Chapter 17: Test from God [1]
Securing a place to stay in a city of fifteen hundred square kilometers wasn’t a matter of hospitality; it was a transaction of blood, core, and raw intimidation.
Roy guided the lumbering emerald drake through the chaotic mid-rings of the canyon, actively ignoring the greedy, lingering stares of the Orc and Troll mercenaries passing by.
In a lawless hub like Tempest City, a man riding a high-tier desert predator alone was either an easy target or a lethal apex predator. Roy’s cold, unblinking glare ensured everyone assumed the latter.
Eventually, he found an isolated, stone-walled estate built into a recessed cliffside—a high-end lodging house run by a shady, scar-faced Ogre merchant who didn’t ask questions as long as the coin was heavy.
Before coming to Tempest City, Roy had encountered a few dozen unintelligent monsters wandering the Hudeii Desert.
On his way, Roy studied the world of ’Arkan Unlimited’; he learned new things, the first was every living entity possessed a mana core.
A mana core located close to their hearts, serving as their mana generator to fuel their physical activity.
Secondly, he learned that all living creatures in ’Arkan Unlimited’ are categorized into five different classes.
These classifications were officially known as E-class to S-class. For instance, the crimson wolf-men species are classified as C-class beastmen because of their lethal battle intelligence, heightened senses, and superhuman strength.
But even so, some wolf-men species are classified as D-class and even E-class.
Since there are lower class wolf-men, there are also higher class wolf-men species beyond the B-class.
The gray-skinned Ogres the Great Luna Pack had fought a few days ago were also C-class species under the Ogre race.
Creatures whose classes fell below E-class were known as abominations. Unintelligent lifeforms who hunt and devour anything and everything.
F-class species.
But they were differentiated in seven stages: Beast-stage, Monster-stage, Nightmare-stage, Devil-stage, Terror-stage, Titan-stage, Demon-stage.
The higher their stages evolved, the stronger they became, the more violent they became.
These four-legged emerald drakes were categorized as Beast-stage F-class abominations, relying on their brute strength and bestial instincts.
Only Beast-stage F-class abominations were found in Hudeii Desert, if a Titan-stage F-class abomination walked the desert.
There would not be a single life remaining.
For a city to thrive, Roy knew trade is important, so he hunted down these Monster-stage F-class abominations and harvested their mana cores.
He was right to do that. To rent a one-bedroom apartment in Tempest City cost three F-class mana cores.
After dropping three Beast-stage F-class mana cores salvaged from his previous battles.
Roy secured a private, heavily reinforced apartment complete with a secure courtyard spacious enough to stable the massive drake.
Carrying the deeply asleep Alisa into the dark, stone-carved master bedroom, Roy laid her gently onto the expansive bed.
He unhooked his arms from her waist, pulled a thick, fur-lined blanket over her newly mutated frame, and stepped out into the courtyard to sync his divine interface and map out the city’s guard rotations.
Once he was done, Roy snuck out of the apartment. Transforming into a sun-fly, he was going to investigate the evils of Tempest City.
Several hours later, the harsh, crimson rays of the setting desert sun filtered through the narrow stone windows, painting the bedroom in a deep, bloody hue.
Roy had returned.
Alisa’s long rabbit ears twitched. The midnight-black fur at the tips benchmarked against the soft fabric beneath her as her consciousness slowly drifted back to the surface.
She felt incredibly warm, engulfed in an overwhelming sense of comfort and absolute security that she hadn’t felt since before the slave traders destroyed her home.
Smiling softly in her sleep, she groaned a delicate, satisfied sound and wrapped her arms tightly around the firm, solid body pressed against her chest.
She buried her face deep into the smooth fabric, nuzzling her cheek against it as she squeezed her legs around it, refusing to let go of her savior.
’So warm... Mr. Jarden’s chest is so firm...’ she thought, her heart doing a dizzying, joyful flip.
Fluttering her eyes open, her newly awakened irises—now fractured into concentric, glowing silver rings—blinked through the dim light. She expected to see the sharp, handsome face and crimson hair of Roy looking down at her with that mesmerizing, dangerous smile.
Instead, her gaze landed on a massive, rectangular block of white cotton.
She was straddling a giant, fluffy bed pillow.
Alisa froze. Her arms were locked around the top of the pillow in a vice grip, her face was buried flat into the center of it, and her right leg was completely hooked over the bottom half in a deeply embarrassing, sprawling cuddle.
"Eh...?"
Her brain short-circuited for a solid three seconds. She blinked once. Twice.
Realization hit her like a localized sandstorm. Her cheeks instantly flushed an explosive, furious shade of crimson that spread all the way to the tips of her black-furred ears.
She scrambled backward so fast she nearly tripped over the heavy fur blanket, kicking the innocent pillow to the foot of the bed as if it had personally insulted her.
"W-What was I... why am I cuddling a...!" she stammered loudly to the empty room, her hands flying to her burning face. Her long ears stood completely straight up, vibrating in absolute, agonizing mortification.
"You’re finally awake."
Alisa jumped, a tiny, startled squeak escaping her lips.
She snapped her head toward the doorway. Roy was leaning casually against the stone archway, his arms folded over his chest, his golden-crimson eyes glittering with pure, unadulterated amusement. He had clearly been standing there long enough to witness the entire spectacular display.
"M-Mr. Jarden!" Alisa squealed, desperately pulling the blanket up to her chin to hide her blushing face. "I-I didn’t—the pillow was just—I thought it was—!"
"You thought it was me?" Roy interrupted smoothly, a dark, teasing chuckle vibrating in his throat as he walked into the room. "Don’t worry, little rabbit. Your covenant is noted. But if you’re quite finished assaulting the bedding, your transformation is complete. It’s time to test out those new skills of yours."
"Skills of mine?" Alisa raised her eyebrows. "What did you think?" Roy grinned, "Did you think you’d make a covenant to my god, offering your soul to him without receiving a blessing?"
Roy placed his hand on her sleek curly hair, gently rubbing it, "How are you feeling now?" he asked.
"Well...." Alisa’s cheeks reddened, "I feel good, I feel stronger.... even my scars are healing. Lord Varanus is the best." She clapped her hands excessively.
"Yes," Roy nodded, "Varanus is the God of Beasts and Men, he is the father of all who follow him."
"You made a covenant to him, Alisa," Roy paused, "He’s pleased by your determination and he blessed you more."
"But he wants to test your faith!" Roy uttered. "Huh? Test my faith?" Alisa raised her head, her face masked with confusion.
"Do not fret," Roy smiled, "Lord Varanus is a benevolent god. He wants to see how good you’ll make use of this power."
"While you were asleep, I investigated Tempest City," Roy explained.
"Y-You did?" Alisa jolted from the bed, "Did you find my people?" she asked.
"Yes," Roy nodded, "Six hundred, that’s the number of Rabbit-kin that are locked in underground cages."
"They’re treated poorly, starved and beaten. But they’re not alone, my crimson wolf-kin are suffering as well."
"Sheep-kin beastmen, Frog-kin beastmen, and Monkey-kin beastmen. It seems truly the Troll King is attacking independent tribes of beastmen."
"Just like those Lizardmen, there are other beastmen tribes who won’t hesitate to buy slaves," Roy sighed deeply, "Lord Varanus is enraged."
"He’s going to make this city pay for what they’ve done!" Roy declared. Alisa’s brows furrowed, her fist clenched, "What would Lord Varanus have me do?"
"What is the test our God has given me?"
