Section 3: Half-beast

Forget it, although it is more embarrassing to walk back, there seems to be no other choice. It's okay to resurrect something as a mount, but Ashruphat is worried about meeting some acquaintances along the way. Fortunately, although the horses are gone, the travel costs have increased, and the accommodation and food along the way should not be a problem.

"Master, something was following us. Carrie suddenly warned.

Ashrufat stopped. He was not far from the town now, and there were fields of ripe ears of rice all around. If something is hidden in the field, it will definitely separate the ears of rice and be visible at a glance. And the road itself has no obstacles to hide anyone.

However, Carrie can't go wrong. Ashruphat believes this.

Ashruphat was alert, but even his sight and hearing, which were far beyond normal humans, did not detect any suspicious signs.

"Master, that thing is still stalking us. Carrie warned again.

Ashrufat stopped, closed his eyes, and focused all his attention on his ears. There was silence in all directions, without any suspicious noise...... On the left, there's something walking in the fields!

Ashrufat opened his eyes and stared intently at the location of the voice. The ears of rice are short and dense, and if there is something hiding in them, even the invisible one can be seen. But there was nothing suspicious in the rice fields. His gaze turned to the edge of the rice paddy. Then he saw the half-beast.

The body of a half-beast can actually change color. Its body changed to the same color as its surroundings, hiding itself, and if it wasn't sure that something was there, Ashrufat wouldn't have been able to notice the half-beast's presence.

"What do you want to do?" said Ashrufat. "You've caused me enough trouble!"

The half-beast slowly walked from the rice field to the main road. Aside from their hair and size, half-beasts are really not much different from humans. But if you look closely, you can see that the forelimbs and lower limbs of the half-beast are equally powerful. Half-beasts can walk upright, but they can also run on all fours.

"I asked you to leave, but I didn't expect you to go around stealing something to eat. If you get caught, you'll at least be back in the cage. Ashrufat sighed. "I definitely won't help you a second time. ”

"Mi...... Mimilu's belly ...... Hungry......" The half-beast replied in a stiff tone.

"Well, you've stolen enough food, and now that you've solved the trouble you've caused, and you've left the city, what are you doing with me?

Ashruphat turned and walked away, but the half-beast rushed up quickly, surprisingly fast. All of a sudden, the half-beast was already in front of Ashrufat.

"What do you want to do?" said Ashrufat, surprised.

"You saved...... Mimilu ...... So...... Mimilu wants ...... Repay you ......"

"Your name is Mimilu? As for the reward, forget it, I don't need anything right now, except for a horse. You're not going to have horses, are you?"

"Mimilu...... Zhilu Dao...... Where are the horses...... There are a lot of ...... Horse ......"

"Do you mean the horse market over there? Unfortunately, the horses have owners. In order to help you pay the compensation, I can't afford to buy a horse anymore. I should buy you something to eat, it's much cheaper. ”

"It's not there, Mimilu said...... Arima...... Those horses...... Be...... Not part of ...... Anyone's ...... Who catches ...... It is...... Whose ......"

"Where is there such a good thing?" Ashrufat was really tempted. Like him, dressed like a knight and carrying a full body of luggage (which is not at all much behind the saddle, and it is very cumbersome to carry on the back), it is really not suitable for walking. If someone sees this embarrassment, it is likely to leave a lifelong laughing stock.

"In Mimilu...... of the hometown...... ...... nearby"

The half-beast must have lived in the Danden Mountains. Will there be horses? But, if you think about it, it's possible. Whether horses, cows, or sheep, domestic animals raised by humans often flee to uninhabited grasslands or forests. From this point of view, a few horses running into the mountains should not be too outrageous. And this half-beast probably won't lie to himself.

"Is your hometown far from here?"

"Need ...... Need to go...... See...... Three times...... Sun...... The time of the fall. There is a shortcut...... Just see ...... Once...... The sun sets...... Time ......"

"Three days, one day short, ah, that's not a problem. Ashrufat thought for a moment. "Well, you can take me there. We take a shortcut. ”

......

Ashruphat made his way through the hills at a rapid pace.

This low hill is called the Black Mound, and these are mounds of earth mixed with large rocks. Steep and rugged paths winding around it. These hills are not high, but the terrain they make up is extremely complex, and some of the trails are only accessible to goats. These paths are not made by human hands, but by creatures that live among the hills, tread by their paws or hooves for thousands of years.

