Ethan stood amidst the glowing trees, his chest heaving and his legs trembling from the effort of staying upright. The Forest Wraith lay in a crumpled heap a few feet away, its grotesque body twitching as its yellow eyes dimmed. The air was thick with the acrid stench of burnt flesh and scorched bark from their intense battle.
A notification chimed in Ethan's vision, its ethereal glow cutting through the haze of exhaustion clouding his mind.
**[Boss Defeated: Forest Wraith.]**
**[Reward Unlocked: Beast Taming Skill.]**
Ethan blinked at the words, unsure if he had read them correctly. "Beast taming?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. His thoughts were a whirlwind as the screen dissolved, replaced by another notification.
**[New Ability: Tame - Bind defeated creatures to your soul as familiars.]**
**[Additional Reward: Universal Translation Active. All languages will now be comprehensible.]**
Ethan staggered back, collapsing onto the soft mossy ground as he processed the information. His body ached from the fight—his arms still stung from where the Wraith's claws had grazed him—but the sheer absurdity of what he'd just unlocked numbed the pain.
"Familiars, huh?" he said to himself. The term was familiar from countless games he'd played in his old life, but seeing it applied to himself felt surreal. "So, what… I just tame this thing now?"
His gaze shifted to the Forest Wraith's broken form. Despite its monstrous appearance, it now seemed far less menacing in defeat. Its elongated limbs twitched weakly, and the once-blazing yellow eyes were now dull and unfocused. Ethan hesitated. The idea of binding such a creature to himself was as intriguing as it was unsettling.
A faint glow began to radiate from the Wraith's chest, drawing Ethan's attention. Another notification appeared.
**[Taming Process Available.]**
**[Initiate Taming? Yes / No]**
"Well, it's not like I have any better options," Ethan said, cautiously reaching out toward the glowing orb. "Let's see what this does."
He focused on the word **Yes**, and the screen dissolved. A surge of energy coursed through him, pulling a gasp from his lips. The glow from the Wraith intensified, swirling into a vortex of light that spiraled toward Ethan. He braced himself, expecting pain, but instead felt a strange warmth settle over him, followed by a sense of connection—like a new thread had been woven into the fabric of his soul.
**[Taming Successful: Forest Wraith Bound as Familiar.]**
The notification faded, and Ethan's vision cleared. The Wraith's body shimmered, its grotesque form shrinking and morphing until it was no larger than a wolf. Its eyes, once menacing, now glowed a soft amber as it stared at Ethan with what almost seemed like obedience.
"You've got to be kidding me," Ethan muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. The creature, now clearly his familiar, tilted its head at him, emitting a low growl—not of aggression, but acknowledgment.
"Well," Ethan said, rising to his feet, "I guess you're stuck with me now." He glanced down at the creature, unsure whether to feel relief or concern. "What am I supposed to call you? Wraithy? No, that's terrible."
The creature huffed, as if agreeing with his assessment.
"How about… Shade?" Ethan offered. The Wraith tilted its head, and Ethan chuckled. "Alright, Shade it is."
---
### **A New Connection**
As the adrenaline of the fight faded, Ethan found himself marveling at his newfound ability. He could feel Shade's presence in the back of his mind—a quiet hum of awareness that told him the creature was always near, ready to respond to his commands.
Experimenting with this connection, Ethan focused on Shade, mentally picturing it moving to the left. To his amazement, the creature obeyed instantly, prowling to the side with a fluid grace.
"This is insane," Ethan said, shaking his head. "If someone told me this morning I'd be taming monsters in some fantasy forest, I'd have laughed in their face."
He glanced at the glowing trees around him, their light pulsing softly in rhythm with the faint breeze. The forest seemed alive in ways his old world never had, but the beauty was overshadowed by a gnawing sense of loneliness. The realization hit him hard: he was completely alone in this world.
"Well," he said to Shade, "it's just you and me, buddy. Let's try not to die."
Shade growled softly, as if in agreement.
---
### **Exploring the Forest**
Ethan spent the next several hours wandering through the forest, guided only by the faint map that had appeared in the corner of his vision after defeating the Wraith. It wasn't detailed, but it showed a glowing marker indicating his next destination—a faintly pulsing point to the north.
"Typical game logic," Ethan muttered. "Follow the glowing marker. What's next, side quests?"
Despite his sarcasm, he couldn't deny the utility of the system. The map helped him navigate the labyrinth of trees, and the occasional notifications provided valuable insights. At one point, a screen appeared listing Shade's abilities.
**[Familiar: Shade (Forest Wraith)]**
- **Abilities**:
- Shadow Step: Teleport short distances through shadows.
- Wraith's Grasp: Immobilize enemies with spectral chains.
- **Loyalty**: High.
Ethan whistled softly. "You're a lot cooler than you look," he said, glancing at Shade, who padded silently beside him. The creature's glowing amber eyes flicked toward him, and Ethan swore it smirked.
As they traveled, Ethan noticed the forest growing darker, the glow of the trees dimming. The air grew colder, and the distant sounds of wildlife faded into an eerie silence.
"This place just gets creepier by the minute," Ethan muttered, gripping the broken branch he still carried as a makeshift weapon. Shade moved closer to him, its growl low and steady.
A new notification flashed in his vision.
**[Warning: Entering Level 2 Zone. Hostile Entities Detected.]**
"Level 2?" Ethan said, his voice tinged with nervous laughter. "I barely survived Level 1!"
---
### **An Unexpected Encounter**
The forest opened into a small clearing, where the remains of a stone altar stood at its center. The altar was cracked and covered in moss, but its faint glow suggested it still held some power.
**[Objective Updated: Investigate the Ancient Altar.]**
Ethan approached cautiously, Shade following close behind. As he reached the altar, another notification appeared.
**[Congratulations! Universal Translation Unlocked. All languages will now be comprehensible.]**
Ethan frowned. "Translation? What languages?" He ran his fingers over the carvings on the altar, and to his surprise, the symbols shifted before his eyes, rearranging themselves into words he could read.
**"The First Trial is but the Beginning."**
Ethan's heart raced. "First trial? There are more of these things?"
As if in response, the altar emitted a burst of light, and a new marker appeared on his map. Ethan stared at it, a mix of dread and determination settling over him.
"Well," he said, turning to Shade, "looks like we've got our next destination. Let's hope it doesn't kill us."
Shade growled softly, and together, they set off into the unknown.