*THHWIIIIPPP*
The net gun fired.
The weighted capture net shot forward, spreading wide and covering the cat before it could even react.
*SCREEEEEECCCH!*
The cat screeched and tried to run, but it only tangled itself further… The more it struggled, the tighter the net became.
Ignoring the captured cat, the rest of the Dark Cats scattered with some carrying their dead prey while others fled empty-mouthed.
Within seconds, the area around the truck was empty except for the one creature writhing on the ground.
The cat in the net continued to struggle, it clawed at the mesh biting and tearing but obviously slowly losing hope as its struggle reduced.
Then, suddenly, its claws tore a small part of the net but that was just enough to reignite it will.
The Dark Cat saw its chance and focused it push against the opening, trying to squeeze through.
It seemed like it would succeed but before it could escape, Nicholas pressed a button on the net gun.
Visible electric current suddenly ran from the line connected to the net.
*SCREE—*
The Dark Cat let out a short screech that died just as fast as it passed out.
Nicholas was already moving. He jumped out of the truck, rushing toward the trapped unconscious creature.
"Gotcha."
However, Nicholas did not immediately grab the unconscious Dark Cat.
Instead, he pulled out a syringe and stabbed it into the dark cat's neck, injecting the contents into it.
It was a deep sedative or anaesthetic… Whatever you wanted to call it.
It was to make sure the cat stayed asleep for a good while.
While he had captured the Dark Cat without incident, that didn't mean it was weak by any means.
Just like humans progressed through ranks where at Rank E, they were several times stronger than their unawakened strength the same was true for these cats.
And Dark Cats were slightly larger than a bobcat with powerful jaws, razor claws and lightning-fast reflexes.
Letting that thing near him even with a Grade E net without precautions could very well lead to his death.
He carefully lifted the cat and dumped it in the backseat then he secured it in place with the seatbelt, making sure it couldn't move even if it woke up.
*ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAR!!!*
An earth-shaking roar rumbled through the surrounding area causing the ground vibrated and the truck shook even the air itself seemed to tremble.
[Threat above specified limit detected]
Almost immediately, the truck surged forward.
Nicholas was thrown sideways. He had been leaning on the open door, and the sudden acceleration nearly flung him out.
He grabbed the frame with both hands, holding on tightly before slamming the door shut as the truck raced forward, eating up the ground beneath its tires.
He did not bother looking back… Whatever was roaring wasn't something he could face.
He focused on just surviving thankfully the road ahead was smooth, straight and relatively flat, so the truck was able to reach 120 kilometres per hour without any issues.
The distance between them and the roar grew quickly. Whatever had made that sound was fast, but the truck was faster… Or it simply didn't care enough to chase him, which was the most likely one.
Nicholas closed his eyes as he got comfortable, flexing his joints that he had kept perfectly still for hours.
He did not know when he drifted off.
One moment he was awake, listening to the hum of the engine and the next, he was being pulled from sleep by the familiar chime of his terminal.
Auntie Penny's face appeared on the screen.
He answered it, spoke to her for a few minutes then he spoke to Auntie Piper then Tessa.
Each one asked if he was okay, each one told him to be careful and each one made him promise to come home in one piece.
Once he had managed to convince them he was fine, he sent them off.
"Time left?" he asked the truck.
[26 Hours 14 Minutes to Destination]
Nicholas glanced at the cat and then at the medical box before he nodded to himself.
'Might as well get it over with.'
He opened the medical box and began going through it, making sure all the items were there.
He bought ten items; Neural Lattice Scaffold, Ocular Stabilization Ring, Optic Nerve Splicer, Muscle Reattachment Gel, Immunosuppressive Microcapsules, Calibration Lebs set, Enucleation Spoon, Cyro-Donor Storage Tube, Portable Field Autoclave and Pain Blocker Patches.
Neural Lattice Scaffold was a small glass vial, thumb-sized, containing a translucent gel-like disc the width of a contact lens, used to bridge severed optic nerve endings.
Ocular Stabilization Ring was a thin, flexible ring slightly larger than a human eyeball. It collapsed into a matchbox and was used to hold the donor eye in the socket while the muscles and optic nerve healed.
Optic Nerve Splicer was a handheld device the size of a thick marker pen. It cleanly cut the host optic nerve and simultaneously trimmed the donor nerve to a matching angle.
Muscle Reattachment Gel was a pre-filled syringe, finger-length, holding five millilitres of viscous blue gel. It reattached the six extraocular muscles to the donor eyeball without sutures.
Immunosuppressive Microcapsules was a small plastic jar (lip balm sized) containing 90 translucent beads, each the size of a grain of rice. One bead per day reduced the chances of immune rejection of the donor eye.
Calibration Lenses Set was a small metal case (cigarette pack size) containing five thin, flexible lenses, each with different grid patterns. It calibrates the visual cortex to the new eye after the neural lattice has connected.
Enucleation Spoon was a curved metal tool, 12 cm long, with a blunt scoop at one end and a handle at the other. It removes the existing eye from the socket by gently separating the optic nerve and muscles.
Cryo-Donor Storage Tube was a thermos-like cylinder, 20 cm tall and 5 cm wide, weighing 2 kg when active that keeps a donor eye viable for up to 30 days before transplantation.
Portable Field Autoclave was a metal box the size of a lunchbox (20 x 15 x 10 cm), weighing 3 kg used to sterilizes all surgical tools before use.
Pain Blocker Patches were translucent adhesive patch, 5 x 5 cm, as thin as a sticker. It numbs the entire eye socket and surrounding nerves for 8 hours. Applied to the temple before surgery.
Nicholas stared at the items.
Yes… He was changing one of his eyes.
Specifically, the left one.
The Dark Cat's eye was special. It could see in complete darkness… a trait that would be invaluable especially in the Shattered Realm.
He took a deep breath. 'Time to work.'