Chapter 318 (2/2)

“I am…” It rasped, its voice echoing out strangely, clearly not used to the finer points of speaking. “Neveah.”

“Randidly Ghosthound,” Randidly said simply, reaching out and touching the bone armor that covered its head. Strangely, it was warm. The touch was electric, Aether freely jumping between them.

“I have a body…” It- well, it sorta seemed feminine, and the name… so she said quietly.

With a great effort, Randidly stood, a small tremble in his body. The sheer volume of Aether that they exchanged was still difficult for a human body to withstand, no matter how high the stats were.

“That’s not all,” Randidly added. “Now you have the chance to explore the world… would you like to take a look?”

*****

Jemma sat on the back of Rhaidon, her new companion, patting his ears idly, as she watched the cook move around with his new scary monster companion. The beast was probably 10 meters long, and 1 meter thick. At first Jemma was very puzzled how it was able to move, either like a snake or more like an inchworm, but it appeared that instead, the thing just used a very advanced and specialized earth manipulation to press its body forward.

Jemma wondered whether the thing felt like it was laying still the entire time, while the world moved around ti.

It wasn’t the largest monster, but there certainly was… something about it. Trembling slightly, Jemma looked away, allowing her system to settle down to something closer to baseline. Even looking too long at the cook and his monster activated her passive skill. How strong were they…?

Peeking over her shoulder, Jemma’s eyes traced the huge bone carapace that covered most of the body of the worm. Giant overlapping plates of bone, sort of functioning like over-large scales, made it so that whatever vulnerable bits it had were not visible to its enemies.

Only on its face could you see its flesh, a metallic, grey-purple color, and the inky black eyes that it housed. As she watched, the creature seemed to roll and flail around, feeling out its body. Jemma wasn’t too sure what was going on. It honestly looked like the creature forgot how to move.

Perhaps the joining with the cook had some sort of feedback, because of how strong he was…?

Rhaidon felt her question and followed her gaze. Then he informed her, sorta clumsily, with many images, that part of the deal of becoming the soulbond companion of the cook was to gift up your free will to a companion he already had. It would be simply offering your body to him, which was why most did not choose to try and become his companion, or offered their young.

That gave Jemma a slight chill, but she was also curious, because when Rhaidon referred to the cook, he sent not an image, really, but a swirl of colors. Deep, vibrant emerald. Bright, vivid orange-crimson. And finally a deep, ashy grey. As best as she could, she asked why he was those things.

Rhaidon just gave her a look that said, because he is.

A commotion caught her attention, and Jemma looked up to find the Wild Rider only a few feet away, her head tilted to the side. At first she froze, but then, as Jemma realized that her tremor hadn’t started, she cautiously relaxed. Could this person really not be this powerful…?

Or would it be just like it was with the cook at first, she was just unable to truly sense his strength until she witnessed it with her own eyes…?

But the Wild Rider just beckoned her closer, and asked, “Can I ask you for a favor?”