Poison

Perspective: Nathan
The beasts here were awesome. Many possessed powerful appendages like mandibles on their arms or strange forms that looked awesome to me, and likely terrifying to sunbutt. But there was a constant problem. No matter what I took in, I would need more to become stronger. This endless cycle would only repeat indefinitely unless I took a different approach, especial with these beasts yielding almost nothing of significant improvement anymore. The list is as follows:
Poison
Claws
Fangs
Mandibles
Stingers
Wings
Shapeshifting

The list goes on and nothing is getting better. I needed a way to improve and gain strength by experience but doing so would require me to be a god but that creates the problem of me being unable to interact of it's spiritual. So I needed something, possibly from myself. 'Myself....' I had a plan. Much like Spider-man's ultimate incarnation, I would take some blood, if I can, and isolate the worst traits for the purpose of amplifying my abilities. Doing so may yielded the same black symbiote that I could use to my benefit, but as it is now, it would possibly be too weak. I would need time to find better or more adaptable versions. For now, I needed to get some old power back.

Using my flesh as an iron substitute for what Organites were left, I had made a fabricator and lab in the cave I had found and started working. Taking some simple flesh and subjecting it to subsonic frequencies, the flesh turn black, almost as predicted, and started to test the symbiote against my cells in a controlled environment. The results were.... unfavorable in some way as the control sample of the symbiote bound with the sample and took control. I fought back successfully, but not without injury. Absorbing it now would be suicide and I would need to destroy the current sample.

So I started to experiment with one control sample after another, using the organites that successfully replicated to keep it subdued and under control. But it wouldn't last long, as the symbiote was eating the organites to escape. It wasn't doing it so quickly, at first, but then it was covering and devouring them, soon a new containment measure was needed. I screamed in frustration as a result and it was subdued almost instantly for a few moments. The organites responded to a mental command and made a speaker at either end of the cylinder and played a high frequency pitch for half a second a twelve second intervals. Giving me time to work as I was experimenting with the samples. Trial and error paved my days and nothing was working, not even the counter symbiote. It wasn't rebellious, but I can't bind with me and I can't absorb it. That left me with the original and controlling it would be near impossible. So I let it out and it bound with me, trying to take over as I fought it off. Being that it was made of me, it would stand to reason it can absorb me, and likely take over. This left one option. I gabbed the gem as the symbiote and I seemed to enter it, within was an endless void where I tried to fight the symbiote with my own mass.

It got me down to my head, where the bulk of my consciousness reside as I attempted a final effort. I dispersed my consciousness within the gem as a way to take over the symbiote. It worked, but the gem became useless to me. While to would grant, what the ponies would consider, god-like abilities, the creature within the gem would be in complete control. Dubbing it the gem of shadows, I chucked the jewel as far as I could in a random direction with as much of my new strength as I could. Left with my thoughts I looked at the Counter Symbiote and thought it was entirely useless until two things came to mind. The weapon I made was a gamble at this point but the counter symbiote could help in that regard. If not, then I can bind and destroy the weapon.

Perspective: Rinta
I continued to travel the country as I met another race, the Minotaur. The males and females were different from each other in many ways. The females resembled humans a bit more overall while the males were accurate the their mythos counterpart with a few having shaved their chests to apply strange markings. They made and wield large weapons from what they call daggers to what they consider as a proper mace and Great Sword. The women were nice about my size given my age, some were worried and the guys were being guys. The king and queen were open to other races, save for the ponies, and equality accepting to him. "Is there anything you require young man?" The king asked in a voice that rumbled his voice.

"There is nothing I-" I felt my weapon's life force fade. It died. Something happened with Nathan and it made me panic visibly with my facial expression.

"Are you well young one?" The queen asked, moving from her throne to him in worry.

'I'm not dead but the weapon has gone dark, lifeless. Something happened to Nathan or he did something and it reflects in his weapon. Whatever happened, I need to arm myself once again. A small weakness so I'll need a proper arm.' The queen's shaking stirred him. "Huh?" He looked to see she had a worried expression. "Sorry." He looked to his weapon, as did they. "My weapon was made from something that recently lost its will." The king looked interested. "I fear that now it will break if struck hard enough or with enough force"

"You prefer a staff?" The king asked.

"Any weapon will do, I just need it to be where it will be within my reach, ready to use at all times." The king was soon deep in thought, his eyes wandering the throne room, which was a huge step up in space compared to the griffins, as it was hug, but the king spotted and focused on one of the many types of axes and then back at the young boy.

"Young man," Rinta looked with attention, "how do you feel to an ax?"

"An ax?" Now Rinta was in though as his jewel glowed. It stopped glowing soon, as he looked up. "A weapon is fine but can you make a collapsible shield?" The king looked shocked, even bewildered.

"We have neither the experience nor the materials to make a shield like that, much less a strong one." The king looked in thought. "Though we can enchant a weapon to return to you upon its beckoning during the forging process. We just need time to do so. We'll even experiment with shield designs until your request is met." I nodded. "Then will you stay and be our guest* in our humble kingdom?"

"I'd love to, maybe even compete in a competition or two." I said excitedly. My favorite was Ax throwing, a viking and Norse pass time. Strangely enough, the Minotaur is a greek creature, yet they dress like the vikings and experiment with weaponry like them too, similar to Dwarfs from Norse mythology and how they took the otherwise most unconventional thing and made it into a masterpiece. The ax would be a stretch but the shield - I can tell - would be a problem for them. Jewel, as I call it, had acted weird though, saying the staff was fine when it wasn't. Not sure if he was trying to comfort me but his tone suggested he wasn't, telling me he was either not happy with this place or something more sinister.

