Chron believed, without even a shadow of a doubt, that the creature standing before him was something that he couldn't handle alone.

Even if he ignored the fluctuations in the world essence when it roared, that it had smashed through a crafted ice wall with ease, he could not disregard the keen intelligence that danced in the golden, reptilian eyes or its sleek, predatory features.

The impossible sharp claws and teeth, the bristling scales that covered the creature's hide, two long, curved horns on its head and the wealth of scars was a testament to the violent life this creature lived.

"What rank is it?" muttered the girl, her half leather, half plate armour feeling utterly inadequate against such a foe.

The boy, having recovered his witts quicker, was helping his comrades, at least the ones that were still breathing, while keeping a nervous eye on their assailant.

"Low monster rank, maybe two or three," responded Chron, uttering the words he didn't want to admit, as he fought down the urge to grab the two disciples and escape.

Since the fall of Gods thousands of years ago, which was the end of humanities golden age and prosperity, the cost of rebelling against their masters, there had been one rule that, while somewhat frowned upon, was widely accepted.

It followed the fundamental law of nature, survival of the fittest. A rule that stated that the weak could blame no one but themselves for their shortcomings.

The girl, strands of her short, brown hair floating in the wind, sucked in a mouthful of cold air as her eyes expanded. She knew they were in trouble, but she still hadn't believed it was this bad.

Animals were the most basic of creatures, barely being able to use the world's energy, having low intelligence and, more often than not, relying solely on their instincts to survive.

Beasts were a higher form, being able to form spirit cores and cultivate the world energy. There was a shocking variance between species, and while the lower ranks were still reasonably dumb, the higher grades were so intelligent that a few were able to use magic. Another ability of a top-ranked beast was the ability to take on a humanoid form, the more of a creatures natural traits showing, the weaker it was.

Comparing a monster to a beast was like comparing heaven and earth. Not only did monsters have every ability of a high ranked beast, but they also possessed terrifying bloodlines and innate skills and often maintained a disposition that was nearly always hostile to humans.

While a monster could still be contracted, just like beasts, they virtually never would unless the gains were hugely stacked in their favour or they had no other choice. More often than not, these contracts where forced, however, who in their right mind would attempt to pressure a monster into a bond that could very well spell their doom.

"Humans?" hissed Kai in his native tongue, the small clicks and indentations the only reason the Chron and the others realised it was a language and not a sign of aggression.

"Lea, I understand it." A tiny, feminine voice, barely audible emanated from the girl's chest as white smoke emerged and formed the body of a small, white snake with wings.

'Contracted beast!' Chron, who could only watch out the corner of his eye because he knew looking away from the reptile in front of him was a bad idea, was shocked. While not rare, someone who could gain a bond with a beast, of any level, was not a significant figure in society at all.

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Kai was even more surprised, his sixth sense completely missing the tiny snake and his wariness instantly doubled as he analysed the little, floating creature.

"Please, great ancestor," hissed the white snake, its tiny red eyes locking onto Kai own. "have mercy and overlook my contractor. She is weak, not even a threat against your mighty self and would not make a good meal."

Contractor? Ancestor? While he had many questions yet looking into the terrified red eyes, Kai revealed a tooth-filled smile. 'The outside world sure is excellent. There is no ceiling, strange creatures and even beings that I can converse.'

Having been trapped inside the cave system for so many years, only a blood-crazed rabbit and insects for companionship, Kai's intelligence had felt like a curse. Not only that but his species, one that was innately social.

While Kaididn't understand this, he felt like the painful hole, one that he had always carried with him, subsided even with the few words he had spoken.

His actions, however, were anything but reassuring.

"What the heck did your pet say to it," shouted the boy, his hand glowing green as he attempted to heal the Snow's head injury. While it would do nothing if she had suffered any brain damage, he wanted to try and stem the bleeding.

Both Lea and the tiny snake had moved back, the view of Kai's teeth, to them, his smile seeming more like a snarl, causing fear to bloom deep in their souls.

"Please," hissed the snake in a seemingly high pitched tone, "I meant no offence."

"You will come with me." While Kai had intended to kill and consume the humans to regain the energy he had lost from his dragon's breath, the thought of a potential companion, one that he could talk to and find out more about the world, was overwhelming.

"I can't," whimpered the snake, breaking eye contact for the first time. "We're bonded."

"I'll kill the human then," responded Kai in a matter of fact way. "I'll kill them all. If I do, there won't be any problem?" Kai didn't understand what a bond was, but he intrinsically knew it was something to do with the human that the snake had emerged from.

"No," angry red eyes locked back onto his. "We are one. We live together, and we shall die together."

Kai frowned. He didn't know when he was going to come across another creature that spoke the same language as him but at the same time, he had only been outside for a few minutes and had already found one. It shouldn't be too hard to find one without baggage and take them with him while he searched for a new home.

If that was the case...

Kai's eyes, that had been momentarily unfocused as he thought, yet the moment he had made his mind up, the humans and tiny snake shivered as a baleful killing intent fell upon them.

It was at this moment, where his pores fully opened and started sucking in the world essence at an alarming rate that Kai realised something was terribly wrong.

The area wasn't flooded with world essence like he initially thought, but spirit energy. Spirit energy that belonged to someone else.

Kai had only ever interacted with unintelligent insects and the incredibly straightforward rabbit so, his concept of deceit and trickery was none existent. He knew they existed due to the bloodline but without any context, at least being on the receiving end, he wasn't mentally prepared.

He had felt that after his entrance, removing the largest threats, he was completely in control, however, it was at this moment that the young dragon realised he had been played.

Feeling a predatory gaze upon his body, yet not an ounce of killing intent, Kai turned and found himself staring into the vivid, green eyes of Snow, a victorious smile upon her lips.

"What a naive lizard you are," hissed Snow in the ancient reptilian language that only high tiered reptilian beasts and monsters should know, her smile turning almost feral. "Oh how they all laughed at me when I said I would contract a monster."

Her smile only grew. "Being so intelligent yet inexperienced, you must be young. Perfect. Raw materials always make the strongest foundations."

During this time, Chron and Lea had stepped out of the way, instincts screaming at them that they didn't want to be in the middle when the two clashed.

"A young monster..." Snow licked her lips, Chron finally coming to the realisation that he didn't know who he feared more, the giant lizard or the woman that Chron thought he knew. "How powerful will you grow with the right training. I can't wait to make those old bastards eat their words."

The mountain started to shake as Snow used her spirit energy to reshape the slope. It had cost an extortionate amount of power, and she had gambled big by pretending to be unconscious to buy enough time to set the formation without being noticed, but it had paid off.

Few could stand against a fully prepared spirit caster, especially when they were surrounded by their primary element.