Orion rummaged through the stomach bag and tore off a piece of thigh meat to feed the wolf.
But the wolf only growled at him, its instincts driving it to ward off other creatures when injured.
Should he release it from the trap? That wouldn't work; it might run away.
Orion pondered for a few seconds, then placed the meat closer to the wolf and hid.
Sure enough, the cautious wolf gradually lowered its guard and began tearing into the bunny meat.
When Orion reappeared, the wolf's gaze was no longer filled with hostility.
"Here you go."
Feeding it would help complete the quest faster and conserve food. Orion tore the bunny apart.
A 100-pound prey was easy to tear apart.
Soon, the wolf finished ten pieces of rabbit meat, and Orion completed the quest, gaining the Basic Beast Taming skill.
[Basic Beast Taming]
Effect: Can tame beasts below elite level.
This skill was powerful in the Black Forest, allowing Orion to easily connect with and tame lower-level beasts.
After eating, the wolf was no longer hostile towards Orion, though still a bit wary... for instance, it would instinctively back away when Orion approached.
Orion pried open the trap and tended to the wolf's wound.
During this process, the wolf gradually calmed down.
Seeing the timing was right, Orion placed his hand on the wolf's head, stroking its fur while using the taming skill.
Soon, Orion felt a unique bond with the wolf.
Simply put, Orion could sense its emotions, and some commands could be conveyed through thought.
More importantly, the wolf developed loyalty towards Orion.
Now it was affectionate, snuggling against his leg like a dog.
"Wow, it's like witnessing the domestication from wolf to dog," Orion chuckled, thinking of a name for the wolf.
Let's call it... Woofer.
"Today's haul was good, though not as dangerous as I expected," Orion clapped his hands.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't ventured deep into the forest. Orion was still weak and wouldn't foolishly run into the forest alone.
"Woofer, let's go home!"
Orion led the wolf back, stopping near the elk carcass's hiding spot when he suddenly halted.
He looked up, hearing a strange rustling above, and saw a massive curved tree branch trembling.
A tree branch?
Orion paused, realizing it was a giant snake!
The snake was devouring his hunted elk, already halfway through!
Fuck! This snake was trying to steal his prize!
Furious, Orion charged like a leopard, climbing swiftly.
He grabbed the snake's tail and yanked it from the tree!
Now, Orion could see all the snake's information:
[Beast: Dark Python]
[Level: Standard]
[Weight: 820 pounds]
[Strength: 12]
[Agility: 8]
[Stamina: 12]
Traits: Originally a regular forest python, mutated by mystical forces to possess dark attributes, becoming extremely aggressive with higher stats than ordinary beasts.
Orion was slightly startled; the snake's stats were nearly on par with his!
"Woofer, intimidate it!"
The wolf, hearing the command, bristled and charged at the Dark Python, growling lowly!
The Dark Python stopped swallowing, spitting out the elk carcass.
It slithered forward silently, its massive body making no sound.
Hiss!
It flicked its tongue, suddenly lunging at Woofer!
The strength of a dark beast was incomparable to a normal beast. In an instant, the Dark Python was upon the wolf, jaws wide to snap its neck!
But a spear fell from the sky!
The Dark Python sensed danger, slithering right to narrowly avoid the strike!
"So fast, its agility surpasses James." Orion, holding his greatsword, leaped from the tree.
Moreover, its combat instincts as a beast were far superior... Orion frowned.
Then use the simplest method! Overwhelm it with numbers.
Orion shouted, "Woofer, attack with me!"
Giant and wolf charged the Dark Python, which reared up, mouth widening!
Whoosh!
A jet of black venom shot out like an arrow. Orion raised his greatsword to shield himself, then sidestepped!
Rip!
The black venom corroded a large hole in the greatsword, then hit the ground, turning a patch of green grass yellow!
Orion reached the python, sweeping the greatsword.
The blade cut into the snake, but the dark power had toughened its muscles beyond Orion's expectations, stopping the blade half an inch in!
Meanwhile, Woofer bit the snake, causing it to thrash in pain!
It twisted, sweeping its tail!
Woofer yelped, flying back, and Orion blocked with his right arm, his arm bruising!
Seeing it couldn't defeat its foes, the Dark Python tried to flee, but Orion had spent too long fighting to let it escape!
The battle resumed, Orion too focused to check the panel's new quest, intent only on killing the snake!
Finally, under the relentless assault of giant and wolf, the blade pierced the Dark Python's head, pinning it to the ground!
The Dark Python let out a final wail, then fell silent!
[Newbie quest progress: Advanced Greatsword Mastery 11/100]
Triggered Advanced Greatsword Mastery? Orion was surprised; was that the notification?
Six strikes, no... I hit the python more than six times, there must be other conditions.
Orion opened the panel to check the quest details, and sure enough:
[Newbie quest triggered: Perform 100 weak point attacks or kills with a greatsword to gain Advanced Greatsword Mastery]
"Weak point attacks, probably like eyes or heart," Orion mused. If he mastered Advanced Greatsword Mastery, could he easily hit weak points with any attack?
"Awoo!"
A wolf's howl came from afar, Woofer alerting him to something.
"Just a snake, what's the fuss, did you find a treasure chest or something... what?!"
Orion was shocked to see an actual treasure chest!
A treasure chest from killing a monster? What was this, a video game?
[Special Item: Survivor's Chest]
[Description: A reward that survivors may receive after solo kills, a chest that can only be opened by survivors]
Survivors, in plural form.
Did this mean Orion wasn't alone in this world, that other Earthlings had arrived and were called survivors?
If so, how could he contact these survivors?