Loic would follow along, swaying his broad arms about with little hesitation, the following introduction leaving his lips slightly sunken inwards as he looked towards her again. He blinked, calmly nodding on. 

"Right, right...", the man spoke on, pensively staring at the explanation provided, letting loose a slightly growling hum as the task ahead was explained, rubbing his beard as his mouth was left agape, revealing his animalistic teeth for a moment longer.

"Great, a walloper's better than a roaster, nae danger o' gettin' in th' way, a' least. There, we'll be findin' a cure for, uuh, me mate, aye? Sair ficht for half a loaf 'nough without'er her bein' a bloody screwball.", commented Loic, before his ears briefly turned into those of a deer, picking up some of -the- hardest and slowest stops a human body could make. Once he witnessed the walking pile of both muscle and pure, unrestrained LARD came waddling through, he could not help but tilt his head a little as he witnessed what to him, seemed utterly impossible, seeing how his flesh was flabbily wrapped around what he assumed must have been quite the muscle to hold it all...

"Well, ain't he a big'un?", he would comment, huffing out a chuckle through his nostrils. 

That moment, however, ended swiftly as his sharp, wilderness-adjusted ears were assaulted by all manner of noise, and possibly one of the most grating greetings he heard in a while. By the time Verin made her appearance, his ears were covered by his hands, which morphed into hose hooves, before they then reverted back, giving her a grinning smile and a wave of his hand in turn.

"Th' name's Loic. And innit? Hooh, this is gonna be quite somethin'.", said Loic, as he put his hands on his hips, his head changing into that of an owl for a moment, as he twisted his head backwards, slowly blinking his huge, orange eyes, readily pointing a finger upwards

"Funny story, that. Y'see, mate o'mine and I got interrupted by a load o' clypin' scunners, and now she's droolin' like a starved hoond!", as he explained, his face suddenly changed into a growling doberman, before switching right back into it all, calmly humming as he quietly slid his lips against one another, soon giving the claimant a raised brow as nothing seemed to be happening to him. He took this time, however, to quickly change from his common garb, to the collection of pelts he normally wore, revealing his physique. 

That was, until suddenly, stone steps arose leading not just to shadows, but even more noise that would make the hunter's mug twist in slight discomfort. He stuck close indeed, staying at the very back behind the enormously rotund moon "boy". Given the gravity of the situation, Loic seemed to halt his usual shenanigans, as he tried not to reel in pain from the music and madness that surrounded him for but a moment. This was why nature portals were superior in his view, which at least had a tasteful degree of spectacle to them, the kind only an eejit would dismiss.


As they approached, he would end up summoning his twin weapons, along with a slight twist in his physique becoming lankier, ribs broadening as his clothing fused into itself. The antlers on him expanded and branched until they were those of a moose, his head twisted into those of a wolf, with brown, black and grey fur expanding throughout his body, adding sharp, talon-like claws to his nails, whilst his legs became spotted and yellow, like a cheetah. His face was in a permanent snarl, as he felt intense hatred lead out from his soul to the surface, as if whom he was facing was a foe he knew as long as he lived, and yet he knew them not. Whatever past life had such a grudge, they were no doubt more than willing to let him enact their long-saught revenge.

Then, they made their entrance, the hunched, horned mishmash looking over to the opening created as the brutish Dack proceeded to run through each and ever wall like they were made of crackers. He grinned, showing his canid teeth, before then nodding to them, speaking through his growling mouth.

"I'll cov'r ya, need t'find antidote. Gie it laldy!", he said, before then making it out to the side. On occasion, he would hurriedly point one of the many imprisoned claimants to the rest, all the while, he would charge in like the beast he was, making sharp turns across the hallways, snout readily sniffing for anything that felt like a collection of mixed smells, or that bizarre plain scent that assaulted the nose. This place kept boiling whatever hatred had bursted within him, adding to the monstrous beast's gusto. This place was unnatural. All white among white, choking, narrow, and most importantly, filled with fools thinking they can get away with a crime such as this, turning Claimants against one another and into mindless pawns. Disgusting. 