Before I could rest on that, some of the children asked me for a game of Ax Throw. Much like the name suggests, you throw an Ax but the objective is to hit a marked tree, on the mark from a line that determines your rank. The further back you throw from, the higher you can rank, but it's part of a test and the overall grade determines your rank, granting a sense of accomplishment and humbleness. The child version uses a tree meant to be cut down and the objective is for your throw to be the one to cut it, which encourages teamwork with a small side of bragging rights. My turn was first and I didn't want to show them up but Jewel was persistently insistent, saying they would bow to my strength, just like the griffons. That worried me a little so I tried something. I took the ax, pretending to struggle before whiling around and launching it. It cut deep, but I made it look like I had a hard time. Jewel made a reaction that sent a chill down my spine, like a warning to something dark and unforgiving.

The children saw me shake and a young girl placed her hand on my head. Very inaccurate, but sweet. We got back to the game an I did win, but the boys were cooler with it than I first thought they would be, shaking my hand and even giving me some praise. They soon had to leave but one came back, a young girl who asked her mom if she could show me around. She agreed, but she was going to follow. I know how mothers can be. I have one in a cave. Okay, bad joke, but it was funny to me. So, the young girl showed me around the shops, from livestock to harvesting and weapons to decorations, including jewelry. Jewel scoffed at them with disgust, and I was thinking he was going through a sudden change from Nathan sending that last transfer. The gem may rid almost all of the emotions and will of spirit type monster, but it would have its effects. I just hope I won't have to argue with him.

I looked at the weapons again when a thought crossed my mind. 'Why am I not dead?' I know that's dark but my last weapon 'died' after Nathan's will or body perished. While that should not be possible, it does raise the question if his old body expired and he's using a new one. That reminded me that I was his heart, making him the mind and both are needed of one another so that did, theoretically, put me in the safe zone but there may still be holes in the theory that I wasn't seeing. While in my state of contemplation, the young girl got my attention by poking - sorry - booping my nose. It caught me off guard but it was strangely relaxing so I couldn't get upset at her, and why would I even get upset at that cute face. Edge lords, meet the first 'Squish Lord' and bow before her. Okay, enough fun. Her family wanted to feed me when the Jewel made a dark comment about having them for a meal instead. That comment got me a little worried as I made a mental note to see Nathan about Jewel ASAP.

Dinner was excellent and the daughter desperately wanted me to stay the night and I smiled cutely at her demand. So, being a sucker for the cute, thank you Nathan, I slept in her room. But not in her bed you creepy/misunderstanding fucks. After getting up for breakfast - turns out Hoecakes are a thing - I was escorted by the child, Dixie soft horn - cute name -, even more, with some restrictions to a few areas. Though after seeing a guards face and running off to possibly the king, I had a feeling the wedding contracts were coming in once word gets out. 'Fantastic. And Dixie is going to get stupidly shy about me and either ask for my hand or the rich pricks are going to make her back off. I stay in town since I need my new gear and leaving now would prove hazardous.

"HUMAN!" Knew it. Here comes the king, a very happy king that a human has visited his kingdom. "Human, why did you not say anything sooner? Your weapon shall be completed post-" I put my finger to his muzzle.

"Haste in forge breeds impurity in battle. Take the time necessary to finish the tools of war. Do not rush their creation." He was ready to say something until I raised an eyebrow. Apparently, even children of humanity were capable warriors. Not surprising given that many cultures were deemed savage by one thing or another, and training children to fight was one of those savage acts. "Do not do me any favors. I was here for a simple visit, staying for a weapon and meeting with your subjects. I'm not looking for wedding rings." The king look shocked while the queen looked a little smug with her husband. Guess she has a daughter I just saved from embarrassment.

Night had come again and Dixie was even more nervous. I asked her what was wrong and she would not answer. She was whimpering and it scared me that she might be sick. I went to check and saw the reason before heading back to bed in shock and surprise. I guess the Minotaur race is more open about that subject then humanity. We could learn a lot from them. If her friends knew, then they are some really good friends to have. Jewel had remained silent that day, uttering not a word to anything, which either meant everything was alright or something was wrong. Regardless, the Minotaur had finished the weapon but sent the shield first. It looked like a regular bracer before extending into a full size round shield. It was quite light for something that looked flimsy as it took the beating of a thrown boulder by Minotaur to test its defense. I was quite happy with there work, even openly complimenting them.The next was the weapon, so that if I didn't like it, I could use the shield at least. What they brought was an ax that looked ornate and meant for abuse. Steel and bronze making up many of the details with a hooked pommel resting at the throat, or bottom, of the handle. The belly has cord over top in a patter along it for grip with a reinforced shoulder for durability. The ax was double bit with one bit being far small, yet no duller, than the other for a minor offense perk while the cheeks were close together on the primary side with an in curved toe, pronounced heel and large/wide beard. All of the terms are strange but you can tell that to the Minotaur that are the loggers of this town.

After reviving the weapon of their creation, I gave it a test. Drop the 'weak child' script, I chucked the blade as hard as I could and heard the contact of rock before summoning it. It flew to my hand and there was little abrasion from the stone contact. This will work nicely.

Author's Note

How's the story so far. Should I change up something before going too far. Leave it in the comments.

Also, I may not be on here for a few weeks, so if I get internet I'll use it, if not I'll see you lot next time.