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Hiroshi knelt before the white pup, who barely had its eyes open.
This is what she was protecting…
It turned its head and let out a tiny squeak.
Hiroshi wiped away the streaming tears and took in a breath.
This is on me now.
He reached out his hand, gliding his fingers against the pup’s body, smearing a little bit of blood against her snow-white soft fur.
Hiroshi scooped the pup into his hand and stood up. He began to walk toward the entrance of the chamber and turned back one final time halfway there.
Rest now, Feodra. I’ll take it from here.
As he reached the middle of the chamber, he stopped and looked down to the pup, who stared back at Hiroshi’s slightly red eyes. He looked up to the ceiling.
“Feodra.”
“…”
“Yes. Feodra.”
That’s a good name.
He continued his walk out of the chamber to outside. Before him stood the four wolves that had not been decapitated earlier.
They had no life in them, except for Hiroshi’s magic. They stood there on all fours, staring into the air, waiting for their next orders. Saliva drooled from their mouths, their eyes a faint bright green color.
Seems like my skill Raise Dead works just fine, as long as they have their heads.
“Let’s go.” He ordered as he walked past them.
The wolves quietly turned and disappeared into the bushes with Hiroshi and the pup.
After walking for a while, they made it back to the giant tree.
“Gobu. Come out!” He ordered.
Hiroshi walked around to the front where Gobu had just gotten up, rubbing his eyes.
“Yes… Boss…” He grumbled out.
Figures he’s tired. He’s been keeping watch all night over me while I rested. I should let him rest.
“Go back to sleep, Gobu, you’re tired.”
“Gobu. Awake. Now.” He insisted, his eyes widening as he spotted a ball of white fur in Hiroshi’s hand.
He stood up, pointing at it.
“Boss! W-where get!?”
Ah that’s right…
Hiroshi looked down at the pup, who was curled into a ball, sleeping.
“I defeated the greater dire wolf.” He stated with a glimmer of sadness in his voice.
Gobu’s mouth was wide open.
“Boss. Defeat. White. Wolf?”
“Yes. She was guarding her child.” Hiroshi looked down at the ground.
“I. See.” A glimmer of sadness appeared in Gobu’s eyes.
“Name?” He looked up at Gobu.
“Feodra.”
They both looked at the pup in Hiroshi’s hand. They both knew he had named it after her mother.
Hiroshi put it down next to Gobu who shifted positions.
“Gobu. Do not let anything harm her.” He ordered.
His face turned serious, putting his three-fingered hand to his chest.
“Yes. Boss.”
Alright, Gobu will be the last line of defense. If I fall, he’ll look after the pup, I know he will.
Gobu jumped as his eyes met four undead lesser dire wolves behind Hiroshi, standing there, not reacting to anything.
“It’s alright Gobu. It’s my Raise Undead skill; they’re under my control.”
His body trembled.
“Y-yes. Boss.” He continued to stare at the undead wolves just standing there.
Hiroshi looked at the pup sleeping.
Come to think of it, I haven’t inspected it yet.
Status Inspect!
The window popped up before him.
Feodra - ??? White Dire Wolf
Level: 1
HP: 200/200
MP: 1000/1000
Skills: Lightning Bolt, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???
A few things stuck out to Hiroshi immediately.
Huh? The class is unidentified? Shouldn’t it be greater, like her mother?
His eyes trailed down to the HP and MP.
They’re exceptionally high already, especially her mana! She’s only level one!
Hiroshi’s eyes glanced towards Gobu.
“Gobu. What’s Feodra’s class?” He asked, cautiously.
He stared back at Hiroshi with a serious face.
“Sovereign. Class.” Gobu responded.
Sovereign!? It’s above her mother?
“What does that mean, Gobu?” He raised a brow.
“Command. Others. Leader.”
I see. So, her mother was guarding her because she was going to be the next leader. She was a greater, but she was going to rule them all…
If I raised her, I could use her, if she’s even stronger than her mother.
No… I should set her free after she grows up. If she wants to go, she can go. Until then, I’ll take care of her.
“Thank you, Gobu.” Hiroshi nodded at Gobu.
Hiroshi sat down next to Gobu on the tree stump.
Status Open.
Hiroshi’s information popped up before him.
HP: 890/2400
MP: 0/100
Level: 19
Age: 40
Class: Vampire
Title: Underdog
Skills: Vampire Claws lv 3, Inspect Status lv 2, Lesser Sneak lv 3, Zero Distance lv 4, Turn lv 2, Raise Skeleton Knight lv 1, Raise Dead lv 1
My health capacity has increased but not reset with the level ups. Huh? What is this?
Another window was opened. Party: Gobu, Feodra.
It displayed their health, mana, and level.
Party? When did that happen? Was it always there and I just didn’t notice it?
