[I don't understand, why did the spell work for this spider and not the bison?]
[How strange... I can't seem to find any correlation between this spider and the Basilisk's hatchling...]
[There must be a specific condition I just haven't been able to figure out yet...]
As he lowered his gaze down to the abnormally large spider that laid on its belly before him, Aric noticed that the once scorched gaping hole on its frame was no more.
[... I don't know much about spider anatomy, but I'm sure that was a fatal wound.]
He studied the spider which was laying there motionless, as if afraid that it would forfeit its life if it even dared to even flinch in the slightest.
Or rather, it seemed to be awaiting orders from the one who tamed it.
[But what's stranger than all of those things is...]
Aric peered down at his palms as though he were looking to an oracle for answers, the deep, grotesque scars on his arms resembling an eroded patch of land.
[I've gotten stronger... The overall amount of energy that I can use has increased.]
[And not by a random amount either, but by the total amount of Mana that was contained in this spider's vessel.]
He instinctively knew by what value his Pool had increased, as well as the total Mana that was contained within the Fanged Avondale Spider.
And this deeply disturbed him, the fact that information would randomly be ingrained into him like that.
Rather, instead of knowledge being etched into his brain, he felt more like an amnesiac who was gradually regaining their memory.
[But that's not all there is to it...]
He shifted his mute hazel eyes from his calloused palms and turned them to the motionless spider.
[Although my Mana reserves have been increased by this spider's, its reserves were restored and also increased as well?]
Aric chewed his thumbnail trying to make sense of the situation.
In truth, when he tamed the Fanged Avondale Spider, he not only absorbed its Mana reserves, but he also permanently expanded his "Mana Pool" by that quantity.
After which, the spider's empty Pool was restored anew, and was expanded by a value equivalent to, or approximately five percent of Aric's total Mana Pool.
[But where did the excess Mana come from? That doesn't make any sense.]
He massaged the left side of his temple as he felt a migraine slowly begin to gnaw at him.
"... And you."
"Tweet? "
"Why didn't this happen when I tamed you? Neither of us got stronger from that."
He pointed out that fact, as he and his two beasts stood on the spotlight, their surroundings shrouded by the darkness of the forest chasm.
"Hm... Getting stronger whilst taming beasts."
"I couldn't have asked for a better power."
Aric grinned broadly and stepped forward, his gaze filled with a power hungry ambition.
"Have your wounds fully healed?"
He asked the arachnid that bowed at his feet, his bare upper body glimmering under the sunlight.
The spider slightly raised its head and stared at him with its four pairs of pitch-black eyes.
"Chek! Chek! "
It replied, its hairy chelicerae spitting out clunks of sticky web as it confirmed that it was in good condition.
[Ugh! It's so disgustingly ugly.]
[How did anyone ever get lured into the woods by this thing?!]
He grappled with his gag reflex and turned his attention to the body of water behind them.
"Why didn't you want us to get closer to the water earlier?"
He recalled the bloodlust he felt from the spider.
"Chek... Chek! "
The spider apologized first for its transgression and told him that it was put there to guard the pond.
[...Eh?]
"Put here by who?"
[...Are there others with my powers?]
He couldn't help but wonder, because what else could convince a wild beast to follow orders?
"Chek! Chieek."
[Ah...]
[The Queen of the colony huh...]
"But why? Is there something down there?"
"Chek."
"You don't know..."
Aric approached the arc of the pond and attempted to see what was at the bottom of its murky waters, but it was so dark that he could barely see anything.
"Hm..."
Aric got an idea and reached into his bumbag, retrieving one of the many luminous Mana crystals he'd stuffed in there.
"Tch... What a waste."
He hesitated, but eventually threw it within the pond and watch it slowly fade into the depths, until its luminosity was no more.
[That's too deep for me to investigate.]
Curious as he was, he chose not to take the risk.
He then grabbed a bamboo shoot and began stirring the water, but it was so slimy that it almost made him nauseous.
[I'm absolutely NOT going to drink this!]
He had considered it, but it was definitely not something he would do now, despite his throat being parched.
[Well, I can at least use it to soak this pelt.]
"... But where will I put the meat?"
He muttered to himself, and considered just putting it on the ground.
"Tweeeet~"
At the mention of meat, the wrymling came slithering to his side, wagging its tail like a pup.
"No, I'm not giving you my food, haven't you eaten enough?"
"And I haven't seen you poop yet, where's it all going?!"
Aric refused the wrymling's advances, causing it to sulk at his scolding.
"Chiek! "
The spider stood to it legs and approached, offering to aid its master.
"Uh... Alright, do it."
[...What is it going to do?]
He wondered and watched intently.
"Chiek! Splat! "
Before his very eyes, the spider spat out a wet lump of web and began weaving it with its sharp legs, its quick movements resembling the action of knitting.
"..."
Aric was speechless watching the spider, the wrymling mimicked his expression and it too just stood there, dazed by what it was witnessing.
"Chiek! "
The Fanged Avondale Spider excitedly offered its master the object of its creation, a large silken jug with a hollow space.
[It's a bit disgusting but...]
"So convenient!"
He smiled broadly.
"Tweet! ", "Chiek! "
His two beasts were more than happy that he was pleased.
"Hm... It's so durable too."
He studied the hardened exterior of the object, and he placed the meat inside of it.
"Hey, please make another."
He asked, his disgust and contempt for the arachnid beast gradually waning.
"Chiek! "
The spider was more than elated to fulfill his request and it immediately began crafting the second item.
Upon its conclusion, Aric filled it with water and he trimmed the thick cotton-like fur off the Nyxhorn Bison's pelt , then he let it soak in the water.
From the thick cotton, he mixed them with whatever was left of the fat and created flammable, spherical fur balls for later use.