Chapter Forty-Four: The Birth of a Battle Companion (Part Two)

The Gemflower Plain was a land blessed with abundant resources, a fertile expanse cherished by the nature goddess Naturnia. Here, lush flowers and trees thrived far more than elsewhere, and countless wild creatures of varying temperaments made their home. Among these animals, some were gentle and would never attack humans unless provoked; others were savage by nature, and a careless step could result in injury, or even death.

Ordinary travelers, unless driven by a specific quest or seeking to level up through hunting, would usually avoid these fierce beasts, preferring to take longer routes rather than risk crossing their paths. Yet here we were, deliberately venturing into the heart of beast territory, hoping to find creatures more ferocious and monstrous still, so our newly appointed beast tamer might gain a formidable and reliable companion for battle.

“That blood-poison giant scorpion over there looks good…” Fayin exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the dangerous, bloodthirsty insect not far off, her enthusiasm reminiscent of someone matchmaking lovers. “…It’s fast, packs a punch, and uses venom. Let’s go with it!”

“Wild boar! Wild boar! Wild boar!” Xian Geya Yi howled with even greater fervor, pointing at the thicket in another direction, more excited than if he’d seen a long-lost dream lover. “…High attack, high defense, high health—a physical pet perfect for every occasion, whether traveling or committing mischief!”

“Wild boars aren’t good—they’re ugly and dumb, and have no personality. The scorpion is better; look how handsome it is!” I scrutinized the savage arthropod, striving to imagine it artistically, to grant it an abstract sort of “handsomeness.” Alas, despite my efforts, the scorpion remained as hideous as ever. Between Fayin and me, I suspected one of us had a serious problem with our sense of aesthetics.

“Scorpions aren’t good-looking at all! All bumpy and impractical; high-level monsters would flatten it in no time. The wild boar is better—it can attack and defend, stun enemies with its charge skill, truly an all-rounder. Plus, it’s round and chubby, actually quite cute.”

Cute? I couldn’t fathom how Xian Geya Yi found the word “cute” in a wild boar’s sharp tusks, filthy nose, bristling mane, and tightly packed facial features. Suddenly, I realized perhaps not just one, but two of us had seriously flawed aesthetic sensibilities.

“The scorpion’s better!” Fayin declared righteously.

“The wild boar’s better!” Xian Geya Yi retorted firmly.

“The wild boar isn’t!” Fayin struck first.

“The scorpion isn’t!” Xian Geya Yi countered.

…

As their argument reached a fever pitch, both suddenly turned to me:

“Jeff, tell us—which is more suitable?”

Since they sought my opinion, I felt obliged to step forward and instill the correct aesthetic standards in my two friends.

“I think neither of your choices is quite right…” I cleared my throat, then turned to the long-haired elven girl with a suggestion. “…Miss V-Formation, what about that giant broad-mouthed toad by the river earlier?”

“That…” The suggestion seemed to leave her at a loss, as she hesitated, scanning our expectant faces, clearly seeking a way to refuse without offending us. Yet it was proving difficult.

“Ah, over there…” Just as V-Formation wavered, her eyes suddenly brightened. She abandoned us and dashed into the dense thicket nearby. Before we could react, a warm, orange halo flashed from the undergrowth, followed by V-Formation’s delighted cries:

“Caught it, caught it—I finally have a pet!”

Curiosity drew our gaze instantly; we were eager to see what sort of creature had so captivated her, compelling her to ignore our friendly recommendations and tame it without a second thought. What extraordinary qualities did it possess, that could eclipse the poisonous scorpion, the powerful wild boar, and the majestic toad in an instant?

Moments later, the long-haired elven beast tamer emerged from the thicket, cradling her newly tamed pet. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and she lovingly stroked its back, clearly enamored and protective of the creature.

Her chosen pet was a mammal famed for its agility, with snowy white fur and strong limbs—especially its hind legs, plump and springy, ready to unleash explosive power at any moment. Its eyes were crimson, sly and restless, darting about ceaselessly. The one disappointment: it was far too small, barely larger than V-Formation’s palm—I mentioned, it was “carried” out of the thicket.

The surprise was so great that Fayin’s mouth hung open, her jaw nearly touching the ground, Xian Geya Yi’s glasses pinched tight as his eyes bulged, and I felt as though a heavy object had struck my head, leaving me dizzy and bitterly resigned.