However, were the security guards that were pouring in, conveniently in the same direction he was heading to, were of a priority. Not repeating the same mistake of making himself vulnerable, his skin would shift from fur, to a hardened carapace that would cover his back, arms, abdomen and legs. Like a stag beeetle, he rammed into them full speed, likely ending them outright with the sheer force of a large insect, mixed with physical prowess and speed from his previous mishmash of features. Those who did not die outright were sent flying backwards, likely to suffer trauma from witnessing a creature seemingly impossible to one's mortal eyes, a true monster.

The earphones were ripped from her ears and she found herself suddenly and most certainly awake despite the fact that she had told everything with a pulse that she did not want to be disturbed whatsoever for the next few hours. Suppose, that was too much to ask of mortal subordinates. 

“What is it?” 

Sigmutt looked at the scientist who had ruined her nap, their arm seemed to be detached and they were covered in sweat. Did she really have to leave her office to discipline the experiments? Sliding off the bed as elegantly and as slowly as she could possibly fathom. Sigmutt reached for her lab coat as the distant sounds of sirens could be heard below her. 

“It’s hard to explain.”

“Unless you are suddenly incapable of logical explanation. It should not in fact be ‘hard’ to explain.” 

“It’s… a thing.” 

“A thing? Have you lost all grasp of complex communication?” 

The human winced at the Postnos treasure who was now busying herself with looking through the footage on her personal tablet, she let out a huff of disapproval before putting her fingers to her lips and letting out and inaudible sound to the human, the human scientist had always wondered what Sigmutt was up to when she did as she was doing now. 

“What do we do?” 

“Well, it’s alive is it not? Still damaging the facility. I suppose I will need to take care of it.” 

The scientist had noticed that Sigmutt’s eyes were closer to hornet eyes in their hexagonal pattern… this happened sometimes, when the treasure was particularly pissed off at her human counterparts; perhaps the scientist wondered if they should make themselves scarce. Sigmutt continued to make a leisurely paced journey towards the sounds, she didn’t bother the stairs instead using the invisible electrical circuitry that filled every substance and thing non living to transport her to where this ‘thing’ was; or rather right behind it. Based off the visual footage she had witnessed thus far, this unwanted guest had left very little to the imagination; what with being a nature claimant and all. 

“You’re trespassing.” 

She spoke loud enough so that this thing could hear her but not loud enough so that the humans could hear, speaking of – the humans who were still present were currently either unconscious, being dragged away by other humans to get them urgent medical care or were cowering against walls crying having pissed themselves. 

She flicked her fingers towards the walls and as though the walls themselves were alive, those invisible wires… her invention of invisible circuitry started to form into limbs; the pure fuel and electricity would stop anyone’s heart from mere exposure to the area and perhaps they would have stayed limbs but that would be no fun… no fun for the nest of very angry and famished clockwork hornets. 

“Bzzz.” 

Sigmutt poked her tongue out as hornets the sizes of which were as minuscule as rice grains to as vast and large as whales descended in and upon the direction of the intruders. Sigmutt would deal with the other intruders later; the ones holding and assisting in the escape of her experiments. Alas, she had been taught by her mother that it was better to deal with the singular rather than the plural. 

“If they do not eat you up first, I most certainly will.” 

Now, perhaps that would have and could have been the end of the story. It might have been had Sigmutt realised she was walking into a trap devised by none other than her coworker...

---

The monster perked its ears at the sound of electricity crackling on behind him, followed by the sound of buzzing. This gave it enough time to formulate even more defenses in his flurry. Loic would flex his muscles, cross his arms over his chest and from the carapace would emerge several quills, thick as bars of iron, threatening to skewer the hornet-drones sent after him. The few that did manage still ended up biting and stinging through the shell, forming cracks along it. The treasure arriving only comfirmed how close he was to the objective, and he could only grin his lupine maw.

