--- Few minutes earlier ---
In the fancy main office of the mining planet, Orlan was walking back and forth, sweating. He was very nervous because a very important person from the Darnath family was coming to visit. The Darnath family is powerful and owns the whole planet. This wasn't just a normal check-up; a very respected older member of the family was coming to visit.
Orlan had to submit a report about how much minerals they had collected that month, but that wasn't what worried him the most. What really scared him was that the elder from the Darnath family was coming to visit. Every month, Orlan had to travel to other planets to give the family the minerals they wanted, but this time, the elder was coming himself. The Darnath family thought there might be something very valuable hidden on this planet, but even after many years of digging and searching, they hadn't found anything. Orlan was worried that if he couldn't find anything valuable, he might lose his job—or even be in danger.
Even though the elder was from a branch family, he was a very powerful cultivator with cultivation at Yellow Rank.
Cultivators can use Qi, which is like magical energy. This energy lets them control beasts and access their own inner world. There are many levels of cultivators, starting from Black and going up to Red, Orange, Yellow, and even higher. Each level has four stages: Early, Mid, High, and Peak. Orlan had worked very hard for many years and reached the High Red level with 2 pet beasts contracted, first at Black rank while the second at Red rank which made the Darnath family trust him to run the mines here. But Orlan was getting older, and the planet didn't have much Qi, so it was very difficult for him to become even more powerful with his talent.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a blaring alarm. The sound echoed through the control room, sending a jolt of panic through Orlan. Rushing to the monitor, he saw a beast moving rapidly towards the surface.
'A Low Red Rank beast!' he shouted. He wasn't afraid for his life, but he was worried about what would happen next. This planet was so isolated and had very little Qi, so even a Black Rank beast was rare. Finding a Red Rank beast here was almost impossible.
"Sir, the beast's rank is rising," an officer called out, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Orlan narrowed his eyes as he watched the monitor. The beast's Qi was getting stronger and stronger every second. It hadn't even reached the surface yet, but it was already a Mid Red Rank beast, and it was still getting stronger.
"How can its rank increase so quickly?" another officer exclaimed.
Orlan didn't have time for speculation. "If it rises further, I won't be able to stop it," he muttered. The implications were dire. Not only was the beast's presence a threat to the mines, but it could also disrupt the elder's visit. Worse, the clan's control panel would have already received the alarm signal, thanks to the advanced technology connecting the planets. If Orlan failed to handle the situation, the repercussions would be severe.
"Sir, should we fire a laser beam? It would kill the beast instantly," an officer suggested.
Orlan's response was swift and scathing. "Are you a fool? The beast is too close to the mine. If anything goes wrong, we'll destroy the mine and ourselves with it."
Taking a deep breath, he made a decision. "I'll handle it myself. Report the situation to the starship bringing the elder." If he could resolve the crisis before the elder's arrival, it might bolster his standing within the clan.
Grabbing his air shuttle, Orlan sped toward the mine, his mind racing as fast as the vehicle beneath him.
As Orlan approached the mine, the beast broke through to the surface. It was a hulking, monstrous creature, its crimson hide glistening with Qi energy. Its eyes burned with primal rage as it turned toward the nearest human—Aidan.
The beast charged, its massive form barreling toward him with terrifying speed. Aidan braced himself for the worst, his heart pounding in his chest. But before the beast could reach him, Orlan arrived, firing two short laser bursts from his shuttle. The blasts didn't harm the beast but succeeded in drawing its attention away from the miners.
Orlan's primary concern wasn't the lives of the miners; they were expendable in his eyes. What mattered was protecting the mine itself. If the beast caused significant damage, it would jeopardize the planet's operations and, by extension, Orlan's career.
The beast roared in fury, its focus now locked on Orlan. He leaped from his shuttle, landing with practiced agility despite his age. Drawing his weapon, he prepared to face the creature head-on.
The fight began with a ferocity that shook the ground. Orlan's blade, infused with his Qi, slashed at the beast's hide, leaving faint marks but failing to penetrate deeply. The creature retaliated with a swipe of its massive claws, narrowly missing Orlan as he rolled to the side.
Through his system, Aidan could see the beast's stats hovering above its massive form.
