After Nile had finished the Pettle Corn, he took a glance at his Storage Space and realized that it was the only Pettle Corn that he got from the Kanor Department Store.

Although reluctant, Nile accepted it. He retrieved a small bottle of water in the storage space and drank all of its content.

The carabao is now capable of sitting up. It stared at Nile eagerly as if asking for more water.

Nile noted that he still had spare water, so he took another big gallon and approached the carabao. Using the Katana, he cut the upper part of the gallon directly. Now it is more like a bucket.

The carabao's eyes twinkled, and it started to drink the water excessively. It did not take the carabao a minute to finish the big gallon of water.

It even stared at Nile again, asking for more.

Seeing the carabao's ass-kissing or fawning expression, Nile could not help but twitch his eyes. He even had this urge to hit the carabao's face. In the end, Nile did give the carabao another gallon of water, but it was a lot less than the previous one.

The carabaos are domestic animals that are reared by the people at Barangay Ulhi to help them plow their fields. They are also called water buffalo by some people.

Although the carabao felt strange towards the sudden appearance of gallons of water in its eyes, it did not mind it after that.

However, it now viewed Nile as some kind of god or almighty being.

Three days ago, it suddenly awakened its intelligence, or rather, it was boosted. The carabao thought that it was a genius, so it doesn't mind having stronger intelligence.

Nile observed the carabao more intently. He had this feeling that the carabao's skin is as hard as metal. Even its horn looks like it was perfectly carved metal.

Nile could no longer withstand his curiosity and he started to touch the carabao's skin.

'As expected!' Nike said inwardly.

The animals had really mutated. Nile felt excitement and a little surprise.

He already speculated about it before. If the animals did not become zombies, then they must have mutated in a way or another.

The metals are losing their usual effectiveness, and in exchange, animals are gaining metal-like properties.

What does this imply? It means that survivors could now more or less have a supply for their supposed to be weapons to fight off strong zombies.

Although it was cruel, if other people knew of this fact, they would surely slaughter some animals and use the animals' metal-like body components for their own use.

Just like the carabao's horn and its skin. The carabao's horn could be used to make a weapon, while the carabao's skin could be used as clothes as it will have certain defensive properties compared to normal cottons.

Of course, for Nile, who has the System Store to buy a weapon with, he did not have this problem. His concern was on the fact that this meant that there is another potential enemy for him.

Previously, it was only the zombies and human survivors on the list of his potential enemies, but now the animals will be added to that list.

Although he is still not sure if all the animals had really mutated just like the carabao, there is nothing wrong in being careful.

'This world's danger level is rising again.' Nile thought.

And Nile was right, the more time will pass, the more the zombies' average level rises. If the animals followed the same system of levelling, it means they will also become stronger as time went by.

The carabao is startled as it felt Nile stroking its body. However, thinking that it was the 'almighty God' who had made such a move, the carabao let it be and even started to fawn on Nile as if saying to continue.

Nile noticed that the carabao had already rested enough. It will probably stand up after resting there for half an hour at most.

Nile stood up and prepared to leave. He had sidetrack again with his initial goal. He will probably only reach the next Barangay this evening, or even tomorrow if he will be delayed along the way.

He already helped the carabao, and he had already collected the Level One° zombie's Apocalypse Virus as payment. Nile did not plan on babysitting someone again, err, carabaositting I mean.

He sheathed the Katana in its Saya. Nile then took a little packet of dried mango from the storage space.

Aside from the spicy barbeque flavor popcorn, he also quite likes the sweet and sour taste of the dried mango.

Nile put a small piece of dried mango in his mouth and started to walk away.

Although he had his facemask on, it did not interfere with his eating as it will automatically slit open a hole in itself, enough to fit the food he will be eating.

He will put it off when eating with other people though, just like the time with Sissa.

That is also another reason why he found it troublesome when there is another person around him. Even a simple thing like that needs to be hidden. Though, it might not be simple for others.

As Nile savoured the sourness of the dried mango, he could not help but make a sour face. It was then he heard a weak 'moo' at his back.

Nile takes a look back and unsurprisingly, the carabao is staring at Nile while letting out a weak 'moo' sound.

Its lips will tremble from time to time because of the heavy breath it lets out.

The carabao is staring at Nile, its eyes pleading and reluctant. Its fawning and smug expression from earlier is gone.

Nile could somehow understand what the carabao wanted.

Nile walks back towards the carabao and squat on his legs. He is sitting right at the front of the carabao's face as he stares at the carabao's eyes intently.

A while later, Nile smirked under the mask and said.

"You want to come with me?"

The carabao is intelligent. It somehow understood what Nile meant. It nodded its head up and down, while letting a 'mooo' as if in affirmation.

"Alright! Then rest first, I will be relying on you from now on." Nile said.

The carabao is excited as it even tried to stand. But after seeing that its legs are somewhat shaky, it stopped and reverted back to its previous posture.

Nile patted the carabao's head like a puppy, and the carabao is back at its fawning again as it also nudges its head on Nile's palm.

Nile only smiled. He is starting to like this ass-kissing carabao now.

It was intelligent, and it had the strength to protect itself. Nile just hopes that the carabao is not using Apocalypse Virus to get stronger.

But even so, he will still accept the carabao to accompany him. It was better than scheming human survivors.

Scheming carabao's are unheard of, well, Nile still does not know what will happen in the future. He just hopes that time will not come.

But, more importantly,

'Having a Mutated Carabao as a mount? Not that bad, right?'