Book Of Divine Creatures

Climbing back up while carrying a big beetle on your back is hard. I never expected this to happen but I managed to return to the top without having myself fall over the deep ravine. Sleepy was obviously sleeping and it looks like a real backpack in my own opinion. Since Sleepy did not really obstruct to my movements, I decided to leave. I untie the rope off the tree and stuff it inside the backpack. Sleepy was still sleeping and even though I pull out Sleepy on the backpack, it didn't wake up, allowing me to put the rope back inside. I put Sleepy back and it it attaches itself on the backpack while still sleeping. I bid my farewell to the parents of the former Li Jin and continue forth towards the forest.

The forest was not that dangerous and as long as you knew the exact places of the safe path, you won't get lost or get dragged by any danger. The memory of the former Li Jin was helpful here allowing me to navigate the place without much trouble of getting lost. The forest was also known home to a few Divine Creatures but most of the time, it was Beastkinds that usually dwell here. But since the Beastkinds were usually hunted as food, they don't dare approach humans easily. Divine Creatures were not viewed as food. It was said that only Beastkinds are treated to be consumed by humans and if a Divine Creature was slaughtered, human authorities will catch the perpetrator and will be hanged on the gallows. Well, that was easy to tell which are Beastkinds and which are Divine Creatures. Beastkinds all induce blood red aura when seen by humans and will attack on sight while Divine Creatures don't unless threatened. Hence, it was already a well known knowledge that I am following right now.

Following the path that the former Li Jin has been using, I didn't get to find any obstructions of Beastkinds and others. Even though I was disappointed, I didn't stop and continue only to realize one thing...

Guuuuu....

I am hungry. For f*ck sake, I have not taken a breakfast yet. I slapped my forehead for forgetting my own tummy filled. How could I ever forget eating? I pulled out my knife. I need to hunt.

Beastkinds comes with different kinds and most of them are similar to cows and chickens but only Beastkinds. They said that eating their meat increases your abilities and capabilities as Tamer. I have no idea what it was but I decided to try hunting. The very first Beastkind that are being hunted by Tamers and other humans are the Cluckads. Cluckads are the Beastkind counterpart of chickens. Though they are bigger than the chickens on Earth, this was definitely a chicken. Hunting them were easy, find their nest first before waiting for the kill. Most nest contains eggs. First thing to do is to kill the mother taking its eggs. Failing to kill the mother of the eggs will induce the wrath of that Cluckads and will fight to death. Cluckads are difficult prey if you fight against it one on one but defeating it via surprise attack, it won't be considered a difficult one.

I look around the area. Cluckads mainly have their nests on the ground and never put them on the trees. Just like chickens, They can fly but not that far like Divine Creature birds that can continue flying on the air. With the help of the old Li Jin's memory, I found a good way of finding a nest.

Cluckads' Nest are basically made with Metal Vines, a specie of thorned vine native in most forests that once it dried up, it would harden and will be resistant to destruction like a real metal. Cluckads are immune to its thorns due to its thorn resistant body and many enemies that dared to prey on their eggs won't be daring to take the eggs off the nest.

The method of finding it was simple. As long as you found a Metal Vine nearby, a nearby nest would also be there. Cluckads covet Metal Vines and as long as they see one, they won't allow anything to take it. Metal Vines are hanging on the trees and were easy to spot due to its red appearance.

I looked around the trees for a while to look for Metal Vines. At first, it was not available whatever I do but then I noticed one set of Metal Vine hanging on a tree. Just below the tree is a nest of the Cluckads. I did not step further from the 10 meter radius. According to many, Cluckads are very vulnerable to intruders. As long as the Cluckads was there on that radius, it will chase and try to kill you. However, its defense consciousness disappear whenever it leaves the nest to find food. Once a predator enters its nest, it won't notice the danger until the last minute, that is why, Cluckads are easy to kill. Just wait on ambush before dealing the blow.

