The desert heat was unbearable. Waves of shimmering light rippled off the dunes, distorting everything in the distance. Natsuo stood firm, his expression calm, even as the horde of snake mutants closed in, their muscles rippling under their scaly skin, fangs glinting in the harsh sunlight. The wind carried a sharp hiss that seemed to echo in the otherwise quiet desert, like a storm was about to break.
The largest of the snake mutants lunged first, its powerful legs kicking up sand, sending a cloud of dust into the air. Its grotesque, snake-like head snapped forward, its fangs dripping with venom, aiming for Natsuo's throat. But Natsuo didn't flinch. In one swift motion, he stepped to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's strike. The mutant's attack missed by mere inches, but its momentum sent it crashing into the sand behind him.
Before the dust could settle, another snake mutant leapt into action, its massive arm swinging at Natsuo with bone-crushing force. Natsuo ducked just in time, feeling the air whoosh over his head as the mutant's punch missed by a hair. Without missing a beat, Natsuo's foot shot out, kicking the creature square in the chest, sending it flying back several feet, slamming into two more mutants.
Luci (watching from a distance, her tiny wings flapping nervously): "Wow, look at you, dodging like a pro! But, uh, maybe now's the time to use some of those fancy powers, huh?"
Natsuo remained silent, his eyes darting between the remaining mutants. There were too many to count with just a glance, but he had already calculated their numbers in his head the moment he saw them.
Natsuo: "12,363."
Luci (eyes wide): "Twelve thousand?! Oh, yeah, sure, just another day in the life of Natsuo. No biggie."
The next wave of mutants surged forward, their bodies moving like a coordinated pack. Natsuo's eyes narrowed. He stretched his hand out, the blue orb he had received from Lucifer glowing faintly as if responding to his command. As the first mutant reached him, Natsuo disappeared in a blur of speed, reappearing behind it in an instant. Before the creature even had time to react, Natsuo raised his hand and unleashed a burst of energy that sent it sprawling into the sand.
One by one, the snake mutants fell. Natsuo moved with surgical precision, dodging attacks, countering with swift, brutal strikes. Each time a mutant got too close, he struck with calculated force, knocking them out cold. His movements were smooth, effortless, like he had already seen every attack coming long before it happened.
Luci (cheerfully): "Oh, this is like watching an action movie! Except, you know, if the hero never breaks a sweat."
A particularly massive mutant charged toward Natsuo, roaring with rage. Its arms were thick like tree trunks, and its fangs gleamed as it prepared to bite down. Natsuo's face remained impassive. As the mutant swung at him, Natsuo caught its wrist mid-swing, stopping the attack cold. With a single, powerful motion, he twisted the mutant's arm, flipping the massive creature onto its back with a resounding crash. The ground shook from the impact.
Luci: "Whoa, okay, that one looked like it hurt. You sure you don't wanna give them a chance? Maybe they're just cranky 'cause they're hungry!"
Natsuo ignored Luci's commentary, his focus solely on the enemies before him. The last wave of mutants lunged at him all at once, but Natsuo's eyes flashed with a deadly light. The red orb in his hand pulsed, and with a quick gesture, he multiplied his strength by an unimaginable factor. He moved faster than the eye could see, tearing through the mutants with brutal efficiency. One by one, they collapsed into the sand, lifeless.
Dust settled around him as the battlefield grew quiet. The once intimidating horde of mutants lay scattered, motionless. Natsuo stood among the wreckage, not a scratch on him, his expression as calm and serious as ever.
Natsuo (brushing the dust off his coat): "That was easy. As expected."
Luci (hovering over the carnage, grinning): "Yeah, easy for you, Mr. 'I-just-beat-an-army-in-five-minutes.' But hey, it wasn't for nothing! You got something out of it, right? Like, powers or whatever?"
Natsuo's eyes flickered for a moment as if checking something only he could see.
Natsuo: "Yes... I copied new powers."
A faint glow appeared in the air, listing the abilities he'd gained from the fallen mutants.
#You copied new powers:
Poison ImmunityCreator of PoisonFemale Seduction
Luci stared at the list in disbelief, her one giant eye widening comically.
Luci (sputtering): "W-wait... WHAT?! 'Female Seduction'? Why would these muscle-snakes have the power to seduce females?! That doesn't make any sense!"
Natsuo (matter-of-factly): "Because there are no females of their kind. They reproduce with other species."
Luci floated there for a second, silent. Then she groaned.
Luci: "...Okay, gross. That's way more information than I needed." She then looked at herself, flapping her tiny wings in frustration. "And for the record, I'm so glad they didn't see me as female."
Natsuo (deadpan): "Don't worry. They didn't."
Luci (grumbling): "Yeah, well, who would be attracted to a floating devil eyeball with tiny, stupid, useless bat wings?! Seriously, look at me! I'm a freakin' joke!"
Natsuo raised an eyebrow at her rant.
Natsuo: "Do you want to return to your real form?"
Luci (suddenly startled): "W-what? Huh? Where did that come from? Why are you asking me that now?"
Natsuo (calmly): "Yes or no?"
Luci stammered, caught off guard. "I mean... if I could... I would've done it a long time ago. But I don't have enough mana to change—"
Before she could finish, Natsuo moved. Without a word, he reached out and grabbed Luci like a small ball, his grip firm but not rough. A sudden wave of blue mana surged from Natsuo's body, flowing into Luci like a flood. The air crackled with energy, and the ground trembled slightly under the force of the power being transferred.
Luci (screaming): "AHHHHHH!!! What are you doing?!"
Natsuo (calmly): "Shut up. It doesn't hurt."
After eight intense seconds, there was a brilliant flash of light. When it faded, Natsuo slowly opened his eyes and blinked. Where the small, sarcastic eyeball had been, a beautiful girl with long, flowing red hair and striking crimson eyes stood in its place. She looked about 16 or 17, her appearance both fierce and delicate. But there was something... off.
Natsuo glanced down and realized something. He was still holding her like a ball, except now... he wasn't exactly holding her shoulder.
Luci (blushing furiously): "AHHH! What are you doing, you PERVERT?!"
Natsuo, completely unfazed, looked at his hand, then at her. Without changing his expression, he gave it a small, experimental squeeze.
Luci (freaking out): "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Before Natsuo could react, Luci slapped him hard across the face, sending him flying backward almost a kilometer across the desert. He hit the ground with a thud, sliding through the sand.
Luci quickly conjured some clothes with her magic, throwing them on as fast as she could. She turned, still flustered, and saw Natsuo standing a distance away, dusting himself off, looking at her with a piercing, deathly glare.
Luci (nervously): "Heh... um... sorry about that? I guess I got some of my powers back too."
Natsuo (seriously): "I know."
Before either of them could say another word, the ground beneath them started to shake violently.
Luci (panicking): "Huh?! Is that an earthquake?!"
Natsuo (calmly): "No. It's a sandworm."
Luci (horrified): "A what?!"
Without hesitation, Natsuo grabbed Luci by the waist and leapt high into the air just as the ground beneath them erupted. A giant sandworm, larger than anything they'd ever seen, burst from the ground, its massive, gaping maw snapping at the space they had just vacated.
Luci (screaming): "AHHH!! NOT AGAIN!!" She clung to Natsuo, crying out as they soared through the air, the sandworm thrashing below them.
-----END-----