Night Run

I continued walking in the path to bring in more monsters in the fray. I wondered if I could get an Eagle type of monster. But since it is night time, that's impossible. That is until I see a bird lying there.

"Woah there!" I said, pulling the harness. Zala skids to a stop and sputters. I jumped off Zala to take a look to see the bird.

That bird has the yellow beak, white head feathers, pale blue feathers on its body with bright blue tips on the end. However, it has been stained with its own blood.

"Check its stats."

[Checking...complete.]

[Notice. The Spark Eagle is severely injured. Healing Magic-IV is recommended.]

Knowing that I have Tier X Healing Magic, began healing it to peak condition. I covered the eagle in pale green light and the eagle began to stand and shake itself off.

*KIIIEK!*

[The Spark Eagle is grateful for healing him.]

Whatever it made the Spark Eagle look like this must be a monster that caught it slipping.

"I shall name you Groza*." I said to the eagle

[Spark Eagle is now named as Groza.]

That makes two new monsters in one night. I still have plenty of time to recruit more monsters. As soon as I picked Groza up and put him on Zala, I heard a notification.

*Beep! Beep!*

[Malicious intent detected. Behind you.]

I looked back to see 3 Red Claw Bandits. All of them are C ranks.

"Hey, look at that. The kid healed our prey." one bandit said.

"Kill the kid, the eagle, and then take the horse, we're getting ourselves a little bonus." the other bandit said with a scar on his nose.

"Mavros, come on out." I said.

Mavros floats out of Zala's shadow and looms over the bandits. The bandits look at Mavros and their wicked smiles faded away.

"This kid is a Necromancer?!" one of the bandits yelled.

"Mavros, kill them." I commanded as I pointed at them. Mavros swooped in and made a nasty swipe at the three in one single motion.

The bandits became lifeless and fell to the ground.

[3 Rank C targets slain. 150,000 EP acquired.]

I dragged the three bodies and used Earth Magic to bury them so no bandit will be the wiser. I jumped on Zala and kept going.

"System, is there a nearby tiger monster around?" I asked to the system.

[Positive. It is located ahead of you for the next 30 minutes.]

Excellent, my very first tiger. A tiger meant for dishing out pain and ending lives quick. I remember having a White Thunder Horned Tiger as a companion, but it unfortunately died protecting me from some Heavenkins after I stolen a Divine Rarity item.

{30 minutes later...}

[You have reached your destination.]

This forest...the Felron Forest has smooth, yet durable bark among the trees with plants that are poisonous or edible. The most common monsters in there are the Wind, Water, Plant, and Poison Slimes. One of the strongest monsters is a Jag-Stripe Tiger. A Jag-Stripe Tiger are tigers with stripes in jagged and erratic patterns. Their common colors are red, white, orange, beige, black, or gray.

Also, they're known to be vengeful...very vengeful. When it comes to the lore the Jag-Stripe Tiger, a lone adventurer fought a Black Jag-Stripe and took one of its fangs and left it there as if it is dead. When the Black Tiger recovered and evolved, it traveled for 10 years until he found the adventurer along with his family. When the Black Jag-Stripe walked in, it walked back out red. You know what happened in there.

Hippos are also nasty. These giant leathery murder tanks are always on sight just because, be it a deer or crocodile. Last time I tamed one, it turned against me while I was a Oni. I killed it before any damage was done.

I entered the forest where tigers are present, but since it's night time, the tigers would be asleep.

I used Perception to find a tiger up and about. And then I found one.

I found the tiger crouching, creeping on the Bluestone Deer. The deer has brown fur, but blue rocks on its body. However, these tigers hit hard despite being an G or F rank. I know Gris fought above his weight before, but these Tigers can do so as well.

"Check its stats."

[Checking...completed.]

Although it is an F rank, Stone, Iron, and even Steel ranks have trouble fighting it alone. When they strike a tiger, they better hope it dies in one hit or it'll chase you down.

I'll just have to wait and--

*BREEP! BREEP!*

[Warning. Hostile incoming from behind.]

I looked back to see a towering figure in the distance running behind me, knocking everything in its path, the monsters unfortunate enough to be in the way will be crushed. That's a Forest Moose. They only attack when provoked, have their territory invaded, or see their children in danger.

*HROOOOGH!!*

That cry is not normal. I looked closer to see its eyes are completely red and the mouth foaming considerably. It's in berserk mode. It must've eaten the Insanity Flare Flower. That flower is red and black and its petals are shaped like fire.

Once eaten, it makes the user's eyes turn red, foam at the mouth, go in a uncontrollable homicidal rage, ignore pain and fear, and use 200% of their physical strength. Yes, 200%. After the effects wear off, they'll feel everything and in worse cases, they die.

I stood up quickly and pulled out my sword. I then put Wind Magic on it and the wind swirled rapidly around the sword.

I know I'm turning my back on a tiger, but this moose ain't gonna stop until it's dead. I raised my sword up and swung it downwards.

*Shooom!*

My swing released a wave of cutting wind at the moose, but since it's in berserk state, it didn't even dodge.

*SLASH!*

The crescent of wind cleaves through the Forest Moose in half, killing it instantly. The moose's blood and innards spill out, staining the green vegetation red.

