Beasts and monsters can still evolve even without the help of a tamer. However, this process usually takes an extremely long time. They need to store enough energy for evolution one drop at a time, which takes years, if not decades, to reach the next stage.
However, there’s a boundary that normal beasts and monsters can’t overcome. The buffer zone; the 8th stage of evolution.
Only the chosen ones, or those blessed with special constitutions and talents, could surpass the buffer and complete their evolution to Duke or Duchess level. However, this undertaking usually comes with a heavy price.
“Duke of Unsatiable Hunger…”
I muttered the name of this famous beast, responsible for the fall of several frontline bases around the territory. I have heard of him through a lot of hearsay and even saw his image in a newspaper somewhere before my past memory returned. It was the harbinger of death for most tamers on the frontlines.
And such a monster was now right in front of us, staring at us while drooling. Blood splatters were scattered messily all over its face and body, notifying us that there were already a few unlucky ones who fell victim to it.
It stared at me as if wondering why I wasn’t dead yet. After that, everything happened in an instant.
Its eyes moved. My body moved automatically in response. I jumped to the side, pushing Fang and Ember out of the way. A large claw pierced my chest, leaving a second large, gaping hole in my clothes and my body.
Fang couldn’t react to it, even with her reflexes. This is hopeless.
“R-Run…” I tried to shout at them but ended up in a whisper. The punctured lungs made it hard to even breathe, let alone speak.
I fell to the ground as the beast pulled out its claws. It licked my blood off its nails and smiled in ecstasy. He was staring at me as if I were a delectable meal that was ready to be served.
“M-Master… Master!”
Ember panicked after seeing me have another hole in my chest. I guess I was lucky that my heart was safe; otherwise, I would’ve died instantly.
Ember crawled to my side, as if she forgot how to walk, and cried her eyes out.
“Master, no! Don’t die! P-Potion, Fang! Use a potion!”
She shouted as she pressed her hand over the gaping hole in my back. However, the gap was over a foot wide, not something you could stop from bleeding through pressure alone.
*Cough!*
I coughed out blood once again as I felt that my consciousness was fading. Ahhh, is this how I will die? I at least wanted these three girls to escape to a safe location first…
Within my fading senses, I felt like I heard a whisper.
[I won’t let you die again… This time… I will…]
—
Will fainted; however, at the same time, a strong blast of invisible force swept all over the place. Everything that was weaker than the 7th level fainted powerlessly, which includes Ember, Fang, and Igni.
Will’s body, which should’ve had a large gaping hole around the right chest, was completely recovered in an instant. A golden glow, brighter than even the System’s Heavenly Halo, covered his entirety.
“This is…”
Will muttered as he inspected his surroundings. In an unfamiliar field, a wolf, a slime, and a dragonoid fainted, lying around his feet. He had a battered and bloody appearance, coupled with a powerful monster in front.
“Ah, is it that again? My turn?”
He muttered as he placed his fingers on his chin, wondering what to do.
“This guy looks weak, though. Do I really need to step up? Hey, *#%$, are you listening?”
Will waited for a moment, but seemingly received no response. He scratched his head in irritation as he glared at the Duke of Unsatiable Hunger.
“Hey, you, fatty! This is your fault! I shouldn’t be waking up any time soon, and you made me waste my precious energy! How would you pay me back, huh?!” 𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺
When Will took a step forward, the ground shook with unbelievable intensity. The large beast cowered and fell to its knees. Although it didn’t have enough intelligence to be able to speak, it still possessed the instincts it had had since the beginning. The “Will” in front of it right now isn’t a delicacy anymore, but a “threat.”
When the Duke went back to its senses, Will was already right in front of it, staring straight at its blurry eyes.
“Hey, I’m asking you. Are you listening? Reply when someone’s talking to you, bastard!!!”
Will swiped his left hand in a backhand slap. The beast, seeing the action, tried to evade it. However, as if the result were already set in stone, the slap connected and let out a solid and reverberating sound.
If not for the strong neck muscles it had, the poor beast’s head would’ve been flying away by now. However, another slap came from the other side, with the same intensity.
“Answer me, you dumb fatty. What, you can’t speak? Argh! I really hate dumb monsters like you.”
Will’s red eyes stared at the white eyes of the Duke of Unsatiable Hunger.
The beast wasn’t idle, though. It was using all its energy trying to move away from Will, trying to gain some distance. But no matter what it did, it couldn’t move farther than an arm’s length from Will.
“You can’t get away from me, nor can you harbor thoughts of harming me.”
Will’s red eyes glowed a fiery red. The next instant, the beast’s head fell down powerlessly. No wound was visible other than two hand marks on its face. However, the harbinger of death’s heart had already stopped beating. Its soul was shattered and turned into energy before getting sucked into Will once again.
“Hmm… I guess I gained a bit more than what I spent.”
Will muttered as he stared at the dark sky with no stars.
“… In time, I will return…”
After saying that, his red eyes slowly turned to their usual blue. Will once again fell down and fainted.
Nobody saw what happened, and neither did anyone nor anything record the events. However, the next day, Will’s party was called by the General for a meeting.