"What?" the armadillo blanked out with the question.

This small but terrifying creature wants to take him as his underling? But he was a cowardly and weak monster, why would anyone wants him to be their underling?

​​

The armadillo had lots of questions in its mind.

Shadowslash then waited for its decision.

The armadillo was still dazed by his question so Shadow asks again, "I said will you be my underling?"

The armadillo came out of its stupor and nodded its head repeatedly. Shadowslash was satisfied and named it JM (John Mark.)

Then they proceeded to go on the leopards territory. He deliberately released his aura at maximum for the leopard to notice him.

*Shoo*

A fast thing ran and came in front of him.

It was the leopard. At first it thought it was facing a great enemy but what it saw was a black snake, a cute two tailed fox and its cowardly neighbor, the armadillo. It began to think that the armadillo ratted her out but when it saw that the one releasing the strong aura was the fox and holds no hostility or sign of malice, its vigilance lessen.

Looking at the fox, it feels that it had already seen the such monster before. It is just that couldn't remember any two tailed fox specifically on its memory.

The leopard was just getting frustrated from thinking deeply so it finally asked, "strong one please state what is it that you seek."

Shadowslash bowed and explained his purpose in coming. He told what exactly he said to the water snake.

The leopard kept nodding and agreed to join in the alliance. It then asked, "how many members are in the alliance?"

"5 members. This group includes me, this black snake, you, the water snake and my mother."

"Who is your mother?"

"My mother is a Fire fox that is also a member of the intelligent monster alliance. Her name is Mary."

The leopard then nodded and brought them to its lair.

The leopard's lair were the huge trees that have their branches intertwining with each other.

"Daughter, you can come out now. It was not an enemy but a friend. Come and meet them."

A small cute cat that looks exactly like the leopard came out of the tree hole and jumps toward the leopard.

"Mother I was so worried" the little cat was the leopard's daughter. She looks exactly like the purple cat.

Her mother gaze at her tenderly and pats her head and she said in a caring tone, "don't worry I will not leave you."

Banjo was wiping his tears upon seeing the scene. He seems to remember some of the memories that he had with his mom.

When the little cat looks at the 3 guests her mother told her to meet, she becomes wary and frightened with them.

Nevertheless, seeing that Shadowslash was as small as her, she leapt out of her mother's embrace. She first looks at the little fox and her eyes were filled with confusion. She touched Shadowslash forehead, consequently, she then played with his 2 tails.

After scrutinizing him for a couple of minutes, she asked, "Are you the little fox at the gathering that made the plan of making the boar fight with humans?"

Shadowslash was surprised. Every intelligent monsters that he met did not recognize him, but this little leopard have, so he curiously asked "you recognize me?"

The little leopard heard him and started to hop happily. She then look at him with great admiration, "you really are the very smart fox in the gathering of intelligent alliance, how did you became so strong?"

Shadowslash let out a chuckle as he rubs the little leopard's head "I fought with stronger monsters than myself with the help of my family and 2 my brothers."

The little leopard then looks at Banjo and JM "are they your brothers?"

Shadowslash smiled "the snake is my brother, his name is Banjo, while the armadillo is my underling."

"Then who is your other brother?" hearing that the armadillo is just an underling, the little leopard ask him who is his second brother.

"I will introduce you next time when you meet each other face to face."

While the two were chatting, the leopard's mother and the armadillo were astounded to find out Shadowslash' identity. They never thought that the weak little fox they saw in the gathering before became this strong in just a couple of days.

Then the leopard's mother snap out of her reverie and asks "are you really that fox that shared the idea of making the boar fight human?"

Shadowslash nodded. He also inquired to the little leopard the question he asked earlier about how she recognize him.

"Because I etched your image in my mind. You know I have always been fascinated and found you be very awesome." The little leopard then started to play with Shadowslash's tails again.

They continued chatting with the little leopard and her mom before he left. He even gave her a name, Purple Kitty.

The next monster that Shadowslash decided to meet is the marten.

When they finally arrived at the marten's territory, Shadowslash released his aura to alert the marten as well. This time, a white blur came in front of him, neverthelless, his expression greatly changed as this is the first time he felt such a powerful aura other than him.

Shadowslash just stared at the marten for a couple of minutes and asks "are you in Silver Rank?"

The marten seems surprised by how great this little fox perception is.

"Young one how can you tell?"

"I, Shadowslash, encountered many strong foes which were on Bronze Rank and this is the first I felt pressured by your aura."

The white marten let out a short laugh.

"I never thought a None Rank juvenile monster have been challenging itself by fighting those who are one rank higher than him."

After a couple of pleasantries, Shadowslash shared his purpose. However, the white marten said something that caught Shadowslash attention.

"Nope kid, once a monster achieved Silver Rank they will move to a much deeper part of the Jade Forest so that they have to keep strengthening themselves. I will be leaving this place in a week therefore, I will leave this place to you."

Shadowslash was surprised to know there was such a strange rule so he decided to ask his mother when he return home.

The last monster that Shadowslash will be meeting is the turtle monster.

When they arrived in its humble abode, they saw a strange monster. It looks like a lizard that had an ice spikes on its back.

It has the body that was fully made up of water. Shadowslash's insterest was piqued on what type of monster it was so he scanned it.

Level 3 (Superior Grade) Ice Water Elemental Lizard.

Shadowslash was surprised to find another Superior Grade monster, but did not made a move on it thinking that it must be the turtle's subordinate. Hence, he focus on his purpose in adding the turtle on his information sharing alliance. Once again, he released his aura to attract the turtle's attention but found it strange that the turtle did not show up.

Nonetheless, the Ice Water Elemental Lizard was shivering and it was looking at Shadowslash apprehensively.

Shadowslash was bewildered as to why the turtle still have not shown itself. He then released all of his aura at its fullest wherein the little crocodile and armadillo who were laying their heads felt it and began shivering out of fear.

Shadowslash kept releasing his aura for a couple of minutes and finally let out a helpless sigh. He was about to leave when he realized that the little crocodile might know something, so he came closer to the crocodile.

The Ice Water Elemental Lizard saw the very strong fox coming closer. It was on verge of peeing itself. Suddenly, it heard the fox ask: "do you know what happened to the turtle staying in this pond?"

The Ice Water Elemental Lizard relaxed a bit it thought,

'so the strong devil fox was just looking for the old turtle.' It then proceeded to tell Shadowslash all the information it knows.

Shadowslash was surprised that the turtle have reached Silver Rank and had already left left to a much higher stage of Jade Forest area.

Shadowslash all of a sudden had an idea on how to make the crocodile its summoned monster. This is not a member of their team after all, even though it was just a Level 3 (Superior Grade) Ice Water Elemental Lizard.

Shadowslash then put his paw on the head of the Ice Water Elemental Lizard and released his aura suppressing the crocodile.

He negotiated, "I will give you a proposition to you. I will make you one of my summoned monster wherein I can make you a lot stronger but you will lose your freedom in the process, are you willing to accept?"

Even though Shadowslash was smiling to the Ice Water Elemental Lizard, it was the smile of the devil threatening not to refuse anything.

Then the Ice Water Elemental Lizard pondered about Shadowslash's proposition. It thought that it was not a bad deal seeing that it was just a weak monster compared to most monsters here so it agrees to be Shadowslash summoned monster.

(Ice Water Elemental Lizard agreed to be your summoned monster, Agree?)

Shadowslash smiled. The SYSTEM required for him to speak the truth to the monster which he wants to take as his summoned monster and won't force it to make the process valid.