After taking control of the parasite’s mind, Moon activated Eye of Truth on it.
[Mind Parasite]
[Details: A mutant among parasites. Possesses the rare ability to weaken and control a host’s mind without requiring direct physical contact, though its influence multiplies exponentially when in close proximity to the target’s brain. Exhibits high pattern recognition and can accelerate the intelligence of its host by lending its own cognitive processes to their neural network. Extremely long-lived.]
Moon read the description slowly.
A thought emerged in his mind as he processed the details.
The parasite was smarter than ordinary beasts. Much smarter. It had been running the Cragbrute alpha’s decisions during the entire fight, and the tactical intelligence the alpha had displayed had been the parasite’s doing.
If Moon could implant the parasite into one of his own controlled beasts, the beast’s intelligence would rise significantly. It would understand complex orders. It would adapt to situations. It would function less like a beast and more like a subordinate fighter.
His mind immediately went to the Underground Bat.
The bat was already useful. With a parasite occupying its brain, it would become significantly more useful.
Moon reached down and picked the small parasite up between two fingers. The creature offered no resistance. It simply hung limp in his grip, its filaments twitching gently.
He placed it on his shoulder. Then he began storing bodies.
Every Cragbrute corpse in the chamber went into his storage ring one by one. Nearly fifty in total, plus the alpha itself.
The haul of a colony this size represented a significant haul. Between the cores, the hides, the horn material, the reinforced bones, and the specialized components from the alpha’s body, the total market value of the hunt was easily fifty million dollars, possibly more.
"I should start ordering some custom items for myself. Tom has good connections."
His voice was low and thoughtful.
The money was more than he could spend on personal necessities. Tom’s estate had spoiled him with the best of everything for the past weeks.
A second custom-forged sword wasn’t a bad idea.
He filed the thoughts away for later.
Moon then emerged at the base of the mountain.
He made his way around to the top of a nearby ridge, where his mental connection to the bat told him Rowan was waiting.
He found Rowan sitting atop a thick tree branch, his back resting against the trunk, his eyes closed. The Underground Bat had carved out a temporary shelter for itself inside the hollow of the tree, tucked into a section where no direct sunlight could reach.
Rowan’s eyes opened as Moon approached.
"Boss."
"Rowan."
Moon walked up to the base of the tree and looked up at him.
"You did well in that fight. Had you argued with me when I ordered the bat to take you out, I would never have taken you on another hunt like this again. But you didn’t argue. You accepted the order and executed it. That kind of discipline is worth more than talent in the long run. Talent gets you into fights. Discipline gets you out of them alive."
Rowan’s expression softened.
Moon continued.
"The death was on me, not on you. That alpha was smarter than any Cragbrute has a right to be. I should have caught the signs earlier and pulled you back before we ever entered the chamber. You handled the death better than most fighters do the first time it happens. "
Rowan nodded slowly.
"Thank you, boss."
"And our hunt isn’t done yet."
Rowan understood immediately. Moon wasn’t just reassuring him about his death. Moon was telling him, without saying it directly, that his obedience during the crisis had earned him the trust to continue as a full participant in the day’s remaining objectives.
He nodded again, without speaking this time.
Moon signaled the Underground Bat to emerge.
The creature flew out of its hollow and hovered beside him. Moon reached to his shoulder and picked up the parasite. He extended his hand toward the bat.
The parasite crawled off his fingers and onto the bat’s head. Its filaments quivered as it identified the opening at the base of the bat’s ear canal. It slid into the ear quietly and disappeared inside.
The bat’s body twitched once. Then again. Then it stilled.
Moon waited.
The parasite’s presence in the bat’s brain settled into place within thirty seconds. Through the Curse connection to both creatures, Moon felt the parasite establish its connection with the bat.
To test its intelligence, Moon sent it a test order to perform an aerobatic manoeuvre that was difficult to follow.
The bat launched itself into the air.
Its wings unfurled with as It ascended in a tight spiral, then executed a sharp banking turn at the top of the climb, then dove into a corkscrew that carried it down through the air in three rotations.
At the bottom of the dive, it pulled up hard, glided into an inverted loop, and came out of the loop into a perfect hover directly in front of Moon.
The complexity of the maneuver was well beyond what the Underground Bat could have produced.
’Good. This parasite is going to be very useful in the future.’
Moon nodded to himself.
He turned back to Rowan.
"What level are you now?"
Rowan glanced at his status.
"Forty-six. About a quarter of the way to forty-seven."
Moon nodded.
Based on the general progression averages, level forty-seven was usually the range where a talented Evolver crossed the threshold into Three Star combat rank. Rowan should fit into that range comfortably given his exceptional talent.
"Let’s get you to forty-seven. Then we’ll see where you stand."
For the next several hours, the two of them hunted through the surrounding territory.
Moon kept his role strictly supportive. He softened targets and let Rowan take the kills. He identified weak points and directed Rowan’s shots into them. He handled any beast that was outside Rowan’s engagement window and left the manageable ones for Rowan to fully execute.
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