Chapter 6 - Strength and Illusions

It's now the second day of our journey. We're now setting up camp on a hilltop. I looked up at the night sky, full of twinkling stars.

I looked at my [Glaze], remembering I had leveled up back at Restnaro. I can now summon a third familiar, but before that, I have yet to ask Nightmare of his origins.

I summoned him from my shadow, and began to barrage him with questions. I first asked him what kind of arachnid species he was and he truthfully answered with: 『As you wish, milord. I, Nightmare, am a type of spider called the Void Spider. We are a type of species that live on the Void, a world of darkness filled with creatures of dark. We, Void Spiders, are at the top of the Void's food chain.』.

I asked him another question about why he choses to follow me.

『Certainly. Us Void Spiders seek strength. I believe that by following you, I can become stronger. Possibly even stronger than the King himself. As I grow stronger, so does my loyalty to you. I have sworn to offer you my life and I will never take that back.』.

Again, I asked him more questions until I was satisfied and Nightmare answered all of it.

The first light of the day has now shone on Seed. I woke up, tidying my tent and headed to a stream nearby. There, I found a group of goblins roasting a rabbit. Unlike Trolls though, some goblins have higher intelligence than the others making them able to use the common language.

I approached them, raising my hands to show I meant no harm and greeted them.

『Human. Come. We. No. Fight. Eat. 』

I heard the goblin speak. It's kinda funny and cute at the same time, hearing a it speak in a rough tone. I took them up on their offer, taking a piece of roasted rabbit. It tasted bland so I took a bottle of salt and sprinkled some on the rabbit meat.

『Human. Sorcerer! Smell. Good. Food. Share?』

The goblin leader spoke again, placing his piece of rabbit in front of me. I sprinkled his rabbit piece with salt and he took a bite. Overwhelmed with the flavour, he shed tears of joy and soon after the other goblins wanted theirs sprinkled.

I had a good time so I gave them four small bottles of salt, telling them to only use a small ammount or the food might become inedible.

I went downstream and saw a perfect spot to take a bath. I dipped in the cold water and shuddered. I misjudged its temperature. I heated up the water around me at a perfect temperature and stayed there for a while.

Many many minutes later, I got a telepathic message from Gray telling me to come back as soon as I could. Dressing up, I turned into a wolf and moving back as fast as I could.

I arrived at the campsite and saw Gray carrying someone on his back. He's a boy, probably older than me judging by his stature. I looked closely at his clothes and saw a crest with a purple flame.

I asked Gray what's this about and he answered.

『I was flying through the forest as usual, hunting for food when I happened upon him laying down on the roadside collapsed. So I thought 'Why not bring him to the camp with us. Maybe we could help when he wakes up.' And that's it.』

I nodded at him and told Gray to gently lay the boy down at my sleeping bag. We decided to wait for the boy to wake up before departing so I began my ritual to summon a new familiar.

I wanted something big and bulky that can act as a tank for us, but at the same time a strong familiar that can defend on his own.

I asked Nightmare what I should summon and he said that a Minotaur could do the job.

『Heed my call, oh mighty one. Become my champion and fight as one with me. Arise from the depths of the dungeon that is binding you and swear fealty to me, your sovereign.』

I then heard a loud growl coming from below and the ground erupted to pieces. A large Minotaur rose up, clutching a greataxe in one hand and a greatsword at the other.

『Who dares summon I, The Great Furgö?!』

I stepped forward and introduced myself.

『A human child? Has the human race gone daft?! To let a human child summon I, The Great Furgö. I shall test your strength and see if you have what it takes to command me! Ready yourself!』

The large Minotaur adjusted himself to a fighting stance. I also readied myself, closing all my openings.

『I shall help you, milord.』Nightmare appeared in front of me.

I told him not to, that I will fight this Minotaur fair and square and he backed down, apologizing.

I told the Minotaur I was ready and our fight began.

He dashed towards me, weapons on both hands preparing to strike downwards. I lifted up the ground, blocking him. He smashed through the earth wall and swung to the right. I prepared to block it, but it was a feint. He kicked me at my chest, sending me flying.

Blood spew out of my mouth and clutched my chest in pain. I ignored the pain and froze the air, sliding down the forest while sending bolts of lightning at the Minotaur. He got struck at his right shoulder and dropped his greatsword.

He roared. He roared so loud that it almost exploded my ears. He began charging right at me, but before he could, I created a pit in front of me. The Minotaur fell in the pit and I bombarded him with my newly upgraded fire magic together with streaks of lightning.

He jumped out of the pit, his expression of anger. He picked his greataxe and threw it at me. I didn't expect it so I blocked it by erecting a wall of earth. I breathed a sigh of relief until I heard a breath beside me.

He's already at my side. I panicked for a second and shapeshifted into a hawk, dashing through the sky. He nearly grabbed me. I looked down at him and he picked him greataxe back up again.

I prepared for another throw, thinking where to dodge and take the offense. He threw his greataxe the second time, but I expected that. I dodged left, towards the stream, but I was greeted by something unexpected again.

A ball of fire is coming right towards me. I swooped down the ground and turned back to human, extinguishing the fire with water. I felt something grab my head. I looked behind me and saw the Minotaur smiling.

『Hahaha! Not bad, kid! You didn't expect me to be able to use magic, right?! You did a good job, lasting that long against I, The Great Furgö!』

『You talk like you already won.』I snickered.

『Huh?』The Minotaur asked in confusion.

The "Me" Disappeared from his hands. Atop a tree, I zapped the Minotaur with lightning, paralyzing him.

『Since when...』The Minotaur asked in disbelief. I told him about it. About the time when he threw his greataxe at me and erected an earth barrier. I told that was when I casted an Illusion.

『So you had me since that time, huh. I lost to a kid. How pitiful of me.』

After that battle, we went back to camp only to see a terrified boy hiding in the sleeping bag. I asked what's wrong with him and Gray said that the boy woke up to the sound of our battle and saw him and Nightmare nearby.

『I think he's playing dead, but he's so bad at it.』

I walked up to him, removed the cover and the boy shrieked with terror only to get confused when he saw me. His eyes lingered on me, then to my familiars and back.

I explained everything to the boy that these are my familiars and the battle we had was just a friendly one.

I wiped the blood off my mouth and applied some medicines on my chest. It hurt a bit, but I endured it.

I rested for a couple hours until I'm at a normal condition. I stood up and asked the Minotaur if he was ready to form the contract.

We did the ritual at the camp, carving up the runes on a rock and drawing the necessary magic circles.

『Fögar. Willst thou allow thyself be bound by me and serve by my side in all of eternity?』

The Minotaur kneeled down and said. 『I will bind my being unto you and serve you until my last breath.』

Fögar's body gleamed with lights and his muscles compacted. His bull-like appearance became even tidier, making him look more like a human and his height that once towered over me is now only about three heads taller than me.

Fögar approached me and kneeled, his voice full of vigor. 『I, The Great Fögar, King of the Minotaurs, shall give you my life and fight together with you along with this newfound strength of mine.』