After claiming the Enchanted Palette, Renji felt an overwhelming surge of power course through him. His magic felt stronger, more vibrant—his connection to colors and creation had awakened on a whole new level. The weight of the artifact in his hands made everything feel real.
"This… this is amazing…" he murmured, his fingers trembling. "I can feel it—this power… It's like the colors are alive."
But his moment of triumph was cut short.
The ground beneath him trembled. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the ruins, reverberating in his bones. A sudden chill ran down his spine.
"Oh, that's not good…" Renji muttered, his breath hitching. "That's really not good."
Suddenly, the murals along the walls shifted, revealing hidden passages that slowly creaked open. A sinking feeling settled in his gut.
Renji's expression flattened. "Don't tell me… this is an Indiana Jones-type trap bullshit."
The groaning stone passages were his answer.
"Oh man… Of course. Of course, that would happen."
From the newly revealed corridors, grotesque creatures began to emerge—twisted, shifting beings of black ink, their eyes hollow voids of darkness. Their very forms dripped and reformed constantly, as if unfinished sketches left to decay.
Shadow Beasts.
Renji took a step back, cold sweat forming on his brow. "Nope. Nope. I hate this. I hate everything about this."
And then it got worse.
From deeper within the ruins, he heard voices. Footsteps.
Mercenaries.
A group of them had followed him inside, no doubt hoping to loot any treasures he had left behind.
Renji's stomach dropped. "Damn it!! Are you serious?!"
He turned to run—his instincts screamed at him to get out now—but the Shadow Beasts blocked every exit.
His fingers twitched around his brush. "I… I have to fight." But when he tried painting a sword, the ink faded within seconds. His control was still too weak.
"Oh, come on! Not now!" Panic surged as the creatures inched closer. He weaved through the ruins, dodging their twisted limbs, his mind racing for a solution.
Then—
A Shadow Beast lunged.
It slammed into him, sending him crashing into an old stone pillar. A sharp pain shot through his back as he collapsed to the ground, bruised and gasping for air.
He groaned, weakly muttering, "Yep… that hurt… a lot…"
The monsters closed in.
For the first time—Renji felt real fear. This wasn't just some challenge or puzzle. This was life or death.
"I… I don't want to die here…!"
Desperation overtook him. He gripped his brush, barely able to think, and painted without hesitation. His emotions, his fear, his instinct—they all poured into his strokes.
Instead of a weapon, his hand drew a wolf—fierce, strong, and protective.
"Please… let this work…!"
The final stroke glowed fiercely—and suddenly, from the ink, a real wolf of shimmering blue energy burst forth.
Renji's eyes widened. "It worked?! It actually worked?!"
The wolf let out a deep growl, its form pulsing with magical energy. With a powerful leap, it tore into the Shadow Beasts, ripping through their shifting bodies with fangs made of pure ink and light.
Renji stared, breathless. "Holy crap… I created this…"
The wolf turned to him, its glowing eyes filled with intelligence. Renji, still stunned, swallowed and said, "Uh… lead the way? Please?"
The wolf nodded.
With his summoned guardian at his side, Renji moved.
The wolf lunged at any beasts blocking their path, tearing them apart with raw magic. Renji, regaining his composure, focused on defending himself. He painted small ink barriers, blocking incoming attacks while dodging through the collapsing ruins.
But then—the mercenaries up ahead heard the chaos. They turned, weapons drawn.
One of them sneered. "There he is! Looks like he's got some magic tricks—take him out before he leaves with anything valuable!"
Renji's stomach dropped. "Oh, come on! You guys too?!"
He didn't have time for this. Fighting the mercenaries and the Shadow Beasts was impossible.
Thinking fast, he painted a massive ink wave—a flood of dark, shifting ink that blinded the mercenaries, giving him and his wolf an opening to escape.
They raced toward the exit.
Almost there…!
The ruins shook violently, debris falling all around them. The entrance was right ahead—
They burst out of the ruins just as the entrance collapsed behind them, sealing the horrors inside.
Renji collapsed to the ground, chest heaving, his entire body trembling with exhaustion. His first real fight… his first true summon… and his first major step forward.
He turned his head, expecting the wolf to fade like his previous creations.
But it didn't.
The glowing wolf sat beside him, watching him with quiet loyalty.
Renji blinked. "Wait… you're still here?"
The realization hit him. Unlike his past failed attempts, this creation had endured. It wasn't just a fleeting sketch—it was permanent.
A true summon.
A grin tugged at his lips. "Guess I should give you a name, huh?" He thought for a moment. "How about… Fenris?"
The wolf huffed approvingly.
Renji chuckled. "Yeah… Fenris. I like that."
After escaping the ruins, Renji and Fenris emerged into the quiet moonlit wilderness, far from the dangers of the Shadow Beasts and collapsing ruins.
Renji collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air, his heart still racing from the adrenaline. His hands trembled, his mind struggling to process what just happened.
But then, he felt something warm press against his side—Fenris, still standing by him, its glowing blue eyes watching him intently.
For the first time, Renji properly looked at his creation.
"You're… solid. Real." He reached out, placing a tentative hand on Fenris's head. The wolf didn't flinch—it just watched him, waiting.
A thought sparked in Renji's mind.
"You're not just a drawing anymore… You're alive."
