The evening came, Argus checks his Status window and was shocked that Astelle levelep up twice and he also leveled up.
[Your Soulbound Astrea has level up by 1]
[Your Soulbound Astrea has level up by 1]
[Your level has increase by 1]
+10 Mana
+1 All Stats
+10 Free Stat
+2 SP
It looks like some of her skill levels also increased.
«Enhance Bite Lv.3»
•Rank: Elite
•Increases damage dealt by bite attacks by 30% and applies a bleeding effect.
«Enhance Pounce Lv»
•Rank: Elite
•Increases leap distance by 30%
«Enhance Claw»
•Rank: Elite
•Increases claw damage by 25% and has a chance to inflict a bleeding effect.
Not long after, he heard something being drag. Argus looks on what is it and he saw Astrea dragging a big boar.
Name: Forest Boar
Category: Normal Monster
Level: 25
HP:0%/100%
Skills:
«Dash»
•Increase movement speed when running on straight line.
«Charge»
•A powerful rush attack that deals damage and may cause knock back.
"You brought our dinner. A level 25 forest boar is not even your enemy."(Argus)
"Woof"(Astrea)
'She can probably talk after she reach the next realm.'(Argus)
Astrea conveys that she was hungry. Argus drag the boar near the river and started cleaning it. The boar is about 3 meters long and 1 meter tall so it had taken him a few minutes to clean and cut it in parts where he can grill it.
Argus already collected some woods while roaming the forest and stack it near his tent. He also finished preparing the place where he will cook and eat. If a person came here it really looks like he was just in a normal camp.
After an hour of nonstop grilling, the boar bbq was already cooked. Astrea although hungry did not start eating without Argus's permission. Argus notice that Astrea has a hidden pride. He cannot explain why he felt like this but he felt Astrea do not possess a mind of a child but more older.
"We can start eating."(Argus)
Astrea's ears started twitching. She immediately stands up and make a pouncing stance as she look at the direction of the forest.
"Grrrr!"(Astrea)
Argus knows that something was wrong why she was acting like this. The remote of the Beast Alarming Device started ringing nonstop. Then he heard rustling in the trees and the unmistakable sounds of many footsteps approaching.
"They are attracted to our food, huh. Astrea let's kill them before we eat."(Argus)
Argus forgot to activate the barrier formation he bought. It cost him 500,000 VC and it does not include the mana stone that will serve as it's battery to be activated. It needs 1 lower Mana stones to activate for half an hour, each lower Mana stones cost 20,000 VC so he bought 20 of them. In total it cost him 900,00 VC.
Name: Barrier Formation Disk
Rank: Common
Category: Items
Effect: Use to create defensive barriers within a distance of 2km Radius
Duration: 30 mins per Lower Mana Stones
He bought this not to protect their tent but to isolate the smell of what he will cook. They already experience this things happening when both of them stayed at the forest after the Abyssal Servant incident. Argus could only blame his carelessness at that time.
"Wait for my signal before you attack Astrea."(Argus)
Argus plans to let the beast enter the barrier's range before activating it. Not to prevent them from scaping but to isolate the smell of blood if they were all killed. He did not wait long, Argus activated the barrier.
"You can attack now."(Argus)
"Awoooo!"(Astrea)
Astrea howled and she immediately dash at the charging beast. Argus also charged with his Scythe in his hands. There is currently 150+ beast that was attracted to the boar meat. Fortunately, all of them are just in the beginner realm.
Name: Dark Wolf
Category: Normal Monster
Level: 23
HP:100%/100%
Skills:
«Bite»
«Pounce»
«Claw Attack»
Name: Forest Wolf
Category: Normal Monster
Level: 21
HP:100%/100%
Skills:
«Bite»
«Pounce»
«Claw Attack»
Name: Forest Bear
Category: Elite Monster
Level: 25
HP:100%/100%
Skills:
«Enhance Bite»
«Enhance Claw»
Name: Marten
Category: Normal Monster
Level: 23
HP:100%/100%
Skills:
«Enhance Bite»
«Silent Steps»
Name: Big Bat
Category: Normal Monster
Level: 25
HP:100%/100%
Skills:
«Enhance Bite»
«Echolocation»
«Shriek»
Name: Dark Owl
Category: Elite Monster
Level: 25
HP:100%/100%
Skills:
«Silent Flight»
•Rank: Special
•Move silently, making it harder for enemies to detect them.
«Night Vision»
•Rank: Elite
•Enhance vision through darkness
«Dive»
•Rank: Elite
•Swiftly descends upon a target.
