"Uh..." Dalton matched his pace with Daz's and whispered. "What language was that?"

"Hmm?" Daz raised an eyebrow. "I have no idea. One of my skills makes every language sound like English to me."

"The one from the auction?" Dalton asked to which Daz nodded. "Shit, that's a good skill. I wonder how much it costs..."

"I've looked into it. You can't buy it. I got it via my sister but apart from her, I have no idea how you would acquire it. There are many other skills and even devices, however, that can translate just as well. Maybe look into those if you're interested in faking being a polyglot," Daz said with a shrug as he kept his eyes on the massive bear-like creature leading the two of them.

"We are here," the lumbering monster spoke as it stepped into a ruined collection of shops that had been hollowed out and filled with trees.

It curled up in those trees and looked at both Daz and Dalton with cautious curiosity. "You may not see them but my children are near. I do not feel hostility from you, child of the system, but the human's fear is unnerving."

'I thought Crusher said they spoke in broken-English. Shouldn't this thing be speaking in a broken language too? Maybe the leader-types have different levels of intelligence? If so, this should be a relatively powerful one, or, at the very least, a very wise one,' Daz thought.

He looked around briefly but couldn't sense any additional presences. Were it not for his ability to detect lies he may have put the monster's words into question.

"Sorry about him, he is weak. It is only natural for him to fear what he does not understand. Don't pay him any mind. He won't do anything regrettable," Daz said strongly.

"I see," the monster replied as it rested its head on its front paw - the one not made up of tendrils. "What would you discuss with me, child of the system?"

"I have a few things I'd like to address but first, I am not a child of the system. I assume you refer to the fact that I am an Archreaper. While that change did come from the system, the system did not birth me. I have a name and I would be happy if you were to use it," Daz said. "King Daz is what you can call me."

"I do not care. If that is what you wish to be known as, very well, King Daz. You mentioned having a few things to discuss. Speak. Let me know of them," the beast demanded in a soft tone.

'Frank. Good. I can deal with frank,' Daz thought as he nodded. "I would like to know what exactly you are. Does your species have a name? Do you have a name?"

"The other humans I have encountered called me a Yaoguai. You may also do so. I do not have a name as names are not needed in my pack," the monster claimed.

Daz turned to Dalton and asked, "Do you know what a Yaoguai is? A short explanation for now would be ideal if you do. I'll ask the system later for an in-depth answer."

"Is that what it is?" Dalton asked. "Uh, well, Yaoguai are like, what, mythical Chinese bear demons or something? I don't know much."

"Figured as much," Daz said with disappointment.

He looked back at the Yaoguai and spoke to it again. "Do you have any goals?"

"Survive," it answered plainly but with conviction.

"Okay, and do you have any attachment to this planet?" Daz asked.

"I do not and such topics do not interest me. I thought speaking with you would be interesting. If my boredom is maintained I will have to ask you to leave my nest," the Yaoguai said with a surprising amount of passivity.

"Impatience is an ugly trait," Daz said. "I am building up to the interesting part. You have nothing else better to do than listen to me, do you?"

"I could always feed you to my pack," the beast threatened but Daz noticed its tone was lacking much seriousness.

"I wouldn't suggest trying. There are cleaner ways to commit suicide. Regardless, my next question. What are your thoughts on the system?" Daz questioned.

"Commit suicide? Now that is an interesting thing. The system, yes? It allowed me to exist but it is no parent of mine. I do not feel strongly for it or against it," the Yaoguai said with indifference.

'I can work with that. This monster may not be the strongest out there but it is smart. Earth needs protectors when I eventually leave to deal with the greater threats of the system when I become its sole sovereign. An impassive building-sized demon bear sounds like a good option for that,' Daz thought as a smile worked its way onto his mouth.

"Does the concept of leading your pack safely and without fear of dangers under my rule sound appealing to you? If so, I have an offer in mind that would benefit us both," Daz suggested as he extended his arms in a welcoming gesture.

"Hmm... Do you have the strength to enforce such a bold statement?" the Yaoguai asked as it got up and looked down upon Daz's tiny body. Demonic energy flowed out of the monster's being while it stared at Daz as if he were nothing but an ant. "Tell me, King Daz, do you?"

Dalton felt his spine go soft as his knees threatened to turn into jelly. "Coming here was a bad idea..."

He hadn't the foggiest clue what Daz and the monster had been saying but what he did know was that in his over 40-years of life he'd never been so close to pissing his pants as he was right now.

"I do." Daz's answer was short but full of regal majesty and he was overflowing with confidence. "One day, I shall rule this entire planet. I will lead it, guide it, protect it. Accept my offer or do not. At the end of it all, your decision will not matter. The only question of any real importance is if you and your pack wish to be more than just... a group of mindless monsters led by a single Yaoguai of some ability."