I guess that means they’re in my group. Status, close. It vanished.
Anyway, I need to catch up to the chimera’s level if I were to stand a chance at defeating it.
Hiroshi thought for a second then looked at Gobu.
“What about the chimera, Gobu? How did it evolve? It was a bear when I first met it.”
Gobu’s voice trembled a little.
“Not know. Doesn’t. Belong.”
So, it’s abnormal. Monsters cannot evolve by themselves by eating others… How did it become like that then?
“What about the mark burned into the chimera. Have you seen that somewhere before?” he demanded.
“No. Never,” without hesitation, he answered.
“I see. Something bigger is at play then.”
“Mhmm.” Gobu nodded.
“I need to gain levels Gobu. Is there a place nearby that has stronger monsters than dire wolves?”
“Nearby. Valley of Death,” he responded confidently.
Great… THAT place… seriously, who named that!?
“State how long it will take to get there,” he demanded.
Gobu scratched his head.
“Maybe. A day?”
Hmm, considering the time left, that’s not too bad. I should hunt for a few days, no more than a week and use the last remaining time to hunt down the chimera for a rematch.
“Alright.” Hiroshi stood up and looked down at them.
Do I leave them here?
…
No. It’s too dangerous. I can’t risk the chimera finding Gobu and Feodra right now. I won’t be able to protect them.
“Let’s go. We’ll find a place to stay near the valley,” he ordered.
Gobu scooped the pup into his hand and stood up, grunting in agreement.
They began to walk along the edge of the cliff A massive, sprawling forest stretched to the horizon, tall mountains in the distance.
The mountain that slowly crept down toward the ground, forming a valley was getting bigger. The stars began to go into hiding. Feodra yawned in the palm of Gobu.
Dawn again… well, we’re almost there.
“Gobu. What kind of monsters are there near the… Valley of Death,” he hesitated for a second.
“Strong. Monster. Demon. Vulture. Minotaur.”
They do sound scarier than wolves…
Hiroshi cracked his fingers, a slight grin on his face.
Just you wait, chimera. I’m coming for you.
Gobu’s head turned, confused by what Hiroshi just did with his fingers.
“Tell me. Is there something even stronger than those, lurking there?”
“Yes. Lesser. Griffon.”
Hiroshi’s eyes widened at the word ‘lesser.’
It’s lesser, but it’s stronger than all the others before it?
I should be careful.
Gobu looked around, almost whispering.
“One. Strongest. Dragon,” he almost flinched at that word.
Dragons!? They exist here!?
“How strong are dragons?” Hiroshi asked curiously.
Gobu’s voice went even quieter.
“Gobu. Hear. Some. Level 5000.”
FIVE THOUSAND!? The chimera and I are literal ants compared to it.
“But. Not. Seen. Many. Years.”
“What are the chances of us making it out alive if we encounter one, Gobu?” Hiroshi walked on, staring at the path ahead of them.
“Zero.” Gobu responded, coldly.
“Right…”
“But. Long. Time. No. See.”
Hiroshi let out a deep sigh of relief.
“That’s good. Let’s hope it remains unseen.”
They looked at each other and agreed.
Gobu pointed ahead at two trees that were collapsed towards each other, forming an upside-down “V”.
“There.”
Ooh. Good find, Gobu.
Light began to wash the tip of the mountains once again, a golden semicircle peeking above the horizon.
“Let’s hurry. We’ll make this our camp for now.”
The pup yawned as its eyes parted, its body sensing it was dawn.
After arriving at the fallen trees, Hiroshi observed the surroundings and nodded.
This is good. Wide open space to see coming threats, but with these being the only two trees, it means I can’t leave during the day.
Gobu pointed at some branches nearby; Hiroshi nodded at him.
Feodra began to let out high-pitched barks in Hiroshi’s hand.
I know you’re hungry. Soon.
He gently stroked her delicate white fur.
In a short while, they had a campfire going between the trees, a few rabbits in a pile next to them.
Turns out Gobu is quite a skilled hunter.
He smiled to himself, looking at Gobu.
“We’ll make this our camp for a few days. Reinforce the surroundings with stakes, Gobu,” he ordered.
Gobu smiled confidently.
“Yes. Boss!”
“Since we’re staying here for a while, we should stock up on food as well.”
“Lots. Food. Everyone. Happy!” he shouted out, excitedly.
Hiroshi joined in his laughter, Feodra squeaking out tiny barks, as if she agreed too.
His laugh died down as he slowly spaced out to his thoughts.
I’ve got a week and a few days left. I need to get stronger. Much, much stronger.
The sun’s rays covered the entire landscape, with Hiroshi and his companions beneath the collapsed trees.
Just wait chimera. I’m coming for you.