The moment the soul contract was sealed, the tiny glowing orb noticed that the little fox's status bar had updated, now showing much more detailed information.
Lvl 3 | Female Fox | Hp: 80/80 | ET: 350/500 | Exp: 560/2,000
Str: 4 | Dex: 5 | Vit: 1 | Def: 5 | Mdef: 15 | Crit: 5
Status: [Kaylessa Soul Companion]
Skills: Fox Fire 0/2 (250)
Bloodline Skill: Barrier
"Why can I suddenly see all your status details now? Is it because we're soul companions?"
The little dot had no idea that becoming soul companions was as significant as being soulmates, where no secrets could be hidden between them.
The little fox's ears and tail twitched at the question; her mind started racing.
(Doesn't this one know what a soul contract means?)
In her tribe, only close family members or bonded pairs would hunt together, but she felt too shy to explain that to someone she had just made a soul contract with.
"It's just so we can hunt better together while sharing experience, that's all! Nothing more to it."
She was proud of her quick thinking, convinced it was a clever response. Thankfully, the little dot believed her, since it didn't know any better.
"It's getting late. We should head back to my cave; it's in the mountain at the center of this island."
Noticing the fading daylight, the orb suggested returning to its cave for rest and recovery after their recent battle.
The little fox nodded, feeling strangely at ease beside the little dot. As they walked, memories of how she ended up on the human's boat flooded her mind.
She was only three years old, playing near her village, when armed humans suddenly attacked, ransacking the place and killing anyone they found.
She tried to escape but was captured, caged, and taken aboard their ship. That's the last thing she remembered before meeting the little orb. She glanced at her new companion, her expression a mix of complexity but mostly warmth.
When they arrived at the cave, the little dot suggested she enter first, which she did without hesitation. The cave was bathed in a soft blue light from the little dot as it followed her inside. The little fox lay down to begin recuperating her Ether, while the orb hovered nearby since it didn't need to rest, not that it could even if it wanted to.
A few hours later, the little fox woke up fully restored and heard the sound of rain just outside the cave. The orb was watching the rain too, its glow dimming slightly as if lost in thought. It reminded the orb of the first day it became aware it was in another rainy day like this one, which oddly filled it with something like sadness.
"Hey, are you alright? Is something bothering you?"
The little fox asked, her voice filled with concern for her new companion.
"I'm not sure. I feel like there's something, or someone, I should remember, but I just... can't."
The orb responded after a pause, still gazing at the rain.
The little fox wanted to say something to comfort the orb, but she found herself at a loss for words. Instead, she simply stayed by its side, sharing the silence.
As they continued watching the rain, they suddenly noticed a strange black sphere in the sky. It moved like liquid, and soon, black mud began to drip from it, forming shapes on the ground.
The orb watched as the mud took on the form of small humanoid figures with pitch-black skin. Once fully formed, the orb could finally see their status:
Lvl 1 | Nightmare Goblin | Hp: 100/100 | ET: 50/50 | Nightmare Goblin King Scouts | x50
As soon as they took shape, the goblins scattered in all directions. To their surprise, four of them started heading toward the cave. The little fox quickly cast her barrier to block the entrance.
The little dot positioned itself behind the barrier, ready to strike when the goblins came close enough. Two of the goblins reached the barrier first, pounding on it with their fists, but the damage was minimal (ET: 489/500). Yet, when the other two joined in, the strain on the barrier became more significant (ET: 434/500).
At that moment, the little dot unleashed its Thunderbolt skill, striking two goblins dead instantly. A second later, it used its last Thunderbolt charge, eliminating the remaining two.
The charred goblin bodies dissolved into black mud and then evaporated into smoke. With the threat gone, the little fox lowered her barrier, and they both noticed the experience points they had earned.
Little Dot | EXP: 388/1,000
Little Fox | Exp: 496/2,000
Since the goblins were only Level 1, they didn't provide much experience for the Level 3 fox. But for the Level 2 Little dot, it was a decent gain.
The little fox pondered the goblins they had just faced. There were 50 of them, and they had only defeated four. That meant 46 were still out there, and if they were hunting in packs... Could it be?