Once we stepped outside the town gates, the energy shifted. Jun immediately summoned his partner—a massive bear that towered over any normal bear I'd ever seen. Its black fur gleamed under the sunlight, and its claws were sharp enough to slice through stone.
Not to be outdone, George summoned his own partner: a human-sized owl with razor-sharp talons and piercing eyes that glowed with intelligence. It perched on his shoulder for a moment before spreading its massive wings, emitting a low screech that reverberated through the air.
Amber grinned mischievously and summoned her tiger. It was massive, its white fur a stark contrast to the surrounding greenery. "I'm aiming to get Byakko," she said cheekily, running a hand through her fiery ginger hair as her tiger prowled around her protectively.
I raised an eyebrow at her comment. Byakko—the mythical lightning tiger—wasn't an impossible goal, but it was a lofty one. Evolving a creature into such a form required not just rare resources but the perfect combination of talents and dedication. "Amber," I began, watching her tiger sniff the air, "there isn't a lightning tiger in this forest. So, what's your realistic goal?"
Her grin widened. "I'll take whatever hits hard and fast. The jaguar's great, but I wouldn't mind a wasp if it packs a punch."
Her answer caught me off guard. I'd assumed her preference leaned toward feline creatures, but it was clear she only cared about raw offense.
"What about you, George?" I asked, turning to the quiet one of the group.
He adjusted his goggles as his owl circled above. "I'm thinking of a healer type. Maybe a plant creature. It'd balance out our team since the others are focused on attack."
I nodded approvingly. Despite their lack of natural talent, they had solid goals and understood team dynamics. It was a good sign that the leadership in this world was doing its job, even for the weaker tamers. "Good choices. I'll help you out when we come across anything that fits."
Then it was my turn. I summoned Lilia, who emerged gracefully from the taming space, her floral wings shimmering in the sunlight. Asura was busy experimenting with the lightning lance I'd bought earlier, so I figured Lilia's supportive skills would be more valuable on this journey. Besides, she had the least battle experience and could use the opportunity to grow.
The group reacted to her with curiosity rather than awe, which I appreciated. Lilia's species wasn't uncommon in this forest, but her aura of elegance and calm always set her apart. It was also her first time meeting other humans besides me. She greeted them in her soft, melodic language, and their armor's translation devices chirped back polite responses.
"I'll be clear about one thing," I said, making eye contact with each of them. "I'm not going to fight for you. I'll provide support and guidance, but this is your journey. I may even leave temporarily if I find something worth investigating."
They all nodded, unfazed by my terms. Jun even smiled. "With Lilia around, we're more than safe. Her kind are the best in this forest."
I smirked at that but didn't correct him. He wasn't wrong—Lilia's species were formidable in their domain.
As we moved deeper into the forest, I let Jun take the lead. Lilia's presence was suppressed, so she seemed like any ordinary creature. The group was disciplined and didn't bother me with too many questions, though now and then, they tried to break the silence with casual conversation. I couldn't reveal much about myself—lying too much would just tangle me in contradictions—so I stuck with my rehearsed story: I was from the Beast Empire, and that was all they needed to know.
Their questions were harmless enough.
"So, Akira," Amber began, her tone casual but curious, "did you have a partner before coming here?"
I shook my head. "No. My first partners are the ones I've bonded with since arriving."
"Ah," Jun said, nodding as if he'd pieced something together. "That explains your style. You don't seem like someone who relies on brute force. More... strategic."
"Maybe," I replied vaguely, keeping my tone neutral. I wasn't about to elaborate.
We progressed at a steady pace, George's owl gliding high above us, scanning for threats. The bear and tiger padded along on either side, their sharp senses alert to any danger. Jun and Amber were clearly confident in their abilities, but I couldn't help but notice that their partners were still at intermediate Iron rank. From the way they carried themselves, it was obvious they hadn't faced many high-stakes battles yet—mostly beginner Iron rank creatures. By my estimate, each partner had around 20 to 25 battles left before they could advance.
"George," I said after a while, glancing up at his owl. "You might want to call X back. Birds higher up the food chain won't take kindly to him intruding in their territory."
George smiled slightly, clearly unfazed. "Don't worry. X has invisible armor, and it's equipped with plenty of weapons. He's safe up there."
"Invisible armor?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I'd seen the feature in catalogs but hadn't paid it much attention. Hearing that he'd implemented it on his partner intrigued me.
"Yup," George replied with a touch of pride. "It's not just armor; it can cloak his presence entirely. Plus, he's equipped with ballistic rounds, incendiary bombs, and a mini-taser. He's built for both offense and defense."
Amber chimed in, grinning. "Same goes for my tiger. Storm has a reinforced exoskeleton with shock-absorbing pads and retractable blades. If anything tries to take him down, it's in for a nasty surprise."
Jun added, "Brutus, my bear, has reinforced claws and hydraulic joints for stronger strikes. George is the one who manages all this. He's got a knack for integrating tech with our partners."
I crossed my arms, impressed despite myself. "And these upgrades? They're purely mechanical, no elemental augmentation?"
