Zimo stared at Kivu, who had just devoured the last of their provisions with an appetite he hadn't anticipated as he got up from the ground. What the hell did he just see? That was an entire shadow that spread out and swallowed everything in the store. But it did it selectively. How interesting.
He rubbed the back of his neck as he dusted himself off, still struggling to adjust to her peculiar ability. He had never seen this one before. "You're something else, huh?" he muttered.
Kivu's eyes flicked to him, sharp as ever, and with a subtle smirk, she turned slightly. Her lips twitched to let him know she found his confusion amusing. And that was not a funny thing for Zimo, who felt like he was always a step behind when it came to Kivu.
Then, as if to answer his unspoken thoughts, she raised a paw to her mouth and released… something that dropped to the floor, at first covered in darkness and then later revealing itself to be something Zimo knew all too well when the dark particles dissipated into the air.
Why was there an energy bar on the floor?
Ah, she had vomited it out...
Wait… an Energy bar had just come out of Kivu's mouth? Was it a good thing or a bad thing that Zimo was now being treated like a chick? Either that or she was a snack machine. A very scary dark snack machine with a terrifying glare that would drive chills down the spine of anyone.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring at this thing. Zimo blinked as he gazed at the thing, untouched by whatever he did to it with all that darkness. His thoughts stumbled over each other. And then an idea came to him based on his knowledge of sci-fi and other fantasy ideas.
"Wait… What?" He snatched the bar from the floor, inspecting it like it might vanish. No way. "Kivu," he said slowly, "you can store things?"
Kivu didn't answer though, her mind seemingly on other things. But that didn't stop Zimo from asking her a question. Zimo's stomach growled a deep, embarrassing rumble that echoed in the stillness. He glanced at Kivu sheepishly.
Zimo stared at this single energy bar and felt his stomach complaining. Well then. Here goes nothing. "You… wouldn't happen to have anything else left to eat, would you?" he muttered, half-joking, half-hopeful. Like something that he was not going to finish in three seconds.
Without warning, Kivu's body stiffened, her shadows roiling violently. Zimo's breath hitched as he watched a black vortex form at her chest, writhing and churning as if it were a living wound. A second later, something solid emerged from the void… a small, neatly wrapped energy bar.
Damn. He had asked for more, and yet she gave him this thing. So now instead of one, he had two. She figured that was enough for a little guy like him, right?
Zimo blinked, disbelief written across his face. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers trembling as they brushed against the bars. They were warm to the touch, faintly pulsing as if alive. He pulled it back hesitantly and stared at Kivu.
He just wanted to see her vomit something out, but this time it had come out of her chest instead. She was going to be a riot in the future. Zimo could tell.
Maybe she could inspire holes anywhere on her body. So it was probably not a space that was outside her body, but it was more like something that was not inside, but anywhere and everywhere. "How… how did you—" Zimo was about to speak when he saw her move.
Kivu's green eyes narrowed into slits. Her massive head tilted, and her lips pulled back just enough to reveal the glint of sharp teeth. The look she gave him spoke volumes: Don't question it. Just accept it.
Damn. Okay. But Zimo felt like he knew. It was unfortunate though. He could not use the skill since it had a funny name that looked like [Unknown]. He could not call the name, and neither could he see the information on the fourth Skill. Therefore he could not use it.
Zimo was curious, but for now, he just had to laugh it off. Geez, she was a terrifying woman who drove a hard bargain. She was a woman, right? Although Zimo did not truly know, he felt like she gave off womanly vibes.
Zimo chuckled nervously. "You've got to teach me how to do that," he murmured, unwrapping the bar. As he bit into it, a burst of energy shot through his veins, the fatigue in his muscles melting away.
Oh my god, he needed that. It would be great if he got more... but on second thought this was perfect. It would be bad if he was full to the extent that all the blood in his body was flowing to his stomach.
A snack like this was good to keep him going while also ensuring that he could still follow along and not be disturbed by one distended stomach or anything that was too insane to handle.
Zimo thought a bit more and felt a shiver. Did she know all this? Does she understand that an Energy bar might be the best thing right now?
He stared at Kivu again, this time with a newfound respect… and a hint of fear. After all, there was something incredible in the way she had swallowed the store and was able to think all this even without showing anything on her face. How much could she understand, and what was her true nature? Zimo couldn't help but think about her attributes.
Darkness and Evil… Was that the meaning of it?
"So… your shadows don't just kill and move things. They… consume. Absorb. Store." He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a low whistle. "That's terrifying. And brilliant. Since I have the same attribute, then I should be able to do the same thing right? You'll teach me in the future will you not?"
Kivu's expression shifted, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Zimo blinked. Was she making fun of him now? Cheeky Beast.