[Name: Obsidian Ravager]
[Rank: Mid Red]
[Abilities: Subterranean Charge, Qi Regeneration, Primal Fury]
[Strengths: High durability, powerful melee attacks, subterranean mobility.]
[Weaknesses: Sensitive to light, vulnerable underbelly.]
[Health: 85%]
The information flooded his mind. At first, he was skeptical about it, but now he could indeed see the beast's information in front of him. He just wasn't sure whether others could see it or not. Additionally, even without this information, the clash happening between the monster and Orlan was enough to tell him to leave this place ASAP.
Orlan knew he was outmatched. The beast's rank was Mid Red, and its Qi reserves were far greater than his own. But he couldn't afford to retreat. Summoning his contracted beast—a sleek, panther-like creature—he ordered it to unleash a barrage of strikes, each one aimed at the creature's vulnerable points.
Through the system, Aidan's eyes locked onto the summoned panther-like beast.
[Name: Shadowfang]
[Rank: High Red]
[Abilities: Stealth Strike, Enhanced Agility, Qi-infused Claws.]
[Strengths: Exceptional speed, high critical damage, difficult to detect in low light.]
[Weaknesses: Low defense, vulnerable to area attacks.]
The sleek beast darted around the Obsidian Ravager, delivering precise, Qi-infused strikes. The Ravager roared in pain as one of Shadowfang's attacks found its mark, slicing into the joint of its foreleg.
The victory was short-lived. The beast's Qi flared, healing the wound almost instantly. It lunged at the panther, which tried to evade the attack but was grazed by the force of the beast's claws. With a pained yelp, Shadowfang was slammed into the rocky terrain, its body limp and lifeless.
"No!" Orlan gasped, his voice filled with despair. Losing one of his contracted beasts was a devastating blow, both to his combat strength and his own Qi reserves. The severed bond sent a wave of debilitating pain through him, leaving him momentarily vulnerable.
His other contracted beast, a hulking wolf-like creature, joined the fray, its own Qi-infused attacks providing some relief.
Through the system, Aidan analyzed the hulking wolf-like creature as it entered the battle.
[Name: Ironhide Direwolf]
[Rank: High Red]
[Abilities: Iron Wall Defense, Qi-enhanced Bite, Howl of Fortitude.]
[Strengths: Exceptional durability, area-of-effect disruption, powerful jaws.]
[Weaknesses: Slow speed, weak against piercing Qi attacks.]
The Ironhide Direwolf charged into the fray with a ferocity that matched the Ravager's. Its thick, Qi-reinforced hide absorbed several of the beast's attacks, while its powerful jaws clamped down on the Ravager's forelimb. For a moment, it seemed as though the tide might turn. The Direwolf's Howl of Fortitude sent a shockwave through the battlefield, briefly disorienting the Ravager and allowing Shadowfang to land another strike.
But the Obsidian Ravager's power was too great. With a brutal, bone-crushing slam, it overpowered the Direwolf, pinning it to the ground. A sickening crunch echoed as the Direwolf's body went limp, its life extinguished. The severance of another bond drained the last vestiges of Orlan's Qi, leaving him weakened and exposed.
---
Meanwhile, chaos erupted among the miners. Some managed to flee toward the shelters, while others weren't as fortunate. Collapsing caves and falling rocks claimed several lives. Aidan, caught in the chaos, found himself trapped beneath a heavy rock. Though it didn't severely injure him, the weight rendered him immobile. He struggled in vain, his thoughts consumed by the need to reach his sister.
"I have to get to her," he whispered, frustration and fear blending in his voice. But his body refused to move, leaving him helpless as the battle raged on.
The beast's Qi spiked suddenly, a surge of power that sent shockwaves through the air. With a ferocious roar, it slammed Orlan's wolf-like beast into a rock, the impact leaving the creature lifeless. Orlan's face paled as he coughed up blood, realizing the tide had turned against him.
In a final, desperate moment in panic, Orlan wanted to run to save his life but since he was so injured he struggled to stand. And before he can even make an attempt to run, the creature lunged on him. With a devastating swipe of its claws, it struck Orlan down, his body crumpling to the ground.
From his trapped position, Aidan watched in horror as Orlan fell. The color drained from his face as the reality of the situation sank in. The only barrier between the miners and the beast was gone. The shelter was defenseless.
And the beast's blood-red eyes were now turning toward the helpless, fleeing humans.