"Good job, Springer. You can return."
With a purr, my Titan returned to his amulet.
During my time here, I've noticed some details about him and Titans in general. First, since my [Titan Bond] reached level 10, I now have another tab in my menu labeled [Familiar], which lists all the creatures bonded to me. Springer is the only one for now, and I can view his status there.
He can level up, although his experience gains aren't solely tied to defeating monsters. He also gains experience through other tasks and my interactions with him. He can learn skills, earn titles, and receive all the benefits a party member would have. The only restriction I've found is that I can't awaken him, but I think this is related to how the system worked in the Hell Difficulty Tutorial and slash or Springer himself rather than the [Familiar] function.
This now mixed breed of fox and squirrel has developed a stronger sense of independence. Back when I was with my sister in the Huntik setting, he had no qualms about hugging and sleeping on my shoulder. Now, however, he prefers to remain in the amulet unless he is engaged in tasks he enjoys, such as solving puzzles or unearthing traps. Recently, he has even expressed interest in making traps, tying knots, and setting them in place.
While many might assume that having him around would alleviate my loneliness here, I'm sad to say that it isn't quite the case. As our bond has grown, I can sense his emotions more closely, which, although it feels nice, also means I pick up on his annoyance when it arises. It's a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situation, and I've decided to let it go since I don't want to irritate him.
Now that his task is complete, I'm ready to embark on my plan.
Thinking about it, I should name it... yes, it's time to start Ecosystem Revolution Plan. I just hope it works.
---
"Gigya!"
"Gugu."
*Awooo!*
Well, the plan worked like a charm. What I did was simple. Two days ago, I took the corpses of several monsters and planted them in the respective enemy territories, making sure they faced each other.
In the goblin territory, I placed the corpses of their kin, marked with signs of claws and teeth. The wolves found their own, either dissolved or showing clear signs of poisoning. The spiders had their kin crushed or pierced to death, with some weapons still embedded in their carcasses.
As a result, the goblins became angry with the wolves, the wolves with the spiders, and the spiders with the goblins. It created a happy cycle in which I found myself at the center, but without any pressure. The monsters here are intelligent, sure, but they lack the analytical skills and observational knowledge of a race like humans. They discovered their kin dead, with signs pointing to another species as the culprit, yet they were unable to think critically enough to realize it was all a set-up—a crime scene crafted to hide the true culprit.
Within a day, skirmishes broke out among the different factions, but I was still not achieving my objective. To escalate tensions further, I employed the same tactic. I ensured any potential alliances were dismantled, turning this destructive cycle into a true free-for-all. But that still wasn't enough.
So, I began committing acts I never thought I would do before entering this Tutorial Floor. I set entire areas of the forest on fire, spread poison I collected from the spiders, and induced disease by mixing putrid meat with fresh meat.
By the fourth day, I wasn't looking at a forest anymore; I was observing what I could only describe as a warzone. Just as I had hoped, my plan bore fruit.
The clearing I created became a neutral zone amidst the chaos, a territory no one owned, where all could pass freely. This spot became the stage for the battle that would ultimately decide the future of the forest. From three opposing sides, the three area bosses emerged.
[Spider Matriarch - Lv.48]
[Crimsonwolf - Lv.47]
[Cinderbear - Lv.51]
The success of this plan hinged on one key observation. The goblins were the strangest of the creatures involved; while they had numbers and some special monsters, they lacked a strong leader, unlike the Crimsonwolf for the wolves or the Spider Matriarch for the spiders and trolls. However, the goblins were also smarter than the other creatures.
As I delved deeper into this situation, I made an interesting discovery: the Cinderbear, the most powerful monster in the area, was still just a single individual. The goblins had managed to gain his allegiance by providing him with food.
In a peculiar way, they had formed a cult, sacrificing their game for the protection and blessings of this massive bear. Satisfied, he came to fight alongside them. The victor of this clash would claim everything—the territory, resources, and spoils of the defeated.
If I hadn't been there, that is.
After about ten minutes, the fierce battle began to slow down. The bear remained in the best condition, sporting a few soot marks from the Crimsonwolf, who had also sustained some injuries but was still ready to fight. The Matriarch, on the other hand, was in the worst shape, nearly defeated from the damage inflicted by the bear's powerful paws, as well as the intense heat of the wolf's bites and breaths.
I could have chosen to wait for a stronger opponent to emerge and then struck at the last moment, but the stress of the situation had built up inside me. I sought the thrill of an intense battle—something the typical monsters couldn't provide.
That's why I decided to intervene. I appeared right behind the spider and drove a bone spear, crafted for this very occasion, through its torso.
//
You have defeated Spider Matriarch - Lv.48
+2954 EXP
You've obtained 178 Shards
//
The monster slumped down, lifeless, while the other two regarded me with a look that suggested they were more intelligent than the defeated one. The spear I had used was slowly being dissolved by some acidic poison from its body, so I tossed it into my inventory and picked up a new one.
"Well, there's a change in the fighters. Are you ready for the second round?" I asked, a smile on my face. I then decided to pour all my available stat points into Intelligence and Wisdom. It might not have been the best choice, but it was mine to make.
//
Masachika Kuze Age 15
Lv 37 Race: Human(Beyonder)
Title: Essence User, The Gamer, Reincarnated, Child Prodigy, College Student, Youngest Entrepreneur, Protagonist, Awakened
HP: 310/310 (+3.1/10min)
MP: 1500/1500 (+7.7/10min)
Ki: 540/540 (+3/10min)
Spirituality: 770/770 (5.6/10min)
Sanity: 99%
Str: 29
Dex: 45
Con: 31
Int: 150(+60)
Wis: 77(+20)
Luk: 35
Free Points: 0
Shards: 312.076
//