Training

This is Kallaway again. It's good to know you're free now. Make sure you get back here once you've wrapped things up with the SMSC. We could use that big brain of yours.

The AMU is still working on a solution to the forest. Elie's working on a plan of his own, which will hopefully yield some results, assuming he can get what he needs for it.

He thinks that by studying the Bleeding Tree and its energy further, we may have a chance to do something here. He'd rather not make another weapon from it, as that may escalate things, but since it was that knife that seemingly spawned that forest, understanding the Bleeding Tree better could help us find a weakness, or maybe even a way to reverse the entire forest.

Problem is, we need another sample of the Bleeding Tree. Which is something we're still figuring out.

In the meantime, I've spend the last month and some change training with Ren. He's a really good swordsman, especially when it comes to Japanese weaponry. I've learned a lot from sparring with him. I've never had actual sword training before. I'm learning to wield the Proto-Godslayer a lot more efficiently than before.

I'm not alone in my training. Your intern, Tyler, has decided he wants to be involved in the resistance against the forest and the remaining Kraken forces, and Ren was happen to help. He even gave Tyler his own katana. I've sparred quite a bit with Tyler, and while he has a long way to go, I can feel a strong desire to grow stronger within him.

Something I think we can both relate to.

I'm rooting for him. He has a lot of potential.

Anyway, I'll sign off now. I'll keep you posted if your business with the SMSC ends up taking too long. See ya.

-David Kallaway

Interrogation

Read your post Kallaway. Good to know you made it out all right. And yeah, I can confirm that the people who've been holding me are indeed Trias. I had a word with some of their member recently. It started with a couple, who I later learned were Kai's parents yelling in different languages at me. I couldn't understand them, but they were clearly angry with me. They were eventually shooed out by the Director, and a man, who introduced himself as Gene.

"Greetings, Dr. Ferris," the director said. "I am the director of this establishment."

"Haji memashite, douzoyoroshiku," I replied.

She looked at me, a little confused.

"That's what you get for letting those guys yell at me in a language I don't understand," I said. "And the proper response would be 'Kochirakoso douzoyoroshiku'."

"Right," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Now that you've made a full recovery, I wanted to ask you some questions about the incident in Seattle."

We shared information. I told her everything that happened with me, and she updated me on the state the world was currently in due to that forest.

"Things seem dark," I said.

"They are," she nodded.

She produced a folder and opened it up.

"You are the grandson of Alexander Ferris, correct?"

"I am," I said. "What about it?"

"According to the records we have on him, he was one of the most infamous Devil Killer's known throughout history," she said. "However, his sons, Stefan and Drake, didn't inherit the Devil Killer abilities. The Devil Killer bloodline seemed to end with him."

"They did," I confirmed. "The powers went dormant starting with my father's generation."

"And yet they've reawakened with you," she said. "Why is that?"

I see. They were trying to get a better understanding of me and my powers. Fine. I decided to oblige.

"Do you know why the AMU expelled me?" I asked.

"If your blog is anything to go by, it's due to the creation of your Enhancer," she answered.

"Not quite," I said. "While they held me in contempt for building such a dangerous machine, they didn't expel me until I used it."

She raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"On myself."

They were both taken aback by this information.

"Like I said," I went on. "The Devil Killer powers never fully disappeared. They simply went dormant. I needed a way to draw them out. So built a larger scale version of the Extractor, with the sole purpose of awakening the powers my grandfather was so well known for."

"I see," the director said. "Would you mind telling us more about your powers?"

"Well, thanks to my grandpa's rep, the Fear leave me alone, so I won't be as much of a pest to them as he was," I said. "So, I started seeking out samples that I could extract power from. I need exposure to a Fear's energy to gain that Fear's power. So far, I've gotten power from the Newborn, Red Cap, EAT, Convo-"

Gene suddenly cut me off.

"That's so cool!" he said. "You've got so many powers under your belt! All I got was a mask and the ability to walk down a deer trail in Eldritch Hell. NOTHING like what you got."

"Arigatou," I said. "You seem excited by my capabilities."

"So, which Fear did you get access to the God's Way from?" he asked. "Was it... er… the tall guy?"

I chuckled.

"Let's hope you never have to see me tap into that power," I said. "But I didn't get the God's Way thing from any particular Fear. It's a default ability all Devil Killer's have, kind of like how I can sense Eldritch energy and resist Fear induced insanity. Granted, it's not a power I started off with. I had to build up some power first, then actually learn how to step in and out of the God's Way."

We continued discussing my powers for a good 20 or so minutes. Gene was super fascinated, and th director took an occasional note.

"Okay, now I have some questions for your guys," I said. "First of all, why  was it necessary to bring the moose into the interrogation room?"

Right. Forgot to mention the moose was present for all of this.

"The God's Way can't be accessed within 20 feet of Rocky," the director said.

The moose has a name!? Well, I wish I'd known that sooner...

"And how did you figure that out?" I asked.

"One of our allies is a demi-god, much like yourself," she said. "Their powers are still something of a mystery, but what we do know is that they can access the God's Way. Just not in Rocky's presence."

"I see," I said. "That leads into my next question. Why have you been keeping me here? Even going as far as to restrict my access to the God's Way."

"You have a reputation of being dangerous," she replied. "We wanted to observe you. Understand your powers and personality better. And of course, we needed to make sure you made a full recovery. With this forest spreading the way it is, you may be invaluable to the preservation of humanity."

"I suppose that makes sense," I said. "So, now that we've had this chat, am I free to go?"

"In all honesty, we'd like to keep you a bit longer," the director said. "However, the SMSC has requested your release. They wish to talk to you."

"My last encounter with them didn't go so well," I replied.

"They've assure us they mean no harm to you," she said. "They wish to collaborate with you, in fact."

"Can't say I can trust their word," I said. "But I'll play along. Mind if I say goodbye to... Rocky, was it?"

"Feel free," she said.

I limped over to Rocky, and gave him a few pet on the head.

"He enjoys Facetime chats, if you're interested in keeping in touch," the director informed me.

I chuckled at that, before focusing.

"Secrets, secrets never tell," I muttered, as my hair darkened to black, and my eyes began glowing red.

Black Dog's power. Uncovering lies and secrets. Not a power I utilize often, but I was curious about this moose's power.

I looked Rocky over, and eventually found what I was looking for.

Tattoos. Hidden under its fur. Similar to the ones Dawson used to restrict my access to the God's Way. Interesting... Could this moose be another of Kraken's little pet projects?

I rose to my feet and turned back to the director.

"One more question," I said. "Where the fuck is my cane?"