Kael smiled as he watched Alaric.
The Unicorn Rhino, however, was practically vibrating with excitement, his massive body rolling back and forth. "Really?! That's amazing! I'm totally in! But... I've got a whole clan here—I can't just abandon them..." Alaric scratched his head, visibly torn.
"You can all come," Kael said with a grin. "My contract space can fit your entire clan." He made the offer sound irresistible.
Alaric was sorely tempted. "But Kael, even if you take us out, we don't know the outside world. Surviving there won't be easy..." His voice carried genuine concern. Despite being a glutton, Alaric was far from stupid—he bore responsibility for his entire Unicorn Rhino clan. Selfishness wasn't an option.
Kael had anticipated this. During his first departure from the ruins, he'd deliberately avoided broaching the subject. But now, conditions were perfect. "Relax, Alaric. I'm a lord in the Southern Jara Continent, with a territory spanning three thousand miles. Stick with me, and you'll want for nothing!" His plan was to bind the Unicorn Rhinos to him inextricably.
"You're a lord?!" Alaric's eyes bulged.
"Exactly. Trust me—my lands are vast enough. Life with me will be comfortable." Kael's tone was reassuring.
Alaric let out an ecstatic roar, rolling on the ground without a care for the dirt smearing his gleaming scales. "YES! In that case, I'll gather the clan and explain everything!"
With a boisterous laugh, he bellowed: "Brothers! Rally up—now! This is urgent!"
"The boss has urgent news!"
"Everyone, assemble!"
The Unicorn Rhino clan erupted into commotion. Trees toppled as dozens—then hundreds—of massive figures emerged, their thunderous footsteps shaking the earth.
Soon, over a hundred Unicorn Rhinos surrounded Alaric like stars encircling the moon, their gazes locked on him in anticipation. It was clear: Alaric's authority within the clan was absolute.
"Brothers, today I have an announcement!" Alaric's booming voice echoed, and every Unicorn Rhino stood at attention, their expressions solemn as they pricked up their ears to listen.
"My greatest friend, Kael, has just told me that he is a mighty lord in the Southern Jara Continent, ruling over three thousand miles of territory! Not only that—he says he can take our entire clan away from this godforsaken place! Who's interested?"
Instantly, the gazes of over a hundred Unicorn Rhinos snapped toward Kael.
The clan already held a favorable impression of him. Their previous battle alongside this human had left a deep mark. Magical beasts revered strength, and Kael had been the most formidable among the humans they'd encountered. Their admiration was only natural.
Hearing that Kael could lead them out of the Ancient Ruins—and that he was a lord of the Southern Jara Continent—their eyes lit up with excitement, and a chorus of eager voices erupted.
"Boss, is this true? We can really leave this place?"
"The outside world is supposed to be amazing! They say there's grilled meat every day…" One rhino fantasized aloud, followed by a loud, collective gulp.
Though none of them had ever ventured beyond the ruins, generations of tales passed down from other beasts—combined with their own boundless imaginations—had painted the outside world as a paradise.
Kael couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions and the symphony of swallowing sounds. So it's not just Alaric—the whole clan is a bunch of gluttons.
This really is a tribe of food enthusiasts.
With a faint smile, Kael reassured them, "Rest assured, I can take you all away from here. All you need to do is form equal contracts with me." He laid out his terms plainly.
An equal contract benefited both parties mutually. Given Kael's bond with Alaric, this arrangement would truly bind the Unicorn Rhinos to him.
As for a master-servant contract—Kael wouldn't have minded, but it was practically impossible.
"Kael, you're certain you can get us out?" Despite his earlier confirmation, doubt lingered.
"Absolutely." Kael nodded firmly.
"Is the outside world exciting?"
Nod.
"Is there meat there?"
Nod.
"If there's meat, I'm in!"
"Me too!"
"Count me in!"
The moment Kael affirmed it, the Unicorn Rhinos practically sparkled with enthusiasm, clamoring to join.
Hooked!
Kael grinned, exchanging a glance with Amelia, who also chuckled softly. She hadn't expected Kael's plan to involve "smuggling" the entire Unicorn Rhino clan!
Admittedly, the idea was audacious—but if successful, the rewards would be immense.
"Excellent! If everyone agrees, we'll form contracts with Kael!" Alaric declared with a boisterous laugh, sealing the decision.
Kael smiled. "Then let's begin." The Unicorn Rhinos buzzed with excitement, eager to proceed.
Alaric went first. As he and Kael initiated the pact, a radiant glow filled the air—hexagram magic runes shimmered into existence. In an instant, a unique magic sigil materialized on both Alaric's massive forehead and Kael's own.
Kael could sense the bond forming. With the sigil in place, he gained an innate awareness of Alaric's condition, and their connection deepened instantly. A natural warmth and familiarity blossomed between them.
"Contract successful!"
Kael's heart swelled with triumph.
"Haha! Perfect! Let me check out this contract space!" Alaric vanished into Kael's dimensional pocket, reemerging moments later. "It's huge! Plenty of room for all of us! Brothers, no more hesitation—sign up with Kael!"
"Hah! You got it, Boss!" The rhinos responded with even greater enthusiasm.
With Kael and Alaric's successful example, the clan's eyes gleamed with anticipation. One by one, they stepped forward to form their own pacts.
"No rush—line up, one at a time!" Kael watched the eager stampede with a sly smirk. The plan worked!
As each Unicorn Rhino sealed their contract, Kael's grin widened.
A full hour later, the last pact was complete. Wiping sweat from his brow, Kael finally exhaled in relief.
"A total of 157 Unicorn Rhinos—that means I now have 157 eighth-tier powerhouses at my disposal! These rhinos will be the greatest asset of my territory in the Southern Jara Continent! With their help, even a ninth-tier expert wouldn't be a threat. A tenth-tier opponent, though… that might still be pushing it." Kael rejoiced inwardly, though a trace of caution lingered.
Indeed, with over 150 Unicorn Rhinos, ninth-tier adversaries were no longer a concern. But against a tenth-tier powerhouse? The odds remained uncertain. Moreover, these were not his own powers—while they'd serve excellently as territorial guardians, true strength could only come from his personal growth.
"All done!" Kael snapped his fingers.
He and Amelia exchanged a satisfied smile.
Alaric emerged from the contract space with his entourage in tow. "By the way, Kael, what about the Frostbears? Their territory is nearby, and our clan has always looked after them. If we leave, what'll happen to them?"
Alaric's words sparked another flash of inspiration in Kael's eyes. Right—the Frostbears!