NOVEL WEB Chapter 41: Minor injury
He landed cleanly on the back of a dark, swooping bird mid-flight.
It had been fast, silent going, for a sneak attack.
Tarkan became aware of it the moment he failed to kill the tiger.
His blade had pierced its eye, but that alone wasn't enough. The tiger didn't fall.
That was when he felt a chill crawl down the back of his neck, like a predator had locked onto him and just as suddenly, the feeling disappeared.
Subtly, he turned around while the tiger eyed him wearily.
That was when Tarkan saw something at the corner of his eye, a black shape that looked out of place with the surroundings. If you didn't look closely, you'd miss it. It stylishly turned its head.
Tarkan's eyes caught it just briefly.
Hung on a tree, a bird-like creature rested, its eyes closed. Tarkan didn't allow his gaze to linger. He switched back to the tiger immediately.
He would be lying if he said he wasn't shaken.
Two Crowned-tier beasts. How was he going to salvage this situation?
The bird had clearly landed on that tree a while ago.
Stealthy and Patient, Waiting for the right moment to strike.
That level of intelligence…
That was when Tarkan remembered the first talent he acquired:
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[Croak Boost (F Rank) – The user gets a slight jump enhancement if they croak beforehand. The louder the croak, the better the jump.]
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Back to the present.
"Cawwww!"
He landed cleanly on the bird's back. It was caught unaware.
Startled, the bird flapped wildly, trying to throw him off and bolt away.
But Tarkan didn't waste even a second. He went straight for the softest, and his favorite, point of attack.
Its eyes.
Skkiiiiiiiiiii…
His sword stabbed deep, sliding into the creature's brain.
Both the bird and Tarkan plummeted to the ground.
The bird was already dead before it hit the floor.
It didn't seem to have flown that high in altitude. Tarkan rolled across the ground without getting hurt at all.
He stood up, grabbed the bird's corpse, and dragged it toward the now dead tiger.
Tarkan safely sheathed his sword.
Holding one beast in each hand, his mood was at the moon.
For the first time since coming to this world, something was finally going his way.
-
He found a safe place to roast and eat the two creatures.
Tarkan ate the bird first.
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[Prime Stats]
Feral: 14
Awakened: 24
Crowned: 12 → 18
The bird increased his Crowned-tier points by 6.
--
After a few hours of letting the bird digest, Tarkan roasted and ate the tiger.
--
[Prime Stats]
Feral: 14
Awakened: 24
Crowned: 18 → 20
That brought his Crowned-tier points up by another 2.
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[Timer: 00:00:00 (Lvl 2)]
> Reverse – Reverse time without restriction, as long as you have enough time.
Revert – Reverse time on a single target, as long as you have enough time.
Eternal Monarch Physique (Partial)
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The six-hour mark had long since passed. He could leave the dimension at will now.
But he decided to wait.
It was only a few hours to midnight. If he stayed a bit longer, the timer would update.
And as if on cue… it did.
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[Timer: 00:01:00 (Lvl 2)]
> Reverse – Reverse time without restriction, as long as you have enough time.
Revert – Reverse time on a single target, as long as you have enough time.
Eternal Monarch Physique (Partial)
---
He activated the mark on his wrist. It glowed. This time, it worked.
His vision warped.
He arrived at the scenic clearing he'd previously left.
Tarkan turned side to side, expecting the familiar voice of Slim to greet him.
Nothing.
Scanning around, he saw no sign of Slim.
That surprised him.
Even though he and Slim hadn't known each other long, Tarkan was sure Slim was the type to follow commands exactly, Reliable, Loyal.
He never even considered the chance Slim might die in the dimension.
He could still feel the contract between them.
Slim was alive.
Maybe he was trapped or something.
Tarkan waited. He only wanted to tell Slim that he'd be staying in the dimension a while longer, to increase his Prime Points and eventually leave the First Dimension.
Because all this while, he'd thought he could make money from the first layer. But that dream had been thwarted by Cassian.
Now, he was unable to sell the monster corpses he'd hunted.
Tarkan sat on a tree trunk lying on the forest floor, waiting until midnight.
--
[Timer: 00:02:00 (Lvl 2)]
--
Another minute added to the timer.
It marked the beginning of a new day.
That meant three days had passed in the dimension.
Still, Slim had not shown up.
Tarkan was starting to get worried.
What had happened to Slim?
But he decided to go back into the dimension.
Sitting down, he activated the mark, ready to return.
Then..
Kish.
Someone appeared from nowhere.
Tarkan immediately stopped the activation, thinking it might be Slim.
"Master…" came the familiar voice.
It was Slim.
Tarkan blinked.
"Slim, what happened? I thought I told..."
He froze.
That's when His eyes landed on Slim's form.
Pale, White, Malnourished.
His entire body looked like a dried husk. His eyes were sunken, bones visible beneath tight skin.
"Slim? Is that you?" The words slipped out of Tarkan's mouth without thought.
"Yes, Master."
Tarkan rushed to support him, throwing Slim's arm over his shoulder and helping him sit down.
Slim looked like he'd fall and die at any second.
"What happened to you?" Tarkan asked, eyes filled with worry.
"Young Master… the contract…" Slim said, voice hoarse.
Tarkan clenched his fist.
He had never wanted to sign that damn contract.
Binding someone to him like that?
He already had an idea on how the contract worked, if he were to die or slim was to betray him slim would die, but if it was the other way, nothing will happen to Tarkan. Chаptеr prоvidеd viа М|V|L@ЕМРYR.
"I'm sorry," Tarkan whispered.
"Master, don't wor.."
Tarkan raised his hand and cut him off with a gentle shake of the head.
His mood dipped.
But he didn't show it.
He was supposed to provide for Slim. Make sure he was in good health.
Instead, he couldn't even provide the most basic things.
Bad luck seemed to rub off on everything he touched.
It had always been the other way around.
Slim had sold his knife, guarded him while unconscious, watched over him, even when Tarkan had nothing even if it was due to the contract Tarkan was grateful.
And now?
He wouldn't be making any money for the mean time, thanks to the Cassian issue.
Monster meat couldn't be sold unless it was inside the dimension.
Monster corpses couldn't be brought out or exchanged in the outside world.
Otherwise, Tarkan would've had Slim help sell the corpses.
The only hope he had left was Cassian's belongings.
Even one item from Cassian's bag could sustain them for years in Tharn.
But he lost that too, Amidst the battle with Zumbra.
A bitter taste filled Tarkan's mouth.
Cassian's death was the only compensation he'd gotten out of all of it.
Slim saw Tarkan's mood plummeting.
"I'll be alright, Master.
Don't worry, It's just a minor injury, I'll heal," Slim said with a weak smile.
"I'm sorry I couldn't provide even basic things for you.
And I won't be able to until I reach the Second Dimension. I ran into some small trouble at my settlement," Tarkan replied quietly.
"Oh, Master, about that… you don't have to worry," Slim said, revealing something in his bracelet.
Tarkan's eyes widened.
"what tha f**k!!!!" Tarkan shocked
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Hey everyone, I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. I've cross-checked the chapter, but if any small errors slipped through, please bear with me. Your support through power stones, golden tickets, and comments means a lot and helps keep me going. Thank you!