"Your words insult yet intrigue me. Fascinating. Is this an effect of the system?" the Yaoguai asked.

"For now, yes, it is." Soon his ability to make his words more persuasive would belong to him, but for now, Daz saw no reason to lie to the creature.

"Speak your terms. I am certainly interested in this... peculiar opportunity," the Yaoguai demanded.

Daz nodded. "This. Your nest? It is a disgrace for such an intelligent monster as yourself. I would create a new one for you, one suited for your species. I know not if it is possible, but I would also try to help your pack members gain intelligence as you have. Doing so would benefit us both. I also assume food is an issue for you given your size. It wouldn't be under my rule."

"And what would you have me do in exchange, King Daz?" the Yaoguai asked as it bore its demonic eyes down on Daz's comparatively small frame.

"Fight for me. I can feel it. You are strong. It would require effort for me to kill you. That speaks volumes of your worth. Become a holy beast of my kingdom and serve it until you die. Agree, and I too shall serve your pack until I pass," Daz said strongly as he looked right back into those large red eyes with his determined grey ones.

"Haha... I do not dislike such forwardness. Very well. We shall sign a blood pact. Do not disappoint me, King Daz. I know not of your power but even should your words ring true, many of your people I could still kill if ever your blade turned towards my pack and I," the Yaoguai threatened.

The edge of Daz's smile rose into a grin. "Don't give me a reason to betray you then," Daz said back in the coldest of tones.

Congratulations! The host has successfully entered a [Blood Pact] with a [Monster of Earth] which does not put the host in a disadvantageous position. The [Yaoguai of Yilan City]'s Blood Pact with [King Daz of New Earth]

The Yaoguai of Yilan City's side of the pact: Will aid King Daz of New Earth in his conquest of planet Earth as a holy beast under his command. King Daz of New Earth's side of the pact: Will provide for the Yaoguai of Yilan City's pack and treat them as more than just monsters.

The terms were vague but the meaning clear. Daz honestly couldn't be happier. It wasn't every day that he got the chance to meet a Rimmy-sized monster with enough intelligence to see a valuable offer when presented with one.

"I shall return shortly with my people. They intend to camp outside of the city for the night but I trust that come morning you will not mind if I occupy a building here," Daz said as he rubbed his left shoulder where under his gear a tattoo in the shape of the Yaoguai's head now lay, made purely out of the creature's blood.

Likewise, by the side of the Yaoguai's eye lay a small blood tattoo in the shape of a shovel.

"Do as you please, King Daz," the Yaoguai said dismissively as it curled up in its nest of broken buildings and felled trees once more.

"Come on, Dalton, we're done here," Daz said as he turned away from the monster and began walking.

Dalton quickly followed suit though his eyes did linger on the Yaoguai's arm of tendrils for a moment.

The Yaoguai watched them leave peacefully. 'What an honest being. He was unaware of my power to see that which is false and yet still he told me only what he thought to be true.'

The beast chuckled as it closed its eyes. 'To think that I intended to simply chat then send them on their way but ended up signing a blood pact to serve him. What a mysterious world I have been birthed into.'

"Welcome back, Uriel!" Crusher yelled as she chewed into a big juicy boar leg. "How'd things go? Ya kill it? I didn't hear any fightin', so I'm hopeful ya listened to me."

"I did not kill it, no. Instead, I hired it and its pack to work for me just as I had planned to," Daz said nonchalantly as he took a seat by the fire.

Dorian glanced up at him and asked, "Was it actually a bear like I thought?"

"Sort of? It called itself a Yaoguai. Dalton can describe it in better detail than I probably could," Daz answered with a light shrug.

"Go on then, you Australian bastard you," Crusher laughed. "Give us the run-down, would ya?"

"Gotta bring up where I'm from, eh? My legs have hardly stopped shaking from meeting that... thing," Dalton responded.

Crusher snorted and then put on the most stereotypical Russian accent she could as she replied, "I am big scary Russian woman, ya? I like bombs and vodka, the cold too. Greatest glory to the great corrupt leader of the motherland! Cyka blyat!"

Daz squinted at her. "Are you drunk?"

Snapping out of her fake accent, she spoke in her real one. "A little bit," she said as she held her index finger close to her thumb.

"Was it that bad?" Freddy asked as he walked towards the large bonfire and took a seat next to Dalton.

"Yeah, it was," Dalton admitted. "Though Mr Stoneface over there was just fine when he was speaking gobbledygook with the thing."

Crusher scooted forward, resulting in her falling off of the log she was on. She leaned the lowest part of her huge back against it and stared into the fire. "Describe it."

"Well... For a start, the fuckin' thing was easily the size of a multi-level car park..."