Chapter Four: Getting Help

I make my way into the forest and begin looking for insect type monsters to tame. I eventually hear a rustling in a bush next to me, curious, I go over to the bush and look inside of it, finding a red ant the size of a fully grown Great Dane.

I take a step back, trying not to let my wonder get the best of me, and see the ant step out from the bush, "What a magnificent creature! I wonder if I can tame it?"

I hold my hand out and try using my {Tame Lesser Insect} skill. A grey circle forms under the ant, before shattering {Taming attempt unsuccessful! The Giant Red Ant Soldier is now hostile.}

I quickly read the message and react accordingly: by taking out my spear and preparing myself, 'So you're a warrior? Now that I look closer at you, specifically your head, I can see its disproportionate to the rest of your body, along with your mandibles.'

The ant then charges me, intent on biting me to death. I back away from the ant just as it closes its mandibles around where I just was.

I then retaliate by getting to the ant's side and stabbing at its thorax. My attack pierces its exoskeleton, causing the ant warrior to screech in pain.

I then back away and go to stab it again. The ant turns and grabs my spear out of my hands and breaks it, 'Crap!' I then have to dodge another bite and end up getting caught in it's mandibles. I manage to stop it from biting me by holding its two mandibles apart with my spider legs.

I then use one of my free legs to stab at the ant warrior's eye, blinding it partially. The ant releases me after that.

I then jump onto its back and stab into its thorax again, causing the ant to fall down. I get off the ant, just as a new message pops up, {You have downed the Giant Red Ant Warrior! You can now force tame it, or just kill it. Note, force taming it will heal a majority of its injuries and turn the rest into scars.}

{+ 100 EXP}

I dismiss the messages and hold my hand out, "{Tame Lesser Insect}!" The same grey circle from before appears, this time encompassing the giant ant and fading away.

The ant's previous injuries have vanished, with the one on its eye becoming a permanent scar, rendering that eye useless forever.

The ant walks up to me and bows while chirping a little. I walk up to it and give its head a rub, feeling its smoothness.

I then think back to how I mounted the ant in our fight, and wonder, 'Can I ride this guy like a horse?' After focusing on the ant for a bit, I begin to feel a connection, until I feel I can tell the ant what to do without needing to speak, 'Telepathy? A hive mind? Probably the latter.'

I then get a notification, {You have acquired the following skills: Order: Attack, Order: Defend, and Order: Follow.}

I then open my system panel to look at the descriptions.

{

New: Order: Attack

You can order your tamed beasts to attack a specific target or a group of targets. Tamed beasts affected by this skill will gain a temporary agility and strength boost while under its effects.

New: Order: Defend

You can order your tamed beasts to defend a target area or person. Tamed beasts under this skills effects will gain a temporary defense and vitality boost.

New: Order: Follow

You can order your tamed beasts to follow and protect you, granting them temporarily increased speed, and increased strength and defense against enemies targeting you or themselves specifically.

}

I continue patting the giant ant, before realizing something, "I should give you a name!" I then stop petting the ant for a moment, 'Let's see here...' I stand there thinking for a bit, before I come up with something.

I point at the ant, "Your name will be Scott!" The ant then gains a grey glow for a second, and I feel tired for a second, {Notice: The Giant Red Ant Soldier has accepted the name, Scott, and will now evolve. Please wait.}

Scott suddenly slumps down, causing me to panic for a second, before realizing he's just asleep. I then sit down next to him and wait.

I only had to wait for a few minutes, before Scott stands up again and looks at me. I look at him back and feel an emotion coming from him, 'Is that... Joy?' I pet him on the head, and the feeling increases.

I then go to his side and mount him, feeling a bit of pride come from him, 'Happy that I'm riding you like a horse? I guess you're just happy to be of use to me.'

I then tell him to go forward, which he obeys. After a bit of learning how to effectively ride him, we continue to explore the forest.

We eventually find a group of goblins, all armed with primitive weapons, except for one that has a metal tipped spear that's slightly rusted.

I then use {Order: Attack} to tell Scott to attack the one with the spear. I get off of him and let him attack the goblin. I then run at one of the goblins near the edge of their little camp and tackle them to the ground before impaling them with my spider legs.

