We The Machine

A Man Called Nothing is the first story in ReddKuta's Illusions Universe Storyline.

I
It charged at him, its claws bared. The trainee Novisma fell flat to the floor as the monster leapt over him, the talons meeting only thin air. It rolled two feet to the left, undeterred, and began another attack run. The Novisma cricked back his neck and took his stance as the creature came back at him. He remembered its attack patterns and began to count the rhythm he had been taught. His eyes narrowed as the monster barged at him, its leathery skin flexing in perfect time.

Five, six, seven, eight, go! he thought, and made a flying leap to meet it mid-air. The staff spun, his pupils dilated, and he lunged for the creature's vulnerable neck...

But he struck on nothing. The beast was too smart for the Novisma, and had flipped away just as his staff was about to pierce its throat. The two beings landed across from each other and turned to face one another. The Novisma took a stance, prepared to repeat the mid-air charge so expectable of his adversary's kind. But instead the monster stood its ground, paws gently padding the ground. The Novisma dropped his stance and stared at the beast in fascination. What would make it do a thing like this?

And then it jumped at him. It was obvious now: The creature had figured out how to catch the Novisma off guard. The silver claws swiped at his face, and the Novisma felt them burn through his shoulder, barely missing his Akaku. He was spun away and landed sprawled on the cold earth dazed and in pain. The creature prepared to deliver the final strike... "Kleptithak! Down!" screamed a voice, calling away the beast. The cat-like "Kleptithak" flicked his head over to its caller, and stopped dead. It looked back at the Novisma-in-training and gave him one last threatening growl, as if to say "Don't even try". It then turned around and padded back to its Makuta master.

"And so, students..." muttered the Makuta trainer, "Now you have witnessed just how not to handle an attack from a River Panther! Let us thank Sumaru..." he said with a leering grin, "for that wonderful demonstration of utter failure. Can we have a round of applause?"

Sumaru got up, feeling his face redden under his Kanohi. The Novisma were students of the Makuta, and he was the newest member of the class. He was his trainer's punching bag, the butt of all his jokes, jibes and (most often) punches.

He walked back to join the crowd of Novisma students, all of which were looking at him like a Muaka looks at its prey: A hungry look in their eyes, about to slay with their insults.

TBC