They kept moving until the sun rose higher.
Their bodies were exhausted, breathing heavy, steps slowing with every minute.
Nami looked around, her throat dry.
Nami: "We need water…"
Stefan nodded without hesitation.
Stefan: "We find it fast."
Andrew scanned the area.
Andrew: "If we slow down, we become targets."
They moved carefully, searching every direction.
After some time, they found a pond.
Clear water. Still surface.
Too still.
Stefan stopped immediately.
Stefan: "Wait."
Nami looked at him.
Nami: "What is it?"
Stefan: "Something's off."
Andrew stepped forward anyway.
Andrew: "We don't have a choice."
He crouched near the water.
The surface trembled.
Then suddenly—
It burst open.
A giant frog leaped out.
Massive body, dark green skin, covered in poison bubbles.
Its tongue shot forward instantly.
Andrew barely moved in time.
Andrew: "Back!"
The creature landed hard.
Poison dripped from its body, burning the ground.
Nami stepped forward.
Flames ignited around her rod.
Nami: "I'll attack!"
The frog opened its mouth wide.
A stream of poison shot out.
Nami blocked with flames, but drops hit her arm.
She flinched.
Nami: "It burns!"
Stefan raised his gun.
BANG
The bullet hit its face.
It screamed, but charged forward.
It leaped toward Stefan.
He vanished into shadow.
Reappeared at the side.
Struck it with his rod.
Flames burst on impact.
But its body resisted.
Andrew attacked next.
His sword cut deep into its leg.
The frog roared violently.
Its tongue shot again.
This time it wrapped around Andrew's arm.
Poison spread instantly.
Andrew: "Damn—!"
He cut it off quickly.
But the poison had already entered.
His veins darkened.
Nami attacked again.
More focused.
She aimed at the wound.
Fire burned deep into the cut.
Rex charged forward.
Flames exploded as he bit into its neck.
Holding it in place.
Stefan: "Finish it!"
Andrew forced himself forward despite the pain.
He jumped and drove his sword down with full strength.
The skull cracked.
The frog collapsed.
Dead.
Silence followed.
Only heavy breathing remained.
Nami stepped back.
Her arm slightly darkened.
Poison spreading slowly.
Andrew dropped to one knee.
His condition worse.
Veins turning black.
Breathing unstable.
Andrew: "…It's spreading…"
Nami looked at Stefan.
Nami: "What do we do?"
Stefan focused.
His system reacted.
A faint energy moved through him.
Then into Nami.
The poison on her arm stopped.
Then faded.
Nami looked surprised.
Nami: "…It's gone."
Stefan nodded.
Stefan: "My ability… resists poison."
He paused.
Stefan: "And it works on you."
Nami understood.
Because she was his tame.
She was protected.
Andrew looked at them.
His condition getting worse.
He clenched his fist.
Trying to resist.
Failing.
Andrew: "…I won't make it…"
Silence.
Nami looked at Stefan.
She already knew.
Andrew looked at Stefan.
Calm.
Accepting.
Andrew: "…Do it."
Stefan didn't move immediately.
Stefan: "You're sure?"
Andrew gave a weak smile.
Andrew: "Better than dying."
A pause.
Andrew: "And I trust you… enough."
That was enough.
Stefan stepped forward.
The system activated instantly.
A faint light surrounded Andrew.
System: "Consent confirmed."
The light sank into him.
Silence.
Then—
System: "Type 2 contract established."
Andrew's body relaxed.
The poison stopped.
Then disappeared.
His breathing stabilized.
He looked at his arm.
Normal again.
He exhaled slowly.
Andrew: "…Guess I'm not dying today."
Nami smiled slightly.
Nami: "No."
Stefan looked at him.
Calm.
Stefan: "You're with us now."
Andrew stood up slowly.
Still himself.
But now connected.
The pond returned to silence.
But all of them knew—
Survival always demands something in return.