They continued travelling until it was dark without running into any more spiritual creatures worth hunting.
Likely sensing their strength, those at the white-grade avoided them. However, Kain wasn't too interested in them anyways.
After advancing the spiritual power they could provide Bea was practically non-existent.
Also, after both he and Bea advanced, the System no longer granted GP for hunting white-grade creatures, no longer considering them to be a challenge for Kain.
They chose to set up camp in a clearing. Despite sleeping in a tent rather than in the open in a tree like usual, Kain actually felt more exposed. Likely because he didn't have Bea-filled water beneath him acting as a moat of protection.
However, one benefit to travelling with others, especially when they have a normal contracted partner was that shifts can be taken to stand watch. Moreover, since Lady was resting the whole day in Bridge's star space, she could actually stand watch the entire night while both Bridge and Kain rested.
They both set up their tents and then started a fire to heat up some canned food.
"After I take the cooking class I will just pack spices and then make delicious barbecue every night." Bridge said.
"I can't wait."
Bridge then looked over at Lady and Princess who were also having their dinner.
"Doesn't your contract need to eat?" After all, all spiritual beasts need a source of energy. Even an undead contract would still need to be 'fed.'
"My contract already ate earlier."
Bridge looked confused. He was with Kain for almost the entire day. When would he have had a chance to feed his contract?
"The foxes earlier" Kain clarified. "My contract only eats brains. Preferably fresh."
Kain was already desensitized to Bea's gruesome diet, but Bridge immediately looked as though he had lost his appetite and put the canned food down in disgust.
Kain just shrugged and finished off both of their cans, he hated to waste food after all.
"Do you think your second contract will be like your first?"
"Well, they must have something in common since they match my affinity. However, I really have no idea what kind of creature I sensed on the train. If it's too weak I may not even form a contract with it."
Although suitable contractees were rare, the contract was also irreversible. Therefore he couldn't afford to waste a precious spot on something with not much potential.
Bridge nodded in understanding. "Hopefully, this trip is worth it. But even if it isn't suitable don't feel pressured to form a contract. I'll help you find another one if you get another lead"
On that touching note, they headed to their respective tents to sleep away the rest of the night.
Kain wasn't sure if he was tired, but he thought he heard a faint buzzing before drifting off to sleep.
----------------------------
The night was as uneventful as the day. They set off again as soon as the sun rose to continue their journey.
Gradually they entered an area full of plant spiritual creatures. Species of plants that can condense a consciousness and absorb spiritual power, the green-haired senior's dandelion-looking contract, are pretty rare.
In this grove was an entire field full of them. However, Kain could sense that none of them were particularly strong or of high quality, only at the white-grade after appearing fully grown. Likely, they were all of only Black-iron quality.
However, while weak, any plant-type spiritual creature is incredibly valuable, often a key material needed by Pharmacists, Planners and Cooks.
This field was practically a Gold-mine.
'I'm surprised that this field hasn't been picked clean yet' Kain dismounted and walked into the clearing to pick a flower.
Bam!
Kain was pulled back by a tremendous force before a giant stinger slammed through the air where his head just and into the ground.
"Holy shit!!!" Kain hadn't had such a close brush with death since the White Widow mother chased him in anger.
He looked to the source of the stinger and saw a giant wasp half his size, already beginning to sprout a new sharp tip.
Grrr
Bridge immediately released Lady, and she took an aggressive stance at the threat.
It was a Vespirae, a silver-quality insect with wind-attributes. They typically exist in large colonies protecting a queen.
They are known for their fast-flying speed and the ability to launch sharp stingers from their tails at targets.
They are also one of the few Wasp species capable of producing honey.
They are very rare but if one could find the queen, they would be a very in-demand bond due to the ability to control multiple creatures with one contract. Additionally, they could provide their contractor with a valuable resource since they are able to extract the unique properties of flowers they collect nectar from to produce honey with varying effects.
However, they are not a popular contract for those with a higher level of talent for two reasons. The majority of the wasps the queen produces are males that are responsible for tending to the queen and collecting nectar to produce honey but have no actual combat power. Usually, only 1 female guard wasp and 5 male worker wasps are produced at each grade. Meaning that a red-grade Wasp queen should have only 2 females guarding her, and 10 males.
Therefore, the numerical advantage is not that significant. While their individual combat power is on the higher end at their strength level, they have several weaknesses such as to poison, ice, and fire. Therefore, a powerful enough contract with restraining attributes would be able to eliminate 2 guards at the same level alone.
The second drawback is that there is only one recorded instance of a Vespirae evolving, and it was centuries ago. Therefore, it's generally regarded as not having an evolutionary form since the evolutionary conditions are completely unknown.
Therefore, usually, only those with not much talent or hope for exceeding orange-grade spiritual power in their lives would consider contracting them in the hopes of still living a rich life off of the honey they produce.
Kain began to input his spiritual power into the spear to cause a fog that obscured its vision.
Now all he had to do was wait…Bea should be able to take care of the rest.