(A/N: For Dumpling_8324 who wants more chapters. To the cat that is closest to the ancient Egyptian gods, bring me luck!)
...
Just as Dustin was about to move and start tailing the two ladies, he stopped. Whatever it was that was urgent enough to make them head back wasn't his business. Only low level monsters were around, so they wouldn't be in any danger. Those two were more than capable. If it was he's debt, he would surely return it at a later date, and at a more appropriate time.
Something else bothered Dustin though. The girl could Raven had walked and gotten so close, yet he couldn't even sense her one bit.
'That was a bit dangerous. If she wanted to harm me, she could have gotten a shot at it. I need to be more careful.' Dustin thought as he jumped from branch to branch with an amazing pace.
With the goblin used as sacrifice, Dustin had hoped for the girl called Mizu to think she had only seen something from her imagination. But with the emergence of the other, who she called her sister, he only hoped they let it go.
Dustin continued on, jumping from tree to tree. If one saw him, one would think he was an AMBU member the way he moved so skillfully, but the divide was clear. A few moments later, he must have landed the wrong step, as he came crashing down from the tree and unto the ground.
"I knew I shouldn't have tried being a ninja. Uff!" Dustin grumbled as he picked himself off the ground.
He didn't actually feel any pain, surprisingly. It had only felt like hitting a strong mattress. It must be the effect of becoming strong he thought.
This only made one thing clear to Dustin. He needed a good means of transport. Using his brain, he remembered quite clearly the Messenger saying that only low rank monsters of their level would appear. This meant that the type wasn't exclusive to only goblins.
While Dustin was still thinking of ways, he started hearing resounding stomps on the forest floor that seemed to be getting closer and closer. These stomps continued towards him, until the source came before him.
A two metres long beast that was at least one and a halve metres in height stood gallantly before Dustin, ready to dig into his delicate flesh with its horns, as it glared at him with eyes of steel.
"System, what is this creature?" Dustin asked while looking at the beast.
He was quick to judge and called it a boar, but it's size and the pair of sturdy looking horns that shot out from the sides of its head, curling in one motion with pointed tips made him recall his words.
.. 'This is a Horned Boar. It is a species of boar that has undergone mutation with another animal. This one seems to have mutated with a ram.' The system answered with a cool voice like normal.
'With a ram?' Before he could even continue his sentence, the beast charged towards him with surprising speed.
Looking at the body of the Horned Boar, it was quite hard to imagine it moving with such burst of speed, certainly unexpected.
Dustin however, wasn't even the slightest bit alarmed. To him, the Horned Boar was moving at a slower pace, enough for him to casually flip over it with ease without interrupting he's speech.
"Where did you find a ram to mutate with, in the heart of a forest?"
As Dustin avoided the beast by flipping over it, the Horned Boar leaped a bit and struck its hooves into the ground, bringing it to a stop. It had turned its entire body when it leaped, and was now facing Dustin again. Without giving any room for breathing, it charged forwards once more with even greater force.
"Tame."
[Tame successful. View Information?]
"Yes."
The charging Horned Boar Stopped in it's tracks immediately, just before it touched Dustin. The boar's eyes turned to large Os as it became confused as wt why it was attacking its own master.
"Hai hai. Come back to your senses." Dustin said as he cleared the large imaginary question mark off the boar's head.
..
[Horned Boar]
Rank: F
Favourability: High
Hp: 100
Mp: 10
[Skill tab]
Passive:
Active:
[Ability]
Thick skin (F)
[Thick Skin]
An inert ability possessed by most beasts and monsters that grants tougher skin.
Rank: (F)
..
"Ability? What's this know? System."
.. 'Abilities are mostly inert traits possessed by a certain race or beast/monster type. It is similar to skills, but it does not require mana.'
"God.. I swear, this system is broken. Those that mean I don't have any ability? I don't see it on my status screen."
..
Level: 14 (3,756/5,300)
Name: Dustin
Title: Progenitor, Slaughterer
Class:
Hp: 940
Mp: 880
[Stat]
Strength: 24
Agility: 24
Sense: 24
Vitality: 24
Intelligence: 19
Unallocated stat point: 50
[Skill tab]
Passive: Bloodlust (A)
Active: Taming Master (A), Reality Manipulation (A)
..
"Nope! Nothing." Dustin said a bit disappointed.
[Your proficiency in using the skill Taming Master has increased]
"Huh?"
..
[Taming Master]
Very little is above you. If it's not a dragon or a legendary beast, it is tameable.
Rank: (A)
Proficiency Level: 80.00
Effect:
You can tame beasts and monsters A rank and below.
You are able to fully control beats and monsters C rank and below, and some B rank beasts and monsters.
You will receive 10% of the exp earned by the tamed monster.
..
"Wow, 80? I know I've been using the skill without activating it through the system, but 80? Is it so easy?" Dustin asked a bit surprised.
Normally, the way he knew it. Before the proficiency of one thing increase, the player would have to use that skill like it was a dominant limb. But that was in games, maybe it was different in real life? He wondered.
"Well, this buy will make a good mount, and you also seem to be stronger than the goblins." Dustin said as he hopped unto its back.
'Guess even in the same rank, there is still a power gap.'
"Let's head out. I don't think killing goblins will benefit me anymore." Dustin said, as he mounted the Horned Boar through the forest, dodging trees every now and then, while staying on course.
One thing Dustin hadn't noticed though was a change that had started to take root deep within his being.