Slowly, Reyn edged closer, each step carefully placed to avoid making noise. The creature's head twitched slightly, its eyes scanning the area as if sensing his presence. Reyn held his breath, forcing himself to stay calm, even as his grip on the sword tightened.
The wyrm slithered forward, its tail coiling back as it prepared to strike. Reyn's muscles tensed, his mind racing as he waited for the perfect moment. The creature lunged, its tail whipping forward like a spear, but Reyn sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the deadly fang.
'Now!' Reyn lunged forward, swinging his sword at the wyrm's side. His blade connected, slicing through a layer of scales and drawing a thin line of blood.
The wyrm hissed in pain, its tail lashing out again in retaliation. Reyn barely dodged, feeling the rush of air as the fang passed dangerously close to his shoulder.
He stepped back, catching his breath, his heart racing. This creature was faster than he'd expected, and one wrong move could be his last. But he couldn't afford to retreat. He steadied himself, his mind focused, waiting for another chance to strike.
The wyrm lunged again, its tail slicing through the air. This time, Reyn was ready. He dodged left, then darted forward, his sword slicing upward in a clean, precise motion. His blade struck the wyrm's tail, severing the fang with a sharp, metallic snap.
The creature shrieked, writhing in agony as Reyn stumbled back, clutching the severed fang in his hand. The wyrm slithered back into the shadows, disappearing into the undergrowth as it fled.
Reyn dropped to one knee, breathing heavily, the fang clutched tightly in his hand. The thrill of victory mixed with relief as he realized he'd done it. He had completed the first trial.
Exhausted but elated, he made his way back toward the edge of the forest, where Lirael waited. Her eyes flicked to the fang in his hand, and for the first time, he saw a flicker of genuine pride in her expression.
"You did it," she said, a small smile breaking through her usual sternness.
Reyn grinned, holding up the fang. "One step closer to the Iron Fang Guild."
Lirael nodded. "You've proven you're capable of more than I expected. But this is only the beginning."
As they walked back toward town, Reyn couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment—and a renewed determination to face whatever trials lay ahead.
»«»«»«
They had only walked halfway back toward town when Reyn suddenly stopped, his gaze distant as if in deep thought. Lirael noticed, turning to look at him with a raised eyebrow. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of impatience.
Reyn hesitated, glancing down at the fang he held in his hand. "We have five days to finish the trial, right?"
Lirael nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing. "Yes… why?"
"Well," he began, shifting his grip on the fang, "is there any reason I couldn't hunt more of these creatures? I mean, with the extra time… I could bring back more fangs."
A flicker of surprise crossed Lirael's face before she masked it with a calm nod. "It's not a bad idea. The guild values ambition and persistence," she said. "If you think you can handle it, go ahead. Just don't bite off more than you can chew."
Reyn smiled, feeling his excitement grow. But there was more to it than just proving himself to the guild. He'd received a new mission from the Lustbound System, and he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to earn the rewards it promised.
Ding!
[New Mission: Impress Lirael by slaying 50 Fanged Tail Wyrms!]
[Objective: Collect 50 fangs from the Fanged Tail Wyrms.]
[Rewards: +20 ER, +10% Bond Progress with Lirael, +1 to all attributes]
The mission was clear, and the rewards were too tempting to ignore. Not only would it bring him closer to Lirael, but it would also give him a boost in his own abilities. The thought of becoming stronger filled him with determination.
Lirael watched him, her expression cautious but curious. "If you're serious about this, I'll wait here. But remember, these creatures are dangerous in numbers. Don't underestimate them."
"Understood," Reyn replied, his tone steady. "I'll be back soon."
With a final nod, Lirael found a shaded spot by the edge of the forest and settled in, her gaze following Reyn as he disappeared back into the trees.
»«»«»«
The next three days were a blur of constant motion, strategy, and battle. Reyn moved carefully through the underbrush, his senses on high alert as he hunted down each Fanged Tail Wyrm.
They were ambush predators, lurking in the shadows of twisted roots or coiling up in dense undergrowth, waiting to strike.
The first few encounters had been the hardest. The wyrms were fast, their tails lashing out with precision, forcing Reyn to dodge and counter at just the right moments.
Each strike, each lunge, demanded his full concentration as he adapted to the creatures' patterns. He could feel his movements becoming sharper, his reflexes quicker, as the hours slipped by.
He had gathered ten fangs by the end of the first day, his arms and legs aching, his clothes stained with dirt and streaks of dark blood.
As he collapsed onto a mossy patch to rest, he found himself glancing at the Lustbound System's mission panel, the count of collected fangs slowly ticking upward.
But the system's goal was still far off.
As night fell, Reyn leaned against a tree, his body weary but his mind resolute. He clutched his small pouch, where the fangs rattled faintly with each movement. "Just forty more," he muttered, a tired smile tugging at his lips.
»«»«»«
The next day, he pushed harder, moving through the forest with increasing speed. His technique improved with each encounter. He became adept at reading the wyrms' movements, predicting the direction of their strikes, and finding openings to land decisive blows.
His sword felt like an extension of his arm, slicing through the air with confidence as he severed tails and collected fangs.
By the afternoon, he'd gathered nearly thirty fangs, his pouch heavy with the spoils of his labor. The system's rewards lingered in his mind, urging him on with each successful hunt.
"Hehehe... We go again." As the third day dawned, Reyn was driven not only by the system's mission but by a newfound determination to prove his worth.
The exhilaration of each victory, the growing number of fangs, and the thought of impressing Lirael fueled him as he hunted through the thick, shadowed forest.