Three figures and a falcon moved stealthily through the dense forest, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. The sunlight filtered high over the canopy, indicating it was a little past midday. Birds were chirping, animals and beasts playing and the trees swaying as if to enjoy the calm peaceful day.
Chloe crouched down, her ears perking up at a faint rustling in the distance. She signaled for the group to halt. "Something's out there," she whispered.
Logan nodded, his grip tightening on the small dagger he had bought. [Zephyr, can you see what it is?] he mentally communicated.
The small bird, attuned to hunting from fighting so much during the day, turned its head towards the direction of the sound as it flew up. [Master, big beasts, horns, fighting,] it communicated back.
Logan's heart pounded with anticipation. He, like the others, could feel the earth rumble from time to time. "It seems to be a pair of large horned beasts that are fighting," he said in a hushed voice.
As they advanced, the rustling grew louder, and the now quiet forest seemed to sense the struggle between two great monsters. The team walked slowly until they reached the edge of a clearing where a pair of elk-like creatures were battling. They were towering, probably two meters high, with antlers that glowed with a faint green light. Every few seconds, they clashed, their powerful bodies slamming together before stepping back to reassess each other.
Rubina's breath caught in her throat as she took in the scene. "We need to be careful. This fight could turn dangerous for us if we're not cautious," she said, her hand instinctively reaching for a small wand kept in her ring.
Chloe nodded, her eyes fixed on the battling creatures. "Let's observe them for a moment. We need to understand their behavior before we make our move."
Chloe moved closer to Logan, his eyes never leaving the elk-like creatures. "If we can figure out which one is more aggressive, we might be able to turn the tide in our favor."
Zephyr perched on a nearby branch, its keen eyes monitoring the battle below. [Dark fur, leader] the falcon communicated. [Small, weaker, need kill, meat]
Logan tried to gather what he could from Zephyr's telepathic messages. He interpreted that the falcon believed it could take on the smaller beast but feared the larger one.
"My tame said it could probably kill the one with the lighter fur, but we will need to focus on the dark fur one. So, what should we do, Chloe?" he asked, turning to her for guidance.
Chloe took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the battling creatures while planning a way to separate them safely. "We need to create a distraction. If the smaller one escapes, we could be in trouble—that big one will defend its territory."
She paused before continuing. "Rubina, you should know how to use Flame Arrow, right? You will charge the strongest one and shoot the large one while I create spikes around to keep them in place. Logan, just concentrate on your tame. Since you don't have a way to fight, maintain your distance and keep watch for any dangers we may face from behind."
Rubina nodded, positioning herself and drawing her wand, ready to cast the Flame Arrow spell. "Got it. I'll wait for your signal."
Meanwhile, Logan felt bad that he really didn't have a role; his tame had been doing all the fighting so far. However, he understood the importance of having a lookout so the team wouldn't be surprised from behind. He shifted his attention to Zephyr. [Stay sharp, Zephyr. We need to be ready for anything.]
Chloe began to focus her energy, the air around her crackling as she closed in. She raised her amber dagger, which seemed to function like a wand. The ground responded to her command, spikes forming around the battling beasts, who suddenly stopped, sensing the mana around them stirring.
Chloe whispered, "Get ready... Now!"
Rubina released her Flame Arrow, the fiery projectile soaring towards the larger creature. Simultaneously, Chloe's spikes shot up from the ground, corralling the beasts and forcing them apart.
The larger beast roared in fury as the Flame Arrow hit its target, while the smaller one took the opportunity to retreat slightly, bewildered by the sudden assault.
Those few seconds of faltering were enough for Zephyr to swoop in, unleashing two wind blades. One of them struck the larger beast right in the neck, while the other, weakened by its tough hide, hit its torso. The large stag flipped a few times, unable to call out as its trachea had been damaged.
"Kweek!" Zephyr let out a piercing cry, its voice echoing through the forest.
Without giving the beast a second to recover, the young falcon rose up as far as it could and readied itself to turn its body into a wind arrow. Using what little mana it could conjure up for a final blow, it rolled as it dived, its wings tucked back at their optimal position.
In less than the time it takes to blink, the young bird plunged its razor-sharp claws into the deer's side, right where it sensed its magic core.
While the second beast was easier to take care of, the more experienced one had been luckier in recovering from Rubina's magic.
"Use a stronger spell, this beast knows how to absorb magic somehow. I didn't want to harm its fur, but our safety is the priority here!" Chloe shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
Logan looked around, trying to figure out what he could do. His bird was ensuring that its prey was dealt with before joining the battle, and Rubina was busy focusing on a new spell.
