Starbound: A Space Odyssey 81 The Great Hunt 3

*SCREECH*

John felt the ground beneath him tremble. He supported himself over the wall and tried not to fall from the platform.

He looked at what was happening, and realized that all the trembling was caused by the giant metal doors that were opening.

Once the door was fully opened, the tremors stopped.

John took his Grappling Hook and slowly descended from the platform.

Once stepped on the ground he realized there was a huge amount of light coming from the door.

John squinted his eyes, trying to get used to the sudden illumination.

Soon he was able to see what was on the other side of the door.

There was huge, open landscape filled with green fireflies, glowing mushrooms, and other creatures, plants, that generated some sort of light.

It was very big the s.p.a.ce, but one careful look, and John was able to see that it was quite what he expected.

He gasped at the sight in front of him, when his eyes were able to finally see with details.

The landscape was really open and huge, but it was made of various rock, island looking platforms. Between those platforms there was giant ravines that were completely dark.

John was also able to see some floating piece of stones travelling between the islands.

[What the h.e.l.l...] John stared with his eyes wide opened. [First it was a path of almost complete darkness filled with spiders, now I have to jump from platform to platform until the end?]

John wondered how big was the Ceremonial Hunting Cavern, to be able to have various sections with different landscapes.

[Looks like it really is a test...] John glanced at the patch behind him and then at his front. [Different landscapes, with different kind of monsters.....it's test for survival instincts and adaptability....]

He took one last look at the opening before he went back to the rock he left the Floran.

[Let's deal with this guy first.]

John stood beside the young Floran and lifted him up. He placed him right at his shoulder at then went for the Grappling Hook that was still connected at the rock platform that the lever was located.

It took quite some time to ascend this time because of the extra weight, but still was fast enough.

John carefully placed the Floran on the ground.

He checked the pulse, "It's going to take close to 10 minutes before he awakens..." John retrieved his fingers from the Floran's neck and climbed down the platform.

He decided to carry the Grappling Hook at his waist, on the right side, since his pistol was already on the left side.

*RUMBLEEEE*

As soon as John pa.s.sed through the door, he started to feel the ground shaking once again.

He glanced back and saw the metal doors closing.

He curiously gazed at the doors, he wondered, it closed because he pa.s.sed through it, or because it has certain time limit to stay opened.

Resuming his walk, John was soon on the edge of the platform that he was.

He glanced at the precipice beneath him, and was shaken when he saw that it was impossible to see the end of it.

Fortunately, he didn't had to worry about the light anymore since this section of the Ceremonial Hunting Cavern was very bright.

John looked around and spotted a floating, giant stone slowly hovering toward where he was.

He took the Grappling Hook from his waist and fired it once again.

*Bang*

*Clang*

The hook immediately penetrated the stone and stayed in place.

John confirmed it was safe by pulling the rope, and then jumped over.

*Swish*

"Whoaa..." John started to swing to one side and to the other, in a pendular way.

He waited until he stopped swinging before he pressed the trigger and ascend at the giant rock.

"I'm not going to enjoy this part..." John caught a breath when he finally his foot on the ground once again. "Worst than that.....I'll probably have to fight in this tiny islands and platforms." He grimaced as he thought of the possibility.

He knew it was going to happen. If not against a creature, he would have to face off against another Floran, something that he didn't looked forward to.

John crouched, and pierced his dagger onto the rock. This way if something happen he wouldn't fall from the place he was.

He watched as the rock made slowly walked deeper into the new landscape.

As he went forward John maintained his guard up, and watched his surroundings.

Soon enough he spotted a bigger, stationary platform. He decide to go there, so, just as previously, he fired the Grappling Hook and climbed the stone wall until he was on the new platform.

He decided to take a rest on this platform since it was fixed to ground and not moving at all.

He crouched and took a few pieces of wood that he had gathered on the first planet he landed after the destruction of Earth.

At no time, he made a campfire and started to roast some Batong meat that he had already prepared when he was the s.h.i.+p.

He watched as the fire danced on the campfire.

From time time to time he would lift his head and scan the surroundings to make sure that it was safe.

He wasn't able to make a campfire in the previous landscape because as soon as a light source was created, creatures would flock toward it.

He had been eating dried rations when he was there.

Now, however, he was able to eat once again some succulent meat.

After he finished eating, he realized that he was quite tired.

He stood up and took the Matter Manipulator from his PIPS.

In the previous section, he was unable to find a safe place to sleep because those spiders were able to climb everywhere and they would probably eat him once they find him.

So he thought on a plan. He used his Matter Manipulator to create a 3 square meter room underground.

He entered the room and then used the Matter Manipulator once again to create a improvised ceiling using some rocks that he collected when he was making the room.

Once everything was closed up, he lied down on the ground and was able to safely rest.

This time he used the same plan as before.

The Matter Manipulator soon shot out a light beam and started to absorb the rocks and make the 3 square room.

It didn't cost too much UE since it was only a small size opening, but still, he had to carefully calculate his UE and use it wisely, since the same UE that he might use creating or destroying something with his Matter Manipulator could be used in a moment of need when he need to use the Barrier Tech Ability.

That's why he was very careful when using anything that consumed his UE.