RRRRRAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRR
Just the sound of the tiger's roar is enough to push back both Sakyo and Raven. Its low growl follows as it circles around the cavern's center.
[Raven] Heh heh, looks like our deal is up faster than I thought. Come on girl, devour this child whole!
Gggrrrooowwwlll
The tiger doesn't act, continuing to circle around the two standing there. Sakyo, holding Raven's sword in front of him, makes sure to slowly keep his distance. Raven, on the other hand, tries to make his way towards his "pet".
[Raven] Don't just stand there, you dumb beast. Attack!
Gggrrrooowwwlll
Again, the tiger doesn't respond to orders. It won't, as its attention is not focused on Raven. The tiger's emerald-colored eyes are locked on the one it perceives as the real threat standing behind him.
[Raven] Enough! I am your master, and you will obey me!
With one slap to its head, the tiger stops circling. Its sharp eyes focus on the insolent mongrel that dared to strike it. With its focus now directed at a new target, it raises its mighty paw, slashing its claws against Raven's already damaged armor.
[Raven] Gah!
He falls to the ground, writhing in pain as blood spews from his open chest. Taking this moment to strike, Sakyo rushes the tiger with Raven's sword and thrust at its body. In a blur, the tiger leaps away to the chamber's other side.
[Sakyo] (Damn, this thing is fast. I can't be reckless here. This is an apex predator that's had some kind of enhancement.)
[Raven] What are you just standing there for?! Run that sword through it already!
[Sakyo] Raven, shut up and stand!
Despite the pain, Raven's body responds to the order swiftly.
[Raven] You'd better do something, brat, otherwise this beast will kill us both.
[Sakyo] I won't let it. I have a plan to get out of this alive. Run towards the main exit.
Without his consent, Raven's body begins running towards the tunnel where all of the cells are located. Fear fills his eyes as he draws the tiger's attention.
[Raven] What are you doing, brat?! We had a deal! You said you'd help me get away from the knights in exchange for ten minutes of loyalty!
[Sakyo] You're right on the second part, but still mistaken with the first. I said I'd help you escape being captured. I never said I'd get you away alive. Also, it's only been three minutes. If anything, you're the one who's breaking contract with your death.
[Raven] You... BASTA-
SPLAT
With his final words cut off in an instant, Raven's lifeless body is crushed under the tiger's mighty claws. Despite seeing someone die right in front of him as a result of his own actions, Sakyo remains stoic.
[Sakyo] Odd, you die by my orders, yet I feel nothing for you. Maybe my body isn't the only thing that changed when I came to this world.
System [Notice: Individual, Raven, has broken contract made under {Devil's Deal}. Due to breach of contract, Raven's soul will be converted and transferred to your ownership. You have acquired item: {Raven's Soul}. Notice: Due to acquisition of {Raven's Soul}, all physical abilities and skills will receive a permanent 2% increase.]
[Sakyo] What the...? Forget it, I'll take an increase to my stats any day.
As the tiger smells Raven's remains, Sakyo takes this moment to jump on its back. Grabbing a fistful of its fur, he holds onto the tight as tightly as he can and plunges Raven's sword through its back.
Roaring out in agony, the tiger flails around, trying to shake Sakyo off. Against its fierce movements, Sakyo manages to hang on, though his grip is slowly releasing.
[Sakyo] Damn, you really are an apex predator.
Using Raven's sword, Sakyo slices the tiger's leg before being thrown back. With its eyes now filled with rage, the tiger follows and slashes at him with honed claws.
Even though he'd barely been able to follow its movements before, Sakyo manages to evade its strike. Unfortunately, this advantage will not last as the tiger's wounds begin to close.
[Sakyo] (It can heal itself?! Looks like this won't be as easy as I thought. Still, it's not a total loss. 2% isn't much, but it's just enough for this.)
The following minutes feel like hours as Sakyo manages to avoid fatal strikes from the tiger. Each slash from its claws could rip him apart in seconds.
Through this exchange of wills, Sakyo finds himself still drawn to the dark aura emitting from the predator before him. He can't explain it, but it feels as if this power is calling him towards it. Following this instinct, Sakyo reaches for the tiger's fur once more.
Grasping a tuff of fur in his fist, a strange tingle runs through his hand before he is thrown away again.
System: [Notice: You have come in contact with a harmful foreign substance. Activating skill: {Poison Resistance}. Error: Unknown substance not affected. Reattempting application. Error. ŒrrøƦ. ƎrƦ0r.]
