The next morning when I see how much pain Vacker is in I decide to camp here for the day and let him rest. I hate to lose the time but we won't make much distance with the condition he is in anyway. After a day of rest he should be able to travel again, I'd prefer him to be in better shape before we enter the jungle.

Stopping to rest in the jungle is bound to be much more dangerous, better he rest up before we get there. I will even let him rest for another day if he needs to, which he might after another day of travel. Since we are staying put for today I decide to cook a stew using the hydra meat.

So after breakfast I prepare a pot and put in hydra meat and vegetables from the rations and leave it to simmer all day long. I tell Vacker to just take it easy and rest, his only job today is to heal up. Meanwhile I need to find something to do, if I sit still all day I will go insane.

"Okay, Vacker, don't freak out but I'm going to summon an undead."

Vacker says "You are a necromancer on top of everything else?"

"No, not a necromancer. I just have one summon and it happens to be an undead."

Vacker says "Why didn't you use it before now?"

"I wanted to keep it a secret from the demon lords. As a trump card I guess."

Vacker says "Okay, so why tell me now?"

"Because, I'm going to summon it to guard the camp while I do some exploring."

Vacker says "Okay, let's see it."

'Summon Bones!'

Bones appears as usual and looks around, he seems disappointed when he sees no enemies. I guess it has been a while since I summoned him for a good fight, but I haven't been in any suitable for him. I will just keep him out for a while, there should be some beasts to fight soon.

Vacker says "Wow, he is impressive!"

"Bones, this is Vacker, he is an ally! I want you to protect him and the camp."

Bones chitters at me then nods and starts walking a circle around the camp. I know Bones will do exactly what I told him to so I feel fine about leaving Vacker at camp to rest. I have no specific goal in mind as I wander away from camp, I just need to be moving.

We are still deep in the mountains so the terrain around camp is pretty rough but I move through it easily. I keep my eyes open for dangers but I am also studying the way the mountains are laid out. Who knows, I may need to lead an army this way at some point.

Vacker and I have been following a trail, it hasn't been used often but it isn't too bad for all of that. It however is not something you could move an army over, if we ever have to attack the demon lords we will need another path. Since I have nothing else to do I may as well scout around and see if I can find a better path.

Besides if I can find a better path then Vacker will be able to move faster as well. Mainly it is just something to keep me busy, I'd actually like to find a fight to take my mind off things. It is probably a bad sign that I am starting to enjoy fighting so much, but with what's coming I may as well enjoy it.

As long as I can keep myself under control and can tell friends from foes then it is okay if I go a little crazy. After all, I am not human anymore, and what I have been through would drive anyone crazy. Frankly it is amazing that I haven't snapped yet, I would have to say that is due to the girls helping keep me in check.

They are the reason that all this power hasn't gone to my head yet, well not too much anyway. This time I am not letting my thoughts consume me, I am still paying attention to my surroundings. I can smell various beasts and animals, but they can smell me too and are avoiding me.

My hopes for a good fight seem to be in vain, it doesn't seem like there is anything strong enough to want to challenge me in this area. Which means as long as I stay close to Vacker nothing should try to attack him either. Which means this part of the trip will be boring, but that is a good thing for Vacker.

Growing bored of wandering aimlessly I turn and head back towards camp to check on Vacker. On the way back as I am crossing a stream I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and my arm moves before I can even think about it. When I pull my hand back it is barely wet and there is a fish wriggling on my claws.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Fishing has progressed to level 7!

Fishing

Level 7

Agi +7

You are on your way to being a master.

Since the stew won't be ready until dinner time I guess we can have fish for lunch. I quickly catch several more, clean and gut them, before continuing back to camp. When I reach camp Vacker is napping and Bones is still circling the camp, he will continue until I tell him to stop or something attacks.

Once the fish are over the fire and cooking the smell soon wakes Vacker from his nap. We chat casually over lunch and then he goes back to napping while I try to figure out what to do with myself. The past few weeks have been crazy and I am still fairly stressed out, I haven't really had time to relax.

You would think I would be happy now that I am no longer a prisoner, but I feel like if I relax something will get me. Sitting still just makes me think about things that I don't want to think about. So I need something to distract myself, if only I had a new anime to watch.

Something sci-fi would be perfect, since I'm living in a fantasy world I want something different. Not having anime or manga is probably the only thing I regret about this world. Wait, I've leveled up a lot of skills lately and it has been a while since I examined my status.

'Status!'

Name: Ash

Race: Black Lion Demon Beast

Type: Unique Demon

Rank: 6

Titles: (4) The Merciful, Blessed by the Light, Anti-Hero, Angel Slayer

HP: 3867/3867

DP: 1325/1325

Strength: 494

Agility: 258

Endurance: 361

Intelligence: 199

Wisdom: 244

Charisma: 115

Willpower: 40

Luck: 22

Toughness: 25

Regen: 5

Unspent Points: 50

Fire Resist: 70 Cold Resist: 32 Magic Resist: 25 Hellfire resist: 31

Shadow Resist: 35 Lightning: Greater Immunity Physical Resist: 18

Abilities: (8)

Quests: (5)

Skills: (17)

Combat Skills: (10)

Magic Skills: (3)

Crafts: (14)

Beast Skills: (2)

Mental Skills: (5)

Demonic Abilities: (4)

Skills:

Combat Skills: (10)

Beast Slayer Level: 3

Dual Wield Level: 3

Dodge Level: 3

Charge Level: 2

Sword Basics Level: 10

Sword Dancer Level: 2

Weapon Master Level: 2

Blind-Fighting Level: 1

Supreme Swordsmanship Level: 3

Evasive Steps Level: 2

Magic Skills: (3)

Channeling Level: 5

Enchanting Level: 4

Disenchanting Level: 5

Active: (2)

Stealth Level: 6

Dash Level: 2

Passive: (12)

Tenacity Level: 4

Pain Resist Level: 8

Safe Fall Level: 2

Fitness Level: 6

Lesser Dragon Sight Level: 1

Meditation Level: 10 MAX

Poison Resist Level: 4

Lockpicking Level: 5

Linguistics Level: 7

Danger Sense Level: 3

Swimming Level: 7

Riding Level: 2

Crafts: (14)

Skinning Level: 4

Cooking Level: 7

Expert Mining Level: 11

Masonry Level: 3

Repair Level: 4

Herb Gathering Level: 4

Expert Scrimshaw Level: 14

Leatherworking Level: 6

Cartography Level: 4

Fishing Level: 7

Tailoring Level: 3

Expert Blacksmith Level: 13

Woodworking Level: 4

Gemcutting Level: 3

Abilities: (8)

Demonic Strength

Supreme Agility

Supreme Intelligence

Fire Elemental Bond

Supreme Endurance

Magic Body Level: 2

Superior Wisdom

Aura of Courage

Beast Skills: (2)

Lion's Roar Level: 2

Devour Level: 2

Mental Skills: (4)

Mental Attack Level: 2

Mental Defense Level: 2

Soulscape Level: 4

Void Level: 3

Mind Blade Level: 3

Demonic Abilities: (4)

Absorb Level: 1

Lightning Aura Level: 2

Demonic Body Level: Max

Demonic Assault

Quests: (5)

Destroy the Wind Temple!

Wind Temple Destroyed 0/1

Reward: ?????

Destroy the Earth Temple!

Earth Temple Destroyed 0/1

Reward: ?????

Destroy the Fire Temple!

Fire Temple Destroyed 0/1

Reward: ?????

Destroy the Water Temple!

Water Temple Destroyed 0/1

Reward: ?????

Destroy the Four Temples!

Temples Destroyed 0/4

Reward: ?????