[Rank E target slain. 20,000 EP acquired.]

[Warning. Hostility detected from the Jag-Stripe Tiger.]

I turned around to see the tiger growl at me. That tiger growl is more menacing than a wolf in general terms. I also looked that the Bluestone Deer ran away from the moose's cry.

"Woah there, buddy. I'm not your enemy." I said, sheathing my sword and slowly walked back. Although I never encountered a tiger in real life, but panicking here will make things worse.

The tiger still growled at me thinking I was about to take his prey, but I stepped aside slowly and showed the two halves of the moose.

"Don't eat that moose, buddy. It was berserk." I warned the tiger. The tiger looked and sniffed the moose from the distance and it is no longer hostile.

[The Jag-Stripe Tiger is thankful for killing the uncontrollable Forest Moose. However, it has lost its prey.]

"Don't worry, I'll get you your Bluestone Deer." I said. I used Perception again and found that same deer, but is protected by the trees.

Not a problem. I summoned a bow made of Dark Magic and aimed at the general direction. I released string and the arrow of darkness darts through the air.

Usually in normal circumstances, I'd miss and hit the trees, but I can do this thanks to my Expert Elementalist skill!

My Darkness Arrow swerved through the trees and when I see the deer in the distance, I made sure I hit it right in the heart for an instant kill.

*STAB!*

My arrow pierced through the deer effortlessly along with its lungs and heart, killing it instantly.

[Rank F target slain. 10,000 EP acquired.]

"Okay, go get your prey." I said. The tiger sniffed again and smelled the blood of the Bluestone Deer. The tiger ran after the smell despite the moose being cut in half. I followed the tiger until it reached the prey he missed.

I followed the tiger through the forest and reached where the deer died on. I looked at it to see the arrow is still inside the dead deer. I snapped my fingers and the arrow disappeared.

"All yours, buddy." I said to the tiger. The tiger jumped in and began his feast.

"How much time left?"

[4 hours and 41 minutes remain.]

Not bad, not bad. I still have plenty of time to recruit more. I wondered if I can recruit a Hellkin. But by doing so, I'd be putting myself and those around me in danger of attracting a Heavenkin.

The tiger walks towards me and sat down.

[The Jag-Stripe Tiger appreciates you providing food and wishes to join you.]

"I shall name you...Santrasa." I said.

[Jag-Stripe Tiger is now named Santrasa.]

Santrasa walked towards me and stood on his hind legs to hug me, causing me to fall. He began licking my face for naming him. Usually tigers in general are meant to be at least 4 times heavier than a average adult. Also, those bristles on them tongues. Good thing I have Pain Nullification on.

*Beep! Beep!*

[Incoming message from Hyoran. Proceed?]

"It must be serious then. Proceed."

[Message connected.]

"Kain! They've started attacking!" Hyoran yelled.

"The bandits!? Already!?" I yelled. That barrier from before prevented me from reaching to anyone except Mavros and Fennec. Shit, that could've given them a window to sneak a peek and send an army. Even if that barrier didn't affect me, I was preoccupied in saving Mavros while getting the Eidra and Alphonse.

"No, I don't see any bandits. Thompson said there are mercenaries coming from the west!" Hyoran replied. "It was thanks to Schwarze who saw the mercenaries coming!"

I switch my vision to Schwarze to see an army much bigger than the bandits I saw back in Nolten Village. Most of them have better armor and weapons than they had too! This is bad, the rebels and my monsters won't last.

"System! How long will the mercenaries get there!?"

[20 minutes.]

"Vampa and Burya?"

[4 hours and 37 minutes.]

"Hyoran, hang on tight, I'm coming!" I said to Hyoran.

"Okay!" Hyoran replied.

[Transmission ended.]

"Let's go, Santrasa." I said, Santrasa grunted and we began running to the exit of Felron Forest. Until...

*BREEP! BREEP! BREEP!*

[Caution. A Hellkin has invaded the Material Realm near your location.]

Seriously!? Where!? Oh man, if a Hellkin is near me, I'll have no choice but to fight it! Wait...what if it's low-ranked?

[Danger. Incoming attack from your left.]

I instantly looked to the left and I saw the deathly dark jaws coming for my head. I then pushed the jaws away while I was moving my head away from it.

*GNASH!*

The figure chomped down, but it barely misses my head. Had I not reacted sooner, I'd be dead for sure.

The figure stops, realizing it missed, it turned around and looked at us with its glowing red eyes. This Hellkin shows its body black like obsidian, the spikes on its back, the sharp teeth, and its muscles being defined in the indirect moonlight.

"System, check its stats."

[Checking...complete.]

Lesser Hellhound and look at these skills! That could've been a rank B at best! Since it has Resurrection, killing the body will force the soul back to its original realm. To think I meet one so soon and so near to Noltia and Valtuz!

"Santrasa, get out of the forest. I'll handle this." I said. Santrasa ran ahead, leaving me and the Hellhound.

The Hellhound slow walks to the side, sizing me up. The reason it didn't attack again, because I'm not paralyzed in fear. I kept eye contact on her to delay her, buying myself time on how should I tame a Hellkin.

Looks like, I'll be slowed down for a bit. Although, I can't take too long either.