Chapter 12: Linked Energy
The clash between the Crimson Hydra and Kayla's Phoenix was like something out of a legend. Caleb crouched in the bushes, his eyes glued to the chaotic scene before him. The Hydra's three heads snapped and spewed torrents of fire and venom, while Kayla's Phoenix flared brilliantly, weaving through the attacks with grace.
However, the fight was not going in Kayla's favor. The Hydra landed a devastating blow, one of its massive heads slamming into the Phoenix with enough force to send the fiery bird crashing into the ground. The once-mighty flames surrounding the bird dimmed significantly as it let out a weak cry.
Kayla fell to her knees, her voice trembling. "No… Phoenix, this can't be the end. You're supposed to be immortal!"
Caleb's system chimed softly in his mind.
[Alert: Critical damage detected in target beast. Status: Unable to heal. Immortality is incomplete.]
Kayla knelt beside her beast, stroking its feathers as tears streamed down her face. "Phoenix… you're supposed to be my strength. What am I without you?"
The Hydra reared back, preparing another attack to finish the Phoenix. Caleb's fists clenched. He couldn't stand by any longer.
His Dark Wolf growled softly at his side, sensing his resolve. Caleb took a deep breath and stepped out from the bushes, daggers drawn.
Kayla's eyes widened when she saw him. "What are you doing here?" she yelled. "Get away! It's too dangerous!"
But Caleb ignored her.
The system interface glowed before Caleb's eyes.
[Update Bonus Unlocked: Skill Fusion Ability Obtained.]
[Skill Fusion: Combine two compatible skills to create a new ultimate skill.]
[New Skill Created: Linked Energy.]
Caleb blinked as the details filled his mind.
[Linked Energy: Allows the user to temporarily share stats with their bonded beast, synchronizing strength, speed, and mana. Duration: 3 minutes.]
The Hydra's roar broke Caleb from his thoughts. It lunged toward him, one of its heads snapping dangerously close. Caleb leapt to the side, his Dark Wolf moving in perfect tandem with him.
"Time to see what this can do," Caleb muttered, activating the skill.
A surge of power coursed through him as Linked Energy activated. He felt his Dark Wolf's immense strength flow into his body—his senses sharpened, his movements became faster, and mana radiated from him like a storm.
The Hydra struck again, but Caleb sidestepped with inhuman speed, his twin daggers glowing with mana.
"Shadow Strike!" Caleb commanded. His Dark Wolf vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind one of the Hydra's heads and raking its claws down its scaly neck.
The Hydra roared in pain, whipping its massive tail toward the wolf. Caleb lunged forward, intercepting the attack with his daggers. The force of the blow sent him skidding back, but he held firm.
"Dark Wolf, Eclipse Howl!"
The wolf let out a chilling howl, the sound reverberating through the air and momentarily stunning the Hydra. Caleb seized the opportunity, combining his skills.
"Shadow Strike and Eclipse Howl, fuse!"
The skills merged into an ultimate attack. Shadows and sound waves coiled around Caleb's daggers as he charged forward.
The Hydra recovered, its three heads converging on Caleb in a coordinated assault. Caleb gritted his teeth, dodging and weaving between the strikes. His daggers slashed with precision, finding weak points in the Hydra's tough scales.
The Dark Wolf joined the assault, its claws and fangs tearing into the beast's legs to destabilize it. Together, they moved like a single entity, their attacks perfectly synchronized.
Finally, Caleb saw his opening. He leapt high into the air, mana surging through him and his Dark Wolf.
"Linked Energy Strike!" he roared.
The combined power of Caleb and his Dark Wolf exploded in a devastating attack, the daggers piercing straight through the Hydra's central head. The beast let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing to the ground, its body lifeless.
[Kill Confirmed: S-rank Beast. 3,000 Points Awarded.]
Caleb landed gracefully, his chest heaving from the effort. His Dark Wolf stood beside him, its silver eyes glowing with triumph.
Kayla had been watching the entire fight, her expression a mix of shock and awe. She approached Caleb hesitantly as he wiped his blades and turned to check on her Phoenix.
The system interface appeared again, analyzing the Phoenix's condition.
[Target Beast Status: Immortality Active but Healing Inhibited. Cause: Mana Blockage.]
[Recommended Solution: Administer a mana surge to clear the blockage.]
Caleb relayed the information to Kayla, who looked at him with wide eyes. "You… you can fix Phoenix?"
"I think so," Caleb said, stepping closer to the injured bird. He placed a hand on its glowing feathers, feeling the faint pulse of its mana. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, channeling his own mana into the Phoenix.
The bird let out a soft cry as its flames reignited, slowly growing brighter. The wounds on its body began to close, and its breathing steadied.
Kayla gasped, tears streaming down her face. "Phoenix… you're okay."
The Phoenix opened its eyes and let out a triumphant screech, its fiery wings flaring to life once more.
Kayla turned to Caleb, her face red with emotion. Before he could react, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know how I can ever repay you."
Caleb froze, his face heating up as he awkwardly patted her back. "It's… uh, no problem."
Kayla pulled back slightly, her cheeks blushing as she looked up at him. Caleb noticed his own face was burning, and they both quickly looked away, embarrassed.
The moment was interrupted by the system's voice in Caleb's mind.
[Congratulations: Linked Energy Skill Successfully Tested. Bonus Experience Points Awarded.]
Caleb chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You always show up at the weirdest times," he muttered.
Kayla tilted her head. "What?"
"Nothing," Caleb said quickly. "Let's get back to the competition."
Kayla smiled, her confidence returning. "You know, for someone who wasn't supposed to be here, you're pretty good at saving the day."
Caleb grinned. "And for someone with a fiery bird, you're not too bad yourself."
They shared a laugh as the Phoenix took to the skies, its flames lighting the way. The competition wasn't over yet, but Caleb knew one thing for sure: the bond he had formed with Kayla and his Dark Wolf had just taken a major step forward.