Hawk says "Ah, I apologize! I didn't think about how it might seem to you. You don't trust me yet but knowing that you have valuable information I have to act accordingly."

"As I said, it's fine."

Isabella says "Well, I have had a long day and would like to get some sleep before having to walk all day again. If that is alright with you, Ash?"

"You know, you don't need my permission. But you bring up a good point, we should all get some rest."

Isabella pulls a tent out of her inventory and climbs into it once she sets it up. Hawk just rolls himself in a bedroll by the fire. I wait until both are asleep before pulling out Miguel's sword and laying it across my lap.

'Create Soulscape!'

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Soulscape has progressed to level 3!

Soulscape

Level: 3

Wis +15

You can create a basic soulscape.

As soon as the soulscape forms around me I focus and drag the shadow demon out of the sword and into the soulscape with me. Only once it is in the soulscape and immediately attacks me do I realize that it is a rank four shadow demon. Dodging its attack out of reflex allows me to counterattack with Blitz and cut the attacking arm off.

The shadow demon backs off when it loses an arm, instead of chasing it I stop to eat the arm. I have no intention of letting any of its power escape me. Once I'm done eating I try to summon the shadow demon back to me but it doesn't work.

It isn't strong enough to escape my soulscape but apparently it is strong enough to stop me from just summoning it. Oh well, that just means I get to enjoy the hunt! I set off after the demon, easily tracking it by scent.

The demon is crafty, it actually sets an ambush for me. Fortunately for me the demon completely underestimated my speed and I am already past the point when it lands. The demon had run past then circled back and climbed a tree to wait for me.

Hearing the demon land behind me I spin around and slash with Blitz before I even see the demon. As my eyes lock onto the demon, Blitz has already swept past and I think I missed until the demon's head falls off. I guess my reflexes have gotten better as well, good to know!

As I sit down and eat I use my imagination to play some music, that is the one thing I think I miss the most from the old world. After listening to a few rock songs and eating the rest of the demon I end the soulscape and return to the real world.

Core Upgrade Progress: 100%

*DING*

Congratulations! Core Upgrade is complete! You have become rank four!

Rank Four! HP +500 DP +100 Endurance +50 Physical Resist +15 Poison Resist +30

Core Upgrade Progress: 10% +10 DP

Core Upgrade Progress: 20% +10 DP

Core Upgrade Progress: 30% +10 DP

Core Upgrade Progress: 35%

Drog 'Wow! I can't believe you are already rank four!! That took me over five hundred years!'

'I'm guessing you didn't have the strength to kill and eat demons that were higher rank than you.'

Drog 'Of course not! I was just a normal demon, not a monster like you!'

'Oh, so I'm a monster now?'

Drog 'Yes! You are my master and you can destroy me, but you are still a monster!'

'If being a monster is what it takes to achieve my goals then I have no problem with that.'

After that Drog doesn't say another word, although I do hear him chuckling very faintly. Leaving Bones to act as our guard I let myself relax and get some sleep. In the morning after a quick breakfast we set off again heading west.

Hawk says "What is it? Why did you stop?"

"I smell horses!"

Hawk says "Just wait, it might not be enemies. We have people out here too."

At Hawk's request I stop and wait instead of going and hunting them, I want to keep moving though, we only walked for two hours before this. After a few minutes three people on horseback appear through the grass.

Hawk says "It is okay, they are rebels."

Hawk stands up and waves the three riders down, they come closer until they can recognize Hawk. Two of them stay watching us while the third rides off quickly, I assume he is reporting to his commander. So we wait another ten minutes, then I can hear a lot of horses approaching.

It turns out there are about eighty rebels in this group and their captain talks to Hawk for a minute before he turns the group and heads west. Thankfully they have two extra horses for Hawk and Isabella so we can pick up our pace quite a bit. I could still easily outrun them if I wanted too but since I plan to work with the rebels I keep pace between Hawk and the captain.

Hawk says "This is captain Ricken, captain this is Ash."

Ricken says "Pleased to meet you, Lord Ash."

"Hah, I am no lord, captain. I am just a warrior."

Ricken says "You may not be a lord yet, but I imagine you will be soon enough."

"What makes you say that?"

Ricken says "Assuming we win, you will play a very large part in our victory. I don't see our leader not rewarding you with at least a title."

"Hm, and do you think the other nobles would tolerate a beastman noble in your kingdom?"

Ricken says "Considering most of the nobles will be new and made from members of the rebellion I don't think it will be too much of an issue."

"Huh, being a noble sounds annoying though."

Isabella says "Don't all men dream of power?"

"Nobles can command power, but the responsibilities attached to it would be boring. Besides, I already have power of a different kind."

Ricken says "True, I am just saying this is my prediction."

"Well, if they try to make me a noble I can just leave the country."