Temporary peace before confrontation

Tone and Drayan shook hands, and Tone applied a slightly glowing blue slime to Drayan's body. The slime climbed up Drayan's shoulder and then fused into his skin.

Since Tone had already adapted it to his own body and left some of his gene and cell residues, the chances of Drayan successfully adapting to the turtle's skill genes were 100%.

Even if Drayan didn't have compatible DNA, Tone's DNA was already in the cells, so Drayan's cells no longer needed to go through the fusion process since Tone's cells had already done so.

However, acquiring skill genes from a high-level evolved creature was more difficult than obtaining them from a modified creature. Otherwise, Drayan would already be full of skills from evolved-level creatures. After all, he had eaten many high-level evolved creatures from different species.

Besides the fact that evolved-level creatures are weak, the chances of obtaining skill genes from them are quite low. That's why hunters usually prefer to hunt modified or higher-level creatures to guarantee the skill genes.

So, the higher the level of the creature, the easier it is to obtain skill genes. But of course, one thing is obtaining the skill genes, another is getting them to adapt to your body. That's the hard part.

There are genes that are impossible to adapt to your body, no matter how many cells you have from that creature, the creature's genes refuse to merge with your cells.

Drayan picked up two monkey bodies from the pile of corpses.

"Here it is."

"Wait! That wasn't the deal! It was supposed to be five meats!"

"Supposed to? I don't remember saying I'd give you five monkey bodies. I'm still being kind by giving you two."

Damn! He's smart! — Tone muttered in his mind.

He felt a huge urge to curse Drayan, but he wouldn't do it while Drayan had to stay alive to protect him from the other creatures in the forest.

I will get my revenge on you! Drayan! — Tone ensured he would remember Drayan's face.

If Drayan knew Tone wanted to kill him, Drayan would simply laugh.

To Drayan, Tone wanting to kill him was like a child wanting to beat an adult gorilla.

Drayan spent the rest of the time eating his evolved-level creatures.

Drayan decided to eat 8 bodies and give 4 to the Smiling Canine and 8 to the Darkening.

Darkening was in a growth phase and needed to eat a lot to become an adult. Drayan knew that Darkening would be stronger if he grew into adulthood eating modified meat.

But Drayan didn't have any modified-level creatures at the moment, and Drayan couldn't simply leave Darkening hungry.

Darkening deserved to eat after carrying Drayan on his back.

Drayan decided to summon the Smiling Canine in his pup form so he wouldn't scare Tone.

While eating his monkey meat, Tone watched the purple and white slime coming out of Drayan's palm.

Soon the slime took shape, and a small dog, the size of an adult rabbit, emerged.

The cute creature jumped into Drayan's arms and began using its paws to grab the monkey arm Drayan was eating.

"Hey! That's mine, Canine." — Drayan scolded the dog.

"There's your food." — He pointed his finger towards four bodies on the ground.

The puppy jumped from Drayan's lap and ran towards the food.

Tone watched everything with his mouth open.

"Dude, what are you? A wolf tamer?"

"The puppy is not a wolf; it's a dog. Also, I'd prefer if you called me a beast tamer." — Drayan scratched his nose, embarrassed by his own compliment.

"That's so cool! I also want a cute dog! Where did you get this one?"

"In the city of Becke, there are some dogs there. But none have two colors like my dog."

"Really? But that's okay. Having a cute puppy is good enough for me."

Drayan didn't understand the boy. Was Tone a collector of cute pets? It seemed Tone was more interested in having beautiful creatures than strong ones.

But that's okay; everyone has their own preferences. And Drayan liked strong and beautiful things.

When the Canine finished eating his food at an astonishing speed, he advanced towards Darkening's food.

Drayan wasn't too worried.

Darkening was a well-behaved wolf. Drayan noticed this when the Canine took the beetle from Darkening's mouth in the city of Dallen. Darkening didn't react aggressively. Also, if Drayan's desire wasn't to hurt the Canine, Darkening wouldn't feel like hurting him either.

The Canine pulled the monkey by the leg while Darkening was biting the arm, but as expected, the wolf yielded and let the Canine take the body.

"Hey, isn't that dangerous? The wolf might end up eating your dog."

"You're right, he could do that." — Drayan continued eating, unconcerned.

"Hey, aren't you going to do something?"

...

Drayan didn't respond. The black wolf is driven by Drayan's emotions, and although the wolf sometimes had its own emotion and personality, Drayan couldn't perceive any murderous intent from the wolf.

If Darkening wanted to kill the Canine, he would have done it a long time ago. They may not seem like it, but they are good friends.

Even when the Canine was in his young form, standing two meters tall, he never tried to attack the smaller Darkening.

Canine and Darkening fought only once, and they probably will never fight again, unless Drayan wishes or commands them to do so.

Drayan was relaxed about the situation.

The wolf let the Canine eat the monkey's body, but the wolf started eating the remaining bodies faster. Noticing this, the Canine also began to eat quickly.

Soon, the two of them entered a competition to see who could eat faster.

When everyone finished eating, and Tone wanted to eat a bit more, but Drayan didn't allow it, they decided to leave.

"Now, are you going to take me home?"

"I already have my plans. I can't leave this forest without killing at least one modified-level creature."

"Can't you take me out of the forest and then come back here?"

Drayan thought a bit about what Tone said. It would be quite tiring to protect Tone while fighting a modified-level creature.

'It's better to leave this idiot at home as soon as possible.'

"Alright, I'll take you home-"

Drayan's pupils contracted in a second. Drayan felt a chill run from his feet to his head, his whole body bristled, and the constant sense of danger made his legs tremble. He felt an enormous murderous intent directed at him.

Darkening stood up to protect Drayan, and the Canine did the same, both running towards their master to support him.

What is this feeling?

"Careful!" — Tone couldn't move, but he still warned.

Whosh!

The wind shook. Drayan heard behind him a noise similar to an arrow being shot.

Drayan, who was facing away, drew his mutant dagger and activated 20% of the nutrients from the saw shark he had left to strengthen his body.

Temporary Body: Low-level mutant (20% of original body)

Drayan quickly turned to face the attack, defending himself against a green creature with long wings.

Boom!

The creature's blow collided with Drayan's dagger, creating a shockwave that shattered the ground beneath them.

The Canine and Darkening had their bodies pushed back by the generated wind force, but they were strong enough to remain standing. Tone was thrown five meters into the air.

The one who had the power to do all this was a mantis. The mantis's two front legs, which were like hooks, had just tried to pierce Drayan's chest.

"Damn..." — Drayan was holding back the mantis's blow, but his body was being pushed further and further back.

The mantis used more force, and the ground beneath them cracked again.

His arm was beginning to feel the weight of the Mantis' blow. Unable to withstand the pressure, Drayan had his feet lifted off the ground, and the Mantis took Drayan deeper into the forest, while pushing him into the air.

Drayan wasn't even touching his feet to the ground. The mantis simply continued pushing him backward.

Drayan looked more closely at the mantis's face and noticed that its thin chin had three eyes.

Why... Why on earth did a mutant-level creature come after me?! Why did it choose me and not Tone?! I thought I wouldn't encounter another mutant creature so soon! Damn!

Drayan had to accept how unlucky he was. He had already been hunted by the snake and barely survived in the lake, but now he was face to face, fighting another mutant creature.

At that moment, the Canine, Darkening, and Tone had separated from Drayan.

"Wait for me! I will be back soon!" — That was all Drayan could say before going even deeper into the forest.

Drayan gritted his teeth and decided to fight back.