{+ 100 EXP}

I then stand up after grabbing their weapon, which is a club, and go to attack the rest of the goblins. I then slam my club down on one goblins head, hearing a crack.

{+ 100 EXP}

I then see Scott holding the goblin with the spear in his mandibles, before they close, breaking the goblin's neck.

{+ 50 Shared EXP}

I think for a moment, 'So any kills my tamed insects get, I get half the EXP from? Nice!' I then stab a goblin with my spider legs and finish them with a clobbering to the head.

{+ 100 EXP}

The rest of the goblins begin to run, a few being too slow to decide and getting killed because of it.

{+ 250 EXP}

I then go over to the goblin that had the spear and drop the club in my hand, opting to use the spear. I pick up the spear and look it over, before stuffing it in my inventory for later.

I then pick up one of the knives the goblins had and begin to collect their ears for proof, 'The job said I needed five and that I would get a bonus for killing any extras.'

After getting the last ear in my inventory, having a total of seven, I look around the camp for anything special.

I then see a small cage, a cocoon the size of an American football inside. I pick it up, 'I wonder what's inside? A moth? A Butterfly? Probably a moth from the looks of it.

The cocoon then begins to shake, with me putting it down before I drop it. The cocoon then begins to open, revealing a moth with white fuzzy hair and bioluminescent spots on its body, which glow white.

The moth looks at me and flies onto my head, {Notice, this Giant Light Moth has imprinted on you, allowing you to tame it without resistance.}

I smile a little, 'Little guy (Or girl) is just lonely. I'll tame them!' I then cast {Tame Lesser Insect} on the little fella.

The moth then flies to my left forearm and sits there, seemingly comfortable, 'Now that I've tamed you, I can tell your female. I'll name you Sasha, after an old friend who was also really clingy.'

The moth, now named Sasha then falls asleep, probably to evolve. Me, Scott, and our newest friend, then make our way back to Yorsville to turn in my quest.

Part way there, Sasha wakes up, her bioluminescence glowing brighter than before.

We reach the gate, when the guards stop us, "Id please." I show him my adventurers tag, and we are let in.

I go back to the guild and turn in my quest, receiving a couple silvers for it. I then leave the building and go to look for and inn to stay at, seeing as it's getting dark.

I enter an inn, leaving Scott outside, and talk to the inn keeper, "How much for a room?" The inn keeper looks at me, "One silver a night, and an extra few coppers if you have familiars staying with you."

I hand the man two silvers and get a few coppers as change and a key in return, "Your rooms down the hall, two doors down, on the right. I'll send someone to get you when dinners ready."

I thank the inn keeper and take the coins and the key, before going down the hall and entering my room.

I look around and see a bed, a nightstand, and a desk with a chair. I go to the bed and sit on it, before taking off my shoes and setting them by the nightstand. I then grab Sasha off of my arm and set her on the nightstand.

Scott lays down by the desk. I then kick my legs back and forth out of boredom, when I hear a shout just outside my door, "Dinners ready!"

I stand up, Sasha flying back onto my arm, and Scot standing up to follow me. I head down the hall and into the dining area. I sit at one of the tables, Sasha crawling off my arm and onto the table, with Scott just laying by my feet, like a dog would.

A waitress then comes by my table and puts a plate down in front of me, "Here you go. Food for your familiars is gonna cost an extra few coppers."

I sigh, before pulling out a few copper coins and hand them to the waitress, who takes them and nods, before going back into the kitchen.

I then look at my food and see a steak with some veggies on the side. I pick up a fork and knife and cut into the steak, before bringing it to my mouth. I then eat the piece of steak and chew, 'This is pretty good.'

I then eat the rest of my food and wait for the food for my familiars. The same waitress comes back with two plates, setting one on the table and putting the other on the ground next to Scott.

Sasha crawls over to her plate, which has a small pile of berries on it and begins eating. Scott has a raw slab of meat on his, which he seems to be enjoying.

After they both finish, I pile up the plates on to the table and go back to my room to sleep. I enter the room and go to the bed, putting Sasha on the nightstand and laying down on the bed.

I then close my eyes and fall asleep, excited for what tomorrow might bring.