Kael kept his distance, his movements slow and deliberate as the Shadowfang Pup finished the scrap of dried meat. Its glowing red eyes flicked toward him every few seconds, its body tense, as though it couldn't decide whether to attack or retreat.
"You're not as terrifying as the Apex Beast," Kael muttered, crouching on the balls of his feet. "But you're still sharp enough to tear me apart if I mess this up."
The pup's ears twitched, and Kael smiled faintly. He wasn't sure if it was understanding his tone or just reacting to the sound, but the tension in the air had lessened. Progress was progress.
[Bond Status: 40%. Further interaction required to establish dominance and trust.]
Kael rubbed his temples, the system's clinical updates doing little to ease his nerves. "Yeah, I figured as much," he muttered.
He reached into his satchel again, pulling out another scrap of food. The pup's ears perked, its body shifting slightly, but Kael didn't toss the food this time. Instead, he held it out, letting the meat dangle between his fingers.
"Come on," he said softly. "You want this? You're going to have to trust me."
The pup's nose twitched, and it took a hesitant step forward, its claws scraping against the stone. Kael stayed perfectly still, his hand steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.
Another step.
And another.
Kael's breath caught as the pup stretched its neck forward, its teeth brushing against his fingertips as it snatched the meat. For a brief moment, he felt the warm puff of its breath against his hand before it retreated a safe distance, chewing noisily.
[Bond Status: 60%. Initial trust established. Shadowfang Pup acknowledges host as a potential ally.]
Kael grinned despite himself. "Look at you," he said, his voice soft. "Not so scary when you're eating, huh?"
The pup didn't growl this time, its eyes meeting his for a moment before flicking back to the ruins around them.
The silence between them stretched, and Kael began to feel the weight of the environment pressing down on him. The ruins were too quiet, too still. His instincts prickled, and the memory of the Apex Beast's growl echoed faintly in his mind.
"Something's not right," he murmured, standing slowly. The Shadowfang Pup's ears twitched, its nose lifting to sniff the air.
A low, guttural snarl rumbled through the ruins, and Kael's heart sank.
[Warning: Hostiles detected nearby. Target: Shadowfang Pack (E-Rank Adults).]
Kael's blood ran cold as two larger shapes emerged from the shadows, their glowing red eyes locking onto him. These weren't pups. They were full-grown Shadowfangs, their sleek, powerful bodies rippling with tension as they stalked forward.
"Of course," Kael muttered, gripping the rusted pipe at his side. "Why would this be easy?"
The Shadowfang Pup let out a high-pitched whine, shrinking back toward Kael. His eyes flicked down to it, realization dawning.
The adult Shadowfangs growled, their teeth bared as they split apart, one circling to Kael's left while the other moved to his right.
Kael swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the pipe. He didn't stand a chance against two E-Rank creatures. Even one would be a stretch.
The pup whined again, pressing itself closer to Kael's leg. He glanced down at it, his mind racing.
"This is your mess, isn't it?" he muttered. "You're the one they're after."
The pup let out a soft growl, its red eyes flicking toward the adults before looking back at Kael. It wasn't just scared—it was relying on him.
Kael let out a sharp breath. "Alright. You're with me now."
The first Shadowfang lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Kael ducked, rolling to the side as the creature's attack tore into the ground where he'd been standing. He swung the pipe in a desperate arc, the metal connecting with the beast's flank with a dull thud.
The Shadowfang snarled, recoiling slightly, but the blow had barely phased it.
The second one moved in, faster than Kael expected. Its teeth snapped inches from his shoulder, and he stumbled back, barely avoiding the strike.
"Not good," Kael muttered, his chest heaving.
The pup barked, a high, sharp sound that drew the adults' attention for a split second. Kael didn't waste the opportunity. He drove the pipe into the nearest Shadowfang's leg, aiming for the joint.
The creature howled, its balance faltering, and Kael took the chance to backpedal, putting distance between himself and the pack.
The pup growled again, stepping in front of Kael with its small frame trembling.
"Hey," Kael said, his voice firm. "Stay back. I've got this."
The pup didn't move.
The adult Shadowfangs circled again, their glowing eyes locked onto Kael. He gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He couldn't win this fight. Not head-on.
But maybe he didn't have to.
"Listen up!" Kael shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. The Shadowfangs hesitated, their ears twitching. "I'm not here to hurt you! But if you want a fight, you're going to have to go through me!"
He slammed the pipe against the ground, the sharp clang echoing through the ruins. The Shadowfangs growled, but they didn't move.
The pup let out a soft whimper, nudging Kael's leg with its nose.
[Bond Status: 80%. Shadowfang Pup acknowledges host as protector.]
Kael's chest heaved as he stared down the adults. They didn't back off, but they didn't attack, either.
"Back off!" he shouted, the sound cutting through the tense air. "You can walk away, or you can die trying to take me down."
The words hung heavy in the ruins, their weight echoed by the unshaken resolve in Kael's voice.
The larger Shadowfang growled, its ears twitching as it took a step closer. Kael held his ground, his gaze locked with the beast's glowing eyes. "Make your choice!" he barked, raising the pipe like he was ready to strike.
With a final growl, they retreated, melting back into the shadows.
Kael collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with adrenaline. The pup nuzzled his side, its red eyes wide but no longer fearful.
[Bond Complete: Shadowfang Pup is now a companion. Status: Evolvable.]
Kael let out a shaky laugh, his hand resting on the pup's head. "You're lucky they listened," he said, his voice hoarse.
The pup barked softly, its tail wagging.
Kael sighed, his gaze shifting back to the ruins. He had survived—again. But this time, he wasn't alone.