"Tha's th' point, y' peely-wally screwball!", growled out the claimant, as the antlers swiftly retracted, replacing themselves with even more quill. The carapace surrounding him would swiftly open up, revealing bright yellow, translucent wings that let loose a deafening buzz around him. Is spite of the immense pain brought about by the swarm, he took off forward, going in the directions memorized by instructions given by the Sytagen, soon zooming downwards. Much was at stake, and there's not much time left. The sooner he can find the antidote and make it out, the better. He could only maintain such a form for so long. To the humans who still came, he was but a loud, ear-bleeding blur. His eyes now shared the traits of insects, multitudes of eyes allowing him a good vision of his surroundings.

The flying beetle-wolf-q-pine winded and winded across the hallways, until finally, he reached the location, or at least he assumed so, according to the orientation given by Vetani's vein-map-thing, forcefully tearing the door open with hands that briefly became elephant legs, caving the door and sending it tumbling into the ground. Soon, he shifted briefly back into his usual form, but with the head of a bloodhound, rapidly searching through the labelled boxes. Once he did find said antidote, be it a vial or something else, he would stash it within his assortment of leather clothing, soon mending and changing his corporeal shell into that of a tiger beetle of roughly similar size to his own, practically nearing the speeds of sound, and trying his best not to end up running through the same path he did before, through this maze-like structure. After all, that would be too predictable, and the sooner he reaches his companions without hindrances, the better.

To say there was a single pair of dry, clean underpants left, would have been a lie… at least that was the case for all the humans inside the Program’s facilities. Many of them realising too late upon the sudden appearance of something out of a horror film, that they had been in the literal sense: scared shitless. Some of them were lucky for they had passed into unconsciousness at the shock, whilst others were left trying to find a clean spare pair of undergarments – none of them had been briefed on the fact that they needed to bring underwear as today’s extra equipment. 

Sigmutt had not expected Vetani to help the intruder, whatever the hell he was now she had lost track of his transformation and had been left surrounded by copious amounts of dangerously crimson red liquid that seemed to smell of death and paradise all at once, flicking her cat of nine tails at Vetani who held duel tessen. One was a long distance fighter whereas the other enjoyed getting down and dirty and as close to her opponent’s throat as possible; it was Vetani who made the first move towards Sigmutt, using her plants as a stepping stone-ladder she lifted herself up towards the ceiling and dove towards Sigmutt who barely had a chance to roll out of the way, knocked by one of the fan’s sharp syringe like points, a burning sensation of acid filled her system and she gasped out in shock. 

“Don’t worry, it’s not lethal. OR at least it won’t be for a while.” Vetani chirped. 

The sytagen was given a thunderous response, electricity ripping through her as though a piece of paper in a hurricane. Vetani could only hope that her combat and her poisons would give Loic enough time to get through the rest of the program’s many levels and walls towards the antidote. Meanwhile, inside the lab that held the antidote, a series of nature claimants and humans were working on other varieties of medicines that could be used both for and against claimants and were undoubtedly unaware of the force that was about to barge in and shake their day in the worst possible way imaginable. See, the head scientist of that particular lab had decided it would be for the best that the alarms be turned off and that they work in pitch silence – later on he would come to regret that decision… 

---

A low earth-shattering sound of metal being twisted and bent out of shape stopped some of the scientists from working, they placed their hands down and away from their tools, some of them wondering if they should call for help or ask if something was the matter; the nature claimants amongst them felt the sudden urge to run like a deer would at the sight of a cougar or wolf. There were screams and the sounds of scientists running from their high chairs and benches and towards the opposing wall; some of them were glad they had not been using glass whereas others were wishing they grabbed their scalpels at the sight of what seemed to be a combination of several different species; the nature claimants realising who it was decided they’d rather protect the humans than fight the champion of their house… 

“What is he looking for?” 

