“Hm?” At this moment, Zarda finally realized something. “You are not listening?”

“Oh, sorry, did you say something?” Rain scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. “I’m sorry, I was checking the surroundings carefully so that there’s no other monster appearing all of a sudden…”

“Ha…” So it was just her misunderstanding… a smile returned to her face and she spreads her arms, pulling Rain back to her embrace.

“Hey!” Rain exclaimed.

“Say, what did you do back there? Your speed and strength seem to have increased not to mention that bone stakes… isn’t that the skill Bone eaters have?”

Rain shrugs his shoulders. “That can only be used for a moment though – at least for a few breathes, my speed and strength will be doubled. As for the Bone Spikes, I got it from the Bone eaters I had eaten, it seems like I can acquire abilities when I eat monsters, though it’s not all the time.”

He answered honestly because he realized from her expression he had seen just now, the relationship that he had finally build would form a crevice if he refused to say anything now…

That would be bad… in a lot of ways…

It wouldn’t give him anything but only disadvantages… so he confessed.

“What?!” Rain’s answer went beyond Zarda’s expectations. He can acquire abilities from the monsters he had eaten?

What kind of logic was that!!?

No! That shouldn’t be possible… but Rain wouldn’t lie to her.

“You’re not joking, right?” Zarda’s expression immediately turned severe. Her playful tone had gone somewhere off, probably taking a vacation as seriousness took charge.

Rain shook his head…

Zarda took a deep breath and stared at Rain. “Who else knows about this matter?”

“Two people,” Rain showed two fingers.

“Two? Are you saying aside from me, Lafetti also knows?” Zarda frowned – well, at least she had expected this.

But Rain smiled and pointed his chest and at her, “Me, and you, two people!”

A ‘Thud’ rang out.

“What did you do that for!?” Rain clutched his head after Zarda drops a fist on it. It really hurts you know.

“No joking right now!” Zarda said angrily. However, on hearing that, she relaxed and sighed in relief.

Then she stroke Rain’s head gently, at the place where she drops his fist. “This is a serious matter… this ability, you can’t tell anyone about this, understood?” Her voice started getting softer.

“Lafetti?”

Zarda frowned and ponder for a moment. “Well, if she asks, you can tell her about it but not to anyone, you understand?”

Rain, of course, understands. It’s not like he will go around and yelling ‘Hey, brother, check my stuff,’ while pointing at his crotch, ‘Big, ain’t it~’

Well, it’s not a good analogy but, passable…

However, he never expected for Zarda to react like this. And so, his impression on her rose up quite a bit.

“Tell me, how many abilities have you acquired up until now?” She can’t help but asks her eyes extremely curious.

Rain pondered for a bit, “I think six, no, seven… yeah, seven…”

“That’s quite a lot!” Zarda exclaimed. “What are they?”

“Let’s see, including those who I had used just now; [ Agility EX ], Strength EX ], [ Rapid Dash ] and [ Bone Spike ], I also had [ Enhanced Smell ], [ Night Vision ], and lastly, [ Cold Resistance ].”

Zarda’s expression abruptly changed. Although not were powerful skills but having many skills was of itself, an incredible matter…

Chosen ones have one or two unique skills while normal people don't have even a single unique skill… but this guy, he actually possesses many unique skills and probably it would even increase in the future…

Damn it! How enviable!

He would become a monster among monsters… Zarda really felt that way, assuming he can take as many skills as he wanted if he continued eating monster meats…

Though it’s not really a problem, however, a day might come when they wouldn’t be able to contain him… if that really happened...

Should she forbid it…?

Zarda sighed as she pulled Rain to his passionate embrace. Well, whatever happened will happen… a sad emotion momentarily flashed on her face.

Rain was confused but he shut his mouth. Probably she was feeling conflicted or feeling envious…

Anyway, he will respond appropriately if something really happens…

--- ---

After a short moment, Rain separated himself from Zarda and returned his sight to the battle. Currently, things are not happening as Rain wanted. The wind had blown, not on their side but to the other side.

They were being pushed already… not in power or skill but in numbers…

“Chief,” Rain immediately called out.

“Hm?” Zarda who was still feeling out of sort of Rain’s revelation responded with a small smile.

“I think we can’t stay here any longer. We need to retreat; we’re being pushed back…”

“I know,” Zarda nodded her head in agreement. “But, we need to wait for a bit more…”

“But the difference in number is too large!” Rain muttered anxiously. “I don’t think they can still hold on without losing anyone…”

Zarda caressed Rain’s head lovingly, obviously different from the usual.

At this moment,

“Drova!!” Rain suddenly cried out and almost rushed towards her, if not for Zarda stopping him. “Chief! What are you doing!? Drova was-!!”

Drova was already being besieged by several giant ants was on the verge of losing. She was still holding on with her somewhat huge halberd but, anyone with the right mind would have given up already, there’s no hope anymore.

Then two giant ants brandished their legs and stabbed through Drova’s tail and left shoulder, pinning her.

Seeing this, Rain wanted to help but he was being held down by Zarda.

“Chief!!” Rain couldn’t believe it. Is she just going to let her die?!

But, contrary to Rain’s anxiety, Zarda wore a faint smile. “It’s fine, look”

She said. Rain was confused and turned his head, there his eyes widened,

Drova who should have been pinned down suddenly stood up, ignoring the sharp legs piercing her body. She grabbed the ant leg that pierced her shoulder and broke it as if she was just breaking a small stick and pulled it with an angry expression.

Her eyes turned crimson red and she let out an angry howl, stopping the enemies around her for a moment.

And unbelievable as it seems, like the Incredible Hulk who nonchalantly grabbed Loki in the movie The Avengers, she easily lifted the giant ant up and smashed it like she was swinging a rug on the ground, and then used it as beanpole, attacking the other monsters sending the giant ants around her flying without wings.

Rain’s eyes widened and his jaws almost fall to the ground in shock. The heck!? What happened to her?!

Zarda smiled satisfied at Rain’s shock, “Do you know why, Drova, Stagna, and Lafetti were extremely important to the tribe?”