Crap. That hurt, I struggle to stand. My whole body is aching the pain is terrible it's binding me in place. With my focus completely broken, my link to Hope is served, cannot use the spirit sword, my finishing move is gone! To make matters worse it appears like the Bowman is out of magic arrows.

The monster rears its ugly face at me. Shit, the thing is charging at me for the killing blow. I won't be able to handle another direct attack— I need to dodge NOW.

In desperation, I came up with a crazy plan. I'm not sure if this is going to work since I have a pact with Ifoik but, it's the only thing I can think of.

"Bind Will!! I commend this body to ignore all pain." I cast the spell on me. The pain fades and I am able to move. I jump away from the monster in the nick of time. The monster was clearly surprised by this, as it was unable to stop its charge and charged straight into a cave wall. It turns around to face me. Even if I managed to injure the monster, this fight is still far from over. I currently do not have to strength to defeat i, that or I can't maintain focus long enough to charge the spirit sword, but still, I will not lose. "It's all or nothing. Bind Will! I commend this body to go beyond its limits in order to defeat the enemy which stands before me!" I feel it, power swells through my body but, at the same time, my mental strength or magic power is rapidly declining. I estimate that I can only keep this up for a minute. Not wasting anyone more time I charge in on my foe at my maximum speed. The monster also lunges and attacks me with a rush, swiping at me with its claws. My new-found speed is unbelievable I don't even need to block its strikes I can just dodge them.

I smirk. It's my turn!

"Sonic Requiem!" At blinding speed, utilizing all of my strength, I swing my sword at the monster from all different directions it must have been in 50 no 100 strikes within the span of 30 seconds. I could not believe my eye, the monster lays before me, chopped into a million pieces. This is my power?!

Suddenly, the power fades and I feel even more pain that felt before runs through my body. I let out a blood-curdling scream before passing out.

Sunlight shines on my face waking me from my slumber. Wait, I was just in a cave. How is there sunlight? I take a minute to examine my surroundings, it appears that I am in a bed in some sort of wooden house. I am still wearing all my clothes, but my sword and bag are leaned up against a wall nearby. I hear footsteps nearby and reach for my sword. A person opens the door and immediately relax. It's just the Bowman from yesterday. He no longer has a hood on so, I am able to notice a pair of grey wolf ears sticking out.

What do animal-human hybrids exist in this world?

"Thank god, you woke up. I was worried your body could not handle the stress you put on it. You know what you did was quite risky." He said as I began to narrow my eyes.

"Where am I and who are you?" He soon realizes the situation he put me in.

"Oh, please forgive my rudeness. I am Tie, a wolf archer. You're in my house, it is not too far away from the cave where you saved me from that terrifying monster. I carried you here after you had passed out." Okay. I get it.

"Thank you, I was in no condition to move after I killed that monster and I was lost in that cave anyways." I smile awkwardly at him.

"Here, catch!" Tiw throws a strange orb in my direction, I catch it and inspect the object. It must be the core of the monster that I killed before. I absorb the core and check my status. I managed to level up all the way to level 21 and my bind monster (weak) had ranked up to bind monster (mild). Most impressively, I have gained a new skill.

This skill seems to have been awakened directly from this specific core. It's called Kinetic Strike and it allows me to move at an extremely high pace for roughly a second. As awesome as it is, it has a clear weakness, unlike my bind magic it has a long cooldown time so, I will only be able to use it like once or twice during a battle.

Still, I had no clue that it was possible to gain skills from a core, it is quite a mysterious property. Damn, that lazy goddess not explaining all these important things to me.

I then prepare to leave. Crap, it hurts to move, but it's nothing I cannot handle. As I head to toward the exit of Tiw's home I am cut off by a voice.

"Wait, take me with you I want to party up with you, great hero!" G-Great hero?!

"Huh, you sure about that?" Confusion is very much evident in my voice. I didn't even attempt to hide it.

"Yes, for I am greatly indebted to you and my former party is gone. Besides support in battle is really important no matter how strong you are." He does have a point. I could really use some support. And having a partner could really save my life one of these days. Especially since the last person I trusted didn't end up very well.

"Fine, I will let you join under one condition, you must form a contract with my goddess, Ifoik." He looks hesitant at first but then agrees. Probably because she's a goddamned lazy goddess. He then proceeds to pack up his things. I exit his home and head back to town with him.

After a few hours, we arrive at the broken down church that I had recently grown fond of. I open the door and am greeted by that goddess.

"What took you so long to come back? And who's your little friend?" She questioned. I sigh at her.

"He is going to be a new member of the Ifoik religion so make a pact with him. If not for him, then for me. If not for me, then for that ridiculously low eruption of yours." She froze at my words. Hmph. Seems like I've won this verbal battle.