Hare of Misfortune

Finally, Rachel’s mind centered on perhaps the most fascinating—and potentially alarming—development: her Branch Feat that came in the form of an Achievement of reaching Level 5. One, in particular, threw up more than a dozen red flags.

She wished she could have talked to Zoe and Anthony about it to see if she had the same development as a beastkin and legendkin, but she doubted it, given the unreasonable Defense Feat.

[Attack Feat Branch: Curse: Karma I - Place a curse on the user’s opponents [Current Max: One] that returns the effects and damage the user receives. Modified by Power and Toughness.]

[Divine Defense Feat Branch: Less is More I - All areas of exposed skin gain a dampening field equal to [Lunar Hair], and any damage taken to those areas is linked with the Feat, further increasing its Tier. Modified by [Lunar Coat] and Toughness.]

[Utility Feat Branch: Lunar Recovery I - Moonlight has a minor healing effect for the user that restores their Energy and body over time; added effects under different lunar spheres. Modified by Endurance and Lunar Energy Type.]

Running her fingers through her long hair with agitation, she glared at the blessed Feat.

What the hell, Cerridwen—[Divine Defense: Less is More]!? Do you want me to be an exhibitionist?! I mean, I’m not one to be shy about showing off my body, but that doesn’t mean I want to go nude. Shit.

She reasoned it could be one of the new figures the nightmare goddess told her about—Eostre, or even this Moongmor person who was supposed to guide her. She had no clue what this new goddess personified, but she wasn’t feeling the forced lifestyle choice that would bring her to degrees of shame with her mother she’d never live down.

I’m not going to be that girl; sorry to not feed into whatever sick fetish whoever gave that to me has...but these other two are tough. [Lunar Recovery] is so, so tempting, yet it only works under moonlight, while the curse is always active, and I can expand the number of opponents it can affect. It has to be [Karma], and I love the name.

Achievement Feat Unlocked - [Misfortune’s Karma]

[Power Grade Modified - Increased to Extremely High]

[Toughness Grade Modified - Increased to High]

Huh, it also modified my Stat Grades...well, that’s kind of cracked. [Lunar Recovery]’s modification of Endurance seems even more attractive now.

Done with her selection, Rachel exited the inner world; she had her résumé now and what she had to offer fresh in her mind. It was time to make her case and adapt to whatever came from this interview; in a way, this was a job application that would decide more than just her future.

Vision clearing, she quickly noted her changed surroundings—she couldn’t hear the helicopter, and her brow furrowed as very few and muffled noises fed back to her sensitive, stiffening ears. She was in what appeared to be a padded white room in a wheelchair.

She had to admit, this was not the best first thing to see after waking up; it definitely didn’t give her a lot of confidence in setting a good first impression.

Where the hell even are we?!

Scarlet leaned forward from her foldable metal chair, giving her a sharp, toothy smile. ”Spooky place to wake up, huh?

”No kidding,” she chuckled, head turning left and right as she swept the very bare room; it wasn’t that big, and the only thing besides them was a table with an open laptop on it and a wire running to the padded doorway. ”It’s hard to hear anything in the base outside... Did they—”

The raven-haired girl swiftly nodded. ”Yeah, it was a rush job ordered by the Army dude over Florida right now; I heard he basically stole the padding from some company warehouse and created this room, like, two hours ago, transporting it in the helicopter. How are you feeling?”

Seeing the concerned look in her blue eyes, Rachel figured her X-ray eyes could see how strained her muscles actually were, and a thought occurred to her.

”I’m managing... Actually, Scarlet, is my body any different than it was the last time you looked?”

Almost-solid-red eyes taking the place of her sapphire, Scarlet swept her figure with drawn-in lips. ”I mean...kind of? It’s more of a feeling than knowing what I’m looking at, if you get my meaning. I know you’re stronger and tougher, but you’re also in a very weakened state... Ugh. It’s like...predator instinct,” she uncomfortably mumbled, blue irises returning as she rubbed her arm.

”Cool. Cool,” Rachel jokingly played off. ”So, you’re like my wellness nurse here to tell me to take it easy, huh?”

”Hehe. Well, that is one way to look at it,” she whispered, regaining a smile.

”I hear ya! So...what are we supposed to do?”

Scarlet pointed at the laptop. ”The military dudes said to press the Enter key whenever you get back, and it will connect us to the big boss or whatever; they were being super mysterious. I’m kind of hyped,” she giggled nervously. ”So...should I press it?”

Taking a breath and leaning back, Rachel did a once-over to make sure she was presentable; it was nice to have Scarlet there to guard her body while she was unconscious, since someone could have done anything to her without her knowing.

The vespertine reaper had changed into one of the newer and tighter blue tank tops that weren’t stretched out by her figure yet, fitting the girl somewhat comfortably, and, as a surprise twist, one of the elastic knee-length skirts that her mother had bought her the previous month—she had only worn it once since, but she had to admit, it worked for the girl.

”Yeah. Let’s get to it.”

Scarlet lifted her eyes and hissed with apprehension while scooting forward and tapping the Enter key; she pressed it too lightly, making her smack it again.

The screen brightened, showing a program Rachel hadn’t seen before with the words ’connecting’ on the screen. Scarlet and she looked at each other as they waited, and after a full, uncomfortable minute, a man in his late forties or early fifties connected.

”Rachel and Scarlet, as I’m told.”

Voice deep and waving someone off-screen away, he sat back, military vest heavily decorated as his hands settled in his lap. His dark-brown eyes turned to them as the door shut; by the fractured conversations she heard on the other side, this man was in an office at the Pentagon.

Tingles ran up her arms, and a lump formed in Rachel’s throat as she took in the sober military officer, unable to breathe as she saw the four stars on his jacket; this was far more attention than she had anticipated.

”My name is General Dallas. I doubt you’ve heard of me—but allow me to be very clear. I am not here to play games, girls, so I will get straight to the point. I am told you have details no one else can give me, and by the conversation I had with Lieutenants Thompson and Herrero, you have my undivided attention, so don’t waste my time because this will go straight to the President.”

Internally panicking at the sudden development, Rachel did her best to keep her composure. This wasn’t the guy over Florida—this was the guy likely overseeing the whole situation in the United States, if not its presence on the world stage.

Straight to the President? Shit... This could turn south really fast.