The Hunt

"Thwack!"

The spear dove from above, cleaving through the carapace and impaling the heart, its execution so swift and silent, it scarcely made a sound.

It was a kill bordering on perfection, born from Kane's deft control and Kai'Sa's precise and harmonious collaboration.

The thrill of their first flawless victory thrilled her to the core. She whirled around, ready to celebrate with a high-five, but Kane's grave headshake stopped her.

Kai'Sa's eyes widened belatedly in realization.

They were still in the thick of the hunt. Any disturbance could instantly swap their roles from predator to prey.

She quelled the surge of excitement, stood firmly on the carcass, and yanked the spear from the chest cavity, swiftly regrouping for the next encounter.

Survival in the desert demanded efficiency and skill, and Kai'Sa, though young, had learned some of its lessons.

The second void creature loomed quickly, its spiked carapace more formidable, its size substantially greater than the first's.

Yet, for Kai'Sa, they were as cattle to the slaughter—each approaching their end by her hand without a shred of mercy.

Their hearts were both the singular and most fatal vulnerability. No matter the size, piercing a void creature's heart was a certain kill.

But what if the heart wasn't pierced?

She struck with the spear, but the angle skewed due to the size disparity, compounded by the thickness of the creature's chitinous armor. The blow not only glanced off but also snapped the wooden shaft.

Gazing at the jagged break, panic seized Kai'Sa. The unexpected turn left her floundering.

As the void creature began to resist Kane's grip, its struggle intense, control nearly slipped away. Swiftly, he kicked Kai'Sa into action, and in a critical heartbeat, she plunged the broken spearhead downward.

"I'm sorry..."

As the fierce light in the creature's eyes dimmed, Kai'Sa released her weapon and buried herself in Kane's embrace, her sobs muffled.

She was still just a child, her mental resilience low, especially when faced with life-threatening mistakes.

"It's my fault; I should have selected a smaller one first," Kane consoled her while keeping a vigilant eye on the swarm.

Truth be told, the breaking of the spear did not surprise him.

The craft of the spear was rudimentary at best, and the corrosive nature of void flesh— having already bathed the spear in blood numerous times—had undoubtedly diminished its durability.

Moreover, he hadn't prioritized his targets. The first was of normal size, the second, double that—a leap in difficulty too great.

So the snapped spear was not solely Kai'Sa's burden to bear.

Once Kai'Sa's composure returned, he gently pushed her aside, flipped the carcass, and crudely tore open the armor with his fingers, extracting the heart in its entirety.

"Eat it; gain strength," Kane instructed succinctly.

Kai'Sa obediently raised her arm as Kane laid the organ on her gauntlet, allowing it to absorb naturally.

The purple essence seeped into the gauntlet, initiating a grotesque growth. Pale, writhing tendrils swelled and lashed against Kai'Sa's intact skin, corroding and replacing it, then darkening and hardening into new flesh.

The peculiar itch during the process nearly suffocated Kai'Sa as she fought to remain silent.

Kane noted the dual layers of Kai'Sa's gauntlet: the inner layer, a pale purple-hued skin akin to his own—soft yet rough—and the outer layer, a hardened black chitin, the thickness palpable, akin to a substance known as Darkin Armor, as unyielding as steel.

With both hearts consumed, Kai'Sa's gauntlet visibly expanded, now enveloping her forearm halfway.

Seeing herself increasingly monstrous filled Kai'Sa with dread, yet Kane allowed no time for pondering, lining up the void creatures for their doom.

Under duress, Kai'Sa could only wield her shortened spear, her increased strength driving its tip into their hearts.

The repeated killings turned mechanical, like labor on an assembly line.

Kane was aware such mindless slaughter taught Kai'Sa little in combat finesse, but strength now took precedence over skill.

Only when Kai'Sa reached a certain threshold of power would he thrust her into real hunts to hone her instincts.

...

The repetitive stabs dulled her senses.

No matter how many she slew, more surged forth.

The initial sense of achievement had vanished without a trace, and now, no number of kills stirred Kai'Sa's heart. Of course, she held no fear for them, for she had mastered the method of their execution.

Void creature corpses littered the entire tunnel, clawed feet skyward, making passage treacherous. Their hearts removed, the purple essence spread across the floor, dissolving rock into black smoke, leaving scarce ground to stand upon.

If the killing continued, they would be slaughtering atop a mound of corpses.

"Enough for today," Kane declared, rubbing his strained eyes. He too had overtaxed his sight, seeking a limit that seemed to elude him.

Perhaps next time, a more efficient method was in order, such as inciting the void creatures to turn on each other.

Nonetheless, their strenuous efforts yielded notable results.

His control had solidified; depending on the size, even life-threatening threats couldn't free his targets.

As for their spoils of war...

Aside from a small portion of hearts used to replenish his own energy, the rest he had allotted to Kai'Sa.

After devouring dozens of hearts, Kai'Sa's entire forearm, including her hand, was encased in the armor. She could now tear open the backs of void creatures, striking straight for the heart—their short-lived spear finally laid to rest.

On her own, it would have taken Kai'Sa months of hunting to amass such a hoard—if not longer, considering losses.

Yet, even with such empowerment, Kai'Sa remained visibly disconsolate.

Hearing Kane's signal to halt, she spoke not a word, numbly allowing him to lead her from the cave.

It was as if all the beauty in her memory had been consumed, leaving no room for joy.

"Perhaps, the pace was too swift?"

Kane pondered. The physical transformations were driving her towards negative emotions.

The changes were so rapid, so visible, she couldn't ignore them if she tried.

But they needed strength—vanquishing void creatures was insufficient; more terrifying threats could arrive at any moment, targeting them simply for being alive. In the void, slaughter required no rationale.

Alas...

The threat of death had not been daunting enough to incite her urgent need for power.

Kane's acceptance alone was not enough. A catalyst was required for Kai'Sa to embrace the alterations within her.

Until then, he would have to tend more to her emotions.