156 Monkey Experimen (1/2)
Ed and Haru returned the old man to Oymyakon village and then set out on their mutant hunt. This time they flew southeast from the village towards the ocean. After flying for several hours, the climate grew warmer, and they reached the Sea of Okhotsk. If they were to continue heading south, then they would eventually reach Japan. This was something neither of them wished for after their previous experiences with the country. So, they opted to hunt for mutants in the sea.
The water was relatively gentle today, reflecting glimmering light from the sun. Haru pulled his shirt off. ”Leave it to me, Sensei!” He shouted as a blue light covered his body. He was little more than a blue blur as he dived into the water, leaving a big splash behind him as he entered the sea.
Just a few minutes later, Haru resurfaced while dragging something behind him. A single fin that was barely as large as his arm surfaced. A moment later, he reached the beach and dragged a giant fish-like mutant onto it. It was black and white, radiating weak mana. ”Will this work?” He asked.
”I don't think so.” Ed frowned. ”I could probably carry it over there, but it looks like it's already struggling to breathe.”
Haru turned back to the fish, which was now floundering around on the ground and seemingly struggling to breathe. ”Oh.” His face appeared dejected as he punted the fish back into the ocean much like how a kid would kick a football.
”We should try to find a mammal of some sort.” Ed said. ”It's okay if they're semi-aquatic, but we need something relatively similar to ourselves to get a good reading.”
”How about that?” Haru asked as he pointed behind Ed.
”Hmm?” He turned around and saw a pair of red eyes staring at him from within a tree. ”Go catch it.” He ordered.
”On it!” Haru assented as he rushed forward. A brief instant later, he was atop the tree and reaching for the creature. A high-pitched shriek echoed throughout the forest as he grabbed ahold of it. ”Sensei!” He shouted. ”It's a monkey mutant!”
”Perfect.” Ed smiled.
Haru returned while forcefully holding the small monkey still. He held it out towards Ed. ”What do you think?” He asked.
”Hmm.” Ed rubbed his chin with his left hand as he reached out with his right hand. He lifted the monkey's lip, revealing its fangs to be normal in size. Its fur was an ordinary brownish color. It was no bigger than an ordinary small monkey one might find further south in various Asian countries. The only mutant-like thing about it was its red eyes and slightly higher than normal body temperature. ”Such a weak mutant. I wonder how it survived until now.” He muttered.
Suddenly, a chorus of high-pitched shrieks echoed throughout the forest. Ed and Haru looked towards it, and their eyes widened in shock. Thousands of identical monkeys were making themselves known within the trees while shrieking.
”Ah, so that's why.” Ed nodded in understanding. ”Reliance on numbers can certainly do the trick.” He glanced at Haru. ”Go catch a few more to bring with us. I'll hold the one you caught already.”
”Sensei...” Haru frowned. ”You want me to face all of them all alone?”
”Should be fine.” He shrugged while grabbing ahold of the monkey they had already captured. ”They're so weak that it isn't even challenging. You should get used to facing large numbers. The war will be far worse than this.”
”Alright.” Haru gulped while nodding, his eyes growing resolute. ”I'll do it!” His body glowed yellow as he slowly walked forward. He was like a slow-and-steady mech, taking a single heavy step at a time.
The monkeys didn't seem intimidated by Haru's show of force. However, they didn't charge out of the forest either. It seemed they were fairly territorial. When Haru finally reached the forest, several dozen monkeys jumped down towards him. Their claws swiped at him from all directions.
Haru calmly stood still, and the attacks didn't even manage to scratch him. When a monkey got too close, he hurriedly reached out and grabbed it by the tail. Then he tossed it backwards like a ball towards Ed.
Ed lazily caught the monkey, seemingly bored with the lack of challenge. His powers snaked out towards a nearby rock and turned it into a crude cage. He tossed the two monkeys he held into it and waited for the next one.
After several minutes, Haru had managed to catch seven additional moneys, for an overall total of nine. ”Is that enough?” He shouted as he continued fending off attacks.
”Probably.” Ed replied. There was a limit to what they would be able to carry anyways, so they might as well not go overboard. In the worst-case scenario, they could always just come back for more.
Haru sighed in relief as he began walking backwards. Fortunately, the monkeys didn't follow him out of the forest. Perhaps they didn't wish to risk leaving their home territory. Or maybe the aura of the Water Nightmare was strong enough to keep weaker mutants at bay even at this far distance, allowing only stronger mutants to move deeper within its territory.
Ed melted a nearby tree, turning its fibers into something similar to a rope. The rope automatically formed around the crude stone cage. ”Let's go.” He said as silver flames carried him into the air. The cage swung back-and-forth below him, acting similar to a pendulum.
Several hours later, they returned to the Water Nightmare's resting place. Ed set the cage down several hundred meters away. He turned to Haru. ”Stay here and be prepared to run at any time.” He ordered in a serious tone.