The complex terrain had little effect on Ashrufat, who could easily climb over the steepest slopes or jump off steep rock faces. And Mimilu seems to be like a fish in water. Her body displays astonishing dexterity and speed in this complex terrain, and it can be said that she is walking on the ground.

"You...... Not ordinary people...... The speed ......" Mimilu stopped on a large rock at the top of the hill and licked the back of her hand like a cat. Of course, it may be better to use the back of the claw. The half-beast has rather sharp claws on its fingers.

"It's just that I'm in better shape. Ashrufat replied casually. Mimilu's speed is amazing. Before entering the mountains, he hid most of his luggage and now carries only shields and weapons. But even though he has tried to lose as much weight as possible, Mimilu still has to stop and wait for him often.

This is the shortest road. According to Mimilu, it will arrive in half a day. However, it is clear that Mimilu is judging by her own forward speed. The sun was almost setting, and the end of the black mound was still not in sight.

Ashrufat could clearly feel the changes in his body, which made his heart half scared, half excited. After a day of walking on this deadly terrain, without eating or drinking, he was not tired at all, nor was he hungry or thirsty. It was a completely different feeling than when he walked out of the desert. At that time, he was almost exhausted.

"Master, your strength is growing fast. In her head, Carrie explained softly.

If he continued like this, perhaps he would have to consider occasionally disguising his somewhat overly strong physical abilities. The next thought popped into his mind, and he couldn't help but shudder.

No, no, his teeth are still normal and not getting longer. Moreover, he did not have any thirst for blood.

It must be said that there is a change, but the body has become stronger, the body is more agile, and the hunger and thirst have become duller.

These are all benign changes – especially for a knight who is about to set foot on the battlefield.

He had a slight understanding of the terrain around him—after all, in theory, the Danden Mountains were his fiefdoms, and he had to care a little about them.

This mountainous area is surrounded by black hills. And even the smoothest part of the "Black Hill" (the most difficult part of the road they walked) is a great obstacle for ordinary people. Moreover, the black mounds are extremely barren and completely uncultivateable and cannot be grazing. Due to the influence of the Black Mound, the Danden Mountains became a completely unsuitable area for human habitation.

If a group of migrants did have to cross the Black Hill (regardless of the difficulty and the inevitable high losses on the way) and relocate to the mountains, they would be completely cut off from the outside world and would receive no help. Immigrants are left to their own devices. No one knows what happens to the half-beasts in the mountains of Ludao, but I don't think they welcome humans.

Mimilu suddenly disappeared. But when Ashrufat found her again, she appeared in front of him with a rabbit in her hand.

"It's ...... Rabbit...... Child...... OK...... Eat ......" Mimilu handed him the rabbit.

Ashrufat pulled out a knife and almost subconsciously skinned the rabbit and gutted it out. He doesn't feel hungry, but his body doesn't seem to resist a rabbit in any way. He put the cleaned rabbit aside, and then found some dry wood from all around—there were a lot of dry bushes here.

"I didn't ...... No...... Fire...... But you can...... Eat ...... raw"

Ashruphat seized the ubiquitous wind of magic in the air and poured a wisp of flame on the dead branches. The dead branch was immediately ignited, and the flames rose exaggeratedly half a man's height.

Ashrufat took the rabbit with a stick and grilled it over the fire. Although he didn't bring any spices, the aroma of the barbecue quickly wafted away. Mimi purped on the side and swallowed her saliva.

Ashrufat smiled and handed the rabbit in his hand to Mimilu. Although Mimilu's eyes were full of appetite, she didn't take it.

"It's ...... Here you go...... Food...... To humanity...... Food. ”

"I'm not called a human, I'm called Ashrufat. And I'm not an ordinary person. I'm not hungry right now. He could tell. Although Mimilu was walking on the ground in the black mound, she was already tired. After all, they've been walking around this place all day.

Mimilu grabbed the rabbit and took a sharp bite. As she ate, she kept looking up at Ashrufat's expression.

"You...... It's a ...... Good...... Very good...... Human ......"

"I said, my name is Ashrufat. He shrugged. "After eating the rabbit, can we move on?"

"Human ...... Yes you can't...... Seeing ...... at night The ...... of things," Mimilu said in surprise.

"I said, I'm not an ordinary person. When he said this, in fact, Ashrufat was also a little surprised in his heart. Because the sun has set at this time, only the afterglow of the sunset is left in the sky, and it is supposed to be when the light is dim and the field of vision becomes narrow. But the light was dim he could feel, but there was no obstacle to seeing things. His vision was as wide as ten at noon, and he could see something in the distance.

This is also a benign change. He thought so.