“A New Ally: The Baison King”[CHAPTER 9]

As the battle commenced, I was struck by an overwhelming sense of dread, an instinctual fear that gripped my heart the moment my gaze met the baison's fierce eyes. It was as if an unseen force radiated from him, paralyzing me for a fleeting moment. In that instant of vulnerability, the creature charged, its formidable horns aimed directly at me. Yet, by sheer instinct, I managed to dodge its lethal attack, narrowly escaping the deadly thrust.

The baison continued its relentless pursuit, and just as it bore down on me, I leaped aside, my mind racing with thoughts of how to vanquish this beast. Analyzing its form, I discerned that its head appeared to be the only weak point amidst its mountainous strength. I resolved to wait for the perfect moment when it charged again, and when it did, I launched myself onto its back. With all the might I could muster, I rained down blows upon its head, each punch imbued with the force capable of shattering stone. 

The baison, however, was not easily subdued; it grunted and strained against my onslaught. In a moment of desperation, I seized one of its horns and, summoning every ounce of my strength, wrenched it free from its skull. The creature roared in agony, a sound that echoed through the battlefield, and I took advantage of its disorientation to deliver a final barrage of punches that sent it crashing to the ground, lifeless.

"Congratulations, Master! You have successfully slain this monster!"

"Indeed, this has been my most challenging battle to date"

"Now, let me resurrect him," 

Channeling my energy, I invoked the skill of resurrection.

"RESURRECT BIASON KING! COME AND SERVE ME TILL ETERNITY!"

A magical circle materialized beneath the fallen baison king, enveloping its body in a radiant glow. From the ethereal energies, a new baison king emerged, transformed—its body now a deep shade of black, with piercing red eyes and intricate patterns that danced across its hide.

As I stood, the newly resurrected baison king knelt before me, its front legs touching the ground in a gesture of submission.

**NOTICE: LEVELLED UP** 

**LEER IS LEARNED FROM THE BAISON KING** 

**LEER IS A SKILL THAT INSTILLS FEAR IN ENEMIES, PARALYZING THEM FOR A FEW MOMENTS.**

**NAME:** RED 

**STATUS:** HYBRID, UNDEAD 

**LEVEL:** 19 

**SKILL:** UNDEAD 

**ADDITIONAL SKILLS:** SLUDGE BOMB, ONE EYE, LEER, MARTIAL ART.

A wave of exhilaration washed over me. I had leveled up, and the new ability I had acquired would undoubtedly provide an edge in future confrontations. With my companions by my side—Baison King at level 18, Gobby at level 11, and Gloom at level 12—I felt a renewed sense of purpose. It was time to move toward the town at last.

As I mounted Wooble, my newly named baison king, I felt a sense of comfort; his head was adorned with a coat of soft fur, making my ride a pleasant one. However, our journey was abruptly interrupted by a violent tremor that shook the very ground beneath us.

"What in the world is happening? The ground is shaking violently!"

I exclaimed, struggling to maintain my balance atop Wooble.

Before I could fully comprehend the situation, I lost my grip and tumbled to the ground. The earthquake persisted for what felt like an eternity, but eventually, it subsided. Confusion clouded my thoughts as I processed the magnitude of the quake, which had been unlike anything I had ever experienced. Yet, amidst the chaos, I sensed a peculiar surge of energy in the air.

"Do you feel that too, Wooble? The sudden shift in the energy around us?" 

"Oh, so you can sense it as well. Can you lead me to the source of this disturbance?" 

Wooble nodded in understanding, and together we altered our course from the town to the enigmatic source of this newfound energy.

After what felt like an arduous journey, we finally arrived at the source, and I was left in a state of sheer astonishment. Before me stood an enormous castle, though broken and dilapidated, it exuded an aura of haunting beauty amidst the encroaching forest. Eerie noises and a palpable magical energy emanated from the castle's entrance, sending chills down my spine and heightening my senses.

"What do you make of this, Gobby?"

"Master, this is an entirely new experience for me as well. It resembles a dungeon, but it radiates a far more dangerous energy than any we have encountered before," Gobby replied, his eyes wide with trepidation.

As we stood before the castle's foreboding entrance, each of us was enveloped in a swirl of questions and uncertainties, our hearts pounding in anticipation of what lay ahead.

As the looming shadow of the dungeon overtook our small group, a palpable sense of unease settled in the air. "What are we to do?" I murmured, glancing warily at my companions. "This place hardly resembles a portal to adventure. I distinctly recall that the book made no mention of dungeons materializing from thin air. Is it truly a dungeon? Surely, the townsfolk might possess some insight into this enigma."

After several moments spent weighing the circumstances, I resolved against venturing into the depths of the dungeon without first gathering vital information. To do so would be to invite danger, and I was not yet prepared to tempt fate. Accordingly, we turned our attention back to the town, our next destination. Yet, as I rode through the rugged terrain, my thoughts were irrevocably ensnared by the specter of the dungeon. Its very existence consumed my mind.

"Gobby," I called to my loyal companion, "do you think anyone from the goblin village would know anything about this dungeon?"

The goblin scratched his chin thoughtfully, his expression turning serious. "Master, if my memory serves me correctly, the only one capable of shedding light on our predicament is the elder goblin. He has resided here for over two centuries and possesses an extensive knowledge of this kingdom's secrets."

Yet as Gobby spoke, I was reminded of the obstacles that lay ahead. Contacting the elder goblin would pose a challenge, for he was under the jurisdiction of the goblin king—a pompous fool who would no doubt try to obstruct my efforts to converse with the elder. Frustration brewed within me as I contemplated the political landscape of the goblin realm.

Just then, Wooble, my steadfast steed, suddenly came to a halt, drawing my attention. Ahead, the gates of the town loomed large, their weathered beams standing as a testament to the countless travelers who had passed through their arch. I deftly recalled Wooble and Gobby to me, realizing that our presence might attract unwanted attention in the bustling town square.

"Very well," I declared with renewed determination, "let us venture forth into the town. It has been weeks since I last encountered another human being, indulged in good food, or laid my weary head upon a comfortable bed. My clothes are in dire need of some cleanliness, and I am eager to immerse myself once again in the vibrant flow of life within the town."