The humid air of the jungle wrapped around us like a suffocating blanket as we crept toward the clearing where Lilia had sensed the Assassin Bug. Its target, a pack of electric squirrel monsters, was scurrying about the forest floor, blissfully unaware of the predator stalking them—or the humans preparing to intervene.
The squirrels, known as Voltailes, weren't an immediate threat unless provoked, their small frames buzzing with static energy as they darted from tree to tree. Their bright yellow fur flickered like lightning as they chirped and chattered, their tails sparking harmlessly against the leaves. I could tell the bug had its sights set on them, its camouflage rendering it invisible to everything but the heat signature visible through George's tracking tech.
---
George adjusted the settings on X, his owl-like partner hovering silently above us. "Locked onto the heat signature," he whispered. "Ready to fire."
"Make it count," I said, keeping my voice low. "If you miss, this thing's going to make your lives hell."
Amber was already tense, gripping the chain she'd brought for this battle, her eyes scanning the dense foliage. Jun, rifle in hand, nodded to George. "Take the shot."
X's sniper round fired, the quiet pfft of the silencer barely audible. For a split second, it seemed like the plan had worked. But as the bullet approached its target, the Assassin Bug reacted with lightning speed, raising one of its razor-sharp limbs to deflect the shot. The round ricocheted off, embedding itself harmlessly into a tree.
"Damn it!" George hissed, but the distraction had worked. Amber threw her shock net, the metallic threads sparking to life as they surrounded the creature. The bug, momentarily visible as it flailed against the net, screeched in rage, its mandibles clicking furiously.
The Voltailes, startled by the commotion, retaliated. A nearby squirrel unleashed a burst of electricity that surged through the shock net, amplifying its power and causing the bug to convulse. It was a lucky break, but it also turned the squirrels' attention to us.
"Watch the squirrels!" I barked as one darted toward George, its tail glowing with electricity. X swooped in, scattering the creatures with a barrage of bullets, but it was clear we couldn't afford to ignore them for long.
---
The bug wasn't down for long. With a sudden burst of strength, it tore through the shock net, releasing a cloud of acidic mist as it broke free. The fog spread rapidly, corroding the foliage and filling the air with a sharp, acrid stench.
"Brutus, hold the line!" Jun commanded, and his bear charged forward, slamming into the bug before it could escape. But the Assassin Bug was faster than Brutus had anticipated. It sidestepped the attack, lashing out with one of its limbs. The acidic edge of its strike glanced off Brutus's armor, but the damage was already done. The protective plating hissed and melted, exposing the bear's fur underneath.
Storm joined the fray, his claws glowing faintly as he charged the bug, aiming for its exposed joints. The two partners worked together, Brutus tackling while Storm aimed for precision strikes, but the bug was relentless. It darted and weaved between their attacks, leaving trails of acidic residue with every movement.
Then it made its move.
With a powerful leap, the Assassin Bug landed squarely on Brutus's back, driving its sharp limbs into his shoulder. Brutus roared in pain, shaking violently to dislodge it, but the bug held firm, its mandibles snapping dangerously close to his neck.
"Brutus!" Jun shouted, panic creeping into his voice. He raised his rifle and fired, the bullets sparking off the bug's armored exoskeleton. Amber hurled her chain, wrapping it around one of the bug's limbs and yanking with all her strength. For a moment, it seemed like they might overpower it—but the bug released another acidic cloud, forcing Brutus to retreat as his melted armor began fusing to his skin.
---
"Hold it together!" I snapped, stepping forward. "Focus your attacks!"
Storm lunged again, his claws slashing across the bug's side. At the same time, X unleashed a concentrated lightning beam, the powerful strike catching the bug mid-dodge. The electricity crackled across its body, causing it to spasm violently. But even then, it wasn't enough. The Assassin Bug screeched in fury, its acid-slicked limb striking Storm and sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Amber, distract it!" I ordered. She nodded, swinging her chain in a wide arc to draw the bug's attention. It turned toward her, mandibles clicking, just as George's drones reactivated. The small machines swarmed the bug, firing rapid bursts of energy that kept it off-balance.
Jun took the opportunity to reposition Brutus, despite the bear's grievous injuries. Together, they charged one last time, Brutus's massive form slamming into the bug with all the force he could muster. Storm recovered and joined in, his claws raking across the bug's abdomen as X rained bullets from above.
Finally, with a high-pitched wail, the Assassin Bug collapsed, its legs curling inward as the last of its strength gave out. Amber didn't hesitate, throwing her capture device onto its motionless form. The small sphere blinked weakly, then sealed shut with a soft click.
---
The clearing was eerily silent as the battle ended. The Voltailes had long since scattered, their sparking tails disappearing into the trees. Jun knelt beside Brutus, his hands shaking as he examined the bear's injuries. Storm limped over to Amber, his white fur streaked with blood and burns. Even X, usually unflappable, hovered unsteadily, sparks flying from its damaged frame.
"That was... brutal," George muttered, his voice hollow. He knelt to pick up one of his drones, now little more than a melted scrap of metal. "We weren't ready for that."
"No kidding," Jun said bitterly. He glanced at me, his expression both grateful and accusatory. "You didn't step in."
"It wasn't my fight," I replied calmly, though I made no attempt to hide the edge in my voice. "You wanted to prove yourselves. Consider it a lesson learned."