Amber nodded. "None of our partners have elemental abilities. That's why we focused on tech enhancements. Our aim is to keep them with us, no matter their rank."
"Most tamers leave their early partners behind," Jun explained. "They let them settle in safe havens to protect towns or villages. But we've been with ours for five years. They're family."
"Eventually," George said, his voice quiet but firm, "we're planning to apply for the cyborg process. Once we hit silver rank, that is."
I frowned slightly. The cyborg process was a risky endeavor, especially for creatures without human-level intelligence. Without the right safeguards, their minds could be assimilated by the Machine Empire, losing their individuality entirely. It was a noble goal, but not one without significant risks. Seeing the pride and attachment they had for their partners, I decided I'd help them achieve their goal—if they proved themselves trustworthy.
Soon, we came across our first prey.
A column of monster ants marched through a clearing, their glossy black carapaces glinting in the sunlight. Each one was the size of a dog, their mandibles sharp and dripping with venom. There were ten in total, and they moved with synchronized precision.
Amber grinned, gripping her chain spear. "Finally, some action."
The others shared her enthusiasm. Despite the ants' intimidating appearance, there was no fear in their eyes—only the thrill of a challenge. They were ready to test their upgrades.
I stepped back with Lilia, observing silently. This was their fight.
George was the first to act. His owl, X, swooped down, its weapons locking onto the group of ants. A rapid series of gunshots echoed through the clearing as X's bullets struck the ants, forcing them to scatter.
"Good opening!" Jun shouted as Brutus, his bear, charged forward. The massive beast swiped at one ant's legs, breaking them in a single strike. Storm, Amber's tiger, lunged at the same ant, its jaws locking onto the creature's head and tearing it off in a single motion. The coordination was seamless, and the ant was dead before it could react.
I nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Let's see how you handle the rest."
As the first ant fell, the rest of the swarm shifted their focus. They ignored X's bullets and rushed directly toward Storm and Brutus. The sudden change in tactics surprised the team, but they held their ground.
George quickly adjusted, commanding X to switch to stronger rounds. The owl's gunfire rang out, and each shot forced the ants to hesitate. Brutus stepped in, swiping with his claws to scatter the group, while Storm used his charged claws to pounce and eliminate the ants one by one.
Just when the battle seemed manageable, a sharp whistle echoed through the clearing. I turned toward the sound and saw them—a pair of human-sized monkeys perched in the trees. One had a slingshot and the other held a pouch of projectiles. They were grinning widely, their expressions mischievous but calculating. These were Vineflingers, notorious creatures known to steal from human tamers rather than engage in direct combat.
"Trouble incoming," I said, though I doubted they needed the warning.
The Vineflingers joined the fray, launching seeds with uncanny precision. As soon as the seeds hit the ground or an ant, they shattered, releasing vines that coiled around their targets. Brutus and Storm were caught off guard and found themselves ensnared. With their mobility restricted, the ants swarmed closer, their sharp mandibles glinting dangerously.
Jun struggled to maintain Brutus's barrier while trying to fire at the ants from behind. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he cursed under his breath. Amber, however, surprised me.
"You damn monkeys!" she shouted, her voice fierce. "If we die here, you're not getting anything from these ants! Stop attacking, and I'll give you a gift instead!"
Her words carried a mixture of desperation and determination. Even Jun, their leader, hadn't thought to negotiate in the heat of battle. The Vineflingers paused, chittering to each other. Their bright eyes fixed on Amber as she pulled out a pair of pistols from her belt, waving them enticingly.
"Come on! Help us finish these ants, and these are yours!" she added, her voice firm despite the tense situation.
The monkeys tilted their heads, then let out shrill cries. They shifted their aim and began targeting the ants instead. Their precision was remarkable, and with the Vineflingers' help, the battle turned in the team's favor. It didn't take long before the last ant, caught in Storm's jaws, stopped twitching.
The monkeys hopped down from the trees and sauntered up to Amber, their hands outstretched, chittering impatiently. Amber sighed, handing over the pistols with visible reluctance. "Here. Take them, you little thieves."
The Vineflingers snatched the weapons and examined them with almost human-like curiosity before scampering away into the trees, their laughter echoing in the distance.
George, who had been quiet for most of the encounter, finally spoke. "Those monkeys… they're something. Agile, smart, and good with ranged attacks. They might be worth considering as partners."
Jun nodded. "They were helpful today, but we'll need to study them more. Not sure I'd want a creature that demands bribes every time we're in trouble."
Amber, still glaring at the direction the monkeys had disappeared, muttered, "I don't care how useful they are. I'm not partnering with a thief."
I observed silently, taking in their dynamic. The team's ability to adapt—even negotiate in the middle of a fight—was commendable. Amber's quick thinking had saved them, though it had come at a price.
As we packed up to move on, George added the Vineflingers to his list of potential creatures, making a note to observe them further.
As for the ants, I recognized them immediately from the Monster Encyclopedia. They were Venomhounds, known for their pack mentality and vicious attacks. Their venom wasn't lethal but could paralyze their prey long enough for them to finish the kill.
The team had won, but it was clear they still had a lot to learn about surviving in this world.