One of the scientists asked above all the noise of metal and glass and other things like chemicals too mixing and turning into this vile viscous substance of muck. As it was almost wholly acidic in nature, it surprised none of them when a hole the size of a bathtub started to open up in the middle of the lab, eaten away by the chemical substance. 

“Can we help you Loic?” 

One of the nature claimants enquired, their hands on the floor with vines being produced – not as an attack but more so a defensive measure to keep the humans who were inside the lab safe from the progressively large hole in the middle of the room. 

---

“Where the fuck is he?”

Verin said to no one in particular as she swung one of her large war hammers down on a very dead light claimant, after he had disappeared – to do something, to get something whatever all hell had broken loose and any claimant who wasn’t trying to escape through the passage she had created or through the assistance of Dack had decided it would be brilliant to take her on… how wrong they were; now most of them laid unconscious and if they were dead they were piled up under her rather tiny physique. 

“We go?” Dack asked her. 

“Can’t. Not till he shows his ass again.” 

She turned her head just as she could have sworn that one woman covered in something that looked disgusting was throwing another one who was blonde and smelt like her sister into the walls with her bare hands only to be thrown  back the opposing way and the sound of thunder and lightning shook the remaining solid walls. Verin shuddered and shouted: 

“Loic! If you can hear me! Let me know if you’re still alive somehow or we’re getting out of here before we become food for the two females fighting like this is pride rock from that animation movie!” 

---

Vetani wiped at her bleeding forehead as Sigmutt got to her feet, her right knee bent at an angle that suggested that the leg had been torn off of her. Both of them looked a state and the fact that the poison hadn’t yet knocked her out told Vetani that either Sigmutt had a higher tolerance than she thought or there was something up the sleeve of the electricity treasure. She reached for her fans and Sigmutt did the same with her whip; Vetani wasn’t even sure what part of the program’s many layers they were even in, too many walls and too many parts had gone past for her to really care – she’d be able to get out of here easily anyway; what with her own portals and what have you. 

As Loic's monstrous form tore through the door, he would swiftly observe around him, ears picking up the signs of conflict from above. Seeing the group of scientists, he would have been eager to massacre them, were it not for the fact there were other claimants of Nature among them all. Slowly, his form changed from a multilegged, thorny monstrosity, to a bipedal mishmash of man, bettle and wolf, and then yet again, the form would dissipate, until antlers and fur would drape down, revealed to them in his entirety. He looked at the slowly-forming hole in the floor with a slight grin, before then observing the nature claimant. They were smart enough to have spoken before he considered branding them all as traitors in his mind.


"Antidote. One o' yer teams poisoned a mate o' mine. Y'made it, now she's flailin' like a bampot. Do tha', and I leave ye be. Yer a smart wan, y'kno' not ta get in me way.", he would demand, his face and lip revealing barely contained fury that was seemingly held by the minute strips of string that was this one claimant's compliance, his chest puffing up and deflating with each few passing seconds. He was distracted within a moment, however, as one of his ears turned lupine at the mention of his name, immediately turning on his heels to hang his head off of the entrance he had just busted down, as he took in a deep breath from the surrounding air, his own chest seeming to inflate from what he was about to do.

"JUS' A MOMENT, LASS!", his voice reverberated in an extremely loud fashion, as if it were an explosion, before his chest would shrink to normal, and he would return his attention to the science team. Once he stomped his way back in, he jutted his dominant hand out with a huff, closing his fingers against it in a repeating fashion.

"Dunnae make me ask twice.", he would say, turning to face the one claimant that cooperated, and he had full intent to honor the deal. He was to leave as soon as he was given the proper antidote, whereas he otherwise would have stormed the lab itself, possibly have even obliterated it. The mere fact they were there with them made him wonder whether they were on his side, or just pretending to be. For now, the offer was the only way he could confirm whether he could give these researchers the benefit of the doubt. He would not be surprised if Vetani had used this opportunity to plant a spy or two within, just so this would go as smoothly as possible. His hands stood there, his chin set low, as it eagerly awaited for something to hold it, while his green-flecked eyes stared on with the intensity of a tiger, ready to paralyze its prey with the mere utterance of its growl.

