Kael stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking the dense, sprawling forest, his arms crossed and a satisfied grin on his face. For the first time in what felt like forever, he was proud of himself. His body had grown stronger, his reflexes sharper, and his mind more focused. He had clawed his way up from a boy barely able to fend for himself to someone who could command a pack of deadly predators.
Kael's System Interface
Level: 17 (890/1530)
HP: 120%
Magic: 100%
Energy: 110%
Strength: 135%
Speed: 102% -> 110%
Traits Obtained: 3 (Feather – Dodo, Agility – Velociraptor, Pack Instinct+ – Raptors, Resistance - Triceratops)
Resistance: Increases the host's defense against physical attacks.
Tamed Creatures: 5 (Dodo – Bobo, Velociraptor Pack – Blue, Delta, Echo, Charlie)
Kael's pack had grown. Blue, his first raptor, now led the group, with Delta, Echo, and Charlie following close behind. The names, inspired again from Jurassic Park, felt oddly fitting. Together, the raptors were a force to be reckoned with. The "Pack Instinct+" trait Kael had gained from Blue seemed to amplify this, boosting their efficiency in battle.
For the past few days, Kael and his pack had hunted relentlessly, targeting larger prey to gain experience and resources. The raptors were tireless, their sharp instincts and raw power making them perfect hunting companions. The XP rolled in, and Kael could feel himself growing stronger with each battle.
But today, without taking Bobo with him, he had a new target in mind. Something faster for the travelling, and more versatile. He needed a mount, a creature that could match the speed and agility of his raptors while giving him the mobility he lacked. And he knew exactly what he was looking for.
---
Kael crouched low as he followed the faint trail of claw marks gouged into the bark of a towering tree. The air was tense with the distant sounds of chirping insects and the occasional rustle of leaves. He had been tracking his target for hours now, his raptors shadowing him silently from a distance. His goal was clear: to tame a Thylacoleo, a predator that was as fast and deadly as it was elusive. It was larger and stronger than a raptor and could climb, making it an ideal mount for traversing this dangerous forest.
Finally, he spotted it. High in the branches of a massive tree, the animal lay in wait. Its muscular body was coated in sleek, dark-striped fur that blended seamlessly with the shadows of the canopy. Its large fangs protruded slightly, and its sharp claws flexed on the branch, a deadly combination of power and agility. Kael's system interface flickered into view.
---
Trait: "Tree Ambush" – Increased climbing speed and ambush damage.
Special Trait: "Bleed" – Wounds inflicted by the host are more difficult to heal and draw more blood.
Taming Condition: Prove Dominance – The host must fight and defeat the Thyla without assistance.
XP Reward: 3500.
Traits Obtention Chances: "Tree Ambush" = 30%, "Bleed" = 0,2%.
---
Kael's eyes narrowed as he read the taming condition. No backup from his raptors this time, and no margin for error. He exhaled slowly, tightening his grip on his spear. The Thyla was watching him now, its glowing amber eyes fixed on him. It seemed to sense the challenge, rising from its perch with an almost predatory grace.
This shit could even take down a T Rex if it was well trained, but he had become strong enough to take one down in his opinion. Most of the classic dinosaurs are not much of a danger anymore in his opinion, but taming them gives him some pretty strong traits.
Kael stepped forward into the clearing, planting his feet firmly. He motioned for the raptors to stay back, and they obeyed reluctantly, melting into the shadows. The Thyla let out a low growl that rumbled through the trees. Then, it leapt.
The creature descended from the branches like a bolt of lightning, its claws slashing toward Kael. He barely managed to roll out of the way, the Thyla's claws tearing through the ground where he had been standing. Kael came up in a crouch, his spear at the ready, and lunged forward, aiming for the beast's shoulder.
The Thyla twisted midair, avoiding the blow with a speed that made Kael's heart skip. It landed with a heavy thud, spinning to face him, its fangs bared. Before Kael could recover, it charged, its powerful limbs propelling it across the clearing in seconds.
