The early morning sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm, golden glow across the city as Deon made his way back to House 15. The events of the last few hours played on repeat in his mind—Jolt's sudden illness, the frantic dash to the clinic, and the unexpected encounter with Nyx. Deon's heart was still pounding from the wild adventure that had led him to the depths of the Heartfire Cave, where he had faced the formidable Blazeclaw, a beast he had only heard about in legends.
Jolt, his trusty lightning companion, was perched on his shoulder, now fully revived and sparking with energy once again. But Deon knew he couldn't relax just yet. As he looked down at the new companion walking beside him, he felt a mix of excitement and caution. Blazeclaw, the mighty fire bear they had just subdued, was now officially part of his team.
The bear's flames flickered softly, illuminating the early morning shadows. It was a powerful creature, and Deon knew that adding it to his team was both a blessing and a challenge. As they walked through the deserted streets, Deon couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He had done the impossible—he had tamed one of the rarest fire-type beasts known to Beast Tamers. But he also knew that Nyx's involvement meant there was more to this story than he realized.
Deon arrived back at his small, cluttered house, the familiar scent of incense and herbs filling his nose. He carefully guided Blazeclaw inside, closing the door behind them. Jolt hopped down from his shoulder, sparking happily as it inspected their new companion.
"Alright, Blazeclaw," Deon said, turning to the massive bear. "Welcome to the team. I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I promise to take good care of you." The bear let out a low, rumbling growl, its flames flickering in what Deon hoped was a sign of acceptance.
He sighed in relief, then turned to Jolt. "You feeling okay, buddy?" he asked, kneeling down to scratch behind the lightning beast's ears. Jolt gave a satisfied crackle in response, its eyes gleaming with renewed strength.
But before Deon could relax, there was a knock on his door. He froze, wondering who it could be so early in the morning. Cautiously, he opened the door to find Nyx standing there with his signature smirk.
"Good morning, Deon," Nyx said, his tone dripping with amusement. Phantom, his shadowy pet, hovered behind him, its eyes glowing eerily. "I see you've made a new friend."
Deon frowned but didn't let his guard down. "What do you want, Nyx?"
Nyx raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Relax. I'm not here to cause trouble. I just came to see how you're doing after our little adventure." His eyes flicked to Blazeclaw, who was still growling softly. "Looks like you managed to tame it after all. Impressive."
Deon crossed his arms, not entirely trusting Nyx's sudden friendliness. "Yeah, thanks for the tip. But why are you really here?"
Nyx's smile widened. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that. I actually came to offer you a deal."
Deon's eyes narrowed. "Another deal? What is it this time?"
Nyx stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I'm putting together a team for a special mission. I need strong Tamers like you, and now that you have Blazeclaw, I think you'll be a valuable asset."
Deon shook his head. "I'm not interested in your games, Nyx. Besides, I've got my own battles to fight."
Nyx let out a dramatic sigh. "Suit yourself. But just so you know, there's another Flame beast out there. It's even more powerful than the one you have. If you're interested in adding it to your team, you'll know where to find me." He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Deon standing in the doorway, his mind racing with possibilities.
Deon spent the rest of the morning in deep thought. Nyx's words echoed in his mind. Another Flame beast, one even more powerful than Blazeclaw? The idea was tempting, but he knew better than to trust Nyx so easily. Still, the possibility of finding such a rare creature was too good to ignore.
"Jolt, Blazeclaw," Deon called, gathering his team. "We're going out. There's something I need to find."
The three of them made their way to the outskirts of the city, where Deon knew the wild beasts roamed free. If Nyx was telling the truth, then the best way to find this mysterious Flame beast was to start searching in the deepest parts of the forest.
Hours passed as they trekked through dense foliage, the sounds of distant roars and cries filling the air. Jolt kept its senses sharp, sparking occasionally to light their way, while Blazeclaw lumbered behind them, its presence a comforting source of warmth.
Just as Deon was beginning to lose hope, they stumbled upon a clearing. In the center stood a massive, ancient tree, its roots twisted and gnarled. And there, resting at the base of the tree, was the creature Nyx had spoken of—a second Flame beast, but this one was different. It had the body of a bear, like Blazeclaw, but its fur was darker, and its flames burned a brilliant blue.
Deon's eyes widened. "That must be it… the other Flame."
The beast lifted its head, eyes locking onto Deon's. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, with a deafening roar, the beast charged.
"Jolt, Thunder Strike!" Deon commanded. Jolt leapt forward, releasing a powerful bolt of lightning that struck the ground in front of the beast, forcing it to skid to a halt.
Blazeclaw, not one to be outdone, let out a roar of its own and unleashed a wave of fire. The blue-flamed beast retaliated with a burst of its own azure flames, the two powers clashing in a dazzling display of light and heat.
Deon knew he had to act fast. "Jolt, go for its legs! Blazeclaw, support with Fire Spin!"
Jolt darted forward, aiming a quick strike at the creature's legs while Blazeclaw trapped it in a vortex of fire. The blue-flamed bear roared in frustration, trying to break free, but it was no match for the combined power of Deon's team.
Taking a deep breath, Deon threw an enchanted Beast Crystal at the creature. It struck the blue-flamed bear, surrounding it in a cocoon of light. For a tense moment, the beast struggled against the magic, but finally, it let out a defeated growl and was pulled into the crystal.
Deon's heart pounded as he approached the glowing crystal. "Did we really do it?" he whispered, hardly daring to believe it. But as the light faded, he saw the creature's form inside, now calm and subdued.
He turned to his team with a grin. "We did it, guys. We caught the second Flame."
Jolt crackled with excitement, while Blazeclaw let out a triumphant roar. Deon knew this was just the beginning. With two powerful fire beasts on his side, his team was stronger than ever. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Nyx had more plans in store.
As they made their way back to the city, Deon couldn't help but wonder what other challenges lay ahead. He was ready for whatever came next. For now, though, he was just glad to have another powerful ally on his team.
"Let's get back home," he said, smiling at his new companion. "We've got some training to do."