Kael awoke with a sharp intake of breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if he'd just surfaced from drowning. For a moment, he stared at the cracked wooden ceiling of his shack, the faint morning light spilling through the gaps. His muscles ached, his ribs still tender, but the bone-deep exhaustion that had plagued him since the fight with the Apex Beast was gone.
He flexed his fingers, marveling at how his body no longer felt like it was on the verge of collapse. The golden warmth of the absorbed Essence Core still lingered, subtle but steady, like a fire burning quietly in his chest.
[Recovery Complete.]
[Host is now at optimal condition for current rank.]
Kael rolled his eyes at the system's cold efficiency. "Thanks for the update," he muttered, pushing himself upright. The simple act of sitting up sent a dull ache through his torso, but it was a far cry from the agony he'd endured the night before.
The rusted pipe lay beside his bedroll, still stained with dried golden blood. Kael picked it up, his grip tightening as he stared at the weapon that had saved his life. It was battered and bent, hardly fit for another fight.
"I'll need something better," he said, his voice firm.
The system, of course, didn't respond.
[New Quest Unlocked.]
[Objective: Subdue and tame a Rank E creature. Target: Shadowfang Pup (E-Rank, Evolvable).]
[Reward: Bonded Companion and System Expansion.]
Kael froze as the message appeared before him, the words glowing faintly in the dim light of the shack. "Subdue and tame?" he repeated, narrowing his eyes.
He had been expecting another brutal fight, something like the Apex Beast but worse. The system, however, had thrown him a curveball.
"What the hell is a Shadowfang Pup?" Kael muttered.
[Analysis: Shadowfang Pup is a juvenile creature with latent potential. Threat level: Moderate. Bond potential: High.]
The explanation didn't ease Kael's nerves. If the Apex Beast had been a fully grown predator, a Rank E Shadowfang Pup could still rip him apart if he wasn't careful. Juvenile or not, it was still a beast.
But the word bond caught his attention.
"Bond potential…" Kael mused. He had never heard of anyone taming beasts before. Creatures like the Apex Beast were meant to be fought and killed, their Essence Cores harvested. But if this pup was different—if it could be tamed—then that opened a whole new world of possibilities.
Kael stood, his legs steady despite the lingering soreness, and began gathering what little he had. A worn satchel, some scraps of food, and the pipe. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
The slums were alive with muted activity as Kael stepped out of his shack. People moved like shadows, heads down and shoulders hunched, their gazes darting nervously at every sound. The slums bred fear—it was the only currency more common than dirt.
Kael kept his head high as he walked, his pace steady but purposeful. The memory of the Apex Beast's corpse and the golden light of the Essence Core still lingered in his mind, a reminder of what he'd accomplished.
But not everyone looked at him with admiration.
As Kael passed through a narrow alley, a figure stepped into his path. He was tall and broad, with a sneer etched across his face and a makeshift blade resting on his shoulder. Two others emerged behind him, their eyes sharp and predatory.
"Well, well," the leader drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "If it isn't the Broken Star."
Kael stopped, his grip tightening on the satchel. He recognized them—local thugs who preyed on the weak.
"I'm not in the mood," Kael said, his tone flat.
The thug's sneer widened. "Oh, but we are. You've been making waves, kid. Heard you took down something big out in the ruins. That true?"
Kael didn't respond.
The thug's eyes narrowed. "Doesn't matter. You've got something we want, and you're gonna hand it over."
Kael's gaze flicked to the blade, then back to the thug's face. A week ago, he would've been terrified. But now?
He took a step forward, his voice cold. "Try it."
The thug blinked, caught off guard by the shift in Kael's demeanor. "What'd you say?"
"I said," Kael repeated, his hand slipping to the pipe at his side, "try it."
The thug growled and raised his blade, but Kael moved first. The memory of the warrior fragment burned in his mind, guiding his movements. He ducked under the swing, the pipe lashing out in a sharp arc that connected with the thug's wrist.
The blade clattered to the ground, and Kael didn't hesitate. He drove the pipe into the man's gut, sending him stumbling back with a grunt of pain.
The other two thugs froze, their eyes wide. Kael straightened, his voice calm but firm. "You can leave now, or we can see how much worse this gets for you."
They didn't need to be told twice.
Kael watched them go, his body still tense, before letting out a slow breath. He glanced at the fallen blade, then picked it up, testing its weight. It wasn't much better than the pipe, but it was a start.
"Better than nothing," he muttered, slipping it into his satchel.
The outskirts of the slums were quieter, the air heavier as Kael ventured closer to the ruins. His mind raced as he considered his next move. Subduing a creature like the Shadowfang Pup wasn't just about strength. If it was going to be his ally, he needed to prove something more—dominance, maybe, or trust.
He clenched his fists, determination flaring in his chest. The slums had always been a prison, but now they were just a stepping stone.
Kael wasn't going to stop. Not until he had the strength to rewrite his fate—and the world's.