I continued north.
Sun in the east, shadow pointing west.
As long as I kept going north, I'd find the thicket.
I'd find Waspy and Brownie.
I told myself this.
The surrounding trees remained unfamiliar.
Leaves broad, deep green, trunks crawling with vines.
The air held dampness, mixed with earth and rotting leaves.
Completely different from where I'd lived before.
Every few steps I stopped to observe.
Pricked up my ears to listen.
Sniffed the air.
These were survival basics in the forest.
One careless moment and I might be targeted by predators lurking in shadows.
Walked about an hour.
My stomach began rumbling.
Ate three pieces last night, only two left in the space.
Had to hunt soon, replenish food.
I slowed my pace, observing surroundings more alertly.
Walked a bit further.
Rustling sounds came from bushes ahead.
I immediately stopped, body lowered, hiding behind a tree.
Observed carefully.
Bush leaves were shaking.
Something inside.
After a few seconds, a magic beast emerged from the bushes.
Body about my size, slender build, short limbs, very long tail.
Tail tip had barbs that looked sharp.
I checked its information.
[Spike-Tail Weasel]
[Level: 4/15]
[HP: 60/60]
[MP: 20/20]
[Strength: 7]
[Defense: 5]
[Speed: 14]
[Luck: 6]
[Agile small magic beast, feeds on insects and small animals, tail barbs carry mild toxin]
Level 4.
Speed 14, bit slower than me.
But strength only 7, defense also only 5.
Should be able to handle it.
I observed the Spike-Tail Weasel's movements.
It sniffed around on the ground, searching for food.
Occasionally raised its head to look around alertly.
Very cautious.
I hid behind the tree, waiting for opportunity.
The weasel slowly approached my direction.
Five meters.
Four meters.
Three meters.
Now!
I leaped from behind the tree, pouncing at the weasel.
The weasel reacted fast, immediately turning.
Tail whipped toward me like a lash.
I shifted my body mid-air, barely dodging.
"BAM!"
Landed, claws scraping ground to steady myself.
The weasel had already gained distance, body arched, tail raised high.
Tail barbs gleamed darkly.
It stared at me, eyes wary.
I didn't immediately attack, just slowly circled the weasel.
It also turned, always keeping me in sight.
Tail tense, ready to strike anytime.
I suddenly accelerated, charging left.
The weasel immediately reacted, tail sweeping.
I changed direction at the last moment, rushing right.
The weasel's tail swept empty air.
I seized the chance to pounce, claws pinning its back.
Opened my mouth toward its neck.
"SLASH!"
Hit! But wound very shallow!
[Spike-Tail Weasel HP: 45/60]
The weasel shrieked, body twisting.
Tail stabbed from below.
I released my bite, jumping aside.
Tail grazed my abdomen, taking some fur.
Close call.
If struck, though toxin wasn't strong, would still affect movement.
The weasel immediately turned after landing.
Wound on its neck bleeding, but it could still move.
Its eyes became more vicious.
We faced off.
I waited for opportunity.
It also waited.
After a few seconds, the weasel attacked first.
It charged at me, very fast.
Tail swaying behind, ready to strike anytime.
I didn't retreat.
Waited until it closed to certain distance.
I suddenly leaped.
Used the "Leap" skill.
Jumped above its head.
The weasel's tail stabbed where I'd been standing—struck empty air.
I fell from above, all four paws pressing on its back.
Opened my mouth toward its nape.
"SLASH!"
[Spike-Tail Weasel HP: 30/60]
The weasel struggled violently.
It rolled on the ground, trying to shake me off.
I bit down tight.
Its tail stabbed from the side.
I was forced to release, jumping away.
The weasel staggered up.
Already had two bite wounds, blood flowing continuously.
But still resisting.
I charged at the weasel again.
This time I didn't dodge.
Direct frontal collision.
Weasel's tail stabbed—I shifted to avoid vitals.
Tail struck my shoulder.
"SLASH!"
[HP: 95/155]
Hurt!
And there was numbness.
But I endured.
Using the collision's momentum, I bit the weasel's throat.
Yanked hard.
"CRUNCH!"
[Spike-Tail Weasel HP: 15/60]
The weasel's throat was torn open.
Blood gushed out.
It collapsed on the ground, convulsing.
I released my bite, backing away several steps.
The shoulder wound ached faintly, somewhat numb.
But not a big problem.
The weasel lay on the ground, HP still dropping.
[Spike-Tail Weasel HP: 10/60]
Its eyes changed from vicious to fearful.
Looking at me.
I walked over.
Ready to deliver the final blow.
Just as I opened my mouth—
The weasel suddenly made a low sound.
Not threatening, not angry.
But... pleading?
I froze.
The weasel's eyes filled with fear, body trembling slightly.
It was begging me to spare it.
I looked at it.
Before, I would have killed it without hesitation.
Beast meat could restore HP and magic power, plus gain experience.
But now...
I recalled last night's thoughts.
I needed a team.
I needed more companions.
Spike-Tail Weasel speed 14—though not as fast as me, not slow either.
And its small size made it suitable for scouting.
If I subdued it...
"You want to live?"
The weasel trembled and nodded, making weak whimpering sounds.
"Then submit." I said.
"Follow me, I'll let you live."
"Otherwise, I'll kill you now."
The weasel's eyes flickered.
Fear, hesitation, unwillingness.
"I... I'm willing..." It said weakly.
Finally, it lowered its head.
[Spike-Tail Weasel HP: 8/60]
I walked over, pressing my paw on it.
Then put it in the space.
