Chapter 16 - Life Contract (1)

Later at night, in a cave, Ronald woke up and sat, then slowly looked around.

The last thing he remembered before he thoroughly lost consciousness was entering a hidden cave.

And now that he was fully awake and didn't find or feel any danger around him, he immediately relaxed his tense body and released a relieved sigh. Now that he was safe, he started looking around and determined where or what kind of place he had entered.

He was currently sitting on a flat rock, and not far from where he was, was a small pond that was as clear as crystal. And on the ceiling of the cave, unknown crystal-like ores was embedded on it like stars giving a soft light that lightens the dark cave. And this light was reflected by the pond giving the place a very magical feeling.

While Ronald was absorbed in this mesmerizing scenery, he suddenly felt touching something smooth and soft. And as he looked on what it was, a smile immediately appeared on his face, it was the little white tiger.

It was currently sitting beside him with a pile of dark blue-colored berries while eating some from the pile.

As if the little white tiger, noticed Ronald's sight, it looked back at him before pushing some berries, as if it was offering Ronald to eat.

"Thank you."

Ronald's smile immediately widened as he saw the little tiger's action, as this action means that it thoroughly accepted Ronald with all its heart.

In the past, the little tiger wouldn't share anything to Ronald, even if Ronald shared his catch to it, but it still wouldn't share any food to Ronald. Even if the little white tiger always asked Ronald to cook the prey it hunted.

On the first day, the little tiger was reliant on Ronald, but as the days go by, the little tiger immediately became independent. Except for asking Ronald to cook its prey, everything it did was by itself. That is why Ronald didn't really have any confidence when he asked it to follow him. Although the little white tiger still enjoyed his company and Ronald's protection, especially at times when it met many troubles, due to its rashness.

During those days, Ronald really felt unreasonable, but because of his desire to get the little tiger's approval through his actions, he persevered.

He was really happy when the tiger decided to follow him, but he didn't immediately use his skill <Tame> on it, as Luna said that it would not only anger the little tiger but also break the bond he had made for the past few days, and also the chance of it succeeding is close to 0.

At that time, Luna then explained to him that it is impossible to tame a beast that is two or more levels higher through the normal means.

During the seven days that Ronald accompanied the little tiger, Ronald had used his <Beast Appraisal> skill on it many times, to see its level and stats.

But he was shocked at what he saw. The little white tiger's level was 3. At first, Ronald can't believe it, but Luna then explained to him that, when a beast is born it would have a maximum of 50% of the parent's average level as their level, that is why beasts of higher levels would always find a beast of the same or higher level to be their mate.

Luna also explained that at the moment a beast is born it would have stats about the same as an adult human, but as days goes by, its stats would gradually increase until it reached its real stats according to its level, and mostly it would take a month before it reached its real stats.

(A/N: For those who didn't know, 10 points in every stat is the stat of a normal adult.)

Seeing the dark blue-colored berries that stopped rolling in front of him, Ronald used his skill <Identify> to check what kind of the berries was the little tiger offering.

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Name: Lunar Berry Fruit

Description: Unlike normal plants that grew with the help of the sun, this berry grew with the help of the moonlight. It normally lives near a body of water with an open area, where moonlight can shine at night on the body of water. Although there are some cases, that a place with a massive amount of moonstone would also let this plant grow and bear fruit.

Effect: Has a low healing effect on external wounds and can also be used to recover stamina.

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Seeing the description and effect, Ronald immediately ate what the little tiger offered to him.

As the berries entered his stomach, he immediately felt a warm current flowing into every part of his body.

After Ronald felt full, he then used his skill <Beast Appraisal> to the little white tiger to know how far its stats have increased.

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Draconic White Tiger

Lvl: 3

Hp: 4610/4610

Mp: 5820/5820

Total Stats: 2345

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No matter how many times Ronald saw the huge increase in the little white tiger's stat as days passed by, he was still shocked and a little bit envious.

Although the little tiger has already passed Ronald's overall strength by an astonishing length, it was still cornered and nearly killed by a pack of level 1 beasts. This was because, from Luna's explanation, beasts that are a month old and below, would become tired easily, as every cell on their bodies would continuously absorb the mana in the air and this subconscious action of their cells, consumes a huge part of their energy.

Also, one reason why the little tiger nearly lost was because of the lack of experience.

After a while, after thinking about the little tiger's situation, Ronald got up and came near the pond to drink.

The water on the pond was very cool and refreshing. After drinking, he looked at his reflection on the water. And there he saw his young face. He had a midnight black hair, hawk-like eyes with light silver irises, and a sharp-looking face, wearing black leather armor.

When his mother was still there with him, his mother would always tell him that his face is the exact copy of his father's face, except for his eyes, which was like the eyes of his mother.

While he was looking at his face, he then saw another figure beside his reflection, it was the little tiger, who was now making different expressions beside him.

Recalling the first time the little tiger saw water, a small smile slowly emerged on his face. At that time, the little tiger was looking at the water with a very confused face, it was like asking, "how did that little tiger there, live under the water?"

But after a while, the little tiger stopped and looked at Ronald's reflection, then a thinking expression was seen on its face. Its expression changed many times until only determination was seen on its face. It then looked at Ronald again.

Ronald was confused at the little tiger's action, but before he can ask Luna on what was happening, the little tiger slowly bit one of Ronald's fingers.

Ronald didn't feel any maliciousness on what the tiger was doing, so he just watched what the little tiger was planning.

As the little tiger's teeth pierced Ronald's skin, drops of blood started dripping from it, and while it was dripping, the little tiger immediately drank the blood.

A minute later, a notification appeared in front of Ronald.

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Life contract initiated.

Confirm contract? (Y/N)

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