Defense specialization and the contents within the egg.
“Ooh!”
“Born, huh!”
They smile, pleased.
From the deep green egg emerges a turtle slightly smaller than the egg itself.
Its body is the same deep green, moving slowly.
From the purple egg comes a fox with fur as white as snow.
The fox stretches several times, testing its body, then gently floats a violet flame in the air, watching its magic.
“Ah… a fox from an egg… unexpected.”
“Monsters, so that part doesn’t matter, maybe.”
As they speak, the turtle approaches Maple. The fox approaches Sally.
They cautiously stroke the creatures. Both close their eyes, seeming to enjoy it.
At the same time, the eggs begin to glow faintly.
The glow intensified. The two eggs transformed into a pair of purple and green rings.
They reach out and lift them.
"Item name... Bond Bridge. Equipping this allows cooperation with certain monsters... I guess... Can't take it off now, huh?"
Sally's explanation covered only the ring's most crucial ability. Maple confirms the power with her own eyes.
Bond Bridge
While equipped, cooperation with certain monsters becomes possible.
One monster per ring.
When a monster dies, it enters a state of slumber within the ring and cannot be summoned for one day.
They relax. The monsters do not vanish immediately upon death.
Had the system been different, they would have hesitated to use the rings in battle.
Mm… a ring, huh. I’ve got plenty of decorative items, so maybe I’ll take off the Forest Queen’s Ring. I can recover HP with meditation anyway.
When the two slipped on the rings, the two creatures rubbed against each other, as if pleased.
Ahaha, it tickles—!
Hmm... mmmff mmmff...
The two had been playing, but Sally noticed something.
The child’s status can be seen now.
The ring’s effect, perhaps. Beneath her own status display, another status appears.
They confirm the contents.
Nameless
Level One
HP 250/250
MP 30/30
【STR 30】
[VIT 150]
【AGI 15】
【DEX 10】
【INT 20】
Skill
[Clamped down]
Nameless
Level One
HP 80/80
MP 120/120
【STR 10】
【VIT 15】
[AGI 70]
【DEX 75】
【INT 90】
Skill
[Foxfire]
Above: turtle. Below: fox. Status.
Even though it is a monster’s child, its stats are reasonably established from birth.
“Being nameless means… we should give it a name, don’t you think?”
“Right, that makes sense.”
The two deliberate over names.
For a while, the monsters play and wrestle with one another.
Their relationship appears harmonious.
“Alright, I’ve decided.”
“Me too!”
Once each has thought of a name, they approach their respective monsters.
They crouch down, bringing their eyes level with the creatures’.
“The turtle’s name is Shiroppu. Mm-hmm… maple syrup, just like me!”
Maple grins, boastful without reason.
The turtle seems pleased with the name, rubbing its body against the girl’s side.
One human and one creature play together, clearly enjoying themselves.
“How about… Oboro? No? Does that not work?”
Sally speaks as if asking the fox.
The fox, satisfied, leaps upward and clings to Sally’s neck, wrapping itself around like a scarf.
Sally’s neck is wrapped in a scarf and fur, thick and warm.
A calm atmosphere drifted through the air.
Maple suddenly shouted.
Before her eyes floated a blue screen displaying stats.
“Ah… that! I-I mean… could it be…?”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Sally stepped closer, curious, peering at the screen.
“Eh!? Ah—don’t look!”
“Hm… ah, I see…”
Sally saw the screen for only five seconds, but she understood.
Maple had been viewing Shiroppu’s stats, staring intently at one detail. Sally’s sharp eyes recognized what Maple had not wanted seen.
“Maple… you have lower AGI than a turtle…”
“Ugghh!!”
Shiroppu: [AGI 15] Maple: [AGI 0]
“Turtle and Maple… that’s what you are…”
“Don’t say it like that! Not like a rabbit versus a turtle! I’d win in a race, at least! Different leg lengths!”
“Then… shall we try?”
“Eh… maybe I’ll pass on that. Hehehe…”
She feared she might not recover if she lost.
If that happened, she would abandon her defense-focused build and invest in AGI instead.
Maple felt that possibility.
She thought it unnecessary to do so.
Running away was all she was good for.
“Maybe stats resemble those of one’s foster parent? Maple and Shiroppu both focus on defense. Hinata has high agility.”
“Possibly.”
The two examined the stats of the two more creatures.
“Can’t equip gear… but maybe we can raise their level?”
Could raising their level grant stat points? Or would stats improve on their own?
The ring’s description did not specify.
Shall we try raising their level first?
Hmm... I’d rather not be defeated…
Sally spoke, her fingers brushing the fox that had moved from her neck to her head.
Then, what if I capture a monster for you?
A good idea… perhaps. Let’s try that for now.
Maple said, “Wait for me, Shiroppu,” and patted her head before stepping out through the裂け目 toward the monster capture.
After ten minutes.
Maple returned, holding bats in both hands.
The bats were motionless, as if paralyzed.
Maple placed them on the ground.
Um… Shiroppu! [Devour]!
Dazed! [Foxfire]!
Shiroppu tore the bat's body apart.
Hinata burned the bat with purple flame.
A red effect illuminated the crack. The bat dissolved into light.
"Aah... not leveling up."
"Same here."
"Probably... these are children of a strong monster. That's why the required experience is so high?"
Defeating the bat would have raised a level-one player's level for certain.
"Need more?"
"Can I ask you? I don't have the skill to capture them..."
"Sure! That's proper use of talent. But if anything happens while I'm gone, rely on Shiroppu."
"I'll protect it firmly."
Hearing Sally's reply, Maple turned once more toward the outside.
Maple returned twenty minutes later.
She carried eight bats, gathered in her arms.
Something like a parent bird’s feeling.
Doing nothing different from a parent bird.
The bats thud to the ground.
Maple has Shiroppu and Hinata each take down four. Both rise to level two.
Shiroppu
Lv2
HP 300/300
MP 30/30
【STR 35】
【VIT 180】
【AGI 15】
【DEX 10】
【INT 20】
Skills
【Bite】【Shell Defense】
Hinata
Lv2
HP 85/85
MP 130/130
【STR 15】
【VIT 15】
【AGI 85】
【DEX 80】
【INT 95】
Skills
【Foxfire】【Flame Column】
Status points rise on their own.
Looks like it. Their growth rate is remarkable.
Maple hunts several more times for the sake of the two promising ones.
Yet the monsters nearby are few. Their levels do not rise.
Rename the ring.