Jason ignored Duke, who was happily prancing around in his sunglasses. Besides his amulet and sword, Jason packed essentials: wound care, water, snacks, and a few survival tools. He wasn't sure if any of this would come through the portal, but it was worth a try.
With everything prepared, Jason continued his attempts to brief Duke, whose cocky attitude hadn't changed one bit.
"Are you listening?" he asked, sighing as Duke showed no hint of focus. "You're stronger, but it doesn't seem like your smarts improved with the upgrade."
Jason had warned him that they might face creatures unlike anything they'd seen before, but Duke only responded with an unimpressed look. Jason couldn't help but feel a flicker of worry. 'This could go wrong quickly,' he thought, but the countdown was already closing in.
"Alright, that's enough for now," Jason said. "You're going back in." He summoned the Contract Card, which now fused into his body, allowing him to call it up at will.
As the teleportation drew nearer, he absorbed Duke back into the card and secured it, confident it would keep them connected through the transition.
---
A sensation of spinning weightlessness surrounded Jason during the transport. When it finally stopped, he opened his eyes to a shadowy, dense forest where thick foliage blocked the sky. Familiar text flashed in his vision as a calm voice echoed in his mind.
[Teleportation complete.]
[Current Location: Veilshadow Woods (Novice Trial Realm)]
[Difficulty: Moderate]
[Trial Objective: Survive for one day.]
[Realm Introduction: Veilshadow Woods is a dense, mist-filled forest inhabited by eerie creatures that emerge in the cover of fog. Once home to elusive and mystical beings, it is now infested with Veilstalkers—shadowed creatures whose sharp senses make them expert hunters. These woods are also home to foghounds, known for their ghastly howls and relentless tracking abilities. New beastmasters often stumble into these woods and must learn to survive until rescue.]
[As a new Beastmaster, your primary objective is to survive and await rescue.]
[Tip 1: This realm is a projection; any resources here are limited to use within this space.]
[Tip 2: Rewards vary based on combat performance.]
[Tip 3: Near-death situations trigger automatic extraction from the realm.]
[Tip 4: Temporary Ability: Fog Sense—enhances visibility in dense mist and detects nearby creatures.]
Jason's relief at the near-death extraction protocol was short-lived as he considered the dangers around him. Creatures with senses adapted to the fog meant this forest wouldn't be as forgiving as the original "easy" trial he had expected.
"Let's go, Duke," he said, summoning him from the Contract Card. Already prepared to be without his supplies, Jason mentally adjusted to their sudden absence.
"Looks like we're out of luck on supplies," he commented as Duke sniffed the fog-filled air, his ears perked. "This place might feel like a dream, but everything here will be real enough."
Duke, however, seemed unfazed, prancing around with little concern.
Jason was about to scold him when a sudden rustling interrupted. Both he and Duke immediately stilled, listening carefully as the forest fell silent. Duke sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing.
Dark shapes began to emerge from the fog, their lean forms moving with eerie silence. Jason squinted, and his Fog Sense kicked in, revealing the outline of a Veilstalker—a creature resembling a shadowy panther with gleaming yellow eyes and smoky tendrils wafting from its body. Its pointed ears twitched, and it focused on them with a hunter's gaze.
As they faced off, information appeared before Jason's eyes:
[Species]: Veilstalker
[Attribute]: Not Awakened.
[Class]: Moderate Extraordinary
[level]: Level 2
[Description]: A silent predator of the Veilshadow Woods, skilled in ambushes and capable of blending with shadows to stalk its prey.]
Jason noted the stats and quickly evaluated his chances. "So, the Class represents the creature's strength in this ecosystem. This Veilstalker's stats look like it'll be a challenge."
When he compared Duke's Level 1 to the Veilstalker's Level 2, he realized the panther-like creature was likely more agile and experienced.
With tension building, Jason considered his options. If he tried to flee, the creature's instincts might be triggered, giving them even less of a chance. The best bet was to stand their ground and hopefully ward it off.
Standing tall, Jason widened his stance, aiming to make himself appear larger as he let out a fierce shout, "HEY!!"
The Veilstalker paused, eyeing him for a moment, before crouching and charging forward. Jason cursed inwardly, realizing his plan had backfired.
"Duke! Attack!" he shouted, hoping Duke would respond with his usual agility.
Without hesitation, Duke lunged forward, his body colliding with the Veilstalker as he snapped at its neck, pulling it down in one swift motion. Jason, taken aback, barely had time to grab a nearby branch before it was all over.
Duke had already pinned the Veilstalker, his jaws locked around its throat as he growled victoriously, blood splattering as he held it in place. The shadowy panther, fierce a moment ago, lay limp under Duke's hold.
Jason stared, stunned, as Duke turned to him with a look of pure satisfaction. All his careful analysis had been unnecessary—Duke had handled the Veilstalker like it was nothing.
"Nice work, buddy. I might've underestimated you," he said, impressed.
Duke barked proudly, still sporting his cocky "warrior" look even as he pulled himself up, ready to take on whatever else the Veilshadow Woods might throw their way.