'Above level 20,huh.'(Argus)
Argus calmly assessed their situation and he concluded that they would win easily. It would just take some time.
"Be careful of the flying beast,
Astrea! Also do not go far from me."
Astrea ignored him and he can only shook his head.
"Training starts."(Argus)
Argus felt the buff of his skills. His stats is currently this thanks to the 30% Basic stats increase.
VIT: 81+24
STR: 85+26
DEX: 65+20
INT: 35+11
A Dark wolf pounce on Argus but in his eyes it was too slow. Before it reach him, Argus swings his Scythe trying to behead the head of the wolf.
Slash
The head of the Dark wolf was not beheaded, still he was successful killing it. Astrea also pounce on one of the Forest Wolf, biting it's neck and immediately killing it.
+13 Exp
+12 Exp
Another wolf pounce on Argus but easily dodge it. The stats of normal monster is lower compared to his current stats even without adding his Free Stats. Suddenly his instinct rings and he sidesteps immediately.
Swoosh!
An owl attack him with its Silent Flight and Dive skill. Argus counterattack and slash the owl before it could fly back. He already set to ignore the system's notification during his evasion since it might distract him. Argus then began his slaughter although he limits himself to behead each of the beast as a form of training.
{Astrea's POV}
'Weak, they are too weak. Just one attack from and they will die. I cannot gain anything from this. I will not become strong fighting this weak beasts. It looks like it will take a while for my revenge. Revenge?... Revenge on who?'(Astrea)
Astrea was also slaughtering in the middle of the beasts. Pouncing, Biting, and slashing the enemies she is targeting. Her beautiful fur became covered with blood but she did not care. Her blood or her enemies does not matter as long as she killed her opponent.
The big bat suddenly starts shrieking. With her Acute senses he was directly affected and became a bit sluggish, fortunately she was not became stunned. Astrea gaze coldly on the big bat that caused her this situation. Astrea still continued to fight with her sluggish body but it looks like she has trouble controlling her body.
Astrea became a living target of the the beast. Astrea cannot continue attack and tried to dodge their attacks. With her sluggish body her control is not very effective, many attacks landed on her and she started getting injuries.
'You Big Bat, I will kill you after your skill effect finished.'(Astrea)
Astrea was already surrounded. A Forest Bear suddenly appeared near her and starts to swing it's claw. Three wolf pounce on her. Two owl also starts diving to target her. She knows what is incoming but she cannot move her body.
'No, I'm in trouble. I was surrounded. Where is he? Why is he far from me? Isn't he supposed to be near me?!'(Astrea)
She was talking about Argus. Astrea can only stare at the falling bear paw. Although she can take the attacks she would still be gravely injured and may not be able to fight anymore.
'If I take all that attack, I might survive but I will be on the verge of death, or worse I might be directly killed.'(Astrea)
She realized that Astrea might die.
'It's all his fault, if he is just near me then I might not be in this situation!(Astrea)
Astrea started blaming Argus on her current situation. Even though she have immense stats, like Argus, she lacks a life and death battle and she was thinking that this would be the perfect time to gain experience but it looks like she became to absorb that she did not listen to Argus's advice. She was frustrated that she cannot do anything.
'Ah it's his fault... No, it is my fault. I did not listen to him. He even warned me about those annoying birds and not to be far from him but I did not listen.'(Astrea)
Astrea realized her mistakes and a tear started coming out on her eyes.
'I just survived being turned into a beast slave by that filthy Abyss Servant. I just got out for being sealed for many years! I just got my freedom for just a few days and taste food! Are you saying that I might die today?Sigh...'(Astrea)
Argus's face suddenly appeared on her mind. That not so handsome face that save her from being slave. The person who let her out of that seal. The person who gave her freedom and food to eat. The first person to accept her.
'Ah... I want to see his face one more time. I want to thank him from saving me. I want to thank him from unsealing me. I want to thank him from freeing me. I want to thank him from the food. And lastly I want to thank him from accepting me.'(Astrea)
Astrea's tears started to fall.
'If a second life really is true, I want to be your Soulbound again, and this time I will follow you with all of my heart... MASTER.'(Astrea)
Astrea relax her body and mind as she close her eyes to accept her death.
Slash
The head of the wolf and bear fly while the owl's body was split to half. Astrea became covered by another blood. But her gaze remains staring at her Savior. Astrea saw her "Master" holding a Scythe looking calmly with a stoic face on the beast that surrounds her.
"Sigh... I said not to fight far away from me."(Argus)
Argus gaze at the crying cub below him, his stoic face was no where to be seen. A relieve expression can be seen in his face.
"I'm glad you're fine."(Argus)