any screws who put this in you?"
"My mentor, his gift allows him to weld technology to living matter."
"Thats gonna be a problem. Is there a way to reattach it if it falls off?"
"I can heal and regenerate a little bit if its just the faceplate I should be fine."
"Ok then I have what I need. How soon do you need these clothes?"
"Im looking for my friends and theyre supposed to be somewhere around here so I need to get moving asap."
"Ill expedite it for a deal, two half moon toki." Pulling out a bag of money Jugo asks could he pay with a full moon toki.
"Do you realize how much this is! A full moon toki can get you a full set of brand new gear and support tools. You could probably pay to get escorted to another sanctuary with the leftovers too. Do you want me to add anything else to your clothes?" thinking to himself for a second Jugo replies.
"Can you add fire and sonic resistance, and make it so I can swim with it on?"
"You got it! Youre about to get my greatest work yet. Ill show you how the Yamaguchi family got their renown for their craftsman ship." Leading Jugo back to the front of the shop Ruby clings to Take.
"Why are you smiling so hard," asked Take.
"Whoever your friend is hes just given me the greatest challenge of my life and we Yamaguchi always rise to the occasion."
"Is your entire falmily this eneregetic," asked Wendy.
"More or less," replied Take.
"Its almost lunch rush time so id better get back to the inn. I know how you work Ruby if you get hungry stop by."
"Youre the best as always! I wanna get to work on this order as soon as possible to you boys gotta leave." Exiting the store Ruby locks the door behind them.
"What do we do now," asked Jugo.
"We've got plenty of time to spare if your friends are in town so lets go help Kenji so we can all look for them together."
"What quest did Kenji decide to do anyway? Something sneaky like a spy or infiltrating a gang?"
"Boar hunting."
"What?"
"Yeah Kenji went boar hunting. The people on the surface can afford to pay for their imported food but not everyone down here can. So he took a quest to hunt some boars to feed the hungry." Outside Hadel town's walls Kenji hunts wild boars. Instructing other Ophi he tells them to take the collected meat back to town.
"Hey Kenji we got bored so we came to help. What do we gotta do," asked Take as he apperoaches.
"You got bored but stopped to get fries?"
"I was hungry!"
"Well since youre here help me search for the zenith boar in the area and we can leave."
"Zenith boar," exclaimed Jugo.
"Yes, some Zenith beasts control heards of animals. The boars were harder to entice and lead away from the herd, so its likely that theyre being comanded."
"This area is pretty big were gonna have to search fast if we make it back before nightfall."
"I should be able to help im pretty fast," interjected Jugo.
"Great we can split up and search a wider area. If either of you find the Boar first give send us a signal." In unison the two repiled.
"Got it!"
"Lets head out!" Jumping through the trees Kenji leads Jugo and Take to the search area.
"Hey Jugo you good back there? I thought you said you were fast," loudly asked Take. Supprised by their speed Jugo replies.
"I tought I was." Thinking to himself Jugo questions.
"I killed the zenith bear. Wasint I getting stronger? From their speed alone I can tell I couldnt even beat Take in a fight if I wanted to."
"Heres the search area. Remember send a signal when you find the boar," stated Kenji reminding the others. Splitting up Jugo looks for the boar. After searching for a while Jugo thinks.
"Where could a giant boar hide?" moments later a strong scent engulfs the area.
"Its here! I have to signal the others." Filling his lungs with air Jugo roars like a bear. Echoing through the forest he scares a flock of birds away.
"Now all I have to do is find it." Spines fly towards him narrowly missing him as he dodges. Followed by a loud thud shaking the entire tree Jugo checks below him. At the bottom of the tree the zenith boar rams the tree again causing it to break and collapse. Falling to the ground Jugo lands on his feet and yells.
"What kind of boar is that!" Attacking again the boar fires off more spines. Quickly reacting Jugo covers himself with sturgeon scales. Blocking the spines he speeds forward punching the boar in the head. Withstanding the blow the boar throws Jugo back. Trying repeatedly Jugo tries to close the distance between him and the boar but it wont let him get close. Realizing what hes been trying to do the boar aims its spines at Jugo's legs and lands one in his right leg. Yelling in pain Jugo attempts to pull out the spine to recover but its stuck. Seeing an opening the boar charges full speed at Jugo. No way to dodge he covers himself in the hardest scales he can make. Reaching him in the nick of time Kenji Jumps down from the tree line slashing at the ground forming a wall with his molten metal stopping the boar in its tracks. Appearing before the bear Take punches the boar directly in the snout sending it flying back. Enraged the boar shoots out a large amount of spines. Dodging them with ease Kenji and Take swiftly close the distance. Punching the ground Take uplifts the earth beneith him. Following up with a back kick Take sends rock debrih to intercept the spines. Kenji gives Take a look and they both nod in unison. Thrusting his molten sword a piece breaks off and forms a platform mid-air. Landing on the platform Take looks down at the boar. Reacting to Take the boar aims its spines up at him.
"Dont forget im still here!" heating up the metal it glows a bright yellow. Slashing at the spines Kenji calls out.
"Thermal Arc!" the glowing arc heats up the air as it flies creating plasma. Cutting away the spines the trail of plasma shocks and stuns the boar. Focusing all of his strength into his legs Take pushes off the platform shattering it. Flying down Take screams.
"Achilles heel!" striking the paralyzed boar it smashes into the ground cracking the surrounding earth. Still slightly consious the boar tries to get back up.
"Im sorry but ill make it painless. Ninpo: Ikejime." Forming the molten blade into a needle Kenji takes a stance. Blitzing forward Kenji thrusts the needle between the boar's eyes burning a quarter size hole through the beast.
"Jugo are you ok," asked Take.
"Yeah ill be fine if I can remove this spine-" Take instinctively pulls out the spine causing Jugo to holler in pain.
"Oh sorry, my bad."
"Its ok." Jugo focuses his breathing and rapidly closes the wound. Standing on his feet Jugo is greeted by Kenji's confused stare.