Vampiric beast

<The new ability is called [Blood Oath]>

Jem narrowed his eyes upon hearing it. "Blood oath?" He repeated in a whisper. "Is it a blood agreement? Or something like that?"

<Yes, host, something like that. But perhaps it's more like kinship.>

"So something like a family, huh," he muttered.

"I see. However, what could be the reason that I acquired the skill? Just the name alone, it sounded unusual?"

"Wait!"

"Could it be… the fangs?" Jem, who couldn't wait for the trader's reply, said his deduction.

Well, he wasn't sure. But when thinking about it, of all the things, only his fangs have a direct connection to the issue.

<Yes, host, that's the reason. It would be better if the host checks the skill.>

For him, though, it was simpler to ask the trader directly while maintaining his vigilance.

Before he could say anything, <Perhaps that Furious Black Snake was a subspecies of the vampiric beast.> the trader said in continuation.

His eyes narrowed slightly after hearing it. 'Vampiric Beast?' This rings a bell to him. "I see. It makes sense."

Though vampires are just folklore, it wasn't the case with the vampiric beast.

Before stepping here in the Desolate Region, they received a quick briefing from the two recruit soldiers with them that time.

The two recruit soldiers gave them rundown details regarding these types of beasts. They also advised them to be extra careful when they face one.

But since their original plan was only to hunt low-rank beasts near the entrance, the two soldiers did not give much detailed information about the vampiric beasts.

Who would have thought that their casual hunting ended in a tragedy? Because of those stupid teammates.

He shook his head to get rid of the thought that was about to mislead his thinking. It wasn't the right time to be lamenting about it. He knows it.

Moreover, Jem was doubtful that those two soldiers had much to say about the Vampiric Beast, though it was understandable as they were only newly recruited soldiers, after all.

According to them, the Vampiric Beast has abilities that are slightly similar to the vampires in folklore.

Sure enough, using the fangs of the Furious Black Snake beast, which the trader assumed was a subspecies of the vampiric beast, he obtained this weird ability, Blood Oath, after sipping the beast's blood.

"Nonetheless, why was it fighting the other beast?" While frowning, he asked about the questionable manner of the beast.

<In regards to its action, it seemed like the beast is trying to protect the host while the host was unconscious.>

"What? Really?" Jem questioned the trader with an astounded expression.

<Look around you, host.> Without answering his questions, the trader urged him to look around.

When Jem did as the trader told him, "Eh!?" He gawked on the spot.

Some dead beasts were lying around him!

Moreover, aside from them, there were also normal animals.

He did a quick count and was able to calculate the exact number. There were about seven dead beasts and two ordinary dead animals lying around him, but he noticed that most of them were only low-rank swine.

Perhaps swine are common dwellers in this place as he already encountered several of them. Jem thought upon realizing that most of the beasts he faced in this place were swine.

'Maybe it wasn't a labyrinth?' He thought hopefully, even though deep inside, he knew that the chance was low.

Regardless, although those beasts were low-rank swine only, there were several of them. That also speaks of how strong the one who did it to them was.

Gyarr~

A sudden pained howl stole Jem's attention back to the front.

"Un!?"

He could not help but reflexively utter a shocked expression when he noticed the baby beast was now pinning down its opponent.

Inexplicably, the baby beast sent a glance at him, as if asking for permission, before adding more power on its limb and pinching the enemy beast, killing it entirely.

Jem subconsciously swallowed back his saliva. He never imagined that this baby beast was so strong.

"Unbelievable…" he muttered.

Did he truly hurt it? Now, this is questionable. Maybe he has a chance to defeat it if he was in his peak condition and by using tactics. But based on the trader's words, he was unconscious at that time and was moving only through instinct. So Jem was having difficulty picturing how he defeated such a powerful creature.

The trader has only told him a vague reply that he bit it. And it was the reason why the baby beast became so weak.

Gwarf!

While he was pondering, the baby beast, out of a sudden, produced a strange sound.

"!!"

Jem's body turned stiff when he noticed it was moving towards him.

It wasn't good if it suddenly attacked him. Although the trader said about the Blood Oath skill, it didn't stop him from feeling wary towards it, especially that he was in bad condition right now. He could even barely remain on his feet. If a fight broke, he would surely die this time.

Even his senses could not be trusted at the moment. His mind isn't clear because of the throbbing pain all over his body.

He was feeling a little groggy after losing too much blood from all the wounds he had. It would not be a surprise if he suddenly collapsed and died in where he was standing.

Fortunately, Ex-Humans had formidable bodies. If not, he believed he would have already died long ago.

Aside from that, he wondered how this beast regained its strength. It was barely alive just a moment ago.

<It's because of the Blood Oath skill. Also, don't get anxious at it, host. It has no intention of attacking the host.> Even if the trader said it, regardless, there's nothing he can do in his current situation. So getting anxious or not is out of the question.

Fortunately, just as the trader said, the baby beast did not attack him. Instead, it rubbed its face on his leg.

Just then, he signed in relief, but his legs trembled every time the beast rubbed its face to it.

After confirming that the beast had no hostility towards him, he proceeded to his initial plan, to search for medicine to cure his wounds.

He was worrying that the wounds would result in infection. Perhaps, if he wasn't an Ex-Human, for sure, his wounds would already be infected now. It was another perk of being Ex-Human, to have a body with high resistance against ailments.

Even when he was searching for something to cure his wounds, he never lowered his guard. He was secretly observing the baby beast that was walking beside him like a tamed animal.

Whenever the baby beast sniffed a hostile creature, it would rush to attack it at an unbelievable speed.

He could only watch it while gawking.

'What a convenient bodyguard!' He thought.

But, he could not put off the wariness he had towards it.

Jem, along with the baby beast, continued their search for cures.