Chapter 363 PanPig
"Three hundred lives from a single beast?" He stared at the notification. The wolves had given him around 30 to 50 each. This creature had given him six times that amount in one kill. Of course, it was a given that the wolves were lower level and weren't nearly as strong as the Panpig, but the difference was still large.
"The difference between a 0-Star and an E-Rank beast is this large?"
Moon's expression darkened.
The spiritual energy increase he had been expecting didn't come. He waited a moment, turning his focus inward to check. But there was nothing new, the acupoint sat at the same level it had been before the kill.
The wolves had given him spiritual energy. But this creature, despite being far stronger and providing six times the lives, had given him nothing.
Moon looked down at the massive corpse still bleeding out across the clearing.
"The wolves gave me spiritual energy, but this thing didn't." He frowned. "What's the difference between a 0-Star beast and an E-Rank beast? Is that why?"
He didn't have an answer. Not yet. He would need to ask one of the Evolvers back at the hideout, or dig through the forums when he returned to Earth.
"For now, I need to find more of these. The lives they provide are too good to ignore." Moon muttered.
~Growl~
A sound escaped his stomach, loud enough to echo off the nearby rocks.
Before Moon could say anything, Mirage walked up beside him and nuzzled his nose gently against Moon's side.
Moon smiled and patted the horse's head. "It seems like we're both hungry."
He stored the beast's body inside his storage ring and looked around. "Let's dine on some Second Order meat, shall we?"
Moon walked with Mirage back toward the area where he had fought the wolf pack earlier. The clearing was surrounded by large rocky boulders on most sides, creating a natural enclosure that offered decent cover. Cooking there was his best option in terms of safety. The boulders would block the smell from carrying too far, and the enclosed space reduced the chance of luring something powerful toward them during their meal.
He could have returned to the underground hideout, but it wasn't close, and Moon didn't want to waste time traveling back and forth. His hunt wasn't finished yet. The thread between his skill and acupoint still needed more work before the foundation was fully set. Once that was done, he would head back for rest. But not before.
For now, it was time to eat Second Order meat for the first time.
Moon set up the cauldron between two boulders and lit a fire beneath it. He carved a generous portion from the PanPig's body and dropped it in, seasoning it with the herbs and spices he kept in his storage ring.
The meat took longer to cook than First Order beast meat. The flesh was denser, tougher, and required more sustained heat before it softened. Moon kept the fire high, using the opportunity to weave the [Advanced Elemental Body] skill into his acupoint as he waited for the meat to cook patiently.
When it was finally ready, he threw several large chunks for Mirage to eat first. Watching Mirage eat, Moon smiled before taking his own bite.
He chewed slowly. The meat was tender enough after the long cook, and the herbs had done their job in masking whatever raw flavor the beast originally carried.
But the taste wasn't great. There was a gamey, almost sour flavour that no amount of seasoning could fully cover. It sat heavy on the tongue, and it wasn't pleasing to say the least.
But…Moon didn't care, his eyes were fixed on the notification that had appeared after the first few mouthfuls.
[+1 Constitution]
He kept eating. Bite after bite, forcing the meat down despite the unpleasant flavor, waiting for another notification to appear, but unfortunately It didn't.
Moon chewed through the rest of his portion in silence. It appeared like the single point of Constitution was all the PanPig's meat had to offer him.
He set the bowl down and wiped his mouth. One attribute point from one meal wasn't much, but it was still a gain. Over time, with enough Second Order beasts, those single points would add up.
Beside him, Mirage was eating his share with considerably less complaint. The horse devoured the meat without hesitation, apparently unbothered by the taste.
"You'll eat anything, won't you?" Moon shook his head, a wry smile on his face.
Moon watched Mirage reaching for another piece of meat when he heard rapid footsteps closing in from the east. A glint flashed in his eyes as his body tensed. He stood up from the rock he sat on in an instant, using the large boulder as cover to scan the surroundings beyond.
The footsteps were fast and uneven, the rhythm of something moving at full speed without caring about the noise it made. Moon grabbed the cauldron and shoved it into his storage ring. The fire, the meat, the smell, all of it vanished in a blink. Mirage that was eating immediately looked at Moon in confusion, but seeing the look in his eyes, he realised that it was serious. He gulped down the mouthful, as he tried to peek with Moon, Moon immediately raised his hand to stop him from moving.
Mirage did as told and didn't force it. Moon's reasoning was simple, If whatever was approaching had been drawn by the scent, removing it now wouldn't undo the damage. But if it hadn't, there was no reason to broadcast his location. Moon summoned his staff and positioned himself behind one of the larger boulders, pressing his back against the cold stone. The footsteps were close now. Very close. He could hear heavy breathing mixed in with them. They were ragged, desperate gasps that came in short bursts. 'This isn't the breathing of a beast…'
A figure burst through the treeline and stumbled into the clearing just a few tens of meters away from him. It was a woman.