A Cunning Strike
Shun was nowhere to be seen... but Rex had a strange feeling that he wasn't gone.
Kai thought Shun had run away like a coward and charged at the beast furiously.
Rex followed him from behind.
Kai ran and slammed into the hound, his body crashing like a boulder—but instead of bones snapping, the beast merely staggered, a deep growl rumbling from its chest.
Grrr...
Kai's eyes widened.
Seizing the opening Kai created, Rex darted in for a sneak attack with his dagger.
Unfortunately for him, the beast had started feeling uneasy, its alertness at a high point.
Noticing the dagger, the hound took Rex's party seriously.
The beast's horn emitted a white glow, water pouring out of it.
Rex stood beside Kai, waiting for the right moment. "Everyone—stay sharp!"
He couldn't charge carelessly; the glowing horn could do anything.
He was ready to dodge at any moment.
However, the hound changed its target—from the moving Rex to…
The unconscious Yue.
The beast was intelligent, picking easy targets and killing them was a better way to win the battle.
..!
"Yue… damn it—hang in there," Rex exclaimed, clutching his fist. He bolted towards the beast, Kai following behind with a roar.
The beast's horn shimmered. The water finally solidified into that of sharp water daggers as the beast focused everything onto—a single attack.
The daggers quivered, alive with intent—ready to launch.
Just then...
..?
The hound sensed something coming toward it from above.
Rex's eyes widened in shock.
He saw Shun jumping from a tree and landing on the beast directly, using it as a cushion and, at the same time, smashing into it.
Growl...
"Nice timing, Shun," Rex called out in relief, already surging forward with his dagger… Kai charged alongside him.
Shun's drop had crushed the beast's back, forcing it to the ground in a whimper.
The water daggers it had prepared became lifeless, splashing onto itself after it lost focus.
Kai leaped forward and held the beast in place firmly, not letting it budge with all his might.
Shun held it from above and had the beast immobilized for a few moments.
Yue was still unconscious from the impact, unaware of the life-threatening attack—her small body barely moving, vulnerable in the chaos.
Rex nodded toward both Kai and Shun.
He quickly examined the hound's body for the weakest part.
Without any delay or second thoughts, he stabbed the beast's neck twice, clean and fast with full force.
"Grrrk!"
It was a ranked beast; he could not show any hesitation or carelessness. He aimed to be thorough.
Hah… This never gets easier, he grumbled.
[Error... Taming failed]
"Huh... Taming?" Rex scratched his head, blinking.
"...Right. I asked the system to tame it."
He stared blankly at the corpse. "Guess stabbing it in the throat wasn't the taming method, huh?"
Rex let out a sigh, Man, I really need a manual or something. Or a tutorial goblin. Something.
Maybe it was too strong to tame while alive? he wondered, then shrugged. Also, not sure if it would've been happy about being 'tamed' mid-murder attempt.
He and everyone dropped onto the ground after their fight, exhausted.
Then—
[System: Host, would you like to tame {Swampfang's Soul}?]
Rex blinked. "…Huh. So, I can tame dead things, a soul?"
He tilted his head and smirked. "Weirdly creepy… but cool. Yes. Tame it."
As Rex agreed to tame its soul, small shiny particles flowed out from the dead beast's body.
[System: Taming {Swampfang's Soul}...]
[System: Taming {Swampfang's Soul} Successful]
"Wow—well, that was fast," Rex blinked, raising an eyebrow. "The soul didn't even put up a fight."
He saw an eerie silhouette forming from shimmering mist and stepped forward—the same shape as the beast, but translucent, walking toward him.
Rex narrowed his eyes and commanded it to Hide.
The beast stopped and hid behind a tree.
Rex blinked. Wait… Did that actually work? Mind commands? Huh. I'm basically a beast whisperer now. He instinctively knew when he tamed the hound's soul that he could communicate with just his thoughts.
But didn't think it would actually work.
"Now, how will I explain them about this beast?" he pondered, rubbing his chin.
[ System: Congratulations, host. You have tamed your first entity, unlocking an Absolute skill ❮Tamer's Sanctuary❯ ]
[Reward: +10 Taming points]
"No way… New skill and taming points?" he mumbled with sparkling eyes and quickly checked its description.
[❮Tamer's Sanctuary❯: A space where entities can be stored to enhance their growth and development.]
Rex grinned, eyes sparkling. Sanctuary, taming points, and ghost pets? System, I forgive you for everything.
He later tried to check what taming points were but couldn't get a description as the skill gave.
He shrugged, putting the matter behind for another time.
System, store {Swampfang's Soul} in the Sanctuary, he thought and looked towards the beast blurring out of existence.
So beasts can think strategically? he mused thoughtfully as it vanished
Then he asked to show its status.
--
[Name: Swampfang]
[Entity: Soul]
[Species: Mud Hound]
[Bloodline: -]
[Rank: Mortal]
[Potential: F]
[Loyalty: 0%]
[Subordinate Ranking: Subjugated]
[Time left: 3 days]
--
He saw the system panel—slightly changed from when he last saw it before its death. Mortal rank wasn't it a ranked beast? Wait, is the soul at mortal rank? Is that it? He mused and…
Three days? Rex tilted his head. What is this, a trial period?
He rubbed his chin. Maybe the system's being stingy… or maybe there's a catch I don't know yet.
Shaking his head in confusion, he asked for his status panel.
[Name: Rex Tameroth]
[Age: 12]
[Rank: Mortal]
[Tamed living: 0/3]
[Tamed consciousness: 1/5]
[Taming points: 0→10]
[Subordinate Ranking: 1 → Subjugated → {Swampfang: 0%} ]
❮Absolute Skills: Eye of Tamer, Tamer's Sanctuary (5)❯
[Skills: -]
A new panel appeared beside Swampfang's status panel.
Two panels were floating in the air now.
He saw the same change in taming points increased by +10.
After taking his time, he figured out how his system worked—at least up to now.
Except for the new taming points.
Soon, Korr came, and everyone left the outer area, reaching their home.