WebNovels

Chapter 9 - Frist pet.

The dense forest was alive with the sounds of the wild—rustling leaves, distant calls of unseen creatures, and the occasional crack of twigs underfoot. Kall moved cautiously, alert to every sound, every shadow that flickered in the eerie twilight. His body had grown stronger, faster; his reflexes honed sharper with every passing day in this strange and dangerous world.

Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the quiet—a girl's desperate shout coming from behind him. Without hesitation, Kall spun on his heel and dashed toward the source. His feet barely seemed to touch the ground as he maneuvered swiftly, dodging branches and thorns like a seasoned hunter. His speed and agility had increased immensely; he barely needed to look down to avoid obstacles.

As he neared the edge of a small clearing, voices echoed—angry, fearful shouts mingled with cries for help. The villagers had gathered, their faces pale and tense, eyes locked on the center of the circle.

Kall slowed, his gaze settling on the cause of the commotion.

It was a puppy—a small, scrappy dog with fur darker than midnight and eyes burning with an unnatural red glow. Its mouth was open, revealing jagged teeth far too large for its small frame. The villagers whispered its name in terror: "The Reaper of Hell."

Kall took a step forward, curiosity overcoming caution. Before he could move further, a man at the edge of the crowd caught sight of him. The man leaned toward an old, stooped elder, whispering hurriedly. The old man's eyes narrowed as they shifted toward Kall, a flicker of hope—and something else—flashing in his gaze.

Without hesitation, the elder approached Kall with hurried steps, his voice trembling.

"Oh… ohhh… what are you doing here, young man?"

Kall met the old man's gaze steadily. "Sir, please, help us," the villagers pleaded in unison.

The elder looked around nervously, then back at Kall. "But… but how? What can one man do against such a beast?"

"They are all Ela," the man whispered to the elder—a phrase that sent a ripple through the gathered crowd.

Kall tilted his head, intrigued. "Ela?" he repeated, "What does that mean?"

The elder explained carefully, "Ela are special spirits of Hell. They evolve, grow stronger over time, and become guardians. Each Ela passes through four stages of evolution, growing in power with each. They are fierce, proud, and dangerous."

Kall's mind raced, weighing the information. Should I tell them what I know about spirits and evolution? No—better to act first. I must help these people.

He looked around, trying to gather more information. "How exactly can I help you all?" he asked firmly.

The villagers exchanged worried glances before the elder spoke again. "If you somehow kill the beast…"

Kall cut him off sharply, "But I don't want to harm it."

"Then how else will you save us?" a skeptical man demanded.

Kall frowned, then said thoughtfully, "Do any of you know how to contract with a spiritual beast?"

Murmurs spread through the crowd. "We all know," said one villager cautiously. "It is the one skill we all have."

"Then if one of you can form a contract with the beast—make it your servant—this problem will be solved."

"But we can't," another man interjected. "This dog is no ordinary spirit."

"Why not?" Kall pressed.

"It's called the 'Reaper of Hell.'" The villagers shuddered as the name left their lips. "A rare and dangerous beast. It's said to drain almost all the mana of its master."

"None of us want to make a contract with it," another whispered fearfully.

Kall's curiosity deepened. Pulling out his phone, he quickly searched the term 'Reaper of Hell.' The screen filled with ancient text and images of a dog-like creature, dark as night, eyes burning with fierce red light.

The Reaper of Hell: an ancient beast of immense power.

The description fascinated him.

"At its first stage, it drains 20% of its master's mana," he read aloud. "It is weak then, unable to attack. But as it evolves to the second stage, it gains attack power and drains only 0.5% mana. It is then called the 'Golden Dog.' A rare spiritual servant—an archer, a berserker, and a rider all in one. Fully evolved, it can defeat warriors and mages alike."

Kall looked up from the screen, eyes gleaming with newfound determination.

"So you know how to make a contract with it?" he asked the villagers.

"Yes," the elder replied cautiously.

"Then teach me. I will help you."

The elder's eyes widened with hope. "If you help us, master, I promise our village will obey your every command."

Kall smiled grimly, feeling the weight of the promise settle on his shoulders.

He turned toward the dark figure lurking in the clearing.

"Spirit Eye," he whispered, activating the sub-skill granted by his Consume ability.

Suddenly, his vision shifted. The world around him was overlaid with glowing lines and symbols. He could see the faint green streams of mana flowing invisibly through the air, and the aura of every creature pulsing like a beacon.

He fixed his gaze on the Reaper of Hell. Its jaws were open wide, and a half-full mana bar hovered near its throat—an ominous indicator of its strength and hunger. If the bar filled completely, it would evolve into its second stage, becoming even more deadly.

Kall's lips curved in a slight smile, a devilish glint lighting his eyes.

"You will be my first pet," he said softly.

The villagers gasped, some whispering prayers while others looked on in disbelief.

Kall took a slow step forward, calm but resolute. The Reaper's eyes flickered toward him, curiosity and suspicion swirling within the blazing depths.

"Listen," Kall said quietly, "I don't want to fight you. I want us to be partners. You'll have a master who respects your strength, and I'll have a guardian to protect me."

The beast growled low in its throat but did not attack. The mana bar pulsed, flickering uncertainly.

Kall reached into his bag and pulled out one of the glowing fruits he had gathered earlier. Holding it out gently, he said, "This fruit will help you regain strength and control the hunger inside you. Take it."

The Reaper hesitated, then cautiously stepped forward and sniffed the fruit. With a swift gulp, it devoured the offering.

Kall felt the mana flow shift—the dog's aura stabilized, the hunger abating just enough to allow a fragile truce.

He nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, we will make our contract."

He held out his hand, palm open and glowing with a faint blue light. The dog lowered its head, and Kall's Spirit Eye allowed him to see the intricate connection forming between their souls.

"Contract complete," the Grimgore's voice echoed softly in his mind.

The villagers erupted in cheers, their fear replaced by awe and relief.

The elder approached Kall with tears in his eyes. "You have saved us all. We owe you our lives, Hireon."

Kall looked down at his new companion—the Reaper of Hell, no longer a wild beast but a loyal servant and protector.

This is only the beginning, Kall thought. Together, we will face whatever hell throws at us.

The sun dipped low beyond the forest canopy, casting long shadows as Kall and the villagers prepared to return to the village. His journey in this strange world was only just beginning, and the powers he was awakening promised challenges and dangers far beyond anything he had faced before.

With his new pet by his side and a village behind him, Kall felt a spark of hope—a fragile flame in the darkness of Hell's realm.

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