[Mounting: Accomplished]
The Cinnamon Tusker stilled beneath him, its massive body relaxing as Rusty collapsed on its back, breathless and spent.
He'd done it. He'd tamed his first beast.
Pride surged through him—sharp, unexpected. It wasn't the kind of happiness he thought he'd feel. It didn't erase the ache buried in his chest, but it pressed a balm against the sting.
"I fucking did it." His voice tore out between ragged breaths, his chest heaving against the creature's broad, musky back. The warmth of its hide sank into his skin, grounding him in the moment. It's worth it. Every bruise, every damn cut—worth it.
The stench, though. The Cinnamon Tusker smelled like roasted bark dipped in swamp water.
He pushed himself upright with a grunt, straddling the beast's back as he slapped its hide with an open palm. "You were a wild one."
"You are weak."
His eyes shot open.
What the—?
Rusty lost his balance and tumbled off the beast's side, landing with a hard thud in the dirt. He blinked up at the sky. "Did… did a pig just talk?"
Milfy floated into view. "It's not just a pig. It's a mutant. Once you tame a beast like that, you gain the ability to understand them."
"Oh." Rusty nodded slowly, still trying to wrap his head around it all—the jellyfish-shaped system floating midair and the mutant pig he'd just tamed.
"You passed the trial," Milfy said, tentacles twisting in sharp zigzags, "but I helped you. So no reward."
Rusty dropped back onto the ground. Of course. A system with attitude and zero perks.
He didn't care. Not right now. His body throbbed, his brain spun, and his thoughts refused to line up. No reward? Fine. He needed to breathe, to think.
Everything had flipped. One moment, he was dying—literally dying—with cancer crawling through his balls like a death sentence. And now?
Now he was alive. Given a second shot by something no hospital could've offered.
Maybe God didn't forget me after all. Maybe this is payment… for the years I suffered alone.
"I'm the one paying you," Milfy snapped. "How come you're giving the credit to God?"
Rusty sat up, glaring at the floating brat. "Why the hell did I get a system like you anyway? In every book, guys get tech panels, stat sheets, OP upgrades..."
He pointed at Milfy's translucent body, unimpressed. "And I get a glowing blob with a mouth."
Milfy's tentacles froze. "Excuse me? This blob saved your ass. If not for me, you'd be tusker stew."
"Still could've come in the form of something cooler," Rusty muttered, brushing dirt off his pants. "Like a floating cube or a goddess in a bikini."
"Pervert," Milfy hissed.
"Truth," Rusty shot back.
The pig snorted nearby—deep, guttural, almost like a laugh.
Rusty blinked. "Did it just… laugh?"
"Of course. He's bonded to you now. You'll hear everything he says... and he'll hear everything you think."
Rusty froze. "Everything?"
Milfy nodded, smug.
The pig turned, eyes gleaming. "Yes."
Rusty groaned and slapped both hands over his face. "I want a refund."
"You didn't pay," Milfy replied.
"I paid with my pride."
Milfy let out a wheezing laugh. "That doesn't count. Now that the Cinnamon Tusker is registered in the system, it's time to let him rest. He might be exhausted."
Rusty threw his hands up. "Seriously? I'm the one who got tossed around like a ragdoll, slammed into trees, nearly gored to death—and he needs rest? Not me?"
"You don't look half bad."
He jabbed a finger at his own chest, fuming. "Do I look like I'm on vacation?"
"Why so jealous?" the Cinnamon Tusker growled, lifting its snout with a snort.
Rusty spun toward it, wide-eyed. "You got some nerve talking like that after using me as a toy!"
"You needed training. I delivered." The beast stretched, joints cracking, tusks gleaming under the sun. "You're welcome."
Rusty's eyes twitched. "I'm not sure if I tamed you… or signed up for emotional abuse."
"Same thing," Milfy shrugged. One tentacle flicked, and the Cinnamon Tusker dissolved into a shimmer of light before vanishing into the air. "Stored safely in the system. He'll recover faster there."
Rusty exhaled sharply. Finally. One less muscle-bound problem to deal with.
Milfy floated closer. "You would've gotten some solid rewards—if you hadn't needed saving like a baby duck."
Rusty narrowed his eyes. "You just had to remind me, didn't you?"
"Oh, don't pout. You still got experience points. And the bond with the beast is permanent. That's not nothing."
Rusty stood, cracking his neck. "What now?"
Milfy's glow brightened, flickering like a neon warning sign. "Now, the real deal begins."
"Meaning?"
"You get to explore different worlds. Meet different people. Fight different beasts. Exciting stuff."
Rusty rolled his eyes. "Yeah, great. I'm an introvert, in case you forgot." He muttered under his breath, "Orphaned, no social life, and the only skill I had was editing porn clips in a dark room. Pretty sure that doesn't translate to survival mode."
"Not something I'm concerned with." Milfy didn't even blink.
Rusty scowled. "Glad to know my life story moves you."
Milfy spun a tentacle lazily. "Anyway, the first time's special. I'll let you pick the world. You have two seconds."
Rusty blinked. "Why do you always give me some insane time limit?!"
"Because hesitation breeds mediocrity."
"That's not even deep."
"One second left."
"What—!" Rusty scrambled. "Fine, I don't care—just drop me anywhere that doesn't smell like a sweaty pig!"
This one didn't sound too bad—and he didn't even have the full details. But with that shitty time limit, it was the only thing Rusty could go with.
This system he'd been stuck with? Total dick.
He clenched his fists, jaw twitching. One good punch to that smug from this blob ugly face.
I'm not a dick—though I did help yours—and you can't punch me." Milfy's body shimmered with smug satisfaction.
The ground cracked open beneath Rusty's feet.
"Oh come o—!"
He plummeted into darkness.
[New Mission: Loading]