30 The Badge

I started by investigating a clearing which had high-Esquire demon beasts. If any of the prey demon beasts were above high-Esquire, then I was to relocate them. I suited up into my new uniform for the next two years.

The Hudson ranger uniform had a long-sleeved, brown clothed jacket. On the jacket were two badges, one side had his name 'James Hudson' and on the other side it had an emblem of the Hudson clan. It was a fiery hammer, engrossed in black flames, signifying the prestige of my Devil Ancestor, Kogthoz.

On the badge emblem, it included the writing 'Esquire Forest Ranger'. Underneath the jacket laid a lightly colored dress shirt and black tie. My pants comfortable and tan and my shoes dark.

I also had a mountie hat. It was pretty stylish for this young noble. With this uniform, I was now officially a Wesser forest ranger. I was tasked with keeping the peace in the forest. A few of our common duties were law enforcement, rescuing, administration, path management, interpretation, firefighting, and education.

I now have authority! People visiting our Knight camp will have to respect my authority!

The uniform quickly went to my head. No one had ever given him so much authority before.

Wearing the uniform of a ranger, I now had broad powers when dealing with visitors to the Knight camp area. I will abuse these powers well!

Before I could find time to abuse my powers, Mikael skirted me off to survey. Damn you Mikael!

Mikael wanted me to begin his tasks as soon as possible. The campground would not straighten itself out. Everyone had to do their part.

I surveyed a clearing and ensuring the demon beasts were of the correct level.

I read over the map. This clearing was home to several types of demon beasts. The most populous was the capybara demon beasts. I could find these large rodent demon beasts in groups as large as 100 individuals, but they usually lived in groups of 10-20 individuals.

They were semi-aquatic, spending much time in the local water holes. After looking over the groups, I documented them on my sheet. I found 16 distinct groups on the first day and named and cataloged each of them. None of them had any peak-Esquire demon beasts.

I could tell at a glance the cultivation of the demon beasts. Demon beast cultivation involved evolution. At each level demon beasts would gain new traits. James had information concerning capybara demons and what traits to look for in peak-Esquire ones.

Higher-level demon beasts became unique, very different from their low-level counterparts. Their looks, their auras, and their demeanor would all be unique to them. It might be even difficult to tell a high-level rodent type demon beast started as a capybara. That was just how much demon beast evolution changed them.

I was quick to be alert to predators. Predatory demon beast species were the ones likely to attack you unprovoked. Jaguar, puma, ocelot, eagle, caiman, and rarely anaconda, these were the demon beast predators common in this area.

Capybara was their favorite food. After a few days, I felt he was almost done documenting the capybaras. It upset me that I had not run into any predators yet. I was itching to try my skill in combat!

I thought I would have found one by now. I guess I haven't been sneaky enough.

Predators were cunning. They preyed on capybaras, not humanoid races. James was in the Esquire area, so most demon beasts here were weak. They would do well to avoid humanoids if they hoped to evolve and become strong.

One day I came across a peak-Esquire capybara.

"It's wrangling time!" I said.

The capybara was alone, away from the pack. I could tell it was peak-Esquire because the color had changed on the tips of its fur.

Whenever prey species reached the peak-Esquire realm, the rangers would move them to the Knight area. Though they were not dangerous when unprovoked the Hudson clan didn't want accidents happening to visitors.

Throughout the campgrounds, demon beasts had to be kept in their proper areas according to their cultivation.

I pulled out my standard-issue ranger lasso. Growing up, members of the Hudson clan had all practiced wrangling demon beasts. It was one of the core skills to be a good forest ranger.

I saw myself as the best wrangler of the younger generation. Who dares say they are a better wrangler than this young noble. Anything this young noble tries I quickly become an expert at.

As soon as I began chasing the capybara, it did what capybaras do. It fled to the nearest watering hole!

It was a small mud hole, I didn't think much of it after a cursory glance.

I threw the lasso over the capybara and began pulling it out of the mudhole. As I came closer to the shore, attempting to pull the capybara out, I noticed what seemed like a log moving in the murky waters.

\u003cSneak Attack\u003e

Before I could react, the log struck latching on to me with six rows of teeth and quickly coiling itself around me. The log turned out to be an anaconda!

\u003cConstrict\u003e

There was no escape from its grasp! Anacondas are not snakes that kill with venom, they constrict their prey. It wrapped tightly around me.

The anaconda had caught me off guard, this young noble was in dire straits!

This young noble devil is not an easy meal though!

Stupid snake, soon we will find who is the predator and who is the prey. I will take you down! Soon your demon beast soul shall be mine to temper and forge into a fiery serpent soul!