Kael braced himself, thrusting his spear forward just as the Thyla lunged. The tip of the spear scraped against the beast's side, drawing blood but failing to stop its momentum. The impact sent Kael sprawling, his spear flying from his grasp. The Thyla was on him in an instant, its claws swiping down. Kael rolled desperately to the side, grabbing a fallen branch as he scrambled to his feet.
The Thyla roared, its eyes blazing with fury, and swiped at him again. Kael ducked, using the branch to block the attack. The wood splintered under the force of the blow, and Kael stumbled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He needed to turn the tide, and fast.
The Thyla lunged again, but this time, Kael was ready. He sidestepped at the last moment, letting the beast's momentum carry it past him, and drove the broken branch into its side. The Thyla let out a pained roar, skidding to a halt as it clawed at the makeshift weapon embedded in its ribs.
Kael sprinted toward his fallen spear, sliding across the dirt to grab it just as the Thyla turned, its amber eyes blazing with rage. The beast charged again, faster this time, its claws outstretched. Kael met its attack head-on, his spear flashing upward to intercept the blow. The weapon's tip pierced the Thyla's shoulder, driving deep into its flesh.
The Thyla howled, its body twisting violently as it tried to dislodge the spear. Kael held on, using the momentum to drive the beast backward until it slammed into a tree. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of him, but he refused to let go. With a final surge of strength, he wrenched the spear free and drove it into the beast's flank.
The Thyla collapsed to the ground, its breathing labored. Kael stood over it, his chest heaving as he raised his spear for the final blow. But the Thyla didn't move to attack. Instead, it lowered its head, letting out a low growl that sounded almost like submission.
The system interface appeared once again.
---
[Taming Successful – Thylacoleo]
Traits Acquired: "Tree Ambush" , "Bleed"
XP Gained: 3500
Level Up!
Level Up!
Speed: 110% -> 114%
---
Kael collapsed to one knee, his spear digging into the ground for support. His body ached, his muscles screaming in protest, but he had done it. The Thyla, now tamed, looked up at him with eyes that no longer burned with hostility. Slowly, Kael reached out, placing a hand on its head. The creature rumbled softly, its powerful frame relaxing under his touch.
He had the strength to tame such a creature, his efforts paid off, his strength increased more than he thought without him having magic. He thinks he can fight almost on par with Erza if her strength increased too.
"I think I'll call you Stripes," Kael said with a tired grin. The Thyla huffed in approval, nudging his hand with its nose.
Behind him, the raptors emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with approval. Blue let out a soft bark, and Kael chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Alright, Stripes," Kael said, pushing himself to his feet. "Welcome to the pack. Let's head back to camp. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
---
Kael returned to his small camp nestled near a creek, his muscles aching from the fight but his spirits high. Stripes followed closely behind, its sleek form moving with silent grace, while the raptors took their usual positions around the perimeter, their sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Bobo was sleeping in the hut, Kael sat down on a flat rock near the fire pit, reaching into his pack for a dried strip of meat. He tore into it hungrily, the taste of victory making it sweeter than usual.
As he ate, Kael couldn't help but notice something odd. The food he'd set aside earlier, a small stash of dried fruits and berries, was missing again. This wasn't the first time it had happened. Over the past few days, little things had gone missing: scraps of food, a few small tools, even his spare water flask. He'd assumed it was some small creature scavenging while he was away, but now, he wasn't so sure.
"Blue," Kael called out, glancing at the raptor. "You've been watching the camp. You notice anything strange?"
Blue tilted her head, letting out a soft growl as if to say she had, but it wasn't a threat worth worrying about. Kael sighed, tossing her a piece of meat. "Some guard you are."
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the trees above. Kael's head snapped upward, his instincts kicking in. He grabbed his spear, his body tensing as he scanned the branches. Stripes let out a low growl, and the raptors turned their heads in unison, their eyes locked on the source of the sound.
Before he could investigate further, something fell from the tree with a loud thump, landing squarely on him.
"Ah!" Kael yelped, the air knocked out of him as he hit the ground.
