Chapter 26 - Failure

Not long, the angry 'strange skinless rabbit' suddenly froze when Lord Emberon threw away the meat, and it landed in front of the creature.

After that, 'strange hairless rabbit' sniffed the air, its ear drooping in a determined search for the enticing aroma.

Lord Emberon observed with curiosity as the creature followed the scent and found the discarded meat.

Lord Emberon remained calm and unaffected as he watched the 'strange skinless rabbit' devour the meat with primal fervor.

Gnaw! Gnaw!

The sound of the creature's ravenous consumption didn't elicit any reaction from him. He maintained his poise and composure.

Although the system screen caught his attention again, Lord Emberon's calm demeanor persisted.

[ Ding!

The 'strange skinless rabbit' is content.

Wood you like to use capturing cubes? ]

Lord Emberon showed little reaction, he regarded it with an analytical gaze, keeping his mind clear and focused.

"Capture it?

"Like a game?"

Lord Emberon contemplated the game-like nature of his circumstances with detached curiosity. It's almost as if there's an idea that the system aimed to entertain him and provide enjoyment, but didn't bother him.

He recognized the possibilities and benefits of capturing the 'strange hairless rabbit', remaining calm and measured in his thoughts.

In a composed voice, Lord Emberon affirmed his decision.

"I want to capture it," he murmured.

The prospect of strengthening his dungeon and himself through this unconventional means like capturing beasts deepened his serenity.

As the system displayed the 'Capturing Cubes', Lord Emberon's calm demeanor persisted, but right now, there was a glint of excitement.

[ Capture great cube (44) ]

[ Capture cube (37) ]

As soon as Lord Emberon saw the captured cubes, he felt determined and compelled to take action.

"Use the great cube!"

He said with resolve, his voice carrying authority. In response, a mysterious force seemed to guide his body, as if he were a vessel for its power, controlling him again.

With grace, he raised his right hand, and then a square object adorned with star designs appeared out of thin air in Lord Emberon's hand.

It glimmered with a radiant, otherworldly light, and might captivate all who see it.

Without hesitation, he threw the object at the ravenous 'strange skinless rabbit' that had been eating the meat he had provided.

Swoosh!

When the object touched the unsuspecting 'strange hairless rabbit,' it unfolded like a mechanical flower, revealing a blinding light inside.

This bright light drew the creature in, and it disappeared instantly, as if it had never existed.

As the 'strange skinless rabbit' vanished, the metallic cube reassembled itself, forming a perfect shape again.

It gracefully descended to the ground, earlier it didn't have lights on it, and now emitting a brilliant glow that illuminated the area with an otherworldly light.

Meanwhile, in Lord Emberon's dungeon, on the first floor in the chamber of the floor guardian, Steelteeth found himself engulfed in boredom.

His tired expression and slouched posture showed his weariness as he sat on a large chair. His eyes wandered across the skeletal remains of a human he had killed, offering no solace to his restless spirit.

"Boooorrriinnggg…"

Suddenly, a disturbance broke the monotony. A small object descended before Steelteeth, startling him out of his listless state.

The creature resembled a skinless rabbit, with dark brown feet contrasting its pale musculature.

It was the 'strange hairless rabbit,' the entity Lord Emberon had trapped in the cube.

Soon, Steelteeth found himself face to face with a peculiar creature. Its eyes, filled with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, locked onto Steelteeth's gaze, and for a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still as they held each other's stare.

Steelteeth, with his steel-gray skin and imposing figure, returned the creature's gaze with a mixture of intrigue and instinctual assessment.

As the seconds ticked by, a sudden surge of energy coursed through Steelteeth's body. In one fluid motion, he rose to his full height, towering above the creature.

The 'strange hairless rabbit,' startled by the sudden movement.

Kyaa!!?

Feeling being dwarfed by the size of Steelteeth, the creature trembled in fear.

Swoosh!

Its hairless rabbit-like legs twitched anxiously, desperate to flee from the overwhelming presence that loomed over it.

Seizing the opportunity presented by the level gap between them, Steelteeth effortlessly closed the distance between himself and the rabbit-like creature.

With a swift motion, he snatched it by its tail, holding it firmly in his grasp.

Confusion clouded his expression as he examined the peculiar being in his hand, muttering under his breath, "What is this?"

The 'strange hairless rabbit,' now cornered and devoid of escape, had no choice but to muster its courage and fight back against the creature with a single horn—a creature much larger and more formidable than itself.

Raawkk!!

Though its feeble and insignificant attempts were met with futility, Steelteeth remained unimpressed.

He regarded the struggling 'strange skinless rabbit' with disdain, sensing its inherent weakness.

"Doesn't matter," he murmured dismissively, his grip gradually loosening.

Without a second thought, Steelteeth casually tossed the creature aside, watching as it landed with a thud before scurrying away to hide.

Swafp!

To him, the 'strange skinless rabbit' was inconsequential, a mere trifle that failed to ignite any sense of satisfaction within him, it looks useless too.

Unlike the human he had encountered and consumed earlier, this creature would provide him no pleasure, whether it's combat, taste or growth, it is not worthy of his attention.

Though Steelteeth pondered the possibility of obeying Lord Emberon's command to eliminate the creature, yet the absence of any explicit order from his Lord meant that he did not harbor any particular concern for this creature as a threat.

The order is only human, so he didn't need to hold back.

For now, the 'strange skinless rabbit' was useless and it's insignificant, and as such, Steelteeth deemed it was not worthy of being killed by his own hands so he had to let it go.

Lord Emberon still stood in the flower field, eagerly awaiting for the capture cube to finish.

[ Ding!

[ Capture loading… ]

Lord Emberon was calm watching and waiting, for inside the blinding light cube lay the creature 'strange hairless rabbit.'

Seconds felt like eternities as the timer ticked away, intensifying the situation with each passing moment.

Thirty seconds passed, and the cube remained cryptically silent. But just as the clock struck the thirty-first second, the system resounded again.

[ Ding!

[ Capture failed! ]

Lord Emberon's brow knitted seeing the cube opened again, releasing the 'strange skinless rabbit' inside.

While, the creature or 'strange hairless rabbit', now free from its temporary confinement, scurried away at a frenetic pace, its tiny form a blur of motion.

Swish!

It seemed to have an innate fear of being caught again, determined to escape from the creature earlier.

Lord Emberon was bewildered.

"It failed?"

He asked himself.

"Or is it due to using only one piece of meat as bait?" He added, questioning how he failed.