Quantum Leap - Vol. 9 Robyn Hode Takes On The World

C014 Deuteragonist Keeps Stuffing Her Face NONSTOP...!!!

The second wolf had emerged on my left and was leaping and trying to swipe me using it's right paw when I managed to kick the ground and twisted my body and deliver a left punch directly at the ribs of the wolf and I can feel the bones crushed under my fist. With that motion, I delivered a slamming left kick on its spine and I can hear the bones cracked and splintered underneath the force.

It howled in pain and terror and I used the stick and hit the snout with such force that the snout was split into two and blood were spilling on the ground as it used its paws to cover its face/snout.

I kicked my heel and propel myself to the first wolf and smashed the stick right in the middle of the snout and it too yelped on pain as the force broke the snout into two...! Using the momentum, I pulled back on the head if the wolf and I heard the cerebral crack under the immense pressure and angle. I let it go and the head just plopped to its side.

The third wolf had stopped in its track but I gave no space for error and no space for it to survive. I bounded thrice before I kicked my heel and was heading towards the wolf as it managed to turn tail.

Just as I about to reach it, I gave a mighty whack on the right-hand side of the haunches and it crushes the bone and automatically cripples the wolf. I walked slowly towards the crippled wolf and gave a kick into the sides and it bounded in the air and came down with a crash. It was now bleeding through its mouth and I repeated a few more kicks to it until the sides turned soft. All the ribs had broken in and penetrated its lungs and it became still.

"Raaaawwwrrrrrr...!!! " I released my scream of terror at the 3 still bodies and I walked back to Matilda. I was pumped with adrenaline and it had been months in the 2nd series since I had a hand to hand combat. Animals or humans are the same. Cross my path and you're dead meat.

"These meats are inedible. They're rabid meat... It is going to be black if I were to cut it. Come on... Let's go. If there's wild animals, means, there's water source somewhere. These Predators stays near it since they could Prey on smaller game."

"You're so cool... That's the only term I could use right now. You're even better with your hands and legs than with your sword and bow...! That's all I'm going to say..." she jumped on my back and picked up the crumpled sword and spare pick as I deployed my Cruising Along and skimmed ahead. In about 15 minutes, we reached some kind of sparkling underground water that seeped out from a rock and formed a rivulet.

"Let's make camp here and make three fires... Here... Here... And here. This would give a false signal that there are more people camping here and also to scare those night animals away. Are you afraid...?"

I showed Matilda where to place the fires as I went to look for branches to make a stackable upright log fire which would burn all night while she gathered kindling. I found a sizeable single fallen branch and chopped at the wood and once I'm done, I carried the pieces in my hands and I showed Matilda how to build one.

After the log was placed, I snapped my fingers and lighted the kindling and let it burn and eat up the centre of the log, igniting both the top and bottom log. The same process was repeated for the other two and the distance was about 10 meters apart from each fireplace.

"You really know a lot of things. I should you 'Firestarter' instead of Robyn." she said while I gazed at her and smiled. We were in a forested area so the flames were dancing around, lighting up the surroundings and somehow uplifting our spirits. There was a water source and 5 dumplings and we shared one dumpling each and left with 3 for breakfast tomorrow.

"Where did you learn how to fight like that? I have never seen such a fist fight before and it was with 3 animals and not humans. You had so many skills that I didn't know of and I feel somehow safe with you."

"Maybe you're right... I'm better off without this crumple piece of s**t. I will take the gem out from the socket and keep the hilt and handle instead." I changed the subject because I don't feel like talking about myself.

"I'm tired... You take the first watch and wake me up when it's time for you to rest OK?" The dumpling that we had managed to recover some of the spent energy and with only sleep would I be able to recover my Internal Chi Energy. The moment I laid my head on my arm, I instantly fell asleep.

=*=

"Robyn, didn't the wolves you killed just now drop any spoils? I failed to notice it until now." Matilda's voice was soft but audible enough to hear and stirred me from my slumber.

"Urgghh... No spoils. Only spoilt meat. Rabid and rancid meat. Cannot eat." I sat up and rubbed my eyes and went over to the spring water and drank some and washed my face.

"How long have I slept? It seems forever to me..." I asked Matilda while she was munching on a Snickers bar that she snuck it with her when she went to the crews' buffet table in the background when I slept.

"Hmm...? I don't know... Maybe 2 hours or so. I forgot to change check the time when I have gone over to the table there to get something to bite. You want some...?" she offered me her half-eaten bar of snickers which had her mouth's fluids slobbered around it. "We are not in a relationship and yet you wanted me to share your fluids?" I thought.