"Ow, ow, ow!" came a high-pitched voice. He opened his eyes to see a girl no older than nine sitting on his chest, rubbing her head and pouting. She was small and scrappy, with short black hair and wide brown eyes.
Kael groaned and pushed himself up, forcing her off of him. "What the f... who are you?!"
The girl sat cross-legged on the ground, glaring at him. "That's your fault! You were standing right under the tree!"
Kael stared at her in disbelief. "I was standing under my tree in my camp! You're the one who fell out of the sky!"
The girl huffed, crossing her arms. "I wasn't falling! I just slipped!"
"Oh, so you just happened to 'slip' onto my head while sneaking around stealing my food?" Kael shot back, dusting himself off.
He gave his dinosaurs a calm look, they instinctively understood that their master was not in danger. He then focused on this little girl. She was really younger than him, by a few years. What is she doing alone in a forest? And most importantly, what kind of child would be so oblivious as to ignore danger? His dinosaurs may have torn her to pieces if he wasn't arround. It seems she was stealing food when he and his dinosaurs weren't around, just Bobo. That damn chicken can't even spot a kid?!
At that, the girl froze, her cheeks turning bright red. "I-I wasn't stealing! I was borrowing! And I only took a little bit!"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Borrowing? So you're planning to return the dried meat you ate?"
The girl avoided his gaze, poking at the dirt with her finger. "Well... I was hungry..."
Kael sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What are you even doing out here alone, kid? Don't you have parents or a village or something?"
"I can take care of myself!" the girl said, puffing out her chest and glaring at him. "I don't need anyone, I am just searching my brother!"
Kael snorted. "Yeah, sure. You're doing great, falling out of trees and getting caught stealing food. Really impressive survival skills."
"Hey!" she shot back, scrambling to her feet. "I saw you fighting that giant cat thing earlier. You almost got eaten like three times!"
Kael blinked, his irritation replaced with surprise. "Wait, you were watching me during the Thyla fight?"
She nodded proudly. "Yup! You were really cool, though! I mean, for someone who's kinda clumsy..."
"Clumsy?" Kael repeated, incredulous. "I tamed a Thyla without getting killed. That's not clumsy, that's skill!"
The girl giggled, a sound so light and carefree that it almost caught Kael off guard. "Yeah, okay, you're a 'Skill Guy' !"
Kael rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever. What's your name, anyway? Might as well know the name of the person raiding my supplies."
The girl grinned, putting her hands on her hips like she was about to announce something important. "I'm Kagura Mikazuchi!"
Kael froze, the name hitting him like a lightning bolt. Kagura Mikazuchi? He remembered hearing that name from the history of Fairy Tail. Isn't that the girl who wanted revenge on her brother? In that case, she will become strong in the future.
He glanced down at the scrappy little girl in front of him, who was now trying to balance on one foot while sticking her tongue out in concentration. This is Kagura?
She's just a little girl at this point, he's going to have to take her back to a guild to keep her safe, he's not a babysitter.
"Are you okay?" Kagura asked, tilting her head at him.
Kael shook himself out of his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... surprised, I guess."
She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "Why are you looking at me like that? You're not a weirdo, are you?"
Kael groaned. "I'm not a weirdo! You're the one falling out of trees and stealing food!"
Kagura stuck her tongue out at him. "You're just mad because I'm better at sneaking than you are at guarding!"
Kael glared at her, but before he could respond, his stomach growled loudly. He didn't finish to eat, Kagura burst into laughter, clutching her sides as she doubled over.
"Okay, okay, laugh it up, kid," Kael muttered, grabbing a piece of meat and tossing it to her. "Here. Just take it and stop sneaking around, alright?"
Kagura caught the meat, her eyes lighting up. "Thanks! You're not so bad after all, Skill Guy!"
"Stop calling me that," Kael grumbled.
Kagura plopped down by the fire and started eating, her legs swinging happily. Kael watched her out of the corner of his eye, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that this was Kagura Mikazuchi.
Yet another plot character he meets before the main events, does he have a child magnet...?