But he had no real problem. After all, she was his saviour. And he would forever be loyal to her for that. But at the same time he was a tamer was he not? He would have to find a way to tame her truly, with his ability and his trust. If that was even possible in a Creature with an S Rank Evil Affinity.
She crouched low, her shadowy form undulating, and motioned with her head for him to climb on. It seemed it was time for them to leave. It was a bit annoying that she was the one telling him what to do again. But he had to listen, at least for now. Before he fully understood what was going on, he would have to rely on her to give him everything that he needed.
Zimo hesitated. "You're sure about this? Where are we going next?" They were in there for food, yes, and they had gotten the food, yes. But there had to be more to it, than that right?
A guttural growl rumbled from her throat, and Zimo held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get cranky." She was still pretty scary. He didn't want to get swallowed. Or get left behind. He was somewhat strong now, but he was still one person. He could not handle too much all by himself.
He swung himself onto her back, the sensation of her shadowy form beneath him both solid and intangible at once. It felt like fur, but it also didn't. It was like a foamy, shadowy thing that was pretty incredible on his body.
Zimo remembered something. "Wait! The backrooms. There is probably food back in the storage. We can get more right? You can store it!" Zimo stared at the Beast below him with hopeful eyes and when he did that, she looked back at him, only to roll her green eyes.
She was rolling her eyes at him! Zimo felt a bit taken aback because he was the tamer here, but it was also pretty interesting to see something like this. He just wanted to get her to understand that she had to follow his lead. He had to do this from now on, to slowly get her to trust in him. Small little commands like these were going to be pivotal in creating that type of connection.
Zimo chuckled as she did what he said, even after throwing a tantrum. It seemed he was still her master. After all, she listened to him. That was a good thing. Maybe in the future, she might never even be looking to deny him.
As Zimo ate the other Energy Bar, noticing how fast he was able to digest it, something interesting happened. He felt like for a moment he was floating. And as he floated, he could feel how she was spreading out her shadows once again.
As Zimo saw her again turn into a shadow, swallowing every box in the back storage rooms he smiled. This was a ton of food. Where was she storing it, Zimo wondered. But at the same time, he didn't even want to know. She was way too interesting. He might just end up in the place if he messed up one day, haha...
But now that he had everything in the store, he was a bit more certaiofon his ability to survive. He had gotten practically everything in the store. From food to toiletries, clothes, tools, to everything else imaginable. That stuff was going to be useful… He might even sell it to people if push came to shove.
Zimo still wasn't sure what she ate. He wanted to ask her what it was. He wanted to ask her what it really was that she ate. Would she tell him, he wondered? But it was also pretty important to ensure that she understood he wanted her to be okay. He wanted her to be sated, to be completely secure in his presence and ability.
After swallowing everything in the storerooms, Zimo smirked, as he got back on her back, and the moment he settled, Kivu sprang forward, her movements as fluid as water yet as powerful as a storm as she bounded out of the front door before heading in a direction he recognised.
The world blurred around them, trees and rocks streets and buildings dissolving into streaks of green and grey. It was incredible to Zimo.
When they stopped, Zimo realized where they were. His stomach twisted into knots as he recognized the partially ruined office building ahead… the place where his old life had ended, and his nightmare had begun.
Webstorm Technologies. That sickening place that he had gotten away from only to be dragged back to.
The building stood like a rotting corpse against the horizon, its once-pristine windows shattered, its walls streaked with grime. This was the same thing he had recognised everywhere else. It was the thing of the dark rain touching things and making them rot.
The front was pretty empty and the roof had someone up there, but it seemed like he and Kivu were way too well hidden and with Kivu's body that was like a shadow, it was practically impossible to find him there and they were not going to let him go.
And then when he looked into the higher floor, he finally saw something… A faint orange glow emanated from the upper floors, accompanied by the muffled hum of voices.
Zimo slid off Kivu's back, his legs almost trembling without him meaning for them too. "This is pretty close to where you found me," he whispered, his voice barely audible. He turned to Kivu, his eyes searching hers. "You saved me… Thank you. Again."
Kivu stared at him for a long moment before turning her gaze toward the building. Her posture stiffened, and a low growl escaped her throat.
Zimo followed her gaze, his heart sinking as he saw what she was looking at. Two figures stood at one of the shattered windows, their silhouettes stark against the firelight. He recognized them immediately: Maya and Jacques.
"Those bastards…" Zimo's hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms. He remembered their cruelty, their laughter as they left him for dead. The memory burned in his chest, a fire he couldn't extinguish.
Now was it... this was the time he would make them pay for everything. They and everyone else who was around to watch him suffer. They would all pay.