Fenris tilted its head, as if understanding.
That's when Renji remembered a legend from his past life—a mighty wolf, a protector, a hunter, a being of both loyalty and power.
A smile formed despite his exhaustion. "Fenris… That suits you, doesn't it?"
The wolf's ears perked up. Then, without hesitation, it bowed its head, accepting the name.
Renji stared, a mix of awe and realization flooding him.
Did I create something… permanent?
After escaping the ruins and naming Fenris, Renji began his long journey through the wilderness, heading toward the nearest town.
His stomach growled loudly, and he groaned, clutching his midsection. "Ugh… I'm starving… I knew I should've drawn some food before leaving."
Exhaustion weighed on his body. His muscles ached, his legs burned from walking for hours, and every bruise from his battle in the ruins pulsed with soreness.
"Magic-enhanced body or not… I'm still human. And walking this far sucks." He sighed dramatically, dragging his feet through the dirt path.
Fenris, ever watchful, trotted ahead, scouting for any potential dangers. Renji glanced at the glowing wolf and exhaled. "At least one of us isn't suffering right now."
Hours passed. Nearly a full day of walking. Then—
In the distance, smoke curled into the sky. Chimneys. Houses.
Renji's eyes lit up, and a grin spread across his face. "Finally! Civilization! Food! A real bed!" He turned to Fenris. "We made it, buddy! Look! That's a village! Which means actual people! And actual food!"
Fenris merely flicked an ear, unbothered.
Renji stumbled into the village, dusty, fatigued, and barely standing. His hair was disheveled, his ink-stained robes tattered from travel, and his movements sluggish.
He collapsed onto a wooden bench, dramatically throwing his arms over the back. "I finally made it… I thought I was gonna die on that road…"
The villagers took notice almost immediately.
Long, ink-stained robes. A magical grimoire strapped to his side. A massive, glowing wolf following him.
People exchanged wary glances, whispering among themselves.
"Is he a noble from the capital?"
"No, look at his clothes—those aren't noble robes."
"Maybe a wandering scholar?"
"That wolf… It's not normal."
Fenris' presence unnerved some, but the wolf remained calm, sitting beside Renji in a relaxed posture.
"At least the beast isn't hostile…" someone muttered.
Renji ignored the murmurs, lifting his head and scanning the crowd. He locked eyes with one of the villagers and asked, "Where's the inn? I need food. And sleep. Mostly food."
An older man gave him directions, albeit hesitantly. "Straight down the road, left at the well. Marla runs it."
Renji nodded weakly. "Thanks. You're my new favorite person in this village."
Renji barely made it to the local inn before collapsing into a chair. His legs screamed in protest.
He leaned back, groaning. "I swear, if I have to walk another step, I'll just let gravity take me. This is where I live now."
The innkeeper, a kind but skeptical middle-aged woman named Marla, approached. She raised an eyebrow. "You look half-dead, boy. You got coin?"
Renji's face fell.
His mind raced.
"…I have no money."
He dramatically slumped over the table, whispering to himself, "I came all this way… survived monsters, starvation, and long-distance travel… just to be defeated by the economy…"
After an awkward silence, he looked at Marla and shook his head.
Some villagers scoffed. "Tch. Another beggar?"
"If he can't pay, throw him out."
"He's got magic, doesn't he? Let him make his own food!"
Renji's deadpan expression turned slightly sad.
"This is how I die, huh?"
Then—a thought struck him.
His eyes lit up.
"Wait! I don't need money! I have something better!"
Marla folded her arms. "Oh? And what's that?"
Renji grinned. "I'll paint something for you. In exchange for food and a place to sleep."
Marla snorted. "Boy, what good is a painting when I need coin?"
Determined, Renji grabbed his brush. "Just watch."
He moved to an empty wooden wall in the inn. His hands flowed instinctively, magic swirling into each stroke.
Within minutes, a breathtaking mural spread across the wood—a peaceful night sky over golden fields, painted with such lifelike depth that it seemed almost real.
As soon as he completed the final stroke, the entire inn glowed faintly for a brief second.
Renji stepped back, smiling. "Done."
The villagers gasped.
"It's… beautiful."
"How did he do that so fast?!"
"It feels so… warm…"
Marla hesitated before touching the painting. Her eyes widened.
It was warm to the touch.
A sense of calm washed over her—like standing under a clear night sky.
She swallowed. "This… This is magic, isn't it?"
Later that night, the village watchmen reported something strange—monsters that usually lurked in the nearby forest had suddenly retreated, as if something was warding them away.
Unknowingly, Renji had infused his painting with a Protective Blessing—a passive magic that wards off danger.
Marla finally sighed, shaking her head with a smirk. "Alright, you win, boy. You can stay."
Renji slumped in relief. "Food first. Then sleep. In that order."
She chuckled. "Fine. But no freeloading. If you wanna eat here, you work. You got magic art? Put it to good use."
Renji grinned. "Deal."
The villagers' attitudes shifted.
They began to respect him, calling him the "wandering artist of magic."
Fenris, once seen as a threat, was now accepted as he lay peacefully by Renji's side.
Word spread quickly:
"The painter can create magic through his art."
This one simple act—offering his talent in exchange for kindness—was the beginning of something greater.
Renji had no idea… but this was the first step in the legend he was about to create.
To be continued…