Screeching at Noah with a tormented scream, it dashed forward as if it was a phantom image. In a blur, it had already arrived in front of the monster tamer.

However, like a guardian, Krall intercepted the ghost in a clash of beasts. A resounding thud echoed throughout the room, but it was clear Krall was worse off.

He tumbled then crashed against the hard floor. Quickly recovering, it was Thraz’s turn to mount an attack.

Swinging his axe in a wide arc, Thraz cleaved into the ghost. From the woman's shoulder, to chest, a savage wound split into her body.

There was no blood, only an eerie light glimmered from the ghosts eyes.

The ghost seemed to have lost her rationale. No longer was it able to think clearly and use its ghostly features to stop the attacks.

But now that had changed.

It was like the hit from Thraz had cleared the ghost from her mindless wrath. With a rekindled mind, it… shook its head, and renewed her attack.

Unlucky for her however, Noah, and his team, had already discovered the method for success. All that was left was to implement it.

Of course, that was easier said than done. For Thraz, the highly trained dragonborn from birth, was able to get in a good few hits. But because the ghost was more aware of its attacks this time around, it dodged the worst of his attacks.

For Noah, and his tamed monsters, it was more difficult. Sure, Noah had learned how to use crude clubs made from broken chairs as a battering device, but he never had the opportunity to use deadly weapons in combat. Not only that, but he didn’t have the combat experience required for such timely precision.

Sneak attacking, and killing monsters, was completely different.

The timing required was only capable from someone that had forged their body in the hell of yearly practice. Something that Noah didn’t have. But he was getting there.

Now!

Noah activated all his offensive skills, and snapped his lance to the monster's hand just as it was reaching out for him. All the other times he had missed, but not this time. It felt right.

His pointed weapon tore through the ghost's hand, and continued through its arm. Noah pressed on, not giving the ghost a chance to recover.

The monster instinctively reached out to attack in defence, but it only activated its body. Gritting his teeth, Noah took a sharp breath, then let his lance fly. Straight through the monster's heart.

Noah expected to be greeted with a blue screen noting his victory. That didn’t happen. Instead, the ghost flashed a ghastly grin before jolting up to her feet. Chasing right after her ascent was a clawed hand.

The hand tore through Noah’s shoulder. Blood spilled.

Thankfully, Thraz was there for the assist. His axe screamed through the air, lopping the ghosts head from its body.

Noah freed himself from the lone hand, and stumbled back a few steps before gazing at his wound. It had just missed Ekralo’s breastplate by a centimetre. Any further to the left, and it would have struck solid bone armour.

The wound was hot. But it wasn’t something he wasn’t used to. He checked it just to make sure that the ghost didn’t have some corrupting qualities to its attack, but after a quick check, the wound was clean.

Bloody, but clean.

You defeated a - Level 99 Thorned Dryad.

You have Levelled up!

| Noah ( Phantom Lancer ) level 69 -> Noah ( Phantom Lancer ) level 73

Krall, the Scourge of the Jungle has levelled up.

| Krall level 69 -> Krall level 73

Gluttony has Levelled up.

| Gluttony level 55 -> Gluttony level 64

You are being watched…

From the new level up, Noah had once more jumped more than fifty whole points into his Willpower stat, providing him a very nice boost in power.

Once again, he was in awe at the benefit provided by another tamed monster. What was stopping other tamers from becoming like him? Did they all receive such vast bonuses? But then he realised something.

Tamed monsters can die. They weren’t immortal. If one died, then perhaps the master would lose all the stat points accrued from their monster. If that was the case, then losing one would be completely detrimental.

But Noah couldn’t help but feel that he was wrong.

Well I’m not going to check. A taming manual is expensive as hell.

Ten thousand coins, to be exact. It was a fortune that could be used to better his house, or save up for some legendary equipment like he had seen when he first entered this… paradise.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Why did it cost that much? Well Noah could only assume that it was because there wasn’t much demand for it. The creator most likely put it uo for that price because if a tamer did have that much, they would be more than willing to buy it to uncover its secrets.

For Noah, he didn’t really care all that much. Sure he was curious to find out all about his class, and its intricacies, but not ten thousand Grace Coins curious…

A glimmer of purple awoke Noah from his thoughts. From where the ghost was standing a moment ago, a fragment was born.

Thraz glanced at it, then looked back at Noah. For the first time, Noah spotted a hint of greed within. It seemed the dragonborn finally realised the importance of the glimmering, tasty fragments.

Noah plucked it from the air. Did they finally have enough of them to create an Epic stone?

It was time to find out.

Noah asked the dragonborn to take out the Epic fragments that he had, while Noah did the same.

Holding all the Epic fragments in his hands, Thraz nudged closer, and asked, “What do you think we’ll get? A Pathstone, or a Skill Essence?”