It took only a few seconds, but that was enough for her to cast a large fireball as Chloe kept raising larger spears of earth to keep the now raging stag in place.
"Here goes, everyone stand back!" Rubina cried out, releasing the most powerful spell she could muster while trying to keep it concentrated in one spot to avoid affecting their surroundings.
The large ball of fire surged forward as the stag tried to use some spell with its antlers, which began to glow a radiant shade of green. The antlers seemed to conjure a wind spell, attempting to redirect the large fireball that was coming to reap its life.
An explosion resounded, pushing everyone back. Logan, at the rear, used his sleeve to shield his face from the heat wave that passed him.
After everyone calmed down, he noticed his tame had taken to the sky to escape, while Chloe and Rubina were near each other, taking refuge behind a large pillar.
[Food, burn, food gone] Logan felt a pang of regret as he picked up on Zephyr's telepathic frustration over the fiery explosion that seemed to have charred its kill.
"Well, that was overkill…" Chloe muttered as she stood up. With a wave of her hand, she made her cover explode into fine particles, smothering any flames that wanted to continue burning.
"Sorry, I got a little scared that my first spell didn't hurt that beast," Rubina admitted, dusting herself off.
"Wait, look!" Logan pointed towards the ground where the large beast was still breathing.
"It seems you have work to do, hero…" Chloe said, her eyes meeting Logan's with a mix of empathy. "I will help you—use my dagger, which I will make as sharp as possible."
She handed Logan her dagger, and with a wave of her hand, the blade shimmered, becoming incredibly sharp. Logan took the dagger, his grip firm as he approached the wounded beast. The creature's breaths were labored, its eyes filled with a mixture of pain and defiance.
"Thank you, Chloe," Logan said quietly, taking a deep breath. He knew what had to be done to keep the beast from suffering any longer.
Logan looked down at the monster, its eyes radiating a killing intent that nullified his taming skills. He knew there was only one choice—well, there were a few others, like ordering his falcon to do the dirty work, but he felt it was time for him to do his part as well.
He lifted the dagger over his head, his hands trembling and knees weak, but his mind was set. Logan steadied himself, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. The beast's eyes flickered, sensing its imminent fate. With a final surge of resolve, Logan plunged the dagger where he saw seared skin revealing the creature's heart, ensuring a swift and merciful end.
"PING!"
[You have reached level 5]
Soon after receiving the message, his feet buckled. He felt power coursing through his body, and before his two companions had time to react, he reached for a small pendant hidden under his cloak. It held the shard of the chronicle crystal.
[Name: Logan Class: Soul Bound Tamer]
Level: 5
Health: 42 Mana: 39
Attributes:
Strength: 6 Agility: 5 Dexterity: 5 Constitution: 8 Intelligence: 6 Charisma: 3
[Skills:]
Taming (Rank: Beginner): Forms a permanent bond with a marked beast or being using the masters blood; the being must be willing to form a pact and cannot be of higher rank or level than the master. (Max Beings: 3/8)
Empathic Link (Rank: Beginner): Establishes a mental connection with tamed creatures, allowing for silent communication and understanding of their emotions and thoughts within a certain distance. (Max distance: 6 meters)
Beast Synergy: Logan achieves a synergy based on the loyalty of his tamed creatures, allowing him to harness their abilities as extensions of his own power. (Max abilities: 3)
[Abilities:]
Tamer's Bond: Allows the hero to form a soul bond with creatures, making them permanent allies.
[Tamed Beings:]
Crimson Majesty (Level 1 - Blood Mark – Right Ankle)
Skills: Scent of Serenity: Emits a calming fragrance that soothes those nearby, reducing stress and attracting prey. Hyper sense: Detects nearby presences through vibrations and movements around the plant. Thorny Defense: Protect itself using thorns found in its vines if attacked.
Error: Unable to display further information. (Level 6 – Blood Mark – Ring Finger)
Scorchwyrm (Level 5 (Adult) - Blood Mark – Neck) Loyalty: 2/100
Skills: Flame Breath: Unleashes a powerful stream of fire capable of incinerating foes. Molten Scales: Scales radiate intense heat, burning anything that comes into contact with them. Searing Whip: Whips its tail releasing a blazing slash on its path.
Everwind Falcon: (Level 7 (Zephyr – Adult) – Blood Mark – Vertex) Loyalty: 28/100
Skills: Wind Blades: Zephyr can create sharp gusts of wind to slice through enemies.
Gale Force: Unleashes a powerful windstorm, disorienting and pushing back foes.
Sharp Vision (Passive): Possesses incredibly keen eyesight, able to spot targets from great distances and in low light conditions.
[Experience Points (XP): 134/200]