Leon walked through the forest with Bella on his shoulders a few hours later. They had defeated several additional monsters, collecting their medals and adding more Bestial Artes to his Bestiary.
[Megalith Bite] from the Gigagator, [Helldiver] from a large bird known by the same name, [Corkscrew Blast] from a massive fish known as a Screwdriver, and lastly, [Shadow Step] from a pack of monkeys called Void Monkey.
The young man and Shadow Carbuncle continued toward the mountain as a massive explosion shook the ground, forcing Leon to brace himself against a tree.
"Master!!! Look out!!!" Bella exclaimed, leaping from his shoulder before running away from him.
Leon acted immediately and leaped off the tree, dashing after the Shadow Carbuncle moments before a massive beast crashed through the tree.
The shockwave sent him and Bella flying forward as he crashed through a bush, tumbling forward. He quickly jumped to his feet, staring incredulously at the two massive beasts.
A gigantic red frog the size of a house with two massive horns curved from above its eyes and shaggy dark fur wrapped around its neck.
Coiled around the frog was a humongous black snake with purple designs running along its sides to its hood and creating a skull.
Purple venom dripped from its fangs as it attempted to bite the frog but was held back by the muscular forearms of the frog.
Leon's eyes lit up in a faint golden light as he inspected the two massive beasts as they fought.
[Ruby Buffafrog]
[Male]
[Rank: S]
[Tameable]
[Learnable Arte: Blastburn]
[Rancorous Pseudohaje]
[Level: 45]
[Rank: S+]
[Learnable Arte: Domineering Gaze]
[Learnable Arte: Acid Drench]
"Tch!" Leon clicked his tongue in frustration as the stronger beast was untameable, but the Ruby Buffafrog was worth saving and taming if it meant receiving a new companion as strong as Bella.
"Bella! Come on, let's help that frog!" He commanded, drawing his swords and summoning his spirit spear, axe, and mace.
"Un!" She exclaimed, leaping forward as the runes running along her body illuminated and a rotating sphere of smoke formed before her.
The sphere continued to grow larger, eclipsing her tiny body as she unleashed her new ability [Shadow Shot].
The sphere rocketed through the air, soaring through the arms of the Buffafrog into the open mouth of the Pseudohaje. The cobra recoiled as an explosion of smoke erupted from its mouth.
The Buffafrog turned and noticed the rapidly approaching human, narrowing its eyes as wisps of flames began to form from the corners of its mouth.
"No, wait!" Leon shouted telepathically, activating [Magical Beast Communication], "We're not your enemies; we're here to help!"
"Hmph!" The Buffafrog scoffed, returning to the cobra, gripping its head as it forced its mouth open and unleashed a powerful wave of flames into it.
[Bestial Arte Learned!]
[Blastburn added to Bestiary!]
The young man jumped up, landing on the snake's body and stabbing both of his blades into its body. The damage was minuscule, but he began running up the length, repeatedly stabbing his spirit weapons into it, dismissing and resummoning them as he ran.
The snake roared in pain, thrashing about as it attempted to fling its opponents away in vain. Leon leaped from the snake, landing atop the Buffafrog's head when the Pseudohaje raised its body above them.
Bella appeared on Leon's shoulder as he knelt down, placing his palm against the frog's head, speaking to it telepathically, "Watch out, it's about to use a powerful ability."
"Don't tell me what to do, boy!" The Buffafrog bellowed, inhaling rapidly as its vocal sac expanded.
"Tch!" Leon clicked his tongue as the cobra's eyes began glowing. The etchings along its body and hood emitted a similar aura.
"Master!" Bella exclaimed, unleashing a smokescreen around her and Leon, obscuring their vision of the snake.
"No!" The young man shouted, throwing his swords at the snake before dropping the Shadow Carbuncle atop the frog's head and dashing toward his blades.
As he did, the Buffafrog released another [Blastburn], but the Pseudohaje prevented it as it unleashed its [Domineering Gaze], paralyzing both Leon and the frog.
[Bestial Arte Learned!]
[Domineering Gaze added to Bestiary!]
"Master, I'm coming!!" Bella shouted, the only one who resisted the attack due to her obscured vision. She dashed from atop the Buffafrog's head, soaring after the young man falling to the ground, unable to move.
"H-help..!" The frog cried as the cobra wrapped around it again, constricting it tightly. It opened its mouth, revealing its massive venom-dripping fangs.
"You stupid frog! You should have listened to me in the first place!" He yelled angrily in response, calling to his companion, "Bella..!"
She appeared beneath him, releasing her dark aura and slowly decreasing his descent, "Go help him! Blind the snake!"
"Got it!" She replied, leaping onto her paralyzed master's body before jumping toward the snake. She began flipping rapidly, her claws extending as a dark aura wrapped around them.
The momentum of her attack striking the Pseudohaje caused it to redirect its attack, slightly missing the Buffafrog as a torrent of purple smog burst out of its mouth.
It collided with the ground inches away from Leon as the grass, bushes, and trees instantly began rotting and decomposing.
His eyes widened in shock, ignoring the sound of the notifications as the decaying land began expanding toward him slowly.
[Bestial Arte Learned!]
[Acid Drench added to Bestiary!]
He gritted his teeth and began straining against the paralysis. He prayed and pushed his body as far as he could, but he couldn't move a muscle.
Suddenly, as the decomposition reached him, the Buffafrog scooped him into his hand and placed him on his head.
"T-thank you…" Leon sighed in relief.
"Thank me once we've vanquished this troublesome creature, boy!" The frog replied, crouching down as it lurched forward.
Leon nodded as the paralysis released him from its hold moments before the frog collided with the cobra.
The momentum sent him flying toward the hood where his two blades were sticking out of the Pseudohaje as he gripped both hilts, flipping his body and kicking off the snake.
Bella appeared beneath Leon, flipping as she pressed her paws against his boots and kicked simultaneously as he did, sending him flying up.
He summoned his trio of spirit weapons and continuously pierced them into the snake, creating a series of scars across its body.
"You're just tickling it, boy!" The Buffafrog laughed, "Let me show you how to deal a fatal blow!"