Amber didn't respond, too busy inspecting the creature in her hands. Her expression was unreadable, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. She knew how close they'd come to failure.
Lilia stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly as she knelt beside Brutus. "Let me help," she said softly, her voice cutting through the tension. "This will hurt, but it will stop the damage."
As she worked, I looked around the clearing, taking in the scorched earth, the acid-burned foliage, and the blood-streaked ground. This forest wasn't for the faint of heart. If they wanted to survive here, they'd need to do better. And fast.
The sun was beginning to dip below the canopy, casting streaks of orange light through the dense foliage as I led the team away from the site of our brutal fight with the Assassin Bug. The air was heavy with tension and exhaustion, but we needed to put some distance between us and that clearing before settling down to rest.
Brutus's injuries weighed heavily on all of us. The acidic attack had been brutal, but we were lucky Lilia's healing abilities could reattach his severed arm. The wounds still looked raw and unnatural, but he was mobile again, and his pain had subsided. Lilia worked tirelessly to mend the burns, cuts, and lingering acid damage on the others' partners as well, though the scars—both physical and emotional—would stay with us.
---
We set up a temporary resting point a short distance away. Jun approached me with a somber expression, his earlier frustration now replaced with guilt. "I shouldn't have snapped at you back there, Akira," he said quietly. "That fight was on us, and you gave us the space to handle it. I just—" He exhaled heavily. "I wasn't ready for that kind of pressure."
"It's fine," I said, waving off his apology. "What matters is that you all came out alive. Next time, you'll know what to expect."
The trio seemed intent on lifting the mood, focusing on Amber's new partner, the Assassin Bug, now safely assimilated into her taming space. Amber's taming energy had overwhelmed the creature after the battle, ensuring it couldn't rebel—at least for now.
George, ever the realist, couldn't help but issue a warning. "You know if that thing evolves to bronze rank with its current personality, it could betray you, right?"
Amber rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "I'm not some airheaded rookie, George. I know how to manage my partners."
The two bickered briefly, but their banter was almost comforting in its normalcy. After all, this was the first time since the fight that they weren't focused solely on their injuries or partners' near-death experiences. The exhaustion was still there, but at least they were pushing through it.
---
While the group rested, I checked in with Asura, who had been scouting ahead for over an hour. His telepathic connection reached me instantly, his calm voice painting a vivid picture of what he'd encountered in the depths of the forest.
He'd found two remarkable creatures. The first was a Tarantula Hawk Wasp, a predator built to terrorize even the largest monsters. Its glossy black and crimson exoskeleton shimmered like steel in the sunlight. Two lance-like forelimbs glinted dangerously, capable of piercing through armor and injecting paralyzing venom. Its lower stinger was even more terrifying—able to fire venomous projectiles that could burn through flesh and cause excruciating pain. Asura mentioned its ability to manipulate pain sensations, amplifying its prey's suffering to the point of immobilization. Despite its fearsome abilities, it didn't stand a chance against Asura, whose intangible body made him immune to both venom and pain. The wasp was subdued and trapped in a metal cage before it could retaliate.
The second target was the Vampire Bat, a creature I'd been keeping an eye out for. This one was dark-furred and eerily silent, its wide wingspan blending seamlessly with the shadows of the jungle. Its abilities were fascinating: it could manipulate sound waves to disorient enemies, drain blood to heal and strengthen itself, and temporarily absorb the abilities of the creatures it fed on. Asura had caught it mid-hunt, a silent predator that never stood a chance against his overwhelming presence.
---
When Asura returned with the caged creatures, I wasted no time forming contracts. The Tarantula Hawk Wasp had undeniable potential; it could evolve into a Wasp Knight, a warrior clad in metallic armor with laser-like stingers. The thought of having such a creature on my team—a natural predator of tarantula monsters—was too good to pass up. Meanwhile, the Vampire Bat held even greater promise. Its evolution into a Vampire Lord would give me a humanoid partner capable of creating familiars, controlling darkness, and even gaining temporary power boosts by feeding on enemies.
Both creatures assimilated into my taming space smoothly, their potential making me eager to see how far I could take them. With my taming space capped at six, I'd have to plan carefully, but there were always workarounds. Contracts could be maintained remotely, with the monsters kept in specialized facilities or controlled environments. It was risky, but it gave tamers like me more options.
---
While the trio debated whether to return to camp for supplies, my mind wandered to the Frost Wolf we had defeated earlier. Its cold aura and combat prowess made it an ideal candidate, though it would require significant effort to tame. Then there were the Bug Guardian and the Kinnelbuns, both creatures with unique abilities I couldn't ignore.
It reminded me of the days when I'd spend hours deliberating over team compositions in games. Except now, the stakes were real, and every choice mattered. My partners weren't just tools; they were living beings with potential and personalities that could make or break a mission.
Jun broke my thoughts with a question. "Akira, should we head back? It's getting late, and we're wiped out."
I considered his suggestion, looking at the weary faces of the group. They weren't careless—they knew when to retreat, a trait many tamers failed to learn until it was too late.
"Yeah," I said finally. "Let's head back. Rest up, resupply, and come back stronger."
With nods of agreement, we packed up and began our cautious journey back through the forest. The day had been brutal, but it was far from over. This world didn't forgive weakness, and neither could we.