Kyle paused and reread the system notification several times before lifting his gaze to the humanoid cockroach standing silently before him.
[You have awakened your first Companion]
[Name: Lord Roach]
[Legion: None]
So this was what the system had meant when it told him he had gained a companion from devouring three cockroaches.
Recalling that sent a wave of disgust crawling up Kyle’s gut, but he quickly suppressed it.
He stared at the humanoid cockroach once again, and this time, he laughed.
"Hahahaha! This is amazing!"
A companion capable of destroying such a powerful Deviant with a single strike.
That was nothing short of spectacular.
’If I had him during the hunts against those wretched frogs, it would’ve been a cakewalk... Well, easier at least. Saying "cakewalk" reminds me of that arrogant bastard.’
Kyle turned back to the system, eager to learn more about his strange new companion. After fiddling with the translucent runes for a moment, another set of glowing inscriptions shimmered into existence before him.
[Slot 1: Cockroach]
[Name: Lord Roach]
[Title: Formidable General of the Undying Forces. Once the greatest general to ever live, until betrayal claimed his head. His execution brought about the extinction of his underlings and the fall of his entire race. He alone remains, preserved by the blessing of the Soul Devouring System.]
[Legion: 0]
[Beast Core: 0/100]
Kyle’s eyes widened in awe.
’This wasn’t here before,’ he thought as he carefully read through every glowing line.
The runes even gave lore to the silent Roach General, describing him as some legendary warrior whose name had once shaken battlefields.
Aside from that, Kyle found himself far more interested in what this implied about the system’s abilities.
"Does this mean that aside from gaining abilities from devouring the souls of creatures, I also obtain a companion at the pinnacle of that race... and those companions command legions of their own?" Kyle scratched the back of his head. "Ugh... this is confusing. Is there some sort of explanation hidden somewhere in the system?"
He searched through every menu he could find, trying his best to squeeze answers out of the mysterious interface.
Alas...
He found nothing.
For now, he simply needed more proof before confirming his theory.
Until then...
Kyle pushed himself to his feet and walked past the still-bowed Lord Roach before approaching the corpse of the tusked monstrosity.
He swallowed hard, his heart trembling at what he was about to do.
His eyes remained fixed on the grotesque carcass lying before him.
And...
[Error! Animal not eligible.]
As though an enormous weight had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders, Kyle released a long sigh and nearly collapsed onto his knees.
’It’s not eligible... For a moment, I was terrified that if it was, I’d have to taste something only slightly better than a roach.’
[Ding!]
Kyle grunted, immediately glancing back at the system as both eyebrows shot upward.
"This is... quite interesting."
[Companions consume the corpses of monsters to grow stronger.]
Kyle lingered on the glowing rune before slowly turning to face the patiently bowing Lord Roach.
’Let’s see...’
"Lord Roach..."
The towering humanoid insect immediately responded.
It straightened its bent posture with a deep, guttural rumble that echoed from somewhere within its armored body before walking over to Kyle’s side with heavy, deliberate footsteps.
"Devour."
The moment the command left Kyle’s lips, Lord Roach stretched one clawed hand toward the corpse.
A thick crimson light erupted from the three massive, digging-like fingers, wrapping itself around the enormous carcass like countless living tendrils.
The flesh began to wither.
Not rot...
Decay.
As though time itself had accelerated around the beast.
The skin dissolved first.
Then the flesh.
Then the muscles.
Then the bones.
Layer after layer vanished beneath the crimson light until nothing remained.
Not a single fragment.
Only the shattered battlefield bore witness to the monstrous creature that had existed moments ago.
Kyle immediately summoned Lord Roach’s status once more, eager to verify his growing suspicion.
[Name: Lord Roach]
[Legion: 0]
[Beast Core: 3/100]
Just as Kyle had suspected...
Lord Roach had gained Beast Cores from devouring the tusked abomination.
Still...
"I really thought the Legion count would increase just from consuming that tusked abomination." Kyle rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Does that mean it has to be a monster or animal the system itself considers worthy?"
Lord Roach seemed to stir at those words.
It was subtle.
So subtle that Kyle failed to notice.
The enigmatic companion slowly turned its head away from its master for the briefest of moments before returning to complete stillness.
Kyle sighed.
Just like the questions before it...
Only time would reveal the answers.
But for now...
Kyle walked over to the nest and retrieved his bloodstained dagger, wiping the crimson stains across the rough fabric of his sackcloth clothing before sliding the weapon back into his grip.
"I can still keep going... thanks to the resilience of a roach," he muttered, his eyes drifting toward the endless depths of the forest where towering trees swallowed the light itself.
The unknown waited within those shadows.
And strangely enough...
He wanted to meet it.
[Soul Fragments: 7/100]
"Let’s keep going until we hit twenty Soul Fragments."
Lord Roach reacted immediately.
The towering companion strode toward the ruined nest before effortlessly tearing free a massive wooden log that had been trapped beneath the webbed construction.
It rested the enormous piece of timber upon its shoulder as though it weighed nothing before silently returning to Kyle’s side.
Together, master and companion faced the endless forest.
Kyle smiled.
"Let’s create a formidable legion..."
His grip tightened around his dagger.
"...and conquer the First Floor, Roach."