There you are. On the north side but below this floor, not on this floor, Arin noted.
He moved fast but held the knife in his left hand to block any attack.
He didn't want a fight to the death—at least not this one if he could help.
After reaching his destination, he found himself in what used to be a washroom.
Broken tiles, collapsed ceilings, and rusted sinks dried a long time ago.
The creature was huddled beneath a rusted pipe, one eye swollen shut and fur singed in a few places.
"You don't seem like a warrior to me or a scout. You seem just like me...", Arin muttered to himself.
"A survivor."
As Arin kept getting close to it. It didn't attack or run. It hissed, low and guttural. Sounding more like a habit than a threat.
Arin locked eyes with the rat for a few moments.
Okay. So, I find it. Now what next? Arin thought, trying to remember if he knew anything about taming.
Well, at least it's not attacking or running away. So, the belt must be working. Let's try this.
He didn't hesitate. He stepped forward with his boot thumping and his right hand stretched.
"You can die like a scavenger", he said out loud, "or follow someone stronger," he pointed toward himself,"me".
The rat still stared at him with its one eye without moving.
Did it not work. Do I have to touch it too? Arin wondered.
But just as he moved a little closer, the rat pounced at him.
It surprised him, but just like always, everything slowed down. He watched as the rat slowly swim through the air toward him.
But this time it was different.
He tried to block the claw with his knife. And his body actually moved although slow.
I guess those increased strength stats are showing it's effect, Arin noted mentally.
He blocked with a knife in his left hand and did a roundhouse kick, best to his ability.
The kick landed on the rat, pushing it to the side.
Woh.. that felt awesome. Arin exclaimed in his mind.
No. Focus, Don't be distracted. Arin told himself and got close to the rat.
The rat stood up and attacked again. He dodged and countered it's attack.
He fought the rat for a few minutes.
The rat started to look quite miserable with now both of it's eye swollen.
But it wasn't gravely injured.
Come on, don't fight anymore. I don't want to waste next hour trying to find the another rat, Arin secretly prayed in his mind.
But his prayers weren't answered as rat continued to fight with it's swollen eyes.
After beating the rat a little more Arin stood atop it with his one leg pinning it down.
The rat was laying on its back and Arin's leg was on its stomach.
"I'm asking you one last time. Either follow me who is stronger than you or die?" Arin asked, his voice now full of dominance and a little anger.
The rat just squeaked softly and didn't show any more aggressiveness.
Arin heard the familiar chime.
[Unranked Creature : Mutated Rat Minion Subjugated]
[Affinity To The Tamer Classes Greatly Increased]
[New System Interface Unlocked]
"I did it?", Arin spoke out loud in doubt.
Next he checked the notification and opened new interface.
___________________________
[Tamed Beast Log: Entry #001]
Name: — Unnamed
Species: Lesser Rodent (Mutated)
Bond Type: Enforced Submission
Loyalty: 36% (Unstable)
Status: Alive (Injured), Submissive, Cautious
—
Attributes:
• Vitality: 4
• Strength: 7
• Dexterity: 2
• Endurance: 3
• Intelligence: 1
• Sense: 3
—
Traits:
• Muscle Overflow
• Subterranean Instinct
• Scavenger Scent (Passive)
Abilities:
• Sniff – Detects nearby blood, food, or decaying material
• Scatter – Attempts to flee with brief speed burst
• Nip – Minor melee attack (inflicts bleed if target is unaware)
Bond Progression:
• Eligible for Provisional Bond at ≥ 50% Loyalty
—
Notes:
• Follows at short distance
• May freeze or hide under pressure
• Loyalty may increase or decrease depending on different experiences
• May betray if loyalty becomes very low.
• Has low future potential.
___________________________
Arin stared at the floating. His eyes skimming all the information as if it would disappear any moment.
A part of him expected the rat to suddenly sprang up and bolt, but it didn't.
Maybe, it would have ran away if it wasn't heavily injured, Arin thought.
The rat still laid under his feet, its chest heaving, swollen eyes twitching and it's body rigid but it wasn't resisting him anymore.
Arin slowly stepped back from the rat and rat slowly stood on it's four legs.
As Arin walked toward the floor exit to lower floor, the rat followed, waddling.
"Stop",Arin commanded and thought, —It looks pathetic, couldn't even walk without limping.
Is it always going to be like this? I have to beat the beast to near death to tame it. Arin wondered.
And after all that, It can't be helpful immediately, I have to let it recover for a long time. There has to be another way to do it. A better way, —Arin kept thinking while looking at the rat.
Maybe if I have a healing or recovery skill then I can somewhat cover this drawback. Otherwise why bother taming it.
Arin smiled as an idea came to his mind,—Or I can find a person with healing Talent., then he frowned —but for that I have to leave the area. Even after that I may or may not find them.
Arin shook his head. He had to wait for that to happen. So he just spoke slowly to the rat in a high voice,"Rest here. Recover."
Just to be sure he said same thing in twice but differetly.
Arin also sat down against the wall. The rat didn't move very far from him.
It curled up near the rusted metal pipe, nose tucked under it's own leg.
I tamed a monster and I can command it, but why does it not make me feel strong, not even a little bit, Arin thought as he kept observing the rat.
A lot of things ran through his mind as he waited for the rat to recover little bit before leaving the building.
"Hey T.G how can I get a healing skill?" , asked Arin.
[There are many ways to learn a healing skill. One can learn due to Talent, a reward from Quest, buy Skill Stone/Book, learn from a master or on your own. ]
Arin immediately fell in thought after hearing the answer.
I don't have Talent related to healing
I don't have any quest that rewards any skill. Let alone healing skill.
Buy them from whom? And where?
I can learn from other or I can be self taught.
But before Arin could say anything, T.G continued.
[To buy any Skill Stone or Book. You first need to pass the Trial. And taking you race in consideration, you have almost 0% chance to learn any type healing skill other than self recovery on your own]
Arin felt defeated hearing the T.G. There was nothing he could do. He had to wait for the rat to recover naturally.
I don't know how long it will take to recover with 4 points in Vitality, Arin wondered.
He just sat and stared at ceiling absent minded.
There was nothing he could do, so he just closed his eyes, listening to faint breathing beside him.
Recover fast so we can leave and explore other boss's Area.