Jason stared at the pendant, his mind reeling. 'How could this be?' He had always assumed it was just a simple family heirloom. Now, here it was, glowing with mystical energy, as though it had been waiting for this exact moment.
'If my pendant has such power,' he thought, 'could it be tied to the ancient forces connected to this Contract Card?'
As he held the pendant, a flood of thoughts surged through his mind. Could it be that someone in his lineage had once wielded powers similar to his own? Perhaps an ancestor had also been a beast master, passing down this amulet as a hidden legacy.
Jason's thoughts were interrupted by a whimper from Duke. The wounds on his side and back were beginning to bleed again.
"Hold on, Duke. Let's try healing you with this," he said, clutching the amulet tightly. If the pendant really contained "healing power," it was better than anything else he had.
Jason focused on the intention to heal Duke, channeling his energy through the amulet. Immediately, the antler pendant glowed brighter, enveloping Duke in a warm, golden light. Jason watched in amazement as the wounds on Duke's body began to close, the torn flesh knitting itself back together. Within moments, the injuries were gone, replaced by newly healed skin and a few bald patches where fur had yet to regrow.
Duke looked down at his healed body, stunned, then back up at Jason with an expression of awe.
Jason chuckled, giving Duke a pat. "Well, you've still got some bald spots, but your skin's tougher than ever!"
Duke, recovering from his shock, wagged his tail and gave an excited bark. He looked at the amulet as if it were the greatest treasure he'd ever seen, ready to charge into battle again.
Jason shook his head, laughing. "Alright, big guy, let's not get too overconfident. This is a huge advantage, but we can't rely on it too much. Besides, we have a job to do here."
As he clutched the amulet, Jason felt a renewed determination. 'This pendant isn't just a family heirloom; it's a lifeline in this realm. And with Duke growing stronger, we can really make use of our time here.'
Jason's eyes gleamed with purpose. If he could help Duke reach higher levels, they'd leave this trial not just survivors, but seasoned fighters.
---
Four hours later, deep in the Veilshadow Woods, Jason and Duke were actively hunting down creatures to strengthen themselves further. They had encountered a wide array of new creatures along the way:
A Fangtooth Hare, an aggressive rabbit-like creature with razor-sharp incisors and a tendency to charge at anything in its way. It may have looked harmless, but it could pack a punch.
A Great Rat Beast, larger than a raccoon, with a thick hide and an aggressive temperament. If not for Duke's strength and Jason's quick reactions, it might have been difficult to subdue.
Without exception, each creature was defeated, yielding experience that brought Duke closer to his next level. Compared to these relatively minor foes, the Veilstalkers were far more dangerous, making Jason suspect they were higher in the food chain.
Yet, some battles required more caution. Duke had just fought a Jade Viper, a mid-level creature with venomous fangs. Though Duke ultimately won, he was left with a deep bite wound. Fortunately, Jason had gathered antidote herbs along the way and used them immediately.
Duke, undeterred by the risks, had started adopting a dangerously reckless fighting style, often taking hits to secure his own attacks. His confidence in the pendant's healing power was making him bolder with each battle, a trait Jason admired but also feared might backfire.
"You're getting a bit too wild out there," Jason scolded as Duke lay on top of the defeated viper, looking up with a proud expression.
"Woof," Duke barked, wagging his tail.
With that victory, Duke's level rose to 3. Both he and Jason were buzzing with excitement. If they could continue at this pace, they'd become truly formidable by the end of the trial. But then, as they continued, they stumbled upon an unexpected find.
Near a fallen tree, Jason spotted a tattered tent. It looked abandoned, partially hidden by the forest's undergrowth. The Jade Viper had been guarding it.
Cautiously, they approached. Jason was half-expecting another ambush, but the area remained quiet.
Inside the tent was a weathered journal. Flipping it open, Jason realized he couldn't understand the script, but a wave of data from his Eye of Data made it possible for him to comprehend the text.
[Journal Entry]
"This is the first stop on my journey through the Veilshadow Woods. What was once a quiet forest now seems haunted, its creatures twisted and strange. I came to investigate what might have caused these changes, but I fear I've underestimated the dangers here. My father was right—I shouldn't have come…"
The entry ended abruptly.
Jason frowned, his mind racing. 'So this forest wasn't always like this?'
"Seems like there's a bigger mystery here," Jason muttered. "But we're in no shape to dig deeper right now."
"Woof," Duke chimed in, nudging Jason to continue their hunt.
"True, we're on a clock here," Jason sighed, feeling the press of their limited time. Exploring further might lead to more answers, but without adequate strength, it was too risky to go deeper.
With that, Jason and Duke resumed their hunting, moving from one battle to the next, strengthening themselves as they went.
---
Time passed as they journeyed through the Veilshadow Woods, leveling up slowly but steadily. But as they approached the final hour, Jason realized that Duke's progress had stalled. The jump from level 3 to level 4 was proving difficult. Each encounter grew more intense, pushing them to their limits. Fortunately, the amulet's healing power kept them going, but exhaustion was setting in.
Finally, with only one minute remaining, Duke defeated another Veilstalker, and Jason felt the familiar pulse of power—the final boost they needed. Duke's level rose to 4.
As the energy settled, a series of notifications flashed before Jason's eyes, making his heart skip a beat.
[Congratulations on completing the Novice Trial.]
[Rating: S-Level!]
[Rewards:]
- Identity Card
- 10,000 Crystal Coins
- High-Level Resource: Meteorite
- High-Level Resource: Attribute Awakening Fruit. (Nature-type)
- Skill Unlocked: Beast Mimicry
- Eye of Data (Upgraded)
[Please choose your return location:]
1: Initial Transfer Point
2: Infinite City - a safe zone and central hub for beastmasters who have passed the trial, offering various specialized facilities and resources for beastmasters.
Jason stared at the new screen, excitement bubbling within him.