"This…"
With their wide-open eyes, they slumped on the bloodied ground, their bodies painted in blood.
Rough breaths escaped their lips, bruises covered their bodies, yet one smile hung on everyone's face.
[Your pet killed Lone Wolf: Mysterious]
[You gained the soul beast of Lone Wolf: ShadowFang Dagger]
Rahul's eyes widened in disbelief. He never expected to receive a soul beast; after countless kills, he'd lost hope. But now...
Fate sure is twisted.
When you lose hope, it appears.
With a wide smile, he sprinted and held Emberfluff in his arms.
"Buddy, you did great work."
"Meow!"
"Leader?"
"No need to share it with us since we didn't contribute any help."
Panting, everyone lay lifelessly slumped on the ground.
"Yeah, Aman is right. We know the difference between distribution and laundering. Keep it."
Rahul's smile widened.
"Since you guys insist, I won't refuse, but you'll get 25,000 from me. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to find or kill it."
"Okay," they agreed this time without further insistence.
With Emberfluff, Rahul sat down on a boulder.
Caressing Emberfluff, he glanced at their condition and asked, "I don't think you guys are getting up anytime soon."
"We… we're tired."
"Okay, don't speak. Just rest your bodies for a while."
.....
"This is the receipt for your loot."
Loot: Fragement
120 Beginner Wolves: 3149 frags [12,500 kg carcass, 240 fangs]
16 Elite Wolves: 1287 frags [2560 kg carcass, 32 fangs]
1 Mysterious Wolf: 50 frags [2 fangs]
As Aman took the receipt, a panel appeared before Aman.
[You have been credited 4486 beginner frags]
"Check it. A panel should've appeared by now."
[You have been credited 897 beginner frags]
Now I have 1600 beginner fragments.
His attention was suddenly drawn back.
"Thanks, Rahul. Without you, we wouldn't be standing here."
Patting Rahul's shoulder, Aman promised, "We owe you one promise as long as it doesn't violate our principles."
"Yeah, Aman's word is our word."
"Don't forget later."
"Haha! It seems you have plans for us. We're ready."
Curiously, Raushan asked, "Brother, want to sell the mysterious carcass?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Really?"
"I'm serious."
…
"Okay. I'm going to hunt some elites."
"Take care."
"Rest properly."
Exiting the campsite, Rahul sprinted and disappeared into the branches.
"What do you think?"
"It doesn't matter what we think. We need to progress, too. Let's not get left behind."
"We're too weak to keep up with him in the team. Let's increase our mysterious genes and give our bodies proper rest."
....
Swiftly leaping from one branch to another, a dagger materialized in Rahul's hand.
"First time handling a soul beast," he muttered, playing with the dagger like a child with a new toy.
Cold and sharp.
That was his review.
Suddenly, the dagger vanished, and he froze in place.
Is somebody here?
A very low, brittle voice reached his ears.
Swish!
In the next moment, he leapt toward the source of the sound.
He spotted a man with blood trickling from the corner of his lips, wearing a bruised, bluish armor and clutching a bow while being chased by beginner, elite, and mysterious beasts.
Did he poke the perfect lair?
"Is somebody here?" the man suddenly shouted.
"Your offer?" Rahul called out.
The man flinched and glanced back, seeing no one. He shouted, "Elite armor!"
"I'll help you clear all the beasts, but I want the mysterious armor. Deal?"
"Agreed!"
Thud!
Silence.
All the beasts and the man froze in place as a humanoid monster with orange flames appeared before them.
It seems having high PH has its perks.
Swish!
A gust of wind blew, and where the humanoid monster once stood, it suddenly vanished.
Clap!
The man with the bow turned and aimed behind him.
"You?"
"Remember your deal."
Gulp.
"Don't worry."
"Cover me!"
Roaring, Rahul sprinted toward the beasts. A whip with countless sharp blades materialized in his hand.
With a wave, the whip tore through the air.
Heads flew, and blood splattered everywhere.
Thud.
Thud.
Many headless bodies collapsed to the ground, and the once-green scenery turned red and gruesome.
"What are you doing?!"
Startled, the bowman regained his composure.
"Sorry," he murmured, nocking an arrow and shooting it.
It didn't take long before only the elite and mysterious beasts remained. Rahul's whip disappeared, and he cracked his fingers.
I'm tired of acting.
"Let's fight," he declared, appearing before the mysterious beast.
Clash!
The imp's head slammed against a boulder, cracks spreading across its surface before it shattered.
Puchi!
Rahul lifted his foot and delivered a heavy kick to the imp's head. As he raised his foot again, he looked at the remaining beasts.
Shuddering, they all took a step back.
Is this the power of perfect with transformation?
Ignoring their fear, Rahul moved like the Grim Reaper, harvesting lives. In the end, the dim ground beneath the dense canopy turned even gloomier, soaked in blood, with only shrill cries piercing the air.
Chirp!
The aerial beasts flapped their wings and fled into the sky.
"Buddy, time to fulfill your promise."
Shuddering, the bowman cautiously approached Rahul.
"No need to fear me. I'm a gentleman."
Your actions don't show that, the bowman thought but dared not speak. Meekly, he nodded.
[You have been transferred Mammo Armor (Mysterious)]
"Since you've fulfilled your promise, I won't be stingy. All the remaining beasts are yours now."
"Thanks," the bowman said, exhaling deeply.
"Happy cooperation."
"Wait!" the bowman called out.
Rahul raised an eyebrow.
"Ten days from now, there's going to be a raid specifically targeting perfect lairs."
"We'll meet one day before, and I'll let you know my decision."
Swish!
Rahul suddenly disappeared, leaving deep footprints behind.
The bowman with disappearing bluish armor collapsed to the ground, panting.
"That was too dangerous." he muttered, wiping his sweat and glancing at the sky.
Only he knew how fast his heart had been racing.