Chapter 158: Repaying Debt[Bonus Chapter]

The panda who was watching Nox from a distance suddenly moved its spot. He was so swift that the only thing the others noticed was a gust of breeze, and he was already gone.

Nox took a slight step back when he saw the massive panda suddenly appear before him with a loud bang, causing a slight crack on the cobblestone ground. From the point of impact, a shockwave spread outward, forcing Nox several steps back and almost making him trip over.

Terra's beautiful blue eyes flashed sharply with anger as she regarded the massive panda, which was over two meters tall, with an annoyed look.

Nox, who had somehow gained his footing, had a confused expression on his face. He thought everyone loved him, so why was this panda attacking him... in front of their goddess?

"Rufus, what is th mea--" Terra opened her mouth to speak, but the words were caught in her throat when she noticed the panda kowtowing before Nox.

"Thank you, Vassal!" The Panda's voice boomed with gratitude, his eyes filled with a sincere, almost reverent, light. Nox's confusion deepened. What had he done to deserve such a response from a creature of this stature?

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Though Nox couldn't see their statuses, he knew the panda, who had a slight resemblance to Thirteen, was powerful just from its aura alone, despite it being suppressed.

"Oh." Terra's eyes gleamed in understanding, then she frowned and reprimanded, "But you shouldn't have approached him like that."

"What is this about?" Nox threw a confused look toward Terra.

"That day in that forest, you saved the last of my 'direct' descendants." It was the panda known as Rufus who answered. His big black eyes shone with gratitude as he looked into Nox's eyes, which were much darker and more ominous compared to his.

"If not for you... the last of my lineage would have been wiped out from the face of Eos. Thank you very much. How can I repay this favor?"

"I..." Nox was at a loss for words as he looked at the panda, which seemed like it would not get up anytime soon. Things had already clicked in his head, and he could tell the muscular panda was referring to Thirteen. When Nox had recklessly run out that day, risking his life, he hadn't expected anyone to reward him.

He had only rescued Thirteen because he couldn't watch the poor panda being crushed under the hooves of the beast horde. He never thought a day would come when he would be rewarded for his good deeds.

Of course, Nox wasn't planning to take any reward; after all, Thirteen had helped him a lot... he was totally worth the risk that day.

Seeing the interested look in Nox's eyes, Rufus hurriedly stated, "You currently lack a dagger, right?"

"Y-yes." Nox drew out his response with furrowed brows. Terra shot a stern look at Rufus.

"What are you intending to do?" she asked.

"I want to grant the Vassal a gift," Rufus stated, slowly getting up on his feet, resolution palpable in his voice.

"You know what that means, right?" Terra narrowed her eyes.

"I know we promised each other not to spoon-feed the Vassal and make him work hard toward his goal, but..." Rufus's eyes gleamed with determination as he stood to his full height, towering over Nox. "This is not spoon-feeding, goddess," he said calmly, his deep voice echoing in the area. "This is repaying a debt of gratitude..."

A series of whispers erupted among the onlookers.

"Is Rufus seriously planning on sacrificing his ##### for a human kid? If he does that, doesn't it mean he wouldn't live for long?"

"Maybe with time he could recover it, but it all depends on the Vassal. If we had limited energy like the other factions, even I wouldn't hesitate to give him a gift because he would need it on his journey."

It was hard to point out who was speaking as they were all talking in the same time.

Terra sighed, her stern demeanor softening just a bit. "Very well," she relented, crossing her arms. "But remember, Rufus, his path is one of strength and perseverance. Don't undermine that."

"I understand." Rufus nodded, happiness in his eyes. "The Vassal deserves more than just words for saving one of my own. I offer him something that will help him on his journey."

"Come, let me craft you a weapon that will make mortals shake in their boots."

Nox didn't refuse this time. He was lacking a dagger, after all... without one, he felt a bit naked. His only worry was his system features. Nox briefly glanced through his system and noticed that the inventory wasn't restricted like the others.

This meant that he could take the dagger back to Eos. S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Alright, if you say so then." Nox smiled.

The other beasts wanted to spend more time with their Vassal; unfortunately for them, Terra dismissed everyone, and they all begrudgingly went back to what they were doing.

After that, Nox, Rufus, and Terra walked into a building made out of bamboo sticks fastened together. Upon stepping into Rufus' bamboo home, Nox took in the simplicity of the place. The walls were made of tightly bound bamboo sticks, with small gaps allowing beams of sunlight to seep through. The scent of fresh leaves and earth filled the air.

It was a humble place, in contrast to the imposing presence of the muscular panda.

At the center of the room hung a single hammock, suspended by thick vines tied to sturdy beams. The hammock swayed gently in the breeze that filtered through the open windows, its woven texture showing signs of long use.

Nox glanced at the hammock and then back to Rufus, curiosity bubbling within him. "You live here alone?" he asked, his voice low as if not to disturb the quiet peace of the home.

Rufus nodded, his large frame seeming almost out of place in the small space. "Yes," he replied. "After I ascended from Eos, this place became my sanctuary. It's simple but more than enough for me." He displayed a contented smile at the end.

Terra took a step inside, her presence seeming to light up the room in a different way. Her blue eyes scanned the space before they landed on the hammock.

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Last of the Bonus chapter for The golden Ticket goal.

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