"Errr... No, thank you. I could get mine if I wanted to later. By the way, after you finish your snack, you'd better go and sleep. I'd take this watch and furthermore, I've got something to do too."

"What do you need to do? Are you going to leave me all alone here? Would it be better off for me to sleep in the trailer? Tell me you half dim-witted dum dum...!" she implored and hugged the blanket closer to her.

"Just go to sleep... Sigh...." what a talkative little airhead. I moved a few distances from her and sat cross-legged while I hold my crumpled piece of a sword in my lap and I meditated and soon arrived in the Realm of Mind.

"Time to get to work...! I went to the Refined Steel area and picked a plate and went to the next Blacksmith area and visualised a fusion chamber. It would be like one with five slots and the finished product in one slot in the middle. I could place a weapon, an enhancement and another material in any of the slots and it is going to be like a roulette thingy. I removed the gem from the socket of the sword and put it in my pocket.

I placed my crumpled sword in one slot and I placed the Refined Steel in the other. Now there's no more forging or hammering, everything should be done with this fusion chamber. I slid to close the door and shut it firmly. I chose the slider to 'weapon' and pulled the handle like a jackpot machine.

(This is the best I could think of as a fusion chamber. I hadn't seen one so I have to think of one.)

Keeping my fingers crossed and my eyes closed, I prayed for the best and the best did arrive early as a Christmas present...!!

*Ding* Fusion complete. Success!

There was a lot of white smoke/mist coming out from the door as I slid it open and lo and behold! A new sword was born and it was placed inside the middle, finished slot. I drew it out and weighed it in my hands and find that it's a dull blade and needs blade washing. I stepped to the grinding stone and spun it to high speed and began to lay the blade on it.

"Zziiiiinnnggg... Zziiiiiiiiinng... Zziiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggg..." the blade moved over the grinding stone and I slowly blade washed it until I got a double-edged sword. The tip was sharpened as well for stabbing purposes. I used the circular dual stone to sharpen the edges to be as sharp as a katana and when I'm done it looked perfect!

I rubbed my thumb over it and it made a 'twaaaang... twaaaang... twaaaannng' sound and I'm satisfied with the results. The blade is now slightly thicker and when I tried to bend it, it doesn't provide much yield. I placed it into its scabbard and it fitted snugly.

Time to upgrade the tools too. I logged off my meditative state and returned to the real world and found Matilda was staring right into my face when I opened up my eyes. I blew at her and she backed away and pinched her nose. "Eh eh... Mulut bau busuk macam bangkai tikus...!"

I laughed at her for her silliness as she commented about my bad breath that smelled like a dead rat. Hahahahaha.

I showed her my sword and she was surprised to see that it had gotten brand new and not curly like someone's nostril hair...!! Hahahaha.

"How did you do that? You didn't leave your spot and was sitting there doing nothing and when you open your eyes, you showed me a brand new sword...!" she exclaimed excitedly as she held the sword and scabbard and pulled it out and find that the look is much better than Bladeworks.

"I'm going to improve our tools from being Iron axe and pick to become a steel axe and pick. It's much more durable at least 5 times longer. Pass me your tools and mine and I won't be long."

She gathered her tools and mine and placed it in front of me. "Give me half an hour and I'd be back with better tools than this..." I said as I held the 4 tools and went to the Realm of Mind after I meditated. I went to the Refined Steel area and took out 4 plates and returned to the Blacksmith area. I placed an iron head axe without the wooden handle in one slot and placed a steel plate in the other.

I chose 'Tools' on the slider and closed the door and pulled the jackpot handle.

*Ding* Fusion complete. Success!

I opened up the sliding door and retrieved the iron head axe and find that it had a gleam to it and was blunt. I repeated with the rest of the tools and every single one of them came back as a success.

I fitted them all back with the handles and went to the grinding stone to perform blade wash on it. Within 30 minutes I had completed all the blade washings, even on the dual circular sharpening stones. I collected the tools and logged off and return to the real world after I meditated off.

When I opened up my eyes, I saw Matilda was munching again, this time she was holding on to a party snack pack and it contained legumes... Roasted Cashewnuts with honey...! My favourite...! The moment she saw me, she gingerly walked to me and wiped her hands on her clothes and take a look at the tools.

"Wow...! These are steel tools? It looks the same but it's much shinier and sharper especially the edges here that seemed to glint. It's a bit heavier than before but let me test this axe on this tree here."