I waited patiently and luckily, the Cluckads mother left its nest, which maybe killing some prey for her to bring. When the Cluckads was nowhere in sight, I quickly his away near the Cluckads' nest, readying my knife. Cluckads might be immune to the Metal Vine but they are still vulnerable to knives.

I look at its nest and there are fist size eggs with red spots on its shell. There are four eggs available for the taking. If I manage to kill the Cluckads, I will be no longer hungry in the morning.

I waited patiently, I didn't move and stay vigilant to my surroundings, sooner or later, that Cluckads would surely arrive.

Not long after, I see the Cluckads Mother returning, I still didn't move, but the knife in my hand is ready. The Cluckads just stay back on its nest and rest, closing its eyes to sleep. Now is my chance!

Shua!

I jump away from my hiding place and dashed forward, the Cluckads was surprised and before it can even move, I stab its neck with sheer force. I didn't stop stabbing and repeated my actions which made the Cluckads savagely thrash about. I did not stop as long as its blood didn't stop flowing. I don't really know where is its artery located but since it is similar to chickens and as long as blood spurts out of its neck, the artery was already damaged which is according to the memories of the previous Li Jin.

It took me quite a few times of suppressing the Cluckads until it stop moving.

Hah! The Cluckads was sure hard to kill, besides, it was really feral and dangerous against me. If I was not able to kill it, I would surely die facing its wrath. Though Sleepy can help, I doubt it can last against the Cluckads' sharp beak. Luckily, its dead. I pick up the eggs from its nest and put it on my backpack while I dragged the body of the Cluckads away. The Metal Vine could be useful but I don't have the proper tool to extract the Metal Vines so I decided to leave with the spoils of war.

It was almost lunchtime when I arrived back on the trail. I quickly made a fire nearby and burn the feathers of the Cluckads since it was one of the hardest task. I don't really care if the burnt feathers taste bad, as long as I can eat, it would be possible. It took me around an hour to finish the job. I butchered the carcass of the Cluckads, taking its organs away and buried it on the hole I just made. The intestines and organs are not for consumption so its a pity to throw it away.

After butchering the Cluckads' carcass, I brought the carcass to a nearby brook. This is the place hunters clean the carcass before bringing them back to town or to the city to sell. Cleaning it was easy and didn't take me quite long. I returned to the camp I made and grilled the parts of the Cluckads. Sleepy woke up and looks interested on the Cluckads as it stares on the Cluckads that was grilled.

The Cluckads meat was easily cooked and once it was cooked for consumption, I quickly dig in. It should be considered brunch since it was already lunchtime and I still have yet to eat breakfast. As I swallow a meat, I heard the voice of the Pocket Dimension again.

"DETECTING BEASTKIND MEAT BEING CONSUMED. AWARDING 1 PEARL."

Huh? Did I hear correctly? A pearl? Isn't that the currency of the Pocket Dimension? I eat another mouthful of the Cluckads but there was no sound. I must be tired, I shook my head before giving Sleepy a meat to eat. To my surprise, Sleepy ate the meat fast and even the bone was consumed. How terrifying.

I split the Cluckads I cooked and gave the half to Sleepy before digging in. I was only about to dig in again when Sleepy burped. Looking on Sleepy, the Cluckads meat I gave was long gone. I was speechless. Is this really a Beetle? Well, this is a Divine Creature. It can eat any kind of things as long as it wanted to eat it. Sleepy returned to my backpack and continued sleeping. I just sighed. I am still hungry and continue eating. When I swallowed another part of the Cluckads meat, the voice once again speak.

"DETECTING BEASTKIND MEAT BEING CONSUMED. AWARDING 1 PEARL."

This time, I make sure to listen carefully and I was not wrong. I heard it was a pearl. So this might be the case of Tamers getting stronger when eating Beastkind meat. In my situation however, since I failed to form a Spiritual World, all of the benefits was given to the pocket dimension. I nodded now. So not only by making some quest can I earn pearls but also by consuming Beastkinds meat. With the discovery, I happily continue my brunch. I am now more optimistic to go to the city.