...
[???] Finally... Found... Apostle...
An empty, raspy voice fills Sakyo's head. This voice wasn't the same as the system. It wasn't robotic, but low and almost like a whisper.
[Sakyo] What was that? This isn't the system's voice. Who are you?!
[???] Form... Weak... Not... Ready...
Responds the voice, devoid of any emotion.
[Sakyo] Not ready? Not ready for what?
[???] Change... Gift... Fragment... Power...
System: [ŒrrøƦ. ƎrƦ0r. E̶͞R̸͜R̶Ơ̷R̡͘.͏̷.̛.̸͞ ͜͡... Notice: Due to outside interference, you have been gifted a new skill: {Miasma Absorption}. Notice: Due to outside interference, you have been gifted a new title: {Diabolos' Apostle}.]
[???] Meet... Again... Someday... Return...
[Sakyo] Wait, what is this?! How do I use this skill?!
...
[Sakyo] Damn, of course I start hearing voices when I'm about to die. Hmm? What's that?
In the blur of the tiger's movements, Sakyo notices something that wasn't there before. The power that he'd been so drawn to before now seems clearer than ever before. Among all the mist-like energy gathered around its great body, there seems to be a focus of it around the tiger's head.
[Sakyo] (Is this because of that new skill? Whatever, now I have a chance. If I can get on its back again, I can try using this skill to get rid of all this dark energy it has.)
As the tiger charges again, Sakyo plunges Raven's sword into the ground, halting it's movements for just a moment. He takes this chance to run to its side and jump to its back once more, but the tiger has also learned from their fight. As his legs wrap around its neck, blood spews out from his arm, caught in the tigers fangs.
[Sakyo] AARRGGG!
Fighting through the pain, Sakyo places his free arm atop the tiger's head.
System: [Would you like to use your skill: {Miasma Absorption}?]
[Sakyo] Yes! Woah!
Like a ragdoll, Sakyo's body is flung to the side. The black tiger now struggles to find its footing, violently shaking its entire body before falling to the ground. The black mist-like energy being expelled from its body and traveling to Sakyo, where its absorbed.
[Sakyo] I did it. Take that, you damn tiger.
Sakyo can barely stay kneeled, let alone stand on his feet. The tiger, on the other hand, rises once again, slowly making its way towards Sakyo.
[Sakyo] No! (Even without all that power, this is still a tiger. Am I really gonna die? I don't want to die here.)
As he trembles under the mighty beast standing above him, Sakyo can only watch as its jaw slowly closes in. However, instead of taking a bite out of him, the tiger lifts Sakyo onto its back before turning towards the tunnels second exit.
[Reika/Garm] Sakyo/Master!
The two run as fast as they can, eventually reaching the chamber where Sakyo sits atop a giant black tiger. The tigers gaze meets the two, before it breaks into a sprint for the second exit tunnel. Reika and Garm get ready to attack before being stopped by a familiar voice.
[Sakyo] Wait, don't hurt it! I think it wants to take me somewhere. Just try following us, I'll be back later.
With that, the tiger's speed allows it to escape the tunnel, disappearing deeper into the forest.
[Garm] Was Master riding a Midnight Tiger just now?
[Reika] Yep.
[Garm] Do we know where they are going?
[Reika] Nope.
[Garm] And we are not going to question it?
[Reika] I stopped questioning that kid's actions when he bought you.
...
After nearly half an hour of nonstop running, the tiger finally slows down in front of a cave at the base of the mountains bordering the western side of the forest.
Slowly entering the cave, it looks around hurriedly, eventually stopping next to a pile of bones. Among the bones emerges a small, thin, white tiger cub, looking as if it has been awhile since its last meal.
System: [Notice: Midnight Tiger wishes to form a pact with you. Do you accept?]
[Sakyo] A pact? You want to form one with me?
The tiger pushes its nose in Sakyo's face, as if begging him to accept right away. Despite having an apex predator right in front of him, Sakyo can't resist petting the tiger's head. His love for animals making him see this great beast as nothing more than just a big cat.
[Sakyo] Alright, I accept. Jeez, you're just a big sweetheart, aren't you, girl.
System: [Notice: A temporary pact with Midnight Tiger has been formed. Due to forming this pact, you have obtained the skill: {Beast Tamer}.]
[Tiger] Thank you for accepting my request, man-cub.