The claimant who had spoken up first and had gotten the attention of the legendary nature Aikekunai, did their best to keep both themselves calm and their resolve to not run for the hills and abandon the humans under their protection. 

 

“Could you tell us exactly what happened? This is the antidote lab… but you need to be specific. I am not trying to slow you down.” 

 

“I think he’s talking about the bullets.” One of the other individuals murmured. 

 

“Oh, um then it should be over there, in the mini fridges…the code is…” 

 

“Hibiscus. Every second letter is a capital.” That same other individual offered. 

 

The fridge in question was in fact still working and was illuminated on the inside, with vials upon vials of clear liquid labelled colourfully. One of the scientists who was closer to the fridge and less afraid of what they just had witnessed, what with a horrible creature becoming a man who looked ordinary if not a bit feral. Though their hands were trembling and held above their head so that Loic could see that they were just a human with literally no danger to them. 

 

“I um perfected them. You’ll want… the ones with the red labels… but gold lids… they’re cured and ready for use… the others are still being um…”

 

The scientists obviously had hoped that this intruder, this claimant would be polite enough to leave them something of their work, but alas based off the looks he had already directed at them, the scientists felt they were just lucky to be getting out of the lab and the day alive. None of them had anticipated the voice of a female would echo up through the hole in the floor nor that Loic would respond as he did, some of the scientists whimpered and the claimants tried their best to keep a firm smile and a sense of peace about them – sure inside they were freaking the hell out, who wouldn’t be? Faced in a situation whereby they’d have to fight one of the Aikekunai of the house? Even the dumbest and weakest of the claimants knew that it was a bad idea to even suggest the mere thought…

 

“You’re not honestly going to jump down the hole, are you?” 

 

The silence was broken by Vetani who though injured had a smile on her face and was leaning up against the open door. Sigmutt had fled after it was clear the Sytagen had the upper hand in the battle. She stepped into the lab and opened one of the drawers where she knew a first aid kit sat, undoing the clips she grabbed one of the antiseptic wipes and tore at its packaging, using it to clean her hands and the visible wounds that she could be bothered to reach. Some of the claimants relaxed visibly at the sight of her, though their expressions soon turned to concern when they realised that Vetani was part of the reason why their silent sterile peace had been broken; she had been assisting Loic. 

 

“That Darkness claimant really is a headache, isn’t she? So impatient. Must be a Xainayne thing.” 

 

Vetani commented as she stepped towards the hole in the floor and looked at Loic, he seemed uninjured – or perhaps he was injured, and his accelerated healing had just kicked in and so left him looking relatively unscathed. Vetani just knew that if he came back anything less than perfect, her mother would put her to task, and she’d end up punished. Scanning him over again, she planted her foot firmly against the floor and though there were no holes in her shoes, a deep puddle of viscous liquid began to consume the tiles before becoming clear and revealing the Fields underneath. Even the hole in the floor seemed to be covered up, the other humans and claimants alike were now on lab tables or pieces of furniture in order to avoid the acidic poison that started to eat away at the structural integrity of the place – whilst also leaving herself and Loic untouched. Giving Loic a mocking salute Vetani gestured. 

 

“I can tell them to go on ahead, we’ll take one of my portals instead. Grab what you need, and we’ll return to the Fields.” She offered him her hand. 

 

Meanwhile, Florita and Eviax sat on the wooden floor watching Amphitrite’s form, the claimant had stopped moving for now; occasionally Eviax dared to dab the girl’s lips clearing it of the spittle and foam that seemed to leave her at different intervals of the hour. Eviax looked at her aunt, who was knitting a fine emerald, green cloth made of vine, pine needles, moss, and some kind of fern. 

---

 

“Did you hear about Rome?” 

 

“Who hasn’t?” 

