"Please don't compare me to the likes of him, young master. I reached level 5 in only three years, which is what earned me a job as an attendant in the Barony," Clara said with pride, making the boar snort in agreement.
Seeing them both, Theo couldn't help but chuckle at the idea that they had the same personality. Like tamer, like beast.
"But why three years? Can't it be done even faster, Clara?"
"…Reaching level 5 is a big milestone in a tamer's life, young master. Are you asking because you reached level 2 in just a few days?"
Theo wanted to tell her that he had done it in a single day, but he only nodded.
"It's difficult to reach level 5 quickly because the experience points needed to level up become ridiculously high, young master."
"And it's not just that. There are also factors such as inefficient EXP gain—defeating monsters below your level gives less experience, and the more you do it, the less you gain. There are also grade penalties, which I think you already know about."
Theo understood most of this already, but it was great to confirm it.
The jump from level 1 to level 2 wasn't much, but the points needed to reach level 3 were already high.
"And in order to fight beasts of your level, grade, or higher, your beast needs training too. Skills and techniques matter at this stage. I had to defeat beasts higher level than my Ironclad Boar in the forest with no help to get where I am now. It's not a path I recommend—death is just another step away on that path."
The boar nuzzled its head against Clara's thigh affectionately. It seemed to have more emotional intelligence than Theo had realized, considering boars were always depicted as dense creatures in history books.
"The only place where you can get a boost in levels is through special gates around our world that open at specific times. They are connected to the Benevolent Artifact, and one can receive missions through them to reach greater levels."
"Wait, there's something like that?" Theo asked, dumbfounded. Gates that could help with leveling up?
"You don't know about them because they're only taught in the Academy. I think the next gate is going to open in the Southern Continent in about six months, young master."
Theo couldn't believe what he just heard.
"Thank you for telling me that, Clara. I really appreciate it. I think I'm done for the day."
"Wait, young master. The pup found one more group of slimes nearby. They're all small. Would you like to check them out?"
Theo thought for a second before looking at his Iron Mantis, who looked eager for a fight.
"Alright, let's go."
A Few Minutes Later…
They all entered yet another small clearing. Theo saw the slimes eating moss, plants, and leaves from the ground. It seemed like anything organic was food to them.
When the food entered the slime, it just floated inside, surrounded by bubbles.
"Wait, Clara, look at that slime with the small stick inside," Theo pointed.
"What about it, young master?"
"The stick is floating inside the slime as if it's water. But when the Iron Mantis went inside, it seemed to get stuck in one place. Why is that?"
"That's a great observation, young master. It's because slimes have the ability to condense their bodies to fight back. The Artifact has been benevolent to everything in this world—every creature has some way to survive."
"Makes sense. Alright, the leftmost one is level 2 and Uncommon grade. Can you take care of everything else before I go in?"
"As you wish."
Clara quickly moved into the clearing, the boar taking each step in unison with her.
She didn't say anything, she didn't do anything, yet the slimes approached her, as if they had no sense of danger, much like the big slime from earlier.
The boar went in with yet another snort, and when it neared one of the smaller slimes, it stomped on it with its foot, flattening it.
CRACK.
Theo heard the sound of something breaking, and when the boar lifted its hoof again, he saw a crushed and powdered core in the gooey mess.
In a matter of minutes, the boar had stepped on every slime present—except for the one Theo had chosen.
Theo, on the other hand, just watched the scene with mixed emotions.
The creature he was training to fight could be crushed by another with a simple stomp.
It felt unfair yet motivating at the same time.
Clara gave the boar a mental command, and it returned to her, shaking its hoof to get rid of the goo.
Theo suddenly felt a small itch on his hand. Looking down, he saw the Iron Mantis scratching at it.
"You want to fight?" Theo asked with a smile, while the Iron Mantis immediately took a fighting stance.
It was the most basic form of communication between them.
He entered the small clearing and placed the Iron Mantis on the ground.
The slime—already scared from what had just happened—seemed relieved to see the boar leave.
The Iron Mantis locked onto the slime and, without waiting for orders, dashed forward, surprising Clara and Theo alike.
"Young master, your mantis is quite daring and feisty. Some beasts go through trauma and refuse to fight again, but yours is the opposite," Clara remarked with a grin.
Theo crouched down, curious to see what it could do—and what it had done before.
In seconds, both of the mantis's forelegs were stuck inside the slime.
With each passing moment, the slime slowly engulfed more of the mantis's body—inch by inch.
Theo wasn't scared this time.
With Clara in tow, he moved closer to observe what the mantis would do.
The mantis was stuck.
Upon closer look, small bubbles were forming on its body, as if the slime was trying to digest it.
Yet, one of its forelegs—the right one—was already inches from the slime's core.
Through his mental bond, Theo realized that no ability had been used yet.
Things started to click.
Suddenly, the mantis moved so fast that the next second—
POP!
The slime's body just fell apart and everything landed on the ground, its core cracking in half.
======
[Iron Mantis killed a Moss Slime – Uncommon (Level 2)]
[Grade difference detected]
[Adding 25% to the base EXP]
[EXP gained: 12 + 25%]
Distribution:
Theo Merrick – 6
Iron Mantis – 9
======
"HAHAHA! YES!" Theo shouted, his hands in the air.
One thinghad become clear in his mind.
His mantis was a badass, and nothing could change that.