The Shadowfang Panther's body lay crumpled at the base of the ravine, its amber eyes now dull and lifeless. The oppressive tension that had hung over the clearing during the battle dissipated slowly, leaving Ryn and the Spirit Fox in an uneasy silence.
Ryn sat on the ground a few feet away, his knife still clutched in his trembling hand. His breaths came in shallow gasps, his lungs burning from the effort of the fight. The Spirit Fox stood beside him, its glowing tail swaying in slow, deliberate movements as it watched him carefully.
"Twice in one day," Ryn muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Two fights like that, and we're still alive. Barely."
The fox chirped softly, stepping closer to nuzzle his arm. Its glow had dimmed slightly, its energy clearly drained from the intense fight, but its pride was evident in the way it carried itself.
"You're stronger than you look," Ryn said, ruffling the fox's fur. "I'll give you that."
The bond between them pulsed faintly, and Ryn felt a familiar warmth spreading through his chest—a comforting reminder that they were connected, even when the odds were stacked against them.
With a grunt, Ryn pushed himself to his feet, wincing as his legs protested the movement. His body was bruised and battered, his muscles aching from the constant strain of running, dodging, and fighting.
"Let's see if this thing has anything useful," he said, nodding toward the panther's body.
The Spirit Fox followed him as he approached the fallen predator. Its sleek, dark fur shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and its claws looked razor-sharp even in death. Ryn crouched beside it, his hands working quickly to strip what he could from the corpse.
The claws came off cleanly, each one as long as his finger and unnaturally sharp. He slipped them into his pack, along with a patch of the panther's hide that might serve as material for repairs or crafting later.
"Not much else," Ryn muttered, glancing at the beast's massive fangs. They were too firmly embedded to remove without proper tools, and he wasn't about to waste more energy trying.
The Spirit Fox sniffed at the panther's neck, its glowing eyes narrowing slightly as it circled the body.
"Find something?" Ryn asked.
The fox chirped, pawing at the ground beside the beast. Ryn knelt down to inspect the spot, brushing away the loose dirt and debris with his hands.
Beneath the surface was a small, glowing crystal, no larger than a pebble. Its pale green light pulsed faintly, much like the aura that had clung to the Corrupted Stalker earlier.
Ryn frowned, picking up the crystal carefully. A cold sensation prickled his skin as he held it, but there was something oddly familiar about the energy it radiated.
"What is this?" he murmured, turning the crystal over in his hand.
The Spirit Fox sat back, watching him intently. The bond between them pulsed again, and for a brief moment, Ryn felt the faintest echo of something—like a whisper at the edge of his thoughts.
Energy Fragment Acquired.
Function: Beast Growth Catalyst (Corrupted).
The text flashed in his mind, faint and fleeting, but the words were clear. Ryn stared at the crystal, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"A growth catalyst?" he muttered. "What does that even mean?"
The Spirit Fox chirped softly, nudging his hand with its nose.
Ryn's grip on the crystal tightened as he considered his options. The idea of using a corrupted object on his partner made his stomach churn, but if it truly was a catalyst for growth, it could be a way to strengthen the fox quickly.
"No," Ryn said aloud, shaking his head. "Not yet. I don't know enough about this thing, and I'm not risking you over something I don't understand."
The fox blinked up at him, its glowing eyes unreadable.
Ryn tucked the crystal into his pack, deciding to deal with it later. For now, their priority was survival—and finding a way to prepare for whatever the Wildlands threw at them next.
As they continued through the ravine, Ryn's mind wandered back to the fight. The Spirit Fox's Radiant Step had been the key to their survival, allowing it to outmaneuver the panther and create openings for Ryn to strike.
But there was something more—something he couldn't quite put into words. The fox wasn't just fighting for him; it was fighting with him, as if they were extensions of the same will.
"Is that the bond?" Ryn wondered aloud.
The fox chirped, glancing back at him briefly before continuing ahead.
The bond between them pulsed faintly again, and Ryn felt the same sense of connection he had experienced during the fight. It wasn't just a link—it was a bridge, a shared awareness that allowed them to react to each other without hesitation.
Ryn stopped walking, closing his eyes and focusing on the bond. The warmth in his chest grew stronger, and for a moment, he felt as though he could see through the fox's eyes. The world shifted—colors became sharper, scents more vivid, and sounds clearer than he had ever experienced.
The sensation faded as quickly as it had come, leaving Ryn breathless and slightly disoriented. He opened his eyes to find the Spirit Fox staring at him, its head tilted in curiosity.
"That was…" Ryn paused, struggling to find the right words. "That was new."
The fox chirped softly, its tail swishing in amusement.
Ryn couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "Alright, I get it. You're full of surprises. Let's just hope the Wildlands don't give us too many more reasons to use them."
By the time the sun began to set, they had found a small cave nestled into the side of a rocky hill. It was shallow but dry, with enough room for Ryn to stretch out and build a small fire. The Spirit Fox curled up near the entrance, its glowing tail casting faint patterns on the cave walls.
Ryn sat by the fire, turning the green crystal over in his hands. The words "Beast Growth Catalyst" echoed in his mind, teasing him with possibilities he didn't yet understand.
"I need to figure this out," he muttered, glancing at the fox. "If the Codex won't explain it, then we'll just have to learn as we go."
The Spirit Fox chirped in agreement, its eyes half-closed as it rested.
Ryn leaned back against the cave wall, his thoughts racing. The bond, the Radiant Step, the crystal—all of it felt connected, part of a larger puzzle that he was only beginning to piece together.
But one thing was clear: their bond was more than just a tool. It was a key.
And if they could survive the Wildlands long enough to unlock its potential, there was no telling what they could achieve.