“Little V!” Fayin snatched the animal from her, waving it impulsively before V-Formation, clearly struggling not to squeeze the innocent creature to death. “I know you love animals! I understand it’s hard to find one both powerful and attractive! But you’re searching for a combat pet, and even if you don’t like the blood-poison giant scorpion, there’s no need… no need…”

“…No need to choose a rabbit!”

The fiery mage rolled her eyes in frustration, nearly choking on her own saliva. If beast tamer pets weren’t locked in place, I’m sure she’d happily stew a huge pot of rabbit soup and force her friend to pick a more formidable companion.

Indeed, the creature that first caught V-Formation’s eye, prompting her to abandon all those powerful contenders and claim a precious pet slot, was none other than a pure wild white rabbit.

This level-one wild animal boasted a remarkable thirty-six points of agility, but its attack and defense were merely symbolic—one point each—and it possessed no special skills. To call this utterly weak creature a “battle pet” was a deeply ironic joke. Its sole appeal lay in its beauty and charm: the red eyes gazed timidly at its surroundings, its three-lobed mouth twitched ceaselessly, causing its short, soft whiskers to tremble, and its petite, endearing form exuded a natural allure. Even I couldn’t resist stroking its tiny head, while Xian Geya Yi eagerly produced an apple from his pack, enticing it to nibble.

Setting aside practical combat value, the rabbit and the elf made a fitting pair—both with slender, agile long ears, hinting at a possible hidden kinship between them.

“But…” V-Formation pressed her index fingers together before her chest, head bowed in a pitiful plea to Fayin, softly defending herself, “It really is so cute…”

At that moment, the little rabbit ignored the apple offered by Xian Geya Yi, instead gently sucking on Fayin’s finger, eyes narrowed in contentment, sprawling lazily with its belly exposed to accept our affectionate caresses.

Faced with such overwhelming cuteness, Fayin surrendered completely. She struggled to feign disgust, but her lips inevitably curled upward, her other hand softly scratching the rabbit’s belly.

“This time I’ll let it slide, but next time you must catch something more suitable, or else…” The mage gritted her teeth at her beast tamer friend, but couldn’t resist breaking into laughter before finishing her threat. “…Oh, look, it can even smile…”

“Give it a name—‘White Rabbit’ is far too bland.” The mage, now utterly won over, encouraged her enthusiastically, cradling the rabbit and swinging it from side to side, reluctant to return it to V-Formation.

“I’ve already decided. Let’s call it ‘Tu Ca Ca’,” the elven girl declared, as was her habit, bestowing a peculiar, syrupy name upon her battle pet.

As she spoke, the “White Rabbit” label above the little creature’s head faded amid a sparkling glow, replaced by three bright letters: “Tu Ca Ca.”

(I’ve wanted to explain this for ages, but always forget when posting a new chapter. Today I mustn’t forget again.

Many readers have asked about the protagonist’s online time; if he’s online twenty-four hours a day, his level should be much higher, right? I find this a tough question, since the story is written in first person and it’s hard to explain in detail why Jeff’s level isn’t outstanding.

Actually, it’s quite easy to understand. For Jeff, quests are like work—no one can work twenty-four hours straight; everyone needs downtime. For instance, our Jeff spends his leisure moments watching sunrises and sunsets, or grabbing a beer and gathering flowers on a wild mountain (not something I endorse). Most of the time, Jeff’s quests are completed with friends, as I’ve written before. When he’s alone, he has little ambition. For players, level and gear are everything, but for NPCs, it’s just part of life.

Moreover, someone aware of their difference from others will always try to conceal it—too high a level brings danger.

Most importantly: if Jeff’s level were that high, Xiao Xianzi couldn’t continue writing the story. So, by the decree of the Creator, his level is not allowed to grow too quickly.

Advertisements come too fast, like a tornado—deleting them nightly is no longer enough. I’ll increase the frequency of clearing ads from the reviews section as needed. But writers have it tough, so I’ll be lenient when possible.

Finally, a recommendation: “Xing Seng,” a writer whose name resembles a monk, has penned “Reborn: The Quest for Beauty.” The combination of author and title is truly profound, blending philosophical reflection and religious irony. The book number is 180380; interested readers are welcome to check it out.)