Unbound Mantra Chapter 12 (Patreon)

As I stared at the Pal Sphere containing the Chillet in my hands... I coudn't help an idle thought. What the hell kind of level would Panthalus reach? In even just normal DXD terms, would he be considered peak Ultimate or even barely Satan class?

Because he WAS a god. Stopgap, he was literally a god of the sea who could live eternally. Astralym, the final boss of Palworld likewise was an alien dragon... Thing that ate the life force of worlds, and was a reference to the mythological Nidhogg, who ate at the root's of the World Tree.

And where did you fight Astralym at the end of the 1.0 release of Palworld? Literally at the base of the World Tree. 

Standing here with a ferocious Chillet in my hand that I had tamed. I was reminded that this world at one point fought the equilavent of a dragon Ototsuki with high attainments in both magic and technology before it was destroyed.

As was evidence in the system that they fucking installed into my body without my permission!

"Alright! I still need to get over to the small village before nightfall, preferably." I muttered to myself as I put the palsphere away.

Then looking down at one of the wounded Eikthydeer that was on the edge of death after it's throat was torn out. I also captured it as well. As I was going to need some workers to cut down some tree's.

As well as to serve as an actual mount. Because I had a strong feeling that Chillet with how much it loved to lung and leap about, would make for a poor mount in reality, except when I was crossing a body of water.

I continued crossing the southwestern part of the Lower Mainland just past the Windswept Hill's. And as I did so, I could see the Guardian Tower in the distance, where Zoe and the Rayne syndicate had a base there.

But I only really needed to pass by the large ruins before I found a well-worn pathway that was beaten in by what looked like carriage wheels that were pulled by Pal's themselves.

And after another hour of walking, I had already let out my newly tamed murder noodle in the healed Chillet.

But as we were walking, I heard a loud male cry out. "Hail, there stranger!" 

Coming down from a hill I was going to have to crest was a man in thick... Like two-inch-thick plate armor and carrying a massive blunderbuss of a shotgun come over with that gun aimed down towards my feet.

I gave the helmet-covered man a nod of greeting before I slowly waved and called out. "I heard you guys have a town over there! Are you all open to trade for supplies!?"

The man, who was a good thirty meters away was quiet for a good moment before he waved me closer while calling out. "You will need to speak with the town Chief, Great Tamer!"

'Great Tamer huh?' I mused to myself and it made sense. Because unlike in Pokemon, a Pal Tamer was greatly enhanced by the bond they hand with their pals.

Like, for example, Auri the leader of those flying islands, who had bonded with a legendary-tier Shaolong. She literally was an ageless immortal due to her connection with the legendary-tier Pal.

I approached the man without issue, and I wasn't scared of his shotgun either. Because while my energy shield WAS shit... It could still block one hit without any issue.

And my murder noodle would tear him apart before he could reload!

"May I know of your name Great Tamer? Are you from the Sakura Island's to the far north? Or... Are you part of the Rayne Syndicate?" He finished with some fear in his gaze.

But I shook my head and replied calmly. "No, I am an unattached wanderer. Is there any custom I should be aware of as this is the first time I have been this far south?" 

The road guard shrugged and said honestly. "We are good and honest folk here in these coastal lands. The Alpha's like that Chillet, you tamed aren't... As terrible as what you can find up north. Nor is the land so hostile, so we are very much 'Live, and let live.'

'Yeah... The land isn't 'as hostile' because there are roaming family pod's of massive grassy mammoths that fuck up anything that messes with them.' I thought sardonically.

Still the man waved down the road and said easily. "Go on ahead then Tamer, tell the gate guard whose name is Steve by the way. That Brian said that the chief's son is the strongest. It's the passcode we have."

I slowly nodded with a mental shrug, as I didn't recall the chief in the game having a son? But what the hell do I know. It's not like a cohesive story was remotely Palworld's focus for development.

This was an actual deathworld, and humanity could only survive by outbreeding the monsters that roamed these lands.

Following the road, I quickly noticed from Chillet's own reactions. And my own enhanced perception that this road wasn't as undefended as it appeared.

As in the surrounding hill's and thick forests in these valleys, there were hunter's at work. And sentries hiding and looking for hostile Pal's from the look of things.

Still, I was unmolested as I made my way to the 'Small Settlement' that was in reality, a large walled-in town that was surrounded by a thick, layered sheet metal wall.

'Low-tech starting area my ass!' I cursed as even Chillet huddled behind me as at the front gate area. Built atop it was three large machine gun nest's and those long barrel heavy calibur gun's were tracking us as we closed in towards the gate.

I reached the front area and a man leaned over the edge. This one wasn't wearing a helmet, allowing me to take in his very tanned features as he called out sharply. "Yo tamer! What did Bill say to tell me!?"

I paused as a name didn't match up so I called out helplessly. "Uhh... Brian said to tell Steve that the Chief's son is the strongest?" 

Steve? Gave me a weird look before cackling and saying out loud. "Haha! Yeah, you are right! Come on in, be aware we are watching you."