Bastet's Roaring Summons
Bastet let out a piercing roar of mediation. In response, the Solorb began slowly descending toward the ground.
The appearance of the Solorb brought the fierce battle among the four to an abrupt halt. Their gazes shot upward, drawn like magnets to the sky.
—［W-what?］
—［Why is the Solorb intervening...?］
Para and Anu.
—"......"
—［Um... did Bastet call it?］
Azeras and Arachne.
The colossal Solorb, filling the sky as it descended, left the four frozen like statues, crushed by its overwhelming presence. The desert fell eerily silent, as if even the creatures' breaths had stopped. The fight was forgotten. The Solorb's descent dominated the minds of all monsters.
By now, the Solorb had descended right in front of Bastet. As if considerate of the ground dwellers, its raging flames were subdued. Only then did it take on the look of a living being, complete with a black-hole-like eye in its center.
The Solorb briefly scanned the ground creatures before addressing Bastet—not in its previous intimidating tone, but lighter.
—［Bastet-daong.］
—［Bastet-daong.］
—［Explain why you called me.］
—［I need help, daong.］
—［Help?］
—［I'll explain the situation first, daong.］
Bastet conversed with the Solorb as casually as with a friend. Para and Anu watched in disbelief, faces paling.
—［What the hell is that guy that he can chat so casually with the Solorb?］
—［Considering we haven't seen it before... maybe it's a creature the Solorb created...?］
As they whispered, Bastet began explaining the situation to the Solorb.
Bastet explained succinctly: the spider over there offered fish in exchange for help. And even with her involvement, dealing with Para and Anu might be a bit tough, so she asked for assistance.
—［Got it. Since you asked, I'll help.］
The Solorb accepted without hesitation. Hearing this, Anu and Para asked in panic.
—［...Didn't you never interfere with ground matters? You've ignored everything until now—why get involved suddenly?］
—［I can't understand why a being like you listens to that guy. Why help him?］
Dismissing the questions as unworthy, the Solorb began radiating intense heat again.
—［Don't kill them, daong! I asked to subdue them, daong!］
—［Don't worry. I'll just scorch them enough not to die.］
Soon, the Solorb's gaze turned to Anu and Para.
—［I won't kill you, so stay still without resisting. If you move even a little, I can't guarantee your lives.］
Its voice regained a chilling weight. Para, sweating, glanced at Anu while stepping back.
—［Anu. Fight?］
—［Don't. We'll die.］
—［Then we run.］
—［Don't do something stupid. You can't escape the Solorb.］
—［Then what?］
—［......］
Gulp. Anu swallowed, looking up at the Solorb.
—［We have no choice. It said no killing, so we endure the flames obediently.］
—［You mad?］
—［It's our only way to survive. I won't force you. Fight or flee if you want.］
Anu's choice was wise. In my view, it was the only way to stay alive. Better to endure brief pain than die protecting pride.
Para hesitated, then—
—［Damn it...］
—He stood rigid, eyes squeezed shut, following Anu's lead.
And in that moment, judgment meteors wreathed in fire rained from the sky toward the ground.
Our monsters were fine. Meteors not aimed at Para and Anu vanished naturally before hitting the ground, like they had enemy-detection sensors.
Having done its part, the Solorb ascended back to the high skies. Para and Anu, struck dead-on by meteors, were charred black like lumps of coal, bodies crushed beyond recognition. But they lived—breathing faintly, murmuring.
Arachne approached with a beaming smile, planning to bind them so they couldn't move even after recovery.
—［Hehe. Time for some fun binding.］
Arachne wrapped them tight with thin threads, then reinforced with thicker ones, creating two hefty cocoons. Notably, she left their faces uncovered.
Bastet watched patiently, then wagged her tail as the cocoons finished.
—［Fish now, daong!］
—［None right now. Come back to our place, and I'll give you some.］
—［...Keep your promise, daong! If it's a lie, I'll get mad, daong!］
—［No worries. I always keep promises.］
—［I'll trust you, daong. Let's go to your place, daong.］
Helped for fish alone—such a straightforward creature, risk be damned. Taming should be easy too.
Why the Solorb helped? Ask after taming. For now, keep the promise, win favor—prep fish ahead.
"Yumi, got the fish?"
"Any will do."
Team 4 crossed the desert to the massive door ahead—linked to the cave, leading to our hideout.
But a problem arose.
—［Abeol, abberural...］
The Giant Caterpillar's bulk couldn't fit through the door. It kept forcing itself, but...
—［Aberural......］
No dice. Regrettably, leave it in the desert—no other way to bring it.
Arachne scratched her head, telling it they'd part here.
Then—
—［I... wanna go too, rurural...］
Sniff. The caterpillar pouted, tears streaming.
Arachne stroked the crying caterpillar comfortingly.
—［Wait here one day, and we'll come back. No crying—tears off!］
—［Aberural... you must come back...］
—［Yes. Promise.］
After reassuring it, Arachne smiled, bid farewell, and moved on.
"For the caterpillar, I'll tame it myself."
"Should show my face to tamed monsters at least once. Sad if they never see their tamer's face—especially crybaby Ash, it'd be heartbreaking."
"Plus, I've got business in the desert tomorrow anyway."
"You'll see tomorrow."
Tomorrow: take monsters to desert, build second shelter. Not a full base, more a rest stop for tamed ones. Expeditions lengthening—midway stops make sense. For nights too far for HQ return, safe overnight spots.
Appoint Giant Caterpillar as shelter sub-manager and transport. Can't pass door anyway.
Why sub? Not manager-grade rank. For safety, manager needs SS-grade pick. Deploying existing team feels off... Bastet-daong, Pharaoh Devil, Anubis Dragon—one of them, post-taming at HQ.
Plans for shelters everywhere, not just desert. Maze-wide. More spots to explore.
Later, as shelters grow, staff up—call them villages. Whenever that is. More tames, sooner it comes.
■Anubis Dragon
—Actual Risk: SS-grade.
—Current (Nerfed) Risk: A-grade.
■Pharaoh Devil
—Actual Risk: SS-grade.
—Current (Nerfed) Risk: A-grade.
■Bastet Daong
—Actual Risk: SS-grade.
—Current (Nerfed) Risk: A-grade.
"Too tired."
Support item from PLATINUM-grade ally ‘Pruru’ has arrived!
■Solorb
—Actual Risk: SSS-grade.
—Current (Nerfed) Risk: S-grade.