 

“Will you send anyone?”

 

“It’s my houses at risk, so yes, I will send someone. I heard that Destodai has asked one of her guards to take up the responsibility.” 

 

She was referring to Evans, Eviax blushed and went back to passing a sponge soaked with water over Amphitrite’s lips, the moon claimant snarled and snapped at the sponge like a rabid animal and Eviax cringed. She had no idea that this was what they did inside the program, creating problems like this… the sudden shift in environment as well as a portal opening up from the ceiling and coating both Florita and Eviax in a clear fluid that smelt of botanical herbs told the pair that Vetani was about to return. 

 

“You don’t think something went wrong?”

 

“No but knowing Vetani she is interfering. I will move the girl, you greet them.” 

 

 The mission brief was simple, Florita supposed; she had brewed herself a strong cup of mint, lavender and rose tea; it was slightly bitter, but the freshness of the mint made it worth it. She sipped and looked at both her daughter as well as her champion, they had indeed arrived back – Marjorie had checked in second later that Verin and Dack had been entirely successful with clearing the program of at least three hundred claimants who were all still reeling at the prospect of freedom. The antidote had worked wonders on Amphitrite just as Vetani had promised, and the moon claimant was now sleeping soundly on the couch, no longer in need of being held down by massive vines; the floorboards would never be the same that was sure. Florita placed her cup down and looked at the duo. 

 

“I have a new task for you Loic. Vetani and I will see to your friend’s full recovery. You are to head to Rome. There is something that Echowix left, something that could lead us to the Citadel. To our core.” 

Without any hesitation, Loic's arm extended into that of an octopus' tendril, except fitted to human size, as he immediately grasped at the ladders containing hose very vials, dragging both the red labelled and the gold lidded ones, his hand returning to normal as he collected them all under his right shoulder, soon letting loose a huff, followed by a chuckle.


"Thanks fer yer donation, yer heart's in th' roight place. Can't say th' same fer yer heids.", Loic cheekily said, grinning from ear to ear as Vetani showed herself. She certainly looked like she had a scuffle, given what had been going on. Fighting that tecg-obsessed woman sure was a hassle, he would imagine. His grin only widened, as Vetani made the portal straight into the fields, chuckling to himself, as he stepped near it, while his legs stretched, and stretched, turning into a similar shape as to that of a grasshopper, soon crouching in preparation to hop right in.

"Och I got what we need, aight. Hope the rest're doin' well. Now then...", spoke the Claimant, as he then promplly jumped down the portal with an audible howl of joy, cut off as his form disappeared into the portal, and reemerged within the fields, as his howl soon turned into an excited baboon-like hooting, landing firmly on the ground with his sturdy legs, before then presenting the antidotes he had brought.

"Not even a scratch! Still, my thanks ta Vetani, she saved my arse.", he complimented, as he then laid down, and relaxed, briefly turning into a cat as he laid down and quietly observed the administration. His ears twitched about, and feline gaze stared on, as its neck became that of a snake, leading to a cat with a reptillian neck swaying about as it saw Amphitrite finally return to some degree of peace, soon letting loose a sigh of relief, before retracting the bizarrely stretched neck back to where it was. His ears perked up as he heard yet another task being given to him. As much as he wished to relax and watch her, perhaps this would have been a better use of his time, as he then stretched back into his humanoid self, albeit, he was briefly crouching down similarly to how a cat would sit, before he stretched himself up abruptly, soon twisting his own shoulders as he prepared for a round two.

"Good ol' Roma, aye? Sure, sure, gunnae not be a problem. Where do I go?", Loic asked on, as his chest puffed up, ready for some more, before he would look into his bag, and quickly change into his far more "human" guise, the simple pair of jeans and leathery vest once again resting upon his person, as opposed to spear and fur, though it did nothing to conceal his wild mane of hair, nor his coarse beard. He merely awaited instruction, as he should, and awaited to be transported to some inconspicuous spot for him to easily blend into.