“Hopefully a Pathstone,” Noah responded without thinking.

If there was one thing he wanted, it was an upgraded Pathstone. That meant that he would receive a whole two extra stats per level, plus a unique effect from the purple rarity.

Of course, an Epic Skill Essence would provide an instant power boost depending on what it was. But Noah would prefer the gradual increase of what he would earn from the Pathstone. Since he was still considered a low level, it was the obvious choice.

He just hoped to whatever god that would listen that he would obtain it.

Gluttony and Krall stood in front of him, tilting their heads at the glimmering light. It seemed that even beasts knew the importance of what he was holding. Or perhaps it was just because they were tied to his emotions.

“Well here goes nothing.”

Noah took a breath, then placed the purple fragments together. In an instant, an intense pull yanked his hands forward. In the next moment, they clanged together like they were pulled by a powerful magnet.

The sound reminded him of a metal bin falling to the floor. With a clang, purple sparks flew from the contact, and then the middle of the stone lit up.

Noah’s hands trembled. Not because of the strange ringing resounding throughout his palms.

It was an Epic Pathstone.

You have obtained an Epic Strength Pathstone - Sanguine Chopper: Specialising in two-handed axes, the Raging Chopper has one goal – to chop anything, and one, in their path.

| Stats per Level: Str 3, Con 3

| Damage dealt with axes is increased by 15%| Absorbs a portion of lifeforce from a chopped foe.

“Holy shit.” Noah gawked at the System’s description.

“Where?” Thraz asked, head spinning.

“Look, you fool.” Noah thrust the newly gained Pathstone into Thraz’s hands.

The moment the dragonborn took hold of the stone, he stomped on the spot like an excited little child. He shoved it into the air, then seemed to realise something as he glanced at Noah with puppy lizard eyes.

“Uh, Noah, who does it belong to?”

Noah didn’t need to think. Thraz was a great warrior that just happened to be loyal. In this place, that was like finding a Burma diamond laying on the streets. No, here, it was worth far more. Every move, every action, was life or death.

With that in mind, it was a perfect upgrade to Thraz. And in turn, a majority power increase to Noah.

“It’s yours,” Noah said with a smile.

“This is my moment!” Thraz boomed out a laugh, his words were so loud that the ceiling collapsed further. A thud followed.

A small, monstrous creature with intelligent eyes glared at them. It stood perhaps only to Noah’s thighs, and it had small pointed ears that twitched at the monster's anger. Then it sent a fleeting look to the rusted and split plaque that was once golden, and lustrous. It tutted.

“You bumbling idiots,’ it spat. “You ruined my pay day!”

Noah was confused. Thraz even more so.

A black and white red panda was berating them? The situation was absurd, perhaps more confusing than entering a world with elves, and monsters.

“Why you got your damned mouth open, trying to catch flies?” The black panda asked, taking a step back. “Don’t tell me you’re one of them strange jungle fly snatchers in human and scaly form.”

“What? No. I’m human, and he’s a dragonborn.” Noah jabbed his thumb against Thraz’s tough scales, before continuing, “Besides, who are you to call us strange. Black panda.”

“Black panda? Is that a bad thing?”

“No. They’re cute, actually.”

Thraz laughed. “You’re right Noah, it is quite cute.”

“I’m not cute!” The black panda hissed, baring its fangs.

“Aw, he’s hissing.” Thraz pointed at the small creature.

“Not. Cute.” The black panda brandished a pair of curved daggers. Despite the light pouring in from the outside, there was no glimmer from his weapons. It was as if they were sharpened darkness.

“Alright, stop!” Noah shouted, and with his words, Krall, and Gluttony both took a step forward as a warning. “If you’re friendly, we don’t want a fight. But if you do…”

Noah’s voice turned cold. “Then I’ll have to see you as an enemy. It’s dark times out here.”

The black panda turned silent, before hiding his dual blades. He nodded. “Yeah, you got that right. You lot are the first non-talking ghosts I’ve met on this fucking island. The name’s Pillow.”

His name’s Pillow?

Noah didn’t know what to do, but Thraz did. He stifled a laugh, trying his damndest not to burst out in racious laughter. All the while Noah’s lips twitched.

The black panda’s hands hovered over his weapons, as if saying that he didn’t mind slicing them up into little pieces

Noticing the warning face of the panda, Noah changed the subject. “Non-talking ghosts?”

The words implied…

“Oh yeah, there’s a bunch of talking ghosts in the nearby town. Seven of them by my count,” Pillow said. “But you’ve gotta be careful. Some of them bite.”

“Bite?” Noah asked.

“Not physically, but they do strange… Ghostly things. I don't really know, I’m not a damned ghost expert. You’ll have to see for yourself,” Pillow said, suddenly smiling. “How about I take you to them?”