'What? Can't I? You're the King of Beasts, right? Snakes are beasts too.'
[...Ugh. Fine.] After a moment of groaning at Suho's words, Rakan finally nodded.
[He's so weak now that even a venomous snake's fang will be of some use to him.] Then, with a displeased expression, he stared into the empty space in front of Suho.
Fwoosh!
Two swords materialized from thin air before Suho.
[Item: Rakan's Fang]
[A sword crafted from the fang of Rakan, the King of Beasts. It houses Rakan's spirit, and those of lower rank who wield it risk having their bodies taken over.]
Acquisition Difficulty: ??
Type: Sword
Attack Power: 60
Effect: 'Contempt for the Weak'
– Inflicts the 'Fear' status on a designated target for 1 minute. (All stats -50%)
Effect: 'Fatal Wound':
– 20% chance to inflict critical damage exceeding 3 times the normal damage.
[Item: Kasaka's Venom Fang]
[A dagger made from Kasaka's poison fang. It retains Kasaka's poison, inflicting 'Paralysis' and 'hemorrhage' effects upon attack. Can be stored in inventory or sold at the shop.]
Acquisition Difficulty: C
Type: Dagger
Attack Power: 25
Effect: 'Paralysis'
– The attacked target becomes unable to move .
Effect: 'Hemorrhage'
– The attacked target's HP is consumed at a rate of 1% every second.
These were the weapons which had been gathering dust in his inventory ever since he acquired the second Vulcan Horn. Even after checking their item information again, their stats seemed so underwhelming that he doubted he'd ever use them again.
'I was thinking of selling them, but I guess I found a way to recycle them instead.' Suho smiled in satisfaction.
[Recycle? You might not be aware but my sacred relic was meant to be used this way from the start.]
'Oh, really?' Rakan's words reminded Suho of something.
Back when he first touched 'Rakan's Fang' in the Beast's Sanctuary, hadn't the sword constantly shouted something at him?
"Prove you are worthy of being a King!"
In fact, Rakan's Fang wasn't actually Rakan's 'fang,' but his 'baby tooth.' In other words, it was a tusk that fell out as he grew, which the lower tribes had received and turned into a sacred relic.
Its purpose was, of course, to create Rakan's successor.
It was a precaution they had prepared in case Rakan died in the war against the Rulers someday. That was why, if Rakan's Fang fell into the hands of someone unworthy, their body would be taken over by the spirit residing inside.
[And the reason my essence resides in the sacred relic is to act as a guide raising my successor to become as strong as possible.]
'Raise them? By nagging?'
[Well, something like that. You understand well.]
'There's someone like that next to me too.' Suho was, of course, thinking about Beru.
Beru didn't directly contribute to battles, but he constantly pointed out Suho's shortcomings and pushed him to improve. His words and actions were never meant to belittle or irritate Suho. He simply did it because... He knew.
How powerful the true 'Monarchs' were.
What true strength was.
Perhaps from now on, the spirit residing in Rakan's Fang would play a similar role for Gray.
After finishing his explanation, Rakan chuckled and looked at Suho. [Anyway, I'm eternally grateful to you. It's all thanks to you that Gray has grown enough to accept the sacred relic.]
Then he reached out and grabbed the two swords floating in the air.
And then.
Fwoosh!
The two swords turned into silver dust in his hands and scattered.
Countless system messages appeared before Suho in succession.
Ding! Ding!
[Gray has equipped 'Item: Rakan's Fang'.]
[Gray has equipped 'Item: Kasaka's venom Fang'.]
[Gray has learned skill: 'Contempt for the Weak'.]
[Gray has learned skill: 'Fatal wound'.]
[Gray has learned skill: 'Paralysis'.]
[Gray has learned skill: 'Hemorrhage'.]
'Wow. This is pretty amazing.' Suho couldn't help but admire it.
The effects from the swords had been transferred directly to Gray as skills. If Gray could properly utilize them, he would be significantly more helpful in battles.
'This is truly perfect recycling!'
[Tsk. I told you it's not recycling. But nevermind, it's time for you to return to your world.] Rakan, still looking displeased, sighed and sent Suho back to reality.
[Take good care of Gray from now on.]
Whoosh!
"...Woof?"
When Suho's consciousness returned, the little wolf Gray was right in front of him, his eyes wide with surprise. He had sensed the new power surging within him.
'His appearance hasn't changed. No wait. Did his fangs always look this sharp and menacing?'
But his looks however weren't important.
[Gray Lv.50]
Gray's level had increased, by a whopping 15 levels! Of course, this growth wasn't solely due to absorbing the power of the items.
'It's because Rakan's spirit now resides within Gray.'
The inheritance of power. It was probably similar to when Sirka got the 'Ice Tree Spear' from the Frost Monarch.
"...So, you're saying there's a way to hide this summons's mana?" Kang Taeshik, who asked again not having received a response, made Suho grin as he looked at Gray.
"Gray, can you do it?"
"Woof!" Gray perked up his ears at Suho's words and then lowered his body. Rakan's spirit within his body was teaching him how to hide his power.
And then…
"...Amazing. It actually worked?" Kang Taeshik's eyes widened in surprise.
The mana that had been emanating from Gray disappeared like a lie. He couldn't help but admire it.
