X-Rank Hunter

For a full hour, Jim searched the area as he found no beast that was note-worthy. Even valuable herbs or precious stones were nowhere to be found. He really felt disappointed. It was already an hour and even his Blood Minions couldn't find anything of a value.

It really was a huge pity as well that he wasn't able to make a strong Blood Warrior.

That being said, he let Bagsik stop running. They had already run for several kilometers and they still couldn't figure out how wide was this forest. It even seemed that there was no end to this.

Jim jumped down from the back of Bagsik. Just what kind of place was this?

"This place is really strange..."

But just as he was thinking to give up looking for something worthy, especially a beast, a voice suddenly sounded in his mind. After which, a ball of blood, a much darker red color and much bigger than the others, shot out from his chest. The ball of blood then floated a distance away from Jim before morphing itself into a human form.

"B-bantay?" Jim was astonished though. "You can come out of my body at will?" He never expected that this tamed beast of his could do such a thing.

Bantay suddenly tilted his head. "Isn't it normal for us to come out at will?"

Jim tilted his head as well, "Is it really possible for you all to come out at will?"

But before Jim could even get more confused, he felt all the other Blood Warriors inside his body making a fuss to come out already as well, especially Batik. They were also wondering, especially Batik, how his rival could come out of their master's body without asking for permission.

At that moment, Jim realized that only Bantay could come out of his body at will. This was really unexpected. Was it because of the level difference? Jim couldn't figure it out at all. Except for Bantay, all the other Blood Warriors he had, were tamed by him. He absorbed their blood before using their body as the vessel for his blood. That way he was able to make them his tamed beast.

As for Bantay, Jim didn't know how did the other party become his tamed beast. All he knew was that The Life was the one who tamed Bantay for him.

"It seems like you are the only one who can come out of my body at will..." Jim said to Bantay. But he couldn't care much about it as he asked the other party instead, "What did you find out? What kind of place is this?"

Bantay couldn't care much as well on how was he able to come out of their master's body as he replied seriously, "This place is separated from the real world. This is a separate dimension. And the time here was probably different than the real world."

"We are in another dimension?" Jim was surprised. If so, then who put them here? And also was everything around here was real or only an illusion? But if it was only an illusion, he should have immediately noticed it considering his proficiency in using illusions.

"It seems so," Bantay replied with half uncertainties. After a moment of pause, he added, "But it seems as well that everything we see here is real. This place is probably created by someone great."

Following his instinct, although he wasn't too sure, Bantay could deduce something like that. And also, although he couldn't feel any danger right now, he felt as well that there was more to come. And whatever might it be, they shouldn't put their guard down.

Jim only nodded in response. He was astonished as well when he learned from Bantay that this place was more likely to be created by a powerful individual. If it really was the case, Jim could only think about few individuals. And that was the Four Greatest Hunters! If it was them, then surely, creating this place was indeed possible!

Jim was just wondering what was the purpose of creating this place. No matter how hard he tried looking around, he saw nothing special in this place. The World Energy here was just normal as well or it might even be thinner than their Dream Forest, the place where Biga Village was placed.

"Then what should we do now?" Jim asked Bantay.

Bantay on the other hand was speechless. Aren't you the master? Why are you asking your tamed beast what to do?!

Even so, he still replied, "Considering that you are brought here, and your status as an X-rank Hunter and an inheritor of the power of The Life, it's very likely to happen that the others are here as well."

"The others?" Jim was confused before realization dawned upon him. Indeed! The Life told him that he should meet with the other X-rank Hunters. He never thought that they would meet this way.

Jim suddenly felt excitement. Just what kind of people were the other X-rank Hunters? Who among them was stronger? Just thinking about it could only make Jim smile.

"Yes," Bantay responded seeing that his master understood what he said. After which, he added, "So why don't you try to find them instead?"

"That's a good idea," Jim was already thinking about it. It was just that they had already traveled far and he was still yet to meet any of those X-rank Hunters.

"Master, Don't rush things. Let your Blood Minions do the job for you," Seeing that his master was actually thinking to look for the other X-rank Hunters already, Bantay hurriedly said as he added, "We currently don't know their strength and ability. Just like what you are thinking, they might probably think as well to try their strengths and were eager to compare their strength to each other. So as for now, why not you spy them first and strengthen your prowess at the moment?"

It was noticeable that Bantay was being too careful here. But well, that was the job given to him by The Life. He must ensure his master's safety to the best he could do.

That being said, he couldn't trust the other X-ranks. He knew that once they met, a fight was likely to break out. Although it might only a friendly match, being defeated by them wasn't too good to feel. But of course, Bantay wouldn't let it happen. Even if the other party were likely to be kids as well, he wouldn't be so merciful just to let them bully his master. Although it was very unlikely to happen since his master was strong enough himself as well.

"Hhmmm..." Jim pondered about it. With his many Blood Minions scattered all over the place, he also felt that there was no need for him to make a move as well just to find the other X-rank Hunters.

And also, Bantay had a point. Since the ever before weakling like him became so much stronger in a mere few days, then it was indeed possible for the other X-rank Hunters to become stronger as well just like him. Spying them to learn about their ability was really a good thing.

"Alright then. Let's do it that way." Jim agreed in the end as he added, "Maybe I should create more Blood Minions as for now."

Jim wasn't interested in creating a Blood Warrior using a weak beast. So he might as well try to create more Blood Minion instead to hasten his search.

"Uhmmm... Master, why don't you try to create minions using your soul? Or perhaps, the thing you created before using both of your blood and soul." Bantay suggested hesitatingly.

Last time, he saw his master creating a very strong being, the one he called Blood Guardian, Tokayo, using the other party's blood and soul. If possible, it really was much better if his master could create a number of that kind of being to assure his master's safety and victory.

"The thing that I created using my blood and soul?" Jim repeated those words as only then did he recalled that he could do such a thing.

Blood Guardian. Why didn't he thought about it earlier? It had to be known that this Blood Guardian of his was way stronger than any of his Blood Warrior. Especially when this Blood Guardian absorbed his other Blood Warriors, its strength was surging up multiple times.

"That's a great idea," Jim responded with a wide grin. "But before that, let me try something first..."

With a curious thought in mind, Jim raised his forefinger in front of him as he closed his eyes to concentrate. He wanted to try what Bantay had first suggested. And that was to create a minion using his soul!

After a few moments, a small white and somewhat transparent thing struggled out from the tip of Jim's finger. As it finally came out, something like a small will'o wisp was formed. Its size was similar to the ball of blood of his Blood Minions. It floated in front of Jim before he intended for it to morph as a sparrow.

But sadly for him, Jim didn't get what he wanted. The will'o wisp didn't form any shape as if it was waiting to have a body instead.