The weasel's figure vanished.
I sank my consciousness into the space.
The weasel lay on the space's floor, gasping heavily.
Wounds still bleeding, but at least wouldn't die immediately.
I took out a piece of Burrow Rat meat from the space.
Tossed it to it.
"Eat."
The weasel looked at the meat, then at me.
Hesitated, then began eating.
I left it in the space.
Then my consciousness returned to reality.
Checked my status.
[HP: 95/155]
Shoulder injury wasn't serious, but numbness remained.
I took out the last piece of meat from the space and began eating.
Chewing, swallowing.
Warmth slowly spread.
Numbness lessened, HP recovering.
[Gained 3 Experience]
[HP: 100/155]
[MP: 75/110]
[Experience: 180/200]
Much better.
Though food in the space was gone, at least gained a new member.
I released the weasel from the space.
It lay on the ground, looking at me weakly.
After eating, HP recovered to around 30.
At least wouldn't die now.
"Stand up." I said.
The weasel struggled to stand.
Though still very weak, could move.
"You're my subordinate now." I said.
"Follow my commands, I'll let you survive."
"Betray me, I'll kill you."
The weasel lowered its head.
"I... understand." Its voice was small.
Though unwillingness still showed in its eyes, at least it obeyed.
I nodded with satisfaction.
Subdued by force.
This was also a method.
No need for healing, no need for persuasion.
Just beat it into submission, let it know resistance was meaningless.
Then take it as my own.
"Scout ahead." I said.
"If you find danger, report immediately."
The weasel looked at me.
"Yes." It answered quietly, turning forward.
Though still bleeding, movements had recovered considerably.
I followed behind, keeping some distance.
Tested it out.
To put it in or take it out, had to walk beside it and touch it with my paw.
Somewhat troublesome.
In battle, this limitation would be fatal.
But at least, I had my first member subdued by force.
I looked at the weasel ahead.
Though it had submitted, I could feel it wasn't willing.
Just feared my strength, temporarily obeying.
Given the chance, it might flee.
But that was fine.
As long as it was useful, I'd keep it.
If it dared betray...
I'd let it know the consequences.
We continued north.
Weasel scouting ahead, me following behind.
Though crude, this coordination was better than me alone.
Walked about an hour.
The weasel suddenly stopped, turning to look at me.
Used its paw to point ahead.
I immediately became alert, lowering my body.
Slowly approached.
Behind the bushes ahead, a magic beast was foraging.
I checked its information.
[Horned Rabbit]
[Level: 5/15]
[HP: 80/80]
[MP: 30/30]
[Strength: 8]
[Defense: 6]
[Speed: 15]
[Luck: 7]
[Agile herbivorous magic beast, small horn on forehead, good at running and jumping]
Level 5, one level higher than the weasel.
But just foraging, hadn't discovered us.
I looked at the weasel.
It also looked at me.
Question in its eyes.
I gestured with my paws.
Pointed at it, then at the rabbit's flank.
Then pointed at myself, then straight ahead.
The weasel paused, then nodded.
It understood.
I wanted it to drive from the flank, chase the rabbit toward me.
I'd ambush from the front.
The weasel slowly circled to the side.
Though injured, movements were still agile.
I hid behind bushes, waiting.
A few seconds later.
The weasel suddenly burst from the side, pouncing at the rabbit.
The rabbit shrieked and ran.
Right toward me.
I leaped from behind the bushes, pouncing at the rabbit.
The rabbit saw me, tried to change direction.
But too late.
I bit its neck.
"SLASH!"
[Horned Rabbit HP: 60/80]
The rabbit struggled.
Hind legs kicked at my abdomen.
"BAM!"
[HP: 90/155]
I was kicked away.
But the rabbit's neck was already wounded.
It staggered, trying to flee.
The weasel chased from the side, tail stabbing at its leg.
"SLASH!"
[Horned Rabbit HP: 45/80]
The rabbit fell.
I immediately rushed up, delivering another bite.
Bit through its throat.
[Horned Rabbit HP: 0/80]
The rabbit convulsed a few times, then stopped.
I released my bite, gasping.
The weasel also stopped, looking at the corpse on the ground.
Our coordination succeeded.
Though crude, though the weasel was clearly reluctant.
But at least, it followed my command.
And indeed, combat efficiency was higher than me alone.
I checked my status.
[Gained 12 Experience]
[Experience: 192/200]
Almost leveling up.
Only 8 experience away.
I began processing the rabbit's corpse.
Cut the meat into pieces, put them in the space.
The weasel watched from the side.
I tossed it a piece of meat.
"Eat."
The weasel looked at the meat, then at me.
Then lowered its head and began eating.
I also ate a piece.
[Gained 4 Experience]
[HP: 100/155]
[MP: 85/110]
I looked at the weasel.
It was also recovering.
Though injuries weren't fully healed, at least could keep moving.
"Let's go." I said.
"Keep heading north."
The weasel nodded.
"Yes, boss." It said quietly.
Followed behind me.
We continued forward.
Sun had risen overhead.
Noon now.
As I walked, I thought.
Subduing by force was indeed viable.
Just beat the opponent into submission, make it yield.
Though this submission might not be as genuine as Waspy and Brownie's.
But at least, they'd follow orders.
And if I had enough strength to suppress them.
They wouldn't dare betray.
I glanced at the weasel behind me.
It kept its head low, silently following.
Though unwillingness still showed in its eyes, there was more obedience.
That was enough.
When I build a real team.
By then...
I recalled that wolf pack, teeth clenched.
Someday, I'd make them pay!