"He's quite the outstanding Summoned beast, despite his looks. This makes things easier." As Kang Taeshik said, they now had the absolute upper hand against the villains. They could track them, but they were unaware of their presence.
"Shall we go then?"
"Yeah, lead the way."
"Woof!"
Suho and Kang Taeshik, with Gray in the lead, entered Yamri Village. Gray, with his ears perked up, sniffed around confidently, tracking the villains' scent, but his actions looked no different from a normal puppy on a walk. His size and appearance weren't threatening at all, so even without a leash, he looked perfectly normal.
"The village is quiet. Too quiet…" Kang Taeshik's eyes sharpened as he took in the village's atmosphere. The entire Yamri Village gave off an eerie feeling, as if it had been abandoned.
"Listen as we walk." He whispered to Suho.
"There used to be many military bases around this village, because of Pocheons' proximity to North Korea. Of course, now that country has turned into a monster field,so there's no need to defend against their army. From last year, it seems their purpose has changed to defending against the magic beasts from the north."
"That's correct. You've done your research, but currently there are no soldiers here..."
Being near a restricted area with military bases, there should have been at least a few soldiers on leave there. But Yamri Village was quiet, devoid of even that.
"It's because of the Association." Kang Taeshik explained.
"When Chairman Woo Jin-chul went to North Korea, the government sent all the military units in this area to support the Association."
"Even the non-awakened soldiers?"
"Yes. Hunters are still human. They need to eat in between battles and have someone stand guard at night when they sleep. You never know when magic beasts might attack." In short, the soldiers were responsible for all the miscellaneous tasks so that the Associations' hunters could focus solely on fighting.
"So, basically, the businesses in this village are going bankrupt left and right. It is filled with shops and restaurants solely for the soldiers." Perhaps that's why most of the visible stores were temporarily closed. But it wasn't completely devoid of people.
"At least the convenience store is open."
And Gray was heading straight for that place…
"Welcome!"
As they opened the door and entered, a part-timer greeted them cheerfully.
Crash! Items fell, as Suho and Kang Taeshik, without a word, suddenly lunged at the worker.
"Ah! What the f…?!"
The part-timer, who had been subdued with his arms twisted, struggled violently in surprise.
Kang Taeshik smirked and rolled up the part-timer's pants leg. The electronic anklet was clearly visible.
"Your acting was terrible. What kind of person greets customers so cheerfully these days?"
"...!"
The part-timer, who had been smiling kindly at first, twisted his face like a demon.
"Damn it! Everyone, come out!" At that moment, three villains emerged from the convenience store's storage room and unleashed flames at Suho and Kang Taeshik.
Fwoosh!
In response, Kang Taeshik mercilessly slit the throat of the villain he was holding with his dagger. He then grabbed the body with one hand and used it as a shield against the flames.
Boom!
"Damn it! Just kill them!"
"They're bounty hunters!"
"There are only two of them!"
Crash!
Whoosh!
In an instant, fireballs flew in all directions, collapsing the convenience store's shelves and shattering the fluorescent lights. The intense heat of the flames was spreading rapidly. However, contrary to their words, the villains were just trying to escape amidst the chaos.
"Stop them, or they'll get away!" Kang Taeshik shouted at Suho and charged towards the villains. He then began to swing the two daggers in his hands indiscriminately.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
"Sh… Shield!" One of the villains hurriedly cast a transparent barrier to block the attack.
However.
"Growl!"
He failed to notice that in the midst of the chaos, a small wolf pup was approaching him from behind. Gray, who stealthily closed the distance, swiftly bit into his Achilles tendon.
"Argh!"
[Effect: 'Fatal wound' has been activated.]
[Effect: 'Hemorrhage' has been activated.]
[The target's HP will be consumed at a rate of 1% every second.]
"You damn rat!" He screamed and kicked Gray with his foot.
But Gray, like a real rat, nimbly dodged the kick and immediately bit into the thigh of another villain standing nearby.
"Ugh?!"
[Effect: 'Paralysis' has been activated.]
Thud!
The villain suddenly stumbled and fell on his face dramatically.
"Your Summoned beast is pretty good, huh?" Kang Taeshik whistled, dodging the shield and finishing off the paralyzed villain.
Slash! Another head flew off.
Slash! And the next villain lost his life as well.
"Weak. You are way too weak." Kang Taeshik wiped the blood splattered on his face with the back of his hand and grinned cruelly.
"Why do D-ranks even bother becoming villains?"
Then, he looked back at Suho, who was standing behind him, and asked, "Why are you just standing there dumbfounded? Don't tell me it's your first time seeing someone die?"
"S-Stay a-away… Stay away from me!"
Suho was approaching a villain who was hiding behind a transparent shield, cowering against the wall in fear. Blood was continuously flowing from his ankle due to the 'Hemorrhage' skill effect.
"Don't tell me you feel sorry for him and want to let him live?" Kang Taeshik chuckled and slowly walked towards Suho. Behind him, the shelves were burning, and the fire was spreading, but that wasn't a significant threat to an Awakened person.
"You can't be a bounty hunter with such a weak heart..."
That was when it happened.
Rustle!
The corpses that Kang Taeshik had just decapitated suddenly rose and attacked him from behind.